Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden
Though it doesn't seem to know what kind of game it should be, and is flawed in some serious ways, Banishers is still satisfying.
It features excellent storytelling and many detailed side quests, most of which are compelling and add to the main story. And there's lots of exploration. After a lengthy and misleading prologue about what you're really going to be doing for 50+ hours, it shifts into a surprisingly large open world, packed with environmental puzzles, treasure, and adventure. But you're not going to get much out of the constant and repetitive combat. There are only a handful of enemy types and pretty much all battles play out the same way. There are also some arena challenges that can be very frustrating if you try them at too low a level, because a single mistake can lead to your death and having to restart the whole damn thing. But if you're patient and level up first, they become as tediously trivial as the rest of the encounters.
Otherwise, Banishers is just confusing, with jarring clashes in both tone and gameplay. These problems have to do with the core premise and worldbuilding, which I can best describe as a Lovecraftian baby born of Sherlock Holmes and God of War. If that sounds ridiculous, well, it is. On the one hand, it's a heartfelt story with memorable characters and good, sometimes excellent voice acting. It's easy to sympathize with the protagonists and the folk you meet are believable and treated sensitively by the narrative (well, usually). The "quests" are essentially detective work, with you uncovering background stories and personal details. Your choices are hard to make and they do matter. On the other hand ... action adventure! You got your sword-and-magic combat, skill points and gear upgrades, and a map full of quest markers.
These two disparate threads do not cohere. The game demands your emotional involvement in the story, but it's hard to take its context seriously. If you think about it just a little bit, then nothing makes sense and everything falls apart, even if you put on your "alternative fantasy history" glasses. Imagine a countryside crammed full of physically violent ghosts. How could any semblance of everyday life be possible? It can be pulled off, as evident by other games that have managed to weave convincing supernatural narratives. For example, Plague Tale portrays a devastated, surreal world. Alan Wake wraps the horror up in psychology and twisting timelines. But in Banishers it's all "just so" and you are expected to believe in this haunted version of small-town New England, when its presentation has more in common with a Tamriel invaded by dragons.
On the one hand the devs wanted to tell a mature story about love and loss. On the other hand, it's as if a 12-year-old was at the helm, asking: Do you know what would be cool? Ghosts and magic lasers and swords! In other words, to appreciate this game you need to feel more and think less. And that's disappointing.
All in all, Banishers is worthy of your time and attention. You won't love the combat, and perhaps it does play like two very different games in one, but there is a lot to see and do and most of it is well-executed.