This week in video games, October 10, 2016: Gears of War 4, Titanfall 2 trailer

This week, new trailers for Battlefield 1 and Titanfall 2 show that story campaigns in big games are on the rise. Plus, details on the new Lego Dimensions expansion packs, a new edition of Rise of the Tomb Raider, and how you can start creating your very own Skylanders characters now. But first, Gears of War 4.

Gears of War 4 releases this week 

I'm so happy to get back to Gears of War. Vancouver studio the Coalition, led by Rod Fergusson, has delivered a game that honours the series that came before but stretches just enough to carve a new path for a new trilogy.

The story campaign is better written than some of those earlier games, and the voice talent—Liam McIntyre as J.D. Fenix, Eugene Byrd as Del Walker, Laura Bailey as Kait Diaz, and John DiMaggio as Marcus Fenix—bring their characters to life with dialogue that is delivered with a natural cadence.

Gears 4 also gives you co-op play through the campaign, as well as standard player-versus-player and the breathless Horde 3.0, which pits groups of five players against waves of enemies. New to Gears is the ability to build defences to help keep the creepies at bay.

Releasing today (Tuesday, October 11) for Windows and Xbox One/S, Gears 4 is a "play anywhere" game, so picking it up for one platform also gives you the game on the other.

And if you've got an HDR-compatible television, the new Xbox One S console is able to deliver a nuanced picture unlike anything you've seen before.

Gotta go. Gears 4 is waiting.

Spend some time with these new trailers

Long live the video-game single-player campaign. Recently, trailers showing off the story modes of two upcoming games were released, and they are something to behold.

First, check out Battlefield 1, which releases on October 21 for PS4, Windows, and Xbox One/S:

Now, for something a little more futuristic, here is Titanfall 2, which comes out on October 28 for PS4, Windows, and Xbox One/S:

Consider the video-game pendulum to be swinging back the other way. For years, most of the effort on blockbuster games has gone into making the best multiplayer. And the Battlefield franchise and the first Titanfall were very big on multiplayer.

It's significant that Battlefield 1 and Titanfall 2 place such an emphasis on a single-player campaign.

Six new expansion packs now available for Lego Dimensions

The Dimensions experience gets bigger with new Lego characters, vehicles, and props.

The Ghostbusters story pack provides six levels of gameplay set in the world of the most recent film. It comes with Abby Yates, the Ecto-1, and a new gateway.

The Adventure Time level pack comes with Finn, the Jakemobile, and the Ancient War Elephant and a unique level set in environments from the animated series. The Adventure Time team pack comes with Lumpy Space Princess, Jake the Dog, BMO, and Lumpy Car.

The Mission Impossible level pack includes Ethan Hunt in a spy level, as well as the IMF Scrambler and the IMF Sport Car.

The Harry Potter team pack matches Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort and provides the Hogwarts Express train and Weasley's Enchanted Car.

And the A-Team fun pack gives you B.A. Baracus and his van.

All six expansions are available now, and for all consoles.

Special edition Rise of the Tomb Raider releases this week

If you haven't already become Lara Croft in Rise of the Tomb Raider, a new edition of the game is a good opportunity to get your chance.

Especially if you're getting into PlayStation VR, because the 20 Year Celebration release includes a new story, "Blood Ties", which is playable in PSVR (it's also playable in the standard, third-person persepctive). In "Blood Ties", you get to explore Croft Manor, finding relics while learning about Lara's story.

This is the second game since Crystal Dynamics rebooted the franchise, and it is largely set in Siberia. The game is filled with side missions and tombs ripe for raiding, and this special edition also includes all the downloadable content that has been developed for the game since it was released last fall.

Start creating your Skylanders now, in advance of new game's release next week

Skylanders Imagintators doesn't get released until Sunday, October 16, but you can start getting ready for it now.

The new toys-to-life game from Activision lets you create your own Skylanders characters that you can use in the game. With a new Android and iOS app, you can start creating avatars now.

You'll be able to transfer any characters you create into the game without needing any cables or online connection, too. The Skylanders Creator App has been designed so that you can simply place your mobile device close to your console and television and your characters will move into the game.

You'll also be able to purchase t-shirts and collector cards with your character on them. Even better, you'll be able to get your character as a fully playable toy, just like the ones you purchase for the game.

Skylanders Imaginators will be available for PS3, PS4, Wii U, Xbox 360, and Xbox One/S.