Many of the most anticipated video games of the year are scheduled to arrive early.

For those looking for a fantasy world a lot closer to author J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth, Free League Publishing has created The One Ring and The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying. The two games are basically the same, but LOTR Roleplaying relies on rules for D&D’s fifth edition – a format that’s popular for its accessibility and focus on fun.

Lego Bricktales builds on its legend with a foray into virtual reality

The Lost Crown bridges the legacies of two previous and very different chapters.

Washington Post video games editor Gene Park selects his top 10 titles of the year.

Persona 5 Tactica takes the characters and elements and meshes them into a turn-based strategy game. It’s more like Fire Emblem or Mario + Rabbids than a conventional Japanese RPG

The opening moments of Alan Wake 2 are among the creepiest ever in a video game. It’s this extreme horror factor that’s captivated gamers since the game’s release. In Alan Wake 2, developer Remedy Entertainment proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that a game can still excel with storytelling and mood as its backbones.

Since Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II came out last year, the excitement for the new one has been palpable.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder is both a return to tradition, as it’s the first traditional side-scrolling Super Mario Bros. game in 11 years, but despite familiar foes and save-the-kingdom objectives, it is also a game full of surprises.

Eight finalists from across all branches and theaters in the U.S. military will compete in the United Service Organizations’ third annual Madden NFL gaming tournament in Dallas before the New York Giants vs. Dallas Cowboys Salute to Service game, with the two winners receiving two tickets each along with travel accommodations to Super Bowl LVIII.

Marvel's Spider-Man 2 fuses both of the Spider-Man stories from previous Insomniac Games titles in one. The new spin on classic characters offers intrigue and a few surprises.

Call of Duty’s impact on gaming is indisputable. The franchise remains one of the biggest in the world. One reason might be because the game uses military consultants and veterans to improve the realism.

Playing video games has long been a challenge for people with disabilities, chiefly because the standard controllers for the PlayStation, Xbox or Nintendo can be difficult, or even impossible, to maneuver for people with limited mobility. And losing the ability to play the games can exacerbate social isolation in a community already experiencing it at a far higher rate than the general population.

The upcoming action role-playing game is fascinating to play and retains elements of the original.

Third-person shooting game addresses vampires, addiction and a broken heart.

Mirage an homage to original game in plot, gameplay

Medieval fantasy title packed with interesting quests, dynamic fights and engaging characters

More fluid movement, but same old story in fighting game franchise’s latest iteration

Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon will seriously challenge players. Those that rise to it will not only appreciate the depth of gameplay but also gain confidence.