Many issues, like linear progression and limited AI, that I have with Wildlands are issues rooted to the ‘open-world’ genre, and therefore not worth holding against Ubisoft. Wildlands offers a tight finesse for a shooter, and is sure to be enjoyed by gamers; however, it does little to go beyond this.

Flintlock Studios presents us with a fascinating and entertaining concept, one that could bring a much-welcomed spotlight to a period of American History often overlooked. Yet considering the fierce competition out there, the limited size of the studio, and more importantly, the current state of the game, Northern Regime isn’t off to a promising start. I’m rooting for the British Columbia-based studio, but it’s got a long way to go until it's ready for a full release. A significant amount of work has to be put in before Northern Regime can be considered a quality Early Access game.

All in all, The Wild Eight is a relatively inexpensive addition to the Survival genre, and it's one that comes with a lot of potential. Even as it stands, The Wild Eight is an excellent choice for players who want to face the wilderness with a group of friends, and watching your loved ones’ avatars get gored to death by wild boars certainly breaks up the monotony of foraging.

While it's commendable that a two-man team set out to create an adventure of relatively broad scope, I can't recommend Hero, especially not at its current price point. It does have decent music and sound effects, but the lackluster graphics, lack of polish and uninspired gameplay are too glaring to ignore.

I’m looking over at the clock, watching hours roll by, and I can’t stop. Despite being Early Access, Conan Exiles is already capable of standing up against any other open-world survival game currently released, and I'm excited to see what Funcom has in store.

Phoning Home is an excellent example of what happens when developers think outside the box of their genre(s). While there are dozens of Sci-Fi themed Survival game option for players to choose from, ION LANDS has blended a remarkable combination of elements to create a saga that stands out from the crowd.

With AAA Anonymous, we discuss our latest AAA game addiction for a handful of months, until the next one replaces it. This episode is the on the release of Funcom's Early Access release of their survival game, Conan Exiles.

Ashbourne is a title that I would love to have enjoyed and recommended. Sadly, I didn’t and I can’t. Despite its promising premise, the game severely lacks any substance, it feels like a Beta, if not an alpha, and so much work needs to be done to transform it into a compelling, memorable addition to the Action-RPG genre. While we understand this is a low budget production, some attention to detail and much-needed refinements are direly needed to improve the experience overall. Unless heavily patched, Ashbourne will be forgotten as a jarring, clunky experience of the 2017 year in PC gaming.

Small Radios Big Televisions is a thoroughly exuberant experience. Sadly, lackluster gameplay and a very brief completion time work against the narrative, quickly leaving you to ruminate on your own. As much as I’d love to recommend this title, I cannot at this time. Perhaps it’ll be easier to do so at the next Steam Sale.

I just can't emphasize how incredible ABZÛ looks.  The gorgeous trailers and screenshots online don't even do it justice; you just need to explore this ocean firsthand. A worthy purchase for anyone that can appreciate a beautiful, at-your-own-pace, exploration game.

Technomancer is utterly fantastic, even if it does have a few minor kinks that need to be worked out. It's wicked fun with satisfying combat, and it offers a clever leveling build with full customization. With a decent story and a convincing landscape, what's more to enjoy than a post-apocalyptic world where options are plenty?

With AAA Anonymous, we discuss our latest AAA game addiction for a handful of months, until the next one replaces it. This episode is the on the release of The Division, and the pleasant surprise we found in its arrival.

As a Warhammer fanatic (I have both Fantasy and 40k miniatures), Man O’ War: Corsair is shaping up to be a fantastic sandbox-esque game. Even with it being in early access and missing a few important aspects, it is a straight up roller coaster ride to play.

With AAA Anonymous, we discuss our latest AAA game addiction for a handful of months, until the next one replaces it. This episode is the on the release of Far Cry Primal, our biggest disappointment to date this year.

Das Tal is the world’s first Open World Survival Arena - we’re bringing together MOBA tactics and Sandbox MMO strategy. Our goal is to make MMOs fun again for PvP fans. No more grind. No more pay-to-win. No more tab-targeting. We are creating a game designed to be compatible with the busy life of an adult gamer. Das Tal rests on the three defining pillars; Meaningful Conflict, Skill-Based Combat, and Constantly Changing Worlds.

I am disappointed with Far Cry Primal, and rate it a 6 out of 10. I had to trudge through far too much muck to find bits of satisfaction. It's playable, but has no substance to act as backbone. There are no new challenges for people to face. No story presents itself for an audience to get engaged. No advancements are in sight, making this title thoroughly undistinguished.

If you’re the type of gamer who likes their experience to feel like work, to feel like management, like another job, then Factorio might be for you. For myself, however, Factorio doesn’t necessarily do anything new or otherwise exciting.

No matter how much I may criticize the faults, and the faults certainly aren't insignificant, Rise of the Tomb Raider is without a doubt extremely fun. Fans of the first Tomb Raider will find more of what they loved. Rise shines brightest when players adopt the full John Rambo mindset, and embrace the balls to the walls action available. I found myself having much more fun when I intentionally ignored stealth and played like I was in a John Woo movie. Rise of the Tomb Raider is a fast-paced, action-packed feast for the senses that sets a new benchmark for technical excellence. Just don't expect many original concepts or challenges, as Lara “John Rambo” Croft brutally murders hundreds of baddies en route to a very thrilling final chapter.

Star Wars Battlefront feels hollow. Hollow to the point that I wonder if the upcoming DLC will be able to revitalize it, and hollow to the point that there may be no one out there playing the game to even enjoy the new content at all. For $60, this game is unacceptably short on content and replayability.