Action/Adventure, Combat, Role-Playing
Middle-earth: Shadow of War

This ferocious, M-rated sequel may be set in the milieu of Lord of the Rings. But it’s a lot more …

Puzzle
Layton’s Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaires Conspiracy

Another collection of chin-scratching puzzles features a new member of the Layton family leading the investigative charge.

Action/Adventure, Arcade/Platform, Puzzle
Knack II

Knack is back for another whack at a nefarious baddie in an action-packed game with a solid lesson about second …

Shooter
Destiny 2

This sequel shooter feels a lot like its intense predecessor—only with a bit more polish … and maybe even more …

Combat, Puzzle, Shooter, Strategy
Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle

Mario is back. But this time it’s in a strategic, turn-based—gulp—shooter. How worried should we be?

Action/Adventure, Puzzle, Shooter
Uncharted: The Lost Legacy

This sequel layers the Uncharted formula over a female-focused adventure tale, with expected and unexpected results.

Action/Adventure
The Pillars of the Earth

This story-focused game openly talks about faith in a sometimes foul, dark and dangerous medieval world.

Arcade/Platform
Sonic Mania

The new Sonic is a lot like the old Sonic. Only more. And that’s a good thing.

Action/Adventure, Combat
Hellblade: Senua’s Sarifice

What would it take for a video game to depict psychotic madness? Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice answers that dark question.

Action/Adventure, Sim
Tacoma

This microgravity mystery has some involving gameplay, but it also floats off in unexpectedly intimate directions.

Shooter, Strategy
Fortnite

This buzz-generating hybrid is one part Minecraft, one part shooter. That last aspect is the one parents will need to …

Sim, Strategy
Aven Colony

This engaging building simulation game transports some of the genre’s familiar facets into a tense-but-satisfying sci-fi setting.

Arcade/Platform, Shooter
Splatoon 2

Splatoon 2 gets a high-def makeover, reloading its paint guns for remarkably colorful—but mess-free—results.

Sim, Strategy
Serial Cleaner

This game about a guy who cleans up murderers’ messes perhaps isn’t as messy as it could have been. But …

Horror/Suspense, Shooter
Get Even

Get Even is an ambitious, genre-blurring title that tries to offer a moral, but stains its intended message with M-rated …