Alien: Isolation
Brutal, terrifying, bleak, and intense: this is a superb 1st-person horror-adventure game focused on stealth-oriented gameplay and well-crafted storytelling. It is also very long, crammed with content and new surprises around every corner. Whenever you think you might be coming to a conclusion, a new delicious horror will pull you in.
The story is utterly—and at times literally—gripping. You do not have to have seen the Alien films to fully enjoy this game, because the layered plot will be pieced together for you. If you did see the films, you will find this game totally loyal to them. For the most part, story pacing is very good. It usually moves quite slowly, but always is tense. There are a few moments of respite, but they don't last long before being pulled back to maximum intensity.
Some complain that the game is a bit too long in that several segments seem too similar to others. I think there's something to that criticism, however if you enjoy the game I believe that it's satisfying to have more of it. I am very pleased with its length. Some complain that the characters don't have enough depth, but I think it's appropriate for this genre. This isn't a character drama, but a visceral fight for survival in a world in which humanity's weakness and cowardliness is laid bare.
The art direction is lush: spectacular lighting effects, lifelike animations, mood-perfect music and sound effects, and excellent voice acting. It all feels very polished.
Though there's combat in this game, most of the time you will be sneaking around and avoiding it. It's all about patience. This means that often it is quite slow. The game does not apologize for this: in a few places you'll even find yourself waiting around for a minute or two for an elevator or train to arrive. I realize this pace isn't everybody's cup of tea, and indeed some have complained that it can get boring and repetitive. It is hard to strike a balance here, and indeed the limitations of the plot setting mean that there will be repetition: yet another corridor, yet another steam vent, yet another closet to hide in. If the game has a weak point, this is it. Though the levels are satisfying and well-designed, many do tend to be a bit too similar to each other.
Finally, many thanks to the developers for superb Linux support. The game runs flawlessly. (Except for a few gameplay bugs that appear in Windows, too.)