https://gamerant.com The most-trusted video game reviews and ratings from the Game Rant experts, covering PC, PS4, Xbox, Switch, and mobile! Fri, 04 Aug 2023 07:03:16 GMT en-US hourly 60 It has been almost three years since Larian Studios announced that it would be tossing the early access build of Baldur’s Gate 3 to its ravenous fans. Its release boosted the hunger for a new entry in a series that undoubtedly helped the RPG genre cement its legacy in the gaming landscape. With Baldur’s Gate 3’s full release, a new era for the title begins in earnest, showering players with a truly awe-inspiring amount of information, options, and opportunities to be had in a game that never seems to lack something to do.

]]> Fri, 04 Aug 2023 07:03:16 GMT https://gamerant.com/baldurs-gate-3-review/ Telltale Games returns with The Expanse: A Telltale Series, its first new property since being acquired by LCG Entertainment. Developed by Deck Nine Games, the team behind the hugely successful Life is Strange franchise, The Expanse: A Telltale Series - Episode 1, titled Archer's Paradox, quickly gets to work emotionally investing players in its world and unique characters. Telltale's latest effort re-introduces many of the elements that fans loved in the past, but quickly stands out from the studio's prior work, as its acting, storytelling, and core mechanics mark a significant evolution of Telltale's tried-and-true formula. These improvements, along with a truly gripping narrative, make The Expanse - Episode 1 a must-play for fans of both Telltale and James S.A. Corey’s hit book and television series.

]]> Mon, 31 Jul 2023 08:18:50 GMT https://gamerant.com/the-expanse-a-telltale-series-episode-1-review/ Over the past few years, Sony has been bringing some of its biggest PlayStation-exclusive games to PC. Ports like God of War and Horizon Zero Dawn hit it out of the park, but there have been some misfires as well, like the lackluster Last of Us Part 1 PC port. Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is the latest PlayStation-published title to make the jump to PC, and it has thankfully avoided the same pitfalls as The Last of Us to deliver a mostly high-quality port for PC gamers.

]]> Sat, 29 Jul 2023 07:35:24 GMT https://gamerant.com/ratchet-and-clank-rift-apart-pc-review/ Equal parts whimsy and charm, Disney Illusion Island is a platformer that makes it nearly impossible not to love. Designed with a staggering amount of reverence and care by Dlala Studios, Illusion Island puts the “Fab Four” of Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy in players’ control and sends them off on a platforming adventure that is a treat for both the eyes and the reflexes.

]]> Thu, 27 Jul 2023 12:00:24 GMT https://gamerant.com/disney-illusion-island-review/ 2019’s Remnant: From the Ashes was an unlikely hit when it came out, but it was clear that Gunfire Games still had room to expand and refine the game's best elements in order to create something truly special. Deemed “Dark Souls with guns” by its cult fan base, the first Remnant did an admirable job of mixing Soulslike design principles with third-person shooting mechanics and packaging the whole thing with a procedurally generated twist. Remnant 2 now goes deeper, bigger, and bolder with all of these elements, but it often stretches itself too thin when pursuing these new heights.

]]> Thu, 20 Jul 2023 15:03:42 GMT https://gamerant.com/remnant-2-review/ The Game Awards 2022 was home to all kinds of massive game reveals and big blockbuster announcements, but one of the most exciting games featured at the show was the creative indie game Viewfinder. A first-person puzzle game that has drawn comparisons to titles like Superliminal and The Witness, Viewfinder lets players bring pictures to life by placing them into the game world. It's difficult to properly explain Viewfinder's mind-bending gimmick on paper and do it justice, but rest assured that it will leave most players amazed at the possibilities.

]]> Mon, 17 Jul 2023 12:00:21 GMT https://gamerant.com/viewfinder-review/ Aliens: Dark Descent gets a lot of things right and has some interesting ideas, but for all its successes, it still manages to get in its own way more often than it should. It's full of fun and tense action, but bugs, doddering exploration, and too much waiting around slow things down. However, if players can power through its barricades, Aliens: Dark Descent will be waiting on the other side with some rewarding, tactical gameplay.

]]> Sun, 02 Jul 2023 09:40:45 GMT https://gamerant.com/aliens-dark-descent-review/ On the surface, Dave the Diver is a game that seems like a simple diving simulator filled with fish to catch and things to gather from the ocean floor. This deception works so well that players randomly stumbling upon the game might not think twice about letting Dave the Diver swim on by. But the game offers much more than just a pixilated diving experience, and actually dips its toes into a few other varieties of genres that make the game as a whole that much more enjoyable. From fishing and farming to running a business with employees, developer Mintrocket has created a single-player experience that’s fun to dive into from beginning to end, with many surprises and a cast of zany characters to be found throughout. It may sound fishy, but Dave the Diver may very well be a sleeper hit and protagonist Dave is one of the most wholesome leads to hit the gaming world in a long time.

]]> Wed, 28 Jun 2023 09:45:33 GMT https://gamerant.com/dave-the-diver-review/ While the most famous Crash Bandicoot games may be the titular marsupial's single-player adventures, there have been many attempts at multiplayer Crash games over the years, with varying degrees of success. There have been multiple Crash Bandicoot kart racers, party games like Crash Bash, and the cooperative modes found in Crash Bandicoot 4, to name a few. The latest attempt at a Crash Bandicoot multiplayer game is Crash Team Rumble, an online-only competitive platformer that can be a lot of fun to play, but has questionable longevity.

]]> Mon, 26 Jun 2023 23:49:20 GMT https://gamerant.com/crash-team-rumble-review/ Final Fantasy 16 is likely to be one of the most divisive entries in the JRPG series, but it is also one of its best. Square Enix and developer Creative Business Unit III have crafted a sweeping fantasy adventure that is more action-heavy than any previous entry, while still mixing in a political backdrop and a larger-than-life circumstance that raises the stakes. It’s Final Fantasy of a different flavor, but it is just as compelling, engaging, and exciting.

]]> Wed, 21 Jun 2023 14:00:22 GMT https://gamerant.com/final-fantasy-16-review/ Marvelous Inc. is giving a new generation the opportunity to settle down in the peaceful world of Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life, the latest remake of the classic GameCube farming sim. The Harvest Moon (Story of Seasons) franchise can seem overwhelming to newcomers, partly because it’s been around for nearly 30 years and comprises 29 mainline and 14 spinoff games. The confusion is compounded by the series’ 2014 rebranding, when former publisher Natsume maintained the rights to the name Harvest Moon and new publisher Xseed had to come up with a new title.

]]> Tue, 20 Jun 2023 13:01:19 GMT https://gamerant.com/story-of-seasons-a-wonderful-life-review/ Bloober Team has solidified itself as one of the premiere horror game developers in the entire industry, a reputation that started with 2016's Layers of Fear. Taking its cues from Hideo Kojima's PT, the first Layers of Fear was a first-person horror game set in a haunted house. It was followed by DLC and a sequel that have now all been brought together in one reimagined collection.

]]> Thu, 15 Jun 2023 16:00:19 GMT https://gamerant.com/layers-of-fear-2023-review/ Side-scrolling adventure Planet of Lana is a puzzle platformer that gently guides players across a gorgeously-realized world. In the wake of an extra-terrestrial invasion, a young girl must pursue her sister's captor while evading robots, outsmarting monsters, and, of course, playing the occasional giant wind instrument. While most of the puzzles in this stunning indie game aren't too difficult, their light challenge provides a persistently chill experience. And really, puzzles aren't the main attraction here anyway.

]]> Wed, 07 Jun 2023 20:53:45 GMT https://gamerant.com/planet-of-lana-review/ Frictional Games has made a name for itself as one of the industry's best horror developers, and deservedly so. The original Amnesia breathed new life into the genre at a time when its leaders were going with a more action-oriented approach, and the work Frictional has done since then has consistently been great. Amnesia: The Bunker is Frictional's latest take on its first-person horror series, and while it deserves credit for taking risks and shaking up the established formula, it's easily the weakest entry yet.

]]> Mon, 05 Jun 2023 13:00:18 GMT https://gamerant.com/amnesia-the-bunker-review/ Star Trek is one of the few iconic IPs that almost any could identify from the name alone. The futuristic tale of the Federation usually touches on social themes and positive outlooks on hope and diversity with the science fiction setting enriching its characters through political and personal relationships. While Star Trek: Resurgence carries certain levels of this, its overall performance and mechanics feel like a game developed several generations ago.

]]> Thu, 01 Jun 2023 07:43:31 GMT https://gamerant.com/star-trek-resurgence-review/ The freezing and unabating snowstorm whips around the player as they trudge through the growing snow. Giant wolves, almost as tall as a man, are lurking just outside the lantern light before attacking with fangs and claws. The player stumbles into a small town, seeking respite from the storm - only to find it carries a dark and twisted secret that could lead to the end of the world. This is Diablo 4, and its bloody and dark-Gothic tale created by Blizzard is just beginning.

]]> Tue, 30 May 2023 16:00:18 GMT https://gamerant.com/diablo-4-review/ Once, Street Fighter was the leading franchise of fighting games. It had enough clout that SF4's success pulled the entire genre out of a dark age, but this relationship crumbled in 2016 with the bare-bones release of Street Fighter 5. Among other controversies, it lacked conventional arcade and story modes at launch, and the bugs in its rollback netcode were never fully squashed. Leading competitors overtook Street Fighter in casual audience popularity, and SF5's gradual improvements couldn't regain lost ground. A full console generation later, Street Fighter 6 needed to not only prove its worth as a new fighting game but also mend the wounds its predecessor left.

]]> Tue, 30 May 2023 07:05:16 GMT https://gamerant.com/street-fighter-6-review/ In 2019 Daedalic Entertainment and Nacon announced The Lord of the Rings: Gollum, a stealth platformer set in The Lord of the Rings universe where players take control of the series' most tragic character, Gollum. It’s not every day that a video game adaption of J.R.R. Tolkien’s works comes around, so when Daedalic announced a stealth spin on the Lord of the Rings universe after primarily making point-and-click adventure games for almost two decades, some questions were raised about how this was all going to turn out. Unfortunately, Gollum is one of the worst games that this franchise has seen so far.

]]> Mon, 29 May 2023 03:48:12 GMT https://gamerant.com/the-lord-of-the-rings-gollum-review/ The 90s were full of fast-paced first-person shooter games where players explored 3D environments populated by menacing 2D sprites. The sprites were a necessity born from the power of PC hardware at the time, and eventually, FPS games dumped them in favor of full 3D models. Even though many modern FPS games offer cutting-edge graphics, there are still nostalgic fans who miss the days of Doom's 2D sprite monsters. Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun from Auroch Digital and Focus Entertainment was made with those nostalgic FPS fans in mind.

]]> Tue, 23 May 2023 15:00:20 GMT https://gamerant.com/warhammer-40k-boltgun-review/ Many video games have a tertiary layer of social or environmental commentary that can be accidentally or even intentionally overlooked. But some developers use games as a medium to convey a very clear message, and indie platformer After Us by developer Piccolo is one such missive.

]]> Tue, 23 May 2023 15:00:18 GMT https://gamerant.com/after-us-review/ With the weight of decades bearing down upon the franchise, not to mention re-release after re-release, it's a small wonder that the 6 games contained in Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster can still be made relevant, interesting, and palatable to modern audiences. Nevertheless, that's just what's been done. The games have not received major overhauls, but the versions presented in Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster are a culmination of the many different editions preceding it.

]]> Sun, 07 May 2023 09:44:51 GMT https://gamerant.com/final-fantasy-pixel-remaster-review-ps4-and-switch/ Indie studio Cococucumber's first voxel game was Riverbond, a co-op action RPG that earned mixed reviews from critics. It followed that up with Echo Generation, an RPG with serious Stranger Things vibes that was decidedly more well-received. The third and final game in Cococucumber's voxel trilogy is now upon us in the form of Ravenlok, an action-adventure game that is easily the developer's best work to date.

]]> Wed, 03 May 2023 15:00:41 GMT https://gamerant.com/ravenlok-review/ Redfall has a simple premise: kill vampires and stop the threat they pose to a small town in Massachusetts. This simplicity runs through every aspect of the game, whether that's the story or gameplay. Arkane Studios games are typically known for their indirect storytelling approach, their meticulously detailed locales, and generally flexible game and level design, but Redfall foregoes a lot of these elements for a mostly straightforward story, a simple open-world town, and more rigid quests.

]]> Tue, 02 May 2023 00:05:16 GMT https://gamerant.com/redfall-review/ Fans of indie games have another wacky and fun title to add to their wish lists, thanks to Kenny Sun’s roguelite platformer Mr. Sun’s Hatbox. Published by Raw Fury, the game has an amusing premise, an addictive gameplay loop, and tosses in a huge helping of frustration for good measure.

]]> Sun, 30 Apr 2023 22:27:29 GMT https://gamerant.com/mr-suns-hatbox-review/ In 2019, Respawn Entertainment and EA launched Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, a game that mixed Uncharted-like platforming, Souls-like combat, and Metroid-style exploration with a love for the Star Wars franchise. Three years later, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor returns fans to A Galaxy Far, Far Away as they once again take on the role of Cal Kestis in a sequel that promises to be both bigger and better. Jedi: Survivor is often bigger but not always better and often feels like it's content with doing Fallen Order over again, warts and all, in a sequel that feels decidedly safe.

]]> Wed, 26 Apr 2023 15:00:16 GMT https://gamerant.com/star-wars-jedi-survivor-review/ When thinking about the boom Metroidvanias have had over the last several years, a few notable examples typically pop up, ranging from the highly popular Hollow Knight to more niche titles such as Momodora: Reverie Under Moonlight or Unsighted. These games have earned their place when it comes to well-regarded examples of their genre, and after spending about 30 hours playing Afterimage, there may very well be another title worth being part of the conversation.

]]> Tue, 25 Apr 2023 07:05:17 GMT https://gamerant.com/afterimage-review/ The original Dead Island was trapped in development hell, and the sequel found itself in the exact same boat. Dead Island 2 has had a notoriously rough development cycle, with the project changing hands between multiple developers and ultimately taking nine years from its initial announcement to actually hit store shelves. Dead Island fans are used to waiting extended periods of time for games in the series, but the question is if Dead Island 2 was worth the wait.

]]> Tue, 18 Apr 2023 14:01:16 GMT https://gamerant.com/dead-island-2-review/ At first glance, it can be difficult to pinpoint just what Minecraft Legends is or what to expect from it. It has all the familiar elements that fans have come to expect from Minecraft, including its resource-gathering and building gameplay core, blocky-but-beautiful landscapes, and procedurally generated underbelly that fuels the whole experience. But that is all simply the foundation of what Mojang considers to be an “action-strategy” game with Minecraft Legends.

]]> Fri, 14 Apr 2023 08:29:22 GMT https://gamerant.com/minecraft-legends-review/ Hot Wheels: Rift Rally may not be the future of racing games, but it is a unique offshoot of it. Taking advantage of AR technology, Hot Wheels: Rift Rally combines a real-life remote control car and available living room space to create an experience that is surprisingly fun for the whole family.

]]> Wed, 12 Apr 2023 22:06:30 GMT https://gamerant.com/hot-wheels-rift-rally-review/ Since the world of Tron was introduced in 1982 with the original movie release, the digital world of programs and users has always been ripe for further exploration. A smattering of movies, books, and video games over the years has delved into various aspects of its world with varying degrees of success, and now developer Bithell Games is adding its own original story into the electronic cityscape with the interactive visual novel Tron: Identity. The game contains a lot of what makes a visual novel good but also feels constrained by its nature as a short story and limited locales to visit. Fans of everything Tron will find an enjoyable experience for a few hours, but anyone not a fan of the IP or visual novels likely won’t find much to keep their attention.

]]> Tue, 11 Apr 2023 17:00:16 GMT https://gamerant.com/tron-identity-review/ Petoons Studio, the Barcelona-based developer of Curse of the Rats, aims to make family-friendly products to be enjoyed together, including toys, animation, and video games. Its latest Metroidvainia offering certainly fits that bill, with its nostalgic animation style, simple progression, and relatively easy combat. The simplicity and ease work in its favor, making Curse of the Sea Rats accessible to a wide range of players, yet not so trivial as to make it unchallenging. Unfortunately, several bugs and some odd choices make it somewhat cumbersome, especially toward the end.

]]> Fri, 07 Apr 2023 21:38:58 GMT https://gamerant.com/curse-of-the-sea-rats-review/ Road 96 was a surprise hit in 2021 that focused on several teenagers trying to cross the border from the autocratic Petria into a nation in the north, and now fans have a follow-up released in the form of a prequel aptly titled Road 96: Mile 0. The game follows Kaito, a teenage boy grieving the loss of a close friend who has since developed a deep bond with Zoe, an important character from Road 96. With one being the daughter of Petria's Oil Minister and the other being a boy from the oppressed working class, these two have highly contrasting backgrounds that somehow have managed to work against the odds.

]]> Thu, 06 Apr 2023 07:47:00 GMT https://gamerant.com/road-96-mile-0-review/ The original Last of Us game released in 2013 and was an immediate hit, spawning a franchise of its own that now includes a sequel, a record-breaking HBO adaptation, and more. For nearly a decade, anyone wanting to play The Last of Us video games for themselves has needed to own a PlayStation console, but that's finally changed with the PC port of The Last of Us Part 1.

]]> Sat, 01 Apr 2023 03:02:08 GMT https://gamerant.com/last-of-us-pc-review/ Square Enix’s Octopath Traveler 2, a traditional JRPG that was released in February 2023, is the third in a series that began in 2018. Created in collaboration with Japanese developer and publisher Acquire, the franchise immediately drew in fans of fantasy RPGs with its appealing graphical style called HD-2D. It combines retro-style character sprites reminiscent of the Super NES with layered environments and high-def visual effects. But the first game also attracted people through its unusual story presentation and engaging turn-based combat.

]]> Thu, 30 Mar 2023 05:11:16 GMT https://gamerant.com/octopath-traveler-2-review/ Most stories in video games tend to be focused around either grand adventures that span entire worlds, or smaller and more focused stories that might only take place in a single house. Then along comes a puzzle game like Storyteller that instead, wants players to craft the stories themselves. Even though it is a decidedly short experience, there is a certain amount of joy to be found in Storyteller's simple design.

]]> Wed, 22 Mar 2023 16:00:16 GMT https://gamerant.com/storyteller-review/ In 2005, Capcom released the original Resident Evil 4 and completely changed the industry. Resident Evil 4's impact on gaming was felt for years to come, innovating and popularizing new third-person shooter mechanics that directly influenced some of the biggest names in the business while inspiring horror games to take a more action-oriented approach. Resident Evil 4 is easily one of the most influential games of all time, and many would argue that it holds up fine today and some may wonder if a Resident Evil 4 remake is even necessary. After playing the Resident Evil 4 remake for themselves, fans will find that Capcom has somehow made a near-perfect game even better.

]]> Fri, 17 Mar 2023 07:05:16 GMT https://gamerant.com/resident-evil-4-remake-review/ The 2D action roguelike category of games is densely populated these days, especially as an influx of new indie titles over the last few years has continued to delight old and new fans alike. As such, it takes a little extra something to not only survive but flourish in one of gaming's oldest genres. Have a Nice Death manages to slice through the crowded field with gorgeous visuals, a plethora of weapons and spells, and fun boss and mini-boss fights that are difficult but somehow remain entertaining even after repeated play-throughs. It succeeds in standing out as a deeply enjoyable and rare treat, and Have a Nice Death should be added to most gamers' must-play list of titles launching during the month of March.

]]> Thu, 16 Mar 2023 13:00:17 GMT https://gamerant.com/have-a-nice-death-review/ WWE 2K20 was disastrous enough that WWE reportedly entertained the idea of partnering with another company for its future video games, and so the decision was made to give the developers extra time to make WWE 2K22 as good as it could be and get the franchise back on track. WWE 2K22 was the reinvention that the series desperately needed, but it was unclear if WWE 2K23 could keep the momentum going strong after switching back to an annual release schedule.

]]> Mon, 13 Mar 2023 11:00:15 GMT https://gamerant.com/wwe-2k23-review/ After about 15 years, Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse has finally left Japan and is being made available on all modern consoles. A collaborative effort between Koei Tecmo and Goichi Suda's studio Grasshopper Manufacture as well as being published by Nintendo, Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse was a 2008 Wii exclusive that most fans outside of Japan could only read about, and the few that played it had to know Japanese or install fan patches to understand the story. Now, everyone curious to play it will get to know how it holds up.

]]> Thu, 09 Mar 2023 01:58:08 GMT https://gamerant.com/fatal-frame-mask-of-the-lunar-eclipse-review/ With games like Nioh and Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin, Team Ninja has found itself delivering its own take on the soulslike by mixing genre fundamentals with expertly-crafted combat mechanics. Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty follows the same trend as previous entries from the studio, offering a challenging action RPG experience with a Team Ninja touch, but this time exploring combat foundations that Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice established four years ago. The end product is a fantastic combination of the two.

]]> Thu, 02 Mar 2023 11:00:15 GMT https://gamerant.com/wo-long-fallen-dynasty-review/ Housemarque's roguelike sci-fi shooter Returnal was a critical success when it first launched as a PlayStation 5 exclusive in 2021. With Returnal's positive reviews, it's no surprise that others would look to emulate the game's style. That's exactly what Scars Above seems to have done, but while the game looks like Returnal at a quick glance, it is nowhere near the quality of Housemarque's game.

]]> Tue, 28 Feb 2023 05:05:16 GMT https://gamerant.com/scars-above-review/ The first installment in the Final Fantasy series released in Japan in 1987, made its way West with a little help from Nintendo in 1990, and spawned a franchise that’s still going strong worldwide. Theatrhythm Final Bar Line is an aural celebration of that accomplishment, packed with hundreds of compositions from the various games, along with an extensive collection of artwork and even video. While Theatrhythm Final Bar Line is as ideal a birthday blowout as most fans might ask for, its delivery feels a bit uneven.

]]> Tue, 28 Feb 2023 04:11:32 GMT https://gamerant.com/theatrhythm-final-bar-line-review/ Atomic Heart has plenty going for it when booted up: a unique premise, a strong setting, and an interesting player character. At its core, Atomic Heart has a promising story and several design elements that make it stand out, but as it progresses players will realize that the game stretches out its best and worst parts until nothing good remains.

]]> Mon, 20 Feb 2023 13:00:18 GMT https://gamerant.com/atomic-heart-review/ Elderand is a 2D action platformer that takes place in a world beset by madness and cosmic horror. With a setting and story themes inspired by H.P. Lovecraft's work, it aims to combine the Cthulhu mythos with hallmarks of the Metroidvania genre like a connected world, challenging bosses, and unlockable paths. Despite some deliciously depraved cultish imagery and a slew of equipment options to add variety to the combat, Elderand is held back by its own reluctance to dive deep into its ancestry. It neither goes far enough into its Metroid roots nor its Lovecraftian themes to fully succeed.

]]> Sat, 18 Feb 2023 09:46:43 GMT https://gamerant.com/elderand-review/ Almost exactly nine years after its initial 2014 release exclusively in Japan, Like a Dragon: Ishin is finally being made available worldwide in the form of a remake that largely stays faithful to the original version, for both better and worse. As a whole, the samurai-themed spin-off of the Like a Dragon (formerly Yakuza in the West) games is a blast to play, but some strange technical issues are notable enough to hurt the overall experience.

]]> Fri, 17 Feb 2023 15:01:17 GMT https://gamerant.com/like-a-dragon-ishin-review/ Developed by Koei Tecmo and Omega Force, Wild Hearts is an exciting new entry in the hunting game genre that gets the fundamentals right and proves it can stand toe-to-toe with some of the genre’s long-standing greats. Previously, Omega Force’s work with Toukiden demonstrated that the studio could create a decent hunting experience, but a spark was missing to make the series truly special. With Wild Hearts, Omega Force has found that spark, and offers something new and compelling to the beast-hunting genre in the form of Karakuri.

]]> Thu, 16 Feb 2023 15:00:17 GMT https://gamerant.com/wild-hearts-review/ There are only a few games that truly capture the essence of being a legendary gunslinger in the wild west. It’s a task that normally takes a convincing cast or immersive setting, but Dust & Neon obtains this through a different route. Instead, Dust & Neon leads with rich, meticulous gameplay that demands attention to each decision's benefits and downsides, and adds the finishing touch with a unique twist on the twin-stick shooter genre.

]]> Thu, 16 Feb 2023 14:00:18 GMT https://gamerant.com/dust-neon-review/ One of the first true PlayStation 5 exclusive games was Housemarque's Returnal, a tough-as-nails third-person shooter with bleeding-edge graphics, roguelike mechanics, and an intriguing sci-fi twist on a Groundhog Day-style mystery driving it all. The game was a hit with PlayStation gamers who could stomach its high difficulty level, and now PC gamers can finally see what the fuss with Returnal is all about thanks to a new port from Climax Studios.

]]> Wed, 15 Feb 2023 16:27:26 GMT https://gamerant.com/returnal-pc-review/ Wanted: Dead has all the trappings of a successful hack and slash: a well-known affiliation with former Ninja Gaiden developers, a three-part combat system that mixes melee and ranged combat, and a main character that visually sets herself apart from other protagonists. Unfortunately, the hopes for a fantastic game quickly buckle under a lack of combo variety, camera issues, and a monotonic line reading that drags Wanted: Dead down to a disappointing level of mundanity.

]]> Tue, 14 Feb 2023 14:00:19 GMT https://gamerant.com/wanted-dead-review/ Ever since the Harry Potter franchise exploded in popularity in the late 90s, fans have been dreaming of getting their Hogwarts letter and visiting the magical school for their own adventures. That's possible now thanks to Hogwarts Legacy, an open world Harry Potter action-RPG that sends players to Hogwarts as fifth-year students with peculiar abilities.

]]> Mon, 06 Feb 2023 11:00:16 GMT https://gamerant.com/hogwarts-legacy-review/ After the success of SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom- Rehydrated, THQ Nordic announced during its 10th anniversary live stream that it had teamed up once again with Purple Lamp Studios to produce a simple but cute platformer: SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake. While the game may be a bit simplistic, it does improve issues that held down SpongsBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom-Rehydrated.

]]> Mon, 30 Jan 2023 16:00:15 GMT https://gamerant.com/spongebob-squarepants-the-cosmic-shake-review/ In 2008, Visceral Games released Dead Space, a sci-fi survival-horror game that played like Resident Evil 4 in space. Dead Space was an immediate hit, spawning a media franchise and becoming one of the most beloved survival-horror games of its generation. Dead Space 2 was similarly well-received, though things got off the rails a bit with Dead Space 3, to the point where EA ultimately decided to put the franchise on ice. No new Dead Space game has been seen in a decade, but now the franchise is back with an excellent remake of the original game.

]]> Thu, 26 Jan 2023 16:00:17 GMT https://gamerant.com/dead-space-remake-review/ The second release from Scavengers Studio, Season: A Letter to the Future, offers a very different experience from the developer’s 2020 battle royale, Darwin Project. Season will be categorized by many as a walking, or rather biking, simulator and will unfortunately likely get overlooked for that reason alone. However, those who delve into the indie game will find themselves on a generally enjoyable, albeit slow-paced, journey into a thought-provoking world.

]]> Thu, 26 Jan 2023 15:01:15 GMT https://gamerant.com/season-a-letter-to-the-future-review/ Combining the elements of an interactive narrative and JRPG sounds like a great idea on paper. Throw that idea into a world that parallels the video game industry, and have it developed by two studios with 14 years of experience within the same series, and the final result is bound to be a strange accumulation of the varying parts. Neptunia: Sisters VS Sisters is exactly that — a strange experience, but one that’s muddied by different components that don’t ever fully come together.

]]> Wed, 25 Jan 2023 23:27:27 GMT https://gamerant.com/neptunia-sisters-vs-sisters-review/ One Piece Odyssey is the latest in a long line of Bandai Namco games to explore the One Piece characters and world created by Eiichiro Oda. Previous efforts to bring the manga and anime to life date back to the start of the millennium and span a variety of genres. One Piece Odyssey, a JRPG from developer ILCA, offers a grand new adventure for longtime fans and newcomers alike, but it takes a while to realize its potential.

]]> Mon, 23 Jan 2023 22:17:56 GMT https://gamerant.com/one-piece-odyssey-review/ Originally developed under the codename Project Athia and the first release from Square Enix’s Luminous Productions, Forspoken has a lot of the DNA of Square’s prior JRPG work albeit with Western twists. Based on a concept developed by video game writing vets Gary Whitta and Amy Hennig, and written by Allison Rymer and Todd Stashwick, Forspoken feels like an offshoot of Final Fantasy in many ways, which makes sense given the Luminous team boasts a lot of former Final Fantasy 15 devs. But in trying to deliver something new yet familiar, Forspoken devolves into a generic open world game whose combat system is its only genuine standout.

]]> Mon, 23 Jan 2023 14:01:15 GMT https://gamerant.com/forspoken-review/ Roughly two years after its initial launch, Monster Hunter Rise is finally coming out on PlayStation and Xbox consoles. The latest mainline installment in Capcom’s incredibly popular series was released on Switch back in 2021 and PC the following year, but now is finally making its way to PlayStation and Xbox Series consoles with a robust suite of graphics options that cater towards a variety of players. The result is a fantastic port that runs amazingly no matter what settings are turned on.

]]> Fri, 20 Jan 2023 01:45:53 GMT https://gamerant.com/monster-hunter-rise-ps5-review/ Attempting to harness the nostalgia of past generations to craft a gaming experience that feels familiar yet new is a monumental task. Many developers have tried in recent years but few so rarely stack up. Though much of Matthias Linda's early development came from cutting his teeth on unfinished RPG Maker homages, roughly 4,600 people put their faith in the developer. His project raised €163,222 (about $174,219 as of this writing) for the promise of a pixelated JRPG that captures everything people love from the best the SNES and PlayStation era of the genre has to offer. Since the fundraising campaign for Chained Echoes wrapped up in May 2019, Linda and his assembled team have been toiling away to deliver on that promise, and now gamers finally see the fruits of that labor pay off.

]]> Sat, 14 Jan 2023 00:10:58 GMT https://gamerant.com/chained-echoes-review/ Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider is a throwback to 90’s action-platformer games that will appeal to those looking for a challenging nostalgia trip.

]]> Thu, 12 Jan 2023 09:55:11 GMT https://gamerant.com/vengeful-guardian-moonrider-review/ A core aspect of the Dragon Quest franchise revolves around a staunch adherence to its own tradition. Unlike, for example, the history of Final Fantasy, which proves a series can be endlessly self-referential while still pushing to evolve, much of Dragon Quest has stayed the same. The music, art, sound effects, and monster design are removed and tweaked slightly, if at all, only to be packed away again for later use. It's part of what makes the series what it is, and to mess with that formula now would no doubt alienate fans.

]]> Sun, 25 Dec 2022 07:21:44 GMT https://gamerant.com/dragon-quest-treasures-review/ Founded by members of the former developer Relic Entertainment, the company behind Homeworld, Dawn of War, and Company of Heroes, Blackbird Interactive has been focused on developing Real-Time Strategy and Simulation games since 2007. Its latest title, Crossfire: Legion, departs from having a mobile ‘mothership’ and instead attempts to reincarnate another nostalgic and classic game style, Command and Conquer.

]]> Thu, 22 Dec 2022 09:44:55 GMT https://gamerant.com/crossfire-legion-review/ Melatonin isn't just a sleep aid, it's a rhythm game that tells the story of a pink-hoodie-wearing person's everyday life. Players take over their body during their dreams and play through five different mini-games. Once they get through the mini-games for a certain night, players have to prove their mastery by performing all five patterns before moving on to the next night where the cycle continues.

]]> Wed, 21 Dec 2022 10:36:22 GMT https://gamerant.com/melatonin-review/ The Parasight is a small indie game development team started in 2019 that makes games based on fairy tales, and so far it's off to a great start. Its first title, Blacktail, is a survival RPG set in a beautiful, creepy, and alive forest based on the Slavic tale of the Baba Yaga.

]]> Sun, 18 Dec 2022 17:38:10 GMT https://gamerant.com/blacktail-game-review/ Since its release in 2015, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has become a benchmark for storytelling and graphics in gaming. From its dense narrative filled with mature themes and tough decisions to its compelling gameplay requiring precise knowledge of the enemy and proper planning, The Witcher 3 remains a staple in the library of many gamers. However, despite CD Projekt Red's success in adapting Andrzej Sapkowski's novels to a video game format over the course of a decade, lately, the company has had a turbulent couple of years.

]]> Wed, 14 Dec 2022 02:29:54 GMT https://gamerant.com/the-witcher-3-wild-hunt-ps5-xbox-series-review/ Rick and Morty creator Justin Roiland's game development studio Squanch Games has mainly focused on virtual reality games since its inception in 2016. From its debut VR game Accounting to 2019's Trover Saves the Universe, Squanch's efforts have been well-received by the VR community. With its latest game, Squanch is looking to release a more traditional gaming experience. High on Life is a first-person shooter that successfully serves as a send-up of the FPS genre while also standing as a great new representation of it, foul-mouthed talking guns and all.

]]> Mon, 12 Dec 2022 14:01:16 GMT https://gamerant.com/high-on-life-review/ Kukoos: Lost Pets is a new 3D platformer aimed toward a younger audience with its visual style, simple story, and cute characters, but quickly falters due to technical issues and bugs. Even the addition of pets that are both invaluable and necessary to the game's mechanics can’t help it overcome these woes, despite developer PetitFabrik and publisher Modus Games creating a gorgeous place for players to explore.

]]> Sun, 11 Dec 2022 10:32:17 GMT https://gamerant.com/kukoos-lost-pets-review/ At face value, Romancing SaGa -Minstrel Song- Remastered offers less to recommend it than many other titles publisher Square Enix might have repackaged for today’s generation of JRPG fans. Its plot isn’t as ambitious as the ones in more popular JRPG franchises, and this remaster features a complex series of play mechanics that might repel newcomers accustomed to more approachable and conventional design. However, that doesn't stop the experience from being worthwhile and, occasionally, even deeply satisfying.

]]> Mon, 05 Dec 2022 18:14:24 GMT https://gamerant.com/romancing-saga-minstrel-song-remastered-review/ The basic premise of Warhammer 40,000: Darktide is pretty straightforward: thousands of cultists and dregs fall beneath the feet of four prisoners utilizing a devastating variety of guns, melee, and psychic powers, who will stop at nothing to accomplish their mission. It is also Stockholm developer Fatshark’s follow-up to its popular first-person horde action game Warhammer: Vermintide 2 and is its first attempt at tackling the 40K series.

]]> Mon, 05 Dec 2022 15:44:40 GMT https://gamerant.com/warhammer-40000-darktide-review/ Gungrave G.O.R.E is a third-person shooter that continues the story introduced in Gungrave (2002) and Gungrave: Overdose (2004), but players don’t need to be familiar with the previous games or the anime adaptation to immediately get a firm grasp on the story. The recently resurrected gunslinger Beyond the Grave (Grave for short) and his El-Al Canhel comrades are attempting to eradicate SEED, a mutagenic drug propagated by a group called the Raven Clan. When Mika, El-Al Canhel’s leader, becomes contaminated by a particularly potent SEED strain, El-Al Canhel’s objective shifts to include keeping Mika alive and searching for a cure.

]]> Mon, 05 Dec 2022 14:39:19 GMT https://gamerant.com/gungrave-gore-review/ Need for Speed Unbound is the 25th primary installment in the franchise since the very first game released in 1994, and that experience is clearly packed into its core racing gameplay. Every race feels smooth from start to finish, but unfortunately, the majority of Need for Speed Unbound does not feel as refined as its core gameplay.

]]> Mon, 05 Dec 2022 06:14:15 GMT https://gamerant.com/need-for-speed-unbound-review/ With Pokemon Legends: Arceus, Game Freak dipped its toes into what an open world Pokemon game could be. While Pokemon Legends: Arceus was not a fully open-world game, it did feature wide-open zones for players to explore, laying the groundwork for what would follow with Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's massive, open-world Paldea region. But where Pokemon Legends: Arceus felt like a breath of fresh air for the long-running franchise, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet represent a sizable misstep.

]]> Mon, 05 Dec 2022 06:05:39 GMT https://gamerant.com/pokemon-scarlet-violet-review/ In 2008, EA launched the original Dead Space to rave reviews, with the game going on to become one of the most beloved sci-fi horror titles of all time. Despite the acclaim surrounding Dead Space and its immediate sequel, the franchise died off after the lackluster Dead Space 3 and has been dormant for nearly a decade. While EA has announced plans to move forward with a full-blown Dead Space remake, franchise co-creator Glen Schofield isn't waiting around. Schofield and his team at Striking Distance Studios have created a Dead Space spiritual successor in The Callisto Protocol that borrows heavily from EA's franchise while also firmly establishing its own unique identity.

]]> Fri, 02 Dec 2022 05:00:16 GMT https://gamerant.com/callisto-protocol-review/ In a time when Marvel's Spider-Man and The Avengers exist, Marvel’s Midnight Suns might not be the high-octane third-person action game that most fans have come to expect from a licensed superhero game; however, it does demonstrate that the incoming wave of Marvel titles has plenty of room for ingenuity. As the first RPG developed by Firaxis Games, Midnight Suns certainly has a few growing pains and often feels awkward, but its rock-solid turn-based tactics and team-building elements are enough to make Firaxis' take on the Marvel universe feel refreshing and welcome.

]]> Wed, 30 Nov 2022 14:00:15 GMT https://gamerant.com/marvels-midnight-suns-review/ Soccer Story, developed by Panic Barn, unabashedly takes inspiration from the critically successful sports RPG, Golf Story. Their similarities are undeniable, but the quality of each is separated by more than just the difference in sports. While Soccer Story delivers on presentation, it lacks the challenge and comical tone it strives so hard for, and players looking for more than tedious quests and surface level commentary will be disappointed.

]]> Tue, 29 Nov 2022 16:00:15 GMT https://gamerant.com/soccer-story-review/ Goat Simulator 3, a direct follow-up to the original Goat Simulator of 2014, is likely the least accurate simulation game that's ever been created, and that's just fine. The intentional jank can be hilarious and bizarre, and the quirky, goat-obsessed world lends the wild proceedings an appropriately tongue-in-cheek tone. Playing alone, Goat Simulator 3 is fun and frivolous, but ultimately lacks substance beyond checking quest boxes. But playing with friends is a different experience, opening a path to a whole new level of shenanigans.

]]> Sun, 27 Nov 2022 11:49:57 GMT https://gamerant.com/goat-simulator-3-review/ In the same way a gourmet chef mixes flavors, game developers often experiment with combining two different ideas or concepts in an attempt to create a satisfying experience. And in both games and food, many combinations fail to take shape and gain mainstream success. There are people that enjoy chocolate mixed in with popcorn, but it is undeniably a niche flavor combo. In that same vein, there are combinations of gaming genres like Back 4 Blood's co-op, first-person shooter, deck-building experience that work for some but are considered a miss by others. On the other end of the spectrum are combinations that are so perfectly in sync that they cease to seem like combinations and are instead a distinct harmonious flavor. Like chicken and waffles or peanut butter and chocolate, Saturnalia's deliberate combination of survival horror and rogue-lite mechanics initially feels foreign and off-putting. But as it marinates, the game turns into a flavor profile entirely its own that will undoubtedly shape the future of horror games.

]]> Tue, 22 Nov 2022 23:01:52 GMT https://gamerant.com/saturnalia-review/ 2022 has seen its fair share of "weird west" games, but the latest is certainly one of the better ones. Evil West from developer Flying Wild Hog takes place in a Wild West ravaged by vampires and other deadly supernatural creatures. The Rentier Institute has dedicated itself to hunting down these monstrosities in an effort to protect the citizens of the American Frontier, but its vampire hunters soon find themselves at odds with especially powerful foes.

]]> Mon, 21 Nov 2022 19:00:11 GMT https://gamerant.com/evil-west-review/ Supermassive Games' Dark Pictures Anthology began with Man of Medan in 2019, and its first season comes to an end this year with The Devil in Me. As a whole, the first season of the Dark Pictures Anthology has had its ups and downs, but The Devil in Me brings it to a powerful end with an intriguing plot, an excellent approach to horror, solid gameplay, and a satisfying end, no matter which players earn.

]]> Thu, 17 Nov 2022 17:00:15 GMT https://gamerant.com/the-dark-pictures-anthology-the-devil-in-me-review/ Throwbacks to the games of bygone eras have become common in recent years, and McPixel 3 joins them as a parody of Sierra adventure games in the style of WarioWare's microgames. It is a curious blend that carries potential and since the game keenly focuses on the humor as opposed to a coherent story, being funny is crucial for everything to work.

]]> Wed, 16 Nov 2022 09:11:47 GMT https://gamerant.com/mcpixel-3-review/ Pentiment starts with an old book, the first line appearing in Latin, ‘In principio erat Verbum’. It happens to be the beginning of the book of John from the Bible and translates into, "In the beginning was the Word." It is a sneaky and creative way to begin the game, as Pentiment is all about words and the mighty influence they contain. The small, 13-person development team at Obsidian Entertainment designed the narrative adventure of Pentiment to put that power directly in the player's hands, for better or for worse. The result is a choose-your-own-adventure game that challenges players and their choices in ways that are sometimes maddeningly subtle. Still, it ultimately creates an enjoyable, but entirely too short, experience rarely found in this day and age.

]]> Mon, 14 Nov 2022 14:00:15 GMT https://gamerant.com/pentiment-review/ Making good mystery games is a tricky business. The best ones trust their players by carefully guiding and hinting, but allowing them to reach their own conclusions. Mystery books or films can be brilliantly executed - the big reveals in Knives Out are a great example - but the sense of gratification granted to a player who's managed to reach that "aha!" moment for themselves is unique to gaming. Weaving a narrative that reveals just enough while knowing where to hold back is a fine line to walk, and as long as the game isn't mixing with other genres, it's also the sole thrust of gameplay. Ultimately, the entire experience is determined by the developer's ability to perform this tightrope act.

]]> Sat, 12 Nov 2022 10:02:50 GMT https://gamerant.com/the-case-of-the-golden-idol-review/ Tri-Ace is a development studio responsible for producing several JRPG gems over the years, but its name is perhaps most easily recognized in relation to the long-running franchise it created: Star Ocean. Now, over 25 years after that classic debuted in Japan, the developer has crafted a sixth proper installment. Star Ocean: The Divine Force pays homage to much of what has made the series a delight from the start, while introducing additional elements that offer a compelling experience to an audience that might be unfamiliar with past triumphs.

]]> Sat, 12 Nov 2022 09:30:56 GMT https://gamerant.com/star-ocean-the-divine-force-review/ In 2009, Sega and PlatinumGames released the first Bayonetta as an over-the-top action game similar to Capcom's Devil May Cry franchise. The first Bayonetta earned rave reviews from critics, but unfortunately, it fell short of Sega's sales expectations. The franchise would have been dead right then, but Nintendo stepped in to help fund and publish Bayonetta 2, securing the game as a Wii U exclusive in the process. Once again, Bayonetta 2 enjoyed critical acclaim but middling sales, and so Bayonetta 3's confirmation as a Nintendo Switch exclusive at The Game Awards 2017 came as a shock to fans who were sure the titular witch's action-packed adventures were behind her. Five long years later, Bayonetta 3 is finally out on Switch, and it stands tall as yet another must-play entry in the underappreciated franchise.

]]> Wed, 09 Nov 2022 21:15:55 GMT https://gamerant.com/bayonetta-3-review/ 3D Sonic games have always been quite divisive among fans and critics. Unlike Sonic’s 2D adventures, the 3D titles are never sure if they want to be tight platformers or quasi-racing games with platforming elements, unable to strike the right balance between speed and exploration. This year, Sega announced Sonic Frontiers, the Sonic Team’s first attempt at an open-world format. While an exciting prospect for the future of Sonic, its rough presentation raised some questions among fans who have already been disheartened by the Blue Blur’s most recent 3D titles.

]]> Mon, 07 Nov 2022 14:00:15 GMT https://gamerant.com/sonic-frontiers-review/ God of War Ragnarok had big shoes to fill, being the follow-up to the beloved 2018 release while shuffling the entire mythology of Ragnarok into one game. Santa Monica Studio has previously stated God of War's Norse Saga could have easily been a trilogy, but the developer didn't want to keep fans waiting for years for a proper conclusion. What's clear, though, is that Santa Monica didn't water down its game to fit everything into one title; in every way, God of War Ragnarok is an epic befitting its video game reputation and mythological source material.

]]> Thu, 03 Nov 2022 16:00:14 GMT https://gamerant.com/god-of-war-ragnarok-review/ In 2019, Infinity Ward and Activision released the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare reboot and brought the beloved sub-franchise back in a big way. The 2019 Call of Duty game came out swinging with a brand-new engine, the return of fan-favorite characters, and a commitment to classic boots-on-the-ground gameplay. There's been a great deal of hype for the 2022 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 thanks to the positive buzz generated by the 2019 game, but unfortunately, Modern Warfare 2 fails to live up to its predecessor, with the most disappointing part of the package being the single-player campaign.

]]> Sun, 30 Oct 2022 04:01:39 GMT https://gamerant.com/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-2-2022-review/ When Resident Evil Village launched last year, it was met with enthusiasm from fans and critics alike, with many hailing it as a worthy follow-up to Resident Evil 7. While Capcom is working on new Resident Evil projects, it's not quite yet ready to leave Resident Evil Village behind, releasing the Winters' Expansion that adds new gameplay features alongside a story DLC called Shadows of Rose.

]]> Wed, 26 Oct 2022 22:21:27 GMT https://gamerant.com/resident-evil-village-winters-expansion-shadows-of-rose-review/ Asymmetrical multiplayer games are a dime a dozen nowadays, but few have managed to touch Behaviour Interactive's Dead by Daylight. Dead by Daylight's formula of pitting original and licensed horror villains against helpless survivors is a winning one, and so it's no surprise that others have taken notice. Other developers have tried their hand at making a Dead by Daylight-style game with varying degrees of success, with the latest to enter the arena being Dragon Ball: The Breakers from Dimps and Bandai Namco Entertainment.

]]> Wed, 26 Oct 2022 22:04:24 GMT https://gamerant.com/dragon-ball-the-breakers-review/ New Tales from the Borderlands is a boisterous yarn through space featuring bombastic characters, dangerous experiments, and enigmatic alien forces, all presented in the signature Borderlands style, for better or for worse. Luckily, in this case, that's mostly for the better.

]]> Sun, 23 Oct 2022 09:53:39 GMT https://gamerant.com/new-tales-from-the-borderlands-review/ Gotham Knights is not set in the same universe as the Batman: Arkham games, but the title does feel like a successor to it in many ways. Batman is dead, Gotham City is in shambles, and players must pick up the pieces as Batgirl, Robin, Nightwing, or Red Hood.

]]> Thu, 20 Oct 2022 11:00:14 GMT https://gamerant.com/gotham-knights-review/ Much like Friday the 13th and Predator: Hunting Grounds before it, Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed is developer Illfonic’s love letter to a beloved property. It still retains the asymmetrical multiplayer framework that Illfonic has become known for, but also builds on lessons learned from those prior titles. Without question, it’s the most fully formed of the developer’s releases and does well to capture the spirit of Ghostbusters, but it struggles with some of the same issues as well.

]]> Thu, 20 Oct 2022 01:13:37 GMT https://gamerant.com/ghostbusters-spirits-unleashed-review/ It’s been eight months since Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection released on PS5, updating the six-year-old Uncharted 4 with some minor visual tweaks but offering a massive boost in performance. Since then, PC gamers have been patiently waiting for Uncharted to finally land on PC storefronts as it is one of the last big PlayStation IPs still not on the platform. After a few false release date rumors sprinkled throughout the year and the announcement and release of God of War and Marvel’s Spider-Man well after Uncharted's PC announcement, the Legacy of Thieves Collection is finally here. Thankfully, the wait was well worth it.

]]> Tue, 18 Oct 2022 15:00:14 GMT https://gamerant.com/uncharted-legacy-of-thieves-collection-pc-review/ In 2017, Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle shook the world by merging the inhabitants of the iconic Mushroom Kingdom with Ubisoft's crazed Rabbids and throwing them into a turn-based strategy game. Surprisingly, it worked. The non-Nintendo developed Mario spin-off was positively received by fans and critics alike, praising its take on an approachable grid-based strategy game with two tonally different IPs. Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope continues the trend of Ubisoft working its magic with Mario, as the sequel is a major improvement over its predecessor.

]]> Mon, 17 Oct 2022 22:04:31 GMT https://gamerant.com/mario-rabbids-sparks-of-hope-review/ A Plague Tale: Innocence from Asobo Studio was a sleeper hit in 2019, coming out of nowhere to be one of that year's most notable releases. Since A Plague Tale: Innocence was a new IP from an unproven developer that had mostly made licensed games or served as a support studio, it had the benefit of launching with little expectations. A Plague Tale: Requiem, meanwhile, has to live up to the high bar set by the first game and luckily for franchise fans, A Plague Tale: Requiem not only lives up to Innocence, but far exceeds it.

]]> Mon, 17 Oct 2022 18:00:15 GMT https://gamerant.com/a-plague-tale-requiem-review/ Persona 5 Royal is finally making its way to PC, Switch, and Xbox X|S, and players who haven't had the opportunity to experience the highly acclaimed Japanese RPG masterpiece will finally be able to lose themselves in its charming and utterly fascinating world. A social-sim with heaps of combat, RPG elements, hilarious interactions, and a story that absolutely captivates, Persona 5 Royal is a big step up from its original and will captivate both old and new players and even those that dislike RPGs or JRPGs.

]]> Mon, 17 Oct 2022 14:00:15 GMT https://gamerant.com/persona-5-royal-review/ Young adult novels and films have been a lucrative business for many years. As video game technology has advanced so too has the ability to tell increasingly complex stories through the medium, and with that complexity came the ability to cater stories to specific audiences. Hence, the rise of young adult video games was inevitable. Throughout 2015, the episodic Life Is Strange capitalized on the young adult market to great success, and after two sequels, one prequel, and a spin-off, the original game and its prequel have been remastered for PS4, Xbox One, Steam, and, most importantly, Nintendo Switch. Despite being labeled "remastered," the recently released Life Is Strange Arcadia Bay Collection looks and performs like a seventh-generation game when played on the Switch. Luckily, the story-heavy nature of the game keeps the focus away from performance shortcomings and makes it more accessible for a new generation of players.

]]> Sun, 16 Oct 2022 10:09:26 GMT https://gamerant.com/life-is-strange-arcadia-bay-collection-review/ First-person horror game Scorn has been turning heads since it was first revealed in 2014, but it didn't land on many horror fans' radars until 2020 when it was given the spotlight at the Xbox Series X showcase event. It was then that a wider audience was introduced to Scorn's disgustingly detailed body horror and distinct fleshy art style, and it quickly became one of the most-anticipated horror games for many. Unfortunately for those intrigued by the game and hoping for Scorn to serve as a solid new horror game to play this Halloween season, it's a massive disappointment.

]]> Fri, 14 Oct 2022 10:00:14 GMT https://gamerant.com/scorn-review/ Shovel Knight Dig leans on its lineage while managing to carve out a niche of its own. Although the core gameplay can be fun and addictive, some problematic design choices, bugs, and a lack of meaningful long-term progression prevent Shovel Knight Dig from being great.

]]> Wed, 12 Oct 2022 21:32:56 GMT https://gamerant.com/shovel-knight-dig-review/ In The DioField Chronicle, a strategy RPG jointly developed by Lancarse and Square Enix, players meet a ragtag band of mercenaries with grand aspirations they can only reach by waging war on behalf of various noblemen. The game’s unusual combat system, party customization, and a sprawling tale featuring a cast of flawed characters set adrift in a harsh world are a combination that’s difficult to resist despite occasional rough edges, perhaps especially for veteran players who might welcome a modern take on the stories and experiences that defined the 16- and 32-bit eras.

]]> Tue, 11 Oct 2022 09:04:17 GMT https://gamerant.com/the-diofield-chronicle-review/ The original Overwatch game was a massive success for Blizzard, earning widespread critical acclaim and becoming one of gaming's biggest new IPs of the last decade. Blizzard supported the first Overwatch with cosmetic items, game modes, seasonal events, and new heroes, keeping fans engaged for the long-term. But a few years after launch, Blizzard announced Overwatch 2, a game that promised hero revamps, new PvP content, and most excitingly, a proper story campaign. Overwatch 2 and Blizzard itself have gone through dramatic changes since the game's initial announcement in 2019, and what's being presented at launch is likely not what many fans had hoped for after the game's emotionally-charged reveal trailer.

]]> Tue, 04 Oct 2022 19:00:14 GMT https://gamerant.com/overwatch-2-review/