Sony’s in-house studio brought us a really well made platformer. It is also the second (after Moss) mandatory buy for every owner of PS VR. [13/2018, p.79]

12 hour long expansion almost as good as the original game. [12/2015, p.42]

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.

A creative take on the addictive “connect three blocks” formula. [08/2015, p.80]

Remastered edition tried to get rid of some nuisances of the original, but still it’s a game designed for an old, very limited console. However, if you wish to catch up on classics, first go for Ocarina of Time, then obligatorily check out Majora’s Mask. [04/2015, p.59]

A memorable game with a superb, deep story that forces you to make tough decisions and live with them. [CD-Action 1/2013, p.62]

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is an enormous RPG with a setting that’s unusual for this genre. It offers dozens of hours of fun, including engaging and wacky side missions. The TV series-like directing, the group of believable characters, and the exploration of US and Japanese locations all make a tremendous impression. Some occasional problems do not obscure the game’s strengths, especially if you’re a fan of the series.

If you want to see what an exemplary roguelike looks like, look at Dead Cells. It does everything right – the controls, the level design, the combat, the character progression system, the pace – and collecting cells remains a joy even after dozens of hours. [10/2018, p.58]

Everything about Dark Souls III is great, but it fails to push the series forward. Bloodborne and both previous Souls squash it in terms of ambition. DkS3 is like a compilation album by your favorite band – you enjoy listening to it because you love these songs despite having heard them so many times before, but there’s no room for even a tiniest surprise. [06/2016, p.34]

The game has its shortcomings, but until I completed it (in 60 hours) Pillars of Eternity was my air, my food, my life, my last thought when I was going to sleep (if I went to sleep at all, that is) and the first when I was waking up. I would come to the office sleepy, drink a bucket of energy drinks and feel the same excitement that overwhelmed me ten years ago when I played BioWare’s games. [05/2015, p.42]

Interactions between visual effects, electronic soundtrack and player’s attacks are almost narcotic when you play Rez Infinite using PS VR. [13/2016, p.77]

The fifth chapter of this brilliantly creative and polished indie game is the best thing I’ve experienced in gaming in recent years. [10/2020, p.76]

Slay the Spire proves that tactical games can glue the player to the chair for long hours without depriving them of mental comfort. At this moment Mega Crit’s debut doesn’t seem to have any competition – neither in the card game genre, nor in the roguelike. [03/2019, p.68]

It’s not every day that you encounter such brilliance. You won’t find a better game about running to the right and shooting everything that comes from beyond the screen. [04/2016, p.63]

Pokémon Pokopia is the best Pokémon game in years. It brilliantly combines addictive gameplay and interesting level design with the beloved franchise, creating a polished and fresh blend of several genres.

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 perfectly combines threads from previous instalments while remaining welcoming to newcomers. It’s based on very enjoyable combat mechanics and offers an interesting world to explore, but it’s a shame that dated graphics and intrusive invisible walls make it look like it was released a few years ago. I’m also disappointed that the developers decided to stick to what worked well twice before instead of making a step forward that the series could use.

Super Mario Odyssey is still the best Mario game, but that doesn’t change the fact that 3D World is up there among the best platformers ever made. So is Bowser’s Fury, a game much smaller in scale but still phenomenal. [04/2021, p.40]

One of the best strategic/puzzle games you can download to your phone. [13/2016, p.82]

It’s a pity that Cyberpunk 2077 didn’t look like this at launch. However, Phantom Liberty works great not only as a showcase for the Update 2.0 which completely overhauled the game, but also on its own, as a powerful spy story with tough choices and outstanding Idris Elba as Solomon Reed. Overall, CD Projekt Red has again released a DLC superior to the base game.

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]

Unique atmosphere, lovely retro visuals and extremely enjoyable gameplay mechanics. The game could be a bit more friendly though, because it's easy to get confused in the intriguing world of Fez. [June 2012, p.84]

It’s a solid remake that brings back the memorable experience but also enhances and modernizes it through a surprising multitude of subtle changes, giving Isaac’s tale a chance to delight new generations of players. The team at EA Motive clearly understood why Visceral’s survival horror was great and while they rebuilt it from scratch, they managed to retain the most precious ingredient – the tense, overwhelming atmosphere, now even more palpable thanks to stunning lighting and great 3D sound. However, while I did not mind backtracking and repetitiveness 15 years ago, they did bother me now, especially since new optional activities force you to run around the ship even more.

Distinctive humour, fantastic graphics, tons of weapons and an unconventional world – there's simply no other game like Borderlands 2. What ails me is that a lot of minor flaws could have been fixed with a small amount of work. [12/2012, p.56]

Accessible difficulty level, varied enemies, colorful stages and 3DS port developed by legendary M2. [10/2015, p.75]

A great, fast, simple puzzle game that you can play anywhere. [11/2015, p.66]

Plenitude of content (characters and setting from different Disney eras) makes Crossy Road magnetic, but then you realize how shallow and pointless this game is. [06/2016, p.66]

This expansion doesn’t need an introduction or a recommendation, because it’s been on Resident Evil fans’ radar for a long time. Ada is great as the main character, the campaign (expanded compared to the original) does not disappoint, and I was pleased to see the return of some bits cut from Leon’s adventure.

This is exactly how legendary games should be revived: with respect for the source material, enhanced and expanded, not tarnished or turned upside down. Quake II Remastered offers the main campaign, two original mission packs, a completely new expansion and Quake II 64, and thanks to a handful of improvements plays even better that 26 years ago.

Death Stranding 2 is a gaming, cinematic and spiritual experience. And on top of that, it's socially engaged. Hideo Kojima does not shy away from quirks, criticism and empathy. And while he can overstep with spectacle or exposition, he has not yet been so mature in his artistic career.

Forbidden West is enjoyable, although it fails to impress with anything innovative. In terms of gameplay it’s simply a slightly improved Horizon Zero Dawn. As for the PC port, there’s pretty much nothing to criticize – on a sufficiently powerful setup the game looks truly beautiful, rarely drops frames and doesn’t cause any major technical problems.

Vlambeer’s game is difficult, repetitive and ugly but it doesn’t stop it from being unbelievably addictive. [02/2016, p.64]

The Delicious Last Course offers more of what we loved about Cuphead, namely challenging, brilliantly designed boss battles and wonderful animations. It also introduces a third playable character and a handful of new equipment. I only wish the expansion was much longer – after all, it spent four years in development.

Requiem is the quintessence of modern Resident Evil. In a single story, it combines first-person survival horror tension with unrestrained action presented from a third-person perspective. AAA game refined down to the last detail, but lacking in innovation.

A solid game that failed to reach the level of the wonderful, more complex original from 1994. The 'just one more mission syndrome' is still very strong though. [12/2012, p.54]

Mass Effect 3 will force you to make tough decisions on a galactic scale. You have to think them through and you feel bad about yourself afterwards. It really kicked me in the emotional equivalent of testicles. What a spectacular finale to the trilogy! [April 2012, p.44]

An engaging interactive film that also offers quite cool gameplay. Everything that is best about it stems from excellent screenwriting: humor, interesting characters, and an epic finale.

One of the best classics collections in years. [March 2012, p.62]

I expected a game made with passion, polished in every detail, something that will set the direction for others for the coming years and threaten Call of Duty's hegemony. Battlefield 3 turned out to be just a very good shooter – and that is simply not enough considering all the promises EA made. [December 2011, p.44]

FX3 is a valuable upgrade from Zen Studios’ previous pinball platform, as it enriches the experience in meaningful ways, while retaining compatibility with old tables. [13/2017, p.54]

Teenage me probably would have spent all of his free time in the editor as he has years ago in The Games Factory. It’s a shame that such magnificent program, that could have easily conquered the world of PC editors, is locked to the PS4 environment. [04/2020, p.42]

Lucas Pope is a genius and Return of the Obra Dinn is something truly exceptional. It’s a bit like sudoku – the only thing it needs from a player is logical thinking, therefore it can be recommended to anyone. [13/2018, p.50]

L.A. Noire is a new breed of adventure game. It's quality and scale completely eclipse even the most important achievements in this genre and I strongly recommend it as the best interactive detective story of all time. [June 2011, p.52]

What the developers of THPS 1 + 2 managed to achieve is nothing short of miraculous. During the first minutes with the game I was sure I had traveled back in time and only some new songs on the soundtrack convinced me otherwise. The remake feels exactly like the original game and, simply put, it is absurdly good. [11/2020, p.34]

Alan Wake 2 looks like a true AAA game, but experiments with form and content like an ambitious indie title. Since it sounds like typical Remedy, are there no surprises? On the contrary! In my opinion, despite some annoying bugs and clunky combat, it's the best game the Finns have released since the first Max Payne.

After the third expansion Destiny is the same “random loot generator” it has always been, just with some more story in between. [12/2015, p.62]

Although Horizon Zero Dawn is a variation on the tested “ubigame” formula and fails to even get close to The Witcher 3 in terms of utilizing the open world, amazing setting makes it a beautiful science fiction fairy tale that manages to stay gripping till the very end. [04/2017, p.62]

A word game with a brilliant strategic twist. [08/2015, p.81]

It’s the best console version of one of the most important games of the decade. Some limitations imposed by the platform might annoy hardcore Minecraft fans, but they are not the target group here. [13/2014, p.42]

Ghost of Tsushima is a good, but by no means outstanding open-world game. All its magic lies in the distinctive atmosphere of feudal Japan and the romanticized vision of the samurai world. If bloody sword fights shown against the backdrop of beautiful nature appeal to you, you are unlikely to find anything better on the market. As for the PC port, there is nothing to complain about, although I feel it could look a little better.

Put away Dragon Age, forget about Risen, let The Witcher be and don't wait for Skyrim. The feelings of fear and suspense that accompany you when you enter a new chamber in Dark Souls' castle cannot be described. You must experience it for yourself. And then suddenly die, of course. [November 2011, p.72]

What do you do when your beloved game series – in this case Harvest Moon – keeps disappointing you? You make your own game, better in every aspect. Every moment spent with Stardew Valley is magical. It’s the Harvest Moon I’ve been waiting for my whole life. [06/2016, p.62]

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]

The Last of Us Part I is the best way to experience the wonderful story initially told in 2013. However, the original game, and especially its remaster, stood the test of time really well, so it’s difficult to justify remaking it so soon without substantial improvements to the gameplay and selling it at this price.

The game tells intriguing stories and leaves room for interpretation but is short, linear and devoid of true tension. [07/2017, p.60]

War of the Chosen introduces tons of new mechanics along with various improvements. It refreshes the original game so thoroughly that the campaign is truly worth replaying and the whole package deserves to be called XCOM 2.5. [11/2017, p.36]

Dusk does a decent job at recreating elements that were fun in Doom, Quake or Wolfenstein 3D, but as a whole it lacks a direction other than being a love letter to classic FPS games, a homage assembled out of components that do not always fit together well. [02/2019, p.42]

Great first impression fades away dispelled by primitive run-of-the-mill dungeon designs and the fact that instead of raising the difficulty level by clever enemy designs the game just throws more foes and buffs at you. [13/2016, p.82]

Monster Hunter Wilds is a no-brainer for dedicated fans of the the series, but it may also appeal to fans of... hack'n'slash games, provided they can ditch the isometric view, battles with dozens of enemies and dark fantasy atmosphere in favour of epic duels and a full-on Japanese feel.

Modern Warfare 3 deserves a 10/10 in a 'Call of Duty game' category, but we already know all its tricks, strengths and weaknesses. Some of the series' elements were successfully recreated in other titles but none has gathered them all on one disc yet – and this is why MW3 still wins. [December 2011, p.38]

Dishonored could well have been the fourth installment of the Thief series, but there are also traces of BioShock and Half-Life 2 here and there. If you compare it to these paragons it's a bit disappointing, but it still shines among this year's games. [12/2012, p.60]

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]

An excellent therapeutic tool and a thoughtful study of the human psyche, allowing those affected to get back on their feet and everyone else to understand how complicated it can be to function after sexual trauma.

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

No revolution here, but still it’s an absolute must-have for every Wii U owner. [08/2014, p.68]

Who could have expected such absurdly high quality from a level editor? [11/2015, p.62]

It doesn’t look too good and cartoony visuals suggest shallow gameplay but it’s one of the best space sims and one of those indie gems that focus on creativity and playability rather than technical aspects. [07/2015, p.56]

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.

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]

In terms of story (ambitious and mature) Automata blows every other AAA title from last couple of years out of the water, which evens out the fact that action sequences are no match for Bayonetta. I might have rated the new Zelda 10/10, but Nier will stay in my memory longer. [05/2017, p.50]

The game did not age a bit while it awaited its PS4 release. It’s still fantastic and looks stunning. [13/2016, p.71]

I adore A Way Out, so I had really high expectations for Hazelight’s new game. Instead of sticking to the proven, perfect formula of AWO, the developers decided to give us more of everything and as a result overdid it in many respects. The levels are too long and there are too many minigames, while the story can’t keep up. It seemed to me the narrative is just a pretext to introduce as many different gameplay mechanics as possible, and as a result the relationship between the protagonists is implausible. [05/2021, p.26]

There’s a lot borrowed or just slightly expanded upon what we saw in The Blind Forest in the game mechanics. Plus, the developers released the sequel with a bit too many glitches and bugs in it. Apart from that, though, it is still an utterly fantastic title. [05/2020, p.42]

Pentiment is one of the most intelligent and most engaging adventure games I have ever played. Just like Umberto Eco’s “The Name of the Rose”, Obsidian’s masterpiece intertwines crime mystery with historical, theological and personal threads and embeds all that in a very believable portrayal of human relations. I’m convinced this brilliant game will be remembered for decades to come.

All the distinguishing features of the series – the Templars, parkour and brutal assassinations – are here, but now they are not the core, they are just elements of the best pirate game ever, of a Red Dead Redemption at sea. [13/2013, p.52]

There’s a scene in Left Behind proving that Naughty Dog not only has ambition to elevate games to the rank of art form, but simply does it. [05/2014, p.64]

It offers a very good story and vast freedom of action and lets you dispose of enemies in various, often sophisticated ways. But there's more – tropical islands with their intriguing mysteries, superb acting, crafting, additional challenges and broad possibilities of character development. This game is everything Far Cry 2 was supposed to be. [CD-Action 1/2013, p.38]

Insomniac made us wait long for new Ratchet & Clank adventures but it was worth it. Looking like a Pixar movie, Rift Apart is the first truly next-gen title and the first proper reason to buy a PS5. It is absolutely stunning in almost every aspect – from guns and story to optimization and use of adaptive triggers. It’s a pity though that inter-dimensional portals were not used to their full potential, and both playable characters (the second one being the female lombax Rivet) differ only in appearance. [08/2021, p.28]

Rogue Legacy 2 is simply a bigger version of the original, with art style being the only significant difference. However, that doesn’t change the fact that it’s a stellar roguelite with lots of natural charm and unique humor.

A complete sports game package tailored to any kind of player, if they’re at least casually interested in basketball. [12/2016, p.75]

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]

I appreciate the addition of brand new research projects, more interesting enemies and much larger variety of environments, but I’m not sure I’ll muster enough enthusiasm to play XCOM 2 again. [03/2016, p.44]

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

Cuphead is a stunningly looking, wonderfully animated interactive cartoon with three hours of jazz and ragtime playing in the background. Its gameplay however lacks the brilliance of the audiovisual layer. [12/2017, p.46]

Celeste has a lot going for it: virtuoso level design, top notch pixel art, fantastic chiptune soundtrack, an overall smart design, huge speedrunning potential and some deeper meaning (climbing the mountain as a metaphor of overcoming depression). Be aware though that it requires flawless precision and you will count your deaths in thousands. [04/2018, p.53]

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.

Restored Land has transformed Dying Light: The Beast from a very good game into an even better one. The issues I complained about after launch have been fixed, and the addition of survival mode offers a great opportunity to revisit Castor Woods.

A brilliant tactical RPG that easily pulls you into its world with charming dialogues, memorable character designs and perfect soundtrack. [08/2016, p.75]

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

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]

I took interest in Ori by chance, looking for something colorful for my kid. What I found instead was the hardest but also the best metroidvania of this decade. It became this year’s most pleasant surprise for me and I plan to return to it regularly for years to come. [05/2015, p.58]

Wonderful philosophical reflections, a lot to discover, and truly phenomenal brainteasers make The Talos Principle II a dream puzzle game. I’d love more continuity in the dialogues and a stronger impact of my choices on what the androids discuss, but The Talos Principles II is still amazing.

Spider-Man: Miles Morales is still very enjoyable, but mainly because the base game was great, as this stand-alone expansion does next to nothing to evolve the formula. If you’re okay with getting more of the same, you should not be disappointed, especially that the port is solid and looks fantastic on a powerful PC.

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]

Simple rules, high production values, low system requirements and huge tactical freedom make Hearthstone one of the best card games available. And if you take into account the free-to-play model – it’s the best one. [05/2014, p.62]

Is it worth it to pay for a new version of a an old free mod? The visuals are of course better, but it’s not important in a game with the story as a centerpiece. And the topic that was fresh in 2011 doesn’t have such an impact nowadays. [13/2013, p.66]

Probably the most surprising DLC of 2023. Unexpected and engaging, Valhalla digs into Kratos’ past more boldly than Ragnarok and God of War from 2018. It’s an absolute must-play for fans of the series, especially since it’s free.

I’m impressed by how well the developers thought this game through. Rise simultaneously improves the formula used in World and makes Monster Hunter more friendly towards newcomers. It makes great use of Switch’s nature and by clearly separating the multiplayer from the single-player campaign, it ensures you’re going to have fun regardless of the circumstances. Apart from one subpar mode (which imitates a tower defense), it’s an amazing game. [06/2021, p.42]

You don’t want to spend your night in front of the computer? You have a wife and kids? You cherish your friendships and enjoy parties? Beware of this game. It’s that good. [13/2016, p.44]