PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds might not be the top dog in the battle royale area anymore, but it’s continued to grow and expand, most recently with the snow-filled map of Vikendi. It’s a map that brings the game back to its early roots.

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive has gone free-to-play, bringing a slew of hapless new players, probably a massive wave of hackers, and a battle royale mode. The mode, Danger Zone, feels less of a full-blown battle royale and more of a well-made mod. Even if Counter-Strike’s gunplay is second to none, Danger Zone…

I’m a voracious Souls player. From multiple playthroughs of the Dark Souls trilogy to games like The Surge and Nioh, I can’t get enough of moody exploration and tough boss fights. Ashen, a new Souls-like published by Annapurna Interactive, released last week on the Epic store and Xbox One, and while it doesn’t…

Hades, a new action game from Supergiant Games, released in early access last night in the new Epic Games store. It’s pretty limited right now, but even with only a handful of weapons and levels it’s got me extremely excited. Being trapped in Hell and dying over and over has never been so fun.

The First Tree is an exploration game about learning who you are. You take control of a fox in a colorful frosted forest. As the fox searches for her children, another story plays out, recounted by an unseen male narrator, that focuses on family relationships and regrets. Those thoughts come paired with intoxicating…

Dominique “SonicFox” McLean took home the award for Best Esports Player tonight at The Game Awards in Los Angeles. The 20-year-old full-time student and fighting game ace gave a candid acceptance speech that was one of the night’s more heartfelt moments.

Hitman 2’s first elusive target left the game this week. These special targets, which players only have one attempt to assassinate, ramp up the tension and challenge players to perform perfectly. The first target also showcased some of Hitman’s best qualities. The scenario was funny, self-aware, and bloody as heck.

Red Dead Online’s launch has been rocky. While there’s plenty of enjoyable rootin’ and shootin’, the meager rewards for playing have frustrated many players. In a blog post today, Rockstar announced new changes—and free rewards—that should make it easier to rake in the cash and make Dutch happy.

Battlefield V’s first post-launch addition, Overture, released today after an initial delay. The expansion moves the game’s timeline forward with new story perspectives and massive, tank-focused multiplayer battles. Overture is a mix of disappointing and exciting elements; it has terrific storytelling, but it also has…

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey has slowly expanded with new side missions and mercenaries battles, and while those might have been welcome diversions, they were a little light on story. The game’s first DLC, Legacy of the First Blade, launched its debut episode today. It’s a solid addition to the game, bringing tough…

When Sea of Thieves launched back in March, it felt pretty barren. The open sea in the Xbox and PC pirate game was gorgeous, but there wasn’t much to do. Since then, updates have brought new threats and areas, encouraging pirates to team up to take on sharks, survive volcanoes and explore distant islands. The latest…

Lately I’ve been playing a lot of violent games for work. In the last week, I’ve thrown knives and lit people on fire in Battlefield V, blasted people away with my revolver in Red Dead Online, and engaged in all sorts of wacky assassinations in Hitman 2. It’s often a lot of fun, but every now and then I need to help…

Battlefield V’s multiplayer moves at a faster pace than any other game in the series. Players run quickly, and action-movie escapades are common. Players also die faster, especially when they encounter the deadliest weapon in the game: throwing knives.

Red Dead Online is now available for everyone to play. As players fret over the economy and wonder what shape the game will take, I’m mostly thinking about how much I hope to see one key feature from Red Dead Redemption’s multiplayer make a comeback: standoffs.

Red Dead Online’s beta launched this week, and it’s a looser, sillier experience than the main game. But a beta mean glitches, and there’s been nothing stranger than the cavalcade of burnt-out boats mysteriously plaguing the city of Saint Denis.