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The History And Lore Of Metroid Prime 2 | Video Gameography

Posted: 20 Nov 2021 07:06 AM PST

The first season of Game Informer's Video Gameography explores the history of the Metroid series. We're knee-deep in the Prime era now, and we're tackling Samus' sophomore 3D outing, Metroid Prime 2: Echoes. 

This sequel to the acclaimed Metroid Prime was released November 15, 2004 in the U.S. and upped the ante with Zelda-style dark world/light world exploration. Players traverse two versions of a labyrinthine map, solving puzzles that opened paths in the opposite dimension and enduring the damaging effects of the dark world. Samus faces off against Dark Samus for the first time, one of a series of challenging boss encounters that cemented Echoes as the most challenging entry in the Prime series – for better or worse. 

Join hosts Ben Reeves (@BenjaminReeves), Marcus Stewart (@MarcusStewart7), and Nintendo Ambassadors/Metroid fanatics Ky and Kyle Parker (@CaptDangerous64, @admiralboogaloo) for the next hour as we explore Metroid Prime 2's lore, development history, and lasting impact. 

If you'd like to get in touch with the Video Gameography podcast, you can email us at podcast@gameinformer.com. You can also join our official Game Informer Discord server by linking your Discord account to your Twitch account and subscribing to the Game Informer Twitch channel. From there, find the Video Gameography channel under "Community Spaces."

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An Interview With Geoff Keighley About The Game Awards 2021 And The Game He'd Love To See Announced

Posted: 19 Nov 2021 04:45 PM PST

Last year's The Game Awards show was the biggest yet in terms of viewership. Growing more than 84 percent year-over-year to the tune of a staggering 83 million livestream views, The Game Awards has become one of the video game industry's biggest events. But we aren't just tuning in to find out which title will be crowned Game of the Year; we are also there for the World Premieres, which shine the spotlight on new games we'll be playing in the years ahead. Some publishers save their biggest surprises for The Game Awards, a show that almost didn't exist.

For a decade, Keighley was the producer and host of Spike TV's Video Game Awards, a show that started strong in the early 2000s, but fizzled out in 2013 due to poor viewership numbers and criticism over the show's format. For the 2014 show, Spike wasn't going to broadcast it on TV, opting instead to stream it online. Keighley didn't agree with Spike's direction and dropped out of the presentation. For unknown reasons on top of Keighley's departure, Spike canceled that year's event in the eleventh hour. That didn't stop Keighley from having an awards show that year. He worked with publishers to fund a new show simply titled The Game Awards. Given the diminishing returns of Spike's show, he didn't know if this new program would draw people in. That year's livestream netted nearly two million views – a respectable number – but the true victory was the format and tone of the show. This was the format people were clearly looking for. In each following year, The Game Awards' viewership has doubled and is now one of the highest viewed programs of any entertainment medium.

Sean Murray accepts accolades for No Man's Sky, which won Best Ongoing Game last year

In October, I caught up with Keighley as he was finalizing plans for this year's show. He once again serves the dual duties of producer and host. He has always been open about the ups and downs of The Game Awards, and always seems relaxed, no matter how close the show is to airing. This year, he tells me he has too many World Premiere reveals and feels terrible turning publishers down.

The Game Awards grew from 45 million viewers to an unfathomable 80 million in one year. Given we were sheltering in place during the Covid-19 pandemic, can you speak to how the growth was potentially tied to that?
I'm still amazed we were able to do the show last year. That happened right when the second lockdown was just starting. We were in Los Angeles, and in the days leading into the show, we were unsure what was going to happen. We had a satellite truck parked outside my house just in case I would have to broadcast the show from home. We had this set we were building every day and were worried [the show] would get canceled if the government was going to shut down the city. [The pandemic] was getting increasingly worse, almost every day as we led up to the show. I didn't believe the show was happening until the day before. I was like, "I guess we're really going to get a chance to do it."

It was really challenging to pull it together and do things over Zoom and figure out how to do it safely with our team with all the testing and everything around it. The victory was just getting to do the show. I was kind of depressed for months thinking that we weren't going to be able to do it. The fact that it actually did so well was incredible. Seeing it grow was really heartwarming.

There are always two sides to the coin, though. Success on one, and on the other, the pressure for this year. Can we keep growing? We never think about the audience numbers. We don't sit around and plot a strategy to get another 10 million viewers. We just focus on making an awesome show for the community.

For safety concerns, the pandemic continues to throw kinks into live events. At this point in time, you are planning on returning to an in-person format with an audience. Does it feel like business as usual, or are you planning on having that satellite truck in waiting again?
The big difference this year is we have vaccines. We had a year of learning the process around how to do these things. We decided pretty early that we're going to go back to the Microsoft Theater, and we're going to build our set and have our orchestra there. There are a lot of protocols and costs about, like, doing a show like this, and the testing and everything involved in doing it. We're planning to do a full-scale show at the theater. This will be our biggest set yet. It's our biggest production. We're going full tilt with the full experience, but keeping safety in mind. We do have contingency plans if there is another variant or issues pop up. How can we pivot and sort of do something different?

We're doing a traditional show with some capacity restrictions on the audience and some other requirements. We have to see if people are comfortable traveling, including internationally. We are unsure about that. That's everyone's personal decision. I'm excited to be back in a venue. Most of the game companies, when we talk to them this year, they all like the idea of finally being able to get back to doing something in person. I'm honored that we're sort of the first event that's going to do something with people gathering in a safe and controlled way.

Nolan North presents the award for Best Multiplayer in 2020

Given last year's success, I have a feeling every publisher and developer is jumping at the chance to be a part of the show.
Generally, people are really positive on wanting to be a part of the show. And I see some of that is physical presence, but a lot want to contribute content. One of the greatest things last year, was in the middle of a pandemic, all these developers were able to make awesome trailers and give us content to put in the show. In terms of things to be announced at the show, we have more games this year than ever before. We're in a nice position that people want to be a part of the show. And you know, it's an award show, but increasingly, I think more we want to use it as a vehicle to kind of share news on games. So that's this sort of internal balance that we're striking.

The other thing that is in the background is there's a lot of these streaming shows and movies based on games. We're trying to figure out how to navigate some of that, like The Witcher and the Cuphead shows, as well as the Uncharted movie. This is the first year we're trying to navigate how to include some of that stuff. They are based on games, but not actually games.

You said you have more reveals than ever. What can we expect from them?
As always, we try and balance things between brand-new games to updates on games that people really care about. There are also live-service games that could have content dropping the night of the show. This year, we have a lot of stuff being announced for the first time at the show, which is exciting. I feel like next generation has started but it hasn't really in a way. And I don't mean that to disparage any existing games, but there's [new stuff] coming down the pipe from first- and third-parties. The install bases of the current consoles have limited how much stuff is coming out. I believe 2022 is when the jets really get turned on. We'll have a couple things in our show that I think are going to be truly next-gen. Experiences that I think will excite people about the future and where games go. And I'm not just saying just first-party games. There are technical showpieces that I'm excited about. And then we also have a balance between big franchises with small developers, and smaller teams are doing really interesting things. It's a constantly moving target. I've said this before, but some things drop out the week before the show, and there are also new things that show up on my doorstep a week before the show.

I always tell the story of In the Valley of the Gods from Campo Santo, the studio with Valve now. They came to me two weeks before the show. I'm like, "This is amazing. Where was this trailer three months ago?" People think [the show] is all plotted out well in advance. Sometimes it is, but oftentimes things are just shifting. I feel pretty confident that we have a really good lineup that's going to excite people. I've also learned that you have to manage expectations because everyone has a different game in their mind's eye.

I think next year is going to be really exciting for games overall. There's so much content coming out.

The 2020 show had to make many accommodations for the ongoing pandemic; Innersloth celebrates Among Us winning Best Multiplayer Game from a remote location

Figuring out where the reveals go has to be a big jigsaw puzzle. Have you figured out what the first and last reveal will be? They always seem to be two of the big ones.
Good question. I think I sort of know the last thing, which is going to be really cool. And the first thing, I think I know, but it might shift around a little bit. The positioning of things in the show is always interesting. Some companies are very specific about where they want to be in the show. I honestly do not make those calls until probably about a month before the show when we really see everything that comes in. The minute I say yes to something, something else might show up. We keep it fluid. We definitely have a good sense of the stuff that's early and late in the show. And then there's a bunch of cool stuff in the middle of it as well. We want to surprise people with stuff they aren't expecting.

Any new awards this year?
We don't have any new awards. The accessibility award will be back this year. We've been toying with a couple categories that I think we'll add in the future. We're not quite there yet, though. I think eventually we might do an award for best adaptation with all these streaming shows, movies, comic books, and other things coming out. I think there's something interesting there. There's just not enough yet. I think in the next couple of years, that'll be something. And we're also thinking a little bit about user-generated content being made in games like Fortnite, Core, and Roblox. Again, I don't think we're quite there yet, but that's one that I think is on the radar for the future. This year, it's pretty much the same.

Geoff Keighley has been the host and executive producer for The Game Awards since its inception in 2014

You mentioned you're building the biggest set yet. I can't even wrap my brain around what it could be. You already have giant statues on it, one of the biggest screens out there, and a complete orchestra. What is the space for?
We just keep adding more every year. We have a really cool video floor that we're doing that's kind of a video screen. It's really interesting. We haven't revealed some of the musical guests, but we've got amazing, huge names doing that. Every year I think we're slowly building this show into what I hope is the biggest award show in entertainment, which just happens to be about games. We're cautious this year obviously because of Covid, but that has not stopped us. I think you'll see it's definitely our most ambitious set. We're upping the scale and scope. It's a little bit of a dangerous game to play, but yeah, we want to keep building, create more of a spectacle.

How limited will capacity be?
It will number in the thousands, but it's not going to be a full house. We're just trying to control the numbers a little bit.

Recent years have seen increased involved from Hollywood talent. John David Washington (Tenet) presented last year's Best Narrative category

You highlighted something a lot of people are feeling about PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X: a lack of games that are built just for those machines. What are your thoughts on next-gen gaming so far?
I mentioned earlier that I think next-gen has started, but we haven't really seen a ton of showcases, right? I would say Forza Horizon 5 is really spectacular. Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is a cool showcase, and I love the DualSense – that controller just gives people so much opportunity to think of where games are going to go. We haven't seen a lot of new next-gen IP yet. Returnal is probably the best example of that so far.

These systems are so powerful, and there's so much opportunity there, but this has been a difficult year for developers to make these games while working from home. A lot of stuff has been delayed. I have games that we were going to announce last year at The Game Awards, and we're probably going to announce this year. They were delayed at least a full year. Some people lost a year or two in development. There are a lot of delays that have affected next-gen and that pipeline of content. It was still a good year, but I think next year and beyond are going to be exciting. The thing that I think has happened with a lot of these next-gen boxes is people buy them yet play their old games on them. They look better, right? It's a better quality of life. The attach rate with these new systems has not been great, partially because of the Game Pass thing, but also to play Warzone or Fortnite or stuff they already have. Even though people are buying the systems, they don't have those true next-gen showcase titles to play. They are coming. Those are the ones that have been delayed. Performance capture is really hard to do in the middle of Covid. All of these story games that we love take a lot of time to make.

Of any game that hasn't been announced, what is one game franchise that you want to see come back? What would you love to have as a World Premiere?
I would love to see BioShock come back. I've missed that franchise a lot. Infinite, I still think of. I miss that franchise. An awesome new BioShock would be hype. I'm also a Valve fan, so anything Valve-related would be fun to see. One of the best games I played in the past year was Crash Bandicoot 4. That was an awesome game. I wouldn't mind seeing some of those classic franchises come back in a new way, like a new Jak & Daxter.

The Game Awards will be held on December 9, live from Los Angeles' Microsoft theater. It will broadcast around the world and can be viewed from various streaming services like YouTube and Twitch.

This article originally appeared in Issue 341 of Game Informer.

2021 Video Game Release Schedule

Posted: 19 Nov 2021 04:38 PM PST

If you're wondering what games are coming up in 2021, we've put them all in one convenient location. This list will be continually updated to act as a living, breathing schedule as new dates are announced, titles are delayed, and big reveals happen. This should help you plan out your next several months in gaming and beyond.

As the gaming calendar is constantly changing, we highly recommend you bookmark this page. You'll likely find yourself coming back to this to find out the most recent release schedule for the most anticipated games across PC, consoles, handhelds, and mobile devices. If you notice that we've missed something, feel free to let us know! Please note that games will not get assigned to a month until they have confirmed release dates.

Hitman 3

January

Cobra Kai: The Karate Kid Saga Continues (PC) – Iron Conflict (PC) – MXGP 2020 (PlayStation 5) – Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game - Complete Edition (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, Stadia, PC) – Hitman 3 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, Stadia, PC) –  – Read review Teratopia (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) – Dyson Sphere Program (PC) – Ride 4 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S) – Shing (Xbox One, Switch) – Gravity Heroes (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – Nuts (Switch, PC, iOS) – Cyber Shadow (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) –  – Read review Main Assembly (PC) – Stronghold: Warlords (PC) – The Sims 4: Paranormal Stuff Pack (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) – Ryte - The Eye of Atlantis (PC) – The Dark Eye: Chains of Satinav (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch) – The Dark Eye: Memoria (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch) – Disjunction (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – Madden NFL 21 (Stadia) –  – Read review Olija (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) –  – Read review Sword of the Necromancer (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – The Medium (Xbox Series X/S, PC) –  – Read review The Yakuza Remastered Collection (Xbox One, PC) – TOHU (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, Stadia, PC) – Bonkies (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – Gods Will Fall (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, Stadia, PC) – Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- The Prophecy of the Throne (PlayStation 4, Switch, PC) – Turrican Flashback (PlayStation 4, Switch) –
Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury

February

Control (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S) –  – Read review Destruction AllStars (PlayStation 5) –  – Read review Ys IX: Monstrum Nox (PlayStation 4) – Blue Fire (Switch, PC) – Haven (Switch) –  – Read review Werewolf: The Apocalypse - Earthblood (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) –  – Read review Kinetic Edge (PC) – Nioh 2 Remastered - The Complete Edition (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4) – Nioh Remastered - The Complete Edition (PlayStation 5) – The Nioh Collection (PlayStation 5) –  – Read review Ori: The Collection (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC) – Little Nightmares II (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) –  – Read review Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury (Switch) –  – Read review Fallen Legion Revenants (PlayStation 4, Switch) – The Sinking City (PlayStation 5) –  – Read review Curse of the Dead Gods (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) –  – Read review Horned Knight (PlayStation 4) – Inked: A Tale of Love (iOS, Android) – Persona 5 Strikers (PlayStation 4, Switch, PC) –  – Read review Rogue Heroes: Ruins of Tasos (Switch, PC) –  – Read review We Were Here (Series) (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4) – Horned Knight (Xbox One) – Cotton Reboot (PlayStation 4, Switch) – Darius Cozmic Revelation (PlayStation 4, Switch) – Forward to the Sky (Switch) – Ghosts 'n Goblins: Resurrection (Switch) –  – Read review Hellpoint (Switch) – Wrath: Aeon of Ruin (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – Bravely Default II (Switch) –  – Read review Horned Knight (Switch, PC) – RetroMania Wrestling (PC) –
Yakuza: Like A Dragon Yakuza: Like A Dragon

March

Harvest Moon: One World (PlayStation 4, Switch) – Maquette (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC) –  – Read review Neptunia Virtual Stars (PlayStation 4) – Yakuza: Like A Dragon (PlayStation 5) –  – Read review Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 (PC) – Ar Nosurge DX (PlayStation 4, Switch, PC) – Ciel Nosurge DX (PlayStation 4, Switch, PC) – Loop Hero (PC) –  – Read review Sea of Solitude: Director's Cut (Switch) – Two Point Hospital: Jumbo Edition (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch) – Apex Legends (Switch) –  – Read review Gensou Skydrift (PlayStation 4) – Crayta (PC) – Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch) –  – Read review Core (PC) – Kingdoms Of Amalur: Re-Reckoning (Switch) – Monster Energy Supercross: The Official Videogame 4 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Stadia, PC) – Mundaun (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) –  – Read review R.B.I. Baseball 21 (Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC, iOS, Android) – Samurai Shodown (Xbox Series X/S) –  – Read review Saviors of Sapphire Wings & Stranger of Sword City Revisited (Switch, PC) – Stubbs the Zombie in Rebel Without a Pulse (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – Adios (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC) – Dungeon Defenders: Awakened (Xbox One) – Red Ronin (PC) – Cartel Tycoon (PC) – DARQ: Complete Edition (Switch) – Jack Jeanne (Switch) – Maglam Lord (PlayStation 4, Switch) – Marvel's Avengers (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S) –  – Read review Marvel's Avengers – Operation: Future Imperfect (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Stadia, PC) – Can't Drive This (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville (Switch) –  – Read review Root Film (PlayStation 4, Switch) – Overcooked: All You Can Eat (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town (Switch) –  – Read review Dirt 5 (Stadia) –  – Read review Love Live! School Idol Festival: After School Wai-Wai! Home Meeting!! (PlayStation 4) – Paradise Lost (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) – Black Legend (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – Crash Bandicoot: On the Run (iOS, Android) – Dandy Ace (PC) – DARQ: Complete Edition (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S) – El Hijo - A Wild West Tale (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch) – Yakuza 6: The Song of Life (Xbox One, PC) –  – Read review Balan Wonderworld (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – Genesis Noir (Xbox One, Switch, PC) – It Takes Two (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) –  – Read review Monster Hunter Rise (Switch) –  – Read review Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 And 2 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S) –  – Read review Neptunia Virtual Stars (PC) – Auto Chess (PlayStation 5) – Disco Elysium: The Final Cut (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Stadia, PC) –  – Read review Evil Genius 2: World Domination (PC) –  – Read review Kingdom Hearts 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue (PC) –  – Read review Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 Remix (PC) –  – Read review Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix (PC) –  – Read review Kingdom Hearts III (PC) –  – Read review Kingdom Hearts III Re Mind (PC) –  – Read review Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory (PC) –  – Read review Narita Boy (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) –  – Read review Tennis World Tour 2 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S) – Drive Buy (Switch, PC) – The Binding Of Isaac: Repentance (PC) –
Outriders

April

Outriders (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) –  – Read review What Comes After (Switch) – World of Demons (iOS) – Lost Words: Beyond the Page (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) –  – Read review Oddworld: Soulstorm (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC) –  – Read review Star Wars: Republic Commando (PlayStation 4, Switch) – Pac-Man 99 (Switch) –  – Read review Before Your Eyes (PC) –  – Read review Borderlands 3: Director's Cut DLC (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) – Cozy Grove (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – Scarlet Hood and the Wicked Wood (PC, Mac) – What The Dub?! (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV (Switch, PC) – The Walking Dead: Survivors (iOS, Android) – Poison Control (PlayStation 4, Switch) – Fez (Switch) –  – Read review Ashwalkers (PC) – Drifters Loot the Galaxy (PC) – SaGa Frontier Remastered (PlayStation 4, Switch, PC, iOS, Android) – Super Meat Boy Forever (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One) –  – Read review Tribal Pass (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch) – MLB The Show 21 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One) –  – Read review Atelier Mysterious Trilogy Deluxe Pack (PlayStation 4, Switch, PC) – Buildings Have Feelings Too! (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – Immortals Fenyx Rising: The Lost Gods DLC (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Stadia, PC) – ScourgeBringer (PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita) – Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion (Switch, PC) – Judgment (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Stadia) –  – Read review Nier Replicant ver. 1.22474487139 (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) –  – Read review Death end re; Quest (Switch) – Genshin Impact (PlayStation 5) –  – Read review The Sinking City (Xbox Series X/S) –  – Read review Total War: Rome Remastered (PC) – New Pokémon Snap (Switch) –  – Read review R-Type Final 2 (Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – RetroMania Wrestling (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch) – Returnal (PlayStation 5) –  – Read review Terminator Resistance: Enhanced (PlayStation 5) –
Resident Evil Village

May

Sayri: The Beginning (PC) – The Colonists (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch) – Skate City (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch) – Resident Evil Village (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) –  – Read review Hood: Outlaws And Legends (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) – Call of the Sea (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4) –  – Read review Destiny 2: Season of the Splicer (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) – Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Wrath of the Druids DLC (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Stadia, PC) – Before We Leave (PC) – Famicom Detective Club: The Girl Who Stands Behind (Switch) – Famicom Detective Club: The Missing Heir (Switch) –  – Read review Mass Effect Legendary Edition (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) –  – Read review Subnautica (Switch) –  – Read review Subnautica: Below Zero (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) –  – Read review Days Gone (PC) –  – Read review Divinity: Original Sin 2 (iOS) –  – Read review SnowRunner (Switch) – Aerial_Knight's Never Yield (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) –  – Read review Elite Dangerous: Odyssey (PC) – Manifold Garden (PlayStation 5) – The Wild At Heart (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC) – Knockout City (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) –  – Read review Miitopia (Switch) – Rust (PlayStation 4, Xbox One) –  – Read review Biomutant (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) –  – Read review Final Fantasy XIV (PlayStation 5) – King of Seas (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – Maneater (Switch) –  – Read review Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne HD Remaster (PlayStation 4, Switch, PC) – Maid Of Sker (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S) – Earth Defense Force: World Brothers (PlayStation 4, Switch, PC) – MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One) – Oddworld: Collection (Switch) – The Idolmaster: Starlit Season (PlayStation 4, PC) – The Longest Road on Earth (PC) – Port Royale 4 (Switch) – Song of Horror Complete Edition (PlayStation 4, Xbox One) –  – Read review Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World (PlayStation 4, Switch, PC) – World's End Club (Switch) –  – Read review
Mario Golf: Super Rush

June

Ghosts 'n Goblins: Resurrection (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) –  – Read review Operation: Tango (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC) – Stonefly (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – The Elder Scrolls Online: Gates of Oblivion (Stadia, PC) – World of Warcraft: Burning Crusade Classic (PC) – Wreckfest (PlayStation 5) –  – Read review Pro Cycling Manager 2021 (PC) – Tour De France 2021 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) – Evergate (PlayStation 5) – Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts 2 (Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) – The Last Kids on Earth and the Staff of Doom (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – The Persistence (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S) – Mighty Goose (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – Backbone (PC) – Chivalry 2 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) – Edge of Eternity (PC) – The Elder Scrolls Online (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S) – The Elder Scrolls Online: Gates of Oblivion (PlayStation 4, Xbox One) – Alba: A Wildlife Adventure (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch) –  – Read review No More Heroes (PC) – No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle (PC) –  – Read review Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC) – Chicory: A Colorful Tale (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC, Mac) –  – Read review Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade (PlayStation 5) –  – Read review Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – Game Builder Garage (Switch) – Guilty Gear -Strive- (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC) – Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (PlayStation 5) –  – Read review Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S) –  – Read review The Solitaire Conspiracy (Switch) – Wave Break (Switch, PC) – Strange Brigade (Switch) – Heliborne (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One) – Wingspan (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One) – Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) –  – Read review Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights (Switch, PC) –  – Read review Lego Builder's Journey (Switch, PC) –  – Read review Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 – The Official Video Game (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, Stadia, PC) – Worms Rumble (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Switch) – Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – Legend of Mana (PlayStation 4, Switch, PC) – Roguebook (PC) – The Eternal Castle Remastered (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4) –  – Read review Mario Golf: Super Rush (Switch) –  – Read review Scarlet Nexus (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) –  – Read review Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 And 2 (Switch) –  – Read review Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One) –  – Read review Curved Space (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) – Destroy All Humans (Switch) –  – Read review Disgaea 6: Defiance of Destiny (Switch) – Doom Eternal (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S) –  – Read review Sky: Children Of The Light (Switch) –  – Read review Spirit of the North (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One) – GreedFall (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S) –  – Read review
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD

July

Blaster Master Zero (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One) –  – Read review Operation: Tango (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One) – A Plague Tale: Innocence (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch) –  – Read review Ys IX: Monstrum Nox (Switch, PC) – Sam & Max: This Time It's Virtual! (Quest) – Blue Fire (Xbox One) – Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings Of Ruin (Switch, PC) –  – Read review Claire de Lune (PC) – Curved Space (Switch) – Where the Heart Leads (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4) – Bullet Age (PC) – Lost At Sea (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) – Space Jam: A New Legacy (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One) – Streets of Rage 4 (Stadia) –  – Read review F1 2021 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) – Observer: System Redux (PlayStation 4, Xbox One) – The Legend Of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD (Switch) –  – Read review Akiba's Trip: Hellbound & Debriefed (PlayStation 4, Switch, PC) – Cris Tales (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, Stadia, PC) –  – Read review Death's Door (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC) –  – Read review Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4) –  – Read review Monster Harvest (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – Pokémon Unite (Switch) –  – Read review The Witcher: Monster Slayer (iOS, Android) – Last Stop (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) –  – Read review Blue Fire (PlayStation 4) – Orcs Must Die 3 (Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) – Contra Returns (iOS, Android) – Blightbound (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) – Hell Let Loose (PC) – Microsoft Flight Simulator (Xbox Series X/S) – Neo: The World Ends With You (PlayStation 4, Switch) –  – Read review Samurai Warriors 5 (Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles (PlayStation 4, Switch, PC) –  – Read review Tribes Of Midgard (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC) – Chernobylite (PC) – Nier Reincarnation (iOS, Android) – The Forgotten City (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) –  – Read review Eldest Souls (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) –  – Read review Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster Series (PC, iOS, Android) – The Ascent (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC) –  – Read review Alone With You (Switch) –  – Read review
Psychonauts 2

August

Grime (Stadia, PC) – Hunter's Arena: Legends (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4) – The Ramp (PC) – Dungeon Defenders: Awakened (Switch) – My Time At Portia (iOS, Android) –  – Read review Dodgeball Academia (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) –  – Read review Dreamscaper (Switch, PC) –  – Read review The Falconeer (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Switch) – I Am Dead (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One) – Action Arcade Wrestling (PlayStation 4, Xbox One) – Black Book (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – Button City (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC) – Godfall (PlayStation 4) –  – Read review Lawn Mowing Simulator (Xbox Series X/S, PC) – Library of Ruina (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC) – Sam & Max Save The World Remastered (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One) – Shadowverse: Champion's Battle (Switch) – Axiom Verge 2 (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Switch, PC) –  – Read review Boyfriend Dungeon (Switch) –  – Read review Dwarrows (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One) – Garden Story (Switch, PC) – Glitchpunk (PC) – Icarus (PC) – Necrobarista (Switch) –  – Read review Seed of Life (PC) – Slime Rancher (Switch) –  – Read review Art of Rally (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Switch) – Blair Witch (PlayStation VR) –  – Read review Foreclosed (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, Stadia, PC) – Naraka: Bladepoint (PC) – Hades (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One) –  – Read review PAW Patrol: The Movie Adventure City Calls (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch) – Road 96 (Switch, PC) – Greak: Memories Of Azur (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC) – Humankind (PC) – Marvel's Avengers - War for Wakanda (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Stadia, PC) – Young Souls (Stadia) –  – Read review Monster Train (Switch) –  – Read review Quake (2021) (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – Recompile (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) – RiMS Racing (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – The Vale: Shadow of the Crown (Xbox One, PC) – Twelve Minutes (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC) –  – Read review Arietta of Spirits (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4) – Madden NFL 22 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Stadia, PC) –  – Read review Aliens: Fireteam Elite (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) –  – Read review Hoa (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – I Expect You To Die 2: The Spy and The Liar (PlayStation VR, Rift, Quest, Vive) – King's Bounty II (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts 2 (PlayStation 5) – Marvel Future Revolution (iOS, Android) – Psychonauts 2 (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) –  – Read review Myst (2021) (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC, Mac) – Spelunky (Switch) –  – Read review Spelunky 2 (Switch) –  – Read review Townscaper (Switch) – Baldo: The Guardian Owls (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC, iOS) – Inked: A Tale of Love (Switch, PC) – No More Heroes 3 (Switch) –  – Read review KeyWe (Switch, PC) – Rustler (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – The Big Con (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC) –
Deathloop

September

Ark: Survival Evolved (Stadia) – Cloud Gardens (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One) – Darksiders II Deathinitive Edition (Stadia) – Lake (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC) – Bravely Default II (PC) –  – Read review El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron (PC) –  – Read review Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous (PC) – Puzzling Places (PlayStation VR, Rift) – Surgeon Simulator 2 (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One) – WRC 10 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) – Big Rumble Boxing: Creed Champions (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – Golf Club Wasteland (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – The Medium (PlayStation 5) –  – Read review Bus Simulator 21 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) – Encased (PC) – F.I.S.T.: Forged In Shadow Torch (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4) –  – Read review Harvest Moon: One World (PC) – Sonic Colors: Ultimate (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodhunt (PC) – BloodRayne Betrayal: Fresh Bites (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – Night In The Woods (iOS) –  – Read review The Artful Escape (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC) –  – Read review Inked: A Tale of Love (PlayStation 4, Xbox One) – Kraken Academy (PC) – Life is Strange: True Colors (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, Stadia, PC) –  – Read review Lost in Random (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) –  – Read review NBA 2K22 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) –  – Read review Port Royale 4 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S) – Sam & Max: This Time It's Virtual! (PC) – Tales of Arise (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) –  – Read review WarioWare: Get It Together! (Switch) –  – Read review Cruis'n Blast (Switch) – Darksiders III (Stadia) –  – Read review Deathloop (PlayStation 5, PC) –  – Read review Flynn: Son of Crimson (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – Eastward (Switch, PC) –  – Read review SkateBIRD (Xbox One, Switch, PC, Linux) – Aragami 2 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) – Deltarune: Chapter 2 (PC, Mac) – Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom (Switch) –  – Read review Toem (PlayStation 5, Switch, PC) – Kena: Bridge of Spirits (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC) –  – Read review Sheltered 2 (PC) – World War Z: Aftermath (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) – Pokémon Unite (iOS, Android) –  – Read review Actraiser Renaissance (PlayStation 4, Switch, PC, iOS, Android) – Beast Breaker (Switch, PC) – Castlevania Advance Collection (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – Deltarune: Chapter 2 (Switch) – Diablo II: Resurrected (PC) –  – Read review Embr (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4) – Sable (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC) –  – Read review The Forgotten City (Switch) –  – Read review The Plane Effect (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC) – Death Stranding Director's Cut (PlayStation 5) – Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot (Switch) –  – Read review Lost Judgment (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One) –  – Read review Away: The Survival Series (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC) – Before Your Eyes (Mac) –  – Read review Chernobylite (PlayStation 4, Xbox One) – Ghostrunner (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S) – Harvest Moon: One World (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One) – In Sound Mind (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) – KeyWe (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4) – Lemnis Gate (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) – Neo: The World Ends With You (PC) –  – Read review New World (PC) – Outer Wilds: Echoes of the Eye (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) – Steel Assault (Switch, PC) – Insurgency: Sandstorm (PlayStation 4, Xbox One) –  – Read review AI: The Somnium Files (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One) – Aeon Drive (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – Astria Ascending (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – Bubble Bobble 4 Friends (PC) – Darksiders III (Switch) –  – Read review Hot Wheels Unleashed (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) –  – Read review Imposter Factory (PC) – Rogue Lords (PC) – The Last Friend (Switch, PC) – Unsighted (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) –  – Read review
Back 4 Blood

October

FIFA 22 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) –  – Read review Phoenix Point (PlayStation 4, Xbox One) – Alan Wake Remastered (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) –  – Read review Hell Let Loose (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S) – Jett: The Far Shore (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4) –  – Read review Lego Marvel Super Heroes (Switch) –  – Read review Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) –  – Read review Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – The Falconeer (Stadia) – Art of Rally (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4) – Enlisted (Xbox One) – Far Cry 6 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Stadia, PC, Mac) –  – Read review Gang Beasts (Switch) – Song in the Smoke (PlayStation VR, Rift, Quest) – Doki Doki Literature Club Plus (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – Metroid Dread (Switch) –  – Read review Tetris Effect: Connected (Switch) – Back 4 Blood (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) –  – Read review Circuit Superstars (Xbox One, PC) – Disco Elysium: The Final Cut (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Switch) –  – Read review Monster Crown (Switch, PC) – Ori: The Collection (Switch) – Red Ronin (Xbox One) – Slender: The Arrival (iOS, Android) – Dungeon Encounters (PlayStation 4, Switch, PC) – Red Ronin (PlayStation 4, Switch) – The Jackbox Party Pack 8 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – The Riftbreaker (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) – Crysis Remastered Trilogy (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – NHL 22 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One) –  – Read review The Good Life (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) –  – Read review Nuclear Blaze (PC) – Inscryption (PC) – Into the Pit (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC) – Corpse Party (2021) (Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – Grotto (PC) – Townscaper (iOS, Android) – Echo Generation (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC) – Resident Evil 4 VR (Quest) –  – Read review The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) –  – Read review Carrion (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4) –  – Read review Iron Harvest (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S) – L.O.L. Surprise! Movie Night (Switch) – Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) –  – Read review NASCAR 21: Ignition (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) – Pikmin Bloom (iOS, Android) – Workshop Simulator (PC) – Super Robot Wars 30 (PC) – Age of Empires IV (PC) –  – Read review Backbone (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One) – Dusk (Switch) –  – Read review Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) –  – Read review Riders Republic (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Stadia, PC) –  – Read review Röki (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S) – Voice Of Cards: The Isle Dragon Roars (PlayStation 4, Switch, PC) – Mario Party Superstars (Switch) –  – Read review
Jurassic World Evolution 2

November

First Class Trouble (PC) – First Class Trouble (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4) – Fortnite Minty Legends Pack (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch) – Tunche (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – Unpacking (Xbox One, Switch, PC) – World War Z (Switch) –  – Read review Bloodshore (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC, iOS, Android) – The Solitaire Conspiracy (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S) – A Boy and His Blob (Switch) –  – Read review Just Dance 2022 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Switch, Stadia) – The Binding Of Isaac: Repentance (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Switch) – Where Cards Fall (Switch, PC) – Animal Crossing: New Horizons - Happy Home Paradise DLC (Switch) – Call of Duty: Vanguard (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) –  – Read review Let's Build a Zoo (PC) – Airborne Kingdom (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch) – Disney Classic Games Collection (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – Football Manager 2022 (Xbox One, PC) – Forza Horizon 5 (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC) –  – Read review Jurassic World Evolution 2 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) –  – Read review Among Trees (PC) – Bright Memory: Infinite (PC) –  – Read review Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (Switch) – The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S) – Shin Megami Tensei V (Switch) –  – Read review Moncage (PC, iOS, Android) –  – Read review Ruined King: A League of Legends Story (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC) – Surviving The Aftermath (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – The Smurfs: Mission Vileaf Smurftastic Edition (Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch) – The Wild At Heart (PlayStation 4) – Fae Tactics (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One) – Final Fantasy VII The First Soldier (iOS, Android) – Tamarin (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One) – BloodRayne 2: ReVamped (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch) – BloodRayne: ReVamped (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch) – Epic Chef (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – Exo One (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC) – UnDungeon (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC) – Battlefield 2042 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) –  – Read review NERF Legends (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – Pokémon Brilliant Diamond (Switch) –  – Read review Pokémon Shining Pearl (Switch) –  – Read review Farming Simulator 22 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, Stadia) – Death's Door (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Switch) –  – Read review Oddworld: Soulstorm (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One) –  – Read review Beyond a Steel Sky (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch) – Evil Genius 2: World Domination (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360) –  – Read review
Halo Infinite

December

Solar Ash (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC) – Chorus (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Stadia, PC) – Danganronpa Decadence (Switch) – Danganronpa S: Ultimate Summer Camp (Switch) – Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC, Mac) – SpellForce III Reforced (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) – Halo Infinite (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC) – Loop Hero (Switch) –  – Read review Monster Rancher 1 & 2 DX (Switch, PC, iOS) – Among Us (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One) –  – Read review The Smurfs: Mission Vileaf Smurftastic Edition (PlayStation 5) – Alien: Isolation (iOS, Android) –  – Read review Five Nights at Freddy's: Security Breach (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC) – The Gunk (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC) –
Babylon's Fall

To Be Announced

Abandoned (PlayStation 5) Action Arcade Wrestling (Switch) Anno: Mutationem (PlayStation 4, PC) As Dusk Falls (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC) Babylon's Fall (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC) Backbone (Switch) Balsa Model Flight Simulator (PC) BattleCakes (Xbox One, PC) Boundary (PlayStation 4, PC) Braid: Anniversary Edition (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC, Mac, Linux) Bright Memory: Infinite (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S)  – Read review Card Shark (Switch, PC) Circuit Superstars (PlayStation 4, Switch) CrossfireX (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One) Dangerous Driving 2 (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) Devolver Tumble Time (iOS, Android) Dual Universe (PC) Dungeon Defenders: Awakened (PlayStation 4) Dustborn (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) Earth Defense Force 6 Evil West (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Switch)  – Read review Frozen Flame (PC) Heavenly Bodies (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC) Hindsight (Switch, PC, iOS) Hollow Knight: Silksong (Switch, PC) Humanity (PlayStation VR, PlayStation 4) Industries Of Titan (PC) KeyWe (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One) League of Legends: Wild Rift (iOS, Android) Little Witch in the Woods (PC) Martha Is Dead (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) Mineko's Night Market (Switch, PC, Mac) Necrobarista (PlayStation 4)  – Read review Neon White (Switch, PC) No Place For Bravery (Switch, PC) Open Roads (PlayStation 4, PC) Panzer Dragoon VR Paranoia: Happiness Is Mandatory (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) ProtoCorgi (Switch, PC) Puzzle Quest 3 (PC, iOS, Android) Rawmen (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC) Roller Champions (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) RPG Time: The Legend of Wright (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC, iOS, Android) Scorn (Xbox Series X/S) Second Extinction (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One) Session (Xbox One, PC) She Dreams Elsewhere (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Switch, PC) Shredders (Xbox Series X/S) Skater XL (Switch) Smash Ball (PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Switch, Stadia, PC, iOS, Android) Soup Pot (Xbox Series X/S, PC) State of Decay 3 (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One) System Shock Remastered (PC) Temtem (Xbox Series X/S, Switch) The Academy: The First Riddle (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch) The Anacrusis (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC) The Binding Of Isaac: Repentance (Xbox One) The House of the Dead: Remake (Switch) The Settlers (PC) The Slormancer (PC) The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe (PC) Those Who Remain (Switch) Tunic (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC) Ultimate Fishing Simulator 2 (PC) Ultimate Rivals: The Court (PC, iOS) Unknown 9: Awakening (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) Valheim (PC) Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodhunt (PlayStation 5) Way to the Woods (Xbox One, PC) We Are The Caretakers (Xbox One, PC) White Shadows (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) Wreckfest (Switch)  – Read review Wytchwood (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) Young Souls (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC)  – Read review

2022 Video Game Release Schedule »

Test Out The King Of Fighters XV Beta Starting Tonight

Posted: 19 Nov 2021 03:00 PM PST

It's time to break out and dust off your arcade sticks and prepare for a weekend of 3v3 battles in The King of Fighters XV open beta.

Starting tonight at 7 p.m. Pacific and running until 7 a.m. Pacific on November 22, PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 owners will have the opportunity to go hands-on with eight characters out of the final roster of 39 that will be available at launch. The primary function of this beta will be to test out the online multiplayer before the game releases in a couple of months. For the first time ever, KOF will feature rollback netcode from day one in an effort to improve the general online experience when connecting to individuals over a long distance. 

This KOFXV test will feature both online and offline modes, including a training option, giving players a chance to learn character attacks and workshop combos or strategies without having to figure them out in heated battles. Five modes total will be present during the beta: Casual Match and Room Match for the online portion, giving players a taste of what matchmaking and lobbies will look like, while offline warriors can look forward to the aforementioned Training as well as Versus and a tutorial.

King of Fighters XV will have you build teams of three characters to duke it out by one against someone else's chosen trio. There's no tag mechanic, and you will only be able to play subsequent team members if you lose a round, so the order in which you position your characters will matter. Here's the list of characters available during the test this weekend:

  • Kyo Kusanagi
  • Iori Yagami
  • Chizuru Kagura
  • Shun'ei
  • Delores
  • Shermie
  • Chris
  • Yashiro

Each character belongs to a canonical team in the story of King of Fighters, but you can mix and match them as you please. SNK has released a PDF primer for the KOFXV beta, which you can view here. It gives the basic rundown on what to expect during the test and some issues the developers are aware of already (like how throws can sometimes desync the match). 

The King of Fighters XV is scheduled to release on February 17, 2022. While this weekend's beta is only appearing on PlayStation consoles, the final game will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.

Who's your team going to be for this weekend's KOFXV beta test? Are you looking forward to playing around with the new systems and characters? Let us know in the comments below!

Halo Infinite Has Gone Gold

Posted: 19 Nov 2021 01:30 PM PST

Having released half of the game earlier this week (albeit in beta), 343 Industries has announced Halo Infinite is ready to make preparations for release in a few weeks.

In a tweet this afternoon on the Halo account, the message sent was very clear, saying, "#HaloInfinite has officially gone gold! We'll see you on December 8, Spartans." The tweet was followed by a map of release times for regions across the world. Well, specifically when the campaign releases.

Forgoing the typical midnight release, Halo Infinite's single-player campaign will see the light of day (literally), landing at 10 a.m. Pacific on December 8. Other release times for various time zones can be seen below, although note that New York should say EST and has not moved into the Central time zone.

Of course, if you want to play Halo Infinite right now, you can! The multiplayer section of the game is available right now on Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PC, and is free to play. After a somewhat surprise launch on Monday as part of Microsoft's Xbox 20th anniversary celebration, 343 Industries unleashed an open beta of Halo Infinite on the gaming public.

We discuss our time with the multiplayer beta on this week's Game Informer Show, but that's not all! Halo Infinite is gracing the current cover of Game Informer, where we have pages upon pages of information about the game. It's technically also the first place Halo Infinite went gold. Game Informer Gold, that is. Check out that incredible ultra-rare print variant here. Also, check out the trifecta of New Gameplay Today videos released today, showing off that now-golden campaign.

Pokémon Remakes | All Things Nintendo

Posted: 19 Nov 2021 01:00 PM PST

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are out now. However, if you listened to episode two of All Things Nintendo, we already extensively covered what these remakes bring to the table. Instead of retreading old ground, this episode shifts the focus to the Pokémon series' long-standing tradition of bringing remade versions of its older games to modern platforms. Host Brian Shea invites fellow Game Informer editor John Carson back to retrace the history of Pokémon remakes before getting some final thoughts on Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl.

If you'd like to follow the people from this episode on Twitter, hit the following links: Brian Shea (@brianpshea), John Carson (@John_Carson)

The All Things Nintendo podcast is a weekly show where we can celebrate, discuss, and break down all the latest games, news, and announcements from the industry's most recognizable name. Each week, Brian is joined by different guests to talk about what's happening in the world of Nintendo. Along the way, they'll share personal stories, uncover hidden gems in the eShop, and even look back on the classics we all grew up with. A new episode hits every Friday!

Be sure to subscribe to All Things Nintendo on your favorite podcast platform. The show is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.

00:00:00 – Introduction
00:02:12 – GameCube and Wii Anniversaries
00:11:26 – Switch Continues Strong Sales
00:13:39 – Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit Update 2.0
00:17:02 – Twitch is on Switch
00:18:56 – Sonic Coming to Monster Hunter Rise
00:21:02 – Dragon Ball: The Breakers
00:22:46 – Ed Sheeran Coming to Pokémon Go
00:25:22 – Legendaries from Older Games in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl
00:28:52 – Pokémon Remakes Intro
00:31:24 – Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen
00:37:33 – Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver
00:41:49 – Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
00:45:36 – Pokémon Let's Go, Pikachu and Eevee
00:51:52 – Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl
01:00:59 – Definitive Ranking: Nintendo Remakes
01:08:52 – eShop Gem of the Week: Picross S6 Genesis & Master System Edition

If you'd like to get in touch with the All Things Nintendo podcast, you can do so by emailing AllThingsNintendo@GameInformer.com, tweeting to Brian (@BrianPShea), or by joining the official Game Informer Discord server. You can do that by linking your Discord account to your Twitch account and subscribing to the Game Informer Twitch channel. From there, find the All Things Nintendo channel under "Community Spaces."

For more Game Informer podcasts, be sure to check out The Game Informer Show, which covers the weekly happenings of the video game industry, and Video Gameography with host Ben Reeves, which explores the history of video games – one series at a time!

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Read An Excerpt From Double Fine's 20th Anniversary Art Book

Posted: 19 Nov 2021 12:31 PM PST

Double Fine Productions, the developer behind the Psychonauts series, Broken Age, and many more, recently celebrated its 20th anniversary. To celebrate this milestone, Double Fine partnered with Indie By Design to release a comprehensive art book that details the visual history of every single game the developer has released over the years – including insights from developers, in-depth interviews, and never-before-seen concept art. 

Read down below for an exclusive excerpt from the book, titled 20 Double Fine Years, giving a brief look at the design decisions behind Psychonauts 2's Aquato family and the game's many, many brains. We've also collected a handful of pages so you can see how the entire book is laid out. 

If you'd like to check out 20 Double Fine Years for yourself, it is available in a standard and collector's Legend Edition right here. Alongside peeks behind the curtain of every Double Fine game, the book also covers 2 Player Productions' Double Fine Adventure documentary series, webcomics the studio used to publish on its website, its Day of the Devs events, and much more. 

Lastly, for more on Double Fine, make sure to check out our History of Double Fine Productions story we ran back in July to read how the entire studio came together. 

20 Double Fine Years is available now.

Raz & The Aquatos

"It was crazy addictive to be drawing these characters again," describes concept artist Scott Campbell, art director on the original Psychonauts. "It was almost like being wrapped in this warm, comforting blanket."

Raz returns as protagonist in Psychonauts 2 and this time more of his family members are explored, with their lives and relationships shown in greater detail. Much of the joy for Campbell in designing them came from being able to build meaning into them, as opposed to creating them from scratch.

"It's like you're pulling at an old family patchwork quilt that you're also adding to at the same time. You need these characters to feel as though they've been brought here through the lore of the previous games. 

"They can't feel wholly new, you want them to feel like they've existed in this world and created their own place within it. Taking something that already exists and creating connections and history for it is really fulfilling."

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The Brains

Psychonauts 2 takes us through an incredibly diverse set of brains, each one presented as a fully-formed level for the player to explore. These levels are connected in the sense that you're always seeing them through the eyes of Raz and that each represents a character's innermost thoughts, but visually they are strikingly distinct.

"We looked back to Psychonauts to figure out what it was that made those different environments feel cohesive even though you're jumping through all of these different brains," explains environment artist Levi Ryken.

"One of the biggest things is proportions. We have this thing that we call the 'Psychonauts wonk,' which is basically that you can include stuff that seems pretty normal and consistent but you can't present it normally. It has to have the 'wonk' to it."

Parallel lines, for instance, are avoided for the most part. Characters are allowed to have two eyes that are essentially the same, but they're typically presented as one being bigger than the other or one being higher or lower on the face.

"It makes the whole world feel a little off at all times," Ryken continues. "It's almost as though it was drawn by someone who holds a pencil really haphazardly and is dropping it all of the time."

Rockstar Is Bringing Back Original PC Versions Of GTA Trilogy

Posted: 19 Nov 2021 11:02 AM PST

A week after Rockstar Games released Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition, the company is returning the original versions of those games to PC.

The PC versions of GTA III, Vice City, and San Andreas were removed from digital storefronts in preparation for the remastered editions. However, poor reception from consumers has spurred Rockstar to make the originals available through the Rockstar Store.

In an announcement on its website, the developer explained the decision saying, "The updated versions of these classic games did not launch in a state that meets our own standards of quality, or the standards our fans have come to expect." Owners of the PC edition of the remaster through the Rockstar Store are being taken care of. Rockstar says, "We will be adding the classic PC versions of Grand Theft Auto III, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas back to the Rockstar Store shortly as a bundle. Additionally, everyone who has purchased Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition for PC from the Rockstar Store through June 30, 2022, will receive these classic versions in their Rockstar Games Launcher library at no additional cost."

While this make-good takes care of specific PC gamers, there's no word on those who own the package on PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, or other PC storefronts. Rockstar does say it's committed to fixing the issues with GTA: The Trilogy stating, "We have ongoing plans to address the technical issues and to improve each game going forward," and, "A new Title Update is on the way in the coming days for all versions of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition that will address a number of issues."

Last week on Twitch, Andrew Reiner and I explored GTA: The Trilogy for a few hours, and while I had a pretty good time waxing nostalgic with the series, I was fairly put off by some of the graphical changes. Especially the sheets of nightmarish rain plaguing Grand Theft Auto III.

Test Fly Over 120 Ships In Star Citizen For The Next Two Weeks

Posted: 19 Nov 2021 09:00 AM PST

Star Citizen, the ever-in-development interstellar flight sim about piloting impressive spaceships you can buy with your real hard-earned money, is holding the Intergalactic Aerospace Expo 2951 (IAE 2951) from today until December 1. 

Typically, to get yourself behind the yoke of a space cruiser in Star Citizen, you'd have to cough up at least $45 for access to one of the game's more basic ships. However, like a real-life car show (or a trip to almost any vehicle dealership), IAE 2951 will let intrepid pilots test out over 120 different flyable ships from various fictional manufacturers. Each day of the event will shift focus to specific ship companies and their wares.

A press release from Star Citizen developer Cloud Imperium reveals the Intergalactic Aerospace Expo 2951 will feature "six notable ship reveals," listing the "heavily armed gunship" Aegis Redeemer, along with a duo of Ares Starfighter variants called Ion and Inferno among these unveilings while also promising a few surprises. 

For the duration of the expo, Star Citizen will be free to play, though at what capacity outside of the starship convention was not detailed in the press release. New pilots can go to the game's website to sign up for an account and download the client to take part in IAE 2951.

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For those wondering when Star Citizen was released, it kind of hasn't yet. After starting its crowdfunding efforts in 2012, Cloud Imperium has steadily been building new ships and features for its ambitious space-faring followup to Wing Commander, collecting funding from selling ships and subscriptions along the way. In 2018, a star-studded cast was announced for the game's campaign mode called Squadron 42. The story featuring actors like Mark Hamill, Gillian Anderson, Henry Cavill, and Mark Strong hasn't seen the light of day, nor do we know when it's coming.

Are you looking to fly amongst the stars and test out one of Star Citizen's many ships? Have you invested in the space flight sim and have stories you'd like to share? Send all transmissions to the comments below! 

Pac-Man Museum + Lets You Play 14 Pac-Man Games As Pac-Man

Posted: 19 Nov 2021 07:57 AM PST

Bandai Namco found out you like Pac-Man and has decided to add more Pac-Man to your Pac-Man. The publisher announced a new compilation called Pac-Man Museum +, which bundles 14 different games in the series in one, bright yellow package.

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While not the first Museum style collection (it's a follow-up to 2014's Pac-Man Museum), this newest iteration includes popular modern titles such as Pac-Man Championship Edition and Pac-Man 256 and oddities like the Wii-exclusive Pac-Motos. The full list of titles is as follows:

  • Pac-Man
  • Super Pac-Man
  • Pac & Pal
  • Pac-Land
  • Pac-Mania
  • Pac-Attack
  • Pac-In-Time
  • Pac-Man Arrangement (Arcade Version)
  • Pac-Man Arrangement (Console Version)
  • Pac-Man Championship Edition
  • Pac-Motos
  • Pac 'N Roll Remix
  • Pac-Man Battle Royale
  • Pac-Man 256

To access each game, you'll explore an actual arcade as Pac-Man himself, which is pretty meta. This arcade can be customized to your liking Animal Crossing-style by purchasing decor using coins earned by completing in-game missions. 

Pac-Man Museum + gobbles its way to Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC in early 2022.

Battlefield 2042 Review – The Battle Of The Bugs

Posted: 19 Nov 2021 07:00 AM PST

battlefield 2042 review

Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: DICE
Release:
Reviewed on: PC
Also on: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One

Battlefield has always been the largest and loudest multiplayer experience in the business. It's the video game equivalent of Texas, and its bombast cannot be overstated. Battlefield 2042 offers a variety of ways to participate in simulated near-future warfare. Whether you prefer to fight via land or sky, you can experience dizzying on-screen explosions, tense firefights, and more vehicles than teammates who know how to drive them. Unfortunately, Battlefield 2042 is full of almost as many bugs as bad pilots, dragging down an otherwise solid online shooter.

If nothing else, Battlefield 2042 is familiar. It continues the series' trend in delivering multiplayer maps with the largest player count possible and a range of reliable character archetypes that have become standard in first-person shooters. The newest addition to Battlefield's long-standing formula is a weather system that lets you ride lethal tornados alongside the vehicles and debris they pick up on their route across the map. These storms are a neat touch and add a sense of panic to already-tense battles, but their inclusion feels inconsequential in the grand scheme. The 128-player matches and large maps guarantee dramatic moments, but there's a thin line separating spectacle and chaos, and 2042 often devolves into the latter.

There's never been a Battlefield game released without Conquest, the signature mode which tasks two opposing teams to capture and defend objective zones across the map. Each side has a limited number of reinforcements that slowly drain according to how many sectors the team controls. The popular format is alive and well in 2042, but unfortunately, it's my least favorite way to play. For the first time, Battlefield hosts too many players in each match. Without the presence of Commanders to take charge of assaults, Conquest feels disorganized and incoherent at times since there's no good way for all 64 players on each team to communicate and focus their attacks. Also, respawns frequently place you in the middle of a contested area only to be immediately killed by an enemy from somewhere off-screen.

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Even if the larger picture is occasionally blurred, the moment-to-moment gameplay loop is fun. Gunplay is solid even though hits don't always seem to register when they should, and the wide array of vehicles are equally entertaining to pilot when running on foot becomes tiresome. I was disappointed by the lack of naval warfare, which is notable considering its importance in the series and the fact that several maps are surrounded by large bodies of water.

Breakthrough is the second mode in the game's multiplayer suite, and it provides more focused engagements by separating maps into multiple segments, each containing two Control Points. If the attacking team successfully captures all of the objectives in a zone, they can force the defending team to retreat to the next area. While Breakthrough still suffers from an inflated player count, it is undoubtedly the best path to participating in a traditional Battlefield experience.

Hazard Zone, a brand new multiplayer format introduced in 2042, pits eight squads of four against one another and tasks them with retrieving data drives located in satellite crash sites scattered across the map. Each location is guarded by opposing AI forces that attack your team on sight. Hazard Zone has no respawning unless your teammates have a Redeploy Uplink. The only way to win these matches is to extract in a highly-contested Helicarrier, which only visits the map twice throughout the game. If you miss the flight or die before making it onboard, it's game over, and you lose the credits you spent in the pre-match munitions shop. However, if you successfully extract, you're rewarded with Dark Market Credits, a meta currency that persists between games, which you can spend to purchase better gear before your next match. Hazard Zone is tense and strategic, and the white-knuckle firefights at the end of each game make it my favorite way to play Battlefield 2042.

Another new addition to the series is Battlefield Portal, a community-driven platform that players can use to make custom games or play others' weird creations. For example, there's a free-for-all rockets-only mode in which the only way to reload your launcher is to jump five times. Watching rockets fly across the screen in such a ridiculous scenario is hilarious, but like most of the games in Portal, the fun fades after a match or two.

battlefield 2042 review

In theory, Portal is an opportunity for players to create inventive spins on Battlefield, especially since the Battlefield Builder is easy to grasp and is accessible via a web browser. Portal lets you customize the game mode, map rotation, arsenal restrictions, and you can program advanced rulesets with visual scripting in the Logic Editor; however, the latter is less approachable to beginners. As a fan of past creative suites like Halo Forge and Fortnite Creative, I'm not compelled to interact with Portal's tools since they're designed for modifying existing game settings and don't allow you to design your own original levels. 

Portal also includes remastered versions of classic maps, and you can augment their rulesets or play them in their original form in a developer-featured playlist. I love this inclusion and am very happy to have a convenient way to return to beloved locations like Valparaiso, Caspian Border, or the Battle of The Bulge. These are effectively remastered versions of the series' best maps, and I'm interested to see which ones DICE adds next.

Whether you're grappling above the competition like Spider-Man, flying through a deadly tornado with a wingsuit, or sniping enemies from behind mobile barricades, each Battlefield specialist offers a unique way to participate in the battle. The title launched with ten specialists, and each of them falls into one of four classes: Assault, Engineer, Support, and Recon. You can fine-tune these characters in myriad ways (including being able to use any weapon). Still, my favorite customization feature is the option to swap weapon attachments mid-fight without needing to respawn. My go-to sniper lens is the 6X scope, but I found it convenient to switch to a different optic on the fly with the press of a button. This new feature vastly improves the multiplayer experience and should be adopted by other first-person shooters.

battlefield 2042 review

Battlefield 2042 includes seven maps at launch. Hourglass features an isolated city reclaimed by the neighboring desert, Discarded hosts colossal shipyards along India's western coasts, and Breakaway is nestled amidst the icy mountains of Antarctica. The other maps – Manifest, Kaleidoscope, Orbital, and Renewal – are standard fare but still feature landscapes worth exploring. Every map is affected by violent weather systems that are exciting to navigate, but I wish more maps hosted unique elements like Orbital's rocket launch and Breakaway's explosive silos that permanently augment the map mid-match. Regardless, there aren't any bad maps, and I enjoy playing on each of them.

Unfortunately, Battlefield 2042 currently feels underbaked due to an abundance of bugs. While most bugs I encountered are minor, each one dilutes the fun I have when playing. For example, the grappling hook's zipline clipping through the front of the device during its animation or not being able to call in air support on a map like Hourglass because of an issue with the sand's navmesh. More serious glitches can negatively affect gameplay, like when sniper scopes lose their magnification after interacting with gadgets like Irish's mobile barricades. While playing on PC, the game also hard crashed to my desktop once during a week spent playing the game. One of my friends wasn't as lucky and experienced several crashes in one of our play sessions. These crashes left me especially disadvantaged in Hazard Zone. 

Don't get me wrong: Battlefield 2042 is playable, packed with content, and often really fun. The title's seven maps are distinct from one another, its bevy of customization options make it easy to play how you want, and I love the extreme weather systems and the quick-equip weapon feature. Portal hasn't reached its full potential, but it introduces a convenient way to access six beloved experiences from Battlefield 3, Battlefield 1942, and Bad Company 2. Battlefield 2042 is an easy recommendation for existing fans or players looking for a modern war game, but I struggle to fully endorse it due to its current lack of polish. As long as DICE continues to publish hotfixes and patches as they have, Battlefield 2042 could eventually become a go-to online shooter, but it's a shame it was released like this.

Battlefield 2042 was reviewed on PC with a code provided by the publisher for review purposes.

Score: 7

Summary: An otherwise solid online shooter bogged down by an abundance of bugs.

Concept: Battle for objectives across large-scale maps via land, sky, and in the middle of tornados

Graphics: The visuals are sacrificed in modes with larger player counts, but environments are rendered beautifully in smaller modes like Hazard Zone

Sound: Deep bass, large drums, and guttural synths comprise a familiar but compelling modern combat soundscape

Playability: Myriad customization options and approachable combat make for a varied first-person shooter

Entertainment: Each weapon has a unique feel that is fun to master and contested objectives always keep you busy

Replay: Moderately High

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