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

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

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.

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.

The Last of Us delights with its artistic side but can tire you with its gameplay. It tells an interesting story but doesn’t leave much room for the player. It represents a new quality in the industry but openly borrows a lot of themes from literature, movies and other games. The most important thing however is the fact that several days after I finished The Last of Us, it is still in my head, causing strange uneasiness. I guess that’s what the developers were aiming for. [CD-Action 08/2013, p.62]

Visual improvements and three included DLCs don’t justify buying this game again, but if you haven’t played it on PS3 yet, you’re in for long hours of valuable entertainment. [Sept 2014, p.59]

Astro Bot is an incredibly charming 3D platformer that fell just short of being perfect. What stood in its way were the previous installments, which set the bar high and made the latest game feel not fresh enough in comparison. However, my overall experience with it was simply fantastic.

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]

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]

Hades 2 is a textbook example of what an ideal sequel should look like. More content, more time to spend in the game without feeling bored, and above all, more fun. Industry giants can learn from the small Supergiant Games how to make games.

Arkham City is a wonderful game that we expected it to be but regrettably despite all the enhancements it introduces it is not clearly better than Arkham Asylum. [November 2011, p.36]

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]

Changes introduced by the update are not far-reaching or crucial, but such improvements as fast loading or more comfortable controls make the experience more enjoyable. Looking at character faces, animations, and some elements of gameplay design, it’s hard not to notice The Witcher 3 was released in 2015, but it plays great in 60 FPS, the Continent is beautiful like never before and it’s still the immensely fun game many people fell in love with.

A very solid, but not revolutionary shooter in an amazing setting, with a story that struggles to convey its authors’ ambitions and is only seemingly complex. The vision is less focused than in previous Bioshocks and it does a worse job on binding the plot with gameplay. [CD-Action 05/2013, p.46]

Some say God of War Ragnarok is a below-par effort from Santa Monica Studio, because in reality it’s just a glorified PS4 game. You know what? Just ignore those voices. It’s an excellent sequel whose story perfectly sets the evolving relationship between Kratos and adolescent Atreus against the backdrop of key events from Norse mythology. The scale, the visceral combat, the end of the world looming on the horizon… Play this game, it’s worth it.

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]

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]

Although I can imagine a better game, more open and consistent, I don’t regret any of dozens of hours I spent in the deep, rich and beautiful world of Original Sin II. [12/2017, p.32]

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

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]

It’s the best Persona game to date and when you reach end credits after a hundred or so hours, it’s hard not to feel the pang of sorrow when you realize that the huge, multilayered story is over and you have to say goodbye to virtual friends you’ve made. [06/2017, p.34]

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]

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]

You will soon discover that during fights you can wave your Wii Remote randomly and still defeat most of the enemies. The problem is that apart from the new control system there is nothing fresh in Skyward Sword. [January 2012, p.75]

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]

The beloved highlight of the Resident Evil franchise returns in a form that makes it even easier to love. Capcom did a great job with the remake and it shouldn’t be hard for new players to understand why RE4 is revered by the fans of the series and considered one of the greatest achievements in the genre. Veterans shouldn’t expect changes as far-reaching as those introduced in remade Resident Evil 2, but I believe they will appreciate some well thought out improvements, welcome additions and pleasant surprises.

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]

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]

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.

Uncharted 3 shines in every artistic and technological aspect and offers one of the greatest adventures in the history of gaming. It would be a mistake not to embark on it. [December 2011, p.78]

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

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.

It’s a disgrace not to know this game. [10/2015, p.61]

A very good action game, but a weak Souls game – and even From Software and Sony were referring to Bloodborne as a Souls game. It’s got a solid basis – mixing Dark Souls’ it’s-gonna-be-hard-but-it’s-worth-the-pain character with faster pace – but it’s dragged down by some technical issues (e.g. loading times and framerate instability) and dubious gameplay design choices. [05/2015, p.60]

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]

Street Fighter 6 boasts a superb combat system and provides a lot of freedom in terms of developing your character. Unlike Street Fighter 5, it offers many game modes from the get-go, but unfortunately World Tour is not as interesting as Capcom had us believe it would be. On the other hand, Arcade features excellent environments and pretty character models, but disappoints with its story. Despite those downsides it is a great game smartly designed to be both accessible to newcomers and appealing to veterans.

Shadow of the Erdtree is a great, challenging add-on to an excellent game. It’s filled with surprising lore, chock-full of new content and, above all, well thought out. Distilling what’s best in the base game worked great and we can only regret that this first Elden Ring DLC is also the last one. I want more!

It’s a perfect remake and I think the only people who might be disappointed with it are… the die-hard FromSoftware fans. You see, the new Demon’s Souls shows clearly how much Miyazaki’s games have evolved throughout the years. The Dark Souls series simply does everything better. The remake looks like a prototype in comparison, while still being way ahead of other developers’ achievements in this genre. [01/2021, p.46]

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

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

Buying Crypt of the Necrodancer is one of the most rewarding investments you can make while holding a mobile device. [11/2016, p.73]

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

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]

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]

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

It’s not just a game, it’s a phenomenon. It lets you explore literally the whole planet – cities, mountains, lakes, rivers, even my house was there – from the cockpits of 20-30 (depends on the version of the game) airplanes. Flying experiences are also great and vary from machine to machine. I’m sure I’ll be returning to MFS for years to come. [11/2020, p.38]

No surprises here – and that’s why I’m somewhat disappointed. Diablo IV is a really well-designed game with many undeniable strengths, including dark atmosphere, attractive graphics and decent story, and it’s going to appeal to many fans of the series. What I regret is Blizzard’s lack of courage to push the boundaries and deliver something refreshing.

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

I had a lot of questions in my head when I launched Bayonetta 2 for the first time. Is it possible to design a combat system as awesome as before, make it familiar, but not hackneyed? Is it possible to outshine the closing moments of the first game? The sequel needed just a couple of minutes to dispel all my concerns. [Dec 2014, p.62]

If you haven’t played the original edition, prepare for one of the best stealth/shooter games of recent years and above all a really good story and incredible music. [01/2014, p.65]

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

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

It’s a good remaster, but frankly I find it unnecessary. Those who have already played the game on PS2 or PS3 will find nothing new here, and those who didn’t have the chance to get acquainted with it probably will not understand what we saw in Shadow of the Colossus 12 years ago, when gaming reality was completely different. [03/2018, p.66]

The only thing this brilliant game lacks is the ability to race at night or in the rain. Apart from that it offers almost everything – trying out hundreds of detailed cars on numerous beautiful tracks I felt like a kid in a candy store. [November 2011, p.44]

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

Double Fine did a great job at recreating the spirit of the original Psychonauts. Playing the sequel, I felt like I travelled to the past to spend some time with my favorite childhood game once again. Imprecise controls are a less welcome throwback to 2005, but fiercely intelligent humor, brilliant writing and tons of unconventional ideas make it easy to turn a blind eye to this and some other flaws. [11/2021, p.28]

A tour de force of level design and an attempt to break the world record for the number of explosions and mechanics in a single video game. Split Fiction defies genre classifications and tries really hard to impress the player. Postmodernism at its craziest.

The PS5 version of Persona 5 Royal is the best edition of one of the greatest games of the previous generation. However, is a set of DLCs and an upgrade to 60 frames per second worth paying the price the publisher is asking? I don’t think it is. Someone should break into Atlus’s Palace and change the hearts of the management, because this rip-off is distasteful.

The single player campaign is a thrilling ride through incredibly varied locations. I would rate it 8/10 but the multiplayer unquestionably deserves 10/10 – I can't think of any way to improve it. Especially the Horde 2.0 and Beast modes are terrific. Visuals are fantastic too – one glance is enough to notice the improvements in the Unreal Engine. As a whole Gears of War 3 is an outstanding, platform defining game. [October, p.52]

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

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]

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]

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

The atmosphere of horror is overwhelming and proves that in 2019 there is a place for a Resident-like story in which the modern visuals heighten and not lessen the fear. It’s the best Resident Evil ever. [03/2019, p.40]

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

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]

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]

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

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

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]

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

Two main new features – tactical defending and physics engine – are a bit disappointing for me. The direction itself was right but the execution leaves room for improvement in FIFA 13. It's still a great game though with a lot of minor enhancements and additions. [October, p.48]

One of the best metroidvanias in history with unnecessarily malicious game design and a lack of accessibility options.

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]

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.

I just have one doubt regarding the iOS version of This War of Mine. Depressing struggle of civilians for survival is not a great fit for a mobile game that you’re gonna play in little chunks while commuting. [10/2015, p.75]

First of all, it’s amazing what the developers managed to achieve with a game that made even the most expensive PC graphics cards sweat. The landscapes and cities look simply breathtaking on Xbox Series X, and the console doesn’t get red-hot. However, I did encounter some technical issues, like vanishing textures or even a sudden crash back to the main menu. I’m also not a fan of keeping the interface identical to the PC version, because it means sometimes you need to use your controller as a poor substitute for a mouse. [10/2021, p.67]

It’s one of those moderately necessary remasters, but at least it’s reasonably priced, especially if you already own the game. It offers higher-resolution textures, an opportunity to experience three levels cut from the story campaign, and a quite extensive roguelike mode. These additions won’t blow you away, but they do justify paying 10 bucks for the PS5 upgrade.

Dave the Diver is the best thing I’ve played this year and I wish I had more such stellar games in my life to help me escape the grey reality. Its gameplay loop is terrifyingly addictive and the “one more dive syndrome” lies in wait for anyone who decides to check out this dark horse of the GOTY race.

The port is beautiful and it’s hard to complain about its technical aspects. Unfortunately, the game itself, while still good, is not as fascinating as its predecessors. One simply expects more from a series with such reputation, especially when it comes to the joy of smashing things up.

Great puzzle game with a distinct aftertaste of Zachtronics’ first hit – SpaceChem. [03/2018, p.56]

The most impressive thing about this 2D stealth game is that majority of problems can be solved in various ways depending on your playing style – you don't have to kill anyone. Klei Entertainment (known for two installments of Shank) managed to design a game that rewards not only patience and quick reactions, but also creativity. [12/2012, p.77]

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]

If you haven’t played Okami before on PS2 or Wii, you’re in for a unique journey unlike anything you experienced in front of your console. [CD-Action 02/2013, p.67]

Fans spoiled by sparkling creativity of Super Mario Galaxy may find the latest Mario platformer uninventive, but the pure pleasure it offers makes up for the idea recycling. Plus it features the best 3D I've seen on 3DS so far. [January 2012, p.74]

The Stanley Parable once again charmed me with its narrative and its constant toying with the player. There’s not much game in it but despite that (or maybe because of that) it says a lot about other games and gamers. It’s a brilliant, one-of-a-kind title, now available in a richer, longer version.

With its varied, satisfying fighting styles, tons of equipment, wealth of animals and monsters, online functionality, and attractive visuals Monster Hunter: World is a skillfully concocted drug that keeps you coming back for more despite its lackluster story and some excessively drawn-out encounters. [03/2018, p.44]

Right now it’s the only game that I want to come back to even after a solid beating. It offers a dynamic and balanced gameplay based solely on player skills. If you haven’t tried Dota 2 yet, you need to. [CD-Action 09/2013, p.54]

An almost perfect MMO game and the first one in years that had the guts to drop outdated, 'tried and true' means and replaced them with new, fresh ideas. [11/2012, p.46]

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

I’m very happy that FTL’s developer returned with a new game, as I spent almost 30 hours with Into the Breach and I feel like it was just a moment. [05/2018, p.76]

I never thought I’d enjoy a game where drawing and coloring are gameplay’s core elements. Don’t let the seemingly infantile graphics fool you, because Chicory is much deeper and more serious than you might think. Or rather can be, because it’s for you to decide whether you want to delve into the deeper, darker layer of the game and uncover the therapeutic power of art in the fight against depression. If you don’t, you still get a weird, unusual and very enjoyable mix of an adventure game, a puzzle game, some platforming elements and a coloring book. [09/2021, p.30]

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.