"singleplayer"

2017 · Survival Horror · PC / Steam

Resident Evil 7 is a triumphant return to survival horror for a franchise that had lost its way, delivering a first-person experience that's both deeply unsettling and mechanically satisfying. The Baker family estate is one of gaming's great horror locations, and the opening hours rank among the best the series has produced. A weaker final act that trades atmosphere for action and exposition prevents it from reaching the heights of the genre's best, but as a statement of intent and a reinvention of a beloved series, it succeeds on almost every level that matters.

2014 · Survival Horror · PC / Steam

Alien: Isolation is one of the finest horror games ever made, a masterclass in tension that uses its intelligent Xenomorph AI to create an atmosphere of constant dread. The recreation of the 1979 film's aesthetic is stunning, and the cat-and-mouse gameplay delivers genuine fear in a way few games have matched. Its excessive length holds it back from greatness, with the final third wearing down the tension it spends so long building. But the first fifteen hours remain some of the most effective survival horror in the medium, and for fans of the franchise or the genre, there's nothing else quite like it.

2019 · Action-Adventure · PC / Steam

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is a satisfying action-adventure that successfully blends souls-like combat with metroidvania exploration in a Star Wars setting. The story gives players a compelling protagonist in Cal Kestis, the level design rewards curiosity, and the lightsaber combat, while not as precise as its inspirations, captures the fantasy of being a Jedi better than most games have managed. Technical performance issues on PC and a reward structure that leans too heavily on cosmetics hold it back from the top tier. But as a singleplayer Star Wars experience focused on exploration and combat rather than microtransactions, it delivered exactly what fans had been asking for.