Despite technical flaws, the Telltale formula has propelled the studio to the upper echelons of gaming, leading more developers to leap into the episodic adventure pond following their games’ success.

A common consensus among film critics was that Ready Player One, Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of Ernest Cline’s bestselling novel, was a film for gamers — a movie built with the distinct sensibilities of a video game, designed to appeal to those who love video games.

Although it’s been more than 30 years since its release, I’ve never played a “Bard’ Tale” game. The original was released for the PC in 1985 and after three more sequels, the game lay dormant until a spinoff also called “The Bard’s Tale” came out in 2004.

I’ve never been much of a Far Cry person, though I do own several titles (sales!). Far Cry 5 attracted a lot of attention for its topical foray into rural America. People mused that perhaps this would be the game that would offer a nuanced take on America’s divided, contentious political divide.

When it comes to Nintendo’s stable of iconic characters, the Switch is off to an amazing start. “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” launched to a chorus of “best ever” proclamations, and similar sentiment will undoubtedly (and rightfully) be showered upon “Super Mario Odyssey.”

I had just gotten back from vacation and, feeling restless, thought to do something that would soothe me — something repetitive and simple and consuming, so that I could avoid the specter of post-vacation stress.

It’s been a long time since Rare has had a blockbuster. Part of the reason is that the developer isn’t afraid of trying unconventional ideas.

Nothing is more ubiquitously Japanese than a themed café. There is, for example, the Final Fantasy­-themed ARTNIA in Shinjuku, which sells delectable sundaes topped with chocolate Buster Swords.

Jumping into the “Yakuza” series right now is a tricky proposition. Sega’s long-running underworld crime saga has been out for more than a decade and has several chapters that follow the exploits of legendary gangster Kazuma Kiryu.

After my massive, all-encompassing Breath of the Wild binge, I needed a break from pure freedom. I need a game that was light and fast and stratified with clear objectives, quests and collectibles.