10. Deus Ex: Mankind Divided (PS4/XOne/PC)
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided is a very strong game. The world map is interesting, and your main hub of Prague is impressive to explore. The narrative may not advance the Deus Ex universe, but if you enjoyed the gameplay of Human Revolution and wanted a refined and more polished version of the game, then Mankind Divided delivers in spades. There are a lot of excellent environmental touches that make the game fun, and everything looks noticeably much smoother and more detailed.
At the end of the road, Forza Horizon 3 really isn't the type of game where you're cutting surgical lines across pristine tarmac. Instead, you're racing a variety of vehicle types against an equally diverse landscape while kicking up dust and dodging the occasional downpour. It's a wilder side of Forza where you're free to tackle Australia in whatever way you feel is the most enjoyable, and it gives you all the tools you need to make the experience yours. I've always enjoyed the Motorsport side of the track, but Horizon 3 is where you go to have flat-out fun while still sharing the series' strong racing pedigree.
In many ways, XCOM 2 is more of the same with some new enemies, mechanics, skills and weapons to make it feel like a true sequel rather than a mere expansion. It doesn't make any big changes to the formula but improves upon the original. Fans of the first should find a lot to like here, but newcomers may want to start with the original XCOM. At the end of the day, it's a fun and incredibly unforgiving strategy game that will test your wits and patience. Don't get too discouraged when your favorite soldier is disintegrated by a lucky crit from a laser beam. That's just the XCOM experience.
Overwatch is the perfect mix of casual and hardcore gameplay. The simple but diverse character design makes it easy to pick up regardless of your skill level. Anyone from an FPS novice to a hardcore player can find a niche that works for them. The fast-paced gameplay allows for quick and intense rounds of combat, and the constant stream of free updates, including new characters and maps, keeps the game feeling fresh. Add to that a ridiculously charming presentation, and it's easy to see why Overwatch has garnered such a following. It might not be the most innovative shooter on the market, but it's so fun that you won't care.
6. Rise of the Tomb Raider (PS4/X360/XOne/PC)
The 2013 release proved that the Tomb Raider franchise could evolve. Rise of the Tomb Raider is anabsolute treat thanks to its attention to detail and overall art direction. It's rare that a game does so much so well, and with only a few missteps, Rise of the Tomb Raider is destined to be one of the most recommendable PC games this year.
Dishonored 2 is an excellent sequel to an excellent game. It retains everything that was good about the first game and effectively doubles it with more characters, more abilities, and more levels. It retains some of the same flaws, including incredible ease, graphical issues, and a weak main narrative, but it more than makes up for it in other areas. It's hard to not be delighted with Dishonored 2, as it shows a developer at the very top of its game. Fans of the original and newcomers alike should find a lot to like here, regardless of whether they want to be a silent assassin or a lethal predator.
The Hitman franchise has always been at its strongest when it offers flexibility for players. The 2016 Hitman is perhaps the purest form of this. Released in separate episodes instead of as a single stand-alone game, it focuses on giving players an enjoyable sandbox for their assassination needs. Whether it's by creating ironic deathtraps or via brute-force death, there are countless different ways to play each mission. The strong level design and quirky sense of humor help give it a lot of personality. The plot is mostly an excuse to commit assassinations in exotic locales, and that's all it needs. If you're looking for a game that rewards creativity and cleverness, Hitman is at the top of the list, and it's easily one of the best examples of an episodic game release to date.
Titanfall 2 is a well-made and enjoyable game that should be a good buy for any shooter fans. The main campaign is fun to play through, and it makes good use of gameplay mechanics. The multiplayer is fast, frantic and exciting, and it has enough variety people will repeatedly come back to blast apart pilots and Titans. For PlayStation owners, this is the first chance to try out Titanfall's high-mobility gameplay, but even fans coming over from the Xbox One should enjoy the improvements.
2. Uncharted 4: A Thief's End (PS4)
Uncharted 4: A Thief's End is a strong ending to the series. It deviates slightly from the franchise's established themes and ideas in favor of something more down to Earth, but it works. Players will experience the same action, the same characters, and the same amazing set pieces. The gameplay is getting a little long in the tooth but manages to hold on for this final outing for Nathan Drake and his friends. It's not the strongest in the series — a title that still belongs to the excellent Uncharted 2 — but it's a strong runner-up. Fans of the franchise should enjoy this seemingly last romp, but newcomers may first want to play The Uncharted Collection for the full story.
Your enjoyment of Doom is going to depend greatly on the mode you're playing and your acceptance of the tweaks to the classic formula. In multiplayer, you'll have fun as long as you keep in mind that this is a blend of every other multiplayer first-person shooter instead of simply being Doom with prettier graphics. If you're playing the campaign, it feels like a welcome evolution of the series, since the classic elements meld rather well with the modern touches. If your attention is on Snapmap, then you'll find that the game has some long legs thanks to an easy-to-learn system that has already produced loads of content for solo and multiplayer situations. Either way, you're getting a complete package that celebrates the pure adrenaline-pumping action that brought so many to the genre in the first place. Doom is absolutely a worthy addition to any genre fan's library.