Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is a return to form and gives a great blend of action, intrigue, and beautiful chaos. It is exactly what the franchise has been missing and is a wonderful continuation of the Black Ops storyline all while setting the stage for the story to continue.

Scarlet Nexus delivers a game that hits every gameplay beat flawlessly, providing the player with stylish visuals to enjoy, all mounted on characters and a narrative that only sometimes lands. However, the narrative struggles shouldn’t be nearly enough to keep anyone who loves fast-paced action games from reveling in just how fun, cool, and bombastic Scarlet Nexus’s gameplay is.

Destiny 2: The Final Shape delivers on its promise to give an emotional and exhilarating ending to a 10-year saga. There is still more to come as the story wraps up loose ends, but the direction in which this finale is heading is truly great.

Mortal Kombat 1 stands out among the best in the franchise, taking some of the best elements from games past and introducing new ways to grab new players.

Under the Waves is a fantastic game that uses the vastness of the ocean to craft wonder and solitude, moving you from avid adventurer to sad man in a way that feels dynamic and intimate no matter the task you’re completing.

Tunic was definitely worth the wait. I honestly can’t remember when a game has gripped me the way Tunic has. For the past two weeks, I haven’t stopped looking into certain puzzles, finding new secrets, and thinking about what I could’ve missed. It’s just amazing that the small team behind Tunic has created a game with this much depth.

Overall, Every dog lover at The Stonebot just showed how great man’s best friend truly is. There is love and care in almost every aspect of this game that will make The Last Friend stick with me for a long, long time.

With the launch of the “Odyssey” expansion, Elite Dangerous has taken on a new life as a next-generation space sim. It now feels truly unprecedented in scope, scale, and fidelity. Over the seven years since the game’s release Elite Dangerous has impressively continued to grow. The best part of it all is that “Odyssey” is just another step in the game’s ongoing evolution. It all comes together to make a space MMO that is a must-play for any fans of the genre. There is something to do for every type of player, whether they want just to build deadly ships, participate in dogfights, maximize a profitable trade route, team up with friends to explore the unknown galaxy, or whatever else.

Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector tells a powerful story that, combined with a soft thought-provoking soundtrack, will leave you ruminating long after the credits roll.

Vaas: Insanity is an excellent first DLC for Far Cry 6. The look into the chaos of Vaas’ mind is a really interesting one, and the gameplay loop is as intriguing as it is challenging. It can be fun solo or with friends, and is absolutely worth taking the time to check out.

Ken Follett’s The Pillars of the Earth is an excellent story set in 12th-century England that brings players an incredibly authentic tale full of intrigue.

Dungeons of Hinterberg is a fantastic adventure with an addicting gameplay loop based on exploration and wonder, tight combat, and an exciting cast of characters to interact with.

Combining great gameplay that is easy to learn but challenging to master, with visuals that look great and music that always nails the tone, Lumines Arise suffers from only a few minor hiccups.

Even after finishing the game and getting the sense that much has already been discovered, there is still so much to explore.

Super Mario Party Jamboree is chaotic fun for the whole family and is the best of what Mario Party has to offer. Unique minigames, fun maps, and the opportunity for a new experience every time make this an all-time Switch classic that everyone should check out.

FANTASIAN Neo Dimension is a beautiful adventure from some of the best RPG creators of all time, and they are at their best here. An emotional story combined with fun combat mechanics and an incredible atmosphere makes this one of the best RPGs of the year and well worth checking out.

Revenge of the Savage Planet is a testament to building on a solid foundation and letting creativity lead the way. Whether it's the puzzles, the platforming, the creature design, or the ace comedic dialogue, this game delivers in every single way. Co-op or solo, it's just pure joy, and it comes from a satirical take on working that hits close to home.

Shin-chan: Me and the Professor on Summer Vacation -The Endless Seven-Day Journey- is a refreshing adventure seen through the eyes of a 5-year-old with an incredibly active imagination. Be it normal interactions with family or friends or some of the wackier story elements further in, there is enough to keep any player satisfied. If you’re looking to escape on a whimsical trip, Shin-chan: Me and the Professor on Summer Vacation -The Endless Seven-Day Journey- is a fantastic choice.

Goblin Stone is a delightful romp through goblin lore. By placing the power in the hands of these mighty green goblins, there has never been more of a reason to try a new turn-based RPG. Orc Chop Games has made something special here.

Triangle Strategy feels like a love letter to classic tactical role-playing games in the best of ways. The story is compelling and detailed, and the characters you interact with really feel like they each matter. Artdink knocked it out of the park aesthetically as well, bringing the complex world of Norzelia to life in an incredible way. I loved every second of my time with Triangle Strategy, and I am looking forward to future playthroughs to explore the different branch options as well. If you are a fan of tactical games with an enticing story, Triangle Strategy checks off all the boxes and is an absolute must-play.

Ghost of Yōtei is an incredible sequel that builds upon its predecessor while still finding ways to stand out on its own.

While Mini Motorways isn’t going to present you with an incredible story or massively varied mechanics, the experience is one you’ll want to keep coming back to. There are seemingly countless options to choose from, and the new Challenge City update takes it to the next level. If you are looking for a game that can be played for 5 minutes or 5 hours, Mini Motorways is absolutely worth every second of your time.

It's Kojima at his most Kojima, a visionary building a type of experience that only he can. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is an adventure worth taking.

Remnant II, however, manages to linger in my mind with its glow-up: memorable, impressive, and damningly fun.

Loop Hero was already a Game of the Year contender for me, but the ability to play it on the go makes it very difficult to keep out of the top spot. It is essentially a role-playing game management simulator, and I mean that in the best way possible. If you have not had the chance to play Loop Hero yet, do yourself a favor and pick this up on Switch as soon as possible. I promise you that you won’t regret it!

Overall, Cities Skylines 2 is a worthy successor to the long-standing original city builder.

DRAGON QUEST VII Reimagined uses modern visual and gameplay improvements to breathe new life into a classic game. It is a prime example of how to approach a remake, and there is so much to enjoy for both new and old Dragon Quest players.

When all is said and done, the developers at Ubisoft Mainz have once again proven that while DLC and expanding the game are important, so is making the base game feel playable this long after release. Now in its third season, the devs have proved time and time again that quality of life is at the forefront of the choices behind adding new mechanics. With “Tourist Season,” they’ve pushed players to see their islands differently, and also view their world as interconnected instead of sequestered. Now, your goal isn’t just to get an island fully optimized, it’s to get it optimized and make it aesthetically appealing – invest in attractveness, invest in culture, and make sure that your hotspots aren’t just on their own but woven into your residents. Which begs the question what will “High Life” bring? For us, well, we can’t wait.