Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection is the best the series has been so far, balancing a playfulness that is approachable for newcomers with a maturity that is perfect for longtime fans.

Featuring a literally jaw dropping, procedural zombie damage system, a diverse and entertaining cast and high production values from start to finish, Dead Island 2 not only manages to live up to the expectations set by its two mainline prequels over a decade ago--it blows them right out of the water.

Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince is a wonderful, and most importantly, innovative puzzle game that is great to play either solo or with others.

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

Abyssus is an excellent, fast and frenetic roguelike FPS that you can play with your friends, and a must-play for fans of the genre.

13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is an excellent game for fans of visual novels or anime-centric titles. Those looking forward to the RPG elements of the game may be a little more disappointed, as while not bad, they don’t come close to the same standard found within the rest of game, both in terms of visual quality and gameplay.

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.

Thymesia is a challenging title that is a MUST play for FromSoftware fans, an accomplishment for a debut title from a small studio.

Bursting through a wall with guns blazing has never been this fun. If only there were more unlockable content to work towards than what is included.

Still one of the best games in the genre, Cities: Skylines - Xbox One Edition, is the best city sim on consoles.

The Yu-Gi-Oh! Early Days Collection is an incredibly robust collection that is sure to please long-time fans, but may be a bit too archaic for some newcomers.

Hacknet: Labyrinths does everything the base game only better and harder. There are new tools and more story to look forward too, but it ends up just being more Hacknet, not that that’s a bad thing.

You might not feel blown away by The Show 15 with anything new, but you’ll be blown away once more by everything that this series has done right for so long.

Through a combination of an overwhelming amount of content with solid gameplay, WWE 2K24 continues the franchise’s dominance as the Big Dog of wrestling video games.

Frostpunk is a brutal city-builder that shines thanks to difficult choices, an original world and engaging gameplay.

It’s an easier experience with a story that’s markedly simpler than past entries, but Persona 5 is still operating on a whole different level than its peers. A simplistic yet ultimately winning JRPG with loads of content.

Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands brings a mystical world to life with a great dialogue and a stellar cast. Pairing all that with action-packed gameplay, Gearbox Software and 2K Games have made a must-play game.

Wild Bastards is everything a Rougelite should be: challenging, fun, stylish and deeply engaging.

Ravenswatch blends remarkable gameplay with an incredible sense of style to make one of the most unique Roguelikes you’ll ever play.

Robobeat is a solid rhythm-based shooter with an amazing soundtrack made even better by its built-in audio studio for players to use their own music in the game.

Even though it took a while for the story to hook me, Avowed managed to bring a truly unique world to life with creative combat and stunning settings.

What starts out as merely unpacking boxes, very quickly begins to feel like more of a private peek into someone’s life.

OlliOlli2 has extracted the very essence of skateboarding and poured it into two-dimensional bliss.

Demeo x Dungeons & Dragons Battlemarked is an excellent onboarding ramp for tabletop roleplaying, and is an easy recommendation for players looking to jump into a new story.

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.

Sniper Elite 4 is the best entry in Rebellion’s long-running franchise yet, and a great title for fans of stealth gaming.

DOOM: The Dark Ages is an excellent addition to the series, expanding on the lore of DOOM while introducing some new and engaging combat. While it struggles at times with pacing, DOOM: The Dark Ages nonetheless offers an exciting new experience for players to rip and tear through.

TRON: Identity is a short, sweet, and incredibly engaging interactive novel that perfectly captures the essence of the franchise.

Rune Factory 4 Special feels like a game where you always have something to do, offering so many different systems to play around with.

Forza Motorsport is another fantastic racing experience from developer Turn 10, with a ton of content and plenty of great driving as long as players don’t mind grinding or waiting around at times.

Overwatch 2 is a worthy successor to the original Overwatch that doesn’t so much reinvent the wheel as it does improve upon it. While it does have its issues, the core gameplay and improved UI make for a fun and fully realized sequel.

Harvestella is a fresh take on life-sims that wears many different hats well, but doesn’t always know when to wear them.

Telltale’s Batman game continues with the most surprising episode yet. This is shaping up to be one hell of a series, despite technical issues.

Tales of Kenzera: ZAU is an emotional rollercoaster that doubles as a Metroidvania with edge, at $20 it is a must play title for everyone.

Beautifully hand-drawn artwork coupled with turn-based strategy and meaningful decisions.

LEGO Party is a great party game for all ages. The customization, the minigames, and the way the boards are laid out all make it feel like a match made in heaven.

While it remains similar to its predecessors in plot and structure, The Final Season: Episode One starts the finale off strong.

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is the best title in the franchise and provides a non-intimidating onboard ramp to the simulator franchise, but game crashes and performance issues can be frustrating.

RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army's numerous QoL improvements and better graphics, on top of simply being on more available platforms, make it one of the best Atlus remasters to date.

Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town is as perfect a remake of the Gameboy Advance classic as you can imagine.

Dynasty Warriors: Godseekers is a smart twist on the SRPG formula that pushes the genre in new, interesting directions while never losing touch with what makes these sorts of games so satisfying.

Beside a few nagging puzzles and backtracking sequences, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is an excellent game, both for fans of action-adventure titles and of course, fans of games set in galaxies, far far away.

Ninja Gaiden II Black takes an already solid entry into the series and gives it a modern and bloody coat of paint that signals the return of the legendary franchise.

WRC offers exactly what I wanted from a Codemaster rally game and it doesn’t disappoint thanks to a good offering of content, engaging racing, and lots of tricky routes.

Despite some strange balancing issues, Lies of P: Overture offers a plethora of incredible content to an already incredible game.

With some worthwhile additions and a smoother gameplay experience, MLB The Show 25 hits a homerun and sets the tone for the series going forward.

While The King of Fighters XIV isn't as flashy or good looking as other recently released fighters, it is jam packed with content by comparison having 50 characters playable on the disc.

Legend of Mana has not missed a step in the 25 years since its original launch, and is a must-try for Xbox owners with Xbox Game Pass.

If you’re in the niche group that is both a fan of Rick and Morty and owns an expensive VR headset, then you’ve got to pick up this game as it features of the best fanservice out there. That said, at $30 the price tag is a bit steep for a game that can be completed in a couple hours—but by this point, you’re probably used to the ‘VR tax’. Completionists will probably get a lot more time out of the game finding all the secret Easter eggs and references to the show that are available, as you can continue playing after finishing the story.

The Drifter is an excellent adventure game with a fantastic story, excellent sound, and lovely pixel art, though sadly it drags a bit here and there.

Directive 8020 feels like Supermassive Games has finally rejuvenated after the disappointing The Devil In Me. With this being the start of season two, this is a great showing, and I can’t wait to see what horrors they bring us next

Interesting friendships between varied characters from multiple games, a fun combat system with some welcome additions, and that same soldier stomping fun make Warriors All Stars a solid Musou game.

Shantae: Half-Genie Hero is WayForward’s finest entry in the series yet. Platformer enthusiasts and people who can’t get enough of collecting virtual trinkets will undoubtedly find something to get lost in here.

Escape Academy is a family-friendly puzzle game that will give you hours of fun at a very reasonable price point.

EA Sports NHL 23 moves fast and hits hard with a ton of new features, a better look than ever and an overall more immersive experience. The gameplay was clean and the ability to get through games fast is ideal for every type of gamer.

While AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES – nirvanA Initiative is enjoyable in both story and gameplay, at times it’s a hard game to recommend to anyone going in blind who doesn’t enjoy the puzzle aspect of games, so having a guide to get past certain moments will only help.

From the first time I saw the art style of Darkest Dungeon, I knew it was going to be something special. What I couldn’t have known is just how bleak the game would be—or how cruel.

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.

The puzzles hit that perfect blend of complexity and intuitiveness that keep them immensely satisfying.

2D platforming game fans rejoice, Infernax is here to deliver an intense, tough title that contains violence and silky-smooth gameplay to scratch the incessant Metroidvania itch. Infernax is a must play for fans of this genre.

Lynked: Banner of the Spark balances excellent dungeon crawling with solid town-building mechanics for a really satisfying experience.

Anger Foot Kicks things up to 11 with its fast-paced gameplay, stylish aesthetic and bumpin' tracks, making it a must-play for fans of the genre.

I had recommended Disgaea 6 to anyone who enjoyed the series, but now I can endorse Disgaea 7 with more genuine optimism to broader audiences. It’s not going to win over anyone who dislikes kooky games with anime-inspired visuals, but its renewed blend of parody and pathos could be refreshing for genre veterans who have never dipped a toe into the series’ waters before.

Shovel Knight Dig is a worthy entry to a solid game series; fans of platforming should jump down the well with this one.

Despite its age, Zwei: The Ilvard Insurrection holds up well. The graphics are average and the combat can feel a bit basic at times but the game did such a good job of drawing me into its world that I was easily able to forgive its shortcomings.

Party Hard is a game that’s definitely greater than the sum of its parts.

Blasphemous 2 is another excellent Metroidvania that’s quite different from its predecessor in a number of ways, even if it doesn’t quite manage to supersede it overall.

Wild Hearts expands on a tried and true formula with its own blend of mechanics that make it a must for fans of big game hunting and gamers who like co-op.

Readers looking for an engaging and dark story, one that isn’t afraid of embracing the harsh realities of the middle ages during its tail end, are encouraged to try A Plague Tale: Innocence.

Quotation forthcoming.

Avowed on PlayStation 5, along with the Anniversary Update, strengthens its systems, smooths its edges, and gives players more control over how they experience Eora. It’s not fundamentally different, but it’s undeniably better.

The formula ain't broke, so Jackbox Party Pack 11 doesn't fix it—offering five original new multiplayer games for its tried-and-true formula.

Even if every new idea presented doesn’t always work or make sense, there is still so much originality and adventure at its heart that I’m inclined to overlook those moments of frustration. As open world games continue to cross-pollinate into one breed of the same, Dragon’s Dogma is endearingly quirky, flawed, and, above all else, fun.

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.

Kirby’s Return to Dreamland Deluxe doesn’t redefine the series like Kirby & the Forgotten World, but it’s a welcome addition to the Switch library. This feast of content for players of all stripes continues the pink puffball’s reign as Nintendo’s King of Co-Op.

Call of Duty Modern Warfare Remastered’s campaign might feel outdated by today’s standards, but its multiplayer remains as addictive and fun as ever.

Overcooked remains a fantastic game that is sure to deliver one heck of a good time, or at the very least help you drop a few of those “friends” you’ve been looking to cut out of your life. It’s a solid game that is only made better thanks to the Nintendo Switch’s unique design and is a must-have in the system’s growing library of portable party games.

Like a Dragon: Ishin! despite being set in the distant past, is unmistakenly bore of the same DNA of the Yakuza series proper and will be a treat for fans of the long-running series.

Another Crab’s Treasure blends fun, challenge and accessibility for a gem of an experience.

Mobile Suit Gundam Extreme Vs. Maxiboost ON is a fantastic arena fighter that is sure to not only grab Gundam fans who are already in love with the franchise, but arcade players who are looking for that next addictive fighting experience.

Destiny 2: Lightfall stumbles momentarily as a self-contained campaign but simultaneously sets a thrilling stage for the current story’s conclusion.

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.

Icey is a fun action packed little indie game that isn’t afraid to get weird.

It’s a rare example of a big-budget game looking to make a statement. Even more rare, it succeeds by starting with a central thesis and communicating ideas through player action. That it also manages to be a rip-roaring good time is almost irrelevant. You can patch a framerate, but you can’t patch a story or gameplay, and on those fronts Watch Dogs 2 is nigh unimpeachable.

All of the tedium, none of the excitement: Motorsport Manager is the perfect sim to relax to.

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

If you're hankering for a first person puzzler and/or you're a sci-fi nut, then you will probably love The Turing Test.

If Super Metroid had pretty great procedurally-generated levels and roguelike elements, it would basically be A Robot Named Fight!

I didn’t know I needed a beekeeping simulator in my life, but APICO brings a great balance of education, relaxation and resource management that keeps me coming back for more.

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

In spite of the occasional glitch or physics hiccup, nothing in Friday the 13th: The Game is enough of a knock against the package to keep me from preventing it. This is some of the most fun multiplayer I’ve touched in quite a while, and definitely the most fun I’ve ever had with an asymmetric multiplayer title.

While Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse feels a little too similar at times, it’s one of the tightest JRPGs on the 3DS.

WipEout Omega Collection is a fantastic update that runs as smooth as a supersonic hovercraft.

Nintendo delivers a new twist on Punch Out for The Switch and it already feels like the foundation of a new franchise.

Overcooked! 2 may not feel like a fully realized sequel, feeling mostly like more of the same with just a dash of new mechanics and online gameplay, but I suspect that's enough for most fans of the original game. I'm certainly not burnt out just yet.

Hyrule Warriors returns to form in Age of Imprisonment, borrowing from and enriching Tears of the Kingdom in the process.

Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom adds enough to the ESO formula to make another compelling expansion, easy to recommend to veterans and new players alike.

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.