The premiere interactive schlock horror series has been on a roll in recent years, but combining its two successful formulas into one game was a huge risk. It mostly pays off in Requiem, a double feature that's one part terrifying suspense and one part gory action movie. The connective tissue is the weakest part, with a bombastic story that struggles to digest 30 years of nonsense while also moving things forward, but it's nonetheless a thrilling ride throughout.
Depending on what you want to do second-to-second, DK's latest outing can be a hugely impressive do-what-you-want sandbox, a comforting collectathon platformer, a series of lightly puzzling challenges, or a goofy Nintendo world to explore and be surprised by. But taken together, it's a masterpiece that's sure to absorb newcomers and series veterans alike. The destructible terrain is a literally ground-breaking innovation that makes each player's game unique, while the story and characters reposition DK's world in a way that's endearing and exciting, but still respects his past forty years of history.
By keeping most of the driving fundamentals, but greatly expanding your competitive options and wildly rethinking the approach to circuits and locations, Nintendo has transformed Mario Kart into a modern yet utterly charming platform for social racing or serious competition. The open-world structure and 24-player races make for an air of chaotic road tripping, yet one that doubles down on the appeal and nostalgia of Mario's wonderful world.
Split Fiction evolves Hazelight's co-operative and excellently manic two-player gauntlet gameplay, last seen in It Takes Two, this time also blending sci-fi and fantasy worlds to make for one of the great modern split-screen experiences. However, the cringey writing and one-note storytelling is almost more grating this time around, given the entire narrative is supposed to revolve around authorship.
Obsidian has created something exceptionally special with Avowed. A smaller-scale Skyrim-like set in the Pillars of Eternity universe, it's an entirely accessible first-person RPG that ditches a lot of obnoxious fluff and doubles down on what makes big role-playing games great. The writing and storytelling is phenomenal, the crunchy combat lets you make a sick build whether you're into swords, axes, guns or spells, and the problems your character faces feel unexpectedly touching and relevant. It's a perfect entry into this genre for new players and the RPG-curious, but top-tier comfort food for us old-heads.
Film-to-game adaptations with this level of clarity and vision are incredibly rare, with The Great Circle letting players inhabit a pitch-perfect Indy in his prime, complete with all the whip-cracking and fascist-punching that implies. But even for those unfamiliar with the franchise, this is a seriously satisfying period pulp adventure.
Echoes of Wisdom marks a welcome change in protagonist and introduces a brilliant new approach to items and combat, but it’s otherwise business as usual for the series; this is a beautiful, joyful and surprising fantasy world to explore, with just the right mix of nostalgia and innovation. It's a stellar debut for a new heroine (despite her name being in all the series titles), and an instant classic.
A streamlined and multi-planet take on Ubisoft's familiar open-world action, paired with an original-trilogy-era Star Wars tale that follows an up-and-coming scoundrel rather than a Jedi or Imperial, sounds like a recipe for an absolutely incredible game. Outlaws, though, is uneven. Some of the settings, exploration, heists and adventures are everything a franchise fan could want in a sandbox scum and villainy game. Unfortunately, a lot of rough edges and a severe lack of storytelling depth holds Outlaws back from its true potential.
This flashy package makes great use of Nintendo's classic catalogue to spark nostalgia, break the games down for a new audience and make the joys of speedrunning accessible. But once you've given your best effort in the 150 or so challenges there's not a lot to do, besides local couch competitions and checking in for the weekly trials.
With strong inspiration from cinematic horror classics like The Thing, The Poseidon Adventure and Alien, this stunning but gruesome tale makes the most of its industrial location, Scottish cast and 1970s setting. The chilling atmosphere can be dampened in places by the heavily scripted, linear structure, and it feels like story beats could have hit harder. But the emotional core and frequent thrills make it well worth a dip.
