Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is not just a good Metroidvania game, but it is a great addition to the catalogue of titles in the Prince of Persia franchise.

Arkham Knight is quite simply the Batman game that anyone who obsesses over the caped crusader always dreamed would exist.

I firmly believe Insomniac has crafted the best Spider-Man game to date. Whether you are a just a fan of the movies or a devout reader of the comics, Spider-Man is a console exclusive everyone who owns as PlayStation 4 needs to experience.

Okami HD is a good action game, but it is a better game about how a dog can enhance a life. Ammy is a wonderful protagonist with a natural puppy charm, one who steals every scene with her playful yet serene expressions, and through her big heart improves the lives of those around her. She digs up the yard sometimes and barks a lot, but she means well, making the world a better, happier, brighter, and funnier place.

Monster Hunter Rise brings an already great game and improves it thanks to the power of more capable hardware, ultimately making it more accessible to a broader audience of players.

Despite its confusing introduction and uneven narrative, Wasteland 2 is successful at what it sets out to do. It maintains the spirit of its predecessor without feeling like it’s been designed for pre-existing fans of the genre to enjoy.

Gotta Protectors is a frenetic and charming celebration of retro Japanese games that rises above its low-fidelity presentation to deliver one seriously addictive experience.

Destiny 2: The Witch Queen represents the highest peak the franchise has seen in years, if not ever. Held back by some grindiness and nigh-inpenetrable plot gates, it’s one of the smoothest FPS experiences available today, thanks to its best story yet and a host of gameplay adjustments.

Tinykin does a lot with a little, taking the ideas of the game’s that inspired it and making something wholly its own.

Microsoft and Turn10 have done a wonderful job putting together another Forza game that is near flawless from an artistic and technical viewpoint.

Fire Emblem Fates: Conquest is another feather in the cap of Nintendo and is another top-notch title on the 3DS. It lives up to its franchises reputation and even if you don’t want to spend the extra money to unlock the entire experience, the individual game without the DLC is worth it.

Theatrhythm Final Bar Line is more than a love letter to Final Fantasy and its esteemed soundtracks—it’s a robust hybrid of RPG elements and rhythm gameplay, bolstered by accessibility options and a mountain of content, building on its 3DS forefathers in every way.

If you are looking for the game equivalent of a high-stakes spy thriller, love an equal balance of stealth, action, puzzles and sandbox play, or simply love the fantasy of flying to exotic locations, meeting highly interesting people and killing them, Hitman 3 has your number.

Ultimately, Doom Eternal is a violent and visceral tribute to single-player shooters, one that rewards skilled players and punishes those who may think they already know everything there is to know about the first-person shooter genre.

Final Fantasy VI Pixel Remaster is emblematic of the whole Pixel Remaster line: an accessibly modern yet aesthetically authentic re-release of an essential RPG.

Players looking for a Souls-borne meets Link From the Past meets Metroidvania experience all wrapped into one need look no further than the delightful Death’s Door; just make sure to pack plenty of patience and don’t let the door hit your face on the way in.

Mass Effect Legendary Edition is one of the finest remasters made to-date. For newcomers and veterans alike, it's the essential version of a must-play trilogy, honouring its strengths while smoothing out most of its faults.

Wolfestein 2: The New Colossus is a gorgeous, fluid shooter with an delightful story and characters filled with good ‘ol Nazi killing satisfaction.

Few titles seem to capture the timelessness that Katamari Damacy Reroll does, with bright visuals and a silly play style that are just as fun and unique now as they were years ago.

Owlboy is a masterpiece. Plain and simple.

Return to Monkey Island is a game that any fan of the series should love (regardless of its initially unorthodox art style) and one that players can tailor to their particular skill level. Having spent many hours navigating its treacherous islands, sailing its high seas, and matching wits (and swords) with an endearingly quirky cast of characters, I can easily say that this is one adventure you won’t want to miss the boat on.

Persona 3 Portable is a must-play for ALL RPG fans, and with its inclusion on Xbox Game Pass, a MUST try for all gamers.

The game is a brilliant and complete version of Dark Souls 2, with enough fresh content and tweaks to encourage veterans.

Lumines Arise is an accomplishment. By sticking to the base gameplay that made Lumines a staple in puzzle games for the past two decades, Enhance focused on bringing more bells and whistles to the experience while allowing the gameplay to shine on its own. With infectious audio beats and visuals that bleed off the screen, Lumines Arise beckons players to take a night off from the club to stay in. Lumines. With sharp gameplay, crisp visuals, online matches, and many modes and customization options, Lumines Arise is a puzzle gamer’s dream, and it will let you cut the line to get in each time you fire it up.

Persona 4 Golden remains one of my favourite RPGs of all time and this rock solid PC port is quickly becoming the definitive release of the game for me.

Dispatch is an incredible narrative experience wrapped around an idea so good that it could stand alone as its own game. [Full Series review]

With impeccable world-building and compelling exploration, Sunless Skies is a haunting journey that is worth traversing time and time again.

Total War: Warhammer 2 is a fantastic love letter to both Warhammer fans and strategy game players alike.

Hi-Fi RUSH is a highly enjoyable action-adventure fuses the solid, hack n’ slash combat of Devil May Cry with enthralling rhythm-based mechanics, while also blurring the lines between anime and Saturday Morning Cartoons to deliver a larger-than-life protagonist whose story is just as much fun to watch as he is to play.

Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection collects seven arcade-accurate ROMs in one comprehensive collection.

Bionic Bay combines floaty platform mechanics and wild abilities to make fast, frantic, and intelligent puzzles and an experience that is thoroughly intoxicating.

Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered for PC misses out on a few quality-of-life changes, but this definitive port blows the PS5 version away with limitless customization on graphics, controls and performance tuning.

ANTONBLAST is a game that both embraces and exceeds its inspiration. If you were a fan of Wario Land or even Pizza Tower then you were probably already going to love this, but I can safely say I think you’re going to love it for reasons beyond the games it was inspired by. Its silly, chaotic style will be incredibly approachable for newcomers, and its plethora of extras and collectables will be catnip for fans of the genre. You might even say, ANTONBLAST is a one-Ton Blast.

Halo Infinite brings together the best gameplay elements from the Bungie Halo era, doubles down on Halo CE’s sandbox environments to encompass its entire open world structure and brings new gameplay mechanics that will no doubt become a permanent part of its design document going forward, making it an experience no shooter fan can afford to miss.

Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition graces the Nintendo Switch with one final gift from its underappreciated older sibling, the Nintendo Wii U, bringing with it the best version of the already stellar JRPG experience.

Absolum is a standout melding of genres and one of the best roguelikes of the year, making it a multiplayer must-play.

Iconoclasts is a near-constant delight, offering story that can be charming or silly or insightful, combat that is involved, puzzles that challenge the mind, and a feeling of endless excitement and adventure.

Fallout 4 is a bit of a mixed bag. While it’s certainly enjoyable and I highly recommend it, I’m not sure if this is the revolutionary Fallout title that we’ve all been waiting for. It really feels less like Fallout 4 and more like Fallout 3.75. Longtime fans will definitely find a game they love here, without question (I do too), and newcomers will find a game that’s a little easier to approach and equally enjoyable to get into.

I can’t help but feel a little remorse that Dimension Shellshock‘s features weren’t included from day one. This was the sort of extracurricular content I felt was missing originally. If you haven’t given up on the turtles, or if you’re jonesing for more after Mutant Mayhem, it’s worth dusting Shredder’s Revenge off for another spin.

Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection is a slice of action gaming joy well worth a look for fans of the series and an absolute must-own for newbies. If you’ve never dabbled in Uncharted, get it immediately. You are about to have so much fun with a controller in your hands that it should probably be illegal.

In the end, this is not my favourite version of Rocket League, but it is one that you can enjoy. The gameplay is identical to the other versions in most ways, but the graphics of the Switch version are ugly. The resolution is so low.

Although it can be tough at times to jump into an era that you’re unfamiliar with, The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles masterfully offers all of the gameplay you’d hope for without leaning on other iterations for story content.

Age of Empires 2: The Definitive Edition has made the transition to console surprisingly well, giving a new range of people a chance to play one of RTS’s most beloved classics in a new way.

Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time may not be the biggest upgrade over its last-generation release, but for a game that just came out a year prior, it does what it needs to do and presents the best console version of an already well-polished game for players to enjoy.

Unicorn Overlord combines the stellar Vanillaware aesthetic in a tactical RPG experience that feels like a modern classic in the making.

StudioMDHR transports players back into a 1930s cartoon with Cuphead, A stunning yet difficult title.

With each season they have iterated on the already strong foundation, creating more content and characters, all of which gel together in spite of the fact that it went through a developer change.

Though Rise of the Tomb Raider wastes little time in getting Lara into the thick of a brand new adventure, it’s still burdened by much of its predecessor’s baggage.

Fans of Total War and Warhammer can now rejoice and form a pact as this is a game that blends the two franchises together beautifully.

It’s never been easier to play the Zero Escape titles than it is now, and for the money, any fan of heady narratives and fun puzzles is in for several hours of quality entertainment.

Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak is an amazing—albeit, questionably expensive add on.

Whatever your feelings are of the original DmC, credit has to be given for the sizable chunk of new additions made to this remaster.

For newcomers, this is the game to start with, but the franchise does still feel a little exclusive with the mountains of text you have to read to get a basic understanding of how the game works.

Players looking for a fun co-op experience or those who don’t care about paying a little extra can quickly jump into Dragon Quest Builders 2 for an improved experience and a healthy dose of new mechanics and features.

Hideo Kojima's PlayStation 4 title Death Stranding has landed on PC, bringing with it a new standard of console ports.

Yakuza 0 is a great game, and it’s PC port keeps the game’s charm completely intact.

The excellent Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart gets a very strong port. It has a few blemishes but this is still the absolute best way to play a game that’s an adventurous blast from start to finish.

Asgard’s Wrath 2 is a near perfect VR RPG. Between its compelling story, great gameplay mechanics and scope it’s a must play for all VR Meta Quest owners. With just a few tweaks to the accessibility, it could have been perfect.

Bloober Team has crafted a Silent Hill 2 remake that respects the original while delivering a fresh, terrifying experience.

Opus: Prism Peak is a remarkable narrative experience with a clear love of the art of photography and a genuine message to impart.

Anonymous;Code is a stellar addition to the Science Adventure that’s sure to please fans, but still holds enough for newcomers to jump into as well.

While DKCTF’s levels are quite long, have frequent checkpoints, as well as the simplicity and fun of its gameplay, and an overall fast pace make it perfect for gaming on the go.

The hand of [Her Story’s] developer never intrudes far enough to spoil the basic thrill of solving a narrative puzzle completely on one’s own.

Mario Kart World breaks away from series tradition to great success, even if it is slowed down by an interconnected yet barren world.

Nioh 3 takes the best elements of the series past and Team Ninja's legacy in delivering one of the most fun and feature-rich action games to start off the new year.

Pentiment is a vibrant adventure that fully embraces its time period, artistic style, and sense of mystery. It’s methodical pacing and focus on dialogue won’t appeal to everyone, but Pentiment knows what it wants to be and does it exceptionally well.

Eight years in the making, Bayonetta 3 is an utterly ridiculous action romp from PlatinumGames that blends sublime controls with over-the-top set pieces that fans have come to love. And while pacing and technical issues hold it back, it’s a fantastic sequel that fans of the franchise will love.

Much like its updated predecessor RIVEN is an incredible remake of one of gaming's most iconic puzzle games.

On top of its gripping narrative, expanded weapon variety, and redefined approach to open-world game design, Ghost of Yōtei is a must-play and instant classic on PlayStation 5.

Final Fantasy XII was outdone by the competition when it came out eleven years ago, and The Zodiac Age changes absolutely nothing in that regard. An overpriced and undercooked re-release of a game better left forgotten.

The Homeworld collection is a fantastic and complex RTS that will challenge players with an almost intimidating amount of depth of choice.

Arc Raiders combines deep yet accessible mechanics with S-tier sci-fi world-building to deliver the best extraction shooter yet.

In the grand scheme of things, if you can afford it, Destiny 2 is now easily the best shooter on the market. I absolutely love where Destiny 2 is now, and hope the Forsaken expansion is a glimpse at things to come.

NeoBards Entertainment has taken bold risks with Silent Hill f, and the result is one of the most unsettling, personal and rewarding horror games in years.

Total War: Warhammer III is a great conclusion to a great trilogy.

Returnal brings all the high-tension, arcade-inspired gameplay from the PS5 to PC while adding a whole new host of bells and whistles, making it the definitive way to experience the game.

While Sonic Mania hasn’t taken the place of my favourite Sonic game, it’s definitely a top contender. If there ever is a follow-up, I hope to see it introduce even more original elements with slightly better level design but as it stands, Sonic Mania is one of Sonic’s best games to date.

Dragon’s Dogma 2 improves upon the original in exceptional ways and is a must-play RPG for fans of the genre.

Sea of Stars: Throes of the Watchmaker is a must-play for fans of the base game. Sea of Stars is a must play for fans of the genre.

Resident Evil returns to its horror roots, and is all the better for it in a game that was designed to be played in VR.

It goes without saying, of course, that Rise is an exceptionally gorgeous looking game.

Shotgun Cop Man utilizes a unique gun-based movement style to create an arcade action experience that is deeply engaging and incredibly fun.

Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time improves on the series in every conceivable way, delivering one of the most feature-rich games of the year.

Luigi’s Mansion 3 is a graveyard smash you don't want to miss.

Dragon Quest XI’s strength lies not in defying conventions, but in refining the concepts its predecessors pioneered to the absolute apex of what a Dragon Quest game can be.

The Following is a stellar, value-packed addition to Dying Light that not only extends and improves upon the solid experience that fans have come to expect, but also enriches the original product to definitive status.

Destiny takes the best parts of Halo and combines them with the worst parts of Borderlands.

I can't recommend Heroes of the Storm's friendly approach enough.

Returnal sets a new standard for Housemarque and delivers a must-play game for fans of roguelike titles while offering everyone else a genuinely unique experience. The game masterfully blends arcade-inspired gameplay with AAA quality chops usually reserved for a first-party PlayStation developer.

Forza Motorsport 7 is an exhilarating racing experience that is slightly bogged down by a convoluted and time-consuming progression system.

Night City still shines with a wide cast of memorable characters and beautifully executed atmosphere that demonstrates just how good CD Projekt Red is at story telling, it’s just a shame so much of the overall experience of Cyberpunk 2077 is all held together by pieces of scotch tape.

As a game, Xenoblade is still one of the best JRPGs available in years, and on that front, any fan of the genre who’s never played it should buy it immediately if there’s a new 3DS in the house. As a port, however, it’s a less than stellar job, and people spoiled on improved remasters of old games are in for an unpleasant surprise.

The reason you’ll purchase this game is because it’s still a classic, even with its flaws.

Quotation forthcoming.

Age of Mythology: Retold - Immortal Pillars is an excellent expansion that further enriches the Age of Mythology experience.

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora – From the Ashes tries to tell a poignant story of loss from a Na’vi perspective, but lingering gameplay flaws mean only the most patient fans are likely to stick with it to the end.

Cadence of Hyrule is a lovingly crafted, challenging, but rewarding ode to 30 years of music.

I genuinely feel that it’s a step in a new, more accessible direction, without sacrificing too much of the franchise’s signature difficulty.