Dishonored
Background:
Set in a dystopian past, this game focuses on a supernatural assassin named Corvo. He has many special abilities, including the ability to possess animals and humans, travel short distances in the blink of an eye, see through walls and summon gusts of wind to buffet foes.
Why You Should Buy It:
Dishonored is very original. Beyond supporting it just because it’s a new franchise in a market that’s being increasingly saturated with Call of Duty clones, you should buy this because it executes so well on the one thing it promised to do: stealth. If you love, or even just like, stealth games, then you need to play this. Simply put, it is the best stealth game available.
Halo 4
Background:
This game is the triumphant return of Master Chief to the Halo universe. Chief travels to the alien world Requiem, while Cortana begins to lose her mind.
Why You Should Buy It:
If you’ve played Halo before, this game will continue to scratch the same itch that the previous games have satisfied. 343 Studios, who has taken over from Bungie since Halo: Reach, has done a really good job of having that same Halo feel as before while trying new things to expand the franchise. The multiplayer is as strong as ever, and the campaign goes in an interesting direction by fleshing out the alien race known as the Forerunners.
Assassin’s Creed III
Background:
New assassin Connor joins the series as Desmond continues to try to find the secrets of the First Civilization. The American Revolution provides an interesting backdrop for this game. This time around, you’re even more mobile than before and combat mechanics have been tweaked to make you even more deadly than ever before.
Why You Should Buy It:
While this game doesn’t do anything drastically different from the other Assassin’s Creed games, it’s just as strong as the ones before. Connor is a compelling character, and so is his supporting cast. Ship combat feels appropriately violent and is faster paced than you would think. After you beat this game, you’ll want to play more. The multiplayer will give you that opportunity. It’s a fun addition to the series that you’ll be glad has stuck around.
–By Jack Teague