A terrific plot, excellent characters, and fantastic worldbuilding elevate the game's unexciting puzzles. [Issue#272, p.44]

Taut, thrilling, and full of twisty new takes on a classic gaming formula, Phantom Doctrine is our new strategic addiction.

An addictive and punishing romp that rewards creative builds and cool heads under immense (and constant) pressure.

A deceptively realistic racing game that doesn't care if you want to ignore the details and just smash every car on the track.

One of Telltale's best seasons, and a Batman tale that finds something new to do with the Joker. [Issue#271, p.50]

The game is really quite brutal, but individual runs quite short. It’s a perfect palate-cleaner game – quick to load, easy to switch to from other applications, and over pretty fast. Unless you’re good at it, which, you know… I’m pretty much not. But it’s also just wonderfully silly fun. Bright, chaotic in the all the best ways, and always surprising.

The Forest frequently flirts with perfection. A fantastic and engrossing survival-horror experience from start to finish.

With enough tweaks to make the game feel fresh, and enough of the same formula to keep the game comfortable, this is a great Total War entry.

Cute and relatable, and very enjoyable in small, perfectly formed chunks. Much like each new Sword of Ditto!

A near-enlightening shooter experience held back by big-disclaimer co-op and dark-grey microtransactions.

An ambitious game that manages to pack in a beautiful open world, complex survival challenges, and lots of teeth. [Issue#270, p.59]

A retro game that delivers more wonderful gameplay than nostalgia. [Issue#270, p.58]

Rise & Fall doesn't reinvent Civ VI but it does expand its repertoire in meaningful ways. [Issue#270, p.56]

First and foremost a game, the anthropology lessons are happy to sit in the background. [Issue#270, p.55]

An excellent fighting game, even if you're not a fan of Dragon Ball. [Issue#270, p.54]

A wonderful, strange, sad trek through the myth of America. [Issue#270, p.52]

A smart, satisfying puzzler wrapped in an equally smart, satisfying narrative layer. [Issue#269, p.64]

Nioh successfully reinvents Souls with deeper combat and skill trees. [Issue#269, p.58]

Like Leicester winning the Premiere League, FM18 Touch knocks over its more fancied rival. [Issue#269, p.56]

The lack of focus can be frustrating, but the world is so interesting that it'll draw you back in. [Issue#269, p.55]

A well designed competitive brawler that separates itself from the crowd. Battlerite is as rewarding as it is addictive. [Issue#269, p.54]

A compelling narrative experience, structured like a classic science fiction short story in which you can drive a sentient vacuum cleaner around.

You'll laugh, you'll die, you'll hurl yourself back into this satanic enterprise again and again. [Issue#268, p.70]

Stealth-action reinvented as easy-to-digest open world RPG-action. [Issue#268, p.68]

A brilliant, detailed racing game that stays true to the series lineage, for better and for worse. [Issue#268, p.64]

Full of funny moments and some great new mechanics but doesn't quite feel like it lives up to its own potential. [Issue#268, p.56]

There is a lot of very satisfying shooting to be found in Destiny 2. [Issue#268, p.54]

There are a few technical problems with Wolfenstein II, and occasionally the story gets a little too grim, but it's still a pure joy to play. [Issue#268, p.51]

Despite a few issues with pacing, Hand of Fate 2 crafts an atmosphere based on its predecessor, but also full of surprises. You will want to spend hours playing games within games within this game, even as the Dealer taunts you for your missteps.

A gorgeous action-adventure that transports you to a magical world. [Issue#267, p.74]

If the first episode of Before the Storm is anything to go by, Deck Nine has constructed a deep, heartfelt adventure. [Issue#267, p.72]

There may not be much in the way of story, but Death of the Outsider is a fine farewell to Dunwall. [Issue#267, p.71]

An amazing looking game that will punish you. And you'll like it. [Issue#267, p.65]

There's a career mode and you can massage the tyres yourself. Or do this. [Issue#267, p.60]

While it may look something like Minecraft, Rogue Islands is definitely its own, very enjoyable beast. [Issue#267, p.56]

A fantastic return to form that will only get better with the inevitable post-release content-drops. But even out of the box, this is Total War at its best. [Issue#267, p.54]

Old-school charm with modern mechanics makes for one of the best RPG experiences in ages.

Though not without problems, Songbringer is a charming, challenging and addictive old fashioned ARPG. [Issue#266, p.64]

Flawed but satisfying combination of epic turn-based tactical gameplay and incredible fidelity to the source material. [Issue#266, p.62]

The world of Adol keeps you at arm's length, but the intricate and clever fighting will pull you right in. [Issue#266, p.56]

A bold, ambitious step forward for the - hnngh - "walking simulator." [Issue#266, p.54]

Solid gameplay helps you stick around for more soccer jokes. [Issue#265, p.64]

A beautiful, melancholy, emotional sports RPG visual novel thing. [Issue#265, p.51]

A brief, gentle puzzle adventure tinged with melancholy. [Issue#264, p.71]

A highly detailed look at a period of history that still manages to fascinate gamers after all these years. [Issue#264, p.69]

Writhing out of its niche, slithering, roiling tentacles endlessly grasping for the larger audience it most definitely deserves. [Issue#264, p.64]

The story is great but the surfeit of ideas means that none are fleshed out particularly well. [Issue#264, p.63]

A tense and demanding procedurally-generated story-telling device. [Issue#264, p.62]

The online game is excellent, but the lack of some beloved features is very irksome. [Issue#264, p.59]

Thanks to the addition of magic, Mirage breathes new life into the competitive melee arena. [Issue#263, p.71]

Not Platinum Games greatest title, but still an absolute blast. [Issue#263, p.68]

Definitely worth the price of admission. Runic Rampage is simple, moreish dungeon bashing. [Issue#263, p.64]

Despite some pacing and story flaws, the thoughtful, tactical combat is always engrossing. [Issue#263, p.58]

A great game of action and exploration, with rich, interlocking mechanics. May be a little bit derivative, but a tonne of fun nonetheless. [Issue#263, p.56]

Rime is gorgeous, gentle and sad journey through a strange land. Let it wash over you. [Issue#263, p.51]

A mash of genres that feels like a classic game that never was.

Creepy and cute in equal measure, Little Nightmares is a short but tense ride. [Issue#262, p.65]

When it's at half price or less thanks to a Steam sale, grab it. [Issue#262, p.64]

Sometimes the randomness gets in the way, but otherwise Asura is a blast. [Issue#262, p.63]

Brilliant execution of a unique premise. A definite contender for game of the year so far. [Issue#262, p.61]

Outlast 2 may have proven to be controversial, but it's also proven to be a genuinely unnerving survival horror game. [Issue#262, p.60]

A deep tactical - and strategic - RPG. [Issue#262, p.58]

A warm, moving tale of alienation and redemption in the era of late stage capitalism.

Sometimes frustrating but always compelling, Nier: Automata is a wondrous and strange experience that could only ever be a game. [Issue#261, p.60]

Enough of the classic Mass Effect, with enough new mechanics to keep the game fresh. [Hollingworth; Issue#261, p.55]

A challenging, nuanced and beautifully made exploration platformer resides beneath the charming, cutesy hand painted graphics. [Issue#260, p.63]

The 16th game in the Tales series is also the most adult. Who would have thunk it? [Issue#260, p.62]

If destroying Nazi testicles is your thing, then look no further. [Issue#260, p.58]

Simple but effective puzzling bolstered by an excellent soundtrack. [Issue#259, p.61]

The best Resident Evil game in years is only bogged down by the blatantly RE bits. [Issue#259, p.58]

Lewd, crude, and possibly dangerous to know, Shadow Warriors 2 is nonetheless a rollicking first person shooter full of boomsticks and gibs.

With The Coalition at the reins Gears is in safe hands, and we’re genuinely intrigued to see what happens next.

Intense anti-grav racing for the purist who values speed and control over all distractions.

A clever and accessible combat system masks a brilliant meta commentary. [Issue#258, p.63]

Over the top hacking action combined with open world exploration, but with a social conscience and a very welcome sense of humor. [Issue#258, p.60]

Simple controls and deep mechanics combine to make a seriously great puzzle experience. [Issue#258, p.58]

Weak story notwithstanding, Arkane Studios has again delivered a truly excellent stealth action game. [Issue#258, p.53]

Excellent flight controls make this an intuitive simulation, while elegant graphics and an engaging soundtrack pull you further in to the experience. [Issue#257, p.60]

Has DICE made the Great War Great again? Well, it's certainly delivered a fresh-feeling shooter in a very saturated market. But the missing modes are felt. [Issue#257, p.58]

An all but perfect condensation of what makes rhythm action good. [Issue#257, p.56]

While Civ VI can feel like a greatest hits collection, plus a b-sides, remixes and rarities disc, 25 years on its core gameplay still stands the test of time. [Issue#257, p.51]

A love letter to the joy of exploration and randomness. [Issue#256, p.64]

Klang may be short, but it's a hell of a lot of frantic rhythm action fun while it lasts. [Issue#256, p.62]

Room to grow, but a triumphant return that shows Blizzard is serious about restoring WoW to its former glory. [Issue#256, p.58]

Despite some flaws and stability issues, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided is an engrossing RPG rich in atmosphere. [Issue#255, p.53]

Short for what you're paying, Fated is nonetheless a prime example that VR is not just about flashy action and virtual heroics. [Issue#254, p.69]

If you liked Lemmings but thought it could do with more brain munching, this is the game for you. [Issue#254, p.68]

It's a masterpiece, guaranteed to have players flocking to forums to discuss the ending and try to unravel with it all means. [Issue#254, p.62]

A fun puzzle platformer that replaces jumping with a flying head and body-snatching. [Issue#254, p.60]

Even though it's a linear game, Abzu offers a sense of freedom to rival any sandbox. [Issue#254, p.56]

Beating the shit out of incoming musical notes has never been this much fun. [Issue#252, p.70]

An excellent port of a great reboot of a beloved fighting game. [Issue#252, p.69]

Beautiful, whimsical, difficult and brutal, Ori and the Blind Forest is a thoroughly engrossing platforming experience. [Issue#252, p.]

A slightly flawed version of each, but still an epic combination of two great franchises. [Issue#252, p.54]

Another fine example of Blizzard polish. We can't wait to see what they have planned for the future. [Issue#252, p.49]

The mechanics aren't always calibrated to work seamlessly with the difficulty, but even so, HLD is a stunning indie masterpiece. [Issue#251, p.65]

Although the story is a definite middle section, the strategy and stakes of Banner Saga 2 are greatly improved. [Issue#251, p.64]

A little too abrupt to be entirely satisfying, 1979 Revolution is still a powerful and memorable slice of history. [Issue#251, p.60]