Gran Turismo 7 is the game that longtime fans of the series have been requesting for years. Although what's here isn't drastically different in format when compared to some of the earlier installments, the overall experience that Gran Turismo 7 provides is incredibly comprehensive and feels like a love letter to both car culture and the 25-year history of the Gran Turismo franchise.

At the end of the day, the best thing that can be said about this entire release is simply that it exists. With Super Mario Galaxy previously locked behind the aforementioned Super Mario 3D All-Stars and Super Mario Galaxy 2 still gridlocked to Wii (and technically Wii U), it has become increasingly hard to play this series as time has gone on. Nintendo has now omitted one of its gravest sins by bringing Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 to Switch consoles, and with the movie set to hit theaters next spring, this release couldn’t have come at a better time.

The methodical appreciation for the source material makes it evident that Indiana Jones games have found their home with MachineGames.

Anyone would be justified in deciding to continue honing their skate skills in OlliOlli World. It's a fun game with practically infinite replay value thanks to asynchronous online multiplayer and the ability to generate new levels randomly. And despite realizing that I may never be the king of the halfpipe, I still find myself loading the game up to spend an hour attempting to master a new track with a single-combo run. OlliOlli World is all about the journey, that state of flow that washes over when you've committed to a challenging run, and testing your limits that way never goes out of style.

Saros’ story remains an overall disappointment and is another reason why the game is an unsatisfactory follow-up to Returnal. Not only does Saros fail to build on what that 2021 title started, it takes massive leaps backward by having an unstable and frustrating difficulty curve, a less cohesive story, and shallower roguelike systems. Devoid of the context given by release dates, it would seem as though Saros came well before Returnal with how much less confident and taut it is in comparison. While fiery suns define Saros and play an ever-present role in it, it is Returnal that is the shining star here, one that cleanly eclipses its spiritual successor.

At its core, Shredder's Revenge feels incredibly similar to titles like Turtles in Time and The Hyperstone Heist. This isn't a revolutionary reimagining, but that's probably not what any TMNT fan wanted to see, myself included – it's been more than 30 years since those games released, and it was long past time to play the hits. Shredder's Revenge is over too quickly, but TMNT fans will be grinning from ear to ear right until the credits roll.

Psychonauts 2 also just oozes style in every way. If you haven’t played a Double Fine game before, perhaps you’re not familiar with this, but the studio almost always finds a way to craft unique worlds that are unlike anything else you’ll see from video games. From the music, to the art style, to even the characters, everything within Psychonauts 2 has a distinct, zany tone. And despite being so off the wall, all of the game’s different elements work together in great harmony to create something that is novel in every way.

DOOM Eternal exceeded expectations, both where difficulty and enjoyment are concerned, and while not without its faults, it feels like a must-play game for FPS players. It knows exactly how hard it is but doesn’t shame players for choosing whatever difficulty they want, and with how many collectibles there are to amass, it offers a surprising degree of replayability.

Whether you’re a fan of old school adventure games, or you’re just looking for a new standout indie, Death’s Door is absolutely worth your time, money, and attention.

Tales of Arise is a fun game, but one with a bit of tonal disparity to it. One moment, you'll be searching for owls wearing goofy accessories on behalf of the owl king, and then next you'll watch in horror as a town of people is literally liquified before your eyes. As long as you try not to think too much about the stifling and nearly overwhelming amount of horror the characters have been put through, you'll likely feel like you got your money's worth of this very long and winding game.

Simplicity and challenges are key components of the game, and they’re executed almost perfectly here in an accessible and skillful way. Spelunky 2 certainly won’t be for everyone, but for those who stick with it to see what it has to offer, the payoff is worth the investment.

Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics largely makes good on its simple premise. All of the games included here are of a great quality, and Capcom fortunately hasn't messed anything up in the porting process. This combined with some of the ancillary bonus features makes Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection just as interesting as a historical piece as it is a game that can be played with friends. Whether you're a newcomer or a veteran to Marvel vs. Capcom, this is a collection that is well worth the price of admission and should hopefully pave the way for a wholly new installment.

If you are totally new to this PC release and were simply waiting for PlayStation to bring it over to PC, you'll have a blast experiencing Spider-Man's story that rivals his big-picture adaptations and shouldn't have many issues at all, hardware permitting. Though Marvel's Spider-Man Remastered did fall victim to the occasional crash or two as well as some buggy features, those have largely been rectified by continued pre-release updates. For the returning web-swingers, if you're like me, you may find that the time away from the game since release was enough to make it feel just new enough again to justify seeing what Marvel's Spider-Man Remastered looks like running on this platform.

It has taken over six years for Halo Infinite to release, but after such a long wait, 343 has given fans the game that they've been holding out for. Although it might not win many points for originality, the latest entry in Xbox's flagship franchise has again verified why Halo is one of the most popular gaming properties on the planet. Even though this series is now two decades old, Halo Infinite proves that there is still plenty of creative juice left in the tank to make Halo feel fresh and relevant in the modern landscape. In simplest terms, Halo is back.

Even with persistent record scratches, Lumines Arise remains a beautiful album. Stages, while lacking a greater purpose, have more detailed and impressive effects and are often set to fitting tracks that cover a whole variety of genres from hip hop to house. Everything coalesces around its signature block-matching gameplay that’s infinitely replayable like the greats it was inspired by. Arise is a familiar beat in many respects, but one that has retained its hypnotic rhythm and hasn’t lost an ounce of its soul.

F1 2020's career mode provides an impressive level of depth while the new driver assists make the game more accessible for new or inexperienced players. The simulation-style may be overwhelming at first, but extended playtime leads to an enjoyable experience. However, the AI and inconsistent penalties cause frustration, as do the occasional crashes. Ultimately, Codemasters created a platform for F1 fans to revisit history or create a legendary career.

While I missed it back then, Tactics Ogre was, by all accounts, a pinnacle of its genre when it first debuted. The game has aged well, especially with Tactics Ogre: Reborn's enhancements, and remains an incredibly engrossing, absorbing game with nearly unmatched storytelling and gameplay. Tactics Ogre: Reborn is a masterful remaster of a game that was already a masterpiece. It shouldn't be missed.

Bloober Team faithfully captured the spirit of games from this early PS2 era to the point that it made me reminisce and long to go back and play more games from that time. To that end, I very much have the desire to go back to the original Silent Hill 2 and see how it matches up with this remake. While I can’t speak to how longtime SH2 fans might receive this revamped version of the game, for anyone else who hasn’t played any Silent Hill games before, this is a perfect jumping-on point.

Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor doesn’t necessarily revolutionize its genre, but it doesn’t need to. With this entry in the action roguelike autoshooter genre, Funday Games has created a delightfully enjoyable game that will keep you coming back for more.

Too much of Nioh 3 is too similar to past Nioh games, so while that means it has a few glorious boss fights and fluid controls, it lets down the innovative spirit the series was founded on.

After playing Bayonetta 3, I found myself wanting to spend a lot more time getting acquainted with the first two games in the series, and I think that says a lot about the world PlatinumGames has created. Bayonetta's unique sense of style and humor really sets the series apart from other action games on the market, and it's easy to see why the character has proven so endearing. The game's over-the-top humor and sexuality probably won't win over anyone that didn't care for the first two games, and not all of the Demon Slaves are enjoyable to use. Despite these minor flaws, Bayonetta 3 delivers an experience that shouldn't be missed by series fanatics, and is well worth trying for those new to the series.

Even with a few shortcomings, Ghost of Yotei is an exceptionally captivating experience. The combat is dynamic and uniquely cinematic, the story is thrilling and emotionally rewarding, and the world is unbelievably breathtaking despite eventually devolving into typical open-world fodder. Ultimately, Sucker Punch has managed to find beauty and catharsis in such a violent revenge saga.

Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective might not be a true Ace Attorney game, but the franchise's DNA is prevalent throughout, and the game is an easy recommendation for those that love the series, while also being something that stands well enough on its own.

It’s a tremendous work from Konami, developer NeoBards, and writer Ryukishi07 that invites plenty of discussion and theorizing on the part of the player. Silent Hill f lingers in the mind, in a way few horror games have in years. Silent Hill f is everything great about the series, told in a new J-horror style that perfectly fits the classic aesthetic. While it may not have the tightest combat, that’s reflective of a tone that values ambiance and thematic weight over the quick thrills of other games. Silent Hill f is the meditative, gorgeous, and absolutely terrifying entry that fans have been waiting for.

As someone who had no prior exposure to Armored Core ahead of Fires of Rubicon, I am both surprised and delighted by how much I have enjoyed this game. Even when shifting to a slightly different genre, FromSoftware has once again asserted that it has a firm grasp on what it takes to make a thrilling and mechanically engaging action experience through and through. This might not be my own favorite FromSoftware game to date, but it's without a doubt worth checking out, regardless of how familiar you might be with Armored Core.

Other games may employ similar mechanics in the future, but Returnal should always be remembered as one of the ones that did it first, and, as of now, did it best.

Clunky actions and broken quests aside, it’s still nearly impossible to not get hooked on Cyberpunk 2077 and, more specifically, on Night City. I’ve completed quests that made me physically uncomfortable and yearn for justice or vengeance alongside the affected characters, and I’ve crafted my version of V into exactly the kind of character I’d want with the reassuring knowledge that there will always be an option that fits my preferences. The plentiful possibilities and outcomes beg for multiple playthroughs, and I’m happy to oblige later after a break from Night City and after things have been cleaned up a bit.

Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope is kind of the ideal video game sequel. Ubisoft has refined all of the best elements of the first game in ways that feel fun and satisfying while delivering new elements that make it stand on its own. The story is better, the graphics are smoother, and there are way more elements of the Mario franchise present this time. Most importantly, the combat is engaging and actually made me want to keep picking battles with opponents on the map. It's hard to believe that Ubisoft has managed to create such an endearing spin-off series, but I truly hope that there are plans beyond this game and its forthcoming DLC. If the developer can maintain this level of quality, I'd love to see what it can do with the series next.