While not perfect, Supermassive Games hears players and House of Ashes is the best release in the Dark Pictures Anthology to date. The improved game mechanics, environment and story make it a creepy experience that is perfect for Halloween.

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.

No Straight Roads is a big and colorful musical experience with heavy JRPG influences that lets you fight the man, give power to the people of Vinyl City and bring joy, all with the sweet power of rock and roll.

One of the best fighting titles in years is now on the Nintendo Switch, and it’s one that if willing to take a beating, you should pick it up. Just be sure to use that Pro Controller, or you’re in for a world of hurt that even Slocap didn’t wish upon you.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

While in a weird spot with rosters and some tough gameplay elements, NHL 21 takes chances and provides depth and enjoyment to the multiple gameplay modes. It’s not perfect, but it shines among other sports game releases this year.

While those who long for the button and joystick WarioWare games may be let down, this still feels like the kind of content you come to WarioWare for. A story about a wacky event, bizarre fever trip mini games, trial and error discovery, it’s all here with some well tracked motion controls. The content feels bizarrely minimal, but as far as party games are concerned, this comes through in a big way.

Despite it being a short game outside of its high replay value, Shu is a charming and beautiful 2.5D platformer that has a lot to offer between its calm stages and its more frantic moments.

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.

A treat for the eyes and brain, Triangle Strategy is a delightful and deeply engrossing experience. It perfectly balances each of its gameplay aspects and is elevated with a rich lore that makes you want to keep playing. A masterfully crafted game from bottom to top that any Switch owner needs in their collection.

If you’re looking for a solid point-and-click title, you need to look no further than TOHU. While the story can get a little vague, discovering this beautiful world is an absolute delight. The puzzles are difficult but fair, the art is stunning, and the music is stellar. A system without TOHU is incomplete.

CONVERGENCE: A League of Legends Story is Double Stallion and Riot Forge flexing over having perfected the 2D side-scroller genre with this title.

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

Despite some minor flaws in the twist tracking and the poor quality of the cut scenes, the game is a pleasant surprise. They went above and beyond what most trips to VR do and actually gave us something better than the original experience as opposed to watered-down cartoonish versions like House Flipper VR did. Just be forewarned, if you're looking to get all your work done before the end of the day you are absolutely going to break a sweat.

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.

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.

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.

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.

For me, Rogue Incursion is everything I’ve been waiting for in an Alien game. It’s a tense, scary, atmospheric game with a strong story. It balances combat with survival horror, and it’s got its own new storyline that’s nestled deep within the Alien universe. I’ve seen the game described as a “cinematic experience,” and I have to agree. All the pieces work perfectly, making it feel like you’re playing through a brand new Alien movie.

If you go over to the community page of the game, you will see the love it is getting. After playing it, I too would find myself rallying behind the crowd. The does not need to be complex to be enjoyable. If I had to, the one bit of criticism I would give is to add hints. Sometimes players may find themselves running haywire, searching for clues in the snowy fields. Maybe a button to get pointed in the right direction would be great. Apart from that, I have loved the game. Blender Studio has struck gold with their first release. The cute easter eggs sprinkled in this game show the level of thought that went into making it.

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?

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.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 is a bold step for the future of the franchise. Despite lacking a traditional story campaign, there’s no shortage of entertainment or value in this year’s installment of the popular first-person shooter franchise, which finally puts multiplayer front-and-center where it should be.

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.