Star Wars Jedi: Survivor builds on the foundation established in Fallen Order and delivers expansive environments crammed with content and secrets. Respawn still falls into some of the same pitfalls that it did in Fallen Order, though, namely in its underwhelming linear sections and middling story.

Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition is, simply put, the best way to experience the game. The hardware requirements are steep, but if you’re lucky enough to have a ray-tracing enabled graphics card, there’s no reason to play the original release instead of this version. Sure, ray-tracing was a feature in the base game, but the Enhanced Edition has been built from the ground up with ray-tracing in mind and it absolutely shows. Whether you’re trapped in the series’ staple claustrophobic tunnels or staring out across an expansive vista in the new open-world sections, Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition looks absolutely stunning thanks to its significant graphical overhaul.

Control shines on next-gen hardware. Whether you're delving into the Oldest House for the first time or are revisiting the facility to get a taste of the new ray-tracing features or 60 FPS performance mode, Control: Ultimate Edition is a stellar experience that provides the definitive way to play Remedy's latest title.

There's a lot to love about The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth. It's a great expansion to a great base game. If you enjoyed Rebirth, you'll love Afterbirth.

Not completely back to the drawing board, Ubisoft takes some of their better old ideas and blends them with new ones to make one of the best Assassin's Creed games to date in Assassin's Creed Origins.

The Witcher 3 looks pretty bad on the Switch, but it's still an incredible RPG that shouldn't be missed if this the only way to play it.

Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak is a fantastic expansion to the original Monster Hunter Rise. It lacks some of the robustness of previous franchise expansions on launch, and there can be some frustrating moments found within. However, this is more than made up for by new abilities, extra quality-of-life features, and increased challenge. Sunbreak is a fantastic choice for new players wanting more variety or veteran hunters seeking tougher battles.

Beyond the era and location-specific authenticity strived for and achieved in this title, both the dated combat and graphics leave something to be desired.

Sony has rarely struck out with their annual MLB The Show series and this year’s entry manages to keep that trend going. With the worthwhile improvements to Road to the Show, Franchise Mode, and the incredibly fun addition in Retro Mode, San Diego Studio has knocked it out of the park with MLB The Show 17.

All in all, Acid Nerve did a great job with Death’s Door and by pushing just a little bit more while taking a few calculated risks, they would have an outstanding game rather than a very good one. Still more than worth playing if you’re a fan of the genre and aren’t looking for something revolutionary. There is also some post-game content that should add some additional run time to your enjoyment.

Destiny 2 is a significant improvement over the original and its expansions in that the game makes more sense this time around. The campaign, cooperative and competitive game modes come together to form a more cohesive and focused experience.

Batman: The Enemy Within - Episode 5 "Same Stitch" is a near-perfect finale to an already fantastic series. Storytelling, voice acting, art design, and every other aspect of the series has come together here and delivered one of the best episodes in Telltale's history.

Pikmin 3 Deluxe is another successful upgrade of an already enjoyable Wii U release. If this were a trilogy release or even just the first two games it'd be a home run. But it's a solid hit anyway.

With its intricately woven story and memorable characters, Yakuza 2 was already viewed as one of the best in the series. And now with improved graphics and a refined Dragon Engine, it's remake, Yakuza Kiwami 2, could be the best of them all.

An enjoyable entry in the Geometry Wars franchise that manages to add new life into the series, but keeps fans happy with returning classics.

Developing a reimagining of the original game instead of a sequel was a risky move, but it pays off handsomely with a robust weapon system and outstanding gameplay meshed perfectly together in the visually beautiful Ratchet & Clank.

While last year’s game may have been really one of the first outings for the series that felt like little more than a roster update, the series has truly returned to form once again this year with MLB The Show 16.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land is fun, relaxing, and challenging all at once. Kirby’s first major leap into 3D is an incredible success, with new mechanics and altered gameplay providing a familiar-yet-unique experience for any fan of the series. Forgotten Land provides incredible foundations for the future of 3D Kirby games, and one can only hope that HAL will continue to build upon them.

PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds for Xbox One might be the last “must play” game on consoles this year for multiplayer shooter fans.

More could have been done on the story front, but Death Stranding Director’s Cut is still a solid experience on the PS5.

2K Sports is getting absolutely brazen with their community, testing the limits of what they'll put up with in terms of microtransactions in 2K18. Thankfully it doesn't persist into every mode, because there's a lot of good ones to compliment the excellent gameplay and presentation.

Desperados III is definitely worth seeing through to the end, whether it be for the fun western tale it tells or the deep tactical stealth gameplay it offers.

An unlikely mash-up, Mario+Rabbids is a very unique game. The turn-based strategy elements aren't going to be for everyone, but for Mario fans this alternative look into the Mushroom Kingdom isn't worth passing up.

Crash Bandicoot may have had a rough patch for a number of years before his triumphant return in the N. Sane Trilogy, but Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time proves that he is still one of the titans of the platformer genre with his most content rich and well-designed adventure to date.

A great cast of characters and a wonderful story, it's tough not to fall in love with Ni No Kuni 2. If you're looking for a world to get lost in this is a game that will provide you with many hours of enjoyment, amazing you at every turn with a barrage of beautiful imagery, incredible music, and gameplay to match.

Even with the very few changes from the two previous HD Remix releases on PS3, having this many classic games in one collection makes Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 Remix a must buy for any fan, while also serving as an excellent introduction for newcomers.

Rare Replay is, simply put, one of the best collections in gaming history. Hours upon hours of gameplay await players, and with classics like Banjo, Conker, and Perfect Dark those hours won't be wasted.

Roll7 has put out an impressive game, and if you're up to the challenge, you'll have a great way to spend your downtime.

OlliOlli World: VOID Riders is everything that makes Olli Olli excellent as a franchise infused in a potion of endless creativity and joy.

Some things are better, some things are worse and some things are just different. So I don’t think that Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon can replace Sun and Moon, but rather they kind of just sit beside them. I don’t know that I’d recommend one set of games over the other; instead, I’m just kind of glad that I played both of them.

Although it’s been a while since the last mainline game, Shin Megami Tensei V lives up to the hype. This is a JRPG you won’t want to miss.

The Fractured But Whole doesn't remake the wheel that The Stick of Truth crafted so well. The first game made for a near perfect South Park experience, with bare bones RPG elements to make it all work. This sequel does mostly the same, only tinkering with a few things, making for a different but just as enjoyable final product.

It’s one of the best games of the last few years – but the PC version especially is a sight to behold, so much so that returning players should absolutely consider double-dipping for the PC version of Horizon. It really is that much of an upgrade over the PS4 version. Not only do the graphical and technical improvements make the world much more exciting to explore, but the increased framerate and ability to use a mouse elevate the combat to new heights. The PC platform allows Horizon Zero Dawn to be the best game it can be.

Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN- makes a smashing debut on the PlayStation 4 with arguably the best entry in the franchise yet.

The sports game genre’s toughest task is to make consumers feel a need to buy each year, so an incremental upgrade can often not be quite enough. FIFA 17 was already coming off one of the series’ best outings in awhile, but with features like the The Journey mode and the even more realistic Frostbite engine, EA Canada has once again given players a reason to buy the game yet again with FIFA 17.

While there's not much in terms of new content here, Bioshock: The Collection is a must-own for fans of the series, and a must-play for those that have yet to do so.

Proving that Arkane Studios has no shortage of interesting ideas, Prey is the perfect blend of thrilling action and thought provoking story.

Gears 5 once again feels like a safe bet by The Coalition. You can start to see the developer thinking about new ideas and potential directions that the series can go, but Gears 5 feels largely familiar. The additions of some new features and a new mode added to the fan-favorites that return make for a robust package though.

It's the Dark Souls of Dark Souls games, and the issues that plagued the console versions that released in 2011 have been remedied.

Forza Motorsport is an addictive, shockingly fun, extremely impressive visual showcase for the franchise. I was amazed by how often I wanted to play more, get more slick cars, and keep striving to perform better.

The battles are tough but fair, the magic and parrying system is satisfying, the weapon system caters to different playstyles, and the Liturgical Horror visuals are hauntingly beautiful.

Gears of War 4 is exactly what you've come to expect a Gears of War game to be over the years -- an impressive visual showcase in the campaign, with the accompanying competitive and cooperative modes to keep you busy long after the credits roll. Its good to finally see a new Gears of War game on the Xbox One. The wait has been long for Gears of War 4, and now we've seen that the wait has been worth it.

Any worry that Halo might be in the wrong hands with 343 Industries has been wiped out by Halo 5: Guardians. Taking what works, removing what didn't, and refining nearly every aspect of the experience, Halo 5 is an immediate classic that is on par with its predecessors.

While the downloadable content is about seven months overdue, and the patches to fix online performance even longer, Mortal Kombat X for PC is better than its even been with the release of Mortal Kombat XL.

It's Skyrim...for Nintendo Switch. Are there some additions? Sure, but nothing that changes that core experience. And that core experience is what you're getting, but with the ability to take it wherever, whenever. If that is worth $60 to you then this is a must-buy.

Darkest Dungeon will push even the most hardcore gamers to their breaking points, but those who are brave enough to take it on are in for a dastardly roguelike rivaled by few others.

While the Rogue like genre may be getting a little crowded, there's certainly room for the likes of Enter the Gungeon. It ticks all the boxes, with gameplay that beckons you to come back for one more run, a great art style and presentation, and seemingly something new discover or unlock on every playthrough.

In a landscape utterly crawling with horror games that hide beneath a cute aesthetic, Little Goody Two Shoes sets itself apart from it's competition by binding charming romance simulation elements, a resource-management system, and heart-stopping horror into a satisfying tome that you'll want to keep in a nice spot on your shelf."

Axiom Verge is one of the purest forms of Metroidvania titles that we’ve seen in recent years.

Meet Streets of Rage 4 on its own terms and you'll discover a sometimes cheap, yet often rewarding revival of a once dead franchise. The soundtrack is stellar, art design fantastic, animations superb, and controls precise. But if you expected all the former sins of the genre to be absolved after 26 years you'll have to look elsewhere.

The Lost Legacy is a worthy expansion for Uncharted 4. Naughty Dog pushes right up to its own high bar in terms of story telling, visuals and gameplay design. So long as you aren't expecting an adventure of the size and scope of the base game, it'll be hard to leave disappointed.

SoulCalibur 6 is a brilliant return to form for the series, combining a robust single-player campaign and intense, dynamic combat to bring the franchise to a level it hasn’t been at in years. It's time to leave your mark on history once again.

With a killer soundtrack, excellent controls, a great roster of characters, and more, you'll find that there is an excellent time to be had here by any gamer of any skill level.

Not only is this a great Disgaea game, but it is also the best introduction to the franchise or even the genre.

The best Hogwarts experience ever made is finally here. Though it's not without its flaws, Hogwarts Legacy is a phenomenal game that has a lot of great "somethings for everyone." This is by far the best Wizarding World video game to ever come out and stands with a select few games that prove more is more.

The ultimate Risk of Rain experience, featuring quality new content that makes this game extremely entertaining and replayable.

Resident Evil Village is a great survival horror game that leans into the action and silliness of earlier entries in the series to mixed results. It's not as good as Resident Evil 7, and it's not as good as Resident Evil 4. It feels like a strange mixture of the two, and while it seems like it might be able to strike a good balance in its first half, the second half dashes any hope of that.

Black Mesa may show its age in some areas, but that doesn't detract from what is an otherwise stunning achievement. It's not only Half Life at its best - it's one of the finest shooters available today.

Xenoblade Chronicles X embraces the gigantic world found within it and provides gamers with not only beautiful environments, but uniquely designed creatures that inhabit them in yet another gem for the underrated Wii U.

The ideal sequel for those who enjoyed its predecessor. It builds on what worked, changes what didn’t, and delivers a great new map to explore. It is somewhat unique within the looter shooter genre in that it is launching with plenty of content and a stable foundation off which Massive can build something truly great. Could more have been done to grow from the original? Sure, but why fix what wasn’t broken?

Spider-Man: Miles Morales is a thrilling, albeit brief, ride with the most compelling Spider-Man yet.

Some things are better, some things are worse and some things are just different. So I don’t think that Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon can replace Sun and Moon, but rather they kind of just sit beside them. I don’t know that I’d recommend one set of games over the other; instead, I’m just kind of glad that I played both of them.

Spiritfarer is an excellent game in its own right, yet its candid handling of death truly sets it apart from its peers. It's addicting gameplay loop is well complimented by its thoughtful story - anyone who likes their relaxation with a side of healthy contemplation will be hard pressed to find a more compelling game this year.

The reverence for the series’ past in both gameplay and the attention to the smaller details is what ultimately makes Lara Croft GO a love letter to the 20-year-old Tomb Raider series. It offers even more of what the original game did last year and with the added benefits of more powerful hardware, making this a no-brainer for PlayStation gamers.

Madden 16 proves that it is far from a mere roster update, with some of the best gameplay improvements in a long time and the incredibly fun and addicting Draft Champions mode.

With massive levels, a multitude of challenges, targets, and assassination techniques, Hitman is IO's most ambitious game in the series. Stealth, action, brutality, hilarity, Hitman debuts impressively in its first season.

Control is definitely Remedy's best game since Alan Wake. The sheer variety in the gameplay and fantastic presentation go a long way in making this an enjoyable experience.

There are no absolute game changers in the gameplay, but there is just enough to make the gameplay more authentic than ever.

Fans will certainly be happy that the Resident Evil 3 remake exists and will be excited for a potential Code Veronica follow-up, but unfortunately this adventure just wasn't as worthy of a revisit.

Yacht Club Games has delivered once again in the latest expansion for Shovel Knight thanks to exciting gameplay and level design that proves Shovel Knight: King of Cards was well worth the wait.

The Super Mario RPG remake is an impossible wish come true. The biggest complaints for this release pale in comparison to incredible visuals, new intense challenges, fantastic music, and well-retained charm. This release is sure to be worthwhile for both fans of the original and first-time Mario players.

Super Meat Boy on the Switch is a fine port of the game. If you've yet to play it, this is a modern indie classic that holds a lot of value in its challenge and depth.

Despite its often less-than-subtle nods to Nintendo's Breath of the Wild, Genshin Impact does enough differently to stand apart. Throw in punchier combat, a more traditional story packed with interesting characters, and an outstanding score and Genshin Impact easily sits among the upper echelon of games released this year. Hopefully miHoYo relaxes the stamina system and gacha rates soon, because Teyvat is a world absolutely worth revisting. They're just making it difficult for anyone but gacha fans to find the motivation to hold on.

Final Fantasy XV had quite a lot to live up to after so many years, and while it may have taken a decade to get here, the journey was worth the wait with this phenomenal entry in the series.

Superhot VR is one of the best VR games out there. Blissful action in a unique setting, the game has a lot to offer. It's over too soon, but extra modes will keep you coming back for more.

The ultimate Call of Duty multiplayer experience.

Ghost of Tsushima is a masterclass on how to make a palatable and focused open world experience.

Lara Croft GO nails all of the elements that make for an enticing mobile title: Fun in small chunks, visually appealing, and thought-provoking, Lara Croft GO can provide hours of enjoyment for a small entry fee.

Guacamelee 2 is a brilliantly made game on the presentation front and its few flaws don't limit its enjoyment.

While there are often many years that sports games phone it in, FIFA 18 doesn’t feel like one. From head to toe this game is both dripping in style and substance with so many compelling game modes its really just a matter of where should you start. Wherever it is, soccer fans will find very little to be disappointed in this year.

With the 10th Anniversary Package for Bayonetta and Vanquish you'll get a diverse gameplay offering with the unique combination of style and substance that Platinum Games has become known for.

Not just a remake like the N.Sane Trilogy, Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled comes with the content you love from the original and more, proving that everybody’s favorite Bandicoot still has plenty of gas in the tank.

Splatoon 3 makes many fantastic improvements and changes to the games before it. These minor additions will surely go a long way in retaining a large number of players, even if most of the brand-new content feels somewhat lacking. Splatoon 3 is the best game to start with for newcomers to the franchise. It might be tougher to convince die-hard fans of its merit, but future updates and changes will likely sway their opinions as well.

Bleed 2 is an exhilarating, tight, and extremely fun game experience. The aesthetic may not be able to keep up with the game play, but Bleed 2 should be played by every fan of the run-n-gun platformer genre.

Judgment is proof that the Yakuza formula works even with a fresh set of faces. I really hope we get to see more of these characters in a sequel or future spinoff, especially if the detective side content gets a little more love the next time around.

Horizon Chase 2 is an outstanding arcade racing game. Although it has only 10 cars, it brings customization options, over 80 tracks, a captivating art style, and improves upon virtually everything else compared to its predecessor.

Fans of Call of Duty shouldn't have had to wait this long for the definitive edition of a classic.

Late generation sports releases are usually at the top of their game when nearing the end of the current console generation and MLB The Show 20 continues that trend with a walk off home run in the final PlayStation only entry in the series.

Ring Fit Adventure is a fun and wholly functional workout experience with Nintendo walking you through every step of the process to make sure you're doing things correctly, avoiding injury or over-exertion.

Gamers weren't quite ready for Yoko Taro's NieR back in 2010, but now the now cult classic is getting another chance in the way it was originally intended. On top of additional content and bonuses not found in the original, NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139... features a beautifully melancholy narrative that is equal parts gut-wrenching and heartfelt, all of which is very worth experiencing.

The collaboration between Slightly Mad Studios and its community of fans have led to fantastic results. Project Cars is one the best, and most authentic racing experiences we've seen in quite some time.

While created for fans first and foremost, Dragon Quest Builders serves as not only a love letter to the long running series, but also as an excellent introduction for newcomers to this wonderful franchise that is definitely worth checking out.

Giving players more of the same isn’t always a bad thing and Splatoon 2 gives Switch owners another fantastic game to add to their lineup. Taking the formula from the Wii U original and tweaking it here and there the game might not surprise all that much, but it does deliver a fantastic and unique shooter experience from start to finish.

It's hard to perfectly encapsulate what Stray really sets out to do, as it is a jack of all trades, but unfortunately a master of none of them. Certain parts of this game are near masterclass, like its stealth sections, but it finds itself lost within its own identity too often, and misses the mark on more than one occasion.

Yakuza 6: The Song of Life brings a satisfying end to Kazuma Kiryu's story, but it's not quite the send off I expected. Between its convoluted systems and cut content, it didn't feel like the saga ended with a roar, but with a whimper.

There still isn't a better alternative when it comes to video game basketball.

With a better story, better characters, QoL improvements, and more interesting and varied missions, Destiny 2 was a better game than its predecessor on consoles, and it is even moreso on PC. This is the definitive Destiny 2 experience, offering 4K visuals at 60fps or higher with smoother and more precise controls.

NFL 17 builds off of the base that we've seen established over the last couple of years, for better or worse.