Not since NFS: Most Wanted have I felt so compelled to 100% a racing game. More to the point, Split/Second is just fantastic on some many levels and is literally the most enjoyable racer I've played in years.

Gordian Quest is a trio of genres that show what a good and balanced game looks like. It is certainly one of the better gaming experiences I have been through so far in 2022. It does have some minor issues, but nothing that will distract you from its terrific and balanced gameplay.

A New Day embraces this concept and allows the player to revel in its characters and their conversations, and in doing so even manages to grant the player legitimate agency over the suspected protagonist. And, yeah, it's a hell of a good ride.

Hogwarts Legacy is mostly everything it promised it would be. The main story is quite good, the side quests seem endless, and the magical mystery that most know in this wizarding world from books and movies is ever present in this game.

Etrian Odyssey IV carefully balances classic and modern to produce a truly accessible dungeon crawling RPG without compromising significantly in terms of core values. It is a seriously challenging game, but one which—by way of two straightforward difficulty selections—can hope to appease those who normally would not put up with such punishing gameplay.

Resident Evil Village is a gripping entry for this long-running horror franchise. Capcom has excelled at translating the strengths of this series through perspective and tonal shifts. It succeeds as both a horror game and an action game.

If you love turntables, you love scratching and you love hearing music from different generations cleverly mixed together to create a unique beat then you'll just fall in love with DJ Hero.

People Can Fly and Epic Games, seemingly bored with the state of first person shooters, have cranked out one of the most objectively offensive titles in recent memory, but pulled a fast one by backing it up with clever, fresh and addicting mechanics wholly absent in every one of its peers.

Xenoblade Chronicles X is a boundless exhibition of the relationship between scale and structure, and its myriad of frenzied ideas are willed into cohesion only by the congruence of its supporting systems. Xenoblade Chronicles X may be obsessed with scale (and proudly so), but it doesn't leave the player feeling consumed by it.

One of the best games I've played this year and my favorite from Frictional to date.

THQ and Volition didn't just "press out" another sequel. It could have been very easy to mix in just a few new things to validate a new purchase for Saints or sandbox fans. Instead, they took the initiative, and have finally created a game that they have wanted to do since 2006 with the first one: push "open world" to the next level.

Gran Turismo 5 operates under an identical premise; the core experience provides a racing simulation of unmatched fidelity, one where every thread unravels in dozens of different directions and grants its own unique sense of satisfaction.

Starved for Help continues to explore the moral ambiguity of a post-society world, albeit focusing more on the human threat this time around. There is a narrow margin between right and wrong, and forcing the player to genuinely question what to do or how to act in virtual environment is a remarkable accomplishment.

Spider-Man: Miles Morales on PS4 is fun, frantic, and full of heart. While not as large in scope as 2018’s Spider-Man, Miles Morales continues to build upon the world Insomniac has crafted to deliver a heartfelt story about a kid in Harlem just trying to deal with the responsibility of balancing being a hero with protecting his family. Miles Morales doesn’t add a ton to the formula, nor does it need to. Swinging through New York is just as fun as it was in 2018, and some of Miles’ new Venom powers allow him to feel different than Peter Parker. You’re not going to get all the bells and whistles the PS5 version offers, but the story itself is a must-play.

Presented in a gloriously isometric manner, Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light doesn't need Lara Croft – it creates a big time, engaging action action-adventure experience that stands on its own merits.

The Etrian Odyssey Origins Collection from Atlus is so much better than expected, but not without its flaws. The dungeon-crawling and exploration experiences are primo, as is the need to build a map out and put it on the player to keep track of their surroundings. While the beginning of the game may force some players to question if they’re up for the task of traversing the Etrian Odyssey worlds, as well as some of the gameplay design decisions that can be archaic and restrictive, the collection’s payoff seems much greater by the end than the amount of effort it took to get there.

The Namco Legendary Pack for Atari 50 brings some great insight, good videos, and wonderful video game reviews from the past about NAMCO titles on Atari systems. While the DLC doesn’t feature a bevy of NAMCO games that players would find on a NAMCO Museum release, nor does it bring too many arcade experiences in comparison to other Atari 50 releases, it does bring a variety of NAMCO games on various Atari systems. Some of those translations might not be gems, especially Pac-Man on the 2600, but they’re worth experiencing.

Another powerhouse from Vigil Games, Darksiders II is a must have.

Borderlands manages to combine two normally distinct genres into an impressive and potent blend of FPS and RPG entertainment that is best played with friends. Grab your buddies and get hunting.

Half-Minute Hero is a stunning example of why all games don’t have to follow the same rules, but, even with as much as I loved playing it, I'm well aware of its limited appeal.

Ghost Trick: The Phantom Detective from Capcom is a challenging and creative puzzle game that casts the same logic-driven shadow as its gaming cousins in the Ace Attorney series. It offsets its incredibly large amount of difficulty with a strong story that has sprinkles of humor in it, while still maintaining its murder mystery mission to deliver an overall entertaining experience.

Sega Ages: Fantasy Zone is another solid release that retro gamers should strongly consider picking up.

Thimbleweed Park is one of those games that speaks to those people who enjoy the genre, and it’s certainly good enough that it will hopefully attract newcomers as well. It’s fan service and an all new exciting game at the same time. Hopefully this is the first of more from Terrible Toybox; regardless, this is a gem and a must-have for anyone that likes games that are story, character, and puzzle-driven adventures.

In sum, Skunkape has done another excellent job remastering an old point-and-click gem from the Telltale archives of years past. Though I wouldn’t put the Sam & Max episodic adventures in my all time list for the genre, they do rank highly, and are absolutely worth playing if you enjoy the genre or want to experience some zany plots and characters. We’ll look forward to the third and final remaster hopefully next year.

Mortal Kombat Legacy Kollection from developer and publisher Digital Eclipse exceeds expectations. While the collection doesn’t bring all gaming gems to the surface, it brings enough good arcade and console translations with new features and improved controls that make it an easy sell. To boot, the documentary about the series’ history is well done and also worth the price of admission.

In spite of a somewhat lazy presentation, New Super Mario Bros. U manages to captivate with just the right balance of fun, challenge, and variety. Perhaps it doesn't leverage much of what makes the Wii U different, but via masterful implementation of the basics, it's the closest thing to SNES Mario that we've seen in over 15 years.

For all its flaws, Dynasty Warriors: Origins is still an enjoyable game. At its core, it does what it needs to do. Koei Tecmo delivered on their promise of 1 vs. 1000 combat, though not without neglecting other aspects of gameplay. Combat was enjoyable, though suffered at the hands of poor game design. There’s a strong premise here, but a lack of character development hampers the storytelling. Overall, if you’re the type of person who’s looking for some straight forward, high-intensity action, Dynasty Warriors: Origins might be for you—as long as you don’t mind some of its rough edges.

If you're looking for a change in your MMO diet then you might try a bite of RIFT. It might not be more satisfying than WoW, FFXI or other MMOs, but it certainly has potential depending on Trion's future plans with it.

I recommend a lot of games to friends, but this is one of those "okay, if you only play one game on this list, make it this one" type of games. I'll go as far as to say if you don't own a Vita, Zero Escape is one of the best reasons to get one.

Child of Eden is a visually stunning game. Prepare to be immersed into a 3D world that you can control and protect - all with the power of multi-sensory gestures, using your hands.

You will definitely get your money’s worth if you're a fan of stealth strategy games and want a game that you can replay over and over. If your not into this type of genre Hitman doesn’t do anything that will make you a fan. It’s a very rewarding game and one of the best from the series.

RE 4 is one of those games that could be re-released every five to ten years and still be as good and as important as it was the first go around.

Overall, Out Run is another gem in the Sega Ages library. It emulates its arcade predecessor perfectly, and it feels tighter in the controls department. Beyond those, there’s nothing else to offer, which is fine for a classic. You don’t want to change what people love for the sake of updating.

News Tower, from developer Sparrow Night and publisher Twin Sails Interactive, is a marvelous newspaper sim that goes above and beyond the typical simulator formula.

Sam Fisher's latest is a treat, and quite possibly the most complete and robust Splinter Cell experience to date. It's not without some flaws of course, and I do wonder if it will be re-released on PS4/X1 in the next several months, but fans of the franchise should take note and suit up.

The Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster Series is a near-perfect collection of the original six Final Fantasy titles, updated quite well to be played by today’s Final Fantasy fans and new players. The smoothed graphics, orchestral arrangements of the beloved original soundtracks, and litany of gameplay updates demonstrate that this is not just a simple rerelease, but a clearly thought-out collection of titles ready to be enjoyed by anyone who’s willing to take a step into classic RPGs from Square Enix. While I don’t consider this collection to be truly definitive because of a smidgen of cut bonus content, I still consider this collection worthy of any RPG fan’s time and an absolute must-buy for anyone interested in playing through the first six Final Fantasy titles for the very first time.

FIFA 16 delivers another deeply satisfying game of soccer replete with beloved franchise staples such as Ultimate Team, Co-op Online Seasons, etc. The core game is largely the same. But key additions in the Women’s International Tournament and the new Ultimate Team Draft add depth to a game already full of immersive play options. With the addition of Ultimate Team Draft, EA could honestly put out Ultimate Team as a stand alone release.

Shatter, whether the original PSN version or this updated PC one, is a solid game and well worth the price.

Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights is a well-planned and executed game from Binary Haze Interactive. It has some repetitive shortcomings, but the fun boss fights and massive levels will help you get through the grind.

Vanquish isn't simply Japan's proper response to cover-based shooters, it's the most dramatic take upon the genre thus far.

Despite some very minor frustrating moments in the F1 2010, Codemasters has worked hard to bring F1 experience to the small screen and for the most part they have succeeded.

NHL 13 has definitely improved in all important areas from last year. You get better presentation, better AI and a better overall experience. NHL fans will love this game.

The PS4 version touts some nice presentation boosts while maintaining the excellent gameplay that you would expect from Trine 2. If you don't currently on Trine 2, this version is a great one to get.

Prodeus is a wonderful breath of fresh air in the FPS genre. So many games lately focus on realism and intense graphics. Prodeus reminds you of the genre’s roots and is damn good at doing so. If you want a more “modern” feel, you can switch the sprites over to being renders, which does have its own charm. I think fans of any type of FPS game will enjoy Prodeus. It is a fun, action-packed game that is fast-paced and easy to pick up and play for just small bites of time if you want. Some levels are longer than others, but it is easy to pick it up, play a level, and put it back down if you want. And that is something I appreciate being able to do with a busy schedule. Prodeus will bring nostalgia to some and insight to others. But one thing is for sure, hopping in and destroying some demons is always a good time. [Early Access Review Score = 96]

Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is a pitch-perfect action game that revitalizes the long-dormant Ninja Gaiden franchise, smartly calling back to its 2D roots. For a series that was known for brutal difficulty before it became a household trend, it’s wonderful to see a developer like The Game Kitchen use their own expertise to translate decades-old concepts so expertly in the modern day. Blistering speed and challenging, satisfying combat are the hallmarks of any great action game and Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound does not disappoint.

Yakuza: Like A Dragon is a rousing success. The timing is excellent, too. It’s the dawn of a new console generation and it’s an exciting time for this storied franchise to turn a new page. As far as launch games go, this is one of the best, for several reasons. It offers some presentation ‘wows,’ but even more importantly it offers a deep, long, compelling story with memorable moments and characters, with strong gameplay and lots to do. It’s built off of the success of the previous fifteen years of Yakuza, but Like A Dragon blazes its own path, too — you need not have played any of the previous games to fully enjoy this one, yet I appreciate that this game honors the past while forging its own future. PS5 owners have something great to look forward to in March, but if you’re lucky enough to have the new Xbox, this is a great game that is also very well priced right now at just $50.

I absolutely loved Berserk Boy – enough to want to come back for more thanks to its fast-paced platforming, fluid combat, incredible soundtrack, and nostalgia-bomb of SNES-era gaming. This 2D action-platformer is worth the ride so you can GO BERSERK!!

While short, SUPERHOT VR is very accessible, addictive, and simply fun to play. It’s also very comfortable to experience, and the Forever Edition adds more reason to come back for additional challenges should you desire. If you haven’t checked it out yet, this is the way to play it.

There's no question DmC is a great game that any action gamer should play, but if you already have the original versions, there might not be quite enough additional content and changes here to warrant a re-purchase right now. However, if you missed out on DmC, then the Definitive Edition is a must have.

DOOM: The Dark Ages is a thrilling, feverishly-paced slaughter, the one thing most DOOM fans crave with each entry. Forgoing the brutal complexity of Eternal, id Software has stripped the formula down only slightly, making the Shield Saw one of the franchise’s best additions since glory kills. In the voyage towards reclaiming the roots of 1993, DOOM again shoves arena shooters into the future.

Call of Duty Black Ops 4 isn’t the best in the series, but it’s solid enough to justify it’s sequel monicker. Blackout is such an exhilarating take on the Battle Royale genre that it’s hard to not recommend it to even casual fans. Zombies is engaging and fun, especially with its story, but I wish it took more liberties with its maps. Multiplayer is great for veteran Call of Duty players, but offers little to no innovation over previous entries in the series.

Fear the Spotlight from developer Cozy Game Pals and publisher Blumhouse Games is a frightfully fun romp that balances out puzzles and stealth inside of a horror experience. While it won’t redefine the horror genre in gaming with its narrative, it still delivers enough to be entertaining and scary.

"Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara" is great fun. Yea, it’s technically two catalog titles coupled for the price of $15, but this release isn’t just the first time these games have been made available for stateside consoles – it’s also the definitive edition of both arcade classics.

Ghost of Tsushima is a narrative-driven game that has unique combat, a plethora of exploration, and enough heart to keep gamers coming back for more even after the game is beaten. The lack of a combat camera locking system will certainly cause some frustrations, but that is small potatoes when compared to the rest of the experience. This is the game Sucker Punch said it would be, and you won’t be disappointed.

Pinball tables started dying out just as crazy features like holograms and missions were taking hold. Their dissolution was disappointing, but Marvel Pinball feels like a successor in the classic lineage of great tables.

From an incredibly deep weapon system and difficulty settings to a lengthy story mode complete with quirky, well written dialogue sequences, Kid Icarus: Uprising is another gem in Sakurai's development crown and something any gamer should experience.

Even though Stray from BlueTwelve Studio has been out for a year, it’s still a joy to play on the Xbox Series X. The story is still a wonderful journey, the gameplay is still easy-peasy, and the visuals are still out of this-world gorgeous.

The Yakuza Remastered Collection shows that Sega understands the importance of this series and how much it means to its worldwide fandom. By updating the visuals, framerate, adding characters and content, and just proving that they are invested in the long haul for this series, shows that Sega is starting to get itself back in the game. This collection is worthy of any Yakuza fan’s money.

Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D is a near perfect remake of the Wii classic.

If Guacamelee was a celebration riot through metroidvania, its sequel feels closer to an orderly parade across the same space. Guacamelee! 2 is a warm, expertly designed, devilishly preposterous, and, ultimately, safe return to its Mexiverse.

Strikers captures the affable singularity of Persona 5 while shifting its perspective from a turn-based slow burn to an action-focused escapade. At the same time, Strikers’ devotion to its source material succeeds in keeping the player active and invested amid the turbulence of its strained support structure. It’s a summer vacation masquerading as a sequel, and that seems to suit the Phantom Thieves just fine.

The Alters is an isolationist and existential meditation on survival, using compelling mechanics to strip itself of the genre’s most frustrating chokepoints of tedium. But when The Alters becomes less about gathering materials and more about managing yourself, it molds the struggle of one’s self into an often bleak but obtusely hopeful exercise on living with yourself and the choices that have shaped you. The universe may often be in control of our destinies but 11 bit studios provides a fleeting glimpse into a core question of humanity and what it means to be you.

There was nothing outright “wrong” with last year’s product, but there was room for improvement. It seems EA Canada was receptive to what could alter things for the better, as many beneficial changes proliferate 18. Gameplay feels much more natural and welcoming, equating to more accessibility. The ways to play are well thought out and varied, adding to replay value. And the garnish of presentation scores big, leading to a pleasant sensory experience. If you like soccer and video games, give this serious consideration.

Arc System Works’ -Guilty Gear Strive- is an excellent Switch game and definitely the best bang-for-your-buck if you haven’t yet gone down the Guilty Gear rabbit hole. It is one of the most accessible fighting games on the market, making it a satisfying pick for casual and competitive Switch owners wanting to join the fray.

Heretic + Hexen brings back a revival of 30+ year old marvels that progressed the first-person shooter genre in the 90s and set the path for future FPS games. The additions of new online modes, direct access to mods, and new content make this even sweeter. But the games do look like they’re from the 90s, which may not be everyone’s cup of tea.

Triangle Strategy is a fantastic tactical RPG, and I’m so very glad to see it ported over to the PC. It offers a near perfect balance of strategy gameplay, active worldbuilding, and passive worldbuilding to get players committed to Norzelia and her inhabitants. While the gameplay may be too handholdy for tactical veterans, its accessible enough to encourage you to spend more time playing the game rather than trying to customize characters to the best they can be. This port doesn’t really offer much of an incentive for those who own the Switch version, but…the game is near perfect as is. Why bother trying to improve on a stellar tactical RPG?

Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag is a damn good game that has little flaws attached to it, which is impressive for a launch title.

Halo 3: ODST brings enough to the table to make it easy to recommend to anyone, including people who have purchased Halo 3. Oh, and the inclusion of a Halo: Reach beta code is pretty sweet too.

I don’t think it is crazy to say that Crash Team Racing is the best kart racing game. Unlike Mario Kart, players actually have to be skilled at playing the game to do well and progress, especially when playing against real people instead of computers. Nitro-Fueled is a wonderful remake of the classic game that we all know and love. The mechanics and courses are great. Combine that with a revamped Adventure mode and you have yourself a fantastic game. I wouldn’t say it’s a perfect game though due to its difficulty and pretty short story.

Ace Attorney Investigations Collection from Capcom is another wonderful entry in the Ace Attorney family. It brings a new style of gameplay, two great games, and the same amount of traditional difficulty that the series hangs its hat on.

Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth is an ambitious amalgamation of disparate stories, ideas, and styles. Persona 3 and Persona 4's character driven narratives may seem like unlikely bedfellows alongside Etrian Odyssey's obsession with dungeon crawling, but with a careful and crafty application of their respective strengths, Persona Q is a strangely melodious composition.

Kingdom Hearts 3 delivers the conclusion to the story started nearly 20 years ago in extraordinary ways. It has the best gameplay of the series, wraps up all the storylines and still finds room for some surprises.

One of the best items available on XBL or PSN, Beyond Good And Evil HD is a smart buy.

Well beyond a simple mash-up, Street Fighter X Tekken impressed me with its ability to simultaneously cater to both the casual and hardcore. New players could have enough fun executing basic moves and playing around with gems while the elite could devour every inch of the Cross Gauge in their pursuit of mechanical perfection. While bridge linking casual to hardcore remains unstable the conduit responsible for channeling Tekken into Street Fighter's visage is surprisingly sound. From the perspective of a Tekken fan, that's all pretty impressive.

Another wonderful feature of the Tobii tech is the ability to look around and move the camera in any direction to reveal more of the screen. I know, I know, that sounds like a simple thing, but it does provide a bit more visual girth to the already big world. I’m the type of gamer that doesn’t like to feel claustrophobic when it comes to visuals. I like seeing a big bulky world around me, so this option is good and it doesn’t get in the way of things.

At the end of the day you get a lot more bang for your buck in Madden NFL 11. There's more depth with GameFlow and Game Planning, a natural feel with improved controls, better presentation and just a phenomenal overall experience.

While not everything that Treyarch has introduced with this edition of Black Ops works, the 'outside of the box thinking' they've done has made this experience fun and fascinating.

2K10 makes some great strides in presentation this year with fewer changes in gameplay.

In sum, Judgment on the PS5 is a must-have for those that haven’t already paid or played through it on PS4. Unfortunately, previous owners cannot get a free upgrade, but, at least the MSRP for Judgment on PS5 is $40. This release does not offer anything new as far as gameplay, but, it is complete, runs like silk, and reminds us all how good of a game this was two years ago and still is today. Not to mention, its arrival is likely foreshadowing the imminent announcement of a sequel.

Resident Evil HD Remaster is almost everything promised. After all these years, it still doesn’t miss a step.

Red Dead Redemption will always hold a special place in my heart and mind. To me, it was what storytelling could be for games. It also showed me that Westerns could be more than just what Dad watched. The PC Port is fine. It’s nothing special to groundbreaking to write home on. There isn’t any new story additions, but I do think it’s a great game to pick up if you want to roam what is left of the untamed west while you still can.

Battlefield 6 has an expert grasp on what makes the series’ beloved multiplayer so treasured by players. Those scarce few who come to this title for the campaign alone will be left deserted in the wake of a quick, passable single-player experience that is meant to be digested before the full course. The all-out-war across fantastic maps and an emphasis on class play where players turn the battlefield into rubble is instantly memorable, providing a worthy follow-up to players’ best memories of Battlefield.

ENDER MAGNOLIA: Bloom in the Mist does not wholly transform the Metroidvania genre. It undeniably improves upon the precedent set forth by ENDER LILIES but primarily dabbles in the realm of pitch-perfect platforming. This genre is a hard nut to crack and with so many entrants, it becomes increasingly challenging to differentiate from the pack. In ways, Adglobe and Live Wire succeed. But on a third attempt they will hopefully deliver something truly different and unique based on lessons learned.

Need For Speed comes to the sim side of racing, and the result is a game that is plenty sim enough for most racing fans, but not too hardcore that it makes arcade racers like me bored or frustrated.

Tekken's first appearance on a Nintendo console is a complete and outstanding success.

Overall, MLB The Show 20 is another marvel for San Diego Studios. The tweaks they implemented and the gameplay options they have provided only stand to improve the product. They own baseball in gaming and it looks like they’re not ready to give it up anytime soon.

Nier presented as an action role-playing game. Nier was actually a controlled demolition of genre conventions driven by a taste for subversion and a desire to explore emotional boundaries between mild sorrow and hysterical despair. Replicant ver. 1.22474487139… keeps Nier intact with distinct improvements to its operation and accessibility. It remains an eccentric, effective, and occasionally inhospitable member of its medium.

Final Fantasy XIII isn't your typical Final Fantasy, but what is? Final Fantasy's tradition is its divergence, and when its execution is ever so clearly in line with its vision, there isn't much else quite like it.

Project CARS is going to give some of the bigger racing games a run for their money. There is depth, detail and fun to be had with this game. It certainly was worth the wait.

Dragon Quest Builders is a stunning balance of build and adventure. I was incredibly skeptical that the two genres would ever evenly mix, but somehow Square Enix found the right spots and put together one helluva package for Dragon Quest and Minecraft fans to enjoy. It’s really quite good and addictive.

Transistor's nuanced world-building and clever storytelling render its narrative original and intriguing.

Of all of the Vita launch titles I have been fortunate enough to play, this is honestly the easiest one to recommend. Accessible, fun, addictive, and offering lots of content, Lumines: Electronic Symphony is a superb launch title.

At the end of the day, should you add this game to your Nintendo Switch? Uh, yeah. It’s a fun game that has some depth right out of the gate. In addition, and this is the perspective of a parent, if your kids have never played online battles before, then this is a game to start them on. The innocence of the game is there, as is the Nintendo assurance that your kids aren’t going to rage quit. That’s always a good thing to avoid, especially when your console is basically a high-end tablet (I mean that with respect, Nintendo fans). Anyway, drop the dough and grab this game. It’s quality.

Stray’s strength is delivering a fun gameplay experience in playing as one of the world’s most adored animals. While its story isn’t going to be attempting to say anything new about the world, it’s hard to pass up the opportunity to play as a cat.

Yakuza 6 applies themes of fatherhood and masculinity as coping mechanisms for intense interpersonal drama. While it surrenders the sweeping ambition that defined Yakuza 0 and Yakuza 5, it feels sharper, more focused, and more honest about its intentions.

Overall, Destiny 2 on the PC is visually and control-wise a far superior version of the game when compared to the console version. The same content exists for both, but the visual flexibility/beauty and control comfort completely goes to the PC. If you have the means to dig into it on the PC, then you should go that route. If you don’t, the console version works just as well.

Just Cause 2 is a coloring book for people who never cared to keep their art inside the lines. Pleasure is derived not from carefully staying within the edges, but ripping all the pages out and then replacing them with whatever twisted idea first comes to mind.

At the end of the day, $7.99 for this game is an absolute steal! There's a tremendous amount of upside to it with little to dislike.