Far Cry New Dawn

Standalone expansion with steady performance but heavy pop-in and inconsistent post-apocalyptic aesthetic.

Despite an abysmal story, grating characters, and a joke of a final boss, it earns a thumbs up for what lies underneath. The tiered weapon-and-enemy progression and the prosperity base-building give exploration real purpose, the gunplay and expeditions are intense, and it shines in co-op, edging out Far Cry 5 once you push past the nonsense and ignore the intrusive microtransactions.

Essentially a glorified DLC or neon-colored reskin of Far Cry 5 that earns some goodwill with its $40 price tag and a few genuinely well-designed missions. The stair-stepped gear rarity curve and outpost recapture loop create a fun power fantasy for the first several hours, but the weak story, base-building ethanol grind, baffling microtransactions, and constant screaming wear thin. Worth picking up on sale around $20 rather than at full price.

Yahtzee: grindy microtransaction-laden sequel; buggy implementation and frustrating bosses.

AJ Rapid Fire: 7/10.

Before You Buy: mixed.

EA: leaner Ubisoft formula; weak characters.