Red Dead Redemption 2‘s attention to detail, engaging storytelling and beautiful graphics make it a must-play game. Despite some clunky control schemes and questionable new features, Red Dead Redemption 2 was a wonderful experience that offered a nice change of pace that separates itself from other open world games.

With the exception of some very occasional control frustrations, Super Mario Odyssey is a visual, auditory, and structural treat to play from start to finish for anyone at any skill level, and seems to delight in the player’s enjoyment. You will be hard-pressed to stop yourself from visiting the Odyssey over and over again.

If you’re a fan of deep storytelling, strategic combat, and a world that responds to your every action, Baldur’s Gate 3 is an adventure you won’t want to miss. The path ahead is treacherous and filled with uncertainty, but isn’t that what makes a journey truly unforgettable?

Elden Ring is the next evolution of the “Souls” genre. It feels both familiar and truly unique. Fans of previous “Souls” games will feel right at home, while appreciating the new features, mechanics and quality of life improvements the game has to offer.

The fact alone that this game is capable of being played on the Nintendo Switch without it overheating into a miniature sun is, in itself, an achievement. But the complexity, freedom, and creativity that Tears of the Kingdom is chock full of makes this an absolute wonder. It has something for every body, whether it’s mystery, puzzle-solving, exploration, combat or story. It is all here in abundance.

Metroid Prime was already a fantastic game in a fantastic series but the remaster is a complete labor of love. Cleaned up, detailed, and given a performance overhaul the game is one of those rare moments where a remaster doesn’t destroy the image of a game you have in your head via “nostalgia goggles.” It feels like a modern entry into the series that’s both welcoming for new and returning players alike.

If you haven’t played God of War Ragnarok, what are you even doing with your life? Playing Gotham Knights? Get the hell outta here. Buy the game before it gets Game of the Year…AGAIN.

Persona 5 is an exquisitely put together RPG overflowing with incredible style and a main cast you will sorely miss when the game is done. It’s easily the best RPG I’ve played in a few years.

One glitch aside, the Resident Evil 4 remake is a ten. It’s amazing and I wouldn’t change a thing. I’m not sure what’s better, Leon’s one liners or everything else about the game. It’s amazing, I will die on this hill and you need to play this.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth rekindled my love for Final Fantasy with a refreshing twist in a classic story and additions to the gameplay experience.

Super Mario Wonder is an exceptional reinvention of the wheel where they’ve taken everything you comfortably know about Mario and his gameplay and shifted it on its ear. The game is filled with new enemies and mechanics and will constantly stun you with innovative twists and turns. If you’re a fan of multiplayer games, regardless of your skill level, this is the game for you as it’s one of the finest 2D Mario experiences I’ve had in years.

Divinity: Original Sin 2 – Definitive Edition is a very touching game. It pulls at your heartstrings with its charm and pushes you headfirst into its world, slowly drawing you into its core. The extra polishing on display helps a shining star burn even brighter, as this game will offer players one of the greatest RPG experiences of all time the way it was meant to be played.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe serves as the definitive version of this racing game. New characters, new items, classic battle mode reintroduction and all the game’s courses (basic and DLC) are packaged into a game that you can play with friends at home or on the road, online and off.

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is not the most polished or accessible title on the market, but it’s certainly one of the most well-executed and satisfying gaming experiences I’ve ever had the chance to play. If you have dropped this game or are on the fence about trying it due to its difficulty, I implore you to give it a chance and really take your time with it. It’s well worth the effort.

Bluepoint Games’ remake loses some visual style when compared to the original, but its revamped controls and incredible attention to detail are more than enough to make up for it. The new release manages to keep the heart and soul of the franchise while making it more accessible than ever.

In every conceivable way, Resident Evil 2 sets the new standard by which the series should be judged going forward.

Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove is practically a must-own for anyone who has just picked up a Nintendo Switch. The expected excellent platforming fun, enjoyable storytelling, and impressive art and sound of all three campaigns not only comes all packed together in one title, but also includes better accessibility than ever before on a platform the title feels made for.

While Animal Crossing: New Horizons has some design annoyance, like conversation menus and online play, there’s so much that’s good that it heavily outweighs the bad. With an addictive gameplay loop and the ability to play however you want, Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a system seller — a great game for veterans of the series, newcomers, gamers and non-gamers. And one that the whole family can enjoy.

It’s hard to believe this is a game that released in 2012 and not more recently. Though there are some dated and heavy systems, the atmosphere and a combat system that gives freedom and depth make Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition an RPG for the ages.

Monster Hunter World was already loads of fun and Iceborne just adds more of it, and more to do. If you sunk at least 60 hours into the base game, it would be a disservice to not get Iceborne. Even for those who never played Monster Hunter World but are on the fence about it, there is no better time than now to jump into the game (unless you’re on Steam and have to wait four more months).

A fantastically gripping experience, Slay the Spire grabs you in with its ever-changing deck-building mechanics and presents you with a complex challenge to solve. Its core dynamic gameplay loop begs for experimentation and discovery, leading to thousands of possibilities to achieve victory and promising hundreds of hours of awesome, thrilling gameplay.

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 has taken the best of JRPGs and Western RPGs and has created a title worth any gamer’s attention. Monolith Soft continues to innovate with gameplay while retaining the heart and soul of one of Nintendo’s flagship franchises. With a crazy world, and an even crazier story to boot, if you have a Switch and aren’t playing this, you’re missing out on one of the most polished RPGs of this generation.

The controls aren’t the best as the characters accelerate really bizarrely but the worlds are inventive, the ideas are unique and ever-changing, and the multiplayer is an absolute blast. The addition of the challenging single-player-centric Bowser’s Fury is such a powerful bonus. With the wide variety of ways to play this game, Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury is easily a must-have for Nintendo Switch owners.

It’s almost too easy to get lost in the game and its absolute beauty, something that feels odd to even say when talking about a Tetris game. Tetris Effect is, without a doubt, stunning and if you own a PSVR unit, it begs to be played in VR.

Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration isn’t just a treasure trove of hard-to-find titles, it’s a love letter to gaming’s history. Besides simply playing these classics — some of which have been updated with improved graphics — you get a rich history lesson about the company. Candid interviews provide a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at what it was like working at the company and give you insight into the development of these older games. This context allows you to view these classics in an entirely new light.

Fire Emblem: Three Houses is a near-perfect game that will be remembered for many years to come. Featuring well-crafted gameplay, an incredible cast of characters, and countless hours of content, it is a love letter to the veterans and a great starting point for newcomers who are looking to get into the series.

Dreams is a game that allows the player to explore a network of so many ideas— new and old. It’s something that with time will only get better, especially when online play and VR will eventually be in it. This is a game for the creatives, the casuals, the curious, and anything else. Media Molecule has created something that sets the bar for creation tool engines and sandbox games.

A great starting point for newcomers and a refreshing return to the glory days of skateboarding for veterans of the franchise, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 does everything you want and a bit more. While customizing stages is a little wonky and the character creator is remarkably boring, the game is an absolute joy to just hop in and play.

Alan Wake 2 is a fun romp through dark dimensions, offering chances to change the world around you, all the while giving you plenty of jump scares. There are some texture bugs to work through, but overall, it is definitely a worthy sequel to the first game.

Horizon Zero Dawn has an unforgettable protagonist, world, story, visuals, soundtrack and gameplay. Due to minor issues with inventory management and quest selection, I cannot call it perfect but I can say it is absolutely worth your time.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is my game of the year. No other game quite felt as immersive, or told a story in such a captivating way. The cutscenes, the writing, the graphics, and the worldbuilding are all things executed properly on a level no other game has managed to achieve this year. It is a peak example of an open-world game that prioritizes quality over quantity. For me, KCD2 is up there with The Witcher III: Wildhunt.

Alto's Odyssey is a great sequel to a great game that introduces new ways to pass through spectacularly designed levels. It's the perfect game to unwind after a long day with a great soundtrack, sound effects, and a feeling that you're traveling through a new and exotic world every time you play.

Neon White introduces many interesting ideas but arranges them in front of you like items at a garage sale. The stage design is simplistic, the gameplay gets old quickly, and the characters and dialogue feel like they’re about a decade or more misplaced with references to pop culture icons that are no longer en vogue. Neon White is an interesting play but, ultimately, it feels like you’re playing a tech demo for something that is supposed to be much bigger.

Yes, it’s a slow-paced, story-driven walking sim, but What Remains of Edith Finch is also one of the finest of its kind; an example of how the genre can tell stories in a way which no other form can achieve, and an enthralling journey from start to finish.

Streets of Rage 4: Mr. X Nightmare gives me everything I loved about old school games and have been missing for a long time — unlockables, secrets, and just so many reasons to get me playing over and over again and having a blast. While it’s disappointing that there is no additional story content, you’ll still have a blast with it.

A thrilling adventure to save a world turned on its head with themes surrounding human nature, civilians in war, and the soldier’s journey. Surrounded by an impeccable soundtrack and pointed visuals, there is not another game which so gracefully pulls this off. The multiple endings are another thing to keep players coming back and are just as thrilling as the first playthrough. There are some issues with cutscenes and sidequests hardly live up to the main questline battles, however.

The Doom series has once again sat upon the throne and been crowned as the best FPS series in history. With extremely fast pace, adrenaline pumping, warcry inspiring gameplay, gorgeous yet gruesome visuals, and a story that makes the player feel like a god, Doom Eternal sets the bar extremely high for any developer looking to compete for the crown of “Best FPS game in history.” But that multiplayer emphasis makes the atrocities of Battlemode even worse then they would have been otherwise and may keep Doom Eternal from achieving immortality.

Horizon Forbidden West is a delightful follow-up to Zero Dawn with drastically improved graphics and new additions to the gameplay mechanics. While the gameplay can get a bit repetitive and the story doesn’t hit quite as hard as the first game’s, it is an enjoyable romp through a wasteland teeming with machines.

Metroid Dread is an amazing return for Samus with fantastic controls, excellent sound design and a wonderful overall aesthetic. Even as someone who’s not normally fond of Metroidvania-style games, the intensity of Metroid Dread held my attention to the point where I felt heartbroken the first time my Switch let me know the batteries were about to die.

Monster Hunter Rise is everything that made Monster Hunter World stand above the other series’ games with additions of fun new features that add to the gameplay. While Capcom still struggles with issues of storytelling and gender roles, the gameplay itself more than distracts from the weird hub world. With graphics I didn’t think the Switch could achieve and remarkably solid controls, Monster Hunter Rise is an absolute must for fans of the series or just people looking for a fun action-adventure for their Nintendo Switch.

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is a faithful and beautifully done remaster of the greatest entry in the Paper Mario series. From fixing the ancient wrong of the US release to the addition of new and incredibly convenient features like fast travel and the ability to switch partners on the fly, Nintendo has somehow taken something made of pure gold and added a pure gold plating.

Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire makes improvements across the board, but perhaps not in the areas that matter most. Its scenes are great, its dialogue meaningful, but its grand scale seems to give a more fractured nature, while bugs and crashes can completely ruin immersion. It’s a game full of new ideas, but it feels like it needs another iteration to perfect them.

Cave Story+ is an absolute blast of a game. It’s addicting, it’s entertaining, and the multiple endings will keep you playing time and time again. It’s one of the Switch’s best releases and one you shouldn’t miss out on.

Forza Horizon 4 is beautiful and exhilarating, with seamless multiplayer, compelling progression, and more cars than you know what to do with.

Aside from a few technical blips, Stardew Valley remains a shining Stardrop in its genre, welcoming back fans of the series that inspired it and inviting newcomers to relax in the valley, too.

Devil May Cry 5 reintroduces players to the core values of peak action-adventure gaming, being equally as fun as it is charismatic. Despite a fairly short story that fails to engage at times, diverse gameplay, stunning visuals, and a gorgeous art style make up the difference to make this one of the best gaming experiences early on in 2019.

Injustice 2 is one hell of a time and has plenty of things to do within it, even if you’re playing by yourself. With stunning visuals, an engaging single-player story, a unique, but not overbearing Gear system and the refreshing, ever-changing Multiverse to keep coming back for; it really is a nearly-perfect package. Outside of frustrating zoning characters at the time of release and a few business practice decisions, such as unveiling three DLC characters before the game’s release, Injustice 2 demonstrates how fighting games should be done in this console generation. And it’s damn fun to boot.

A wonderfully heartfelt passage to classic cartoons and rough-and-tumble difficult video games of the past, Cuphead is a can’t miss title on the Nintendo Switch.

Simply put, Arcade Edition finally brings Street Fighter V to a recommendable state. With plenty of single-player content and new wrinkles in the accessible gameplay, it can actually be a good time to sit down, learn a character and just get better.

If you have never played Stanley Parable, you’re in for an excellent ride. Even if you have played it previously, you’re going to find a wealth of new content that has masterfully snuck itself in after several playthroughs, waiting to strike when you’ve all but fallen into your regular routine. Stanley Parable is still a masterclass in narrative storytelling and is absolutely worth revisiting (or visiting for the first time).

With the exception of the forced “Dandori Battles,” the game is an absolute joy to play filled with fun story twists, silly characters, and a fantastic art design. Pikmin 4 has taken everything good from the first three games, removed everything that doesn’t work, and somehow adds new things that make the over all experience something beyond what I could have expected from a Pikmin game.

Dragon Ball FighterZ is the pinnacle of Dragon Ball games, landing as powerfully as a Goku’s Spirit Bomb.

Marvel's Spider-Man finally gives players the best opportunity to do whatever a spider can.

TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge not only recreates the joy of encountering a Ninja Turtles classic arcade game from back in the day but perfectly mixes in modern-day conveniences like advanced combo controls, a multitude of moves, and characters that genuinely feel like they play differently for a more varied experience. Combined with all the deep cuts to the original 1987 cartoon and a powerful soundtrack featuring many songs from surprising sources, you have a powerful love letter to a long-running franchise you’ll want to return to again and again.

Beautiful art design, wonderfully remastered songs, and over 300+ timeless gems from the Final Fantasy universe, with DLC promising even more from other games like Chrono Trigger, give Square fans more than enough to love here. Theatrhythm: Final Bar Line promised a celebration of its huge library of games and 100% delivered. With new gameplay mechanics, even those who have played the previous games can find something new to enjoy.

Severed loses little, if anything, by coming to Nintendo Switch. It gains screen space for the player to bask in its incredible, artistic environments, and though the console can be heavy to hold one-handed for longer play sessions, that’s hardly a reason to stay away from this title. Given its brevity, you may dismiss Severed as a game for a rainy, bored day, but don’t. This is one of only a handful of must-plays in the Nintendo Switch library.

Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus is easily one of the best shooters in recent times, improving on the previous installment and showing surprising humanity for a Nazi-killing gore fest.

Owlboy has a lot of charm but suffers from a convoluted control scheme and some serious game-crashing bugs. The best way to play it is still on the PC, even though the Nintendo Switch seemed like it would be the most ideal place to play it.

All in all, Dispatch is a game with a lot of potential. If we see this level of quality throughout the next six episodes, I have no doubt that we'll be looking at the biggest narrative experience of the year. Adhoc Studios has done well to harness the magic that made Telltale Games so great while also putting their own flair into it.

While a terrific game in it’s own right, Disco Elysium: The Final Cut just doesn’t cut it on Nintendo Switch. Lengthy loading times between small rooms and different floors of buildings makes the game drag enough to completely lose the narrative flow, which is a big problem considering narrative is its primary focus. If load times get fixed alongside the poor A.I. that tends to get your character lost while trying to look at something two feet in front of them, you got a great portable game. Until then, it’s all some what of a bummer.

Diablo IV represents a significant milestone for a series that is approaching its 30th anniversary. From what I have seen so far, it successfully modernizes the franchise and brings it up to par with other ARPGs. Once again, you’ll embark on a relentless journey through dungeons, honing your skills, optimizing your damage output, and improving your survival chances.

I started Unpacking mostly expecting an interesting puzzle game about item placement and ended up with a story and protagonist I cared about. The art is beautiful, the world detailed, and the ambient sound of simple things, like a refrigerator running, put you in the world. Beyond minor woes, Unpacking does everything you’d want in a puzzle game and then some.

I strongly recommend Monster Hunter Rise, but this isn’t World. It’s harder, less environmentally appealing, and more focused on the rivalry between the hunters and the monsters. Gaining the pieces to build that armor or make that weapon is sometimes a bit more of a grind as the RNG isn’t quite as good but the satisfaction as always is there and strong. But amazing combat and great rewards keep the fun moving, albeit very differently from its most recent predecessor.

It would have been nice to see Dragon Quest Builders 2 have a greater emphasis on non-linear progression or a less initially sparse world, but it successfully iterates on the original by streamlining its systems and mechanics without trivializing them, creating an endlessly endearing game brimming with simple, unadulterated pleasures.

Minecraft Switch Edition is a strange animal, largely focused around a competent, if simplistic survival game and supplemented with worldbuilding that you can share with maybe one friend who also owns this edition of the game. Stripped of the game’s best aspects and with a limited amount of skin packs, much of Minecraft’s appeal is lost. Split-screen co-op and portability options do what they can to entice an audience, and may attract some eager to expand their Nintendo Switch library.

Donkey Kong and his pals still bring the coolest 2D platforming adventure around, even as a port. Tropical Freeze is fun and challenging; Funky Kong makes it better by adding accessibility for younger, less experienced or outright busier people. Even discounting Funky, this is another perfect example of portability making an already-great game even easier to enjoy.

For a game made by the same studio responsible for the previous two Bayonetta games, it’s strange how often Bayonetta 3 feels like a poorly made fan project. The story that has been built up has been thrown to the wayside to introduce a tired “multiverse” concept. All the confidence and character development has been completely scraped in favor of turning her into a loving motherly type character in constant need of saving. Wonky camera angles and visuals make it look like this game should have gone back into the over for another year. It’s playable and, at times, fun, but as part of a series, it’s quite possibly the weakest chapter.

The Zodiac Age retains the best parts of the PS2 original and improves on the game’s flaws. With enhanced visuals, a vastly improved job system licensing board, and the option to move at a faster speed, The Zodiac Age is the best way to experience Final Fantasy XII.

This is a fantastic remaster of a quirky game. Ghost Trick is one of the more unique puzzle experiences you’re likely to encounter and if you’re down for a murder mystery that’s focused more on the mystery and less on the murder, while also giving you a touch of fun supernatural tomfoolery, you’re in luck.

Sonic Mania brings Sonic and friends back to the series' 2D roots successfully but also reminds us of many of the issues with early 90s 2D platformers. Longtime Sonic fans will no doubt find some value here, but everyone else is better off playing more modern takes on the genre.

Whereas many AAA games have felt underwhelming lately, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle was a total blast. It has great action alongside an epic journey, all within a lush and gorgeous world. The game could have felt like some Tomb Raider or Uncharted clone using Indy as a cheap way to earn sales… but Indiana Jones and the Great Circle was excellent to play and proved that Indy is still the king of the adventure genre.

MLB The Show 19 still offers some fun baseball gameplay that’s both engaging to learn and rewarding to master, yet it isn’t too different from what’s come before.

Whether played in VR or not, Resident Evil 7: biohazard is a thrilling game and it shouldn’t be missed. If you have the option to play the game with a PSVR, you should by all means do so. Regardless of how you play Resident Evil 7: biohazard, just be sure that you do because it is one of 2017’s finest releases and the constant stream of DLC keeps the nightmare alive.

PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds is the most immersive, intense, adrenaline-pumping, winner-take-all shooter of its time. Ushering forth a new era of Battle Royale gameplay, its technical qualms are the only thing standing in the way of the path to near perfection in its gunplay and survival-first gameplay.

For those looking for a classic RPG adventure that offers dozens of hours of gameplay, Dragon Quest XI will fit the bill quite nicely. For anyone else, it’s weighed down by some weird legacy issues and just a bit too much of a “been there, done that” feel.

Story aside, Metroid: Samus Returns functions more as a new installment that brings the best bits of multiple Metroid games together. By offering tons of upgrade and weapon options alongside improved combat, the game is truly enjoyable.

13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim excels at pretty much everything it attempts to do, and brings it all together very well. The story is brilliant and worth experiencing, while the combat is really where it is all at. If it were not for the lack of difficulty and over-reliance on time travel in the story, this may be the perfect game.

Obsidian takes the aging Bethesda open-world RPG formula and makes it feel fresh with an outer space setting, shorter length and incredibly sharp writing that should appeal to fans of that signature style of game and fun sci-fi adventures.

Starfield is a return to form for Bethesda Game Studios. Top-notch storytelling and a compelling narrative will have you eagerly jumping from planet to planet in hopes of discovering the next big mystery. While not without some bugs, the gameplay is among the most polished I've seen from the studio.

The PC version is undoubtedly the best way to play the game, even if it does come stuck with Denuvo. But great graphics options and optimization for mid-tier and up PCs will keep it relevant in the PC community for years to come.

With its continued focus on fast-paced bloodshed and the addition of some modern touches that help give it more depth, Doom: The Dark Ages is a seriously fun splatterfest that both franchise devotees and modern FPS gamers will love.

A beautifully atmospheric game of exploration that tasks you with climbing a structure of which the top cannot be seen from the ground, Jusant gives me the chill but thought provoking climbing experience I didn’t know I needed. It’s a fantastic game for the people who loved something like “Only Up” but died a little on a personal level every time they fell all the way back down. Jusant is a wonderfully unique experience with very well executed mechanics and I can’t recommend this enough.

Ys VIII abandons the sprawling, dramatic settings of other JRPGs for a restrained world and cast, then gives us every reason to fall in love with both. From combat to story to exploration to sound, Ys VIII offers subtle, but refreshing distinctions from the usual genre fare.

MLB The Show 17 takes smart, calculated approaches to improving its gameplay while expanding the Road to the Show Mode with its addition of an ongoing narrative. In an attempt to solidify an excellent baseball simulation experience, one with more control over minute details in all available gameplay modes, the development team builds upon a solid base.

I’m not a fan of the genre and despite my complaints, this game’s story kept me intrigued throughout. And the additional side stories in Doki Doki Literature Plus! help flesh out the characters and supplement the darker more disturbing moments of the game.

Pikmin 3 Deluxe for the Nintendo Switch takes an already great game and sweetens it with updated visuals, improved controls and impressive (though uncharacteristically difficult) side missions to create a title that would make most Switch game collections incomplete without.

An emphatically triumphant farewell, Yakuza Kiwami 2 lives up to its “extreme” namesake. Its engrossing, dense, dark story is complemented with an engaging open world filled with wondrous activities littering its narrow streets. Taking the best parts of its franchise and stuffing it all into a rich, rewarding experience, minor game engine flaws cannot overshadow the dragon within.

A Space for the Unbound starts 2023 off right with one of the better narrative romps I’ve had in a long time. A slice-of-life narrative tale set in 90’s Indonesia and filled with supernatural twists finds a way to be compelling to all walks of life thanks to a well-crafted story with a lot of heart. Excellent world design and music help seal the deal. The game is moderately slowed down due to extensive foot travel and some strange point and click mechanics but the rest of the game is so interesting that you learn to roll with it.

Despite a brand new world and switching from 2D to 3D, Kirby and the Forgotten Land is the traditional Kirby experience you know and love. This is a by-the-books Kirby game in an exciting new world, and it’s an experience you can share with your family — especially with how well the co-op mode is implemented.

Colorful characters, wonderful music and unique gameplay along with some RPG elements make Pyre fit in with the studio’s back catalog quite nicely. Despite its storytelling and gameplay faults, it still fits in a great deal of content for the asking price and is worth picking up if you’ve enjoyed the studio’s previous work or are looking for one of the more unique takes on the RPG genre, which you’ll definitely find here.

Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle offers its own take on the turn-based strategy genre while managing to be fun and deeper than you'd ever expect, even if the experience is over with just a little too soon.

Activision and Toys for Bob have taken many of the best features of various platformers throughout the years and woven them together to create one of the best platformers I’ve played in years. A higher than normal difficulty curve may chase away some players but sticking with it definitely yields its rewards in fun mechanics and unlockables.

The potential was there for Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom to be a big improvement over its already solid predecessor, but instead of focusing on one new thing and doing that well, it doesn’t keep anything that worked and gives us several modes that could’ve been great but all have major issues. It’s not a bad game, but certainly not on par with the original and does little well enough to make it stand out in a pretty big sea of PS4 RPGs.

Kingdom Hearts 1.5 + 2.5 Remix is a great value for fans of the series looking to have most of the games in once collection on their most current console with several upgrades that even those who own the previous collections might want to consider upgrading for.

Hitman 3 hits the mark, plain and simple. Not only is it the best stealth/assassin sandbox gameplay of the franchise, but it stands among the best of the genre. It’s everything you love and want from a Hitman game with extreme polish, intriguing levels and tons of replay value.

Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon are fine games by virtue of being Pokemon games. They have the same fun battling and collecting mechanics you’d expect and offer an opportunity to re-explore the gorgeous and lore-rich Alola region. But their butchered retelling of Sun and Moon’s story and the addition of the obnoxious RotomDex should once again have you questioning why you would pay full price for almost the same game a year later.

Gears 5 gives a lot of content for players to chew on. The campaign is by far the best part of this meal because of the deep character-driven story and the bombshell decision made near the end of the game. Multiplayer fans will not be disappointed with the updated versions of Horde and Versus. On the other hand, Escape feels out of place, but still brings fun and intuitive map building.

It’s hard not to enjoy Mortal Kombat 1, but the main story is too tied into the overall gameplay, which makes the “it doesn’t make sense” execution of it too difficult to ignore. The events of the story itself indicate that none of this should not be happening. While the rest of the game goes off without a hitch, the plot holes of lore-heavy focus and deep integration of its story take away from what Mortal Kombat 1 really could be.