A perfect finale to the Warhammer trilogy. It will entertain not only the fans of the Old World, but everyone who appreciates the Total War series and is eager to experience battle on a truly epic scale.

Ignoring Sucker for Love: First Date would be a huge loss. It’s the best dating sim I’ve ever played and potentially the game of the year. It perfectly blends comedy and horror, features phenomenal voice acting and truly funny dialogues, and offers multiple endings. I can’t wait for the sequel.

Battlerite is a paradise for those who cherish fair play above anything else. It’s a game of pure skill, devoid of any random elements. No critical hits, no scaling, no artifacts, no spells etc. Every ability deals the same amount of damage every time it is used. The gameplay is transparent, fast-paced and satisfying. [01/2018, p.62]

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge might not be the most remarkable beat ‘em up ever made, but it was developed by people who understand and love the genre, and therefore it is immensely enjoyable. And, of course, the Turtles-induced nostalgia rolled over me like a tsunami.

One of the best platformers is now more accessible (but even the lowest difficulty setting can be frustrating) and introduces a new area and two new useful skills. The Definitive Edition is a great opportunity to catch up if you haven’t played this amazing game (and you really should!), but also a good reason to revisit Nibel. [06/2016, p.59]

It’s so beautiful, cute and charming that even the grimmest death metal fans will go ‘awwww’. If you want to introduce someone to the world of games this gem is hands down the best way to do that. [09/2015, p.57]

A worthy successor to Crusader Kings II. Right now, it is not as deep and demanding as its predecessor with all its expansions installed, but it still is an excellent strategy game. For newcomers it’s a great way to dive into the world of crowned tyrants, treacherous vassals, unfaithful wives, and inconvenient babies strangled in their cradles. [11/2020, p.56]

I’m delighted that after so many years the developers managed to find a room for improvements that enrich the experience in such meaningful and impactful ways and got another inch closer to blurring the line between Football Manager and reality. It’s hard to believe, but the game is even better than it was. [01/2018, p.66]

Papetura is a cute, very short gem that’s genuinely a joy to look at, to listen to, and to play. [07/2021, p.50]

Simply put, it’s one of the best remasters in history. [12/2015, p.70]

The best Pokemon game since Gold and Silver. It’s worth buying a 3DS. [13/2013, p.76]

Mewgenics is a game with character that could share its content with many other games and still have plenty left over. If you give it a chance, it will keep you entertained for hours. I recommend it not only to cat lovers.

The Witch Queen is one of the best Destiny 2 expansions and a perfect example of how to evolve an online game. It proves that Bungie has a consistent vision and while the developers are not afraid of changes, they introduce them cautiously and cleverly, letting the game remain what it’s meant to be – a pretty much perfect looter-shooter.

Similarly to Resident Evil 4 back in the day, Village will attract a new generation of players and redefine the franchise for the modern age. I guess it’s time to stop looking back and counting on the series to return to its roots. Capcom is well aware of those roots and willingly draws from them to create something new but still infused with Resident Evil’s spirit. Village is not perfect, but neither was RE4, and once again it’s easy to turn a blind eye to the flaws, because overall it’s an amazing game. [07/2021, p.56]

With the way it combines genres, Spiritfarer simply shouldn’t work – and yet it works perfectly! It offers a varied and engaging gameplay, introduces you to fleshed-out characters, sounds and looks really good, and has plenty of content. While the story of a girl who takes up Charon’s duties of carrying souls into the afterlife tackles death without needless pathos and affirms life, it does not lack touching moments. [11/2020, p.66]

This point’n’click adventure game set in a computer system is a brilliant and beautiful homage to the late ‘90s, when the Internet was a fascinating, messy eyesore. If you feel at least a bit nostalgic about that time period and what the Internet used to be back then, you absolutely need to play Hypnospace Outlaw. The only flaw I found in the game is that its story feels rushed. [11/2020, p.68]

With every segment I was more and more impressed with designers’ imagination. [12/2015, p.73]

Once again I was enamored by this unique, fascinating world and Guerrilla’s whole vision of Earth after the fall of our civilization. In terms of gameplay Horizon Forbidden West is not a revolution, but rather a natural evolution that introduces many improvements. You can think of it as a supercharged Horizon Zero Dawn – bigger, more beautiful and richer in content. It’s not a perfect game, as the human enemy AI needs a major overhaul and there are some technical issues to sort out, but it’s a thrilling, memorable adventure.

Despite being a spin-off, Judgment firmly stands on its own two feet, offering a great story, immensely fun combat and the usual truckload of cool side stories and engaging activities scattered around Kamurocho. The main plot line has some pacing issues and the detective mechanics are shallow, but you should definitely give this game a try, even if you don’t care much for the Yakuza series. [07/2021, p.68]

Remember to remove your credit card information before launching Nintendo Badge Arcade, because the game might be free, but it will convince you to cough up money. [02/2016, p.67]

Kirby might be overshadowed by other Nintendo franchises but in terms of quality it’s right up there with the best of them. Forgotten Land embodies the essence of Nintendo’s creativity, friendliness and charm, while its level design is so good the rest of the industry should take notes.

Neon White is a brilliant, immensely satisfying and stylish hybrid of an FPS and a platformer. It’s gameplay is crazy fast, the level design is stellar, and although the game takes place in Heaven, it’s devilishly addictive. It’s one of the best games of 2022, no doubt in my mind about it.

Puzzle Quest’s simple mechanics work great along MtG’s tactical complexity. [02/2016, p.68]

This is a God of War PC players were waiting for. The game didn’t age a bit since it was released on PS4, it still looks amazing and brings tons of satisfaction that comes not only from the thrilling combat, but also from the interesting story. It was definitely worth the wait, especially that I didn’t encounter any technical issues with the port and I got used to keyboard and mouse controls relatively quickly.

Prey is victorious on almost every front. It’s like a compilation album which lets you listen to the greatest hits by System Shock, Dishonored, Thief and Deus Ex with some smashing original songs as a bonus. A strong contender for the Game of the Year title. [07/2017, p.34]

In terms of production values and gameplay Badland 2 is second to none. [02/2016, p.68]

Great gameplay accompanied by wonderful visuals. [02/2016, p.68]

Chris Nordgren and Jordi Roca created something unique and delightful. Everhood’s music-based combat system is absolutely brilliant in its simplicity and addictive as hell, the soundtrack is stellar, and I enjoyed the surreal atmosphere and the story which often breaks the fourth wall. It’s a gem you should definitely play. [05/2021, p.30]

Image & Form once again proves that enjoyable basic mechanics are key to success. Shooting is so well executed in SteamWorld Heist that it kept me excited throughout the whole over a dozen hours long campaign. [02/2016, p.69]

The PC version of Monster Hunter Rise is a solid port that in general does not differ much from what we saw on Switch. Therefore, praise and complaints about the Switch edition mostly still apply. It’s a bit disappointing that the year that has passed between the releases brought us little more than graphical improvements, but the game itself is still stellar.

The best way to bid farewell to the retiring consoles is to spend dozens of hours having fun in Los Santos: robbing, abusing illegal substances, breaking all laws and enjoying everything else that GTA V has to offer. And after we finish the game, we should all say loudly: ‘okay, Rockstar girls and boys, it’s high time to make a truly new GTA, not just a gigantic DLC’. [12/2013, p.36]

Geralt made it to consoles at last. And in what style! One of the best RPG games in years was ported to X360 almost perfectly – it looks great and plays great. What it lacks is some introduction for those who didn't have the opportunity to play the first game or read Sapkowski's books and therefore might feel lost in The Witcher's world. [June 2012, p.54]

The only thing I didn’t like about Flinthook is its uneven difficulty level, but that simply comes with the rougelike elements. Other than that it’s an excellent game. [07/2017, p.58]

It’s pretty clear that Dragon Quest VI was developed by people who made Chrono Trigger, and even if it’s not as good as the classic, it still is one of the best jRPGs. I recommend it with all my heart. [10/2015, p.77]

Retro’s creativity is infinite and I simply cannot imagine any platforming fan overlooking this gem. [07/2018, p.77]

As a hard core South Park fan I had tons of fun with The Stick of Truth, I appreciated lots of cool ideas and laughed hard. This is how licensed games should be done – literally every gameplay element was built around the source material to create the illusion of taking part in an episode of the series. [04/2014, p.44]

There’s a lot of pleasure to be had in watching your favorite champions do similar tricks to those from League of Legends. It’s a bold mix of themes known from Magic: The Gathering and Hearthstone with stuff that’s absolutely unique. [07/2020, p.48]

A stealth game with a minimalistic art style but sophisticated contents. It proves that games can successfully tackle difficult subjects as long as gameplay remains the most important element. [11/2015, p.36]

Shooter of the year! It plays great, looks spectacular and sounds amazing. What’s more, despite an apparent lack of seriousness it’s not afraid to bring up difficult subjects, mixing comedy and tragedy in a stunning way. It’s a ridiculously good game. [13/2017, p.30]

It took The Division a lot of time to reach our computers and consoles, but it was worth waiting for. We have already spent about 200 hours with it collectively and we’re not planning on abandoning it, because it is, simply put, outstanding and shows amazing potential for the future. [05/2016, p.30]

A true Assassin’s Creed Odyssey of driving games. There’s always something to do, something to discover. A huge game and loads of fun for everyone (that enjoys driving very, very slowly, that is). [07/2020, p.52]

One of the games that left me thanking God for the possibility to experience electronic entertainment in its contemporary form. [June 2012, p.72]

In some respects Prodeus pretty much seems to be a clone of the very first Doom, but it imitates the legend ridiculously well, because the guys from Bounding Box Software perfectly understand the pillars of id Software’s success. Their game is fast and satisfying, old school and modern at the same time, sounds great and looks even better.

It starts as a somewhat boring, unpolished scary game but soon turns into a fascinating, engrossing equivalent of a TV show. And I couldn’t wait to see the next episodes. [07/2020, p.60]

I’m honestly surprised, because I did not expect to have so much fun with Deathloop. It draws some gameplay ideas from Dishonored, but introduces time-related mechanics, offers an intriguing story with interesting characters and has its own unique and coherent style. It’s an original game, full of surprises and addictive, but not necessarily easily digestible for everyone. For me however it’s one of the best titles of 2021. [11/2021, p.22]

The story is not only engrossing but also adapts to your actions (e.g killing an important NPC) and lets you make decisions that really do influence the future. The game is nonlinear – every problem has a couple of possible solutions (including violence and stealth), some of which were prepared by the designers while other result from your own creativity. This freedom is the game's greatest strength, but not the only one – dialogues are excellent along with the character development system and the visuals are very nice. Human Revolution is not perfect though – it could benefit from a more modern approach to some elements and more spacious hub areas. It's as good as the first Deus Ex but could have been even better! [Sept 2011, p.54]

Take all the beauty of football, all its unpredictability and all emotions it carries, boil it down and what you get is roughly FIFA 13. It's the best, the richest simulation of football ever created. [12/2012, p.48]

Against the Storm boasts fast, intense, perfectly balanced and immensely satisfying gameplay that blends multiple genres. Hugely varied elements the game is built of miraculously work together great and make erecting new settlements a fascinating challenge.

It's amazing how Nintendo can constantly reinvent its franchises. Donkey Kong's return is so successful that it could inspire other developers, just as Breath of the Wild once did. Bananza is a must-play for fans of the genre and a great reason to pick up a Switch 2.

Henford-on-Bagley is charming and picturesque and I had a great time tending animals, getting to know the local community and completing some minor tasks for my neighbors. I would have been even happier with Cottage Living, if the developers had added more new furniture pieces and made the barn larger, as it only holds one cow or llama. [10/2021, p.37]

Kirby Air Riders pleasantly surprises with its excellent controls and the developers' creative approach to track design. It's impossible to get bored here, and thanks to the many great game modes, everyone should find something for themselves.

It’s much more friendly towards newcomers than the arcade classics and yet it doesn’t put off the veterans of the genre. A sequel worth of its predecessors. [07/2020, p.76]

It’s not the game that gets a second chance on PC, it’s us, the players, to notice it. If we don’t, that’s on us. The world has no more excuses to not give The Wonderful 101 a shot. [07/2020, p.77]

We waited a whole year for the PC and PS3 versions of Limbo, but it was worth it – it's a pearl one in a million. Games like this just don't age. [September 2011, p.69]

It's been years since we were treated to such a thrilling detective story in a game. It's the best point'n'click title by Frogwares. [12/2012, p.58]

Redesigned interface and wealth of various small improvements make Football Manager 2016 much more accessible to newcomers without sacrificing even a bit of its astounding depth. [01/2016, p.64]

It’s simply pure entertainment and a lot of laughs. The usage of renaissance paintings was wonderfully executed. [06/2020, p.48]

Trigger Happy Havoc is an unsettling journey, an absorbing moral dilemma and a brilliant, tangled criminal story. [05/2016, p.60]

I’m impressed by how natural and inclusive Raptor Boyfriend is. Fantastic creatures seem weird only in the beginning. Their appearance and nature quickly become unimportant and you realize they are intriguing and friendly guys that are easy to like and even love. [10/2021, p.43]

Blizzard proved that it’s still possible to do something fresh in online shooters and helped me rediscover the charms of fragging. [08/2016, p.48]

This game does for Spider-Man what the Arkham series did for Batman. Immensely satisfying movement system, excellent combat, fast pace, superb visuals and wealth of side activities converge to bring a wonderful experienced, diluted only by some minor missteps in the story and a couple of stealth sequences where you control supporting characters instead of Spidey. [11/2018, p.54]

Here’s a proof that it’s possible to create an engaging game based mainly on dialogues (comparisons to Disco Elysium work in Gamedec’s favor, but there’s a lot less text to read here). Gamedec’s world is original and immersive, the investigations are interesting, the detective’s unique skill system works great and the deduction mechanic is brilliant. [11/2021, p.54]

The only thing I regret is that Forza Horizon is only available on X360, a platform that doesn't have a decent steering wheel. Still if I had to choose three games to take with me to desert island, two of them would be Forzas – the latest Motorstorm and the new boundless Horizon. [12/2012, p.64]

Despite introduction of micro-transactions and the lack of a proper tutorial NBA 2K13 is a must-have for every basketball fan. [12/2012, p.66]

In my personal ranking The Binding of Isaac joined Limbo and Frozen Synapse, thus completing the podium for the this year's best indie games. [December 2011, p.82]

Every level of this platform game brings a new challenge and a new surprise and that results in an extremely high playability. [September 2011, p.75]

It’s the best racing game on smartphones. Simply brilliant. [11/2015, p.65]

Faster and more fluent – is there anything else to wish for, especially that the game itself is still amazing? Actually, the Special Edition has much more going for it, including a new difficulty level, new rendering modes (up to 4K 30 fps with ray tracing), and the ability to play as Vergil. Sadly, the new character doesn’t come with his own levels. I also need to point out fps drops in the 120 Hz mode, and lackluster use of DualSense’s features. [02/2021, p.48]

At first glance, this year’s installment of the Codemasters’ Formula 1 franchise might seem very similar to the game we played 12 months ago. However, the improved driving model and the revamped, more engaging story mode make F1 2021 a significant step forward and the best game in the series. [10/2021, p.52]

I must admit that Blizzard learns from its mistakes – Mists of Pandaria is much better than Cataclysm. For the first time in ages I'm having fun playing WoW. [12/2012, p.70]

Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection has everything I expect from a game inspired by exhilarating adventure movies in the vein of the Indiana Jones franchise. Naughty Dog, the grandmasters of enrapturing details, effortlessly prove how much you can squeeze out of this seemingly worn out formula. If there’s anything to complain about, it’s the small number of changes introduced in the remastered versions. On the other hand, do these still exceptional and visually stunning games need changes?

Saying that Two Point Campus is loads of fun would be an understatement. Its developers have learned from previous mistakes (very few, I might add, as Two Point Hospital is still great) and created a game that deserves a magna cum laude distinction – genuinely amusing, very pretty and hugely enjoyable.

A rhythm game that would not work on any other platform but is simply great on a smartphone. Inventive graphics changing music into vectors and some awesome ideas make Groove Coaster a worthy purchase. [Sept 2011, p.76]

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth trumps the first episode in every way and deserves much better than being reduced to a remake. Above all, it’s a huge and varied adventure, in which every element seems to be conceived to be as fun as possible – and not just to the fans of the original, but to all players. Additionally, it’s one of the most beautiful games of the current generation.

A wonderful game utilizing fighters, mechanics and modes that had been cleverly developed for almost a decade. [05/2016, p.69]

A very simple (but not easy!) and very addictive mix between crosswords and Sudoku. [11/2015, p.66]

The new benchmark for mobile platformers. [01/2016, p.74]

I really doubted the single player campaign in CoH2 could surprise me in any way, but the introduction of the strategic map made Ardennes Assault worthy of even being sold as a separate game. I’m impressed. [01/2015, p.56]

Alice: Madness Returns is a dream come true for me as a fan of American McGee's Alice. It's a worthy heir and at the same time a fully modern game that can vie with the best contemporary representatives of this genre. It's long, it's difficult, it's rewarding and enchanting – so far the game of the year for me. [July 2011, p.62]

Loads of effort invested in Metro Redux made this game an instance of exemplary remastering. [10/2014, p.60]

For me Origins is the best game in the series, a beginning of a new era for the long-running franchise. I was awestruck by how huge, varied and believable its world is and how dense it is with all sorts of appealing activities. I welcomed the completely redesigned combat system, which bids farewell to the old “press X to win” feature. Apart from various glitches and technical issues (often resulting from game’s complexity) my only serious charge against Origins is that it sets up its story poorly and fails to keep it tight. [13/2017, p.68]

A puzzle game so addictive that your family will have to break down the bathroom door to drag you out. [01/2016, p.75]

There’s a new Tetris in town and this one you need to see, even if you don’t own a PS VR headset. It does not try to revolutionize the gameplay foundations, but the idea to marry timeless mechanics with breathtaking visuals reminiscent of Rez was brilliant and makes Effect the best thing that happened to Tetris in a long, long time. [02/2019, p.31]

Order & Chaos Online is not yet perfect but in its current form is already a mature MMORPG not very different from what World of Warcraft had to offer on the day it came out. Which is even a bit scary considering that consoles are still waiting for a game like this and on PCs Blizzard's masterpiece doesn't have a really worthy competition. [July 2011, p.69]

It’s been a long time since any game offered me such an engaging challenge and rewarded with so much satisfaction. [10/2014, p.62]

PUBG’s version 1.0 not only brings a new map, but primarily introduces numerous crucial gameplay improvements to a game which was already hard to resist. [02/2018, p.28]

Its weaknesses – generic world, bland story and lack of innovation – are easily forgiven because the game is very well put together and extremely addictive. On every step it gave me a reason to spend 'just 15 more minutes' with it. I really couldn't wait to play it again at home. [March 2012, p.44]

Echoes of Wisdom is a must-have game. Abandoning metroidvania roots turned out to be a great idea. Phenomenally designed skills are reminiscent of Breath of the Wild or Tears of the Kingdom, while finding summons and learning their uses has a kind of Pokémon magic to it.

Of all hack'n'slashes I played this year – including Diablo III – Torchlight II is the best one and it costs an equivalent of just one act of its biggest rival. [12/2012, p.80]

Lost in Random excels in storytelling and offers an unconventional combat system. If you like visiting unique worlds, enjoy dark fables and appreciate a good story, you’ll get hooked on this game big time. I was eagerly awaiting Alice: Asylum and suddenly this gem appeared. Here’s to more wonderful surprises like this one. [11/2021, p.74]

Almost everything that I loved about the first Company of Heroes is back in the sequel and done even better. It’s been a long time since I played such a stunning and addictive RTS. [CD-Action 09/2013, p.46]

The new Forza Horizon is even more enjoyable than before and its only real fault is that it looks more like a large patch for Forza Horizon 2 than a full-blooded new entry in the series. [12/2016, p.54]

Balatro is seemingly simple, seemingly trivial, yet it’s impossible to tear yourself away from it. Each attempt goes a little differently, your strategy needs to evolve constantly and even after a couple of hours you’re still being surprised by new modifiers, ideas and the need to change your approach. It’s a great game that simply doesn’t get boring.

After all these years Dead Rising’s design is still absolutely unique. There’s no way you’ll finish the game in the first attempt. You’ll have to repeat it over and over again to work out the optimum scenario, but Dead Rising is so good you won’t mind that at all. [12/2016, p.56]

At last I found a game that filled the void left in my life by Knights of Pen & Paper. Despite some technical issues Loot & Legends earned the space in my iPad for a lifetime. [11/2015, p.67]

This is not only Crytek's best work and the most beautiful PC title to date but also a wonderful good-bye to the current generation of platforms. Crysis finally found its place among Call of Duty, Battlefield and Halo, taking some of their best bits but at the same time remaining distinct enough to be worth your time. You should definitely at least see it. [CD-Action 03/2013, p.44]

Clichéd and predictable story might not be Unbound’s strong point, but the level design and mechanics definitely are. Behind the game’s fairy-tale charm, fantastic visuals and great music you’ll find masterfully crafted and challenging gameplay. This Romanian indie gem is not only highly polished, but also wonderfully varied and exciting from start to finish. [10/2021, p.76]

A real feast for RPG-loving console owners and one of the best games to play in co-op. [13/2015, p.47]