‘Blue Prince’ is a charming E-rated puzzler with equal measures of difficulty and delight for players of all ages.
In ‘South of Midnight’ lessons and wisdom compete with blood and muck in a visually creative folklore tale.
There’s a lot to enjoy here, but don’t let the cartoony visuals fool you. There are adult bits and pieces …
‘Atomfall’ feels a bit lighter than your typical bloody survival game. But it still has gun blasts to the face …
‘Assassin’s Creed Shadows” takes its shadow-slipping storyline to feudal Japan. The result? Beauty and gore in equal measure.
The new ‘Carmen Sandiego’ game won’t stump older detectives, but young rookies may enjoy solving crime in a red fedora …
Players encounter a few messy moments in this co-op game. But all-in-all, ‘Split Fiction’ is a fun fiction.
Bash, smash, hack and slash. ‘Monster Hunter Wilds’ has T-rated versions of all that on a mammoth monster scale.
‘Avowed’ proclaims its RPG adventure with heavy conversations and equally heavy blades. But it’s often a messy declaration.
‘Sniper Elite: Resistance’ adds a few small trigger-pulling additions. But it’s still all about the Nazi-mulching glee.
Sid Meier’s world-building game is back and bigger than ever. But is it better?
‘Eternal Strands’ offers a T-rated blend of big-game action adventure without ever feeling too gritty or messy.
If you love the idea of blending restaurant service and dungeon-crawling, ‘Cuisineer’ just might be the game for you.
‘For the King II’ offers a fun, turn-based, multiplayer adventure. But there are things that parents of young players should …
With headphones plugged in, ‘Monument Valley 3’ offers a soothing, block-out-the-noisy-world puzzle oasis.
‘Wildfrost’ starts players cold with it deck-building challenges. But strategy lovers will quickly warm to its play.
This ‘Indiana Jones’ game is the sequel that moviemakers probably wanted to make—gobbledygook spirituality and all.
Those Italian plumber bros. are back on the RPG-battling and world-saving job. But this time they need their electrician’s tools.
Guerrilla Games and Studio Gobo have somehow transformed an M-rated battler into a cheery game made of LEGO blocks.
There’s plenty of Poké fun to be had here in short, content-free doses. But impatience can cost ya’.
‘Metal Slug Tactics’ looks and feels a lot like the old arcade classics, but it’s got a whole new strategy-based …
After a 10-year break, ‘Dragon Age’ is back and ready to push its fantasy adventures in … multi-gendered romantic directions?
Undercover spy work is a bigger part of the new ‘Call of Duty’ than you’d expect. But there’s still a …
Mario and the rest of the gang will certainly keep you entertained with their minigame hootenanny, er, jamboree.
Very young Nick Jr. lovers will rejoice over Dora’s ‘super muy bien’ introduction to video gaming.
Is this a perfect game for kids? Well, that will depend on how young the starfish in your gaming galaxy …
Zelda takes the lead in the world-saving this go ‘round. And it makes for some nice, toy-like character play.
It’s all turn-based strategy battles in colorfully exotic settings. And there are only a few light bumps in Wargroove 2’s …
Monsters, puzzles and casual chats make this water-colored dungeon-crawler a rare beast.
Astro Bot represents the best of PlayStation while leaving the worst in another universe.
Magical relics, a clash between gods and battles against sandy wraiths are front and center in this desert-bound RPG.
Cat Quest III isn’t purrfect. But there’s a lot of swashbuckling, cat-quippy fun to sink your claws into.
Exploring a world, petting critters and cleaning up the environment are all part and parcel of this casual, animal-collecting game.
Cartoony characters and comedy patter make this indie game unique. But innocent-looking things aren’t always meant for kids. This is …
Deltarune has a cute kid-friendly look, but there are darker things beneath its pixeled sheep’s clothing.
EA Sports College Football 25 packs recognizable and refreshingly new moves into its playbook. And that’s worth a hearty college …
This South Pacific island-based adventure game has a very different feel. But its not always as kid-friendly as it looks.
Riven is back, decked out with pretty new baubles and fresh puzzles. And in several ways, it’s a journey into …
Goat Simulator 3 is chaotic and bizarre, to be sure. But the silliness can also bite you when you’re not …
Still Wakes the Deep is impressive and cinematic. But it’s also a mire of the dreadful and wincingly foul.
These Killer Klown invaders come toting cotton candy ray guns and wearing galumphy shoes. But don’t forget the M-rated side …
Patient Star Wars fans can get in on free team-based shooter play with Hunters. Those less patient, will need their …
Brilliant graphics and sound draw you in, but then Senua drops the other dark and gruesome shoe.
This find-your-way-home adventure features a cute kitty and his purr-worthy hijinks.
Rise of the Ronin features samurai, assassins, and the political intrigue of 1850’s Japan. Oh, and a whole lot of …
Stellar Blade has some out-of-this-world elements, but others aren’t so stellar.
Another Crab’s Treasure has a cheery look, salt-water humor and gameplay that will appeal to some. But it’s not exactly …
Players could well find this game to be equal parts quirky, charming and, well, boring.
This indie game offers lots of action for those who enjoy stealthy strategy with a shadow-swimming twist.
The title may make you think of a well-seasoned cooking game, but Pepper Grinder cooks in its own 2-D platforming …
Hollywood starlets step aside. Princess Peach is ready for her closeup—and her game is ready to shine.
There are a few T-rated issues here, but nothing bad enough to knock most families of teens off a unicorn.
Helldivers 2 has its action and charm to enjoy … when you’re not covered in goop and ducking friendly fire.
Between its ‘40s art style and its sweet platforming puzzles, Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley is as cozy and inviting as …
This Final Fantasy is indeed a rebirth of one of the most celebrated RPGs ever. But it comes with issues …
Penny’s Big Breakaway mixes old-school 3-D platforming with fresh new moves for a game everyone enjoy.
Do you like the feeling of organizing a disheveled mess into orderly bliss? A Little to the Left may hit …
The Inquisitor places gamers in a fantasy world where Jesus became a vengeance-fueled god-king. And oh, what a bleak, grim …
This Suicide Squad game takes a creative stab at the anti-hero rage. But the results are foul and disturbing.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown a well-constructed platformer that’ll please many–as long as they don’t mind its light bloodiness …
Palworld may look a lot like another cute and popular monster gathering game. But Pokémon’s never had AK-47s and butchering …
Crystal Story: Dawn of Dusk offers gamers a very nice taste of throwback gaming.
The Finals is yet another free-to-play, frenetic shooter that might not be as free as you expect.
Disney Dreamlight Valley blends Animal Crossing activities with Mickey and the gang and delivers some mostly magical fun.
Frontiers of Pandora lets you fly through its beautiful world. But it has plenty of angry things to say about …
Four Bluey episodes where the young fans call the sandbox and platforming shots? Wackadoo!
Coral Island is fun and rated E10+. But this tropical island farming sim isn’t all kid’s play.
This is a nightmarishly puzzling and creative survival horror game. But its clotted and foul side feels sticky and oppressive.
Not every good idea can ascend into the pantheon of great games. Silent Hill: Ascension barely makes it off the …
It’s new, it’s colorful, it’s bouncy and fun. But parents of younger players may need to bounce into the game …
It’s a top-tier action sequel to a top-tier action original, with just a few sticky, icky bits for Mom to …
It’s no illusion, Assassin’s Creed Mirage does look and play a little differently. But it’s still a bloody view.
There’s much more to the stylish Lamplighters League than you might expect: both great and not-so-great.
Cocoon is an alien bug-focused puzzler designed to get your brain humming and clicking … without driving you buggy.
Is Lies of P a graphically appealing RPG or a nightmarish and difficult slog? Yes.
There are fighting games and then there’s Mortal Kombat 1. You won’t find any fighter quite as high-def gruesome as …
Suffice it to say that Starfield’s M-rating definitely doesn’t stand for Milky Way.
If you’re looking for kid-friendly puzzle fare or grown-up rainy-day play, Skye Tales has a dragon’s story for you.
Sea of Stars packs a comfortable ‘90s RPG feel into a new magical fantasy tale.
This game is stuffed full of old school Disney charm. No, uh, goofy content to worry over.
Baldur’s Gate 3 has raised the RPG bar. But it has blown out its RPG content worries, too.
Bonelab is a very popular title in the growing world of VR. But we have a bone or two to …
From sandcastle stomps to kitchen-counter clomps, Pikmin 4 offers gamers a whole new colorful world.
Oxenfree II sports a Stranger Things-like vibe. And some Stranger Things-like content, too.
Crime O’Clock is an appealing Where’s Waldo-style hidden objects game with some fun puzzles and cute story tweaks.
Final Fantasy XVI is a game of great bombast and visually stunning spectacle. But it’s a bloody and profane spectacle …
The Bookwalker is a novel idea, but a messy read.
Those looking for a sweet story might find Dordogne to be a beautiful place to linger and remember.
Demons, death, blood sacrifice and more demons. Diablo IV is a game for lovers of battling, loot and a wash …
If you’re strategy minded, Railway Empire 2 might just have you yellin’ “All aboard!”
With a well-written story and time-driven choices, this Star Trek adventure might well be the best one yet.
Balanced play and creativity make Tears of the Kingdom soar. But you can’t ignore its darker side.
Dead Island 2 revels in profanity-spewing, bone-crunching, gut-rending, zombie-mulching carnage.
Survivor has some unexpected Jedi twists and turns. And Darth Vader, too.
This isn’t your dad’s Minecraft. So what have the gamemakers stacked up this time?
A new TRON game will certainly draw interest. But this visual novel may not be the code you’re looking for.
Curse of the Sea Rats features pirates, rats and platforming exploration, oh my. But what about the darker alleyways?
This “kid-friendly” Bayonetta isn’t as warm and cuddly as it might appear.
Storyteller is a smile-worthy puzzler that could still leave some family members frowning.
Atomic Heart has raised a lot of gamer’s pulses, but not always for the right reasons.
Lots of cartoony superhero action for young players and parents who don’t mind eyerolling puns.
Horizon Call of the Mountain is an impressively pretty game to duck, stretch and grunt your way through.
It’s all about drawing up inky forces in a world where dogs have spears and bunnies wield bows.
Wild Hearts features nearly impossible hunts of massive, fearsome creatures. What’s not to like?
As with every Potteresque venture, there’s dark and deadly peril along with the magical fun.
This game is like that vulgar, overtalking neighbor. He might look nice. But you’re wise to avoid him.
Is Fire Emblem Engage as engaging as its title suggests?
There’s bizarre fun to be had if you know the manga landscape.
A few light content punches mar River City Girls 2, an otherwise fun, colorful beat-‘em-up.
The gamemakers want you high on laughter, but the game itself is a downer.
This new kid-focused entry into a long-running RPG series may just be the gaming treasure you’re seeking.
There’s fun XCOM-like gameplay to be had. But you gotta be OK with Marvel’s demonic side.
This ninth-generation Pokémon game offers a true open-world environment—and it may leave players tickled pink.
There are thoughtful father/son moments in Ragnarök … amid all that gore, death and rage.
A beloved, speedy hero (and franchise) gets a chance at some new open-world fun.
The colorful Bayonetta 3 is more than meets the eye. And that’s not such a good thing.
It’s a Batman game without Batman. Can it still be worth a Bat-signal?
To build or not to build, that is the plastic block question.
MultiVersus has a lot of fun battles to enjoy. But some in-game irritations could send you running.
This game delivers a fast-paced sparkle and pop, but more tug at your wallet, too.
Return to Monkey Island has secrets, voodoo and goofy humor up its pirate sleeves. But is it worth an unfurled, …
This game’s all about squid-kids with ‘tude and ink-splashing battles galore. And it comes with nary a stain.
Some call it a classic. Others prefer the word “crude.”
Puzzle me this: Can a game be fun, silly, challenging and mom and dad-friendly, too? Hmmm.
You build the school and pick the classes with this game. But does it earn a passing grade?
This new Digimon is more visual novel that battler this go ‘round. But it’s also more horror than digital monster …
This new dystopian cyberpunk adventure features a cat as its hero. Your curiosity must be killing you.
Interactive B-movie drama with a stylish flare is the draw. But it’s not all come-hither.
Escape room fans have been searching for the right video game to come along. And this one may be the …
It’s a tasty and colorful treat. But one not easily gobbled.
This DLC gives players more—both good and bad—of what the first game was packing.
This latest Fire Emblem Warriors takes a new slash at some old themes.
The new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles title is a beat ‘em up love letter to the games of the ‘80s.
Mario is back with a lot of frenetic ball- (and character-) kicking action.
This artistically creative game has its fair share of fun puzzles and deep-sea dangers.
The newest Sniper Elite packs in all the old aim-down-the-barrel standards and a few new kills, too.
RiffTrax is a comedy game for the hidden jokester in all of us.
Rogue Legacy 2 may look like an old-school platformer, but there’s a lot going on in these castle chambers.
This award-winning game gets updated graphics and a whole new sequel hidden in its hallways. But it’s not for everybody.
This new LEGO adventure snaps together loads of action and fun. Oh, and Jar Jar Binks, too.
Demeo is a dungeon crawler that keeps the play, and the dungeon denizens, light.
One of Nintendo’s most unique characters finds himself in a new world with new powers. But, mostly, the fun feels …
Wonderland’s T-rated cleanup doesn’t necessarily equate to good, clean, all-ages fun.
Does this title suggest this is a Dark Souls game for kids? It’s not. It still has some nasty bits …
If you have a PS5 and any interest in simulated racing games in the least, this is a title to …
The makers of Dark Souls and the author of Game of Thrones join forces to make an extremely difficult, gory …
Aloy faces new forbidden horizons. But should she face them in your family room?
While reliably clever and sometimes funny, Nobody sometimes runs into some dark goop and glop.
There’ve been plenty of Pokémon games released, and most of them feel much the same. Until now.
The newest Yu-Gi-Oh! game is a free download. But does it cost more than you expect?
Astroneer offers a well-crafted explore-and-build adventure that’s very easy to, uh, launch into.
This puzzle game throws in just enough danger, creativity and a desperate need for stealth to give it a singular …
The game is based on cleaning up a planet, and that’s surprisingly satisfying. Too bad the game didn’t clean up …
This T-rated space combat game is a bit different. But it might offer a cockpit worth exploring.
Master Chief and Halo are back. Does their T-rating make them more family-room friendly?
It’s a fun game that’ll give you a good time, and maybe offer just a bit of cerebral heft.
Nintendo has freshened up a classic Pokémon game. But it’s still just as comforting and fun as the original.
Call of Duty: Vanguard comes packing many of the expected action-focused plusses along with some bombastic messiness on a number …
Microsoft’s Xbox Game Studios takes an already excellent racing franchise and makes it even better for players of all ages.
More a card game than a video game, The Isle Dragon Roars has just a few drawbacks for younger card-flippers.
The Guardians of the Galaxy have always been fun and messy. Fittingly, so is this game.
You definitely can’t say that Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl is in a splash-n-bash league of its own. But there’s a lot …
The latest game from the Far Cry franchise is a far cry from being family friendly.
Deathloop is a well-designed game. But what else will you be looping into?
This visually spectacular game also includes some spooktacular spiritual issues that discerning families should take note of.
The third M-rated game in this series involves an engaging, emotion-sensing hero … and quite a bit of mature content.
There’s more than a twisted mystery at play in this twisted, disturbing story of assault, deception and … worse.
A new Civ-like strategy game invites players to consider the resources that cause a culture to flourish.
This creative game deals with, of all things, mental health. But it has its own sticky bits, too.
Escape rooms and … Muppets? What kind of VR game is Floor Plan 2?
Can a game mod of Skyrim actually end up being a decent game all its own?
Interactive storytelling abounds here, but there are interactive problems, too.
The door is open for taking your Pokémon into battle arena matches. Is that a good thing?
This game offers colorful spy missions custom made for two.
The unexpected brushstrokes of this creative indie game will have players pondering surprisingly philosophical questions.
When a game looks this sweet, can it hold anything bad? Ohhh yes!
So, what does a PS5 version of Ratchet & Clank have in its handy toolbelt?
This indie runner has some spring in its step, but it’s a one-dimensional sprint.
Your gym teacher’s favorite game goes digital. And you won’t risk a trip to the nurse’s office to play it.
This new post-apocalyptic entry offers players a mixed bag of mutant adventure.
The Wild at Heart mostly offers a fun, colorful, 16-hour adventure that will definitely appeal to many.
Twenty-two years after the original version of this game first arrived, Pokémon fans get another chance to “Snap” ’em all.
Fans of the old Resident Evil titles should think long and hard before wandering into this Village.
Twists, turns and a lot of shooting fill this creative-yet-problematic hybrid title for the PS5.
Life flies by in a blink. Before Your Eyes invites us to ponder that spiritual reality … though it’s got …
Could this be the monster-slashing hunt you’ve been looking for?
This looter-shooter title fully earns its M-rating with a cacophony of raging action and profane dialogue.
There’s a kids’ game vibe in this unusual video game that aims to help parents think about love, conflict and …
The Pathless is a quick-paced, beautiful game with a mythical journey that could trip up some players.
More than any of the past Harvest Moon games, One World keeps players engaged in its farming sim fantasy world.
The latest Yakuza entry offers a fresh, creative revamp of this hit franchise. Unfortunately, it’s still a bloody and profane …
Maquette is, without question, a very creative and at times very difficult, puzzle-focused game.
Beneath its Japanese anime charm, Persona 5 Strikers cloaks a whole host of spiritual, sexual and language problems.
Like plunging into a horrific fever dream, Little Nightmares II propels players into some dark and disturbing places.
This third-person, psychological horror game is packed to the brim with all things creepy and foul.
Is this M-rated game an opportunity for creative thinking and problem solving? Or is it a meticulous murder simulator?
This retro-styled, beat-’em-up franchise gets another swing on newer consoles.
This VR dive into the Medal of Honor world is interesting. But it doesn’t quite rise to the expectations that …
Super Meat Boy is back to leap more blades and grinders. Should he make a meaty splash in your family …
You’ve got a fun puzzling adventure game here, toting a lightly mixed steamer trunk.
This highly anticipated, cinematically structured RPG pushes the boundaries on explicit M-rated content of every kind.
What does this guy named Miles Morales have tucked up his web-slinging sleeves?
The hardest part of Sackboy’s smile-worthy Big Adventure for me was trying to come up with anything problematic to say …
The newest Assassin’s Creed lives in the world of 9th-century Vikings, a world of bloody, brutal conquests.
This gentle, fun adaptation of a popular Nick Jr. show invites young gamers into a puppy-driven, problem-solving adventure.
This open-world game starts out with an interesting gameplay premise, but devolves into profanity, torture, torment and death.
Punishing bloodletting and screeched profanities make Ghostrunner a haunting nightmare for discerning families.
This deceptively simple murder-mystery in space has quietly become a monster hit among myriad players.
Crash Bandicoot returns for another platforming adventure … including some unexpected obstacles for families.
The learning curve is steep. But once you get the hang of it, this game has only a few minor …
This T-rated Marvel superhero game feels fun and familiar, though it’s somewhat marred by occasional profanities.
Despite its title, Vadar Immortal resists the urge to fully embrace the dark side, content-wise, in this VR title.
Samurai Jack is back and leaping in your family room! Is that a good thing?
Yet another throwback remake. But are these toads infectious or infected?
Sometimes you just want a good racing game. Sorry Fast & Furious fans, Crossroads just ain’t it.
Does this online battle royale contest solve the genre’s biggest problems?
A new Paper Mario with an unfolding origami scheme.
This historical combat game is both brutal and beautiful. But is it something you’ll want your teens wading into?
Ever wondered what it’d be like to don Iron Man’s armor? Sony might just make those dreams come true—virtually speaking.
Zombie splatter might be the least of players’ worries in this brutal cautionary tale about emotional cost of seeking revenge.
Yet another free tactical shooter arrives for the esports-loving masses. But are there costs that come with free?
A refurbished classic for the Switch. But are these the battling chronicles you’re looking for?
This might be just the sort of light, clever and silly game we could all use right about now.
Less blocky building. More blocky battling. Minecraft Dungeons builds a brawler for young fans of the franchise.
SuperMash gives players a chance to mix-‘n’-match video game genres in creative—and sometimes odd—new minigames.
Another old school revival. Does Streets of Rage 4 offer fresh kicks or tired whiffs?
Gears Tactics offers a strategy-oriented approach to this combat franchise. But if you’re expecting less gore, think again.
The movie-like vibe of playing a Predator is undeniably compelling, but it can’t be called good hunting.
This creative, E-rated platforming adventure uses particular words to help gamers explore the things of grief.
A classic gaming franchise gets an immersive, VR-only sequel. But what does this game immerse you in?
The remake of this 1999 game adds two decades of realism and detail to this already gore-drenched zombie apocalypse.
The latest Animal Crossing game once again invites players into an enjoyable simulation process—this time on a tropical island.
There’s really only one franchise that corners the market on gory, gloppy demon-butchering.
There’s a potent new challenger vying for the battle royale crown—this time with the M-rated Call of Duty backdrop.
It may be called Romance of the Three Kingdoms, but not everything players find in this deep strategy game is …
Some games are different. And sometimes, that’s exactly what you need. Sometimes you just want something that will be easy …
Dreams may not be a typical dream game, but your creative visions can make it sparkle.
This creative game involves crafting, exploring and platforming … a just a bit of goo.
For a game cover that “looks kinda cute,” Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot may not be the game you’re expecting.
A new game from the creator of the original X-COM. Does that bode well for the turn-based strategy fan?
This curiosity is less a traditional game and more like the interactive imaginings of an especially creative preschooler.
This Bible-based battler is played out from a new perspective. But can you really tell Mom it’s more … biblical?
Arise: A Simple Story is an abstract platformer with a warm heart … and all the soothing presence of a …
Eighteen years later, the groundbreaking world of Shenmue returns. But the kicks here aren’t … always a kick.
If you’re a Pokémon fan who’s gotta-play-them-all, is there any reason not to?
Fallen Order is for those who want to know what it’s like to be a bewildered young Jedi … with …
Sparklite is a “roguelite” game of good versus evil. But what exactly does that mean?
Hideo Kojima’s newest effort is a strange and creative concoction that’s equally awesome and awful.
The new CoD returns to a world of realistic military conflict … for better and worse.
Does this creative sci-fi adventure from the makers of Fallout have the same kind of corrosive content?
The Plants vs. Zombies franchise blooms again with a new open world full of activities. But is it fresh or …
Just about everybody that this game’s protagonist knows is in her head. And they jump out to help her fight …
The eleventh Ghost Recon challenges gamers to survive first, shoot second.
What happens when Nintendo remakes a classic game from 1993? You might be surprised by the answer.
Borderlands has become a fan-favorite franchise over the years by relying on a certain gaming formula. It blends engaging shooting …
Gears 5 propels this long-running franchise in some new directions … and toward some violent old ones, too.
This gory, M-rated shooter propels players into combat with all manner of ghoulish, supernatural entities.
Yu-Gi-Oh! migrates to the Switch, blending classic card battles with its signature brand of manga-inspired mysticism.
The dystopian adventure RAD is something called a “roguelike” game. So how roguish does it get?
A new generation of full-motion video games is coming. Erica shows us the game genre’s promise … and peril.
The latest Madden packs in new looks and features, but is it still a high draft choice for your family …
The latest installment in this influential and long-running franchise invites a pair of teen girls to unleash M-rated carnage.
The latest Fire Emblem game migrates to Nintendo’s Switch, bringing some big changes to the franchise along the way.
Avengers? Thanos? Infinity Stones? Yup, it looks like Nintendo paid attention when crafting this Switch combat title.
As its title suggestion, this old-school homage mirrors the latest season of Netflix’s hit series.
One look at the titular building in Batman: Arkham Asylum, and you can understand why Gotham City has such a …
Few video games have incited the firestorm of controversy that the GTA franchise has. This latest addition only adds fuel.
If, like me, you were an enthusiast of arcade gaming in the ’80s—the kind of person the less knowledgeable might …
My dad was more of a checkers man, but he taught me how to play chess after I bugged him …
Picture a landscape that simmers and sweats with a crimson molten heat, covered by a coal black, sulfurous blanket of …
“The life of man,” wrote English philosopher Thomas Hobbes in 1651, “[is] solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short.” Oddly enough, …
The fog of war isn’t keeping platoons of gamers from snapping up copies of this highly anticipated shooter sequel. But …
Spider-Man 2 (the game) follows the general plot of the movie, but adds some new twists and characters.
Investigative adventure game ‘Indigo Prophecy’ mashes up ‘CSI’ and ‘The X-Files.’ And in so doing breaks new narrative ground.
Battlefront II may be based on our culture’s favorite space opera, but this game doesn’t sing.
Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry believes Guitar Hero has helped steer his kids away from violence. Or at least video game …
When MySims for Nintendo’s Wii first landed on my desk, I’ll admit I wasn’t excited. My disillusionment with the whole …
This new Niantic AR game may look like a twist on Pokémon Go, but there are a few new Flobberworm …
The complicated spiritual lore of this Korean-created game world can be a little tough to follow. Its nonstop battle sequences …
You’d think the characters in the SoulCalibur series would’ve gotten tired of the whole “quest for the sacred sword(s)” thing …
Remember all the alienating cliques, roughneck threats and other sweat-inducing agonies of your high school years? Well, no matter what …
In the racing game Fuel, Earth has been devastated. Not from terror attacks or nuclear annihilation or even lead-filled paint …
It’s the same war, but the games are all new and improved. But, just because we can turn world wars …
Here’s a game where you can build up a zoo just so you can wash the hippos and feed the …
Rubi Malone slaughters almost everyone she meets and would do almost anything for the right price. That means the blood …
If you’re looking for kid-friendly video games, a clue-solving mystery is generally a pretty safe choice. I haven’t yet seen …
I’ll be completely honest. There are many video games that I’ve reviewed for Plugged In that I wouldn’t let my …
You may not have heard any sinews twanging or backbones creaking into an upright position, but a kind of evolution …
Launched in 1994 as an arcade game, ‘Tekken’ has made its way through every version of Sony’s PlayStation, including (finally) …
First things first: The latest entry in the enormously popular Rock Band franchise isn’t what you might think it is. …
It was only a matter of time before Jack Sparrow of the mega-hit movie franchise ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ set …
While most video games give your thumbs a vigorous workout, Nintendo’s Wii has the market cornered for getting the rest …
As one generation of game consoles inexorably gives way to the next, and the next, Microsoft’s Xbox One—which replaces the …
After years of mostly solo stomping Koopalings and head-bopping magic blocks, Mario invites the whole family to play … at …
On the heels of 14 years of karate chopping, hook-kicking success, the godfather of 3-D fighting games has released a …
We all have ideas about what happens to us after we die. We think about how we’ll walk through the …
For many teens (especially boys), nothing captures the imagination like a hot sports car. But what about illegal street racing?
The Wild West. A mere mention sparks images of dusty wagon trails, rugged cowboy adventures and saloon-filled towns built by …
In the beginning, the world of electronic games was void and without form. Then in 1972, Nolan Bushnell, founder of …
Trover Saves the Universe looks like cartoony, brain-tickling fun … or is that a brain bleed?
Many a classic film has used well-known landmarks as backdrops for its celluloid diorama. Moviemakers love this because a shot …
A heavily shadowed sub strategically swims in and out of the crack-your-hull-like-an-eggshell ocean depths, having battled its way past a …
Gato Roboto is an E-rated platformer that’s easy to start and stop, and one that doesn’t suck up weeks of …
Outer Wilds is tricky and rewarding, but this space exploration game comes with an unexpected twist.
For players who’ve shouldered machine guns in other military adventure contests, the gameplay will seem familiar. But there is one …
Fans of H.P. Lovecraft might be drawn to this game. But what they’ll find is a grinding, grotesque and goopy …
“The game requires you cast your morality aside, and I’m sure the intended audience (you know who you are) will …
“No Gods or Kings. Only Man.” That’s the banner bidding you enter the underwater Art Deco mecca of Rapture. You …
Oh yeah, that’s the Indiana Jones I remember. That perpetual stubble and derring-do. The swaggering bravado mixed with a dash …
The newest Sony console, the PlayStation 4, has a much smaller trapezoid profile than its now last-gen sibling, the PS3, …
If someone sauntered up to ya, spit out his chaw and started talkin’ ’bout a Western, yer brain might jump …
What kinds of questions should you be asking yourself before venturing into Albion’s video game wilds?
With ‘The Simpsons Movie’ on DVD, no self-respecting Springfieldian will head home from the mall with just a movie in …
Scientists have proven that some parts of the human brain develop more quickly than others. The parts that desire action …
This engaging, puzzle-focused space odyssey has a big black hole in its mix, too.
Commander Shepard just loves to save the universe! When he’s not dead, of course. And when he’s not hitting on …
Growing up, I played a lot of games. Chess and backgammon came first, believe it or not. Then card games …
Sonic Unleashed is the 658th Sonic title from SEGA since the franchise’s inception way back when dinosaurs still roamed the …
Nowadays, every blockbuster movie comes with a video game in tow. It’s par for the marketing course, a promotional tool …
I walk into town, trusty dog at my side, looking to replenish supplies and maybe pick up a better ax. …
The personal computer is potentially the most expensive gaming console available. Gaming on the PC is a red-hot trend, with …
There are three kinds of people in the world: dog lovers, cat lovers and car lovers. And in the latter …
A lot of basketball fans, players and coaches are crying foul this season. As part of a much-needed effort to …
Two things have perpetually stayed the same as the Wolfenstein franchise fast approaches the age of 30: The dreaded Nazis …
Lara Croft began strutting her stuff back in 1996 when a small British company set the gaming world back on …
I don’t know how many times I’ve found myself in vicious, close-in firefights with marauding aliens and wished, If only …
The “van Hoorn” Snow is a serviceable ship. She can hold her own in any waters, especially when her crew …
When first hearing the title Age of Empires: Mythologies, it would be reasonable to expect that this video game is …
What Indiana Jones did for map-in-one-hand-gun-in-the-other cinema, Lara Croft has done for video games. They’re really very similar iconic figures …
When Resident Evil made its U.S. debut on the PlayStation in the mid ’90s, it raised an unexpectedly eerie head …
Have you ever daydreamed of visiting a picturesque French village filled with quirky locals? Wandering the cobblestone streets enjoying a …
There’s a lot of strategy to be employed in this empire-building game. Maybe too much.
If you’re one of those people who always wants to pull out the Risk game whenever friends or family are …
I carefully crept along the edge of the wall, my M-60 machine gun at the ready. The Marine across the …
My introduction to fantasy role-playing games came in sixth grade. At a bookstore, I noticed a fascinating tome called the …
In retrospect, I’d have to say my high school days were pretty typical. I’d worry about tests. I’d worry about …
As compared to the leaping and beeping platform video games of the past, today’s games rely heavily on in-depth story, …
Mortal Kombat may not be as controversial as it once was. But that’s not because this bloody franchise has cleaned …
This run-and-gun platformer is delightful to look at but a difficult game to play.
OK, I’ll admit it. Whenever I play a flight/combat simulation game, I usually pick up the controller expecting full-throttle action …
This nicely staged, point-and-click adventure falls victim to its own mystery.
The folks at Nintendo created the first Metroid game way back in the mid ’80s. And those sly little pranksters …
Big Bang Mini is one of those quirky little Nintendo DS games that’s oh so hard to classify. Whether you …
The realism of the gameplay and the virtual news clips that pop up between stages eerily mirrors today’s headline news, …
A handful of content changes could have kept this compelling sci-fi actioner from crossing the M-rated line.
The stands were full of parents. I cocked the bat over my 14-year-old shoulder, all aflutter at the plate and …
I’m sure you’ve heard the one about the guy who stands up at a funeral and says, “The rumors of …
Two years ago we saw ‘Metal Gear Solid 4’ being previewed at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles. It …
The Wii (pronounced we) is the direct successor to the Nintendo GameCube, but it treads such a different path that …
There are certain characters in fiction who always seem to tickle our collective imaginations. Patch-eyed pirates, rapier-flailing musketeers and high-flying …
After releasing eight Tony Hawk games, the creative team over at Activision has decided to ollie up to tweens who …
Disco-dancing turns pirates into platform paraders as the heroic Lombax Ratchet jumps onto the PS3 for a sixth video game …
‘Resident Evil’ and the sequels it spawned have helped define spooky, zombie shoot-’em-up games. Enter #4.
The first thing I did when I heard about Marvel Ultimate Alliance was to go to the video game’s official …
I remember playing the original Prince of Persia game when it first came out in 1989. With its unprecedented motion …
“My whole family died in a mob hit. I should have died, too. But I lived. I finally figured out …
There are a lot of first-person shooter video games out there. And in a lot of them all you do …
Two months before Halo 3 hit store shelves, it had already sold more than 1 million copies. It’s an unheard …
After 75 years, hundreds of books, 14 games, and a handful of movies and TV shows, Nancy Drew is still …
The battle for top honcho among gaming consoles rages on. Does the PS3 have the best graphics? Will the family …
Wii Music is pretty cool. Not quantum physics-level cool, mind you. Closer to the funny, kitschy cool of that little …
When the original Destroy All Humans! first hovered on the horizon, it was praised by some for an acerbic sense …
“Why so serious?” So says the evil Joker in The Dark Knight, the bleakest Batman movie ever. And, though the …
Have you ever sat up from your in-depth studies of world philosophies and long-dead languages and thought, “Where do those …
This robot-battling adventure game doesn’t quite add up to the sum of its parts.
Glistening eel-like tentacles sprout from my shoulder blades and hover in anticipation above a gunned-down thug. Razor-sharp teeth gnashing, the …
The sweet strains of a young boy singing “Ave Maria” usher us into Hitman: Blood Money. This euphony seems out …
I’ll admit it: I’m one of those grumpy gamers who never really liked The Sims franchise. Tell your sim to …
When it comes to most vampire stories, you can count on three things: blood, death and a sexual link between …
This ninja-themed combat title from the makers of the Dark Souls franchise is punishing in every sense of the word.
Urban blacktop serves as the backdrop for slams, jams and razzle-dazzle combo moves to the hoop.
Back in the fall of ’05, film director, producer and family man Steven Spielberg announced that he had signed a …
When I think of Nintendo’s DS, I rarely think M-rated games. It’s a platform for the younger set, right? Nope, …
I often marvel at how incredibly realistic video games can be nowadays. After making my way through some virtual cave …
The Spartan warrior of slaughterfest ‘God of War’ can do some serious damage onscreen. What’s less evident is how much …
Gamers are pulling down their blocky visors and once again keeping a steely eye peeled for Covenant forces. Which can …
No summer blockbuster is complete these days without its video game complement. ‘Star Wars: Episode III’ is no exception.
Once upon a time, I was a skater. Briefly. My pre-adolescent love affair with the skateboard never blossomed, however, because …
Today’s action video games are, on the whole, often pretty similar. Gamemakers drop players into hyper-adrenalized situations, give them obliterating …
Solve puzzles with anything you can imagine and write down—from atom bombs to zebras.
There comes a day in every kid’s life when he or she sits on the front porch—brow furrowed, head in …
This third-person shooter is better than its predecessor, but that doesn’t necessarily make it a better target for your gaming …
A handheld game console is a lightweight, portable electronic machine for playing video games (and, as the technology evolves, do …
I’m guessing the offices of Criterion Studios house enough testosterone to warrant at least one conference room solely dedicated to …
What would you think if science could pull some genetic tidbit out of your DNA and give you the power …
In 2005, Harmonix Music Systems partnered with video game publisher RedOctane to create a fresh, plastic guitar-wielding, colored button-bashing, rhythm/music …
This E-rated creation for PlayStation 3 reminds our game critic of days that were filled with cardboard boxes and anthills. …
Even twig-men can step into the ring and reach for fisticuffs glory. So, does the fight stay clean, or do …
WARNING! Spores have now mutated and are capable of escaping PCs everywhere! They are, at this very moment, invading family …
This familiar platforming franchise offers a new twist in its fabric for young 3DS gamers.
The latest DMC entry is a stylish-but-brainless, hack-and-slash demonic gore-fest.
As much as this game’s title might sound like a video game tie-in to Ben Stiller’s cinematic Night at the …
The gritty first-person shooter Far Cry 2 is thought of—and has been branded—as a sequel to the popular Far Cry …
The first time I ever happened upon a televised Ultimate Fighting Championship bout, two things immediately came to mind. The …
In Rapture vernacular, pal, this underwater thriller BioShock is back for another go-round. Is it the cat’s meow or just …
When the very first Star Wars film hit theaters, I took my girlfriend to see it. I know that makes …
In a land far, far away, where the legends of rock ‘n’ roll are born and not made, I still …
What’s the result when we spend our evenings shooting aliens to save Earth?
Some major adjustments give gamers more control over this franchise’s content issues—though they’re not gone completely.
Growing up in Iowa, some sports were important, some weren’t. Important: Wrestling. Not important: Pro hockey. You’d think that a …
The assassin is back with more bloodletting tools and loopy biblical conspiracies. Paging Jason Statham … and Dan Brown.
It may not be long before more people will have played a video game about the battles of World War …
I read once that men are born instinctively knowing how to do three things: Spit. Scratch. And lift heavy objects. …
I’m personally not a fan of American Idol. I know, I know, some of you are thinking, “What’s wrong with …
If the words Prince of Persia bring to mind evil alter egos, slo-mo dismemberments and belligerent bloodletting, then you’re in …
In the late 1990s first-person shooters such as Doom and Quake were hitting their stride and urging fans to team …
Do you remember the first time you got behind the wheel? I do. It was my 14th birthday—the day I …
It was time for me to play Scarface: The World Is Yours. And like many times before, I sat down …
James Bond. Lara Croft. Sam Fisher. Agent 47. These are some of the gaming world’s most well-known heroes. Using stealth, …
When I heard the word ninja as a kid, all kinds of cool shadow-leaping wonders filled my imagination. I’d think …
A cautionary tale filled with gore, gush and delusion. But what exactly should we be cautious of?
Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, The Little Mermaid and a whole host of other Disney darlings dip their toes into the anime …
The Beatles finally have their own Rock Band! So is our gaming guru crooning “yeah, yeah, yeah,” or moaning “for …
Just how do little plastic LEGO rockers stack up in the Rock Band big leagues?
Since the days of the Model T, people have asked, “Why do guys name their cars after women?” The sneering …
The Overlord games are designed for those players who long to slip into the armor and cape of an evil …
Video games are the Rodney Dangerfield of the entertainment world. And sometimes—when they’re digitally inviting kids to shoot cops or …
The newest Dragon Ball Z video game has hit the shelves with a robust take that! And fans of the …
Uncharted 2 goes places no other game has gone before. But are they the right places? Because more important than …
Is this new battle royale title a Fortnite killer? Maybe. But regardless of the answer, there’s a lot of killing …
The latest urban turf-war offering from ‘Grand Theft Auto’ publisher Rockstar Games takes its title, setting and plot from the …
When Gears of War hit the video game scene in the winter of 2006, it instantly became known as the …
The latest fantasy role-playing adventure from the makers of the Baldur’s Gate games invites players into an intricate, engaging epic …
Halo is back. And it’s rated T! Gaming fingers are twitching, allowances are being saved, and scores of cajoling teens …
This old-school strategy contest packs engaging, turn-by-turn challenges without any of the modern war-game mess.
If you’re as, um, mature as me, when you see the brand Warner Bros. you probably think of a Saturday …
Novelist Tom Clancy’s name has become synonymous with military action and espionage. His games are no exception.
A meteor from some unknown point in space crashes to the surface of a small planet and scatters bits and …
There was a time, not all that long ago, when local schools ran bomb drills just in case a heartless …
Full disclosure: I have a tendency to happily dig into real-time strategy games like a drooling bulldog into a bowl …
You’ll find Disney charm and color here, to be sure … as well as some darker things.
The first Devil May Cry game was actually intended as a sequel in the Resident Evil video game series, but …
I was 19 when I stepped off a Port Authority ferry and saw the Big Apple in person for the …
When the game-designing guys and gals behind Velvet Assassin hit on the idea for their new title, they surely must …
It’s no wonder that Mario is still strutting his stuff in this E-rated amalgamation of the pipe fitter’s previous adventures.
Laser blasts & whirling blades part of this game’s future. But mostly it’s about things like disco-dancing bombs & laugh-out-loud …
New jobs can be awkward. Just ask Joseph Turok. He’s the new guy on a space-age special ops team that’s …
The never-aging teen sleuth Nancy Drew is bringing more than just her trusty magnifying glass on this adventure. She’s tossing …
I don’t want to say they’re ho-hum, but superheroes are everywhere nowadays. And that means that game and movie audiences …
After playing the Xbox 360 version of Project Gotham Racing 3 for a few minutes, my initial reaction was, “This …
First there’s a song, then there’s a movie, then there’s a game in the franchise marriage. The Chipmunks join the …
Muscles are flexing. Kicks are flying. Pugilists are pulling no punches. And pandas are passing gas. Tekken’s back in the …
Have you noticed how video games and movies seem to be borrowing from each other’s closets these days? You can …
There’s a new Civ-like strategy game in town. But this barbarian’s tale is no pushover.
The antihero union must be having a party. For we live in a day and age when even comic book …
Back in the summer of ’81, I walked into the movie Raiders of the Lost Ark quite by happenstance, knowing …
Peter Jackson knows movies. And he also knows marketing. To create more buzz for his Lord of the Rings trilogy …
The SoulCalibur saga—with its exotic characters, odd spiritualism and mystical Soul Edge blades—has always been a little bit out there. …
Leap! Dodge! Slide! Flip! Run! RUN! Runrunrunfasterfasterfasteraaarrgghh— This, in a nutshell, sums up the life of Faith: Not, mind you, …
Solomon once declared that there isn’t anything new under the sun. But people sure do keep trying to find something. …
Of all the coin-operated arcade games that started life in the ’80s—tucked in the corner at your local Laundromat or …
Vane is visually impressive, immersive puzzle game. But will it make you soar or just leave you … puzzled?
Two new GTA IV expansions have now morphed into their own standalone bundle. And more Liberty City mayhem ensues.
Link isn’t going bald. Zelda isn’t putting on a few pounds. But in video game years these two have been …
The latest Mario Bros. game for the Switch is actually an older title that’s now been ported to the handheld …
Have you ever daydreamed about standing onstage with your best buds, shaking back a thick mane of bleached blonde hair …
Do you know what shape this year’s most diabolical game comes wrapped in? A circle. Actually, nine circles. Abandon hope, …
I was in the middle of screening a movie not long ago and was momentarily surprised by how much action …
What constitutes Japanese entertainment in the 21st century can sometimes seem very strange to the average American viewer—and in the …
I’m not as, um, fit as I once was. OK. To be honest, I’m not sure I ever was really …
Polyester pants and a double knit shirt aren’t the usual soldier’s attire. Yet they’re Niko Bellic’s wardrobe of choice as …
When the original God of War hit video game shelves a couple of years ago, with its arresting visuals and …
‘Ever since Tom Cruise lit the afterburners in Top Gun, the idea of life as a fighter jock has seemed …
Sony’s PSP handheld console is a thing of beauty. I mean, this little gaming machine’s crystal clear images and rousing …
Arrgh! Any self-respectin’ pirate game worth its salt needs a treasure chest that’s buried on a tropical isle. An’ perchance …
Rock Band, the video game that took a Guitar Hero by the collar of his tattered T-shirt and set him …
Sixteen years ago, Mario and Co. first stomped on the gas pedal in an SNES game called ‘Super Mario Kart.’
After millenniums of squelching inferior races, a species of bulbous-headed extraterrestrials find themselves unable to propagate. Now they need our …
This minimalist, buzz-worthy game is for players who don’t want any help figuring out how to survive on a deserted …
Is this game the ultimate expression of Nintendo’s fan-fave fighting franchise? Or does it ultimately have some problems?
This retro game features battling princess and shambling ghouls. Do you want them lurching through your living room?
Sure, the protagonist here is heroic. But can we really praise a game that strives to make graphic bloodletting seem …
Activision gives the classic Spyro games a facelift, breathing new fire into this dragony franchise’s old gameplay.
Sin is given flesh in this slashing apocalyptic game. But biblical answers ain’t in the script. (Or the same county.)
This runaway indie hit is cute on the outside but far less cuddly than it initially appears once you get …
Nintendo’s latest Pokémon game (for the Switch) hopes to capitalize on the wild success of the Pokémon Go app.
Fallout 76 takes its bloody post-apocalyptic story online, creating new problems for an already problematic franchise.
Habro and Nintendo have teamed up to offer a handheld version of not one, but three classic board games.
A hundred hours wandering through this M-rated digital Wild West will leave behind plenty o’ scars.
This fighting game offers accessible combat, interesting quests and … enough T-rated content to make parents think twice.
No story mode and a Fortnite-like multiplayer options change the CoD landscape … and not for the better.
It may be a new day and a new Odyssey, but it’s, frankly, the same problematic Assassin’s Creed.
This T-rated shooter seems cinematically charming at first. But its creativity soon gives way to a dark, tedious, grinding game.
This narrative adventure sequel invites gamers into a thoughtful-but-problematic journey along several rocky roads.
You might want to think twice before locking yourself into this VR escape room.
Lara Croft’s adventures these days are much better than her tomb-raiding of yore. But in other ways, a whole lot …
The latest Spidey game delivers high-flying fun with just a few sticky content bits for parents to consider.
This expansion for Destiny 2 adds more of what we’ve seen before … but with a much darker storyline.
We Happy Few quirkily says some compelling things about our world’s problems. But it has problems of its own, too.
The Monster Hunter franchise may be really, really big. But it can be really, really frustrating, too.
This whimsical platformer lets players reshape their world and bend their own puzzle solutions creatively into place.
The latest Crew experience strips away its predecessor’s sheet metal and delivers a race-focused game worth a tire kick or …
This free downloadable game is compelling in many ways, but it’s not as free from problems as you might expect.
Unravel’s sequel weaves two tangle-of-yarn heroes and some great co-op puzzle play into a family friendly game.
Not a racer. Not a multiplayer combat game. It’s kinda a little of both … with a rush.
This snarky, stick-figure Wild West game packs plenty of clever quips—and a few content burrs—in its saddlebags.
This M-rated game about sentient androids is pretty provocative, in both positive and problematic ways.
This M-rated zombie-splatting sequel is all about building a civilized outpost amid a lot of rot.
This vehicle adventure puzzle game stokes some contemplative fires without any burning content problems.
This Nintendo Switch Donkey Kong update has challenges aplenty for fans of this simian franchise.
This stylish, monster-themed dating sim has teeth you don’t see ’til it’s too late.
In some ways, the latest God of War tale is quite focused on family. But is it family friendly? Not …
Nintendo’s latest effort cleverly melds old-school cardboard creativity with 21st-century gaming technology.
This is a nasty game that’s bloody, foul and generally disturbing on every kill-’em-all-and-wave-a-Bible front.
This kid-friendly Pokémon mystery puzzler is as charming as it is fan-pleasing.
This T-rated pirate adventure invites crews to set sail … with a few arrgh-worthy problems to beware of on the …
This game can be Mars colony problem-solving fun or a deep-space strategy slog. It all depends on you.
Mix chess with futuristic mech battles against marauding monsters and you’ve got the gist of things with this PC title.
This interactive fairytale takes VR gaming down a new, fun-to-play mouse hole.
The latest Civilization upgrade adds interesting new leaders, ages and loyalties, while keeping the world-building mess-free.
Night in the Woods may look like cutesy storybook fun. But looks can be deceiving.
The Inpatient uses a new tool to make your VR experience even more disturbingly immersive: your own voice.
Kirby fans will likely love the little pink puffball’s latest minigame-filled contest.
This popular jailbreak game has a bit of content contraband that Mom should make note of.
A love-filled robot vacuum sucks you into a compelling story. But it’s more heartfelt tale than game-playing challenge.
This sprawling, glitchy game is far different and far darker than its campy, cartoony exterior suggests.
Virtual reality changes a lot about the Doom experience. But it’s still a stomach-, mind- and spirit-roiling jaunt.
‘Battlefront II’ is somehow not inferior to a movie. This game is awe-inspiring in both scope and detail.
These retreads of previous Sun and Moon games split the difference between more of the same and exciting new content.
This fun, old-school, kid-focused platforming adventure is kinda super.
The latest Call of Duty installment marches bloodily back to the battles where the franchise began.
The new Assassin’s Creed title pairs new gameplay mechanics with even more graphically violent and explicit content.
The latest Wolfenstein game pits players against a cruel, alt-reality Nazi regime. Playing it feels like a cruelty of its …
The language spewed out by these cartoon kiddos would make a longshoreman blanch.
“Ugh, who comes up with this stuff?” asks hero in this horror survival sequel. It’s an apt question for the …
This ferocious, M-rated sequel may be set in the milieu of Lord of the Rings. But it’s a lot more …
Another collection of chin-scratching puzzles features a new member of the Layton family leading the investigative charge.
Knack is back for another whack at a nefarious baddie in an action-packed game with a solid lesson about second …
This sequel shooter feels a lot like its intense predecessor—only with a bit more polish … and maybe even more …
Mario is back. But this time it’s in a strategic, turn-based—gulp—shooter. How worried should we be?
This sequel layers the Uncharted formula over a female-focused adventure tale, with expected and unexpected results.
This story-focused game openly talks about faith in a sometimes foul, dark and dangerous medieval world.
The new Sonic is a lot like the old Sonic. Only more. And that’s a good thing.
What would it take for a video game to depict psychotic madness? Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice answers that dark question.
This microgravity mystery has some involving gameplay, but it also floats off in unexpectedly intimate directions.
This buzz-generating hybrid is one part Minecraft, one part shooter. That last aspect is the one parents will need to …
This engaging building simulation game transports some of the genre’s familiar facets into a tense-but-satisfying sci-fi setting.
Splatoon 2 gets a high-def makeover, reloading its paint guns for remarkably colorful—but mess-free—results.
This game about a guy who cleans up murderers’ messes perhaps isn’t as messy as it could have been. But …
Get Even is an ambitious, genre-blurring title that tries to offer a moral, but stains its intended message with M-rated …
This may seem like a simple building game at first blush. But there’s a whole lot more in the mix …
Lots of creative and colorful beat-’em-up battles with nothing below the belt. Sounds like a Nintendo night at the fights.
A T-rated beat-’em-up with more demonic story weirdness than you may want to fight through.
Terrific virtual fun awaits gamers in the digital final frontier. But some annoying Tribbles potentially lurk there, too.
This laid-back environmental puzzle game is as thoughtful as it is lovely to look at.
Farpoint is garnering praise for being one of the better examples of a VR shooter. But is that a good …
The second Injustice title features good guys gone bad and scrappy supers going toe-to-toe with them—all wrapped in an arcade …
This cartoonish horror game has people talking, but it’s the kind of story that could easily leave many a nightmare …
This compelling indie game blends appealing art and gaming mechanics into an unexpected cautionary abstraction.
This remake of a game from the ’90s is rich in old strategy and tactics, but it has a few …
This creative indie game offers intrigue and fun, but there’s something murky in its murder Brutale.
Known for their sci-fi romance options, this Mass Effect series entry sends its nooky into another dimension.
The shooter mechanics continue to improve. But that doesn’t mean the shooter mess gets any better.
LEGO Worlds might be described as Minecraft on a sugar high, with zombies, dinosaurs and digital donuts to boot.
Link’s latest adventure gets restaged in a world that’s much bigger and open-ended. So what else has changed?
This open-world adventure offers up lots of arrow-slinging, robot-riding and post-apocalyptic soul-searching.
The second Halo Wars contest delivers real-time strategy thrills without all the famous franchise’s goopy, gory, first-person shooter spills.
The latest Sniper Elite entry shatters and bursts enemy bodies with even more graphic “glee.”
For Honor delivers bloody, hack-and-slash action paired with an extremely deep fighting system and bellowing combatants.
This minimalist puzzle game is surprisingly engaging … for kids and adults alike.
This game promises a ticket into an Asian gangland underworld. You just have to pay the price.
This reimagining of the Resident Evil franchise’s early iterations takes a nasty, horrific turn.
This colorful and creative game nevertheless loses its footing from time to time.
This zombie game packs a surprising emotional wallop … but plenty of brain-busting, too.
Mario can now go for a run wherever you take your phone. Is that as Peachy as it sounds?
Here’s a boy-and-his-dog tale with an out-of-this-world pooch and an out-there fantasy twist.
This E-rated VR-meets-game-night entry is entertaining, but it could have some potential online teeth, too.
Nintendo’s latest handheld Pokémon contests build on the franchise’s familiar trappings but also give gameplay a kinder, gentler makeover.
If you think battling robots in space will be less messy for human combatants, think again.
With a little parental boundary-setting and guidance, the colorful characters and strategic maneuvering in the latest Civilization contest can be …
This intense, graphic depiction of World War I features equal measures of visceral combat and anti-war sentiment.
Batman gets an immersive virtual reality treatment that’s darker than you might expect.
The new age of virtual gaming begins with a virtual tank contest from long, long ago.
Is this next-gen Gears of War title a kinder, gentler version of its graphically gory predecessors? Gears action without Gears …
Mafia III takes its explicit moral anarchy to such messy new lows it makes you wish they made brain showers.
There’s definitely a lot of trigger pulling in the mix here, but ReCore is as much about exploring, jumping and …
The Turing Test offers a collection of increasingly difficult puzzles and a deep space mystery in a man-versus-machine contest.
This ’80s-like throwback proves that games don’t need to be messy or pulse-pounding to keep us engaged.
Deux Ex: Mankind Divided’s engaging gameplay is badly undermined by its bloody, profane and sensual content.
The Telltale gamemakers take a swing at portraying Bruce Wayne’s dark side … with dark results.
The Technomancer’s sci-fi storyline seems promising at first … but quickly breaks that promise.
It can be Poké fun, but the new augmented-reality craze that’s sweeping the nation requires a dash of Poké discernment, …
Amid all of this prison simulation’s would-be moralizing, players still must muddle through a lot of messy, M-rated material.
There’s a certain familiarity to what you do in a LEGO franchise game. And that’s just hunky-dory.
This imaginative, interactive, story-based game invites players on a journey that meanders through grief toward an abstract ending.
It’s a toss-up which is worse in this blood-drenched first-person shooter: its content or its quality.
Kirby’s latest adventure sticks him in a massive mech suit, but keeps him just as pink and charming.
Mirror’s Edge Catalyst walks a T-rated tightrope between acrobatic gameplay and content parents of younger players may wish the game …
Since this is a shooter, it’s only smart to wonder just how messy all of Overwatch’s first-person pull-a-trigger play gets.
The Doom franchise has always been about run-and-gun mayhem. And little has changed except for just how graphically goopy its …
This franchise finale is a bit more weighty than some of its predecessors. But its messy bits still have quite …
This game mixes biblical allegory with steampunk RPG thwacking—teaching spiritual truth without letting anyone know they’re in Sunday school.
Battleborn is one of a new breed of “hero shooters.” But just how heroic is it?
This challenging, sci-fi tactical puzzler majors in mastering the right sneak-and-steal spy strategy … without the typical trigger-tugging turmoil.
This being the age of high-def reboots and resurrections, the furry Lombax and his stoic robo-sidekick decided to get in …
The Dark Souls games are excruciating in their difficulty, and their content is dank and demonic. That’s exactly what the …
Even with all the time travel, there’s simply no skipping past the bad stuff to get to the good.
It makes it worse that 47 is just so OK-cool about all the life-leeching lessons he’s teaching.
Loot is good here. Loot is power. And, of course, like many MMOs that have come before, loot can equal …
This is still solidly a franchise game, living in its own primal world that’s most likely pretty far away from …
Fire Emblem Fates is a game that’s been expanded and broken up into three different parts … with three separate …
Beyond the realities of the fighting itself, then, the real punch to a gamer’s solar plexus comes in the form …
You can’t help but feel at least a bit connected to little Yarny and his soft, colorful and, happily, family-friendly …
It’s twenty years after the original XCOM story, and our alien foes have some nasty plans up their space suit …
The gamemakers are asking players to think about … thinking. And that’s something you don’t regularly encounter when you pick …
There’s more mass destruction on display here than in, say, a Batman LEGO game of yesteryear. But at least the …
This intriguing-but-flawed M-rated thriller earnestly ponders the influence of our choices from the perspective of a time-warping teen girl.
As much as this might sound like a Nancy Drew mystery, it’s actually something a little different.
That Dragon, Cancer is more of an experience than a game. An unforgettable one.
This remake of the 2003 rhythm game tosses out the Top 40 tunes while giving a high-def update to the …
Rainbow Six Siege is one of a new breed of online shooters that’s all about short, intense, close quarters combat …
The latest entry in the Just Cause franchise is a lot like Grand Theft Auto … only with tanks, grenades …
The newly rebooted Lara returns with bigger adventure and, unfortunately, bigger piles of corpses, too.
Games used to fit into specific categories. Fallout 4 fills something closer to an “all of the above” slot. For …
The thing you don’t really get anymore with the Call of Duty games is any sense of, well, duty.
Master Chief is back to fight off the alien invaders. But he’s not the only one. And what about Cortana?
In a sentence, it’s everything we’re accustomed to confronting in an Assassin’s Creed game … and more.
Just Dance has always been about getting your groove going with a group and flailing around in exhilarating (embarrassing) ways. …
As far as Rock Band 4’s out-of-the-box 65-strong track list is concerned, well, there are plusses and minuses in this …
LEGO adds a new Dimension to the toys-to-life video game play: actual LEGOs!
This game looks like an old-school ’80s RPG. But there’s more to consider Under this Tale.
After spending 30 years perfecting Mario, the creative minds at Nintendo are handing you the keys to the Mushroom Kingdom.
Mad Max is not an official movie tie-in title. But there’s still plenty to recognize for anyone who’s ever even …
There’s just no way Big Boss can hide under his thin hospital blanket from all the solid Metal Gear muck.
The latest Disney Infinity game opens an adventurous digital wormhole to a galaxy far, far away … and might just …
In a game full of choices, this is your biggest one: Do you want to play something that’s the equivalent …
A game about biblical end times? Not exactly. What is it about, then? Well, discerning that takes time, patience and …
Space action heroes and He-Man squads go toe-to-toe as WWI triplanes are shot out of the sky by rainbow-powered battlements.
Lost Dimension gives us a gaggle of young heroes and asks us to play something of an end-of-the-world reality TV …
Onechanbara ZII: Chaos sets its gaming sights on fleam fury, fetish fantasy … and fruit. But not necessarily in that …
You get to be the beastie in this game that focuses on some 50 years and 35 films full of …
A download-only title that the gamemakers say is inspired by “the Brothers Grimm & Hans Christian Andersen … with a …
Super Smash Bros. meets anime and manga in J-Stars Victory VS+. It packs in 39 playable characters and 13 support …
Batman: Arkham Knight could leave a dark imprint on the minds of those who soldier through its hours of dank …
For all of its teamwork coolness, this is merely another bloody shooter that’s all about illicit loot … and ruthless …
The key to making it through LEGO Jurassic World – which combines all four films into one – is to …
Painting your territory with torrents of ink replaces coloring the ground with gore in Nintendo’s version of a multiplayer shooter …
This Nintendo game pack takes the Candy Crush-style puzzle concept and plays it out with two totally different stories and …
In this trilogy conclusion, the witcher Geralt searches, sexes and slaughters his way through 100-plus hours of horror.
Nazis are using mechanized war suits and the occult to win the big war. It’s “history” by way of an …
Nancy Drew knew all about haunted mansions and old clocks. But time travel? She’ll leave that to Ana Eberling, Girl …
Mortal Kombat turns 10 (in game years) when it should have died a long time ago … by its own …
Bloodborne is intended to be a long, grinding and utterly bleak gaming experience. Which means there’s disease lurking in those …
In tag-team episodic play, the latest messy Resi tackles the infected hordes once again. But with little Natalie, there’s more …
The scenes may have changed from firefights on the front lines to drug drops in the big city, but the …
It’s an alternate steampunk reality where classic literary figures (and Abe Lincoln!) fight for truth, justice and a monster-free tomorrow.
This platformer may be located in an unseeing wood, but it’s infused with lavish color. (Also layers of Eastern spirituality.)
An eerily shadowed blinking-light screen-full-of-static chill. But not your typical scare-fest game.
Imagine, if you will, a 19th-century steampunk London in which the Knights of the Round Table are still dashing about …
The pink ‘n’ bouncy hero Kirby is back to restore color to the universe with the help of a rainbow-painting …
The makers of Evolve want you to get your monster on in this twist on a run-and-gun war game.
Zombie, zombies everywhere, without a bite to eat. Except you if you run too slow.
So who is this Captain Toad guy, and why is he getting his own spin-off title? Well, if you have …
Set in an open-sandbox digital re-creation of the U.S., The Crew is a Massively Multiplayer Online game for gearheads.
A colorful fight title where tons of characters from 30-plus years of games all get dumped into the ring together.
As in, yet another shooter sequel that’s a far cry from family friendly.
Craftworld’s little wool-and-stuffing hero has brought some fluff-stuffed friends along for a third FunFilledFrolic.
The 2014 installment of Dragon Age is one of the most expansive RPGs ever to crowd out other games on …
This particular DNA-tapping assassin’s tale comes packing a question-everything twist.
This game is both a révolutionnaire update and just another stab at back-alley stabbing. Pouah! Read on for les détails …
This chockablock game takes its own name quite seriously, pushing the Dark Knight out of his comfort zone. Way out. …
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare says futuristic armed conflict will be all about the bravery, blood and guts of very …
What would you do if all your friends were turned into slavering, gnarly mutants? Sunset Overdrive wants you to find …
Mankind is doomed unless we build up a new civilization on a distant planet. But do the same Sid Meier …
The hyper-sexualized witch Bayonetta is back for another hacking, slashing, blasting action romp. (But her clothing isn’t.)
Simply watch the colorful, silhouette-like dancing figures onscreen and do your best to copy their moves as the tunes play …
gravity, moon, jack, Lilith, border, land, lands, presequel, prequel, sequel, pre sequel,
Slipping through the shadows to butcher an evil army’s leaders … Lord of the Rings style.
The legendary Link is back. (Again.) But this new adventure has a fan service twist as Zelda gets mashed up …
The latest bring-your-toy-to-digital-life game goes super and swings the Marvel universe door wide.
This huge title from the makers of Halo and Call of Duty shoots for the moon. (Literally at times.)
The newest Sims stuffs some pretty cool character changes into its doll house trunk. But watch out for the sharp …
Have you figured out yet that there’s a pirate’s tale at the heart of this salty sequel? But is it …
This Diablo-like series tries for a novel approach, but tends to fly right past fresh to ferocious … and obnoxious.
This add-on rendition of the street-side brawler classic packs in some new muscle-bound maulers, moves and mechanics. So we’ll give …
The latest Civilization effort exports its streamlined world-building ambitions straight to your smartphone or tablet.
Here’s a shooter/combat game that wants you to see exactly what damage you’re causing—every crushed bone and ruptured organ.
This dictator-obsessed strategy sim is designed to make you giggle while you hereby decree—but it’s not all fun and games.
Nintendo’s virtual world Sims-like micro-life game has a head and heart all its own. And that’s all right by Mii.
A dead cop has to solve his own murder in Salem, Mass. Do ya think there might be a witch …
A space cowboy MMO with something for everyone and colorful cartoony appeal too. So why aren’t we so wild about …
The one and only Mario adds a few more high-def tweaks right alongside all the old-school racing charm.
We’ll call this snarling shooter the Grand Theft Auto of the identity theft age.
In this alternate reality the Nazis won WWII and have reshaped everything in their bleak, black-and-blood-red image. Time for a …
This series prequel sets gamers loose in a JRPG world filled with tense sibling rivalry.
RPG sword-slashing and demon possession burn out this fantasy epic from the inside, leaving only a charred shell of a …
A decades-old, wide-eyed and rose-hued hero bounds and bounces onto the 3DS to gain a few new skills and a …
A young princess is lost in the darkening world on the other side of a magical mirror. The creatures she …
There is a web-slinging hero here, of course. And a big concrete jungle just waiting for him to crawl a …
LEGO my Eggo, er, Hobbit: Fans of the franchise get yet another fantasy universe to explore, stack and build.
Second Son is actually the third chapter in the inFAMOUS franchise, introducing a new Native American hero and letting us …
Metal Gear Solid offers up a sampler plate in hopes of whetting appetites for the upcoming main course. But we’ve …
With super-athletic style and walking tank bulk, the gamemakers at Respawn Entertainment have given birth to a new generation of …
The incredibly difficult Dark Souls franchise delivers another 40-plus hour journey into a virtual world that’s all about dying over …
We will indeed stick to the truth in our review of a gross game spawned by one of the vilest …
Is this franchise reboot a game of big rewards, a penny-ante thief of your time or something altogether more grim?
Here’s a third-person battler for gamers who like shooters without all the trigger-pulling gunk. More mulch than mess, you might …
A Final Fantasy journey ends and a new world begins. But utopia comes with quite a spiritual price for gamers …
This classic Japanese role-playing game pairs adventure and exploration with some dark spiritual twists.
A handheld Zelda flashes back to the feel of an earlier classic while charging into the future with some brand-new …
First-century Rome is under attack by marauding barbarians. Only one seasoned centurion stands in their way. (That’d be you.) Let …
So you always wanted to best Bowser while playing as the princess in pink? Well, step into a new world, …
This old man, he played (station) four, he played knick-knack on my floor, with the whole family gathered all around, …
The good guys and bad guys are getting harder to make out in this continuing intergalactic war. The pools of …
Illegal street racing is a bad, bad deal, this game says … and then lets you take the wheel and …
Series game No. 10 sets up a new future battle in a new CoD universe. But it all looks so …
So what is Battlefield 4 for? Well, you could call it a practice field. And exactly what are we practicing?
The fabled sneak-and-kill franchise is turning a new page in its history-trekking tale. But the dark flag it waves still …
The Dark Knight is a creature of the night, a time when it is, of course, dark. And dark is …
The massively popular Marvel movies move to the land of LEGOs.
My action figures can beat up your action figures! Especially now that they’re swappable! And there are so many more …
The pocket monsters are back for another catch ’em and grow ’em go-round. Already so soon. And again. (Are they …
If your winning formula ain’t limping, break out the goofy costumes and fix yourself up another great big dance party.
A girl and her ghost grow up to take on the bad guys, all manner of spiritual evil and even …
Besides being fun, Clash of Clans can be either an addictive time-sucker or voracious wallet-gobbler. You choose.
UPDATED REVIEW: Sixty-nine levels of slam-bang slaughter and sex. Wasn’t this franchise supposed to be about stealing cars?
A puppet’s adventure can be more than just a loose-limbed jaunt across an empty stage. Sometimes it’s a whole big …
This armless, legless superstar—with his independently floating hands and feet, and roto-prop mop of hair—is now something of a legend, …
Icy winds blow and menacing, marauding insectoid aliens encroach once more on the planet E.D.N. III. But there’s more than …
UPDATED REVIEW: Over a quarter century old and still running like a kid right out of college, Madden lets loose …
Average street gang thuggery gives way to sci-fi smashing and bashing. But not even superpowers can help this game fly …
A terrorist organization threatens to bring America to its knees. And—of course—only one shadow-crawling covert agent (you!) can sneak his …
If your family thought the idea of collecting and playing with Skylanders dragons was fun, wait ’til you see what …
Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled Pikmin. Isn’t that how it goes? No? Well, read on to find out …
This mobile version of a Halo war gets ported to a next-gen console. Will it knock your guts out, or …
Body-sharing female spirits and a dirty-minded dragon. Hmmm. Not exactly your typical wedding party.
Zombies shuffle aside this time around as the vampires take their turn in a deadly undead video game romp.
No, it’s not a game about a zombie swim team. But it’s almost as messy. And with this title you’re …
Some sing the praises of this challenging RTS game. Others issue stark detractions. Some revel in its heroes. Others are …
This cinematically minded zombie thriller is already being bandied about as a potential Game of the Year contender. It’s a …
Turn over a new game with this town-building, resource-managing and friend-making “adventure” that’s animal-filled casual gaming at its most casual.
Memory manipulations and recollection reconstructions in a future world are the name of the game.
Is it actually a new revelation or still dead men walking as old man Resident Evil raises his weathered head …
Living in an underground metro system while the surface above glows from nuclear devastation is not an easy life. And …
And the worst vacation ever just won’t die! (The zombies won’t allow it.)
Better set your phaser to “wary” when encountering this new movie-inspired game-based life-form.
So what’s the deal with Superman killing Joker? And Batman fighting Superman? Clearly, this superhero scramble is more than just …
If you’re thinking tall tower, trapped girl and long blonde hair, you’ve got the wrong fairy tale. Rapunzel didn’t have …
The Elder Scrolls is offering up a new suit of online armor and an endless Tamriel where you can battle …
A tale of Pinkerton detecting aided by dimension-hopping superpowers taking place in a cloud-floating city in 1912. This isn’t your …
Mario’s younger brother may be a little jittery around ghouls. But there’s a ghostbusting hero underneath that green hat and …
AMC’s hit TV show shambles over into video game territory … and promptly dies a horrible death.
And you thought that the tale was told. That the guns had gone silent. That the gears had ground to …
You superheroes can stay home and play with your blocks—there’s a new supercop in town, and he’s hitting the LEGO …
Another God of War, another gruesome massacre of fantastical critters and small “g” gods. What? You were expecting flowers and …
A city-building fave gets a next-gen reboot. Are there any new realities or regulations you need to know about as …
This franchise reboot packs in more spills, thrills and cheer-worthy heroism than any of the Lara Croft games or movies …
The solid strategy of slipping through the shadows is dead and gone. This Gear grinds on blades and blood.
Anyone can be a Superman or Iron Man with the right gadget-filled armor. But will this tech-laden shooter suit you?
What’s that gnawing on your space boot? Why, it’s an undead space zombie, back for another bite.
So are you a force for good, evil, or both? Only many, many battles and 20-plus chapters of twisting story …
This hack ‘n’ slasher is a monster to play, difficult beyond almost all others in the genre. But that’s not …
Far Cry 3 has packed its vacation suitcase full of foul food. But if you don’t go along for the …
Agent 47 is sneaking back around with a killer of a story. But we wouldn’t advise letting him take you …
The mouse teams up with the rabbit in this return to the world of Wasteland.
Here’s a variety-pack game that’s designed to show off the future of gaming while making you earn your graduate degree …
It’s not surprising that in the edgiest of all the war games, Call of Duty, the good and bad of …
A land of trolls, wizards, heroes and, uh, cheery plastic! Welcome to The Lord of the Rings, LEGO style.
You thought Master Chief was finished? Nah. He’s got something (someone?) close to his heart to fight for this time.
The video game world’s most famous and most popular assassin trades in castles and old-world mystique for a New World …
The latest Medal of Honor game gives us a Navy SEAL’s point of view. But it’s not so simple as …
Dragons, trolls and giants, oh my! The newest wave of collectibles form Skyland tag-team their way through a brand-new (super-sized) …
One masked man accused of treachery must beat the odds and save the kingdom. Or does he butcher everyone in …
Just one more dance? Who are we kidding? We’re on No. 4 already, with 5 through 9 waiting impatiently by …
Another hero’s tale is about to unfold. But this time there are fewer wicked choices and more … calisthenics?
The space pods are landing! The space pods are landing! Part strategy planner, part resource manager and part skill-upgrading battler, …
Evil corporations have fallen. Zombie-filled cities have gone up in a puff of nuclear smoke. Yet the gurgling grotesqueries of …
Another dystopian shooter filled with furious aliens, fast one-liners and quick trigger fingers.
Double the fighters, double the punches, double the fun, a whole chorus of fans chimes in. Here’s what you need …
Some 250 years after the conclusion of the first game, ancient dragons have awoken and begun doing what dragons do: …
The seal has been broken and the horseman Death is on the move. But this Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse …
Believe it or not, video games can be more than just button-crunching time-fillers. Papo & Yo aims to offer real …
Here’s a game that unfolds like a fantasy novel page-turner. But what’s to be found on the way to a …
This crime RPG blends Grand Theft Auto-style street grit with Hong Kong action flick hits.
An invite to put on your virtual eye patch and blue beard might seem like a fine promise of video …
What kind of game has the Beagle Boys kidnapping Minnie while RPG critters battle spikey-haired good guys? None other than …
UPDATED REVIEW: This popular title does everything it can to keep college fans happy during those dreaded moments when a …
This grinding shooter wallows in the physical and psychological fog of war. No, make that the mess of war. The …
Villains once again try to take over a LEGO version of Gotham City. But Batman and his pals have a …
The latest Pokémon contest offers a little extra strategy bang for players’ collect-’em-all-and-battle-it-out buck. But what else does it deliver?
This hyper-quirky game adds gold glitter and cherry lip balm to the gory business of zombie killing.
Inversion takes the familiar shooter formula and asks, What would happen if gravity got turned off?
So you can’t get enough of dragons and fantasy questing? Well, here’s a game that wants to make sure you …
Tom Clancy is selling big again. But it’s not his new novel. It’s his new third-person shooter.
Fallen angels, hell-spawned horrors and a brutal battle between good and evil lurk in this M-rated fantasy role-playing game, which …
Max absolutely pegs the Payne meter on Rockstar’s latest grimy ode to sex, drugs, violence and death.
Crazy-eyed outlaws. Fortune-hunting prospectors. Gunslinging good guys. Even Star Wars-like planet battles. It’s the Wild West in space.
Same quarantined city. Same ravaging virus. Same malevolent government types. Maybe a new shape-shifting killer will make a difference. Or …
“The offspring of foul sorcery and witchcraft.” That’s what a witcher is. As for this game, well …
Will you share tea or rise to war? Fight with samurai swords or Gatling guns? Spend all night arranging the …
The old NES fave Kid Icarus gets an upgraded update—and in 3-D, too! Is this high-flying fun for the whole …
Normal gravity can’t confine those angry birds any longer, either onscreen and in our mobile device-addicted culture.
Silent Hill is being drenched by a stormy and sinister weather front. But don’t screaming children and shrieking beasties sort …
No bullets. No blood. No gore. Just an ethereal journey worth sinking your toes into.
UPDATED REVIEW: A game about a game that looks so real you can’t believe it’s just a game.
Two well-known classics fighters are ready to duke it out in the same game. But it’s not necessarily jabs that …
Intricate, immersive plotline? Check. Selfless heroes? Check. Less-than-heroic content conundrums? Check. The finale in this popular shooter trilogy encompasses all …
This 17-year-old car combat franchise has been given a 21st-century jumpstart. So don’t think for a second that it’s your …
What do you get when you (again) give gun-toting mobsters demonic superpowers? Pretty much exactly what you’d expect.
A sword-swinging, magic-blasting RPG about fate and freedom. Is it your destiny to play this top-of-the-charts game?
The tale of spirit-filled blades continues … and there’s not much more to say than that. But we’ll give it …
Is the Force strong with this one, young Jedi? Meditate on this, we will.
A 25th anniversary bundle of Zelda quests—now with thrust-and-parry swordplay realism.
Harry and his pals are back in cube form for one last puzzle-solving go-round. But what do LEGOs look like …
UPDATED REVIEW: Start building your first lava-spurting mega-fortress or figuring out how to stage your favorite Star Wars scene in …
The ever-smiling Cooking Mama is back to share some of her favorite pot-stirring secrets. And this time the soup’s served …
There’s more than a simple high-octane need for speed in the latest addition to this series. There’s also a need …
This fourth Assassin’s Creed has more sharp blades than new revelations up its sleeve.
The blue overall-clad plumber takes his peachy rescue attempts to new Goomba-bopping dimensions.
It’s a land of blood and honey, as they say, full of dragons and darkness, but also heroes and beauty. …
The Call of Duty battle continues on. And on. And on. And …
Will this E-rated story about exploring memories and wish-fulfillment succeed in fulfilling your gaming dreams?
Well-crafted (or should that read well-Crofted?) treasure hunting meets cinematic pizzazz in this T-rated adventurer.
Much like the real-life wars that tear up huge chunks of our globe, this battlefield feels permanent, with the war …
This may feel like a very familiar collection of sports games, and… well, it is. But so is the Olympics, …
Batman has to make sense of things in a city full of psychopaths in this sequel.
This new collectable toy-based video game will make kids wanna “get ’em all.” Hmmm, that sounds familiar.
Part three of the look-like-an-idiot-in-front-of-your-family … er, we mean, dance-like-a-pro-in-front-of-your-pals game is now available.
The slugline on the game box reads, “Prepare to Die!” And, boy, it ain’t kiddin’.
Mankind is up against ruthless bandits and crazed mutants in a dystopian wasteland. It’s never bunnies and puppies, is it?
Superpowered battles fill the streets of San Francisco, and you’re the new mutant in town.
Marcus Fenix and his muscle-bound crew are breaking out the chain saw bayonets for one last bloody rip and tear …
The worst vacation ever … in so many (zombified) ways.
The third big shootout between humans and the Chimera. Or is it between courage and gore?
You want to be able to jump from tall buildings in a single bound? In Deus Ex there’s an aug …
This downloadable arcade game transports plastic warriors out of your toy box and into your Xbox.
What do you get when you combine the apocryphal Book of Enoch with an action-based video game? Do you need …
1) Disney. 2) An orange soda gun. 3) A platypus wearing a hat. What’s the common thread in that list? …
One of the most buzzed about games of the year, Catherine offers a mind-bending, M-rated mash-up of romance, horror, dark …
The Call of Juarez franchise steps from the Wild West into the present drug-torn world of Southern California. It’s a …
Practice long enough and Razor Six Four can become one of the best Marine snipers in the world. But before …
Marketing materials for this dark shooter promise a “hellish nightmare” and “paralyzing paranormal horror.” F.E.A.R. 3 does its M-rated “best” …
A classic Nintendo 64 adventure/puzzle game gets a new coat of paint and some 3-D sparkle.
Wanna wipe out with the worst of ’em without having to schedule a year’s worth of chiropractor appointments after you’re …
This beautifully colorful game, gives the shooter genre a wave and a shout—on its way to true uniqueness.
After 15 years, Duke Nukem is back to his alien-slaying, stripper-admiring ways. Plugged In can only ask, “Why so soon?”
Mars isn’t the most hospitable place at the best of times. But when Darius Mason accidentally unleashes a horde of …
Lightning bolt-chucking Cole McGrath is back for another round of monster kicking and ethics picking.
Ads for this game may have you thinking about swell threads and smooth rides. But Noire is really all about …
Brink is by definition a first-person shooter. But shooting is only half the battle in this intricate, strategy-intensive contest for …
Shiver me LEGOs! Jack Sparrow’s gone all plastic in a game version of the hugely popular franchise that tamps the …
The DNA creature-builder Spore franchise is back for a fiercer-looking go-round. Is this the natural evolution of a fun franchise? …
Those that don’t know their history are doomed to repeat it. So what happens when you already know everything there …
A popular puzzler sends gamers in for another set of physics-bending challenges—and rewards them with a few chuckles along the …
Another round of lightsaber waving, starship flying and droid fighting. But this one’s available in 3-D. So should R2D2 start …
For years the sims have been yearning for more than doing daily chores and attending to various bodily functions. So …
The makers of this sci-fi shooter sequel aimed to create something they call “catastrophically beautiful.” They’ve definitely succeeded on the …
Choices are what this combative role-playing sequel is all about. So we’re going to try to help you make one …
After 13 years are you still trying to catch ’em all? Or maybe it’s your kids who care about Pikachu …
EA Sports’ first M-rated title packs a wallop in more ways than one. Its sparkling graphics rub up against a …
Fox News wants to know if this is the worst game in the world. And with lots of bullets, blood …
The makers of this popular PlayStation 3 franchise are cranking up the carnage once again. This time, via eerily realistic …
Capcom has rebooted a classic fighting contest. But rose-colored glasses only got our reviewer so far when he tried to …
Games these days deliver immersive worlds that can swallow you whole for days, weeks and months at a time. Two …
To market its bloody new horror shooter, Electronic Arts told potential customers that Dead Space 2 is “revolting”—and that “your …
Ready for another round of LittleCuteAdorable? Sackboy is back to save a whole new world of dreams … and build …
The 1980s TRON game gets a 2010s upgrade. Can an old digital dog learn new tricks?
Mickey Mouse morphs from corporate spokesman into a feisty—and not altogether good—protagonist trying to rescue a magical land from evil.
This beautifully rendered platforming fun increasingly demands your full attention if you hope to ever liberate all those pilfered bananas.
It’s a speed junkie’s cops-and-robbers fantasy as high-octane lawbreakers get chased by policemen with unlimited vehicle budgets down 100 miles …
Spilled blood and suspended salvation are what this sequel to Assassin’s Creed II revolves around. Ancient intrigue. Renaissance-era bloodshed. Convoluted …
This cruel and quite usual Call of Duty is selling big, despite the fact (or is it because of the …
Glee has turned the TV and the music world upside down. So why not put out a video game to …
Controller-free, fun little games that revolve around purring tiger cubs. There’s absolutely nothing here to growl about.
Never mind that Starkiller died at the end of the first game: He must once again save the galaxy from …
The “shape your future” game of heroes and villains is back with a revolutionary shift. It asks, “Will you become …
Nancy is investigating bumps in the night at a Japanese inn. And to do it she’s tackling all sorts of …
Another Fallout game shoves casinos, cathouses and high-tech calamity into a post-apocalyptic Wild West setting for a big, bloody, cactus-dotted …
Our game critic hates dance games. But this one woke up his long-dormant sense of rhythm. Did it also rouse …
Electronic Arts’ storied wartime franchise jumps from World War II to present-day Afghanistan … and takes fire from all sides …
The dead are back in the video game blender as a new hero works to mulch zombies … and save …
Polish those brass buttons and straighten your epaulets because kingmaker Sid Meier wants to put you on the throne. Again.
This franchise’s halo slipped years ago, and this game doesn’t right any old wrongs. Instead it just jumps back into …
A mysterious, magical tablet has been shattered, and it’s playing havoc with the universe. So it’s up to Spider-Man to …
Sports Champions showcases Sony’s new motion-sensing controller, the PlayStation Move. And it’s gunning for the casual gaming audience that Nintendo …
Can this Disney title deliver board game fun in a video game package? Hmmm, the mystery deepens.
The 2010 entry in the long-running Metroid franchise fuses traditional third-person shooter elements with motion-controlled, first-person, sci-fi action.
Sleek suits and Italian leather shoes. The Andrews Sisters on the radio and a bloody body in the trunk. These …
Some people want to be doctors or lawyers or presidents when they grow up. The rest of us want to …
If you’ve ever wanted to howl at the moon, Lion King style, or join in with Ariel for an underwater …
After a dozen silent years, a strategy classic has written a new chapter.
Hogwarts Harry and his loyal band of wand-wielders get LEGO facelifts. Are the makeovers magical? Or merely muddled?
This time-twisting shooter offers up old-school Soviet dominators along with rabid zombies … all on a radioactive island.
Think earthlings have issues? Be glad you don’t live on Cybertron. It’s in the midst of a huge civil war, …
Woody, Buzz, Jessie and the other toys in Pixar’s toy box have come to life again—this time in the form …
Snake is sneaking in to save the world once again. This time exclusively on the handheld Sony PSP.
With 200-plus titles, you’d think Mario would tire of chasing after Princess Peach each time Bowser nabs her. But Nintendo …
A wall-running prince rewinds time and fights off the forces of evil. Sounds like a movie, right? Or maybe a …
Alan Wake has been pulled into a dark world of his own imagining. But it’s gamers who may walk away …
Racing game or reality TV show? Disney Interactive Studios’ latest effort fuses elements of both … with explosive results.
The makers of Grand Theft Auto have another hit on their hands after deciding to set their sights on the …
Debuting at No. 1, a popular third-person shooter returns with a slightly less frigid set of bug-killing missions and a …
Japanese heroes face off with dino-like monsters in an exotic frontier the likes of which Wii has never seen before.
Sam Fisher is the gaming world’s answer to TV’s Jack Bauer—trained to sneak in the shadows, kill on sight and …
Chaos and destruction rule the roost and gain all the applause in this new action/adventure game. Why? Well, just ’cause.
You knew there just had to be a video game to go along with all those mechanical hamsters, didn’t you? …
If you’ve ever wondered what happened to all those Greek gods of yore, God of War III offers an answer: …
You can think of Final Fantasy as an experimental rock ‘n’ roll band that has an identifiable backbeat but plays …
The grass is starting to green. The temps are beginning to rise as dandelion seeds long for a handy breeze. …
Bad Company’s out for blood—again. More than 2.3 million copies of this popular sequel have been sold in less than …
Shakespeare’s line “murder most foul” has lost most of its punch over the years. This game sets out to define …
Whether solving deep-sea-diving mysteries or getting an underwater education, this digital, aquatic wonderland is something special to splash around in.
First released in Japan, this fantasy role-playing game has now been retooled for the rest of the gaming world. Maybe …
From the creator of Devil May Cry comes a battle that pits heaven against hell and a woman against everyone …
In today’s cookie-cutter video game world, developers frantically search for something to set their titles apart from the pack. They …
