After all these years it could have been bigger, better, more polished. It could have had a PvP mode or a voice chat, or at least a more competent loot generator. But if you drop all the 'could have beens' Diablo III is a great, addictive game. [July 2012, p.46]

The best and the most complete of all console editions of Diablo III – and you can play it anywhere. Who needs Diablo Immortal? [01/2019, p.65]

Only intrusive microtransactions could have ruined this great game, but fortunately it’s not the case. [12/2015, p.74]

I wish everyone who develops platform games understood movement mechanics as good as Image & Form. SteamWorld Dig 2 is a very good game in every aspect, but the cherry on top is the joy that comes from running around, jumping and climbing. [12/2017, p.62]

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]

Legion took me back to the times of World of Warcraft’s greatest splendor, to the era of The Burning Crusade and Wrath of the Lich King. It miraculously revived a game that was already dead to me. [11/2016, p.44]

Whereas the first game won our hearts as a love letter to cherished RPG legends (Baldur’s Gate, Icewind Dale, Planescape: Torment), this one tempts us with its own unique flavour. The series moved away from the tried-and-true medieval fantasy setting in favor of seemingly dissonant elements (quasi-Nordic gods, strokes of traditional high fantasy, pirate mythology in the vein of Stevenson’s Treasure Island, culture of the Caribbean) that somehow fused together exceptionally well. On top of that its scale is noticeably bigger and there are tons of various improvements. All that makes Deadfire precisely the sequel it should be. [07/2018, p.66]

With its fast paced action and rapid movement Eternal takes more form the Quake franchise rather than from its own. There’s a bit too much of world traversing puzzles for my taste, the game already engages both brains and reflexes on the highest possible level. [05/2020, p.34]

Owlboy lacks a real challenge and a spark of genius that would elevate this enjoyable, extraordinarily pretty platformer to genre’s Olympus. [13/2016, p.56]

Road to Gehenna is extremely hard from the very beginning and therefore was meant for those who already have The Talos Principle down to a science. [10/2015, p.56]

During 12 hours I spent with Night in the Woods it grew from an average game to a member of genre’s elite. [04/2017, p.42]

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]

A twin-stick shooter elevated to an art form. [09/2017, p.74]

After a series of letdowns Team Ninja returns to form it displayed with Ninja Gaiden Black. Nioh is a variation on the Souls series, and although it is not as intriguing story wise, its gameplay is much more enjoyable. [04/2017, p.46]

A phenomenal sequel that brings the adventures of Henry of Skalitz to a a satisfying conclusion. A bold, atmospheric, brilliantly written game loaded to the brim with content. Its only problem at the moment are the bugs, so keep your fingers crossed that they get fixed as soon as possible.

An interesting hybrid of guild management, a board game and a card game, perfectly tailored for mobile devices. For me though there’s a bit too much stress on grind and the initial charm wore thin too quickly. [12/2016, p.79]

It’s an intense, immensely enjoyable game with deep gameplay mechanics, great cast of characters and so much content that it’s impossible to unlock everything in a lifetime (unless you resort to microtransactions). If you don’t own Mortal Kombat 11 but want to give it a try, this edition is the way to go. [01/2021, p.77]

The PC edition of Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection is decent in terms of technical execution and still looks good despite the years, but in 2022 its graphics are not jaw-dropping anymore. The gameplay should appeal to those looking for a simple de-stressing fun and an adrenaline rush, but heavy emphasis on a cinematic experience may not be everyone’s cup of tea and the multiplayer modes are missing.

If you’re not familiar with the previous PC version, the Super Turbo Championship Edition is worth a look. [Sept 2014, p.59]

Subnautica is hands down the best survival game I have ever experienced. I completely lost track of time while playing it and for the first time in ages I rescheduled my appointments and neglected my responsibilities to spend more time with a game. If I could I would hand out free copies in the streets so as many people as possible can see how ridiculously good Subnautica is. [04/2018, p.62]

The console version lacks a well-made tutorial and visibly downscales resolution to preserve framerate but other than that I once again found myself fascinated by the game – from now on: one of the rare breed of well-made console RTS. [12/2019, p.57]

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]

Some insist that Souls’ and Bloodborne’s greatest quality is their sadistic difficulty. If so, The Old Hunters is hands down the best game by From Software. [02/2016, p.48]

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]

When you learn your moves well enough to be able to focus on reading your opponent, InJustice 2 starts to resemble a match of chess, where thinking and anticipating is as important as swift fingers. I’m sure fighting games fans will have a blast with it. [07/2017, p.74]

It’s more of a regular DLC paired with some improvements for the PS5 rather than a true director’s cut. However, the developers do deserve praise for how skillfully they inserted the expansion into the narrative of the base game. The story about Jin’s past and the sins of ancestors is great (as opposed to boring side quests), new enemies pose a challenge, and the game as a whole shines on PS5’s more powerful hardware. I wish the visual improvements were more noticeable though. [11/2021, p.31]

To truly succeed, a puzzle game needs to be innovative, like Portal or Antichamber. Unfortunately The Witness lacks that quality. [03/2016, p.54]

The Nioh Collection brings two bright stars of the Soulslike constellation to PS5, slightly improved and accompanied by six DLCs. I found the first Nioh very satisfying, addictive and immensely fun as a whole, but the sequel turned out to be a chore because its absurd difficulty level was too much for me. [05/2021, p.28]

It’s more an adaptation than a regular remake and I’m OK with that. It’s also the best modern Final Fantasy – even if wordy and quite slow at moments [06/2020, p.34]

The diversity of environments significantly enriches the game and challenges experienced players in new conditions every time. It’s a hellishly good game – for me an addiction that makes me go back to it and reach for more and more. [13/2018, p.84]

Sometimes someone comes up with an idea so brilliant that others wonder how they didn’t think of it earlier. Crypt of the NecroDancer – a rhythm-based roguelike – is an example of such brilliance. [06/2015, p.60]

The latest instalment of the Guilty Gear series is one of the most beautiful fighting games I’ve ever encountered and it plays great, partly thanks to the new wall break mechanic that lets you avoid being beaten to a pulp while trapped in a corner. What’s disappointing is the fact that we will have to wait a couple of months for the game to show its full potential with the addition of new characters and arenas, because right now its content is rather scant. [08/2021, p.56]

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]

Pragmata is truly unique. It’s not just a brilliantly designed action game, but above all a moving, simple, yet profound story about the relationships between people and… well, who or what exactly? Capcom proves once again that it can create works that are not only visually stunning but also emotionally captivating.

Despite some major issues (e.g. single player campaign is disappointingly easy and AI desperately needs improvements) the game is still wonderful. It makes up for its shortcomings with its world, exploration, atmosphere of grand adventure, loads of secrets, online battles and most of all with its lasting charm. [01/2017, p.72]

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]

Pikmin 4 is an example of a perfect sequel. The designers introduced relatively small changes which turned out to be crucial in terms of gameplay, thus proving that you don’t need a revolution to create a game that lets fans rediscover the series.

Final Fantasy XVI is a technical masterpiece with some jaw-dropping scenes, but the game’s genre (it’s a hack’n’slash, not an RPG!) fails to fully support 40 hours of gameplay. I’m happy that I had the opportunity to play it, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that the developers put more meticulousness and money than heart into it, forgetting a pinch of madness that would have made this undeniably impressive game truly stellar.

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?

The latest entry in the Gran Turismo series is a safe sequel that’s stuck in the old ways, but thanks to its rich inheritance, the game is also huge in terms of content and shows a spark of pure genius just like its predecessors.

An interesting puzzle game that really makes you think hard now and then. [CD-Action 09/2013, p.71]

Both parts of Super Mario Galaxy are still phenomenal 3D platformers, worth playing even today. The problem is that the anniversary compilation looks like it was put together in a hurry, and its price is more off-putting than appealing.

MachineGames knows a thing or two about skinning Nazis, but be aware that this is not the next Wolfenstein. On the other hand, if you've been dreaming of a game in the vein of Spielberg's old trilogy, then you needn't wait any longer. You'll find a gripping plot, well-written characters and a wealth of inventive puzzles.

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]

If you like the classic Zelda formula, you will be amazed with Link’s Awakening. If you don’t – the times the game strays away from said formula won’t make you a sudden believer. If you are not sure, just try it. Not many games are as cute and charming as this one. [12/2019, p.51]

An unconventional city builder where the city builds itself, while your task is to optimize its road traffic, which requires quick thinking, good planning and a pinch of luck. It’s easy to turn a blind eye to minimalistic visuals, irritating audio and some flaws, because what’s really important is the fact that Mini Motorways is highly addictive. [10/2021, p.62]

Rocksteady proved once again that they’re in a league of their own. Arkham Knight not only outclassed their two previous Batman games put together, but also turned the whole trilogy into a masterpiece. It’s not just a strong candidate for the Game of the Year title. It’s one of the best games of the decade. [08/2015, p.44]

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.

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]

Okami aged gracefully. Even though its age shows here and there both in design and execution it still is a bold and unique game. [02/2018, p.36]

Nintendo celebrates Pokémon’s 20th birthday in the best possible way – with a game that will please almost everyone, from hardcore fans of the series to newbies who only played Pokémon Go. [01/2017, p.72]

Despite some lack of creativity it’s so good that it’s hard to believe that it’s the first project of a tiny studio. Had brilliant Ori and the Blind Forest not existed, Hollow Knight could have become an official standard for Metroidvanias. [06/2017, p.50]

Especially at the beginning Don’t Starve is ruthlessly addictive and the only thing that saves you from starving to death while plying it is the fact that it also ruthlessly devours device’s battery. [09/2015, p.68]

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

Forza 6 is friendly even towards inexperienced players, rewards good maneuvers and does not punish minor mistakes as strictly as it could have. [11/2015, p.38]

There are two problems with Tearaway. The game is too easy and poses no challenge whatsoever and is not as pretty as one would expect (the technical aspect is fine, but the colours lack intensity). Anyway – Tearaway is worth checking out but it’s not a must-have. [01/2014, p.69]

What it lacks in storytelling, it makes up with sheer brilliance in something far more important – the gameplay that pushes the 2D platformer genre to its limits. The game sparkles with creativity and the developers’ clear love for games. [03/2019, p.82]

It’s the best baseball simulation available, but the biggest new feature is the mode for beginners, not very interesting to PS3 baseball aficionados. And the rest will probably ignore this game. [CD-Action 05/2013, p.79]

Next-gen FIFA is a step in a good direction, although it’s not that different from the FIFA 14 released for PC, X360 and PS3. New animations are visible throughout the whole match and the veterans will also appreciate new, more realistic ball physics. [01/2014, p.48]

At last! Diablo III became the game I was looking forward to. Reaper of Souls does more than just improve the original – it reinvents it and helps it reclaim the hack’n’slash throne. [05/2014, p.50]

One of the best mobile turn-based strategies. [10/2015, p.75]

PES 2016 is a football simulation for gamers, not for football enthusiasts, because in terms of realism it falls way behind EA Sports FIFA. Pro Evo simply chose another path and doesn’t even try to convince you that what you see is an attempt to recreate the real thing. It goes back to the roots – to wonderful PES 6 – and that’s why I had so much fun with PES 2016 and fell in love with it. [11/2015, p.34]

Relatively small Larian Studios finally managed to deliver a really significant game. Original Sin is brimming with ideas on how to bring back old school RPG vibe and make it fit modern times. [Sept 2014, p.50]

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]

I was surprised by how much this new incarnation of Destiny appealed to me. New worlds are brilliantly designed, sound and visuals are top notch, combat feels great (those headshots!). This is how the first Destiny should have looked. [12/2017, p.50]

Rayman Origins is absolutely adorable. It's a wonderful gift to those who once set through the nights murdering their joysticks and gamepads with classic 2D platform games. [December 2011, p.76]

Aided by the Terrible Toybox team, Gilbert and Grossman deconstructed the legend and rebuilt it, modernizing it but also paying homage to the past. Return to Monkey Island is not just a great point’n’click that will remind you why you fell in love with the genre, but also an artistic statement that needs a certain degree of maturity to be fully appreciated. We were promised a comedy about pirates, but also got a piece on mortality.

The new area is small and features a modest array of challenges (50), but nevertheless I enjoyed Blizzard Mountain more than any other racing game in a long, long time. [02/2017, p.32]

It's incredible how the ideas to vary and enrich simple platforming gameplay seem to never end in Spelunky. [September 2012, p.73]

I have already tasted Inside six years ago while I was playing Playdead’s previous game – Limbo. It doesn’t taste as good for the second time, even despite a more appealing peel. [09/2016, p.48]

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]

Diablo III is a better game on consoles. Gamepad controls lack precision a bit, but on the other hand this version does a better job at conveying the most important thing in the series – the euphoria associated with looting. [CD-Action 11/2013, p.68]

Let’s forget about terrible cutscenes directed by Spike Lee – the game itself is still a joy to play. [12/2015, p.54]

Creative Assembly takes us on a breathtaking journey through four of Warhammer’s continents (the map is huge!) and serves all of its gameplay elements in right proportions. It’s a highly addictive game that will consume all your free time one turn at a time. [12/2017, p.48]

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

The latest entry in the Tale series offers everything loyal fans could have expected, but also has a chance to enamor many newcomers. The story about two heroes from the opposite sides of a conflict joining forces is surprisingly multi-layered, the combat is flashy and satisfying, and the journey leads you across beautiful, varied regions. As for the flaws, I need to mention problems with map legibility and the necessity to grind, but fortunately both issues are occasional. [12/2021, p.68]

Hi-Fi Rush is a wonderful reminder of why we play games in the first place. The point is to enjoy yourself, to get away from everyday reality for a moment, to have an amazing adventure, to feel rewarded when you make progress and to smile at the thought of returning to the colorful world on the other side of the screen. This brilliant rhythm/action game gives you all that and much more.

It’s kinda funny that standard AWD vehicles are much better suited for the tracks introduced in this expansion than Hot Wheels toy cars that come with it. [07/2017, p.47]

Four years later swinging across the city is still an awesome experience and combat inspired by the Batman series remains fun. However, today I was more annoyed by numerous and tedious Ubi game-like side activities, some of which are necessary to upgrade Spidey. The PC version looks great with graphical settings maxed out on a powerful machine, but I came across some minor technical issues.

My quarrel with Warlords of Draenor is that it does not define the direction for the whole game – it just refreshes it and sets it in order, which is what patches do. There’s not enough novelties and the changes (e.g. randomized loot) are hit and miss. [01/2015, p.52]

Apart from brilliant, genuinely funny dialogues West of Loathing’s biggest strength is its simple but satisfying turned-based combat. [11/2017, p.53]

No surprise here – another remarkably enjoyable title from the series that’s been a definition of a perfect sports game for years. [12/2013, p.66]

Gone Home touches a lot of emotional subjects so it might stir up someone’s feelings, but it failed to move me. [CD-Action 11/2013, p.67]

This is how you restore a classic game – it’s old school, but with modern presentation and some great ideas. [13/2013, p.66]

Turbo Overkill is an action game that throws in pop-culture references at every step and draws heavily on the genre’s achievements but combines everything it borrows in a surprisingly creative way. And unlike many retro shooters that end after four hours, you can actually get your fill of this one.

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

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]

Sports Interactive did not exactly hit the bulls-eye with their latest experiments – The Classic and Challenge modes – but the rest of the game is even more ingenious and addictive than last year. [CD-Action 13/2012, p.56]

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

I’m perfectly aware that Rodeo Stampede does not enrich my life in any way, but it’s so cute and enjoyable that I don’t consider time spent playing it wasted. [09/2016, p.69]

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]

Excellent career mode, tons of additional challenges and fast gameplay. Codemasters did great this year, but I would appreciate including more F1 legends. [11/2017, p.75]

Astebreed is most fun when you try to beat it on high difficulty level without using continues while improving your score over and over again. If you’re not interested in that, you’ll spend no more than one evening with this game. [08/2014, p.73]

Exceptional dialogue served even in most exquisite forms (mini-games, different perspective, mixed chronology) are still not enough for the story to be compatible with this medium or to be worth telling altogether. The result is slow and difficult to ingest and sometimes even unpleasant in its archaic mechanics. [03/2020, p.54]

Hands down the finest version of the best Tomb Raider game. [03/2016, p.68]

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]

Total War and Warhammer are a match made in heaven and Creative Assembly’s latest release is a dream come true for the aficionados of both franchises. As a fan of Game Workshop’s tabletop original I have waited my whole life for this game. [07/2016, p.70]

This curious mix of a roguelike and a reversed bullet hell shooter will either discourage you quickly or – if you give it a chance – amaze you with gameplay intensity and quite complex mechanics revealed gradually. You’ll either love Vampire Survivors or hate it – I don’t see a middle ground here.