It took sixteen years, but Psychonauts 2 is worth the wait.

Tekken 8 sets a new standard in the fighting game genre, brilliantly blending a vast array of characters, innovative gameplay, cutting-edge visuals, and user-friendly features, making it an ideal choice for both series veterans and newcomers alike.

Overall, Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty is exactly what CDProjekt Red promised three years ago. An awesome adventure in a cyberpunk world that feels alive. Between a great story and massive changes to core systems Cyberpunk 2077 is finally a very good game.

Tetris Effect combines the simplicity of Tetris with an evocative and awe-inspiring mixture of music and visuals to create an experience unlike any other.

Dead Space kicks off 2023’s AAA horror lineup with a seamless, masterful execution of action and frights.

Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration is a monument to the gaming industry, and with new titles is an easy recommend for Atari and Video Game history fans.

Short but packing a hell of a wallop, Gravity Circuit delivers on most of what fans of Mega Man X and Zero would want out of a fast, challenging 2D platformer.

In reinventing Fire Emblem for a new console generation, Three Houses doubles down on its philosophy of player choice, but neglects to make all choices equally valid.

NieR:Automata: The End of YoRHa Edition is an outstanding port of a must-play action-RPG, and should serve as the gold standard of Switch ports from now on.

While it may be missing the visual improvements that came with the RTX version of the game, the quality of life additions, amount of content, and jaw-dropping new campaign make this remaster a must-play for fans new and old.

I might not be as hypnotized with Stardew Valley as a lot of other folks, but it's pretty much the Harvest Moon follow-up I've been waiting for since the SNES and Nintendo 64 days.

Death Stranding 2: On The Beach takes its predecessor's foundation and builds a bigger, better game on top—keeping everything that worked, and improving what didn’t 10-fold.

If you’re looking for an action-RPG with a substantial story to fill the Diablo void in your life, then Bastion will be right up your alley. It plays well, has a striking aesthetic, and a unique story.

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth sets a new standard for the Yakuza series with its captivating story, mesmerizing gameplay, and richly detailed side activities.

Resident Evil Requiem feels like the culmination of everything the series has been building to and building on over the last thirty years. The story, gameplay, and sound design are all remarkable.

With a level of polish unseen in the genre, Apex Legends is the best battle royale ever made.

The story, music and level design in I Expect You To Die 3: A Cog In The Machine is top of its class and I cant wait to see what else Schell Games brings to us.

Vicarious Visions have restored two childhood favorite games with Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater to near perfection and proven once again, rollerbladers drool, skateboards rule.

Alan Wake 2 is possibly one of the greatest pieces of storytelling crafted, and is a must play title.

Castlevania Dominus Collection is a solid compilation that brings three exemplary classics out of their DS dungeon, and it’s a must-play for any Metroidvania fan.

A few minor shortcomings aside, Battlefield 1 is just the type of reinvigoration that the franchise needed.

Due to a myriad of technical hiccups, finicky controller support and some uneven changes, Disco Elyisum – The Final Cut is disappointingly not the best version of this otherwise sophisticated and ingenious game.

Horizon Zero Dawn is the gaming equivalent of realizing that sounding too much like the legends—when done well—is just fine.

Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut on PC is a fantastic port and an absolute joy to play, far eclipsing its PlayStation 5 equivalent.

Stardew Valley has been the most rich and heartwarming experience I’ve had in a game in years.

Naughty Dog have created a masterpiece of a remake in The Last of Us Part 1. All of the emotion and action has been brought to the PS5 in stunning fashion.

Alto’s Odyssey not only serves up a fantastic succession to the original Alto’s Adventure but also delivers a gaming experience for the ages.

Monster Hunter Wilds may very well set the standard for not just how Monster Hunter plays but also how it tells its story.

What Remains of Edith Finch required me to carry out acts knowing full well how they’d play out. The game isn’t gruesome by any stretch, but it’s not a story of happy endings. It’s a story of sad retellings and painful memories, but ones that a family is desperate to preserve. And despite the painful things I saw unfold in the Finches’ home, I’m glad they preserved those memories for me to find.

Lorelei and the Laser Eyes fails to capture its intended mystery-filled story because of having to headbutt against puzzles non-stop and some glaring control issues.

Super Mario Maker delivers everything you could want from it’s endearingly simple concept and it’s likely a gift that will keep on giving for years to come.

DUSK is a bloody good time on Switch that perfectly evokes the spirit of the best 90’s shooters.

Mewgenics is a standout RTS-Roguelike that Frankenstein's together the best of both genres in a freakishly delightful new breed of fun.

NieR: Automata is the rare gaming experience in which narrative, aesthetics, and gameplay all complement each other to form a perfect storm of master class game design. A truly exemplary example of what video games are capable of as an art form, and a new personal favorite.

With a wealth of new content to enjoy, on top of the already excellent and expansive base game, Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration just about makes up for its late debut onto PS4.

Ori and the Will of the Wisps maintains its brilliance while introducing an incredible new combat system.

Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania is a fun and challenging action-platformer that will stimulate the part of the older gamers’ brains that loves nostalgia, while teaching a new generation that a 2D game can still be great, even in 2023.

With over a dozen games in the long-running series, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart still manages to feel fresh and exciting, taking full advantage of the PlayStation 5 by delivering what, for many, may be their first taste at a definitive next-gen feeling game for the still-budding platform.

Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles is a deftly rebuilt iteration of a foundational title—making the must-play strategy-RPG easier to enjoy than ever before.

It isn’t an overstatement to say that the attention paid to diversifying the look and tactical possibilities of the levels is key to what makes XCOM 2 work.

While Dishonored 2 takes multiple strides to improve off of the original I’m left feeling only half of them hit the mark. The gameplay and the world hooked me in exactly as before and I had high hopes for the story, but the decisive part Arkane Studios wasn’t able to execute on was the choice between playing as one of two characters.

A sequel should always be better, and Horizon Forbidden West is much better than its predecessor, by a distance as great as the journey itself.

13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is a finely woven story with strategic elements that is a satisfying addition to the Vanillaware lineup, but fans not into anime or Sci-Fi may feel isolated in this futuristic world.

DEATHLOOP won't be a game for everyone—however, if you are a fan of sandbox styled titles or if you just like games like Dishonored, DEATHLOOP is a familiar feeling experience presented in a unique way that makes it feel fresh and fun to play.

This is a beautiful, surprisingly poignant, and simply well-designed take on a familiar genre.

The Talos Principle II gives you a philosophical deep dive into yourself while offering some challenging puzzles as well. A great entry in the series.

Metroid Dread is a wonderful, modern take on a classic game from childhood. It looks as beautiful as any of today’s games, but has a feel of the games of old. The scary tone of the game and its intense foes give you a challenge worthy of the series.

Cult of the Lamb is a fantastic game with a novel idea that gives the player many activities to do while making your very own Heaven’s Gate. A must play for fans of any genre.

The Switch makes a near-perfect home for Super Mario Maker 2, an exceptional platformer as well as a boundless course editor.

Devil May Cry 5’s risk-averse approach grounds it as other games in the genre are reaching for the sky.

Ultimately, Kingdom Rush: Vengeance provides players with a competent tower defense title that stands out from the saturated genre thanks to its colourful art style, quirky story beats and its role-reversal on good versus evil.

Pipistrello and the Cursed YoYo is not only a loving tribute to classic GBA games, but a serious elevation of the style.

Monster Hunter Rise is shaping up to be my favourite Monster Hunter to date. From the fluid and in-depth gameplay, to the ingeniously designed new monsters, to the insanely fun gimmicks that add new levels of mobility, Capcom has outdone themselves with their latest entry in the franchise yet again.

A visually resplendent strategy game that makes every turn feel important and every approach viable.

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is an excellent remake of an excellent game with enough modern additions to make it feel fresh and new.

And for anyone who’s only after the multiplayer, well, I could say anything I want up top, because all you need to hear is that it’s still StarCraft—but more.

Monster Hunter World is one of the best games of the year, and it shines brightly on the PC.

The whole of Diablo III comes to Nintendo’s hybrid console six years after release, and while it might not be the prettiest, it is the portable-est.

Legion absolutely feels like an expansion that will improve on everything good Blizzard can deliver, and will hopefully shape into an absolute monster of an expansion.

Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire is a sequel that surpasses the original in nearly every way, and is an RPG that should not be missed.

Owlboy is a phenomenal adventure that succeeds in telling a captivating story with interesting characters and enjoyable gameplay.

While the sweetest fruits will be saved for those with an appreciation of philosophy and history, the elation of solving a puzzle that you spent an evening trying to crack is a reward that anyone can enjoy.

Night in the Woods reminds me of an old, relatively unknown PC adventure gem called The Adventures of Willy Beamish. It's unconventional, deals with a younger character, and while irreverent, has a lot of commentary on life that applies to just about everyone. I have a feeling Night in the Woods is going to benefit a lot from word of mouth the same way Undertale did, but just in case it doesn't, take my recommendation - go play it.

Team Ninja knocks it out of the park with their take on Samurai Dark Souls.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 had a lot of promise, with its gripping story and beautiful landscapes, at least until the technical issues started showing up and completely ruined the experience.

In terms of PlayStation 5 upgrades, Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate delivers a razor-sharp 4k image, with brief loading times thanks to the power of the new SSD in addition to a consistent and locked high framerate, making it the ideal choice for competitive play outside of perhaps the PC. Like the Switch version of MK11, thanks to the Dualsense controller, Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate feels excellent, with each attack and blow accompanied by a satisfying rumble that helps bring the game to life.

Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection takes two already great action-adventure games (A Thief's End + The Lost Legacy) and brings them to PC with a satisfying suite of visual and control tweaks to maximise the fun.

Street Fighter 6 is an almost uncompromising port of one of the best entries into the long-running fighting game series and is one of the best ways to play it on the go.

Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is an excellent 2D action platformer, and is a must play for fans of ninjas, action titles, or fans that want a great game for half price.

Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter is a stunning remake that staunchly secures the series’ leading place in modern RPGs.

Stormblood helps Final Fantasy XIV soar to new heights in storytelling, visuals, and gameplay, inching one of the best MMORPGs ever created even closer to perfection.

My only real complaint with The Old Hunters is the length. Depending on how you play it, you can easily finish the entire thing in under a few hours.

Persona 3 Reload is a must-play for Persona fans, old and new, revitalizing a beloved classic into a modern JRPG worth revisiting or experiencing for the first time.

XCOM 2’s console version is a buggy mess cobbled together from a far better game, and the worst possible way to experience the game.

Injustice is back and good lord is it ever a blast.

Newcomers and veterans alike should draw their swords for this one, because Ghost of Tsushima excels on the PS5 and strikes just shy of perfection.

You'll either love or hate The Witness as it will either make you feel smart or stupid. If you don't love puzzles and deep philosophical thoughts, perhaps avoid this one.

It’s fast and fun; satisfying and elegant. You won’t want to put Dead Cells away.

The Nioh Collection on PlayStation 5 collects two excellent and instant classics together in one well polished and tough experience that will give new console owners something to sink their teeth into for the foreseeable future, while bringing with it, technical improvements that take advantage of the more capable hardware.

Civilization VI is a rock solid port that keeps the game’s strengths – and flaws – intact for consoles.

Final Fantasy VII Remake does the impossible, somehow allowing me to relive one of the biggest gaming moments of my childhood as if it were new.

Cuphead is a great addition to the Switch library, it’s also a game that just feels right at home on a Nintendo platform, thanks to its colourful aesthetics and old-school difficulty. I can’t recommend the game enough, even for those players who may have already played the title during its initial release on other platforms.

The Arcade Edition certainly makes up for all the criticisms tossed at the Street Fighter V for lacking content. This is a damn fine fighting game now, it’s just a shame everyone had to wait two years to get it.

Astral Chain is a fantastic character action game that reimagines the subgenre at its core with a completely original and immensely satisfying combat system.

Telling Lies is a game defined by the individual’s own terms and parameters, rewarding the wide spectrum of curiosity of anyone willing to put the time and thought into its mysteries.

As long as all you’re asking for is the epic conclusion to the Kazama Kiryu saga on something other than a PlayStation and you aren’t expecting the game to fully leverage the added horsepower of an Xbox Series console, you should be in for a great time with Yakuza 6: The Song of Life.

Star Ocean The Second Story R is a lovingly-crafted remaster of a golden age RPG that offers a replayable and approachably complex adventure.

This game deserves attention. It's a good addition to the rogue-like, and nobody else is going to get a chance to make rhythm-based games like this again. The bar's set pretty high after this.

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance eclipses its predecessor in every way, making it one of the best turn-based JPRGs of the year.

While it can feel a little linear at times, there is something magical about the start to any Pokémon adventure, and that’s what makes Pokémon Sun so great.

SAROS is head and shoulders above Returnal, which was already a stellar reinvention of the bullet-hell genre, thanks to a richer story, tougher enemies and gameplay systems that tailor the game to the player.

Pikmin 4 brilliantly shows how to take the same set of mechanics and throw them into a new mode or challenge in order to keep things fresh, even if it can come off as repetitive at times.

Final Fantasy XVI melds the best of the series’ themes with a modern, malleable take on combat—creating a heartrending, generation-defining tale of revenge, fate, and freedom.

The Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection is every bit as good as the individual games were upon their original release. This remastered collection shows exactly why the Uncharted series was and is so highly regarded, even 6 and 5 years later, respectively.

Gran Turismo 7 is the definitive driving experience of this generation, but may be a lot to take in for the casual player.

Enter the Gungeon is a full-clip of awesome, loaded into a gun of perfection and fired onto the most interesting console.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle makes a strong attempt to bring Indy back to gaming with a great narrative and exceptional puzzles, but its minute-to-minute gameplay suffers from frequent perspective changes and clunky combat.

Dragon Ball FighterZ is the perfect marriage of source material enriched gameplay and original presentation. Ark System Works has created a fantastic experience that a wide audience of players and passionate fans are sure to enjoy.