What We Said: "Independent of the hype or the series’ legacy, Uncharted 4 is worth the recommendation on its own merits. From the tremendous environments to the incredible character work to the globetrotting story, the design of the game is second to none, setting a new bar for interactive experiences. It’s true that Naughty Dog puts a lot more stock into story and character, but even then Uncharted 4 is pure, unadulterated fun . Those who want to dig deeper, however, will find a story that’s engaging, mechanics that are refined, animations that are technically excellent, and writing that’s mature but also playful. In every way the game feels like the perfect send-off to a beloved character and a major Sony mascot. Uncharted 4 is the best game of this generation, proving once again that Naughty Dog is filled with master storytellers and brilliant designe
However, the combat of Octopath Traveler is the real standout, featuring simple-yet-deep mechanics that allow for some truly engaging battles. The boss fights of this game are major standouts, featuring some nail-biting battles that are bound to be quite entertaining for any JRPG
Why You Should Play It: Tom Clancy’s The Division has experienced some soaring highs and crushing lows since its launch, but either way it’s hard to discredit the hype surrounding the game. Exploring evacuated New York City and collecting loot was an instant appeal to the SLG game tutorials, and the promise of a deep endgame experience kept us grinding away. If nothing else, the introduction of The Division ’s Dark Zone should stand out as a unique approach to PvP and one that we hope more games "borrow." Yes, the game has struggled to keep its players happy, but great strides have been made to improve the core experience. And now there is a lot of content for newcomers to expl
Why You Should Play It: Souls purists have a lot to say about Dark Souls 3, but few can deny it is not a satisfying experience. The way the game ties back into the lore, the improvements to the combat and the deeper customization, and the visual style all add up to a mix of fantasy and horror that few games have ever delivered before. Admittedly, Dark Souls 3 is only going to appeal to a certain subset of gamers, but thanks to Bloodborne that cohort has grown considerably. Everyone is going to die a lot, but Dark Souls 3 sends the series off with a b
It would be impossible to talk about great RPGs on the Switch without mentioning the masterpiece that is Xenoblade Chronicles . The series has certainly witnessed a resurgence of sorts after the botched development of Xenogears and the muted success of Xenosaga , with players quickly getting into what is easily one of the greatest JRPGs of all t
It's a testament to the longevity of The World Ends With You that it's still somehow managed to be a highly playable title since its inception on the DS, serving as a great — and rather lengthy — romp that players can definitely enjoy from start to
The XCom games are famous for their engaging squad-based combat. The games have always featured a large collection of alien types – each with an ability that players must keep in mind if they want all of their soldiers to make it back to base in one piece. Some of these aliens can fly, some are advanced robotic killing machines, some are basically living tanks, but the deadliest of them have psionic abilities that are frustrating at best – and absolutely devastating at worst. These are the most difficult alien types a player can expect when playing the X-Com titles; minus the unique types like the Uber Ethereal or Warlo
It's only the midway point but 2016 is already looking to be a great year for gaming, filled with high profile successes, unexpected surprises, and a really strong lineup of indies. In fact, the first half of the year has delivered some truly impressive interactive experiences, many of which will likely stand out for years to come. And so, without further ado, here are the top 10 games of 2016 so
In short, it's a system that finally forces players to shuffle their rosters as the game progresses, and a clever solution to those who send the same soldiers into battle again and again. The challenges of maintaining a healthy roster of skilled soldiers adds plenty of surprising depth to the XCOM experie
While the hand-drawn art style might be the first thing that players will notice in this Viking-themed SRPG, the story definitely plays a major role in keeping fans hooked all the way to the end as w
The base XCOM games are a blast, full of deep tactical gameplay and a decent amount of customization. Gamers have expanded even further on the game through mods over the years. Some are basic UI tweaks or simple gameplay adjustments; others are major overhauls that could be considered spin-offs all on their own. Here is a collection of some of the most essential mods to make any further War of the Chosen playthroughs feel fresh and