It's great that we got such a wonderful game to kill time with while waiting for a real revolution in the Total War series. [April 2012, p.66]

Danish developers prepared a new set of fantastic sandbox environments, filled them with crowds, scattered useful gadgets all around, and said: have fun however you want. If the best Hitman missions for you were those based on freedom, exploration and watching the surroundings carefully, Hitman 3 is what you need. It is a worthy finale of an exceptional trilogy. [03/2021, p.30]

Red Dragon should open the wish list of every gamer who shares the view that RTS games should promote strategic thinking, not fast clicking. [06/2014, p.66]

Lost Judgment is the sequel we needed. The story and combat are still the game’s strongest features, while the previously disappointing detective elements were improved. Some mistakes were made along the way (stealth sections, climbing), but overall it’s a great successor of Judgment. [12/2021, p.50]

It might be merely a return of a game that did not advance the series, but it was – and still is – the genre’s peak achievement. Sure, I could argue that boss encounters could’ve been more polished and the game could’ve looked better since Switch is more powerful than Wii U. A new world would have been a nice touch too. But what can I do when the game’s core is so good and it is complemented by content so great that such complaints become irrelevant? [02/2019, p.54]

The story mode (this year’s biggest selling point) is not perfect, but I was surprised how much I was invested in this idealized adventure every little boy dreams of while playing football with his pals. None other mode in FIFA or PES provides such experience. In all other departments – licenses, visuals, sound, atmosphere – the new FIFA is as strong as ever. [12/2016, p.67]

When Dave Gilbert decided in 2014 to put an end to Blackwell, arguably the most remarkable series of contemporary point’n’click games, he burned a hole in my heart. When I finally accepted the thought that the wound will never heal, Wadjet Eye is back with another gem, a terrific mix of a point’n’click and an RPG that’s right up there with Gilbert’s previous work. [10/2018, p.52]

An outstanding debut and one of the weirdest games I laid my hands on. [02/2019, p.59]

The undisputed champion of the genre. This time it's more accessible to beginners and offers an improved career mode, some tweaks to the combat system, as well as the famed PRIDE organization. [April 2012, p.76]

Instead of employing trivial jump scare tactics, Visage expertly toys with your senses and messes with your head, first causing uneasiness, and then evoking authentic fear. There’s no reason to weep for the cancelled Silent Hills anymore. We’ve got Visage, the best horror game of the year, maybe even the best in years. [13/2020, p.51]

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]

I honestly recommend the Ultimate Edition to everyone who Skyrim still left hungry for questing. [April 2012, p.78]

New gameplay elements introduced by Brave New World are more interesting than what the previous expansion had to offer, and I definitely recommend it to every fan of Civilization. [CD-Action 09/2013, p.63]

Thanks to Mystery Chronicle I finally understood why people get addicted to roguelike games. [12/2016, p.74]

Why would anybody need Fire Emblem Heroes when we’ve got this unique gem? [04/2017, p.53]

The best kind of remake – it show the game the way you remember it, not the way it really was. [12/2016, p.76]

If you spent your childhood playing DuckTales, Super Marios Bros. or Contra on your NES, no one can convince you that a pixel art indie game can bring that feeling back. Except for Shovel Knight. Shovel Knight can. [Sept 2014, p.68]

The remastered edition of a brilliantly designed and masterfully executed action adventure game looks and feels really good on new platforms. [01/2017, p.47]

This is how the only true heir to the old Fallout games should have looked from day one! [13/2015, p.70]

Armored Core VI is not your typical action game. It’s a game about building robots, going into battle and verifying the effects of your engineering efforts. The enormous possibilities of modifying your mech, the undying joy of combat, and the hefty challenges you need to overcome greatly outweigh the little flaws on this diamond.

You shoot monsters with your shoes while falling at high speed. Why? Because video games, that’s why. [13/2015, p.71]

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]

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]

Wattam reminds me of Chuchel and is the cutest game I have played in recent years. I love its absurd sense of humor, simple puzzles, adorable dancing and farting creatures, and the way music corresponds with the funny on-screen chaos. The game is rather short and doesn’t play too well with a controller, but other than that it is pure fun. [03/2021, p.52]

Ember Lab didn’t try to reinvent the wheel. Instead the developers opted for tried and true mechanics that entertained us time and again in many action adventure games, and mixed them in an almost perfect way. The beginning might be a little slow, but when Kena: Bridge of Spirits gains momentum, it becomes truly great. It’s hard for me to point out any significant flaws apart from overall lack of originality. What a debut! [12/2021, p.74]

Fallen Order is a must have for Star Wars fans and the best Star Wars game in years. Both literally and figuratively: the Force is strong with this one. [01/2020, p.42]

I’ve steered clear of Japanese games since I figured out long ago they’re not my cup of tea. But Yakuza is something else. It was my first contact with the series and although at first I did mind the fact that it trails behind Western competition in many aspects, I quickly ceased to notice it. I know it’s an overused cliché, but damn, Yakuza has a soul! And an exceptional story, one of the best I’ve experienced in games since I started playing them almost thirty years ago. Even if you avoid Japanese games, do yourself a favour and give Yakuza 0 a chance, because it is ridiculously fun and you need to experience it too. [10/2018, p.69]

Historical fiction served as a game full of swordfights, content and design choices straight from the past. Apart from some shortcomings arising from the fact that we’re dealing with a remake of an almost decade-old title, it’s hard to point out any major flaws of Ryu Ga Gotoku’s latest offering. More than just an engaging action game, Like a Dragon: Ishin! lets you experience an incredibly romantic era and a charming story of a warrior with a heart of gold, who’s always ready to put his quest for vengeance aside to go fishing, cook a dinner, pray at a shrine, help someone write a love letter or show kids how to find Japan on a globe. Although it’s a spin-off, it works great as in introduction to the Yakuza / Like a Dragon series.

A game of not one, not two, but many tricks. A book as a platform for gaming adventures is a great idea and an abundant source of interesting gameplay mechanics, which the developers at APF willingly snatched, offering a title that is fresh and strikes emotional chords.

Tekken 8 emerges as the king of modern fighting games. The Heat System turns the intensity of battles up to the max, the abundance of options and game modes won’t let you get bored for a long time, while the focus on new players should help convince even your most resistant friends to duel with you.

There are still a couple of months left until New Years Eve, but I can already risk a statement that Chivalry 2 is one of the best games of 2021. It’s hard to express the feeling of a massive adrenaline rush as you storm castle walls in the middle of a huge siege. The brutal combat system is brilliant, not overly complicated yet nuanced, and Torn Banner did an excellent job at balancing the game on every level – from weapons to controls to classes to maps and spawn points. I only wish there were more modes and maps. [09/2021, p.22]

There’s a lot going on in Shadow Tactics, the scenarios are really well designed and I enjoyed the game immensely till the end. The only thing I can accuse it of is being too conservative in terms of characters – I wouldn’t mind some more creativity in this department. [01/2017, p.60]

The Last Guardian is definitely not to everyone’s liking, but everyone should play it at least for a moment, because it is an extraordinary game. [01/2017, p.62]

Bethesda Pinball is a great package as three tables are completely different from each other in terms of atmosphere, gameplay design and appearance. The important part is that they don’t just capitalize on sentiment but are great on their own merits. [02/2017, p.40]

Absolution throws down the gauntlet –it's difficult but extremely rewarding and never malicious or unfair. It offers great freedom, looks terrific and is packed with huge number of optional tasks and challenges. I spent 15 hours with Hitman but that's just a beginning – I'll be definitely coming back for more. [13/2012, p.30]

With this brilliant game Sonic at last reminded us why he was once a worthy rival for Mario. [11/2017, p.56]

Planet Coaster is almost perfect (it really is on par with Theme Park and RollerCoaster Tycoon) and every forthcoming tycoon game will be measured against it. [01/2017, p.68]

A perfect party game, simple but brilliant. [10/2018, p.84]

What a great start to the year! First big premiere already brought us a thrilling game that raised the bar for other contenders for the action game of 2013 title. Ninja Theory did a fantastic job revitalizing the series and I hope Dante stays with them for years to come. [CD-Action 02/2013, p.36]

It would not be easy to find another game that offers so much content. [02/2015, p.61]

If you miss Doom, you miss what I anticipate to be one of two most important first person shooters of 2016. The classic returns in great shape, with all its vital elements intact. Give the campaign some time to pick up speed and it will pump your veins full of adrenaline. [07/2016, p.38]

If someone had told me couple of years ago that Assassin’s Creed would become a full-fledged action RPG that would not look out of place on a shelf next to The Witcher 3, I would have snickered. But here I am, over 80 hours into Odyssey and still unable to believe that really happened. [12/2018, p.44]

A Dragon Ball fighting game that we’ve been waiting for since forever loosing hope along the way. It was designed with obvious deep understanding of the source material, visually it’s almost undistinguishable from the anime and it embodies the 'easy to learn, hard to master' rule, which makes it both interesting for BlazBlue veterans and accessible to newbies lured by the Dragon Ball license. [03/2018, p.50]

Perfectly tuned difficulty curve, achievements, unique challenges, over 300 puzzles and gameplay model ideal for sessions that last either 5 minutes or 3 hours. [01/2017, p.75]

The only thing that this wonderful shooter lacks is some distinctive mark left by the new developer. However what they managed to create is a game you could call 'the best of Halo'. Additionally it rocks in multiplayer and pushes X360's capability in a way that probably even the console's designers find surprising. [13/2012, p.46]

At last, a game that has something to say about the world we live in, and is not afraid to do so loudly. The first episode includes a few powerful scenes and touches some heavy subjects, like police brutality, social inequality or toxic relationships. In addition writing and performances from the actors represent the quality level that overwhelming majority of video games can only aspire to. I genuinely can’t wait to see what happens next. [12/2018, p.52]

If you’re looking for a linear, cinematic experience, it’s not a game for you, but if you value freedom in approaching the challenge and find joy in tackling it in different ways to see what happens, Ground Zeroes is a must-have for you. Especially that the PC port’s quality is superb. [02/2015, p.67]

As a person who was raised on Age of Empires I was satisfied with every aspect of the remake. Small missteps didn’t spoil the fun and the addition of new nations only deepened my love for the series. [01/2020, p.82]

It has everything – great environmental puzzles, Prince of Persia style acrobatics, spectacular combat and an advanced character development system. It's definitely the best slasher available on PC and X360 and one of the best in genre's history. [10/2012, p.48]

After a bit too conservative Forza Horizon 3, which was just an improved second Horizon, the latest game in the series easily exceeded my expectations. Its world is enormous and full of various activities (including seasonal events), the driving model is exceptional both on and off road, there are over 450 varied cars and the PC version is spectacular. All that makes Forza Horizon 4 the best open world racing game I have ever played. [12/2018, p.66]

I simply can't imagine Battlefield's multiplayer mode without this brilliant DLC. [February 2012, p.60]

Hazelight’s interactive movie sets a new standard for co-op games. It’s varied, thrilling, very pretty and enjoyable for both hardcore and casual gamers. It evokes tons of positive emotions and I can’t remember last time an action game moved me so much. [05/2018, p.50]

We need more games like A Way Out. Josef Fares’ new title is not only one of the best interactive movies ever made, it also understands and executes co-op exceptionally well and shows how much potential lies in the AA segment. [05/2018, p.53]

Victoria 3 hides its light under a bushel, but once you invest enough time to get acquainted with all of its mechanics, you’ll realize it’s one of the best, most engaging grand strategies ever.

Stating that the forthcoming game will be the last rendezvous with a popular, charismatic hero is a rare phenomenon. I congratulate Naughty Dog on their courage and in spite of myself keep my fingers crossed for them to stick to their decision. The farewell party they threw for Nate is simply spectacular. This is how I want to remember him, not as an old man who rubbed his joints with pain cream and then found a UFO. Uncharted 4 is a brilliant game and a breathtaking demonstration of what PS4 is capable of. [07/2016, p.56]

Bayonetta 3 turned out to be fresher than I expected thanks to Viola (an additional heroine with her own fighting style), side chapters that reward stealthy approach, and the ability to summon demons who aid you in combat. However, as much as I applaud introducing new features, I must point out that they are a bit less polished than the mechanics we’ve seen before. Despite some little problems Bayonetta is still one of this year’s best games and a must-have for every Switch player.

It’s a port of a mobile game so in terms of visuals and innovation it can’t be compared with roguelikes built specifically for PCs (e.g. Darkest Dungeon) but I love Pixel Dungeon for its simplicity and surprising depth underneath it. [08/2015, p.75]

The prettiest, most interesting and funniest point'n'click adventure game of the last couple of years. It would be a mortal sin to miss out on it. [CD-Action 13/2012, p.60]

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]

I was gravely disappointed with the first expansion (Curse of Osiris), so at first I wasn’t even interested in reviewing Forsaken. Now I don’t want to part with it. It does what Reaper of Souls did for Diablo III – not only it improves the original game, but it also noticeably changes the nature of experience, transforming Destiny 2 into a new, better game! What doesn’t change is the fact that in terms of gameplay mechanics and technical execution Bungie’s game is one of the best modern first-person shooters. [12/2018, p.74]

Ender Lilies is one of the best metroidvanias of recent years. What immediately caught my attention was its unusual combat system based on summoning spirits that attack your enemies, but I also enjoyed the dark, oneiric and slightly melancholic atmosphere of this beautiful, varied world. Hunting down bosses, discovering shortcuts, and a checkpoint system that resembles Dark Souls’ bonfires give Ender Lilies a distinct soulslike aftertaste. [09/2021, p.64]

It was a risky decision to drop the single player campaign and focus on multiplayer, including battle royale, which seemed like a cynical attempt to jump on the bandwagon. I’m a bit surprised to say that Treyarch did truly great. Black Ops 4 is one of the best online games of 2018 – its shooting mechanics are wonderful, Blackout (the aforementioned take on battle royale) is top-notch and the Zombies mode drifts towards... action RPG. [12/2018, p.78]

Minecraft is a means of living your personalised adventures and gathering your own unique experiences. It takes up just a tiny bit of your hard drive space but is a phenomenon too big to cover entirely in a review. [January 2012, p.42]

Chuchel is Amanita’s crown jewel. The game moved me, but it had nothing to do with its story. My emotions arose from the sense of experiencing something pure, true and delightful. [05/2018, p.62]

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]

The developers did an outstanding job at fostering player’s perpetual appetite for mysteries. It makes you ask a ton of questions and from time to time offers you some hints and answers to sustain your curiosity. When I launched it for the last time, I was sure that I had all upcoming twists worked out. Two hours later I knew how mistaken I was. 428 is a game that doesn’t cease to surprise until the very last moment, so if you love chasing mysteries, don’t wait any longer. [12/2018, p.84]

If you haven’t already played this shmup/platformer hybrid, do yourself a favor and pick up Critical Mass Edition, as it might be the best game that flew under your radar. Over three years after its initial release I’m still in awe of its brilliant design and how skillfully the developers merged common elements into something surprisingly fresh and remarkably enjoyable. [03/2018, p.69]

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]

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]

Chronicle Saviours offers more content than any other shmup and is enjoyable for both hardcore fans and newcomers alike. [04/2016, p.43]

Dozens of hours of pure fun! Super Mario 3D All-Stars is a journey through an outstanding series, a feast – well, actually three feasts – for those who love platformers. Super Mario Galaxy alone makes this package worthwhile, but even the lowest rated among these games (Super Mario Sunshine) boasts a Metascore of 92! [12/2020, p.38]

ETS2 has its shortcomings – there's no visual representation of truck's damage, no snow and ice, cities are laughably small – but if you like to rest while watching the road unravel before your eyes, you won't find a better game. [CD-Action 13/2012, p.70]

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]

Videoball’s designers managed to achieve both sit-down-and-just-play simplicity and surprising depth. [10/2016, p.52]

A psychedelic, brilliant whodunit, brimming with even more crazily creative minigames and impossible to forget. [07/2016, p.68]

One of the best mobile pinball games I’ve seen. [08/2015, p.79]

It’s the most enjoyable shooter I’ve played in a long, long time, a brilliant mix of different flavors that you simply need to try. [13/2016, p.52]

A real gem, a crown jewel of the Europa Universalis series and a must-have for every strategy games fan. [CD-Action 11/2013, p.60]

Anyone who can rally up some friends simply needs to give Among Us a try and feel the brilliant tension that builds up within the group as trust deteriorates and everyone becomes suspicious. [12/2020, p.42]

I am not a hard core MMORPG fan, but this is exactly how I envisioned an online Final Fantasy game and I am delighted with it. [CD-Action 11/2013, p.62]

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]

Everything Far Cry 3 did great Far Cry 4 does even better. [13/2014, p.38]

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]

Blitworks took the best from 8-bit platformers (Rick Dangerous! Montezuma’s Revenge!), evolved it greatly, and wrapped it up in visuals worthy of 2020. The result is amazing but be aware that you’ll be dying over and over and over again, because part of the game’s retro heritage is its frustrating difficulty level. Other than that, I have absolutely no complaints and place Spelunky 2 among my top 10 games of the year. [12/2020, p.46]

Immortality is extraordinary and insanely polished, but because of its unique nature and not very engaging gameplay not everyone will be taken with it. However, if you want to feel like a detective analyzing David Lynch’s lost movie, you’re in for a treat. I hope this one-of-a-kind experience gets the spotlight it deserves.

Cancel all your plans and fill up the fridge, because once you launch Beyond Earth you will not want to leave your home. [13/2014, p.46]

The sequel is bigger and better, sometimes truly epic. Two cool protagonists, a story full of twists and turns, sparks of humor, well-designed side activities – what more could you want? There are some shortcomings, including significant departures from the Spider-Man canon established in other stories (if things like that bother you), but overall, I had a great time and didn’t skip anything the game has to offer. Spider-Man 2 is undoubtedly one of this year’s top titles.

It’s a Call of Duty battle royale which uses the franchise’s DNA better than ever before. From the first match onward it just feels like home. [05/2020, p.46]

A perfect dungeon crawler for everyone – for those who want to spend a couple of hours building the optimal party and don’t care for elaborate story (Classic Mode), for those who prefer predefined characters with distinct dialogue lines (Story Mode), for those who expect to die in the first encounter with two yellow hedgehogs (Expert Mode), and for those who don’t want any trouble at all (Picnic Mode). [04/2016, p.63]

It should be called ‘Nioh squared’ because it’s a monstrous game. A simply fantastic time eater. [05/2020, p.48]

The best metaphor for Cyberpunk 2077 is Johnny Silverhand himself. A messiah, a mix of Kurt Cobain and Che Guevara, a talented singer who loves to shape his own legend and has a charming personality but loses the struggle with his own demons. The same goes for the game. It tells a great story and forced me to ask myself difficult questions, but many of its gameplay mechanics do not evolve and its technical state upon release was abysmal. Cyberpunk’s true hero is not a person, but Night City – a vibrant, living creature of great diversity. The beauty of the metropolis is striking. [01/2021, p.22]

I just love it when humble games turn out to be little wonders full of passion. [07/2015, p.60]

While other fighting games gradually sink into boring schemes, Guilty Gear still swims against the tide, offering an original, very complex but enjoyable combat system. [09/2016, p.51]

Every level of EDF is like a mix of Omaha Beach, Pearl Harbor, Thermopylae and Helm’s Deep. Yes, the visuals might be laughable, but it’s the price for the enormous scale of battles. [10/2016, p.67]

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

It’s actually a perfect smartphone game, but on 3DS it doesn’t attack you with ads, microtransactions and other annoyances associated with the free-to-play model. [10/2016, p.70]

I may be some nine years late to this party but I’ll reiterate the opinions of countless reviewers before me – To the Moon is a writing excellence and most of all – a truly unique experience. [03/2020, p.64]

It’s a fantastic game in itself but its best parts are the ones that reiterate the features known from last year’s Resident Evil 2 remake. [05/2020, p.56]