In trying to subvert expectations, The Last of Us Part II discards the best aspects of its predecessor to provide a rote revenge tale that is ill-considered, ending on a note that makes everything — all the violence, all the loss, all the struggle — feel utterly, hopelessly pointless.

Divinity: Original Sin II on the Switch does a wonderful job of staying true to the original PC and console versions with no major drawbacks — even if the menus can be their own mini-boss.

No matter how many times you find yourself escaping the Underworld, this game will keep bringing you back for another round.

An all-consuming epic, Crusader Kings 3 marries its grand strategy with more involving RPG elements to create one of the best games of 2020.

Psychonauts 2 is a wildly creative, engaging, and thought-provoking masterpiece that bears the standard for all 3D platformers going forward.

Resident Evil 4 is a worthy companion piece to survival horror royalty that's sure to go down as one of the year's best games.

F1 2020 is not just a great Formula 1 game but also one of the best racers released this generation, thanks to its responsive driving, wealth of options, and in-depth game modes.

One of the most intoxicating and dazzlingly dense RPGs of its generation that deserves to be in the GOTY conversation.

A faithful remake that does exactly what it needed to do while adding plenty of its own ideas, Resident Evil 2 is now as terrifying in 2019 as it was in 1998.

Dragon Quest XI S is an excellent version of an excellent game and, if you have the time to spare, an enjoyable JRPG for the whole family.

New Horizons is a great continuation of an already fantastic series of games, and paying back Tom Nook’s loan has never been so fun.

A brave, ridiculous survival horror game that oftentimes needs to be seen to be believed, Alan Wake 2 showcases a developer at the peak of their powers.

A brilliant superhero game, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 largely improves on the core formula while telling the most intimate, dramatic story yet.

A beautiful sequel that successfully manages to improve on almost every aspect of the original, Ori and the Will of the Wisps is one of the best Metroidvania experiences you can find.

Having seen this case through to the end and witnessed every last revelation Ghost Trick has to offer, I can confidently say its reputation is well-deserved. Fiendishly clever, excellently paced, and endlessly full of surprises, Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective truly deserves its time in the spotlight.

Videoverse joins an immensely charming, detailed snapshot of early 2000s online fandom with an intermeshed web of heartfelt and incredibly human (sub)plots.

A sublime fighting game masterpiece from a company at the peak of their powers, Street Fighter 6 is utterly incredible.

With upgrades and improvements made to practically every aspect of the game, F1 2019 looks stunning, and gives driving enthusiasts plenty to get to grips with.

Tekken 8 appeals to both the casual and hardcore playerbase, with a great selection of modes, training tools and additional gameplay depth. 2024’s fighting games are off to an excellent start.

Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth sun-baked adventure expertly improves on the last game’s formula, while giving enough space for both of its leading Dragons to truly shine.

Even the most jaded of battle royale fans will find their interest rejuvenated by Apex Legends thanks to Respawn's attention to detail, superior gunplay, and fantastic innovations, though the loot boxes and progression system certainly need addressing.

Sekiro is a tremendously fun and difficult game -- everything from the combat to the world itself is crafted in a masterful way. Even after spending around 40 hours to beat it, I still want to come back for more in the coming weeks.

DUSK has found a fantastic home on the Switch, where its top-tier throwback FPS can bloom in all its bloody, wretched glory.

Deathloop is an awesomely entertaining ride with stealth and puzzle elements that help make it feel like the big crazy sci-fi adventure it wants to be.

Unity of Command 2 is an excellent evolution of the series that retains, improves, and builds upon the already high quality of its predecessor.

Super Mario Maker 2 is the ultimate package for both casual and dedicated Mario fans.

Despite being four years old this year, Downwell is still as maddeningly enticing as ever and, thanks to the multitude of ways of playing, might be at its most compelling on Switch.

DOOM Eternal is a bloody masterpiece of glorious violence that may well be the best the series has ever been.

F1 2021 manages to successfully include an engaging story mode while also making a series of improvements that keeps the racing game ahead of the pack.

Like Streets Of Rage 4 before it, Lizardcube have taken a beloved classic and made it their own. Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is a triumphant return of a classic.

Falcom’s stunning retelling of the series’s origin is the new definitive starting point for your Trails journey, and an excellent RPG in its own right.

Multiplayer and loading screens aside, Devil May Cry 5 is exactly what it was meant to be and more. With a great plot, beautiful visuals, and near perfect gameplay, Capcom delivers possibly the best Devil May Cry to date.

While PS4 veterans might not get as much value from the re-release, Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut is a wonderful showcase for the PS5 and an incredible package for newcomers.

Final Fantasy VII Remake strikes a fantastic, resonant chord that will leave long-time fans and newbies alike wholly satisfied.

Sea of Stars is a love letter to classic 1990s JRPGs that transcends the genre and perfects the form.

Pikmin 4 is a deviously addictive and clever adventure, perfect for newcomers and experienced players alike. These sprouts may have taken a long time to grow, but this bounty was definitely worth the wait.

Uncharted nails the cinematic adventure so well, and it’s great to see the two campaigns looking as crisp as they do on the screen.

While some off-track quirks diminish the experience somewhat, Gran Turismo 7’s excellent gameplay places it firmly ahead of most of the racing game genre.

Hitman 3 takes everything good about the rebooted series and combines it with worthwhile features and levels that are more interactive than ever before to create one of the best stealth games of the last decade.

This is a game that does not give up its secrets easily, but offers players a wealth of options to succeed - with enough perseverance.

Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty is the final stop on the game's redemption tour, and what a redemption it is. If you were still cynical about CD Projekt Red as a studio, it's time to start believing again.

Streets of Rage 4 is back and it’s better than it ever has been, thanks to a host of important gameplay improvements.

A refined experience from a much more mature FromSoftware and a crew behind their best hits gives a once obscure franchise a more palatable experience for all makes Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon an unforgettable mecha action game for the ages.

OlliOlli World stumbles here and there, with a steep difficulty curve and occasional technical hitches, but fans of skateboarding games will find plenty of combo-stringing complexity to enjoy.

Panzer Corps 2 is a must-buy for any history and strategy game fan.

Bolstered by new features and quality-of-life upgrades, Disco Elysium remains a clever, uncompromising examination of how hard it is to do something as complicated as exist in the real world.

Though it may show the design limitations of the franchise’s aging engine, Total War: Warhammer 3 is a solid conclusion to CA’s foray into fantasy.

Dragon’s Dogma 2 is a kitchen sink sequel to the original sleeper hit from 2012, building on what worked about the first game to create an RPG experience that’s still unlike any other.

Desperados 3 brings the franchise hooting and hollering back to life — and maybe better than ever.

A great game that will likely be even better soon, Mortal Kombat 11 offers plenty for any fighting game fan, though it does need some refinement with regards to certain modes and features.

Though uneven in its middle section, Inscryption is a clever and refreshing horror-adventure card game.

Wasteland 3 is a terrific sequel that blows its predecessor out of the water in every aspect.

13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is an odd hybrid, but it knows exactly what it wants to be and pursues that goal with confidence and style.

It’s an almost instant classic with some of the best character interactions I have had in years.

Hell Is Other Demons goes the distance in its refined and frantic gameplay that captures the nostalgia of 8-bit arcade shooters.

Come for the alluring amenities, stay for the hilarious, thought-provoking and genuinely interesting writing.

Nioh 2 offers best in class combat but suffers from an overwhelming number of upgrade systems and a story that is utterly incoherent.

Even if it’s one of the console’s better ports, the Nintendo Switch version really isn't the way to experience Wild Hunt.

The Bayonetta & Vanquish 10th Anniversary Bundle combines two utterly fantastic games into one affordable package. If you haven’t played either game, this is your chance to fix that.

The slow pace and relatively easy combat make for a great game to relax with, which fits the Switch perfectly.

A Plague Tale: Requiem is a brilliant follow-up to 2019’s cult hit, and could be a real contender for a lot of people’s Game of the Year lists.

Total War: Three Kingdoms is the best the series has been in a decade. By emphasising on characters and their relationships, each campaign feels like an epic narrative of friendship and betrayal.

Gears 5 is a beautiful balancing act of new and old, and it manages to offer the franchise’s trademark action and gore while telling a compelling story that sets up the future of the series in a big way.

Naff campaign and some potential balancing issues aside, Battlefield 6’s multiplayer is top notch large-scale chaos.

Mortal Kombat 1’s New Era might be a bit too familiar, but the core gameplay and range of modes on offer here is undeniable.

Though Blasphemous 2 lacks the wow factor of the first game, it does smooth out its edges to the point where it feels like a tighter, more fluid experience.

Do not miss out on Ryo Ga Gotoku Studio’s best adventure to date.

One of the most innovative shooters in years is now one of the most innovative shooters on the Switch.

Two Point Hospital modernises the Theme Hospital experience while working beautifully on consoles.

Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is a gorgeous side-scroller that's hard to put down.

Fuga: Melodies of Steel is a deep strategy-focused JRPG with a dramatic wartime narrative that is sure to hook fans of the genre.

Despite squandering a great setting and premise, The Division 2 is an incredibly fun game to play which improves on almost everything the first one brought to the table.

Don’t confuse Miles Morales for a sidekick or kid, and don’t pass up on another great adventure.

Football Manager 2024 refreshes the formula just enough ahead of its biggest overhaul to date next year, allowing players to become the digital Alan Curbishley with the most depth of any FM yet.

A brilliant standard setter for remasters and re-releases going forward, Quake 2 feels like a love letter to one of the grandfathers of boomer shooters.

Ghost of Tsushima is, despite some minor blemishes, an impressively sharp swansong for the PlayStation 4.

Bloodstained doesn’t hide what it is or where it came from; it embraces that. I wish it had been a new Castlevania game, but it doesn’t need to have the name to champion everything that made that excellent.

Persona 5 Strikers will catch you off guard in the best way. You’ll never see it coming.

Who knew the holidays with Cthulhu could be so much fun? If you put one game on your Christmas list this year, make it this one.

Red Dead Redemption on the Switch is the exact same Western epic you know and love. That’s both its greatest strength and its greatest weakness.

Building upon its source board game in utterly delightful ways, Quilts and Cats of Calico is an absolute winner both as a digital adaptation of a board game and a new entry in the crowded cozy gaming genre.

The crazy amount of content will keep players busy for a long time, and with post-launch updates promising even more to come, Mario may just have to beware an inbound blue shell.

Bugbear have once again proven they’re the rulers of destructive driving games with arguably their best effort yet, stripping away the unnecessary parts of their previous series and focusing on what works.

Despite its flaws, Kingdom Hearts 3 provides a more than fitting end to Sora’s chapter. With careful lessons learned from its past, Kingdom Hearts’ future has never been so bright.

With its dedication to fantastic storytelling and some innovative tweaks to its gameplay, Lost Judgment is guilty of being a damn good game.

With its in-depth customization, modes you can pour hours into, and online play with friends, MLB The Show 20 is a home run for fans.

Two Point Campus is an excellent example of a developer learning, improving, and innovating upon a formula to create something that’s immediately familiar, but also throws in a fresh spin.

Although Dirt 5 is very different from previous entries in the series, it’s still a great racer that embraces its arcade approach with a vibrant art style, fun game modes, and joyful gameplay.

Demon Turf: Neon Splash is a bite-sized version of one of 2021’s best platformers, and while it’s not quite on the same level, it’s still great fun.

Despite requiring the virtue of patience, Triangle Strategy is a great time. Grid-based battlefield lovers should definitely make a plan to play it.

A fun space-faring RPG held back by a few glaring decisions, Starfield is a good launching point for a game that’ll become something great in the future.

Combining some of the best (and worst — sorry, Capcom Fighting Evolution) of their back catalogue with smart updates and improvements, Capcom Fighting Collection 2 is an easy recommendation.

While the procedural generation makes it slip on a banana peel somewhat, the rest of Ape Out is such a stylistic and hyperviolent joy that you can't but be charmed by it - even the jazz.

Katana ZERO’s almost unprecedented level of polish, lightning-fast gameplay, and thought-provoking story make it one of the year’s best indie games.

Competing with Fire Emblem for the title of premier strategy game on the Nintendo Switch, Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp is a definitive combination of two cult classics.

While it doesn’t reinvent the open world or stray too far from its predecessor, Horizon Forbidden West is a worthwhile endeavor for those in the mood for more open world adventures, with surprising nuance and complexity for those who make the trip.

A supremely dense hybrid of many different genres and styles, Marvel's Midnight Suns is an absolutely smashing time and one of 2022's best.

This game slashes a lot of nails on the head and excels in so many areas that the most recent releases seem to have forgotten about. I just hope taking a look at this game reminds Omega Force and Koei Tecmo what is supposed to be at the heart of a Warriors game and the Warriors series.