Despite some small annoyances that are either confusing or intrusive to the overall immersion that Steins;Gate Elite provides, this was a genuinely fun and engaging experience. In fact, because of how graphically close it is to the anime and how intense and complex the narrative is, Steins;Gate Elite is smooth as butter from start to finish and captures the true meaning of a graphic novel come to life.

The score is stunning. There’s a beautiful use of theme, drawing familiar phrases in at just the right moment, and let’s not even get started on BB’s Theme. It’s brilliant. Similarly, the moments where the camera pans back and Low Roar plays Sam out of a stressful area take on a feeling of zen. In those moments, I felt connected to this game, and Sam’s journey. I didn’t need any of the UI or environmental sounds cues: the music just carried me to my destination. That might sound indulgent, but I don’t care. This game is a piece of art. I admire the huge risk Kojima Productions took on the project. They could easily have made an MGS clone and called it a day, but they pushed the industry in an unexpected and, to some, unwanted direction.

If you’re not familiar with Destiny, it all probably sounds pretty overwhelming. That’s because it is. Destiny 2 has a dumptruck full of mechanics, concepts, and items, and it will take you a long time to figure everything out. What’s important is that getting to the light level cap, or doing the raid, or maxing out faction rep isn’t necessary to have a good time. The game still plays phenomenally, and the balance the new activities strike make The Witch Queen an ideal place to give Destiny 2 another shot. It worked for me, and well, if you knew exactly how much I’d grown to despise helium coils and faction rep, you’d be shocked I came back at all. But come back I did, and I won’t be putting Destiny 2 down for a very, very long time.

As for the audio, it complements the game’s visuals. From the sound of each weapon (pilot or Titan), the minions chattering on the battlefield, to the sound of distant battles across the level or Titans exploding, it’s pretty awesome.

Asgard’s Wrath 2 is one of the most impressive open world RPGs I’ve played in any format. That it’s in VR and on a wireless headset is sort of astounding. Asgard’s Wrath 2 is simply a must-play for new Quest 3 owners and a compelling reason to pick up the hardware. It’s hands down VR’s Game of the Year.

Remaking Silent Hill 2 may have seemed like an impossible task, but Bloober Team has delivered an impeccable reinterpretation of the classic. With enhanced combat, each encounter becomes more intense, heightening the visceral impact of every strike. The stunning graphical overhaul captures the world’s pervasive decay, while improved lighting magnifies the sense of threat, creating an anxiety-ridden experience. Whether you’re returning or a new resident at Silent Hill, this is a must-play for horror enthusiasts.

Opus: Prism Peak is SIGONO’s largest project yet, and the game delivers heavily on what it sets out to accomplish. Whether the game’s narrative resonates with you personally or not, it has a lot to offer in and out of the gaming space. The title’s narrative is at the forefront, supported strongly by its art style, gameplay mechanics, and everything in between. Prism Peak is an easy recommendation for anyone with an interest in narrative-focused games and will leave a lasting impression on me. Since beating the game, I’ve already gone back to fill out the rest of my notebook and collect the other endings.

While this is a terrific game, it doesn’t do enough to distinguish itself from the Wii U release. I’m the target audience, however. I never played the original, so all of this is fresh and incredible to me.

As far as launch titles go, Mario Kart World is a real banger. The races are more chaotic and intense, the world feels huge, and there’s a ton of racers to choose from. Also, the skill ceiling feels higher. I wish the world were as big as it feels, but we’re in pretty early days yet. I’d also love a splitscreen Free Roam mode, but that’s pure wishlist stuff. Buying a new console is always a little intimidating, to be sure. And racing games aren’t for everyone. But if you’re into Mario Kart even a tiny bit, you’d be a fool to pass on Mario Kart World.

Nioh 3 is the most ambitious and densely featured entry in the series, with a vast world to explore and extremely satisfying systems and combat to master. It does for the Nioh franchise what Elden Ring did for the Dark Souls world. Nioh 3 offers a huge amount of content and flexibility. It can be immensely challenging, but there are plenty of ways and an array of tools and approaches to mitigate the difficulty. Nioh has always perched between being niche and mainstream. Nioh 3 should help this excellent series broaden its audience while appealing to long-time fans as well. Lovers of Soulslikes, Team NINJA's games, and well-made action titles in general won't be disappointed.

I loved this game when it first released on the PS2. It felt almost too cool for console gaming, too crisp for the era in question. Even now, Reload carries a timeless charm that keeps me engaged. The battle system has been polished, the visuals are totally overhauled, and the game is bigger than ever. There’s pacing problems to be sure, and the gameplay loop isn’t for everyone. Plus, fans of certain versions will find this edition somewhat lacking in features. But maybe that’s okay? I’d rather judge this game on what it is, rather than what it isn’t. And Persona 3 Reload is an excellent evolution of a PS2 classic that fans new and old will almost certainly love.

Setting aside the expectation that The Lost Crown is the next mainline Prince of Persia title will help players appreciate the game for what it is. The Lost Crown is a fun and engaging 2.5D action platformer. It borrows a number of mechanics from several years’ worth of recent Metroidvanias, but adds a few ideas and quality of life features of its own, too. Maybe best of all, it’s a game for both newcomers and Metroidvania veterans. Accept it for what it is and The Lost Crown is a solid and well-made game, with excellent mechanics, plenty of content and challenge.

I have noticed considerable framerate inconsistencies when trying to get around a level quickly or when using the spyglass to zoom. I feel as though I should mention these issues, but they didn’t detract from my experience of the game. I’m still in love with the level design and I still think the ability system favors the use of one or two abilities.

At least visually, Pentiment is unlike any game in the marketplace, and its execution is never less than impressive. As a reflection on the role of the artist and the fundamental, unchanging nature of the human experience, it can be thoughtful, amusing and moving. The game’s mechanics, some of the writing and pacing definitely take a back seat to the aesthetics. Taken as a whole, playing Pentiment is another great reminder that not every videogame experience needs to overwhelm the senses, challenge reflexes or be the product of market research. Pentiment might not be for everyone, but that’s ok. Not for everyone is sometimes exactly what we need.

Whether or not you enjoy this game is dependent on what you’re expecting from it. In the world of hypersexual, campy, insane action games, this sets a new standard. Every successive boss fight raises the bar, the action is always intense, and it oozes charm. There’s more move variety, the characters are beautiful, and the tone is impossibly over the top. If you’ve bounced off of Bayonetta games before, I can’t promise this time will be different. The pacing and core gameplay loop remain largely intact. But for fans of the franchise, Bayonetta 3 is easily as good as it gets. If you loved the first two games, you’ve got to check out this one.

Townscaper exists in that special chill vibe genre that includes games like digital coloring books and virtual bubble wrap, but it also nudges gently up against city builders as well, only without any of the complications or stress. It makes you feel like a creative, relaxed time traveler, bringing into existence a peaceful, little perfect town out in the middle of a perfectly calm sea. Townscaper doesn’t try to do a lot of things, instead it does one thing very, very well.

If you love fantasy worldbuilding, sidequests, and worlds you can get lost in, you will love this game. If not, you probably won’t get the appeal. Either way, play Trails from Zero first and then come back. Trails to Azure will be waiting.

If I could only pick one puzzle game to bring to a desert island, I probably would not choose Riven. Fortunately, that is not the case. It’s fascinating to see this missing link of game design. It’s nice to dig into some genuinely excellent writing and art. The puzzles are as opaque as they ever were, which is what a lot of people like about them. I think we need more remakes like Riven, that capture as much as they can about how games felt back then. That’s how we move forward, that’s how games get even better.

Crashmo is a brilliant puzzle game, full of unique mechanics and a slew of puzzles that will have you coming back for more, as long as you can deal with the demanding difficulty from the start.

Ghost of Yotei is one of the best games I've ever played. From top to bottom, beginning to end, it is the epitome of what Triple-A game developers should strive for. It completely delivers on all fronts - combat, narrative, visuals, world-building, and audio. But, most importantly, it's simply a ton of fun. Sucker Punch Productions has raised the bar to a seemingly insurmountable height. When it's all said and done, people will look back at this generation and regard Ghost of Yotei as a true magnum opus. It's games like these that remind me just how special the medium can be.

The pacing is still weird, even if it is breezier. The battle system will still turn you off if it did the first time. Still, this is Ivalice in all its glory. Enormous, beautiful, flawed and fiercely compelling. Even if you've already put a hundred hours in the original, Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age can get its hooks in you, and deep.

The glorious visuals and soundtrack make one feel like they are redirecting an episode of the recent Battlestar Galatica reboot.

Zen Studios is our only hope and I like it that way. The passion they have for the Star Wars franchise AND virtual pinball is undeniable. With over 15 tables, a career mode, online tournaments and challenges, this game will keep you busy for quite some time. Star Wars Pinball is a fantastic pinball game and a fantastic Star Wars game, all wrapped up into one package. No one needs to use any Jedi Mind tricks to make you play it though as I cannot recommend Star Wars Pinball enough.

CrossCode is a beautiful world loaded with puzzles of all kinds. If you can find your center among this storm of separate genres, you might really enjoy this game.

ARC Raiders is simply one of the most polished and accessible third person extraction shooters in recent memory. It has something for everyone, from solo players to teams ready to wreak havoc in the world. With a confident and coherent mashup of systems and a simple, addictive loop, ARC Raiders helps wrap up a notable gaming year in fine fashion.

Disco Elysium: The Final Cut is everything the 2019 classic was and more. If you’re a fan of the original, you need to double-dip to experience the incredible work this cast of voice actors has put together. If you’ve never heard of Disco Elysium before, I envy you. I wish I could play this again for the first time. Be warned that you may run into a few bugs here and there, but it seems like every other day, ZA/UM is squashing more of them. And if you’re still here reading this review, it’s time to turn the world off and put your dancing shoes on.

For game buffs, or Atari fans, this collection is a no-brainer and if there is any collection that could be considered a must-have, this is it.

Devil May Cry has everything a solid action title should have including a responsive and exciting combat system accompanied by great looking visuals and a heavy soundtrack.