Jeremy Peel

Science class fiction A true sense of place is well-earned, as Irrational’s first-ever game demonstrates.

Ghost story Keeping quiet and concealed in shadow is no longer in vogue—which makes Thief a refreshing replay.

Forget-me-not Firaxis imbued its fish-out-of-water hero with unexpected personality.

Splintered dreams Changing genres and business models get in the way of seeing Sam Fisher again.

Simply Divine The RPG studio that overcame its original sins.

Dead to rights When developers throw the book at rulebreakers.

Play fight "People sometimes wonder, is it a dance, is it a fight."

Dice roll Can innovation bloom on the Battlefield?

Witch way? From D&D imports to redefining the fantasy RPG entirely.

N ice Perfecting the perfectionist platformer.

Shell shock How Turtle Rock Studios righted itself after rolling on its back.

Magic meddlers Can six Red Wizards survive the chilly north?

Third party Advancing warfare.

RPG heroes CRPGs wouldn't be the same without its trips into post-apocalyptic California and the Forgotten Realms.

Cold comfort Ditching The Witcher for war and famine.

Deus Excellent Mastering the immersive sim.

Rivian Red 2018's Thronebreaker is a hearty and hale RPG that shows CDPR still knows how to make 'em.

VOLCANIC BASH Now we’re cooking with gas.

Wheel life Where is the next generation of videogame cars with handbrake turns fitted as standard?

Twenty something Battlefield has never had a clear single-player identity, but there's still time.