Cairn takes your breath away, and not just because of the lack of oxygen during the climb. The Game Bakers studio revolutionizes the way you move in video games, and its incredibly inventive gameplay brilliantly combines with a story about escapism.

Nintendo has outdone itself again. Tears of the Kingdom is the best game ever made for Switch. It’s a show of developers’ untamed creativity, a huge, complex, well thought-out and intriguing marvel with a unique identity. We will be talking about it for years to come.

I had huge expectations and was nearly certain that the game would fail to live up to them. Fortunately I was wrong – From Software miraculously managed to improve on nearly perfect Dark Souls. [04/2014, p.56]

The best entry to the best platforming series is so ridiculously huge it’s like a theme park made of theme parks. It’s a wonderful tribute to Super Mario 64, but it’s not a lazy homage. Super Mario Odyssey draws inspiration from the superb classic to top it and everything that came after it. [13/2017, p.38]

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]

Prepare for anger, fear, pain and disappointment. As clichéd as it may sound, Naughty Dog has reached a new, seemingly unreachable level of narrative design. The Last of Us Part II will hurt you in ways that no game has ever done before. This is a story you must experience. [08/2020, p.36]

The Witcher 3 is a game I judge with my heart, not with my brain. And my heart says Blood and Wine deserves the highest rating. [07/2016, p.46]

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.

Rockstar promised that the PC edition of GTA V would be the best way to experience this breathtaking game, and that’s exactly what it is. [06/2015, p.48]

Despite all the first grade humour that permeates the dialogues (or maybe – thanks to it?) the Estonians offered us – the Western civilization – a hard pill to swallow. And – as consumers – swallow it we should. I guarantee that by doing it you will forget everything else that has happened in the RPG genre during the last years. And you will not regret it. [13/2019, p.75]

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]

Baldur’s Gate 3 is one of those games that become part of the generational experience. Just like its predecessors, it will be included amongst the greatest cRPGs for many years to come. Not only is it engrossing and immensely entertaining, but perhaps for the first time in history, it offers players the impression of participating in a real-life RPG session.

Cory Barlog and his team achieved what many thought impossible – despite having changed almost everything Santa Monica managed to preserve that elusive spark that makes God of War game feel like a God of War game. They created one of the defining titles of the current generation and a technical marvel whose stunning beauty in motion words cannot describe. And there’s one more thing. Barlog’s touching reaction to his masterpiece’s scores shows that even in the world of huge budgets, micropayments, loot boxes and sales forecasts there still is a place for artists who pour their hearts into their work. We need someone to remind us of that once in a while. [06/2018, p.38]

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.

Elden Ring is a crowning achievement of over a decade of Miyazaki’s and FromSoftware’s work, and an amazing example of how to find a whole new level of fun in a well-known and somewhat worn-out formula. The open world turned out to be a perfect fit for the genre and you can still tell this masterpiece was created by the famous Japanese studio. I honestly haven’t been so excited about a game since the first Dark Souls.

I was truly shocked by how good Breath of the Wild is. Nintendo decided to wade into the sandbox games genre dominated by western developers and the result is an open world which outrivals all Assassin’s Creeds, Skyrims, The Witchers and Just Causes combined and offers unprecedented degree of interaction. Simply put, Breath of the Wild is the unbelievable new standard for open world games. [05/2017, p.56]

I played dozens of point’n’click games over the years and The Dream Machine might be the best of them all. [CD-Action 10/2013, p.68]

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]

The best thing in the space shooters genre, or – to be precise – the 'bullet hell' subgenre. [November 2011, p.83]

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

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.

This very simple jRPG is the funniest game I have ever played. [12/2015, p.68]

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]

Years go by and Homeworlds remain the best real-time space strategies ever created. [04/2015, p.68]

A masterpiece that you simply must play. I feel stupid for not having done it on PS2 12 years ago. [03/2017, p.49]

Yakuza 0 is a diamond that no gamer should ignore irrespective of whether they’re drawn to Japanese games or not. Grand Theft Auto has a much larger budget, but Yakuza has a much bigger heart. [03/2017, p.50]

The latest adventure game by the developers of Botanicula and Machinarium will once again delight you with its beauty, but will also drag you into its amazing surreal world with a charming story. [10/2020, p.81]

Simply put, Mario Kart Deluxe 8 is an absolute must-have, as it’s the most accessible party/racing game in existence, its 48 tracks are busting with breathtaking ideas and it looks and sounds amazing. [07/2017, p.48]

If you’re looking for something pretty, scary and uncommon, Ice-Pick Lodge’s game is an excellent choice. Instead of 3 hours needed to complete Knock-knock I’ve already got 15 on my timer and I don’t regret any of it. [12/2013, p.60]

The more you play, the better you understand how brilliantly the developers translated a strategic card game to a 3D fighting game. It’s great that this forgotten, absolutely unique Xbox gem now has a chance to reach broader audience. [07/2017, p.63]

The Norwood Suite shames all other walking simulators with the quality of its storytelling and the way it uses player interactions in the narrative. It’s a unique, intelligent and ambitious game that eludes simple interpretation. [13/2017, p.37]

Amazing story. Amazing experience. It’s amazing what games can become if we let them. Pathologic’s execution is very, very bad, but it is still one of the best games I have ever played. [01/2016, p.56]

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.

One of the best games for new consoles. Maybe even the best one. [Nov 2014, p.58]

It’s full of detail, pretty small things, and surprisingly well working simulations and systems – everything polished in such a way that the player really does care about everything that’s going on. [06/2020, p.40]

One of the best and most popular series from Japanese arcades finally travels to the West. The single player mode is solid at most, but the multiplayer is worthy of a Game of the Year, mainly thanks to an amazing movement system. [13/2017, p.51]

Skyrim has some minor issues but as a whole is a brilliant RPG. It offers you a wonderful world full of legends and mysteries, tens of guilds and factions that you can join, freedom and myriad of side quests, a great character development and an extensive crafting system. It was very close to receiving 10/10. [December 2011, p.56]

The ultimate edition of the best fighting game currently available. [05/2016, p.59]

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

It’s an XCOM on steroids, with buckets of blood. The best game in the genre in this century and absolute must-have. [06/2020, p.52]

Rockstar did not have to try hard – GTA V would sell on new consoles even it was the same game as before. It’s hard to underestimate both their ambition and effort to make their latest offering something more than a simple reissue. The new first person view really changes the gameplay and alone is worth your money. [01/2015, p.36]

In a nutshell, Destiny 2 for PC is the same outstanding game we played on consoles, but even more enjoyable thanks to spectacular visuals, masterful optimization and much more suitable controls. [13/2017, p.75]

Regardless of the platform (PC or PS4) Beat Saber is one of the best VR games ever created. I know that slashing flying cubes with lightsabers might not sound like much fun, but believe me that it is, in no small part thanks to the fact that your movements are recreated in the virtual world perfectly. [02/2019, p.33]

This game’s playability puts to shame everything that’s been released for the new generation of consoles. [06/2014, p.54]

Great visuals, wonderful audio, varied gameplay, interesting idea for internet co-op and remarkable atmosphere make this Journey unforgettable. [April 2012, p.68]

It’s not just a great fighting game and a perfect party title, uncommonly enjoyable and absurdly rich in content that should suffice for literally years of fun. It’s also an amazing homage to the history of video games. [02/2019, p.60]

You can definitely feel Shovel Knight vibes, which is not surprising, as the developers of the 2014 hit platformer offered to help polish Cyber Shadow and published it. The result is a spectacular game full of surprises, ingenious pitfalls and fantastic boss encounters. Add a simply brilliant level design, wonderful art style and great adrenaline-pumping music, and you get a game you want more and more of despite of dying all the time. [03/2021, p.46]

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]

Astonishing scale, great execution and vast, fresh contents. [13/2015, p.72]

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]

Although in terms of gameplay mechanics The Old Republic closely resembles World of Warcraft, it's not just another MMO. It's a full-blooded RPG that makes your character important from the start and tells stories that are worth following. It also allows you to enjoy them alone if you're not keen on that whole multiplayer thing. There are a lot of unknowns in TOR's future but I keep my fingers crossed for it to be bright. [February 2012, p.50]

Pathologic 3 is a beautifully designed, thought-provoking production that experiments with its own form. The narrative and gameplay form a harmonious whole, offering an experience that is both fundamentally different and very similar to the previous installments in the series.

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.

It’s an huge, outstanding piece of art – worth the hard-earned cash as well as countless hours that are needed to get to know at least some of the attractions of Rockstar’s rendition of Wild West. For those who put story first – the biggest virtue of Red Dead Redemption 2 is that it sets the stage for RDR 1 and does it wonderfully. [13/2018, p.40]

It’s a wonderful gift for Crash fans and platformer fans in general. When I heard the first beats of the reworked Crash Bandicoot 3 theme song, I was literally close to tears. It’s great to see you again, mate, I really missed you. [09/2017, p.40]

An essence of pure, unpretentious fun, a work of geniuses with untamed creative powers. I simply can’t imagine a human being that will not enjoy this wonderful, beautiful game. [CD-Action 11/2013, p.66]

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 truly outstanding game raises the bar to new heights that will be extremely hard to reach for BioWare, Bethesda and any other developer. [07/2015, p.38]

If I had to choose just one game to play for the rest of my life, it would be Melty Blood. [07/2016, p.74]

An uncomplicated, brilliant scoring system, simple but very stylish visuals and dynamic difficulty level make Blue Revolver a true masterpiece. [13/2016, p.65]

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]

This is without a doubt Supergiant’s best game – highly polished, designed to be replayed time after time over dozens or even hundreds of hours, friendly towards rookies, full of fun content, and addictive as hell. It also looks great and the voice acting is superb. [12/2020, p.52]

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]

I honestly did not expect such a stellar game. Crash Bandicoot 4 is breathtakingly beautiful, features an amazing soundtrack full of references to the original trilogy, offers tons of content, and thrilled me to bits with its brilliant level design. What’s more, it stayed true to its gameplay roots, while introducing loads of great new mechanics. For me it’s the game of the year. I salute you, Toys For Bob! [12/2020, p.58]

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]

Alyx proves that Valve is still capable of great things; it shows what VR should be and what it will be in the future. A new beginning for virtual reality and gaming in whole. [05/2020, p.52]

It’s been seven years since Vanquish debuted on consoles, but its gameplay hasn’t aged a bit (which means it’s still impressive as hell) and benefits from 60 fps offered by the PC version. [08/2017, p.56]

It’s an extraordinary, poetic, stuffed with content and full of the Western atmosphere sandbox which will be played for years to come. [13/2019, p.76]

There was nothing in the way of Age of Wonders III maintaining the quality level of its predecessors. But that did not happen and instead of another solid title we got a game that will make every armchair strategist cry... tears of joy. [05/2014, p.52]

The perfectly designed moves and combos, including iconic Witch Time, seem to have never aged a day. Apart from the somewhat dated color grading, Bayonetta is an action game classic. [04/2020, p.68]

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.

It’s a freaking masterpiece! Do yourself a favor and experience it if you haven’t done it yet. [06/2015, p.68]

I tried to criticize this game for something but it really does age like a good wine and today tastes even better than in 1998. In most cases digging up the gaming past leads to disappointment but this time I was having a blast. [August 2011, p.71]

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is perhaps the most enjoyable game I've had the opportunity to play since Baldur's Gate 3's debut. What a couple of dozen Frenchmen have managed to do should be an example of what single-player productions are supposed to look like.

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]

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]

If you enjoy crafting and management, Factorio is unbelievably addictive. It’s also bursting at the seams with content, offers an editor, and a multiplayer, so whether you’re looking for a game to get you through a pandemic lockdown, or a title to spend years with on a desert island, Factorio is one of the best ideas. [11/2020, p.37]

If you haven’t played the game yet, fish out some cashish from your pocket and fix that serious oversight immediately. The work done by Beamdog on the remaster does not justify the purchase on its own, but Planescape: Torment is still the best RPG game ever created. [06/2017, p.46]

Despite the fact that the original was released seven years ago, Bayonetta is one of this year’s most important PC games. In its field it’s still unbeatable and the port leaves very little to be desired. [06/2017, p.48]

Let’s put it plainly: if you don’t play Saints Row IV, it means you hate having fun. [CD-Action 10/2013, p.40]

I liked almost everything about this outstanding roguelike – the atmosphere, the wonderful visuals, the unbelievably exciting combat, the unforgettable narrator, the challenge it poses, the uncommon replay value. [03/2016, p.52]

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]

For many developers creating a new edition of last year's best sports game would be an overwhelming task. But not for the guys behind NBA 2K12, who coped with it brilliantly. [November 2011, p.78]

Loads of great new furniture (including modular sofas) and a new career (that you can combine with a different full-time job) make this expansion a dream come true for anyone who’s into interior design. This time EA and Maxis gave it 200% and there’s literally nothing I dislike about Dream Home Decorator. [08/2021, p.61]

This game makes you crawl like a goddamn worm, in constant fear of being squashed. I was scared to leave the closet I was hiding in, because the monster was somewhere out there. [Dec 2014, p.68]

Despite some nods towards younger generation of gamers it’s still good old Guilty Gear. [03/2014, p.71]

Has everything required to claim the first place in my private ranking of tower defense games. [03/2014, p.73]

Nioh 3 brings the formula developed by its predecessors to near perfection, and the open, yet not overly expansive, world is a great addition. The complex combat system, while requiring skill to use to its full potential, is one of the best in the genre.

It’s a shame that such an amazing game is trapped inside PS3 and therefore is condemned to frequent technical issues caused by the lack of power and will never gain the popularity it deserves. [02/2016, p.46]

Super Mario Bros. Wonder is not a safe addition to the franchise, it’s a new spin on Nintendo’s platformers. The Japanese developer delivered amazing graphics, smooth gameplay, and a multitude of previously unseen features, while the effects caused by wonder flowers are more exciting than riding a roller coaster. A must-have for Switch owners.

Fascinating character design makes every fight a breathtaking spectacle. [09/2015, p.49]

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]

The best hack’n’slash I've played in recent years. If the visuals are not the most important aspect for you and what you crave is a juicy adventure in a growing world (subsequent acts are on their way) full of monsters to slay, skills to acquire and loot to collect, you need to give Path of Exile a try. [13/2013, p.60]

The world of Below Zero is much smaller than its predecessor’s, but it is still an absolutely brilliant survival game that tells an interesting story set in a fascinating environment. Additionally, it is more friendly towards less experienced players, and managed to get rid of some technical issues that affected the original Subnautica. [08/2021, p.78]

Seemingly, it’s more of what we’ve already seen from Supermassive Games: a group of characters, a branching storyline, numerous QTE’s and tons of important decisions to make. However, the devil’s in the details – very interesting narrative style, the pace of the game and it’s surprising story make The Quarry Supermassive’s greatest achievement to date.

One of the best looking 2D titles of this year and a game that you can spend 50 or 100 hours with and still not have enough. And if you have three friends to enjoy the co-op mode with, Dragon’s Crown is amazing. [13/2013, p.64]

As usually Nintendo squeezed every last drop of fun out of a simple idea. [04/2015, p.59]

Kojima finally found the reasonable balance between gameplay and storytelling. The Phantom Pain is a game like no other and I would love to find a way to experience it for the first time again. [10/2015, p.44]