Blizzard learned from past mistakes. Legion has a plethora of content and stronger story elements on offer, but would benefit from more depth within the classes.

From all expansions to Fallout 4 this is the content richest. A cursed island with some well executed scary moments, an atmosphere that reminds me of Alan Wake and greatly constructed quests with big decisions. This is a very good addition to the Fallout 4 core.

Even better than its already brilliant predecessor, Hades 2 offers more content, a crisp combat system, lovable and exciting characters, and so many details that even after dozens of hours, you won't feel a bit bored. A masterful sequel that could hardly be any better.

Zen Studios are not afraid to take a risk. I can appreciate that. Because even though they went a tad too far with the roleplaying elements with the Skyrim table, these are well thought through unrealistic pinball machines that only Zen can create. And Doom ranks among the best table they have ever made.

Rivals is a great expansion for the Rock Band 4 platform. Rockumentary and even more so the Rivals mode will keep you coming back. Together with the content patches that arrived in the last months, Rock Band Rivals is the game that Rock Band 4 should have been to start with.

Even after ten years the campaign is as engrossing as ever while the multiplayer focuses on classic gun battles on huge maps. Unfortunately this is not yet available as a stand-alone.

While the games in their entirety truly stand the test of time, still show that they got “it” and (at least on consoles) have never looked this good, the bonus content could be more plentiful.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 sets new standards for the genre of turn based RPGs with regard to the story, but even more so the combat. A new, shining star, who hopefully points the way for many future games.

The New Gold Standard: The Adventures of Krateus and Atreus sets the standard in many respects - an absolute must-read for anyone who loves action games.

Death Stranding is a masterpiece. Hideo Kojima creates a memorable adventure, that will be talked about in the years to come.

One of the best PlayStation games of recent years gets an equally good port: God of War Ragnarök is also a hit on the PC and plays more smoothly than ever - countless settings make it possible. An almost perfect port.

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is on par with the main game and even surpasses it in some respects, even if it can't shake off its flaws. This is the DLC fans have been waiting for.

The PC-version of Death Stranding is an examplary port of a phenomenal adventure and an absolute enrichment of the PC gaming cosmos.

It is unbelievable how intensive the experience feels after all these years. One of the best games of all time is back with a vengeance in this exemplary remake that delivers a sublime adventure from the first to the very last minute.

While the Gameplay is more accessible, the story of Death Stranding 2 transforms into a completely new beast, once again breaking the limits of the medium.

Hollow Knight: Silksong is close to perfection, with only a few nuances that could dampen motivation. A worthy successor to what is (to date) probably the best Metroidvania game ever made.

With an exciting, innovative combat system that remains fun even in the endgame, a sympathetic duo of protagonists whose chemistry is perfectly balanced, and a fascinating science-fiction world, Pragmata is already shaping up to be one of the highlights of the year.

Split Fiction is further proof that Hazelight does coop-gameplay with excellence while still feeling like a unique experience. A tasty buffet of well-arranged gameplay variety.

The Last of Us Part 2 will look deep into your eyes - and you will be scared. Naughty Dog shows maturity, courage and sheer class. Absolutely brilliant!

The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered doesn't do much wrong, but apart from the roguelike mode it hardly offers any major innovations. Anyone who hasn’t yet experienced the post-apocalyptic adventure will now at least get the best possible version.

What a powerful outlaw opera! Visually and in terms of storytelling Rockstar exceeds all expectations. Red Dead Redemption 2 is a remarkable game that will be talked about and referenced for years to come.

A huge DLC that significantly improves the main game in several ways. Monster hunters don't have much to wish for here - a few online friends are still highly recommended.

With more freedom of movement and variety than its predecessor, the game does everything right and brings the fascination of Final Fantasy 7 that has lasted over 25 years to the current console generation.

The Last of Us remains a masterpiece. And on PS4 you get the complete story experience on one disc.

Insanely fun and clever walking simulator with fresh content that brings a new dimension to the original adventure and pushes the video game medium forward.

Capcom knows what players want: the remake of the hit song from 2005 is now the best Resident Evil of all time and inspires with a heart-stopping guarantee, top optics, lots of fresh ideas and fantastic gameplay.

Horizon Forbidden West is an excellent sequel, surpassing its predecessor in almost every area. Guerrilla Games has once again created a diverse and graphically impressive game world that is full of activities and dangers.

Visually outstanding, intense adventure in which horror and the fight against one's own demons are staged particularly effectively.

Visually impressive, playfully entertaining open world adventure, in which the PC port also impresses right from the start. You will hardly find a prettier gaming world in 2024.

Persona 3 Reload shines in new splendor over 15 years after the original: with a completely renovated look and many small adjustments that make the fantastic basic structure even better, it is an absolute must for fans of Japanese role-playing games.

A magical mixture of Advance Wars, Chess and FTL that will keep every turn based tactician glued to the screen for weeks and months.

Quotation forthcoming.

Quotation forthcoming.

Despite problems like the resolution limitation and the missing PC optimization this game is still excellent. Courageous heroes can delve into a mysterious and dangerous world where greed and impatience are bad companions.

More than a bonus: The Separate Ways DLC is a real conclusion, the icing on the cake, a Best Of CD that invites you to a final Resi4 tour and is generous with deleted content.

Tricky dungeon design, intense boss battles and more open than expected: You have to fall in love with Link’s latest adventure.

Ken Levine manages to combine difficult topics like guilt, atonement and racism while creating truly remarkable characters, best of all the equally charming and dangerous Elizabeth. Add to this the breathtaking visuals and tactical action (at least on the more difficult levels) and you get an extraordinary action experience.

It took a long time for the Umbra Witch to climax on PC but after seven years she finally arrived. And she didn’t miss a beat. This was and still is a first class action-adventure full of creativity, adrenaline fueled battles and sassiness beyond belief. And unlike Nier Automata this is a decent, albeit option lacking PC port.

Beautifully enhanced and at its core still tremendously fascinating mixture of daily high school routine and bizarre mystery thriller.

This is legendary entertainment. Design, visuals, the plethora of things to do, the cool music levels: Every inch of the way you feel that people with bucket loads of passion are behind this living their dream.

Insomniac Games delivered a plethora of good or very good entertainment over the years, but this Ratchet & Clank is an animated masterpiece - some kind of Super Lombax Galaxy at the highest level.

Brutal, bloody and immensely unique in its flow: id Software raises the bar for the classic arena shooter to a new grand level.

This is it. The final compilation of the enormous storytelling universe that is Kingdom Hearts. And it delivers. Especially in terms of filling some gaps in the early story while convincingly bridging games from Birth by Sleep up to Dream Drop Distance while preparing for Kingdom Hearts 3.

This is a breathtaking, extremely playable arcade-extravaganza with varied challenges and ways to play.

The Last of Us Part 1 is an excellent remake of a PS3 milestone that doesn't quite go the final mile in a few spots.

Gone Home toys with suspense, thriller and adventure. It grabs me by the throat with its tense atmosphere. It seduces me with its side stories and touches me with its intimacy.

This is a passionate declaration of love for videogames and one of the best co-op experiences out there.

For the 20th anniversary of their role-playing saga, Atlus delivered a true masterpiece. All the elements, big or small or as trivial as they might seem sometimes, are well put together and interconnect in an almost unnoticeable manner. Plus: The presentation is plainly beautiful with a coherent colorful manga/anime art design that is a perfect fit for one of the best JRPGs out there.

Incredibly imaginative, extremely motivating and visually a treat: With Rayman Legends Switch users can look forward to one of the best 2D platformers of the last generation on their system.

Call me an adventure romantic, call me crazy, but I love Day of the Tentacle and still think it is one of the best adventures ever made. Modernized in exactly the right spots and with an added developer commentary and alternative controls this is a masterpiece with beautifully crafted puzzles.

One of the best detective games of all time, with challenging brain teasers, a very free approach and a complex story. Rounded off with a grainy, well-done presentation, a must-play for amateur investigators.

Not much has changed in the console versions of this extraordinary storytelling experience: The added audio commentary is nice while the visuals are a little more defined.

Too often pioneering in the games industry is based on technical achievements: bigger, faster, more polygons. But true magic begins behind the obvious – when the artistic vision starts taking shape in a virtual creation. Trico for me is the most fascinating creature in video game history. The Last Guardian is the counterpoint to the loud and hectic game design that tries to show off its bling on every corner.

Trials Evolution is pure addiction on two wheels with loads of improvements on the already highly motivating predecessor.

Even with all the visual enhancements like 60 frames you can feel the age, although the timeless art design still works its magic. But that aside this is an impressive package of action roleplaying classics.

This is a beautiful expansion, visually spectacular and challenging – on par with Bloodborne’s “The Old Hunters”.

What an experience! This little gem transports you right into a mysterious and charmingly designed world.

Quotation forthcoming.

This is the best Legend of Zelda since Ocarina of Time. While Nintendo might not be the ingenious pioneer of the 80s and 90s, they prove, that they are willing to evolve and are still able to set a creative mark. With its towers, the loot and the collecting appeal it can’t deny its ingratiation to the zeitgeist, but most of the time Nintendo does it better and more subtle than the competition.

This is like chess in open terrain. Turn based tacticians: Get ready to celebrate. Shenandoah Studios reached a level that reminds me of the quality of Ensemble Studios on PC.

Mystical, challenging, huge and astonishingly beautiful: This is a true gem in the field of open platforming.

Visually Uncharted 4 is a benchmark for this generation. But it is so much more. Within the franchise's constraints the characters show tremendous depth while the action is varied as never before. And while not everything is perfect (too easy puzzles and AI faults come to mind) this is one gorgeous action-adventure.

If you have the originals on PS3, you might not need this. But if you are new to the series, this collection gives you some of the best games for Sony systems.

Four years after its initial release Flower didn’t lose one iota of its fascination and still captures you from the very beginning.

It worked on 360 a few years back and it still is a masterpiece: Fez is a puzzling journey through time and space – charming, fascinating and very unique.

Sunless Sea sparks my curiosity and it is beautifully designed. The exploration of a Lovecraftian ocean is well crafted and well told.

The board game is one of the best in recent years. And now you’ll get an enhanced and beautifully designed version on your tablet.

Firewatch is a quiet mystery for gamers who know how to listen. A strong script and exceptional dialogue direction make Firewatch to one of the best interactive storytelling experiences you can get your hands on.

This is the bag of potato chips for turn based strategists: Once you start, you cannot stop. With aliens, satellites, xeno mass and all the other futuristic flair it not only plays distinctively differently, but culture, ideology, affinities and research are exceptionally connected. You can look forward to a sleepless fall and winter.

A fascinating world with a gorgeous artdesign. Manifold Garden is one the the truly great puzzle games.

The remake of Link’s Awakening shines in a bright new light on Switch with its meaningful enhancements. What a beautiful adventure.

Poker flair, card tactics and conquest like Risk come together in a game that beautifully manages to port a commendable tabletop game on tablets.

Outstandingly playable content monster with clever help for beginners and finesse for professionals, with which Capcom's street brawler once again places itself on the genre throne - despite a weak solo story and real-money mechanics.

This is – once again – brilliant fantasy. Hours fly by as you dive into ruins, magic and sword fights while the story is surprising as well as mysterious. Creative storytelling at its best. I am looking forward to the fourth and final installment.

Outland took three years to appear on PC but the long wait was absolutely worthwhile. This mythical Jump&Run is as appealing on PC as it was on consoles and is simply one of the best of its kind in recent years.

Arkane studios don’t just quote System Shock but show in all areas how pleaeantly challenging modern games can be. There are technical shortcomings (mainly on consoles), but in the long run (especially the most intense last third) you will be more surprised than in almost any other game in recent years.

Simple but not boring in terms of gameplay, captivating but not overwhelming in terms of story: South of Midnight is an atmospheric game that harks back to the old days and transports you to an intriguing fairytale world that we're now eager to learn more about. The swamp awaits you.

A new star in the Metroidvania-sky: MIO: Memories in Orbit enchants with its magnificent art style, captivating atmosphere, and challenging but fair combat system. New abilities constantly motivate you to discover the world and push beyond your limits.

Quotation forthcoming.

Presentation and humour are as charming as ever, level and mission design are incredibly varied, the challenges are a league of their own. Don’t let this gem pass you by.

With a well-rounded gameplay flow, seamless catching and fighting as well as a smooth performance, Pokémon-Legends: Z-A is the best game delivered by Game Freak in the last ten years.

Small weaknesses almost disappear in the wake of big strengths: The remake is the definitive way to experience Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater.

If you don’t know Journey, get ready to get excited. Not only because technically it is a convincing port. But more importantly because even after three years this masterpiece of reduced game design is as captivating as ever.

Compared to the PC version the controls are not as intuitive and sometimes even finicky. But once you get the hang of it you just can’t get away from this dark heavy metal ballad that combines dark fantasy with horror à la Lovecraft and a gorgeous art design.

A drop dead gorgeous mix of time travel adventure and mech tactics told from 13 perspectives.

Welcome to the club of exceptional world designers, CD Projekt RED! Night City is the visually most impressive city you’ll find in a game. But most importantly, story, characters and even the side missions rock hard until deep in the night. Dive in. Enjoy.

The Californian devteam Playdek digitized the tabletop appropriately in terms of visuals and mechanics. Newcomer and veterans alike will enjoy this almost perfect board game conversion.

There is no hero in shining armor, you don’t even know what the soldiers are fighting for. What matters are you and your bitter fight for survival. Every day is a struggle against hunger, disease loneliness and loss of hope. Relentlessly and without judging 11Bit Studios show the dark side of armed conflicts, the suffering, the scars. It is a software monument against war – brilliant.

This is more than a “definitive edition”. With all additions and improved visuals that didn’t leave a stone unturned even frequent visitors of past-gens Los Santos will find something that will make their return trip worthwhile. And if you didn’t play it yet: Welcome to open-world heaven.

Xenoblade Chronicles X in it's best form to date. The Definitive Edition delights with all the strengths of the original version, pleasant changes and new content.

This is a timeless gem, an audiovisual piece of art that didn’t lose any of its fascination even after 14 years, while thanks to the VR implementation you feel closer to the action than ever before.

Fallout 4 has its flaws, such as weak AI, a few annoying bugs, stiff facial animations and the occasional control problem. But it more than makes up for them with a beautiful post-apocalyptic world filled with well-constructed quests, interesting characters and mesmerizing locations. Fallout 4 tells loads of big and small bizarre, tragic and touching stories that stay in your memory and create a maelstrom dragging you in deeper and deeper.

Disco Elysium meets Dungeons and Dragons: Despite its reductive description, Esoteric Ebb delivers a unique experience and identity. A top-notch role-playing game that genre fans shouldn't miss.

In contrast to the sometimes boring statics of Japanese visual novels inkle Studios show how lively “interactive digital stories” can be. A fitting conclusion to an exceptional saga.

Magical, impressive, inspiring – like an Arabian Nights' story. The world with its monumental vistas reminds you of ICO and Shadow of the Colossus while the game design continues the mysterious experience of Flower.

This is more than just an interactive book, this is an experience with loads of meaningful decisions – between the lines there is more suspense and ambiguity than in Mass Effect.

With an emotional story, a strong message and sublime gameplay, Constance is one of the best Metroidvanias out there. Only small details diminish the overall experience.

In times where Sam Fisher is a mere shadow of his former self, this two-dimensional ninja steps into the limelight, proving that old school-stealth is far from being dead.