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]