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Mike Epstein

Mike Epstein

Former Associate Editor, Gaming
Author/Co-Author of 306 articles

Michael is a New York-based tech and culture reporter, and a graduate of Northwestwern University’s Medill School of Journalism. His gaming, tech and entertainment coverage has appeared on Flavorwire, The Escapist, and Kotaku, among others. If Mike isn’t playing, watching, reading, or writing, he’s probably ... asleep.

God of War review | Kratos and Atreus arrive at a large tree

‘God of War’ review

God of War offers complex gameplay and mature, nuanced storytelling that far exceeds the games that came before it.
Dragon Ball FighterZ review

‘Dragon Ball FighterZ’ review

Thanks to a distinguished new developer and incredible art design, ‘Dragon Ball FighterZ’ is the first title based on the anime franchise that everyone should play. The game's fast-paced combat is easy to pick up, too, which should appeal to both newcomers and long-time fans of the beloved franchise.
PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds Xbox One deadshot

‘PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds’ on Xbox One: Hands-on preview

‘PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds’ is not as technically sound on Xbox One as it is on PC. It’s still a great game, but not as polished as anyone would like.
best game of the year 2017 zelda breath wild feature

Best game of 2017

Digital Trends best game of 2017 changed the way we think about games, how we think about life, and, of course, were all incredibly fun.
Assassins Creed Origins Review

‘Assassin’s Creed Origins’ review

Assassin’s Creed Origins doesn’t rely on the series strengths, and fails to create new ones. Read why in our review.
star fox 2 review snes classic feature

‘Star Fox 2’ review

‘Star Fox 2’ is the missing link between Star Fox and Star Fox 64, which is fascinating, but does that make it a good game? Find out in our review.
how mario kart inspired rabbids interview feat

How ‘Mario Kart’ inspired ‘Mario + Rabbids,’ right down to Luigi’s death stare

Ubisoft Milan Creative Director Davide Soliani discusses the ideas behind ‘Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle.’
Holding the SNES Classic Edition in our hand

SNES Classic Edition review

Can Nintendo’s coveted 16-bit emulation box live up to the hype? Find out in our SNES Classic Edition review!
Far Cry 5 Review |

‘Far Cry 5’ Review

Far Cry 5, the latest chapter in the open-world first-person shooter series, pits you against a religious cult in the U.S., not the government of a foreign country -- and Ubisoft dialed the gore up to 11. It shows flashes of a dark, glorious game, but fails to outgrow the carefree attitude.
ReCore

‘ReCore’ review

It’s easy to see there are great ideas that went into 'ReCore', but it’s repetitive gameplay and technical flaws prevent the game from delivering on its promise.
how the playstation 4 pro will make games look better ps4 hdr 4k feat

Seeing 4K games on the PS4 Pro is like wearing glasses for the first time

It’s clear the PS4 Pro will be more powerful than its predecessor, but what does that mean for games? We spoke with developers at Sony’s PS4 Pro unveiling, and what we heard will give you plenty of reason for excitement.
best kickstarter funded video games hyper light drifer header kick

These 10 games are so good, you’d never know they’re from Kickstarter

Though they don't feature the scope of a AAA titles, the polish and design of these Kickstarter-funded games match even the most well-funded projects.
song of the deep review game featured

Song of the Deep review

At its core, Song of the Deep is a pleasant if entirely rote game, but remains bedeviled by bugs and small design snags. While technically finished, not a single aspect of this game feels completely thought through.

5 simulation games we’re dying to see VR versions of

Many conventional simulation game types are already well represented on VR platforms, but there’s a whole world of things out there to do virtually.
mirrors edge catalyst review mirror s

‘Mirror’s Edge: Catalyst’ review

'Mirror’s Edge Catalyst' will feel familiar to fans of the 2008 cult classic, but crumbles under the weight of expanded story and a bad open world.
doom 2016 review  3

Doom (2016) review

After more than a decade out of the spotlight Doom captures the magic of the original first-person shooter, but doesn’t quite make a great game.
Uncharted 4: A Thief's End

Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End review

Uncharted 4 is next-gen farewell to one of last generation’s best franchises, but how does it stack up to the games you remember?
Quantum Break

Quantum Break review

Despite its ambitious premise, Quantum Break could not figure out how to juggle game and TV narratives and deliver on the promise of a new form of dual-media storytelling.
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‘Hitman: Season One’ review

Agent 47 finds his stride in the series' episodic reboot.
video game anniversaries 2016 old people playing games

10 Video Games That Are Going to Make You Feel Old in 2016

These influential video game anniversaries coming up in 2016 will make you scratch your head and wonder, “Where did all the time go?”
A soldier in power armor.

The best backward-compatible Xbox One games

There are hundreds of Xbox 360 games that now work on Xbox One. Of course, not all of them are worth revisiting or playing for the first time, but there are many that remain great today. We've compiled 20 of the best Xbox 360 games to play on Xbox One. There's no need to unbox your dust-ridden 360!
telltale batman announced game awards trailer bruce wayne 2016

Batman will get the Telltale treatment in 2016

Telltale Games made key announcements about two new games coming out in 2016 at The Game Awards 2015 Thursday night, including a new episodic Batman game.
blade shadow cloud gaming could make your pc obsolete on and mobile device

Shadow is a cloud gaming service that wants to make your gaming PC obsolete

French cloud gaming company Blade believes its Shadow service can run games just as well as a high-end PC.
nintendo nes classic edition hands on ho feat

Hands On: Nintendo NES Classic Edition

Nintendo’s NES Classic Edition emulation box is packed with simple retro gaming, no strings attached.
A user dresses up their character in Miitomo.

Hands on: Miitomo

Nintendo's first foray into smartphones is the oddball social networking app, Miitomo. It's definitely fun, but is that enough to get people on board?
The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild review

‘The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild’ review

'The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild' is unlike any Zelda game you’ve ever played, yet retains the franchise’s familiar charm. It will challenge you, task you, and immerse you.
cosmos rings apple watch rpg review feat 2

Why the first Apple Watch RPG isn’t worth your time

Cosmos Rings, an Apple Watch exclusive role-playing game from the makers of Final Fantasy, doesn’t play to the platform’s strengths.
Super Retro Boy

Our First Take: Retro-Bit Super Retro Boy

Retro-Bit's Super Retro Boy lets you return to your Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance games. But you'd enjoy the originals more.
TP Cast Vive wireless adapter

TPCast Vive wireless adapter: Our first take

TPCast's wireless adapter for the HTC Vive lets you walk around in VR without being strapped to a computer.
best fallout 4 settlements

The best demos, betas, and free-to-play games you can try this weekend

Here are all of the exciting demos, betas, and free games coming up this weekend, offering hours of entertainment on a budget.
PlayStation 4 bundle

Sony PlayStation 4 Pro review: The default choice

Sony's PlayStation 4 Pro is the best console of this generation, but it's pricey, and not everyone will need the upgrade over the great PlayStation 4 Slim.
Nintendo Switch review

Nintendo Switch review: The must-have console

The Nintendo Switch delivers on more new and interesting features than any console in recent memory. It's the most inventive gaming device in recent memory.
visa payment ring rio 2016

A new Olympic ring? Visa’s will allow athletes in Rio to make mobile payments

Visa unveiled a new post-password wearable tech solution, a near-field-communication-based payment ring that syncs to its user's credit card account.
Xbox One X review controller in front

Xbox One X review: Still the most powerful console

The Xbox One X is the most powerful game console, but is that enough to make it worth upgrading? Find out in our review.