SOMA
SOMA isn’t as frightening as Amnesia: The Dark Descent, but that metric isn’t measured on a linear scale.
Sid Meier’s Civilization: Beyond Earth – Rising Tide
Rising Tide is the first Civ expansion I’ve played that makes its host game worse overall.
Hand of Fate
Hand of Fate is less than the sum of its parts.
Cities: Skylines
Cities: Skylines thoroughly absorbed me. Temporarily, at least.
Runbow
Runbow may be visually colourful, but its personality is drab as can be.
Prison Architect
Prison Architect is committed to the realism of its simulation in almost all aspects, and whether or not that’s a good thing will depend entirely on the player.
RONIN
So much of RONIN’s design impedes its intended experience.
Emily is Away
Emily is Away isn’t remotely engaging.
The Talos Principle: Road to Gehenna
To enjoy The Talos Principle: Road to Gehenna, you really have to enjoy the base game.
OlliOlli2: Welcome to Olliwood
OlliOlli2 feels like the archaism of a traditional fighting game and thus may resonate with a certain audience but will alienate everyone else.