The Lost add an entire new layer of strategy to missions, as players need to tread carefully lest they find themselves boxed in a back alley surrounded by swarms of ashen zombies on all sides. They’re not a huge threat compared to the ADVENT, but they certainly throw a wrench in otherwise routine missions. That’s likely why Firaxis Games has introduced unique mission modifiers called sit reps, which can fill a map with volatile explosives or require that only low-ranked soldiers be sent on certain missions. It’s all about a variety of added challenges, and War of the Chosen provides this in spa

With the War of the Chosen add-on came the inclusion of XCOM’s version of zombies. The Lost, as they are called here, are pathetic little nothings, easily dispatched in high numbers. Players consider them more of a nuisance than a threat, due to the repeated need to confirm an att

Why You Should Play It: The Witness is not going to be for everyone, but those who do buy into its puzzle-focused world will become instantly obsessed. Taking a very simple puzzle concept and expanding on it nearly endless ways, The Witness is the epitome of a layered interactive experience. It also does a great job of teaching the player new rules as they progress, ensuring that the lack of a clear narrative never gets in the way. Most importantly, the SLG game analysis offers the most a-ha moments of any game in recent memory, and that sense of accomplishment is enough to make it worth play

What We Said: “Like previous games offered by From Software, Dark Souls 3 offers a unique experience that blends subtle storytelling, dark settings, and painfully difficult encounters to stand out from the crowd of other action games. The challenge is well worth the countless deaths and hours of practice for players who have the patience, but is likely one that should be skipped by gamers who prefer to get things right on the first tr

Why You Should Play It: By now few underestimate the power of Blizzard, who has delivered nothing but hits over several decades. Overwatch is just another in a long line of success for the developer, but it’s also something completely new…well for the studio at least. A team-focused FPS, or hero shooter, Overwatch is as addicting as it is balanced, but the product is still growing. Truly, launch was just the beginning for Overwatch and it’s hard to imagine our addiction lessening any time s

In the end, the version of XCOM 2 available on either the Xbox One or PS4 is still, unavoidably, the second best crafted by the development team. The good news is that players who prefer their couch to their desktop won’t be missing out on the quality of the experience, even if the level of polish takes a hit. And with every aspect of XCOM 2 contributing to the kinds of investment, tension, and stakes usually relying on players hunched over keyboards, glued to their monitors… well, being a couch potato may have never been a more stressful experie

2016 still has plenty to offer gamers in the second half of the year, but thus far it’s fair to say there have been some really great titles released. Whether or not they will be able to stand up against the likes of No Man’s Sky , Gears of War 4 , or Battlefield 1 is yet to be determined, but any who are looking for some entertainment now should look no further than the 10 games on this l

PC players have been enjoying the game since February, but the developers have finally released a console version to Xbox One and PS4. It’s a longer delay than many gamers are used, so does the ported version seem worth the wait? And after Enemy Unknown ‘s own release on consoles, have the interfaces and controls been improved (along with the performance) on the Xbox One and PS4’s hardware? The answer is ‘yes’ across the board – minus a few technical iss

As the rescued and restored Commander, the player takes on a challenge and campaign that is, in many ways, an inverted form of the original. Now operating as the resilient infection the aliens posed previously, the gameplay, mood, desperation, and constant threat of failure and death have been completely twisted. The main difference is the element of surprise: allowing players to operate unseen prior to attacks, scouting enemy forces, planning and executing ambushes, fundamentally changing the complexion of the standard miss

The Chosen can be defeated by performing a series of covert operations and a tough final assassination mission, a process which takes some time. Don’t take too long, though: these aren’t static enemies. The longer they exist, the more strength they have. That isn’t to say they don’t have weakness either, as they follow a nemesis system that takes heavy inspiration from the likes of Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor . They’re easily the most difficult addition to the game, but they add plenty of flavor to the experience and much satisfaction when they’re finally taken d

Some armors, like the Spider armor, will give soldiers the ability to use a hook to reach high places near them. This action is free, which often means soldiers can use it to cover great distances. Having the high ground is often very beneficial in XCOM 2, as it offers a +20 to aim, although players should be careful as it often also leaves soldiers exposed to multiple enemies. Being mobile in XCOM 2 is crucial, and having a free move can quickly turn the tide of com