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.

Madden NFL 23 is the best entry in the franchise in the past 10 years, but with such a low bar to clear and EA effectively having no competition, it can feel too similar to prior games to warrant the hefty $69.99 price tag.

Soul Hackers 2 is a worthy successor of the 1997 game, modernizing the series and putting it closer to games like Persona 5 and SMTV.

The Roll7 team have achieved an original greatness with Rollerdrome across the board: original concept, 80s nostalgia music and art—augmented with super fluid mechanics and gameplay.

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

While its gameplay is somewhat linear and hard to nail down, RPG Time: The Legend of Wright is a masterpiece of presentation that celebrates the joys of a child’s imagination.

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.

Digimon Survive balances an intriguing, more mature Digimon story with excellent turn-based strategy combat that evokes the spirit of the anime.

Two Point Campus brings laughs to the simulation genre while allowing adaptive playstyles without ruining the player’s chance at success.

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is an exemplary JRPG on the Nintendo Switch, improving on the already great titles that came out before it while still welcoming newcomers.

It’s been 28 years, but Live A Live finally gets its proper dues outside of Japan with an excellent remake.

Outriders Worldslayer is a great time for fans of the base game with a dedicated squad of friends to play with, but players looking for a single player experience, or something more than ‘just Outriders’ will have a rough time.

Coromon is a must play for Pokémon fans, and although it has flaws, fans who normally steer clear of like minded games might find reprieve here, especially for its good price and portability due to the Switch port.

As Dusk Falls is the kind of game that Xbox Game Pass was made for, in the best possible sense of such a compliment; it’s a narrative thriller and adventure that’s easily worth the price of admission, and more importantly, it’s absolutely worthy of your time.

Stray is a game oozing with charm and can be considered a must-play for cat lovers looking for something new to pounce on and sink their teeth into.

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

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

Yurukill: The Calumnation Games has a decent storyline, and is a solid time, but for the price point, there are far better options.

Disgaea 6: Defiance of Destiny is simultaneously cliche and transgressive, offering refreshing takes on genre conventions while still reliant on them. Its expanded gameplay systems can be mind-numbing to newcomers, but longtime franchise fans will find an unrivaled buffet of content to grind through.

Final Vendetta is a love letter to the late 80’s and early 90’s era of arcade and home console brawlers that fans of Final Fight, Streets of Rage 2 and SNK’s Neo-Geo console, will immediately appreciate, though the high level of difficulty, lack of continues and no online play might make it a hard sell to newcomers.

Fobia - St. Dinfna Hotel delivers a great story and innovative concept, but poor combat, cumbersome inventory, and gameplay holds it back from being a great indie horror entry.

DNF Duel takes a popular but somewhat dated MMORPG and succsufelly reinvigorates it into a quick to learn but hard to master fighting game.

A fine entry to the popular F1 series, F1 22 brings some new things to the table, but suffers from control issues and a lack of things to do.

Fans of these games when they came out, rejoice! You have them all in one place for one reasonable price. If the games are new to you, it’s perhaps something you don’t have to regret missing.

Pocky & Rocky Reshrined is an excellent return to form for the beloved Super Nintendo-era action series.

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.

Though the opening hours feel rushed and the graphics in need of a complete makeover, Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes is a much improved sequel to Fire Emblem Warriors that combines the franchise’s strategic depth with fast and exciting musou gameplay.

Supermassive’s The Quarry is a classic channelling of the same 80’s-era slasher/creature-feature appeal that made Until Dawn a success that players will still want to revisit multiple times.

The Capcom Fighting Collection is the best way to experience the Darkstalkers series on modern platforms along with a few other titles that go beyond your typical Street Fighter fair.

Sonic Origins is a definitive anniversary title that delivers everything I want from a series’ remaster. While a few more customization options and restored songs would’ve put it over the top, technical updates polish these four emeralds for a new generation.

Whether you’re a veteran player or new to the game, The Elder Scrolls Online: High Isle offers plenty of opportunity to enjoy brand new content as either a solo player or as part of a party.

As suggested by its tagline, ‘made by freaks for freaks’, this game might not win you over if you are not already interested in speedrunning, puzzle-shooters and/or anime-inspired visual novels but, if you even slightly happen to be, Neon White is a bona-fide cult classic with a genre combination made in heaven.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge is, for better or worse, a lean green fighting machine. A quintessentially retro presentation makes up for some shortcomings, and adults who grew up on the franchise will love the nostalgia trip.

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords remains a masterful and compelling story with enough lore to keep fans satisfied, but for the Nintendo Switch port, remember to save often.

Mario Strikers: Battle League is a return to form for the series, and an excellent entry in Mario Sports. A title very easy to recommend for any Switch owner looking for a change of pace.

Souldiers is recommendable to anyone seeking a MASSIVE retro styled challenge with gorgeous 16-bit graphics, but the challenge or length of the adventure may deter the more casual player, or fans seeking a dynamic story.

Diablo Immortal blends classic gameplay with the free-to-play formula, and almost delivers a complete knockout mobile experience.

Rebellion hits the target again with Sniper Elite 5, but the game could benefit from smoother gameplay.

Nobody Saves the World is a unique and charming action RPG, but it’s held back by some frustrating decisions and a disappointing beginning and end.

Salt and Sacrifice is bloody, brutal, and beyond enjoyable.

Evil Dead: The Game is a 4v1 asymmetrical multiplayer game that is more speed and combat-oriented than the stealthy slay-fest that is Dead by Daylight. It's a bit repetitive and doesn't add anything substantial for fans of the series, but it's still a bloody decent time.

Dolmen is a massive achievement on a small Indie team of 30 developers and is a solid recommendation to those familiar with FromSoftware’s titles but shouldn’t be recommended to the more casual gamer.

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.

Cat Cafe Manager plays into its quirkiness and cuteness bringing a fun, fast-paced sim that you can jump into on the Nintendo Switch or PC.

Dungeons of Dreadrock is a paint-by-numbers puzzle game that has little going for it outside of a genuinely nice visual style.

Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising is the Action-RPG equivalent of a solution without a problem -- an almost completely skippable prequel that fails to share any true gameplay DNA with next year’s Hundred Heroes, nor builds any excitement for it.

Trek to Yomi is a short but sweet action game and a love letter to 1960's era Japanese cinema.

Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate – Daemonhunters is a great combination of tactics, lore and design that will test your skills in hours of turn-based carnage that fans of the franchise should not miss.

Ravenous Devils dares to be an exotic cuisine in a gaming landscape that sees too much of the same main courses, but the player is left hungry for more flavors in a repetition pool. An easy recommend for players on a budget, who don’t want an intricate experience, and some quick fun.

Switch Sports is a solid multiplayer game that is fun to play, even if there is a limited number of sports and game modes to engage with.

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed plays as great on the Nintendo Switch as it did on the Wii in 2008, but Aspyr limits Starkiller's true power over a console that can do so much more.

Neptunia x Senran Kagura: Ninja Wars is a fun yet formulaic anime beat-em-up. However it blurs the lines of both franchises, and might not offer enough of either franchise’s core experience to please their fans.

Chinatown Detective Agency is a great detective game that feels rewarding when solutions are found. An easy recommendation to casual and serious gamers, but the replay value may fall short when all is said and done.

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.

Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition is a great game with fantastic elements that can entertain players for many hours.

MLB The Show 22 is a great entry to the yearly sports franchise, easily the best one yet. It's enough to keep returning players interested, and new players will have a great time learning the ins and outs of the diamond.

With a dash more depth to its gameplay, and a lighter touch to its narrative, LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga reinterprets the nine-film epic into a solid experience that all generations of fans will want to revisit.

Ikai had a great first half with great pacing and providing enough mystery and heart-racing moments but fizzled out by the end.

With a plethora of visual enhancements and quality of life improvements for GTA V and GTA Online leading the charge (60fps performance, ray-traced shadows and significantly faster loading times chief among them), there’s never been a better, easier or more affordable time to visit San Andreas on current-gen consoles, whether it’s your first trip or if you’ve been away for years.

TUNIC is a genre-bending breath of fresh air that includes elements from other popular games that all grease the wheel for an exceptional gaming experience. A must-play for all gamers, especially due to its inclusion on Game Pass.

Persona 4 Arena Ultimax is a par for the course port of a surprisingly deep and well-realized fighter that, despite being a spin-off title, knocks out the competition, even nearly a decade later.

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.

While a mostly fun experience, Kirby and the Forgotten Land definitely forgets a lot of the things that make the pink puffball’s games so unique.

While not wholly deviod of quality, that Marvelous released Rune Factory 5 in it's current state, is pretty shameful.

Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin is an enjoyable experiment in melding Soulslike conventions onto a Final Fantasy skeleton. However it undercuts itself by not daring for more complexity, setting up great narrative and gameplay turns that never come to pass.

Ghostwire: Tokyo envisions a world that is wonderful and interesting to explore at first glance, but soon reveals itself to be shallow and lacking in its writing and combat.

Dark Deity adds enough to the Fire Emblem DNA to stand on its own legs as a classic SRPG, with a low-price tag and hours of quality Dark Deity is a must play for strategy fans and a possible entryway to first timers to the genre.

Chocobo GP does some things that Nintendon’t, offering a Story mode and a more stimulating item system than the untouchable Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. However only Final Fantasy veterans (and their kids) need apply, as it relies heavily on nostalgia—and season pass grinding.

WWE 2K22 is a step in the right direction, with a lot of content and a lot of fun to be had. A far from perfect title loaded with nostalgia, and too many game modes can be overwhelming. An easy recommend for wrestling fans, and newcomers.

Babylon’s Fall is an early contender for the worst game of 2022.

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.

Triangle Strategy feels like: “Oops, All Exposition,” and while I did find myself enjoying it at times, I found myself glazing over far too often. It’s clearly got a big story to tell, but at the expense of all the other gameplay, and it ends up feeling more like a visual novel with some combat encounters, so it can technically be called a game. I’ve no doubt people will find something to enjoy here, but speaking for myself—as someone who genuinely likes turn-based strategy games—I’ve had to really push myself to enjoy it, and I don’t know how many people will.

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

GRID Legends is a racing game that provides some cool elements to the formula but doesn’t do enough to stand out in a saturated market. The amazing graphics and solid controls are a plus, but if players aren’t racing game fans, they could skip this one, especially with the large price tag.

Martha is Dead tells a deeply personal and complex story that strikes at some complex issues that are only held back from greatness due to technical struggles.

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.

Elden Ring is an epic. With a beautifully designed open world, FromSoftware takes the Souls formula to new heights and crafts a journey that needs to be played.

Despite leaning heavily on developer Remedy Entertainment’s impressive Northlight game engine and narrative chops for its brief single-player campaign, CrossfireX is ultimately a poorly-written, half-hearted attempt at reviving Smilegate’s dated CrossFire franchise and is best avoided by all but the most loyal Remedy and CrossFire aficionados.

FAR: Changing Tides is a game that needs to be experienced to be fully appreciated. Filled with wonder, challenge and discovery, this is a game that rewards attention while keeping the gameplay fun and peaceful. If you are a fan of indie games that try and push the bar on what is possible, you owe yourself a service to give FAR: Changing Tides a shot.

Song in the Smoke gets lost by putting players in constant danger, but dazzles with an artistically sound prehistoric trip and smartly executed survival in VR.

Monark is a game filled with great ideas and themes, and it manages to deliver on some of those in spades. Unfortunately, Monark is also its own worst enemy, and many of the gameplay elements simply get in the way of making it something truly exceptional. Still, if you can manage to get through the slog of repetitiveness, there’s a fascinating and thematically engaging story underneath.

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

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.

King of Fighters XV set out to “shatter all expectations” and met most of them instead. While a slightly hollow presentation sets its crown crooked, the game’s core is a solid engine and a diverse roster that will warrant longterm play.

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.

With some small setbacks like pay-to-progress features and awkward movements, Lost Ark manages to stand out with its overall style, story, and game mechanics. Free-to-play is going to push this game to the top now that it's in the West.

Sifu is a masterfully crafted lesson on patience.

As the third game in the series, OlliOlli World has improved on every single aspect of its predecessors.

Though it doesn't have all the perks and features of bigger games, The Gunk remains gorgeous and engaging. A short but sweet adventure full of puzzles and fantastic scenery.

Dying Light 2: Stay Human promises much more of the franchise’s now familiar first-person, parkour-combat action, weapon crafting mechanics that continue to border on the ridiculous, and open-world exploration and loot-hunting we’ve become accustomed to.

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.

Pokémon Legends: Arceus is an adventure that is charming, surprising, and above all else, wonderful to play.

Colors Live is a surprisingly capable piece of software that utilizes the Nintendo Switch's unique form factor to deliver a fun and accessible drawing experience that can appeal to both younger and older audiences thanks to its limited but flexible toolset.

Rainbow Six Extraction is an excellent concept that will delight Rainbow Six fans that are tired of the PvP scene of Siege. The title has a select audience and may isolate newcomers to the series, but with the direct to Game Pass release it is an easy recommendation to subscribers because it works EXTREMELY well.

The overwhelming feeling I had in my time with Expeditions: Rome is that it’s perfectly average. If you have a strong draw to Roman history, there’s a lot to love, as the game goes full-force into its setting. The systems all work together competently, but never do anything to stand out from the pack of other CRPGs out there. Even so, I kept finding myself wanting to play more, wanting to conquer that extra little bit of land. If you’re hankering for a new CRPG with a lot of systems to learn, you can certainly do worse than Expeditions: Rome.

God of War was a big deal when it hit PS4 in 2018, and it still is in 2022 when it hits the PC.

In Endwalker, Final Fantasy XIV does the impossible: bringing a complex narrative arc, woven over the last decade, to a nigh-perfect conclusion. The latest expansion is a masterpiece that justifies the game’s current popularity and the best new story released in the franchise in recent memory, and it sets an excellent foundation for the MMORPG’s next years.

After The Fall stays alive with top-notch VR zombie shooting, but gameplay isn't enough to make up for a lack of variety and shockingly light content at launch. [OQ2]