Marcus Stewart

Fast-paced, split-second action, satisfying gunplay, and delectable destructibility turn Anger Foot from a one-kick pony into one of the year’s most exciting, challenging, and tough-to-put-down adrenaline rushes.

Shadow of the Erdtree is one hell of a mic drop that further cements this adventure as one of the finest ever crafted.

Though Hauntii offers simplistic twin-stick shooter fun, it shines brightest by transforming the anxiety and fear surrounding death into an alluring and comforting reflection of the joy of life.

Gripping storytelling, refined gameplay, and a jaw-dropping presentation make for a more wholly satisfying sophomore outing.

Indika is bizarre, surprising, humorous, and captivating. It's a memorable journey down the rabbit hole of faith worth exploring.

Like wearing a warm, blood-stained blanket, Crow Country is a fun and comforting homage to the survival horror games of yesteryear.

You don't need a green thumb to enjoy Botany Manor's clever puzzle-solving and serene, whimsical atmosphere.

I was as captivated by the Open Roads' mystery at the start, but this road trip peters out after a few miles.

2K's yearly WWE offering may not bowl over diehard players in the broad sense, but its incremental updates and continued polish make it the strongest contender since the franchise's comeback.

Balatro is an engrossing and entertaining deckbuilding roguelike and one of the best games of the year.

As a package, Tekken 8 doesn’t reach the heights of recent rivals, but when the match begins, and you’re exploiting openings to unleash flashy combo strings and air juggles, it remains a thrilling, if very familiar, one-on-one experience.

The Talos Principle II is a thoughtful and well-made puzzler with fascinating social, artistic, and scientific ideas that we’ll be thinking about long after the solution to its final riddle has faded from memory.

Despite a lot of rough edges, RoboCop: Rogue City is a respectable and entertaining return to the limelight for Alex Murphy.

Jusant's ingenious climbing mechanics, inviting presentation, and alluring air of mystery and isolation make for a rewarding expedition and Don't Nod's best title since the original Life is Strange.

Sonic Superstars offers a solid return to form for the series’ oldest and most ardent followers, with some hedgehog-sized potholes along the way.

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.

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.

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.

AEW: Fight Forever mostly delivers on providing enjoyable arcade-style wrestling. However, the overall package is far from elite, making it a mid-card competitor with a main event price tag.

Dordogne's lovely visuals and creative, playful mechanics make for a largely enjoyable French getaway.