There are few joys more vibrant and intense than that felt when playing Super Mario Odyssey. The 3D sandbox platformer, released in late 2017, is an absolute masterpiece of design on every front. The controls are perfectly tight and smooth, promising a towering skill ceiling while remaining accessible to players…

Death Stranding, a narrative-heavy action-adventure walking sim from famed visionary Hideo Kojima, is exceptional because despite taking place in a grim post-apocalyptic earth that’s haunted by visions of the dead, the game never feels too dour for its own good. Characters are equal parts severe and goofy, offering genuine moments…

Dark Souls. For anyone familiar with the games industry, that name sparks immediate recognition, admiration, and heated debate. This classic title permanently altered the gaming scene, inspiring countless imitators and endless arguments about the role of difficulty in video games. But no matter their opinion on the monumental action RPG…

Survival Horror is always a fascinating genre to write about because it’s just so rare that we get games of this ilk. Pioneered by Alone in the Dark and later Resident Evil, entries in this field have never quite penetrated the mainstream market, and for good reason: Creeping through abandoned…

Games criticism is a complex skill that asks the critic to evaluate a multi-faceted media experience and compress it down into binary opinions. The result is often an intellectually-competent piece of writing that doesn’t actually serve its audience with any level of weight. Rather, criticism should focus on better relaying…

In the current troubled state of AAA gaming, there’s something inherently cozy and refreshing about small indie projects created by passionate developers with a handle on their own ambition. Unto The End is one such project. …

Within the first five minutes of playing The Last Guardian, the latest minimalist adventure from Team Ico, I was in love. This is a game that understands its own strength — The bond between its two main characters — and builds an unforgettable experience around it. Released on December 6…

Nioh 2 is, unlike many modern games, solely absorbing due to a singular experience and gameplay promise. Although it heartily includes the standard gaming trappings of a dramatic narrative, flashy cutscenes, and countless stat points and other customization options, there’s only one thing you truly play Nioh for: the endlessly…

Mutazione, developed by De Gute Fabrik and released in 2019 for modern platforms, is a quaintly enjoyable point-and-click adventure game whose enjoyment depends entirely on the player’s patience and mindset. The game follows the exploits of a young girl named Kai who travels to an isolated and mutated island village…