Sid Meier’s world-building game is back and bigger than ever. But is it better?
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 …
‘Wildfrost’ starts players cold with it deck-building challenges. But strategy lovers will quickly warm to its play.
Guerrilla Games and Studio Gobo have somehow transformed an M-rated battler into a cheery game made of LEGO blocks.
‘Metal Slug Tactics’ looks and feels a lot like the old arcade classics, but it’s got a whole new strategy-based …
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.
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.
Riven is back, decked out with pretty new baubles and fresh puzzles. And in several ways, it’s a journey into …
Players could well find this game to be equal parts quirky, charming and, well, boring.
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.
Coral Island is fun and rated E10+. But this tropical island farming sim isn’t all kid’s play.
Sea of Stars packs a comfortable ‘90s RPG feel into a new magical fantasy tale.
From sandcastle stomps to kitchen-counter clomps, Pikmin 4 offers gamers a whole new colorful world.
Crime O’Clock is an appealing Where’s Waldo-style hidden objects game with some fun puzzles and cute story tweaks.
If you’re strategy minded, Railway Empire 2 might just have you yellin’ “All aboard!”
Balanced play and creativity make Tears of the Kingdom soar. But you can’t ignore its darker side.
This isn’t your dad’s Minecraft. So what have the gamemakers stacked up this time?
Curse of the Sea Rats features pirates, rats and platforming exploration, oh my. But what about the darker alleyways?
Lots of cartoony superhero action for young players and parents who don’t mind eyerolling puns.
A few light content punches mar River City Girls 2, an otherwise fun, colorful beat-‘em-up.
This new kid-focused entry into a long-running RPG series may just be the gaming treasure you’re seeking.
A beloved, speedy hero (and franchise) gets a chance at some new open-world fun.
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.
Puzzle me this: Can a game be fun, silly, challenging and mom and dad-friendly, too? Hmmm.
This new dystopian cyberpunk adventure features a cat as its hero. Your curiosity must be killing you.
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.
The new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles title is a beat ‘em up love letter to the games of the ‘80s.
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 …
This puzzle game throws in just enough danger, creativity and a desperate need for stealth to give it a singular …
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 …
This visually spectacular game also includes some spooktacular spiritual issues that discerning families should take note of.
A new Civ-like strategy game invites players to consider the resources that cause a culture to flourish.
Escape rooms and … Muppets? What kind of VR game is Floor Plan 2?
This game offers colorful spy missions custom made for two.
So, what does a PS5 version of Ratchet & Clank have in its handy toolbelt?
Your gym teacher’s favorite game goes digital. And you won’t risk a trip to the nurse’s office to play it.
The Wild at Heart mostly offers a fun, colorful, 16-hour adventure that will definitely appeal to many.
Life flies by in a blink. Before Your Eyes invites us to ponder that spiritual reality … though it’s got …
The Pathless is a quick-paced, beautiful game with a mythical journey that could trip up some players.
Maquette is, without question, a very creative and at times very difficult, puzzle-focused game.
You’ve got a fun puzzling adventure game here, toting a lightly mixed steamer trunk.
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.
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.
It may be called Romance of the Three Kingdoms, but not everything players find in this deep strategy game is …
This curiosity is less a traditional game and more like the interactive imaginings of an especially creative preschooler.
Sparklite is a “roguelite” game of good versus evil. But what exactly does that mean?
The Plants vs. Zombies franchise blooms again with a new open world full of activities. But is it fresh or …
If, like me, you were an enthusiast of arcade gaming in the ’80s—the kind of person the less knowledgeable might …
Outer Wilds is tricky and rewarding, but this space exploration game comes with an unexpected twist.
Oh yeah, that’s the Indiana Jones I remember. That perpetual stubble and derring-do. The swaggering bravado mixed with a dash …
Scientists have proven that some parts of the human brain develop more quickly than others. The parts that desire action …
Sonic Unleashed is the 658th Sonic title from SEGA since the franchise’s inception way back when dinosaurs still roamed the …
When first hearing the title Age of Empires: Mythologies, it would be reasonable to expect that this video game is …
If you’re one of those people who always wants to pull out the Risk game whenever friends or family are …
This run-and-gun platformer is delightful to look at but a difficult game to play.
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 …
“Why so serious?” So says the evil Joker in The Dark Knight, the bleakest Batman movie ever. And, though the …
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 …
WARNING! Spores have now mutated and are capable of escaping PCs everywhere! They are, at this very moment, invading family …
Growing up in Iowa, some sports were important, some weren’t. Important: Wrestling. Not important: Pro hockey. You’d think that a …
I’m personally not a fan of American Idol. I know, I know, some of you are thinking, “What’s wrong with …
Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, The Little Mermaid and a whole host of other Disney darlings dip their toes into the anime …
Just how do little plastic LEGO rockers stack up in the Rock Band big leagues?
This old-school strategy contest packs engaging, turn-by-turn challenges without any of the modern war-game mess.
A meteor from some unknown point in space crashes to the surface of a small planet and scatters bits and …
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.
Laser blasts & whirling blades part of this game’s future. But mostly it’s about things like disco-dancing bombs & laugh-out-loud …
Solomon once declared that there isn’t anything new under the sun. But people sure do keep trying to find something. …
Vane is visually impressive, immersive puzzle game. But will it make you soar or just leave you … puzzled?
Arrgh! Any self-respectin’ pirate game worth its salt needs a treasure chest that’s buried on a tropical isle. An’ perchance …
Is this game the ultimate expression of Nintendo’s fan-fave fighting franchise? Or does it ultimately have some problems?
Activision gives the classic Spyro games a facelift, breathing new fire into this dragony franchise’s old gameplay.
Habro and Nintendo have teamed up to offer a handheld version of not one, but three classic board games.
Not a racer. Not a multiplayer combat game. It’s kinda a little of both … with a rush.
This game can be Mars colony problem-solving fun or a deep-space strategy slog. It all depends on you.
The latest Civilization upgrade adds interesting new leaders, ages and loyalties, while keeping the world-building mess-free.
Kirby fans will likely love the little pink puffball’s latest minigame-filled contest.
This sprawling, glitchy game is far different and far darker than its campy, cartoony exterior suggests.
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 …
Mario is back. But this time it’s in a strategic, turn-based—gulp—shooter. How worried should we be?
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 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.
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.
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?
With a little parental boundary-setting and guidance, the colorful characters and strategic maneuvering in the latest Civilization contest can be …
There’s a certain familiarity to what you do in a LEGO franchise game. And that’s just hunky-dory.
This being the age of high-def reboots and resurrections, the furry Lombax and his stoic robo-sidekick decided to get in …
There’s more mass destruction on display here than in, say, a Batman LEGO game of yesteryear. But at least the …
Just Dance has always been about getting your groove going with a group and flailing around in exhilarating (embarrassing) ways. …
LEGO adds a new Dimension to the toys-to-life video game play: actual LEGOs!
The latest Disney Infinity game opens an adventurous digital wormhole to a galaxy far, far away … and might just …
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 …
A colorful fight title where tons of characters from 30-plus years of games all get dumped into the ring together.
This chockablock game takes its own name quite seriously, pushing the Dark Knight out of his comfort zone. Way out. …
Mankind is doomed unless we build up a new civilization on a distant planet. But do the same Sid Meier …
Simply watch the colorful, silhouette-like dancing figures onscreen and do your best to copy their moves as the tunes play …
The latest bring-your-toy-to-digital-life game goes super and swings the Marvel universe door wide.
The latest Civilization effort exports its streamlined world-building ambitions straight to your smartphone or tablet.
A young princess is lost in the darkening world on the other side of a magical mirror. The creatures she …
LEGO my Eggo, er, Hobbit: Fans of the franchise get yet another fantasy universe to explore, stack and build.
Here’s a third-person battler for gamers who like shooters without all the trigger-pulling gunk. More mulch than mess, you might …
Illegal street racing is a bad, bad deal, this game says … and then lets you take the wheel and …
This old man, he played (station) four, he played knick-knack on my floor, with the whole family gathered all around, …
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 …
If your winning formula ain’t limping, break out the goofy costumes and fix yourself up another great big dance party.
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, …
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 …
You superheroes can stay home and play with your blocks—there’s a new supercop in town, and he’s hitting the LEGO …
A city-building fave gets a next-gen reboot. Are there any new realities or regulations you need to know about as …
Here’s a variety-pack game that’s designed to show off the future of gaming while making you earn your graduate degree …
A land of trolls, wizards, heroes and, uh, cheery plastic! Welcome to The Lord of the Rings, LEGO style.
Dragons, trolls and giants, oh my! The newest wave of collectibles form Skyland tag-team their way through a brand-new (super-sized) …
Just one more dance? Who are we kidding? We’re on No. 4 already, with 5 through 9 waiting impatiently by …
Believe it or not, video games can be more than just button-crunching time-fillers. Papo & Yo aims to offer real …
What kind of game has the Beagle Boys kidnapping Minnie while RPG critters battle spikey-haired good guys? None other than …
Villains once again try to take over a LEGO version of Gotham City. But Batman and his pals have a …
The old NES fave Kid Icarus gets an upgraded update—and in 3-D, too! Is this high-flying fun for the whole …
A 25th anniversary bundle of Zelda quests—now with thrust-and-parry swordplay realism.
UPDATED REVIEW: Start building your first lava-spurting mega-fortress or figuring out how to stage your favorite Star Wars scene in …
Harry and his pals are back in cube form for one last puzzle-solving go-round. But what do LEGOs look like …
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.
1) Disney. 2) An orange soda gun. 3) A platypus wearing a hat. What’s the common thread in that list? …
A classic Nintendo 64 adventure/puzzle game gets a new coat of paint and some 3-D sparkle.
This beautifully colorful game, gives the shooter genre a wave and a shout—on its way to true uniqueness.
Wanna wipe out with the worst of ’em without having to schedule a year’s worth of chiropractor appointments after you’re …
Shiver me LEGOs! Jack Sparrow’s gone all plastic in a game version of the hugely popular franchise that tamps the …
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 …
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 …
Glee has turned the TV and the music world upside down. So why not put out a video game to …
Nancy is investigating bumps in the night at a Japanese inn. And to do it she’s tackling all sorts of …
Our game critic hates dance games. But this one woke up his long-dormant sense of rhythm. Did it also rouse …
Polish those brass buttons and straighten your epaulets because kingmaker Sid Meier wants to put you on the throne. Again.
Sports Champions showcases Sony’s new motion-sensing controller, the PlayStation Move. And it’s gunning for the casual gaming audience that Nintendo …
Hogwarts Harry and his loyal band of wand-wielders get LEGO facelifts. Are the makeovers magical? Or merely muddled?
Woody, Buzz, Jessie and the other toys in Pixar’s toy box have come to life again—this time in the form …
Racing game or reality TV show? Disney Interactive Studios’ latest effort fuses elements of both … with explosive results.
Whether solving deep-sea-diving mysteries or getting an underwater education, this digital, aquatic wonderland is something special to splash around in.
