The adorable Lil Gator Game becomes available on April 4th along with EA Sports PGA Tour, though the latter requires EA Play (included with PC Game Pass and Game Pass Ultimate ). Kona and Botany Manor arrive on April 9th, while Shadow of the Tomb Raider Definitive Edition, which includes the base game and all its DLC, is available on April 11th.

Finally, there’s Harold Halibut on April 16th for cloud, PC and Xbox Series X/S to round out Wave 1. As for the title leaving on April 15th, there’s quite a high-profile line-up, especially for those who enjoyed Frictional Games’ horror titles. Play them before they’re gone, or purchase them with Game Pass’s 20 percent discount.

• Amnesia Collection (Cloud, Console, and PC)
  
• Amnesia: Rebirth (Cloud, Console, and PC)
  
• Back 4 Blood (Cloud, Console, and PC)
  
• Phantom Abyss (Cloud, Console, and PC)
  
• Research and Destroy (Cloud, Console, and PC)
  
• Soma (Cloud, Console, and PC)

#10. TT ISLE OF MAN: RIDE ON THE EDGE 3

Owing to its very nature as a hardcore superbike racing sim, TT Isle of Man: Ride on the Edge 3 is not, like its predecessors, a game with widespread appeal, but for fans of the sport and racing sims in general, there’s a lot to love here. Its rough production values, lack of variety in content, and less-than-stellar visuals do leave a little something to be desired, but with incredible physics and driving mechanics, a rewarding sense of challenge, and incredible sense of speed, TT Isle of Man: Ride on the Edge 3 has an excellent foundation.

#9. MONSTER ENERGY SUPERCROSS: THE OFFICIAL VIDEOGAME 6

Milestone has a grip on the bike racing simulation genre in a way no other developer in the industry does, and Monster Energy Supercross 6 was yet another feather in the developer’s cap in 2023. From significant improvements to the physics and handling systems to an impressive level of polish and attention to detail, from a solid selection of new and returning modes to a much stronger balance between authentic simulation and accessible fun, Monster Energy Supercross 6 is a promising glimpse of how the series can continue to improve with future instalments.

#8. MOTOGP 23

MotoGP 23 is a perfect example of how a game can benefit from a bevy of iterative improvements as much as it can from a smaller number of radical revolutions. Rather than trying to reinvent the wheel, it builds on its predecessors’ foundations by making notable improvements across the board, from the new Career mode to the introduction of more newcomer-friendly mechanics, while continuing to exhibit the same authenticity and love for bikes that Milestone’s games are so often associated with.

#7. LEGO 2K DRIVE

A Mario Kart-inspired open world arcade racer making use of the Lego license? With an elevator pitch like that, any game is bound to turn its fair share of heads, and LEGO 2K Drive mostly makes good on its promises. Though it can feel a bit shallow and repetitive, the underlying systems and design deserve credit. Maps are colourful and tightly designed, driving mechanics are tight and strike a nice balance between skill and accessibility, and vehicle building and customization in particular can offer up hours upon hours of enjoyment. It may not have been a revelation, but LEGO 2K Drive is a solid enough racer than genre fans of all ages can enjoy.

#6. RIDE 5

Yep, another Milestone-developed bike racing sim, and easily the one that impressed us most this year. The RIDE franchise has continued to push the envelope with its visuals, authenticity, and technical achievements with each new instalment, and RIDE 5 didn’t disappoint on that front either. On top of that, with notable improvements to the Career mode, the addition of new elements like Rivals and your very own HQ, the introduction of dynamic weather, a new Race Creator option, and a continued push for accessibility and approachability, RIDE 5 once again proves why Milestone’s franchise is the undisputed king of bike racing sims.

#5. THE CREW MOTORFEST

After two instalments in the mainland United States, with The Crew Motorfest, Ubisoft’s open world racing franchise took players to the island of Oahu, and it turned out to be absolutely the right decision. Courtesy of a much more varied, vibrant, and colourful world that is teeming with gorgeous vistas to take in, The Crew Motorfest benefits from excellent festive vibes that make it a much more engaging experience, while a smart, new structure for the main content and improvements to the driving mechanics also make for more enjoyable racing mechanics. It might not be the competitor to Forza Horizon’s throne that it was perhaps being positioned as, but it’s still a hell of a racer that fans of the genre will enjoy.

#4. F1 23

Codemasters’ annual F1 franchise has been one of the best racing sim experiences around for a long time now, and 2023’s instalment was another predictably excellent one. With its loot-driven F1 World experience, F1 23 offers a different flavour of content than most of its predecessors have been known for, while the return of F1 21’s story mode, Braking Point, also proves to be a triumphant one. That, combined with improvements to the underlying driving mechanics made for an excellent all-around package, even if the game does still feel a bit stagnant where its visuals and Career mode are concerned.

#3. EA SPORTS WRC

The WRC license switched lanes to Codemasters and EA Sports this year, and the former leveraged its expertise with rally racing simulators to deliver another excellent outing for the licensed series. EA Sports WRC captures the adrenaline-fueled thrill of rally racing better than most other games have managed in the past, while it also offers a smattering of contents across its many modes, tracks, vehicles, and more. Admittedly, the experience can be dragged down at times by issues such as bugs and a few modes that feel a little undercooked, but by and large, EA Sports WRC has laid down an excellent foundation for Codemasters to build on with future instalments in the years to come.

#2. HOT WHEELS UNLEASHED 2: TURBOCHARGED

The fourth Milestone-developed game to earn a place on this list, and without a shadow of doubt, the best of the lot. Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged is an excellent evolution of its already solid predecessor. That sense of speed and arcadey thrill that the first game boasted is not only present and accounted for here, but shining brighter than ever before, while also touting stunning visuals, incredible track design, a vast array of customization options, and new driving and movement options like jumps, dashes, and more. Ultimately, it’s an iterative improvement rather than a radical one, and the single player offerings do leave a little something to be desired, but the final product is one that improves on the first game in some key ways.

#1. FORZA MOTORSPORT

The Forza Motorsport franchise had been dormant for longer than most would have expected, but in 2023, it finally made its comeback with what was billed as a reboot. Whether or not it turned out to be the undisputed king of racing sims might still be up for debate, thanks in large part to a divisive new structure for its campaign, but there’s so much else here that we can’t help but be impressed with. New weather effects, a healthy offering of content (especially in the multiplayer department), stunning visuals and attention to detail of the sort that only this franchise can manage, crucial improvements and tweaks to the moment-to-moment mechanics- the list goes on and on. Even though it doesn’t hit the highs that many of its predecessors are remembered for, Forza Motorsport is still a triumphant return for Turn 10’s long-running franchise.

LEGO 2K Drive launched earlier this year and offered an open-world racing take on the Lego franchise. Players can build vehicles out of Lego blocks, race around Bricklandia in a quest to earn the Sky Trophy and partake in different mini-games and side missions. It also supports cross-play.

PowerWash Simulator is FuturLab’s breakout “clean ’em up”, which revolves around washing things. You have different nozzles and cleaning fluids, while each location in Muckingham offers unique challenges. It even has co-op support and various updates have added locations from games like Final Fantasy 7.

Finally, Sable is a compelling adventure game, as players guide the titular protagonist through a rite of passage, navigating the world on a hoverbike and exploring ancient ruins. As always, all three games will also be available for PlayStation Plus Deluxe and Premium subscribers to claim.

Final Fantasy 16

Final Fantasy 16 may start fairly linear with some levels but quickly expands into more open environments like Rosaria and Sanbreque. The vistas are gorgeously rendered, and you’ll discover more side quests, interesting characters, and Notorious Marks to take down. Later, you’ll probably search for some rare materials and maybe take on some high-level Hunt targets.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Tears of the Kingdom’s events are in the same Hyrule as Breath of the Wild, and while there are similarities between the two maps, the sequel’s size is simply breathtaking. The Sky Islands hold numerous secrets, while the surface has been revamped with new dungeons, Shrines, Skyview Towers and areas. Then there are the Depths with overwhelming Gloom and hidden secrets that beg to be explored. Suffice it to say that the new Zonai vehicles are a must when getting around.

Diablo 4

Even if one region can blend into another at times, Diablo 4 has an impressive scale. The Fractured Peaks with their snow-covered surroundings; Scosglen with its creepy woods and shores – there’s a lot to take in, and that’s before you wander off towards the dozens of different Dungeons. When that’s not enough, Strongholds with unique goals, side quests, World Events, and more await your frantic clicking.

Everspace 2

It’s crazy to think that Everspace 2 wasn’t supposed to start with this massive scale when it entered early access. The full title offers multiple star systems, each with random distress calls, side missions, puzzles, High-Risk Areas and much more to explore. You can pick up new spaceships, mine materials, take on new companions and maybe venture into Ancient Rifts for some end-game challenges.

Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores

Burning Shores is an expansion, meaning it won’t approach the base game’s scope and scale. However, considering Forbidden West’s massive size, being one-third as big is still pretty significant. Along with venturing into Fleet’s End and meeting its various characters or venturing to the newest Cauldron, underwater exploration expands significantly thanks to the new Waterwing, while the skies are like their own region due to the massive clouds.

Forspoken

Its open-world design leaves much to be desired, but you can’t accuse Forspoken of not being large in scale. Each region has its share of treasure chests, resources, activities and hidden Labyrinths. There are even powerful world bosses providing a tough challenge, side quests, the standard towers, refuges and much more to discover. Traversing all of it is also pretty enjoyable once you master the magical parkour.

Hogwarts Legacy

Not factoring in the 100-plus side quests, the world of Hogwarts Legacy can be pretty absurd in its scale. When you venture outside the school and start taking in the Highlands with its enemy outposts, Trials and powerful foes, there is much to discover. Whether you’re content with raising fantastic beasts in the Vivarium or battling in Dark Arts Arenas, the world provides plenty of chances to test your spell-wielding.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order was already incredibly vast with its environments, but Jedi: Survivor goes much bigger. Some areas like Coruscant are straightforward but offer plenty of chests, Bounty Targets and secrets.

Like a Dragon: Ishin!

The Yakuza/Like a Dragon series has prided itself on packing its worlds with stuff to do, and Like a Dragon: Ishin! is no exception. Kyo during the Bakumatsu is full of restaurants to eat at, schools to train and even underground arenas to fight (not counting the dungeons). You’ll spend much time running around, helping people in deep Side Stories, and maybe some farming on the side. Even if its structure is from 2014, Ishin!’s world design carries over into the modern era quite well.

Sons of the Forest

Despite being in early access, Sons of the Forest offers a vast sandbox to mess around in. The expanded building and options allow for creating extensive bases, but there’s plenty to see when you venture into the caves or discern the island’s mysteries. Foraging for resources during different seasons with Kelvin, sledding off the highest peak or fighting for your life – Sons of the Forest truly has it all.

Dead Island 2

Forgoing its predecessor’s open-world approach, Dead Island 2 relies on self-contained levels teeming with zombies. However, when you’re not progressing through the main story, there are plenty of weapon quests, Missing Person reports, Special Infected and more. There are tons of activities to experience, even if you’re just looking for better weapons to slay the undead.

Miasma Chronicles

Like Mutant Year Zero, Miasma Chronicles offers a massive world with side quests and secrets to explore. However, the post-apocalyptic United States is two to three times larger, with varied locales, tons of buildings to explore, containers to loot and enemy outposts to sneak through or attack head-on. It further feeds into letting you approach conflicts in any way you choose, even if combat could be improved.

Atomic Heart

Much like several other titles on this list, Mundfish’s action RPG shooter isn’t a massive open world but one broken up into different biomes. There are dozens of main story chapters to complete, but wandering through the different biomes reveals memorable side content, lore, loot, flying houses to find and robots to alert and subsequently fight. The story is the main appeal, but these little detours are worth it.

LEGO 2K Drive

LEGO 2K Drive has its share of issues, which is a shame, given the game’s potential. Bricklania is a fully realized playground with lots of content to experience, whether you’re venturing through the canyons and rivers of Big Butte Country and taking in the sights at Prospecto Valley. It’s not a seamlessly connected world like Forza Horizon, but each of the four biomes has enough to keep you busy.

WILD HEARTS

While Monster Hunter Rise saw Capcom going smaller scale with its levels, Omega Force saw the scale of Monster Hunter World’s levels and went even bigger. The different Hunting Grounds of Azuma each sport unique Kemono to hunt and are massive, making traversing them equally enthralling thanks to the combination of zip-lines, Rollers, and gliders.

REDFALL

Redfall always looked like it was going to be very different from Arkane’s traditional offerings, but the general expectation was that, given the studio’s innate talent and impeccable track record, it would at least be a good, well put together game. In the end, it definitely wasn’t. Not only does Redfall almost completely lack the strengths one usually associates an Arkane game with, it’s not even good at the new things it tries, with everything from its open world and its co-op gameplay to its loot mechanis coming with major issues. Add to all of that some significan technical hiccups, and what you have is a game that woefully falls short of expectations for an Arkane joint.

THE LORD OF THE RINGS: GOLLUM

Let’s be fair here, no one really expected The Lord of the Rings: Gollum to be anything more than middling or passably enjoyable at best- but we also didn’t expect it to be literally one of the worst games in recent memory. Daedalic Entertainment’s stealth action-adventure game took its sweet time to finally release, and when it did, it stumbled with its first step and fell flat on its face. Nothing about The Lord of the Rings: Gollum works. It has boring quest design, little to no exploration, broken combat and traversal mechanics, and a deluge of technical and performance problems that make it nigh on impossible to get through. You don’t play The Lord of the Rings: Gollum. You endure it.

LAYERS OF FEAR

For a while, Bloober Team has been pumping out psychological horror games that range from middling to genuinely good, and this year, the studio went back to the very beginning to bring back Layers of Fear. Combining, connecting, and reimagining the first two games while adding its own new content on top, the new Layers of Fear looks excellent and has a fascinating premise- but as is often the case with Bloober, it doesn’t do justice to that premise. It ends up being a fairly dull, repetetive, and rote game that relies on its visual prowess to the exclusion of almost everything else. We can only hope the Silent Hill 2 remake fares significantly better.

TCHIA

We’d had our eye on Tchia for a while before it launched, with Awaceb’s tropical action-adventure game looking increasingly promising with each of its pre-launch showings, and though the final product is certainly not without its merits, it didn’t quite live up to our expectations. Yes, it has a gorgeous setting, and making your way around the island is fun, for the most part. But the game’s mechanics and systems never quite manage to get their hooks in, leaving us with a pretty but fairly unremarkable experience.

CRIME BOSS: ROCKAY CITY

Over the years, many have tried their hand at the co-op first person shooter heist genre, and very few have managed to enjoy the kind of success that the Payday series has seen. Crime Boss: Rockay City was certainly eyeing that throne, and with its star-studded cast of actors, it looked like it might actually take a big swing. The actual game itself, however, was not only disappointing, it was just downright terrible. Whether you’re playing its single player roguelike campaign or diving into its co-op offerings, the game’s aggressive mediocrity taints every second you spend with it, with its awful voice acting, bland design, repetitive loop, and boring core gameplay dragging down the experience into the doldrums.

RAVENBOUND

Ravenbound has a promising premise on paper as an open world roguelite set in a world inspired by Scandinavian folklore, but when you actually get down to playing the game, you realize that it’s woefully underbaked in almost every way that matters. Its world is a vast one, but given how empty, bland, and vapid it generally feels, exploration ends up being significantly de-emphasized. Combat can get repetitive instead of decent enemy variety, while the game also does itself no favours with its poorly balanced difficulty curve. Add to that an unfortunately healthy dose of technical issues, and you get a pretty underwhelming game.

FORSPOKEN

A big new AAA open world IP from Square Enix? To say that people were curious to see how Forspoken would fare would be an understatement, even back when it was called Project Athia, though unfortunately, it didn’t even come close to matching expectations. A premise that’s interesting on paper is let down by annoying characters and poor writing. An open world that should have been begging to be explored ended up being empty and uninteresting. The combat system, while flashy and enjoyable, failed to make up for deficiencies in boring quest design. The fact that Forspoken failed to meet Square Enix’s commercial expectations was, ultimately, not surprising in the slightest.

THE LAST OF US PART 1 PC

Frankly, we’re still baffled that this was allowed to exist. Naughty Dog, more than almost any other studio in the entire industry, is associated with an obsessive level of attention to detail and quality assurance. Polish and Naughty Dog go hand-in-hand- which is why it’s so surprising that The Last of Us Part 1’s PC port might be one of the worst PC ports in recent memory. Even looking at brief clips and individual screenshots, it was hard to believe that something this broken had been allowed to release. When you actually played it, it quickly became apparent that the state of the game was somehow even worse. It’s a real shame, too, because this will forever be remembered as the manner in which this legendary franchise made its PC debut.

LEGO 2K DRIVE

Unlike many other games on this list, LEGO 2K Drive is not without its merits. Its world is vibrant and colourful, it has an impressive suite of customization options for building any kind of car you want, and, as you’d expect from a LEGO game, it’s very kid-friendly and easy to get into. It is, however, also quite vapid. What you see is very much what you get, and with that lack of depth, LEGO 2K Drive ends up like a shallow experience that runs out of steam too quickly, whether that’s because of its how uninteresting open world exploration is, or its lackluster optional content, or any number of other issues.

LEAP

LEAP isn’t exactly a game that’s grabbed a whole lot of headlines, so to say that expectations were high wouldn’t exactly be fair. But this is still very much a game that doesn’t do justice to its interesting premise. The sci-fi competitive FPS boasts slick visuals and cool traversal options, but all of that gets bogged down in its tedious gameplay loop and how unsatisfying its moment-to-moment gameplay largely feels. Especially in a genre that’s this competitive, LEAP fails to make a mark in any meaningful way.

STRAYED LIGHTS

We don’t want to be unfair on Strayed Lights here, because for a game developed by a small team with a unique vision, it does actually get some things right. The story, the music, and the aesthetic, for instance, are legitimately solid and worthy of praise. There’s plenty else in the game, however, that drags the experience down, from its frustrating combat to the lackluster platform to its technical issues. The fact that there are parts of the game that are genuinelty good makes the parts that aren’t feel that much more frustrating.

STRAY BLADE

You’ll never see us turning down the chance to play a new Soulslike, especially one that’s trying to shake up the genre’s formula the way Stray Blade was promising it would. But though there’s something to be said about the idea of viewing the genre through a less gloomy lens, the actual execution of many of the game’s core pillars leaves a lot to be desired. The clunky controls, uninspired level design, and technical issues combine to make Stray Blade quite a frustrating experience, even if it isn’t one that’s totally without its merits.

CRASH TEAM RUMBLE

Again, in the name of fairness, it’s worth pointing out that Crash Team Rumble is definitely a game that you can have plenty of fun with- especially for fans of the series, given how well it translates that Crash feel into a MOBA experience. As it stands right now though, it’s also pretty barebones, with its launch offerings, especially in terms of the modes on offer, being quite limited. Of course, we’re hoping that Crash Team Rumble will be supported so well that including it on this list in retrospect feels like a mistake- but with live service games, you can never tell how long of a lifespan to expect.

GREYHILL INCIDENT

A small production in every way possible, criticising Greyhill Incident would almost feel unfair under most circumstances- but unfortunately, there’s plenty to criticize in this game. The core premise of a survival horror game where your main enemies are aliens is certainly an interesting one, but from its awful dialogue to its painfully shallow mechanics to the mind-numbing level design, Greyhill Incident messes up (to say the very least) in too many ways to be anything more than a disappointment. And even that might be a generous description.

RISEN (PS4)

In the many, many years since its launch, the original Risen has amassed a reputation as one of the RPG genre’s proper diamonds in the rough, though with its 2023 port, there was way more of the rough than there was of the diamond. Janky animations, disappointing and minimal updates to the gameplay and visuals, clunky combat, and technical problems combined to paint the ageing experience in what wasn’t exactly the most flattering light. Maybe this is one flawed gem that should have been left in the past.

LEGO 2K Drive features four unique biomes, each of them a decently sized open world map, with one being a smaller tutorial location, and in terms of environmental variety and pure visual design, there’s a lot to like about each biome, with locations ranging from sandy desert plains to lush green valleys and more. The moment-to-moment experience of driving around each area is also inherently fun, thanks to the game’s combination of simple and straightforward inputs and deceptive depth. With the ability to jump, drift, and quick turn all on the table, it feels like you always have a great degree of control over how you want to maneuver your vehicle, in spite of how snappy and simple each action feels.

"The game doesn’t put as much of an emphasis on skill as something like Crash Team Racing or even Mario Kart would, but the driving mechanics in and of themselves are undeniably enjoyable."

The driving experience as a whole actually feels refreshingly seamless, in that there’s very little that the game does to interrupt your general flow or momentum. In true Lego fashion, the vast majority of things you can see in the environments are completely smashable, while your vehicle also automatically transforms into either a street racing car, an off-roading vehicle, or a boat depending on what sort of terrain (or water) you’re driving on. As such, there’s very little to break your momentum, since things such as crashing and going off-track are taken out of the equation by a great degree.

Add to that a boost mechanic that’s fairly generous with how quickly your meter refills, and where core components such as sense of speed and momentum are concerned, LEGO 2K Drive successfully nails the fundamentals. Similar to a multitude of kart racers, the game also scatters a variety of item pickups throughout its courses that let you equip a different weapons against your opponents, and though the implementation of that mechanic is fairly shallow here, it is, at least, a fun little layer on top of the core gameplay loop. Of course, how uninterrupted the driving is almost constantly does mean that the game doesn’t put as much of an emphasis on skill as something like Crash Team Racing or even Mario Kart would, but the driving mechanics in and of themselves are undeniably enjoyable.

It’s a shame, however, that the things that LEGO 2K Drive puts around that core end up disappointing. Take the races, for instance, where the AI so often go out of its way to fiercely compete against you for the vast majority of the race, only to fumble and lost out close to the end. If your rivals are ahead of you, they’ll often become surprisingly easy to catch up with and overtake in the latter stages of a race, and conversely, if you’re too far ahead of them, they’ll rubberband right up on your rear as you’re approaching the finish line. I get that this is a game made first and foremost for kids, as pretty much all Lego games are, but it goes almost a little too far with that. With no real sense of challenge throughout the experience, ancillary mechanics, such as the stats of your vehicles or the perks that you equip them with, end up feeling undervalued. That, in turn, means there’s also often very little reason to change the vehicles you’re using. Since you’ll be picking them largely based on what they look like, the whole vehicle collection aspect loses some of its luster as well.

"With no real sense of challenge throughout the experience, ancillary mechanics, such as the stats of your vehicles or the perks that you equip them with, end up feeling undervalued."

That overemphasis on attracting a younger audience affects the game’s story and writing as well, even if those are obviously not even close to the first things you’re going to be playing this game for. Besides a few chuckle-inducing gags and puns, jokes in LEGO 2K Drive tend to fall flat, and the vast majority of the characters you meet make next to no impression. That’s a real shame, because if there’s one thing you’ve come to expect from a LEGO game, it’s childlike but effective humour in its writing. Obviously, there’s only so much you can do with the writing when you know you’re also catering to a younger audience- but LEGO 2K Drive seems to only cater to a younger audience.

How LEGO 2K Drive implements its open world design is also not without its issues. On one hand, there’s no denying that the visual design of each area is incredible, not only in terms of how much variety the game exhibits from biome to biome, but also thanks to how colourful and full of charm and personality each area is. That, combined with the fun fundamentals of the driving, makes simply driving around quite an enjoyable experience- though the maps aren’t too big, so there isn’t an endless amount of things to see.

What the game fills that map up with, however, is far less engaging. There are plenty of racing related side activities, of course, like bite-sized challenges that take you through drifting courses or task you with setting air time records, while in addition, the game also throws several side quests your way, which are more prescribed set-piece missions with unique goals and setups, like defending three towers against waves of invading aliens by driving through them and smashing them into tiny Lego pieces. Sadly, I didn’t have much fun with most of these side activities. The bite-sized racing ones scattered throughout the open world are inoffensive at best and bland at worst, while the side quests just don’t feel fun to control, seeing as they take the focus away from the actual racing aspect, which is one of the best parts of the game.

In the end, the quality of the content across the entire package ends up feeling quite diluted, and repetition begins creeping in. In fact, that feeling of repetition becomes even harder to stave off because LEGO 2K Drive’s story mode adopts a bit of a grindy structure. Critical path races and story progressing are level gated, which means the game often breaks the momentum and forces you to engage in its side activities- which, as I mentioned, are quite hit and miss. The story mode isn’t particularly long at 8-9 hours, and you’ll likely be spending the majority of your time in online races or optional and/or post-game content, but for those who’re looking to complete the story, its structure might leave you a little frustrated from time to time.

"Where LEGO 2K Drive stumbles with its racing events and its open world maps, one area where it’s an unequivocal success is its creation and customization toolset."

But where LEGO 2K Drive stumbles with its racing events and its open world maps, one area where it’s an unequivocal success is its creation and customization toolset. In a nutshell, the game allows you to build entire vehicles from scratch, letting you pick each Lego piece you want to use for the entire build, and offering a vast selection of pieces on offer, with other cosmetic options like stickers, paints, and more thrown on top. More pieces are unlocked as you progress further in the game, further expanding your toolset with even more fun new options. In terms of its actual mechanics, building cars and putting Lego blocks together is undeniably fun, and combined with the vast array of options it presents, it’s something that you can easily spend hours playing around with.

Clearly, LEGO 2K Drive is an uneven experience. There’s a lot to like about it, and there’s no denying that at it’s core, it can be legitimately fun. All of that comes with caveats though. While the driving is fun, the races are held back by inconsistent AI. While the open world maps are great to look at and drive around in, the content they’re packed with is not the most compelling. While I like how approachable and charming the game is, it caters to younger audiences so much that it ends up feeling a little shallow. At least there’s the whole creation and customization aspect, which is one area where LEGO 2K Drive is a triumph without any reservations. Ultimately, if you’re looking for an arcade-style racer that can lay legitimate claim to the Mario Kart throne, this will probably leave you disappointed, but if all you want is a fun and laid-back (if unremarkable) racing game, then you’re in luck, because that’s precisely what LEGO 2K Drive is.

This game was reviewed on the PlayStation 5.

ARCADE RACING

You wouldn’t expect a a game carrying the LEGO license to opt for an approach that prioritizes authenticity and realism above all else, and sure enough, LEGO 2K Drive is embracing the wackiness that comes with the license. The game will be focusing on arcade racing mechanics above all else, which means players will be jumping, drifting, and boosting as they’re driving their cars- and yes, you’ll also be able to use items against your opponents in order to win races.

OPEN WORLD

LEGO 2K Drive is set in the world of Bricklandia, and it’s promising a fully open world experience. How exactly will the world be structured though? Well, it’s not going to be a fully seamless world – which makes sense, given the fact that it also has to be optimized for the significantly weaker hardware of the Nintendo Switch – and will instead feature five distinct biomes, including deserts, lush fields, waterways, and more. While players won’t be able to drive from one biome to another, you will be able to fast travel from one to another at anytime.

MODES

LEGO 2K Drive is looking to be a packed experience, and in more ways than one. For instance, the game will have several modes for players to dive into. In addition to being able to jump into single races or Cup Series tournaments, there will also be a full-fledged story mode to race through, while a number of multiplayer options will also be available.

STORY MODE

LEGO 2K Drive’s story mode is likely going to be the game’s main attraction for a great many people, but what exactly can be expected from it. Story mode will be set in the aforementioned Bricklandia, and will see players setting their sights on the Sky Trophy. To win that ultimate prize, you’ll be gradually climbing through the ranks by winning races and beating a series of rivals, with your final goal being to take on Shadow Z.

MULTIPLAYER

For those who want to move beyond LEGO 2K Drive’s single player offerings and experience what it has to offer with friends or other players, the game will, of course, have multiplayer options as well. Competitive multiplayer will see you racing in six player races, while on the co-op front, the game will also feature both multiplayer co-op and two player splitscreen.

DESTRUCTIBLE ENVIRONMENTS

One area where LEGO 2K Drive is going to take cues from the many LEGO games of the last several years – in spite of how different it will be in all other respects – will be the destructibility of its environments- it’s still a LEGO game, after all. Destroying things in the environment and watching them explode into showers of tiny little LEGO bricks has always been a big part of these games, and in LEGO 2K Drive, you’ll be able to wreak all kinds of havoc with your car.

LAND AND WATER RACING

LEGO 2K Drive is a racer, but it’s not just about cars. We mentioned earlier that the game is embracing the wackiness that goes hand-in-hand with a LEGO game, and this is a perfect example of that. Races will take place over both land and water, which means that in addition to cars, you’ll also be driving boats. What’s more, driving from land into water will be completely seamless and see your car instantly transforming into a boat, and vice versa.

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES

Being an open world game (and a LEGO game) you’d expect LEGO 2K Drive to have plenty of optional content on offer, and developer Visual Concepts is certainly making that promise. The open world exploration itself is bound to add plenty of hours to your play time, while optional activities like side quests and various different kinds of minigames will also be scattered throughout all the biomes.

CREATING AND CUSTOMIZING VEHICLES

This is likely going to be LEGO 2K Drive’s biggest draw bar none. Rather than featuring a defined roster of vehicles, the game is instead putting customization and creation at the forefront. In LEGO 2K Drive’s Garage, players will be able to tinker, experiment, and play around with thousands of different LEGO bricks and pieces to build whatever kind of car you can dream up. Of course, not every piece will be available to you off the bat, but expanding your creation toolset and range of options to build better and better vehicles will be a big part of the experience.

MCLAREN LICENSE

Though building your own vehicles will obviously be a core component of LEGO 2K Drive, the game will also feature readymade vehicles for players to hope behind the wheel of and hit the road with. For instance, courtesy of a license collaboration with McLaren, the game will also feature a couple of vehicles from the manufacturer- namely, the McLaren Solus GT and McLaren F1 LM.

MICROTRANSACTIONS

As much as there is to be excited about when it comes to LEGO 2K Drive, the game is also doing some things that warrant a little bit of caution. It’s been confirmed that the racer will have microtransactions, with players being able to spend real money to purchase in-game items. While microtransactions don’t exactly come as a surprise for a licensed game developed by Visual Concepts and published by 2K, their implementation could be cause for concern.

YEAR 1 DRIVE PASS

It won’t surprise you to learn that Visual Concepts and 2K plan on keeping up plenty of support for LEGO 2K Drive following its release, but exactly what can we expect from its post-launch support? While the concrete details have yet to be revealed, we do know that the game’s Year 1 Drive Pass will cover four seasons’ worth of content, which presumably means each season will last three months. What will each new season bring? That remains to be seen.

POST-LAUNCH COLLABORATIONS

LEGO is a brand that has built its identity around collaborations with major IP from across all media, and LEGO games, in turn, have done that as well. LEGO 2K Drive will also be following in those footsteps with its post-launch support. Speaking in an interview with VGC, when asked about post-launch IP collaborations, executive producer Mark Pierce said, “There’s no announcements about that at the moment, but I wouldn’t be shocked. [LEGO 2K Drive] is truly a AAA effort and we’re at the pinnacle of all of these different brands and everything, and the commitment from these large companies is very high. We have a lot of stuff I can’t really talk about now… But there are collaborations that are coming down the line, as we get to post-launch, that are very impressive. I think LEGO fans are gonna love them.”

SWITCH VERSION

Though it’s not a terribly common occurrence, there have been a a few games in the past that have had half-hearted so-called physical releases on the Switch, with their physical versions coming with download codes instead of game cards- which defeats the purpose of buying a physical copy. Unfortunately, LEGO 2K Drive will be doing that as well. Given the fact that its file size on the Switch eShop is listed as 4.5 GB, the decision was to go with download codes instead of cartridges is a particularly baffling one.

PRICE

2K is one of several publishers that has consistently been releasing its new PS5 and Xbox Series X/S titles for higher prices these last couple of years, and it’ll be doing that with LEGO 2K Drive as well. On the current-gen consoles, the game’s standard edition will be sold for $69.99. Meanwhile, on PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC, it’ll be sold for $59.99.

New drivers, stickers, flairs and sounds are some rewards that players can earn for free. However, you can upgrade to the Premium Drive Pass each Season for even more, including new vehicles from Dodge and Nissan in Season 1. Of course, upgrading also unlocks any rewards locked in previous levels.

But wait, there’s more, specifically a Year 1 Drive Pass containing Premium Drive Passes for Seasons 1 to 4, the Awesome Pizza Vehicle and 550 Coins. It’s available separately and included with the 2K Drive Awesome Edition and Awesome Rivals Edition. If that wasn’t enough, Visual Concepts confirmed a new biome launching this year.

LEGO 2K Drive is out on May 19th for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC and Nintendo Switch.

There’s much more to indulge in, so don’t worry. Let’s look at the big games launching next month.

Redfall

After Dishonored’s fantasy steampunk and Deathloop’s retro time-looping, Arkane Studios is exploring uncharted territory with Redfall. It’s a four-player co-op first-person looter shooter with a large – though not massive – open world to explore. Also, vampires, as a botched experiment by Aveum Laboratories turns its billionaire elites into undead blood-suckers.

As one of four survivors, you’re fighting against the rich and powerful, who have encased the titular town in darkness, preventing anyone from leaving. There are cults of humans to deal with, a massive tanky vampire called The Rook that can randomly appear, and optional dungeons called Psychic Nests to tackle. Each character is unique from Devinder’s vampire-killing inventions to Layla’s telekinesis and can acquire items like Grave Locks to augment their abilities.

There’s also lore to discover in houses, random guns to outfit characters with, and no 60 FPS mode at launch on consoles. Nevertheless, Redfall launched on May 2nd for Xbox Series X/S and PC, not to mention Game Pass.

Hogwarts Legacy (Xbox One, PS4)

Even after all the controversy, Hogwarts Legacy was a massive success for Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. Set 100 years before the first Harry Potter book, the action RPG focuses on the player traveling to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry as a fifth-year student. They also have a connection to some ancient magic, because, of course, they do and run afoul of Viktor Rookwood and his dark wizards and the Goblin rebellion led by Ranrok.

Hogwarts Legacy has a massive world to explore, from the Hogwarts campus and Hogsmeade to the surrounding highlands. There are dozens of side quests, several memorable NPCs to interact with, some great magical combat, and even your own Room of Requirement with a Vivarium to raise fantastic beasts.

The problem is how it will perform on Xbox One and PS4. Portkey Games and Avalanche Software have yet to reveal the resolution and frame rate, and even then, the actual day-one performance is another matter entirely. Still, it’s out on May 5th – if you don’t have a current-gen console, it may be worth picking up on the previous-gen.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild launched in 2017 alongside the Nintendo Switch and remains one of the greatest, if not the greatest, games ever. To say that the wait for Tears of the Kingdom, announced under the moniker “Breath of the Wild sequel” at E3 2019, has been agonizing would be an understatement. Nevertheless, it’s almost here. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is out on May 12th.

So what can you expect? Despite being set in the same Hyrule as Breath of the Wild, the world has changed dramatically, with familiar locations transformed, new Sky Islands to explore in unique ways, and fresh characters to interact with. New abilities like Fuse, which combines multiple items to create novel weapons, shields and arrows; Ultrahand to combine larger objects to create vehicles; and Ascend, to pass through ceilings, have looked simply stunning. That’s not counting other things like a new Hookshot-like ability or Rewind, which sends objects back along their previous path.

Nintendo has been somewhat coy on the story, aside from Ganondorf returning and Zelda being in trouble, but the sheer amount of stuff teased in trailers has been incredible. Skydiving through laser webs, minecart fights, new enemies, ghost ships sailing through the sky, defending villagers from monster attacks – there’s just so much. Needless to say, Zelda fans will be busy for a good long while after its release.

Amnesia: The Bunker

For how fresh and downright terrifying Amnesia: The Dark Descent was, its follow-ups – A Machine for Pigs and Rebirth – haven’t exactly recreated that same magic. Frictional Games’ Amnesia: The Bunker may finally break that curse, embracing random chance and claustrophobic surroundings to amplify the terror.

Set during World War 1, players control Henri Clement, a soldier trapped in an abandoned bunker. Even worse, there’s a ravenous monster hunting him. Having nothing but a wind-up flashlight, a gun with one bullet and their wits, the player must navigate the bunker and somehow escape without dying to the monster, various hazards, and so on.

Unlike previous games, Amnesia: The Bunker is an open-world sandbox. You can freely pursue objectives, scavenge for resources and solve puzzles. The world is completely randomized, so every playthrough feels different, and the monster will react to your tactics. If that weren’t enough, you have limited time to escape. If all that sounds like sunshine and a good time, Amnesia: The Bunker may be for you when it launches on Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS4 and PC on May 23rd.

The Lord of the Rings: Gollum

The Lord of the Rings franchise has been explored from many angles, the most well-known being Monolith Productions’ Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and Shadow of War. However, Daedalic Entertainment’s upcoming stealth action-adventure sees players embodying a unique perspective when it launches on May 25th – that of the deceitful yet sympathetic Gollum.

Venturing through various Middle-earth locations, Gollum will encounter familiar figures and seek the One Ring. Set between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, the emphasis is on sneaking, platforming and exploring the world. You’re not running through armies of Orcs and Uruk Hai, but you will have to make decisions that either cater to the more sadistic nature of Gollum or the merciful Smeagol, with long-reaching consequences.

The Lord of the Rings: Gollum is launching for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5 and PC. Despite numerous delays, it’s looking like an intriguing experience for Tolkien fans.

System Shock Remake

From a Kickstarter campaign and engine shits to delays and restarting development, it’s been a long journey for Nightdive Studios’ remake of the classic System Shock. Nevertheless, it seems like it will finally be released on May 30th. If you’ve never played the original, the experience mixes first-person shooting, role-playing game mechanics and non-linear story-telling that influenced many future titles.

You venture through Citadel Station in a cyberpunk future and must deal with the various terrifying creations its malevolent AI, SHODAN, throws at you. In terms of changes, the remake offers fully HD visuals, new music and sound effects, a brand-new UI and revamped controls. Various aspects like Cyberspace are also redone, but don’t worry – SHODAN’s voice actor returns to ensure the same level of terror as before.

System Shock Remake launches in May for PC first, with console versions releasing later.

Darkest Dungeon 2

Going beyond the dark, dank dungeons that defined the first game, Darkest Dungeon 2 is a rogue-like adventure where four heroes traverse the ruined world via stagecoach. Embark on an expedition through five regions, with different encounters, enemies and rewards, as your heroes bond and become stronger.

As you complete an expedition, new classes become available, some from the first game and others brand-new (like The Runaway). Artifacts help bolster your skills, while the new combat system relies on Tokens for more direct control in combat. If that weren’t enough, each hero has their own origin story, delving deeper into their pasts, and the aesthetic has been overhauled for gorgeous 3D models and environments.

Darkest Dungeon 2 may seem like a scary new endeavor for fans, but it offers the same nightmarish combat, heavy cosmic horror and sanity-testing quandaries as the first game. It leaves early access for PC on May 8th.

The Outlast Trials

Remember the sheer terror and insanity that was Outlast? Red Barrel Games has been slowly plugging away at the next entry in the series and invites you to experience the horror with friends. The Outlast Trials is out on May 19th for PC via Steam Early Access and sees players partaking in human trials for the Murkoff Corporation during the Cold War.

Playing either solo or co-op with up to three others, you’ll customize a character and lead it through various gut-wrenching experiments. But don’t be fooled – you’ll still need to sneak around and flee from enemies, using tools to improve your abilities. Throughout these experiences, you can find various documents to use against Murkoff.

The early access build will have all the main features, though more trials, perks, enemies and so on are coming in the future. The Outlast Trials may not make for the sanest experience, but for those seeking a compelling horror game, it could be worth a look.

LEGO 2K Drive

If you ever enjoyed the LEGO Speed Champions DLC in Forza Horizon 4 and wanted an entire game for the same, LEGO 2K Drive may just be the ticket. Developed by Visual Concepts and set in BrickLandia, players can freely explore and partake in races, creating vehicles with 1,000 different pieces. In addition to everything being destructible, your vehicle can also transform based on the terrain in a race.

Along with quick races, Cup Series tournaments and mini-games, there is a story to pursue, albeit a classic LEGO tale full of humor as players compete to earn the Sky Trophy while dealing with various rivals (like the dastardly Shadow-X). Online co-op and local split-screen are supported, and the actual racing leans into boosting and power-ups for a more fun, arcade-like experience.

Releasing on May 19th, LEGO 2K Drive will be available for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC and Nintendo Switch.

WrestleQuest

While the WWE 2K series has delivered some fun realistic experiences over the past two instalments (we don’t talk about before that), what about those who want epic RPG storylines? A fantastical adventure that combines over-the-top mayhem with professional wrestling? Skybound Games’ WrestleQuest aims to cater to the same.

Releasing in May for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC and Nintendo Switch, the pixel-based title sees you starting as a newcomer to the art of wrestling. Train yourself up, learn new moves and different styles, explore locations based on legends like Andre the Giant and Jake the Snake Roberts, and eventually become champion. You’ll also lay the smackdown on enemies in turn-based combat.

Though its release date is still unsure, WrestleQuest is one of the more bombastic titles to look forward to next month.

After Us

So the world has ended (yes, again) in Piccolo’s After Us. However, this isn’t a tale of despair and doom but of new beginnings. As Gaia, you explore the ruined world, collecting the souls of different animals. You’ll learn how each one met their end, which should provide some relatable morals about environmental preservation as Gaia goes about rejuvenating everything she touches.

Even the enemies, known as Devourers, are covered in oil, which Gaia can clear with her abilities. After Us provides some beautiful environments and a gorgeous atmosphere befitting its aesthetic. Whether there are enough challenges to keep the journey fresh is a different thing altogether, but it’s got our attention. It releases on May 23rd for Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and PC.

Miasma Chronicles

If a post-apocalyptic wasteland epic with an environmentally conscious message isn’t for you, then something a bit more tactical may suffice. Miasma Chronicles is, a squad-based tactical strategy game with some fun gameplay. It’s set in the future, where the Miasma has laid waste to the United States.

Players control Elvis, an orphan who can somehow manipulate the Miasma using a mysterious glove. What could this mean for the future of humanity? Maybe some hope in the long term. In the short term, it’s road trip time, as Elvis and his brothers travel the world, learning more about the Miasma while gaining new weapons and abilities and encountering strange characters.

It launches on May 23rd for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

As reported by Nintendo Everything, retailer listings for the retail version of LEGO 2K Drive on the Nintendo Switch have started going up, and the cover art shown on the listings (see below) confirms that the retail version will come with a download code for the game instead of an actual cartridge.

As per the Switch eShop, LEGO 2K Drive’s file size on the Switch will be roughly 4.5 GB, so one would imagine that its size wouldn’t have been an issue where a physical release is concerned. Why the decision was made to go with download codes instead of cartridges in the retail release is anyone’s best guess, then.

LEGO 2K Drive is set to launch on May 19 for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC.