Bioshock Infinite is the best shooter I have played in a long time. It is an incredible achievement artistically, narratively, and technically. I can’t think of a better game to close out and define this decade-long console generation.

The hard-as-nails Ninja Gaiden is back, with improved camera system, a new mission mode and bonus game. At a budget price, you'd be crazy not let own this gem.

If you are a fan of the series, or are looking to get into fighting games, Street Fighter IV is one of the best we have seen in many, many years.

By far the best game that the series has produced.

Far from just a lazy rehash, the more user-friendly camera system and online play makes the game even more enjoyable this time around.

What impresses me so much about this game is not only that it has a tremendous amount of hype surrounding it which it does, but that it delivers even through all of that.

Metal Gear Solid 4 is essentially the best game out there on the PS3, and can easily compete with any other game on any system.

Although I have extreme reservations for the nudity incorporated by the developers, which I hope won't carry over to the sequel, God of War provides an engaging storyline, backup with by a stunning graphics engine and solid gameplay elements.

There were too many times in the game where there wasn't a whole lot of fun. And personally the combat system could have allowed you to have more control of the character without having to give up the RPG elements.

This is the new standard for open world role-playing games. There is no such thing as a perfect game, but The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt come as close to perfect as any RPG to date.

What is so amazing about Burnout 3 is not so much its excellent modes but instead its amazing gameplay.

There's no easy way to sum up The Last of Us Part II. It carries all of the flaws of modern video games but also tries to be so much more than that. It's a beautiful game, graphically and in terms of storytelling, but those qualities are coupled with a ridiculous level of violence and gore. Violence and gore that are the point and potentially overshadow the point. It's not perfect, but it's still amazing. It's the most well crafted third-person game that Naughty Dog has made so far, as well as the longest, with impeccable writing, acting, and pacing. Much like the first game and the PS3, anyone with a PS4 should seek out The Last of Us Part II. It is every bit as good as the first game, and together, the two games make Naughty Dog's most exceptional video game experience to date.

Hades is a must-play game this year and you are doing yourself a great disservice not giving it a shot. There is what seems to be an unending plethora of reasons, as highlighted so adamantly above, about why Hades will most definitely be in my top 10 games of the year list. Every aspect of Hades feels nuanced and beautifully crafted. It transforms what I initially thought was a torturous, gimmicky genre into something digestible and fun with a kick-ass narrative sprinkled on top. Hades without a doubt is one of the best games to come out this year and Supergiant Games has yet again proved that they are one of the best developers in the industry today.

Be it presentation, length, variety, or simple gameplay polish, Half-Life: Alyx is one that beats its peers cleanly. If you aren’t yet interested in virtual reality or you have not yet taken the plunge, then I would strongly recommend that you consider investing in the technology to play this game. It’s the closest thing to a killer app that VR is going to get any time soon. The format still has its shortcomings and likely always will, but with Half-Life: Alyx, it’s very close to realizing its full potential. If you think back to the first time that you visualized what VR would look like and feel like, then you probably envisioned something very similar to what Half-Life: Alyx has to offer. It’s immersive, exciting, terrifying, and exhilarating – everything that you would hope for a virtually reality game to be.

Larian studios has yet to make a bad game, and Divinity: Original Sin 2 is among their finest. As a sequel to such a beloved RPG, it gets about as much right as you can reasonably expect. The game doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it doesn’t have to when you consider how much its predecessor already got right. It does have its issues – the frame rate could be higher and if you play the game for 50+ hours, there is a good chance that you will get a little worn out from the combat. These issues are easy to overlook though, enough to make the game a must have for fans of PC RPGs.

The sequel to arguably the best action game on the console just got better.

Super Mario 3D World is both gorgeous and about as enjoyable as a video game can be. There is an immense amount of depth that kept me coming back for more, time and time again. This is the rare type of game that I believe ten years down the road we will be coming back and playing again and again. It’s that good.

A great story, genuine humor and excellent combat, Persona 4 Golden is the complete package. There is no reason why this game shouldn't be part of your Vita's library.

Although Persona 5 deals with the everyday angst of your average, magic-wielding teenagers, it is epic in almost every conceivable way, from its combat to its sprawling and surprise-laden story. While some of its large cast of characters strike a sour note and its gameplay can challenge the impatient player, Persona 5 somehow manages the improbable feat of being both an ultimate reward to fans of the franchise and a perfect gateway to newcomers.

Mass Effect 3 is a fantastic game and an even greater achievement upon the landscape of video game that is only held back by some small gameplay issues and its own grandeur. Honestly, the worst part of the game is knowing that there will be no Mass Effect 4 to import my Shepard into. It's like saying goodbye to a friend and it is an experience that, while sort of heart aching, every single person who plays video games should have. But it's nothing without its predecessors. So do yourself a favor, start with the original Mass Effect and see this story through to the end. There is nothing else quite like it.

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is the culmination of decades of an acclaimed series that repeatedly raised the bar with every entry. The storytelling may not please everyone, especially the initiated, but this is unquestionably the best gameplay in a Metal Gear game.

To reiterate, no one takes advantage of Nintendo's hardware like they do themselves. It establishes a new direction for combat, and even justifies motion controls - something that's been a long time coming.

If there is one thing that really stands out to me about Rock Band 3 is that in a time where music games are starting to feel dated, Rock Band 3 manages to still be fresh.

It’s in a class of its own. It’s the most fun I’ve had with a video game since Super Mario World. It’s an absolute treasure that combines action and story in a beautiful concert that I never wanted to end. It’s one of the rare games that years from now I know I will remember exactly where I was when the credits rolled and I said goodbye to Nathan Drake, one of the most prolific video game characters of all time. Bravo Naughty Dog, bravo.

San Andreas is still San Andreas, and although the visuals failed to impress the gameplay is still as solid and engaging as ever.

When old and new conventions meet this flawlessly, RE2 is a true celebration of sincere video gaming, an art that sometimes is lost among Western triple-A developers and their plodding and misshapen movie wannabes where the gameplay is secondary. If only all video games could be reverted back to this, a pureblood gaming pleasure but still look as amazing as Resident Evil 2. Capcom, how about the same gorgeous treatment for Resident Evil 3 next?

Inside takes an already great formula of and improves on it in just about every way. The beautifully designed environments coupled with the cleverly crafted puzzles easily makes this the indie game to beat this year.

Playground Games continues to set the standard in the genre and Forza Horizon 4 is no different. This is open world driving at its absolute finest. The spectacular visuals and stellar roster of cars are great, but the shared world and new weather system is really what makes this one of the best open world racing games this decade.