Cairn is more than a remarkably gripping mountain-climbing game. It's also a deeply affecting narrative of anguish, loss, and the steep cost of obsession.
Taking cues from the likes of Hollow Knight and Ori, this punishing platforming and exploration game is well worth your time if you're up for a big challenge.
Lies of P uses the familiar, the highlights, and the lessons learned from the authors of the Soulslike subgenre to create something unique, fascinating, and exhilarating.
NBA 2K24 feels like a dull, lopsided blowout as opposed to a memorable, adrenaline-inducing affair like the ones cover star Kobe Bryant often blessed us with throughout his career.
Enjoyment can be found for those with the patience and fandom to fireman carry them along, but WrestleQuest's imaginative ideas die by a thousand cuts that hold Muchacho Man and his friends back from world title contention.
Armored Core VI doesn’t revolutionize the mech action formula, but refines it to create one of the fastest, best-looking, and most approachable games of its kind.
The improvements to the fundamental gameplay in Madden NFL 24 continue to pay dividends with some of the most authentic football the series has ever seen, but the user interface and poorly implemented features wipe out any forward progress.
Blasphemous 2 takes inspiration from those that came before it, but by intertwining a gorgeous art style, enticing exploration, and rewarding combat, it rises above the horde of Castlevania-inspired action titles.
Whether you choose peace or something less savory, Baldur’s Gate 3’s intricate writing and impressive emphasis on experimentation make it one of the most unforgettable games in the genre.
Between the cast's fantastic performances, a fun twist on Greek mythology, and a genuinely novel game mechanic, Stray Gods is a game I didn't know I needed, but one I'm happy to give a standing ovation to.
Exoprimal may be feature-thin, but its creative subversion of expectations impressed me and I hope others study its approach to telling a robust narrative within a multiplayer framework.
Illusion Island doesn’t overhaul the platformer genre, but its distinctive no-combat focus on simply moving through Monoth keeps the trip amusing, brisk, and gratifying.
Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons has some aggravating design choices that prevent it from soaring as high as it could, but this is a respectable return for the Lee brothers.
Remnant II ultimately doesn’t do enough to separate itself from the genres and games that inspired it, but its third-person shooter take on mechanics and ideas borrowed from the Souls games continues to be solid.
Mr. Run and Jump may look unassuming on the surface, but the challenges that await will have you screaming in frustration up until the moment they have you shouting in triumph.
