Fortnite

Play it on: Just about anything

Current goal: Check out the new season

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again (and others have said it much better than I ever will): Fortnite will never again reach the heights of its incredible first year before it was riddled with bots, before its story went from mostly wordless suggestions to concrete “lore,” before a constant parade of corporate IPs overshadowed the game’s own identity. But sometimes there’s still enough beauty and strangeness to its world and enough details that are distinctly Fortnite to keep me coming back, and because of that, one of the most exciting times for me is the start of a new season. I love to hop in and see what’s new—how the map has changed and how the season’s theme manifests in new goals, opportunities, or gameplay flourishes. Some seasons land for me better than others. I played last season—with its tranquil spots inhabited by nature sprites, hovering samurai bosses, and wild Godzilla crossover—pretty much every day, while the season prior to that, with its Marvel focus, left me cold. This weekend, I’ll find out if this season seduces me, and just how much Fortnite there might be in my future. — Carolyn Petit