Mark Delaney

“Goodnight Universe is beautiful and heartwrenching, just like its developer's previous effort.”

“Arc Raiders is an extraction shooter unlike any other, playing out like a totally unpredictable, immersive, thrilling story generator directed by the community.”

“PowerWash Sim was a breakout hit in 2021, and the sequel is a reminder of how that happened, though sometimes it feels like it's just punching in for work.”

“New developer Supermassive Games takes Little Nightmares in a familiar direction, though co-op does mix things up in a welcome way for the series.”

“Blippo+ defies what makes a video game in favor of chasing a bygone era in television.”

“Techland's expansion turned standalone sequel winds up being the most enjoyable Dying Light so far, because it dials back the power fantasy.”

“Lego Voyagers is a gorgeous and touching story of companionship built for two.”

“NBA 2K earns another year as the best annual sports game available.”

“Bloober Team follows its Silent Hill 2 remake with an original horror story that is tense throughout, though sometimes too punishing.”

“Okomotive's Journey-like adventure game delivers a strong emotional impact thanks to its memorable furry friends and a unique core concept.”

“Madden NFL 26 finally pairs the series' great on-field gameplay with a destination mode thanks to an impressive Franchise makeover.”

“Obsidian's survival-crafting sequel establishes a much stronger foundation for the future, though it'll take some time for it to lose its early-access feel.”

“Broken Bird Games' debut is a twisting, experimental horror game that goes places you won't see coming.”

“Remedy's co-op FPS is a fun Control spin-off when everything goes right, though such circumstances can prove elusive early on.”

“While rewarding creativity like any great game in its genre should do, Blendo Games' Skin Deep also offers a refreshingly lighthearted take on the immersive sim.”

“With its wide-open quest design, Atomfall takes a novel approach to storytelling that helps push through some of its lesser parts.”

“WWE 2K largely shines for another year, but it offers up one major new mode that elicits go-home heat in its inaugural form.”

“Survios' Alien VR game loses some of its luster on the Quest platform and struggles to make its starring monster interesting regardless of the specific headset in use.”

“Rebellion's sixth Sniper Elite entry is still a fun Nazi-destroying simulator, though this feels like the last one that can get by on rolling out the same, largely unchanged formula.”

“Via bricks and minifigs, Horizon is charmingly remade for a younger audience, though its formulaic missions may strain players of all ages.”