Make no mistake, Elden Ring is to the Souls subgenre what Breath of the Wild was to the Zelda franchise; it took a classic dungeon-diving formula and opened it up, adding more choice, nuance, and combat flexibility in the process. It feels destined to kickstart a wave of "did you know you could do this?" YouTube videos, and a deeper discussion of build-crafting. Elden Ring isn’t Dark Souls 4 or just ‘Big Souls’, but it’s damn close, and represents the evolution the series needed and manages to be everything else we wanted it to be.

Overcoming Breath of the Wild’s exceptional quality was never going to be an easy feat, but The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has achieved a small miracle. There is more creativity and choice than ever before, which will undoubtedly have a long-lasting influence on both the series and the wider gaming industry. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is not so much a tearful goodbye from its historic past, but a fresh new beginning – one that embraces the building blocks set down by its predecessor, and transforms them to further push this beloved action-adventure series ever forward.

Hades 2 is an unbelievable triumph for more reasons than a pair of human hands can count. Supergiant Games' sequel is a bold evolution of the original that flawlessly executes new ideas to deliver the best roguelike of this generation.

From start to finish, from top to bottom, no matter how you look at it, Astro Bot is simply sublime. A genuine treat the likes of which we haven’t seen from any first-party PlayStation studio in far too long. Not only has Sony found a new franchise that absolutely needs to continue with new iterations every few years, but in Astro Bot, the company now has a new icon it can rely on for generations to come.

Shadow of the Erdtree is a fitting tribute to Elden Ring and a stunning finale that manages to surprise and shock us all over again. Those who enjoyed the base game will find much more to get their teeth into. This signs off the Elden Ring chapter of FromSoftware’s journey so conclusively and impressively, that it invokes questions about how they will ever top it again.

This is as easy a perfect score as you’re likely to ever see. Metroid Prime was a masterpiece back in 2002, and it holds up impeccably in 2023...Everything synergizes, each and every element cohesively blends into one another, and there is not an ounce of effort wasted. Metroid Prime Remastered has been in demand for years for a very good reason: It’s a flawless, fun work of art that makes the wait for Metroid Prime 2 and Metroid Prime 3 Remastered, and the upcoming Metroid Prime 4, feel even longer.

Persona 5 Royal is simply a must-play for any JRPG fan, and couldn’t be a better place to start for those who have yet to delve into the genre...If you're a fan of lengthy RPGs full of interlinking systems and somehow haven't played yet, we implore you to join the Phantom Thieves -- they’re bound to steal your heart.

God of War Ragnarok is a complex, thoughtful game that takes everything that made its predecessor an unmissable experience to even greater heights. Its story is full of memorable characters, woven seamlessly into a series of worlds that feel more alive than ever, and its combat continues to add interesting new wrinkles dozens of hours in. Ragnarok is here, and it is glorious.

The Resident Evil 4 remake is exactly what we wanted it to be and answers the question: is it possible to improve on what many would once consider the pinnacle of gaming? Luckily, this gives us the answer, and it’s a resounding yes.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 gets it right in all the areas that matter. Its storytelling carries emotional depth, and the characterization makes you care about everyone you meet on your journey through this beautifully imagined world. Throw in a combat system that puts mastery above grinding, and you’ve got a classic RPG that, like Baldur’s Gate 3 before it, should appeal beyond its target audience, so much so that a game of the year nomination feels inevitable.

This is Game of the Year material and an exceptional follow-up to a revered first entry. It handles the beloved material with care while still establishing its own new voice, making for a stellar sequel. This is Game of the Year material and an exceptional follow-up to a revered first entry. It handles the beloved material with care while still establishing its own new voice, making for a stellar sequel.

While Super Mario Bros. Wonder doesn't revolutionize Nintendo’s beloved series, the charming 2D platformer successfully pays homage to its roots, paving the way forward with unique twists that keep the gameplay feeling fresh…Mario Bros. Wonder may not take the crown from Super Mario Bros. 3 or Odyssey, but the latest outing encapsulates the very essence of what a 2D Mario game should be. It’s silly, whacky, and most importantly great fun…The fact that Nintendo can still deliver a great 2D Mario game 42 years after the first title hit our screens back in 1981, really is a wonder in itself.

Forza Horizon 5 sets a new industry gold standard for racing game visuals, gameplay, and map design. Our expectations of map design just leveled up with Horizon 5, and it’s another massive victory for Game Pass members who will get it on release day. The good news for players is that there’s future DLC content to come, which will only add to what is comfortably the most exciting next-gen racing game released so far.

The series feels revitalized with so much genuine care and craft having been put into this entry. Every facet of Street Fighter 6 oozes confidence, and for a good reason too – every mode that it offers just feels great.

Final Fantasy XIV Endwalker will tick every box for returning Warriors of Light. Between two fun, distinct new classes to play as, a wealth of new areas to explore, and an often surprising conclusion to a story arc that’s been running for years, Endwalker cements FFXIV’s place at the top of the MMO pyramid. We’re desperate to see where the title goes next, but if you need us, you can find us leveling those new jobs.

Metaphor: ReFantazio is the ultimate culmination of everything Atlus has learned from its best games and is a huge step forward for the future of its JRPGs. The delightful combat, incredible cast of characters, and intricate fantasy setting all make for a brilliant experience that no Shin Megami Tensei or Persona fan should miss out on. It’s certainly a game-of-the-year-worthy title and a smash hit for Atlus to end the year with.

What makes these dichotomous chapters so engrossing, however, is their sheer scope. Where throughout It Takes Two you were largely traversing smaller, indoor areas and keeping to confined spaces, Split Fiction feels like a bold statement of what Hazelight can really do with an expanded budget. Some areas are bewildering in size, while others pack in so much detail you can’t help but ponder where all the loading screens have been hidden.

Silksong is a technical feat. So densely packed is its world that maintaining a laser focus on forward momentum is borderline impossible. At every opportunity, I found myself pausing the main campaign just to prolong my time in Pharloom...Little did I know that pacing myself wasn’t necessary. Mechanically, Silksong is just as expansive. Superior fluidity of movement and a less obtuse approach to building the perfect bug warrior made traversal and combat feel like a treat to be savored at every opportunity...Ultimately, games like these live and die based on how well their worlds are built, and Pharloom is one of the best from an architectural and visual perspective. It’s a shame that its fierce difficulty spike and pacing issues in the early game will absolutely turn less hardcore audiences away, because it’s clear that Silksong is seven years of love, care, and dedication splashed on a screen. Equal parts breathtaking and brutal, Hollow Knight: Silksong proves it was worth the wait but won’t go easy on anyone.

From start to finish, Donkey Kong Bananza is a riot. I wrapped up my journey to Bananza's credits in a little over 20 hours. Your mileage will vary wildly depending on how much optional content you decide to invest time in, but that's the beauty of it. If you're not big on collectathons, there's still plenty of game here for platforming purists to enjoy. I can't recommend enough taking on the various trials – think Shrines from Breath of the Wild – littered throughout the world, though, especially if you're a fan of 2D Donkey Kong. While performance issues were largely nonexistent in handheld mode, quite severe frame rate drops were commonplace when docked, especially during certain boss battles. This doesn't take into account any day one patches that may or may not arrive on release, and not egregious enough that your enjoyment will be hampered.

Rogue Legacy 2 isn’t just another can’t-miss indie hit, it’s the best work yet from Cellar Door Games. With its affordable price point in mind, there’s no better time to start your family tree and get lost in the ever-changing castle.

In many ways, Dead Space is still the game you remember from 2008, but this is the way it was supposed to be played. Despite a few nitpicks, the Dead Space remake improves on the original in every conceivable way. Not only that, it reminds us of the potential the franchise has and makes us look forward to future chapters in the series. We hope, desperately, that Isaac Clarke isn’t absent for another ten years, especially as the survival horror genre enters a period of renaissance. In space, no one can hear you scream, but your neighbors will.

When Insomniac taps into the heart of its subject matter, be that Peter or Miles, it's glorious. Being a friendly neighborhood Spider-Man is compelling. You're equally important saving the world or helping someone cross the street, a dichotomy this game understands beautifully. That’s why it’s a shame the main narrative gets tangled in its own web of disparate elements, falling just shy of greatness.

With an extremely gripping narrative, a fantastic gameplay loop, and a host of lovable characters – even just a dozen hours into what can easily become an 80+ hour experience – it’s abundantly clear that Persona 4 Golden is one of the best JRPGs of all time.

Neon White is a stylish, unique title that’s sure to see a dedicated community of speed runners and action game fans alike flock to it. It’s like nothing I’ve played before, and I can’t stop thinking about its lucid but responsive gameplay even after playing for hours on end.

Yakuza is a unique series, and for a long time, it felt like the only reason it worked in all its glorious surreality and heartfelt storylines was Kiryu. However, Infinite Wealth proves Yakuza can exist past Kiryu’s legacy, and Ichiban is the right man to bring about Yakuza’s new generation.

Pokemon Pokopia reimagines what it means to be a Pokemon, blending cozy building systems with open-ended creativity to deliver one of the most addictive gameplay loops the series has ever seen.

Small foibles aside, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 might just be the Switch’s prettiest and grandest game of 2022. With a deep combat system and surprisingly effective story, along with quality of life improvements over the prior game, it’s a true spectacle whether you’re playing in handheld mode or docked. It really is a must-buy for JRPG fans.

Kynseed is the obvious product of hard work and dedicated development. PixelCount Studios has taken every standard mechanic from other farming games and looked at it from a new angle, offering fans of the slice-of-life genre something that is not only refreshing, but utterly and delightfully unique. The game is a perfect example of how farming sims can create a magical experience from the mundane, and it is a must have for any cozy gamer’s library.