Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout is a joy to play, fun for all levels of video game players, and will only get better from here...In a year full of big releases like The Last of Us Part 2 and games that are uniquely up my alley like Desperados 3, it’s hard to see anything beating out Fall Guys as my favorite game of 2020.

WRC 9 is currently the best rally experience you can get this year, but there's still room for a much deeper and more detailed career mode.

The game world is charming in its simplicity and helps keep your focus on the gameplay rather than visual fluff.

Tiny Bookshop may not be breaking any new ground in the cozy genre, but it also doesn’t really need to. It delivers exactly what it claims it will, and what many fans of the genre are already looking for: a peaceful, stress-free escape from the noise of everyday life. Sure, it can get pretty repetitive, and the pacing certainly isn't breaking any records, but overall, I think there's a lot of heart packed into this small indie experience. It's heartwarming, it's comforting, and, if nothing else, it reminds us to slow down, breathe deep, and always take things one page at a time.

With its Pixar-like characters and beyond stunning animation, Kena: Bridge of Spirits is as charming as it is dark with plenty of surprises that will not only keep players enthralled for hours but also captivate their hearts.

Both Call of Duty: Modern Warfare’s Campaign and Multiplayer may have some issues, but generally, I had a good time with each mode.

Despite playing in a completely different style compared to the core Gears games, Gears Tactics still feels remarkably in line with the rest of the series and is a thrilling, worthwhile experience that Gears fans and strategy game veterans will enjoy, while being completely accessible to newcomers.

Fire Emblem Engage is mostly a streamlined experience that gives you a taste of what the series has to offer, but doesn’t showcase its true potential as a strategy game. It lacks genuine innovation, and doesn’t quite meet the standards set by previous entries or establish a challenging and balanced system that reflects Fire Emblem's core identity.

While not as challenging as its predecessors, the newest addition to the Bayonetta canon establishes itself as a playful and worthy entry.

EA Sports and Codemasters have conjured what is the best Formula 1 game to date. The problem here is that they do this every other year, without error. F1 25 has beautiful graphics, a bombastic presentation that sometimes overshadows the actual racing, and handling improvements that finally do away with half a decade of bad habits in the series. If you are chasing a realistic Formula 1 racing experience and sink over a hundred hours into this game yearly, these changes are enough to justify the price. However, for most players, especially those running controllers or with multiple assists on, this is just $59.99 to have a slightly more polished experience than F1 24. Here's hoping the 2026 regulations bring the change that both virtual and real series need.

NBA 2K18 is the biggest departure that the series has had in recent years, which is both good and bad. Elements such as MyPlayer feel like they have the potential to be fantastic, but are still too mired by microtransactions and bugs in its current form to truly be the experience that I was hoping for.

Although the separate gameplay elements have notable flaws, Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma deftly weaves them together into an addictively fun loop. This game is so, so close to being a spectacular RPG. It's a truly impressive example of "the whole is greater than its parts." For me, it's a brilliant weekend RPG—a laid-back game that will keep you playing "just one more day" for hours. If Zelda plus Stardew Valley sounds fun, I recommend Guardians of Azuma. If that combo doesn't excite you, give it a pass.

Spiralling towers, endless deserts and impossible geometry; Frictional's return with Amnesia: Rebirth showcases why they're the masters of horror.

Performance-wise Ys IX ran smoothly on the PS4 copy I had, though there have been issues with playing the game through the PS5’s backwards compatibility. Meanwhile, on PS4 there were rarely ever any framerate dips (and even then they were barely noticeable), and combat remaining fluid and responsive. This was thanks to a patch carried over from the Japanese version, which thankfully prevented those in the West from suffering through constant framerate dips. Other movements such as general running and climbing are just as fluid.

Assassin's Creed: The Rebel Collection for Nintendo Switch significantly undermines visuals for portability; there are better (and cheaper) options for Black Flag and Rogue.

I felt that Subnautica could do with a little more work to iron out these performance problems to make it even more fluid and seamless, which would then make it then a top contender in the survival genre.

Overall, I had an absolute blast with The King is Watching. The main gameplay loop is extremely well thought-out and incredibly engaging, and I can't wait to continue playing the game and seeing what all the Kings and advisors bring to the table. Speaking of, I feel my gaze needs to fall on to Steam again now. The King needs to watch his subjects, after all.

Yakuza Kiwami will go down in history as one of the best remakes ever created, for a game that was already great on PS2.

If you’re new to the series, Redux‘s difficulty options and overall presentation are an excellent starting point for entering the deep, dark world of Shin Megami Tensei.

Like many modern fighting games, Under Night In-Birth Exe:Late[cl-r] is so unique. While it has a really steep learning curve that may turn casual fighting game players off, it is incredibly satisfying if you put the time in. If you love fighting games and want a challenge, then look no further.

Alongside a lovingly remastered Sonic Generations showcase, Shadow Generations is a dark and broody triumph that not only pays homage to the cult classic outing of yester-year for the troubled hedgehog, but also irons out all the aspects that fans didn't quite take to, effectively giving Shadow the do-over they deserve. It's a fast-paced and fluid Sonic title with great new mechanics, a tonne of replayability, and just the right amount of challenge. The fact that this is a short experience will irk a few, as will the lack of crossover between the two games, but all in all, Sonic x Shadow Generations is yet another strong Sonic outing that proves the dark days for the franchise may well be behind us.

Utawarerumono: Mask of Deception is definitely a game that’ll appeal more to fans of visual novels as opposed to SRPGs. The strategy sections are a nice break from the game’s mountains of dialog but they’re not too memorable outside of being a short break from the bulk of what you’ll be doing early on. The game is pretty long and does drag at the beginning, but fans of the visual novel genre should find a lot of what they’re looking for.

Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin delivers a remarkably in-depth set of mechanical systems. The interplay is impressive, even if the execution is somewhat flawed.

Revolgear Zero is an enjoyable and satisfying retro shmup experience that will undoubtedly satisfy the genre's biggest fans. It's nowhere near as challenging as some of the genre's juggernauts, nor is it as impressive, but there's still plenty to enjoy here, especially at a discounted price tag. I just wish there were more to see and do in Revolgear Zero to attract those who aren't hardcore shump fans.

Guardians of the Galaxy is everything that Marvel's Avengers should have been, offering players a single-player focused adventure with some of your favorite comic book characters. Mixed in with solid gameplay and continuous witty banter between your teammates, Guardians of the Galaxy will leave you already excited for what you would expect to be the inevitable sequel.

Pokemon Sword and Shield are a lot of fun, even if the series is experiencing growing pains with the transition to home consoles.

Filled with well over 150 levels between the base game and the New Super Luigi U expansion, there’s more than enough in NSMBU Deluxe to keep players occupied on-the-go or surrounding a big-screen TV.

Fantasy Life I: The Girl Who Steals Time is a lovingly crafted and well-deserved glow up for one of the shining stars of the 3DS era. The visuals, score and overall presentation have been elevated beyond recognition, and yet, the things that made the original great remain intact. The abundance of gameplay mechanics and variety via the different islands and time periods is a standout feature that makes the endless grind paletable, and while every action in the game borders on basic, it never crosses the threshold to be considered boring. It's a quintessentially cozy game that deserves its flowers, and for those who have long wished for a true Animal Crossing competitor to wriggle from Nintendo's grasp, it seems your wish has finally been granted.

Ghost Giant is a lovely adventure puzzle title that will provide a joyful romp for many PSVR owners.

No matter how disappointed I am with the game and myself after each "Crushing Defeat," I find myself wanting to go back and play again, even if it's just to build up relationships with Liu Bei and Sun Jian, unlock their armor sets and weapons, grind for levels and new spells and, maybe some day, finally get to use that wizard's house key. It doesn't excuse the faults, and I will die (quickly and repeatedly) on the hill that it would be vastly improved by adding difficulty settings, but if you're a fan of the Three Kingdoms and (not or) extreme difficulty, Wo Long may be a good fit for you. And if it's not, Hell, there's always Dynasty Warriors.

Final Fantasy VIII Remastered is a love letter to fans of the original title.

Ties That Bind does an exceptional job at building a new world for The Walking Dead fans to explore while still integrating the components that made Telltale’s series a breakout hit.

A wholly unique experience that you shouldn’t let fade away from your memory.

The next-generation version of NBA 2K21 slightly improves from its predecessors in some areas but is not the leap we were hoping to see the series make.

Ready or Not can be a little formulaic at times, but so is police work. It's the second police game I've reviewed this year, but the first one I can wholeheartedly recommend. If you are here for the multiplayer, the PC players might move too fast for you, but you can just disable crossplay. The controls are intuitive, the AI is generally easy to command apart from some menu clunkiness, and the dystopian grit looks great on a big TV screen. I'm definitely going back to playing the PC version most of the time, but that doesn't stop Ready or Not from being the best tactical shooter available on consoles today.

Pokemon Sword and Shield are a lot of fun, even if the series is experiencing growing pains with the transition to home consoles.

Avowed isn't what I expected, but I loved every second. It's the type of game I'll gladly play through again and again, a feat made easier by its somewhat short runtime. Avowed proves that bigger isn't always better. Instead of making a game that tries to outsize everything on the market, Obsidian stayed true to its vision and delivered a polished experience that I fell in love with. As someone who replays Oblivion every year, it'll be hard to go back to those older Elder Scrolls games after enjoying my time with Avowed's combat and characters. This is the RPG experience I've been wanting on Xbox, and Obisidian delivered big time.

If you're craving a game to play during idle hours, be it a flight or chilling after a long day at work, it does not get much better than Hello Kitty Island Adventure. It's not good enough to take time away from that shiny new release you've waited months for, but it excels at being a constant companion without much pretense.

Ironcast’s gameplay makes you feel like you are inside a mech’s cockpit, constantly checking on tons of different systems, and becomes very addictive and rewarding as the game goes on.

Octopath Traveler 0 introduces a new town building system to its endless turn-based battles, but doesn't innovate much outside of that. Combat feels fun and powerful, but with this being the fourth game in the series, it could use a touch up. In the end, Octopath Traveler 0 is an incredibly enjoyable JRPG, but one that feels like it's just spinning its wheels at this point. Town building is fun, but ultimately shallow.

Mega Man X Legacy Collection feels like an upgrade on all fronts and should be an entry point for all Mega Man novices and longtime fans.

One of the best Nintendo 3DS games you will play this Fall.

Remnant: From The Ashes was a game with massive potential that struggled under the weight of its own ambition. Remnant 2 realizes that potential and then some. Lessons have obviously been learned from last time around, and what we have here is a confident, unique experience that delivers on what it promises. I'll be playing this one for a long time to come.

Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown reaffirms I am way too invested in this Strangereal universe and that arcade flight sims are capable of telling compelling stories about war.

Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate is a must buy for established fans looking for their Nintendo Switch port, but is a far cry from the series’ recent peak.

In a year that has been filled with some of best games this generation, RiME finds a way to stand out thanks to its unique world and impactful story. While it might not contain the most original gameplay of all time, its beautiful vistas and fantastic soundtrack will keep you coming back for more just to see if there’s a corner of the island that you haven’t discovered yet.

Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince stands as one of the strongest games within its own series.

While some aspects of the game's presentation are surprisingly lackluster for the lauded series' triumphant return, Mega Man 11 still provides the satisfying and well-designed platforming that put Capcom on the map in the 80s.

Windswept is an adorable ode to classic 1990s platformers, mostly for better, but occasionally for worse. The charming design, stellar presentation, and fluid platforming mechanics are top-notch. Assists added to the game are thoughtfully included, especially because the game gets absurdly challenging by the end of the experience. This is a case of a near-flawless first act, but a second act that will leave many setting the controller down and walking away, or abusing assists just to see the game through. I still think it's one worth checking out for retro platformer fans, but I'm a bit bummed that what felt like a certified classic initially doesn't quite stick the landing in the end.

Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 provides an excellent re-imagining of both the Puyo Puyo and Tetris gameplay loops with awesome local multiplayer and creative new modes.

Thanks to some incredibly entertaining commentary on American culture and more polish than ever before, Yo-kai Watch 3 ends the series’ 3DS run on a high note. While it’s certainly intriguing to wonder how the RPG will have to adapt and evolve on Nintendo Switch, players can enjoy one last spirited adventure on the system that helped it become a phenomenon. It’s hard to go wrong with taking a trip to BBQ.

It’s extremely fun, engaging and even challenging. Due to its production and artistic value, it’s definitely one of those titles that you’ll want to show your friends when you need to demonstrate why you’re proud to be a gamer. They’re bound to be impressed.

If you haven’t picked up an NHL game in years or play mainly for the online experience, you will really like NHL 19.

Some aspects of Pokemon Sword do stand out as only being possible on a home console, but the general look and feel still seems stuck in the 3DS era of the series.

The Red Strings Club isn’t afraid to stop you in your tracks with its dialogue — to challenge your ideas and principles — but in the pursuit of this it too often fumbles.

Call of the Elder Gods is a beautiful, haunting and sometimes funny first-person puzzle game. It has a strong focus on its world and characters, with fabulous writing and lovely voice acting. The puzzles are clever, offering a mix of subtle and more grandiose brain scramblers. If you're a fan of cosmic horror or the Lovecraft mythos, Call of the Elder Gods is going to be a game you'll want to dive into immediately. This is one of the most outstanding games of the year so far, and it's not one you're going to want to miss.

Infinity Nikki is a delightful dress-up experience worth checking out on a whim. Its creative gameplay provides countless opportunities to create a perfect look for Nikki with near-limitless clothing options and accessories. While the open world may sometimes feel bland, the various activities and puzzles you discover pull the engagement levels back. Even during its uninteresting story beats, it'll surprise you with an awe-inspiring set-piece that'll make you adore the quality and effort put into its details. If it continues to expand the charming world of Mira even further with new story arcs and events, it'll surely be a top-notch adventure title that isn't too dependent on the controversial Gacha elements.

Outside of the visuals boost, Madden NFL 19 feels more iterative than last year’s entry of Madden did. The series’ dedicated and interested fans that buy the game yearly and sink hundreds of hours into its game modes shouldn’t have any major issues outside of some glitchy menus, but not enough has changed to make Madden NFL 19 a worthy entry for newcomers or casual players who picked it up last year.

What I appreciate about Z Chaser is that while it isn’t as much of a novelty as the X Challenge run was, it incentivizes focusing on improving your skill of the games.

REANIMAL stands as both a confident continuation of Tarsier Studios’ haunting design philosophy and a cautious step into new territory. While its ambitious scope occasionally exposes cracks through rushed narrative beats and safe puzzle design, its oppressive atmosphere, striking visuals, and linked-up co-op gameplay carry the experience from beginning to end. For some, it may not reach the same tightly crafted heights as Little Nightmares, but it successfully captures that same uneasy magic that made those games special. It isn’t perfect, much like all things in this vast expanse of the medium or the horror genre, but it’s a bold and unsettling co-op journey that shows Tarsier’s signature style is still very much alive.

Knockout City is a quirky game that players will find most enjoyable when teaming up with their friends. It struggles with pacing from time to time and could do with some quality of life improvements. However, it balances elements that players will feel familiar with whilst also successfully putting an individual spin on things to make for a fun time.

Kingdom Hearts III is a dazzling display from Square Enix; the best game in the universe, and among the best from the legendary studio.

While it may not be extensive and bring hours upon hours of enjoyment, Aaero does highlight the best of the EDM genre during the height of its popularity.

Quotation forthcoming.

Arise: A Simple Story mixes its narrative-driven adventure with puzzle-platforming in some ways that can be deemed successful. The time-altering mechanic gives the game some variety throughout its four to six-hour runtime, never overstaying its welcome. Paired with its beautiful art direction and well-told story, there is definitely a reason to pick up Piccolo Studio’s new game. However, there isn’t any facet of Arise: A Simple Story that strikes deeper emotional chords; it just lacks any personality. In turn, it does make it very approachable with themes that are easy to understand. You may not need any tissues as you endure the old man’s tale, but if you’re into narrative-driven adventures, Arise: A Simple Story might be for you.

Super Mega Baseball 3 is not a total home run, but the franchise and its brand of wacky baseball continue to trend in the right direction.

A beautiful, touching piece of work that’s bound to stick with you long after you finish it, Blacktail is a world worth getting lost in.

Ghostrunner 2 is a perfectly executed cyberpunk slasher, providing an unmatched level of fluidity, engaging combat and a robust narrative.

The endgame presents dynamic challenges, which will have you playing for hours. But uneven character leveling and a slight disruption in party dynamics emerge as drawbacks. Regardless, Granblue Fantasy: Relink features a captivating world and engaging progression loop that make it a journey worth undertaking.

I had a blast playing Revenge Of The Savage Planet. The varied planets are gorgeous, the goofy creatures are charming, and the absurdist Rick And Morty meets Tim And Eric humor lands more often than not. Exploring vibrant new worlds and cataloging all the flora and capturable fauna scratches an itch for any sci-fi fan that wishes they lived in a timeline where space exploration was possible. Unfortunately, while combat does bring some interesting things to the table with elemental synergies at play, the gunplay is pretty basic despite being a frequent and expected part of your expedition. It's serviceable, but never truly exciting. Some fairly pervasive framerate issues and a co-op mode that feels more like an afterthought also don't do the game any favors. Still, the game is definitely fun at the end of the day, and I'm going to stick around for the post-game content to continue cleaning up some quests after rolling credits. It doesn't soar quite as high as I might've hoped, but it's still a deep-space voyage worth embarking on.

Okomotive has done a beautiful job with their debut game of weaving together simple a simple story and gameplay with gorgeous visuals and soundtrack.

As a longtime fan of the series, Paper Mario: The Origami King has its trademark humor and charm, but misses its appealing RPG gameplay.

Shadow of War finds its success in perfectly expanding upon everything that made Shadow of Mordor so great. Despite the game’s slow start, once you get into the weeds of Shadow of War’s systems, you’ll find yourself engrossed and addicted to its satisfying gameplay loop for hours on end. This increased depth along with the much larger scale of the world and battles within Shadow of War make it a far better game from top to bottom than that of its predecessor.

While it largely follows the same general formula of the Yakuza games that came before it, Judgment's focus on playing as a detective and solving cases around the city of Kamurocho never once got stale.

Each character feels diverse.

Firewall: Zero Hour is one of those games that you show your friends if they want to see what virtual reality is all about. It wraps everything that VR has to offer up perfectly.

A magnificent blend of genres makes Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order a solid game, but technical hitches prevent it from taking the high ground.

Overall, Shantae and the Seven Sirens is a fun and graphically stunning game.

Far Cry 6 successfully manages to reinvent the formula into the best version of the series. If you have never touched a Far Cry game, or have been irked by some of the changes since Far Cry 3, this is your entry point. Even better, it is one of the few games that have come out since the launch of PS5 and Xbox Series X to deliver a full AAA experience that doesn’t feel rushed or unfinished. Along with the buttery smooth framerate from the Xbox Series X, this feels like one of the first games made with next-gen as a priority. Far Cry 6 is an amazing journey in one of the most expansive iterations of the series to date. With explosive performances from the whole cast, it’s a game that old fans and intrigued wannabe guerrillas shouldn’t sleep on.

Star Wars: Squadrons delivers on nearly all fronts with a tight focus on space combat, multiplayer dogfights, and immersive VR support.

The game isn’t hard. You don’t need twitch reflexes or a firm grasp on how to use an analog stick. It feels a lot like a Lego game in that regard. All you need to enjoy Knights and Bikes is a sense of adventure and a willing friend. If like me, you’re constantly looking for something to play with a loved one who only has a passing interest in video games, this game is definitely one I’d recommend.

Life Is Strange: Before the Storm Episode 2: Brave New World showed me what Deck Nine is capable of in terms of storytelling and character growth.

Road to Boruto goes above and beyond what I expect from an anime-inspired game. Not a single facet of this game is done lazily and everything has the same effort and care put into it. Barring some minuscule graphical issues and somewhat shoddy plot points, Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 Road to Boruto is this generation’s Dragon Ball Z: Budokai. It’s the eponymous anime fighting game and is one that will not only be remembered fondly but will also be revisited to see what a great anime fighter looks like.

My suggestion would be to invest in something a lot more engaging and more extensive like Unravel 2 or Overcooked 2 to satisfy your couch co-op desires. It pains me to say that the implemented co-op feature has defeated the whole purpose of Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons and it should have been left how it was — in the past and untouched.

For the King isn’t hesitant to punish players for dumb moves or unlucky rolls.

Kirby's Extra Epic Yarn is a solid 3DS port that both builds upon and takes away from the original Wii title's charm.

Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe not only got me as giddy as a youngster in a candy shop, but was a solid reminder that, with a bit of pure imagination and innovation, Nintendo could still expand upon the worlds of existing IP, especially its pink pudgy ones.

WWE 2K26 isn't a perfect game. It suffers from too many technical issues, and I'm not sold on the tweaks to its core gameplay being a net positive, even though they make sense. That said, WWE 2K26 does so many good things that it's still worth it. This year's version of The Island is a massive improvement, and I cannot stop playing it, especially progressing through Tower runs. CM Punk's Showcase is an excellent presentation, and MyRISE is another successful story. Overall, WWE 2K26 is still another solid entry in the WWE 2K franchise, but I can't help but wonder where it could have landed. It reminds me of the recent LA Knight spot from this year's Men's Elimination Chamber match. He's got the crowd in the palm of his hand, he's ready for a big move off the rope...and he slips. He's still over with the crowd, and I think that's how things will ultimately land with WWE 2K26, but I have more reservations this year than I did last year.

A great appetizer to the greater world of MOBA games. It’s definitely got to be one of the best mobile takes on the genre I’ve ever played, and there’s no doubt I’ll boot it up every so often on my Switch.

If you missed Pokkén Tournament on Wii U and are a fan of fighting games, I highly recommend it, as it is easy to get into and brings some interesting changes to genre.

Subsurface Circular is the brunch of gaming fare on Nintendo Switch — abbreviated, filling, and definitely worth the price.

Crystal Crisis is a decent puzzle fighter that ultimately suffers due to bad pacing and lackluster capitalization of its premise.

Prey often feels like mash-up of some of the best sci-fi survival horror games of yesteryear and Arkane’s previous work. And it is. But it also a title with some wildly unique ideas, an incredibly thick and unnerving atmosphere, and an exemplary soundtrack.

If like me, you're a Call of Duty fan, this is very much more of the same — but that also means you can't really go wrong. Some new features feel unnecessary, whilst others feel like a tutorial for Warzone 2.0. Modern Warfare 2 is certainly let down by repetitive gameplay and missions that overstay their welcome. But, that said, Infinity Ward has given fans what amounts to a gripping story and stunning cinematic experience that's peppered with a few flawed concepts and disappointing elements. [Campaign Review Score = 70]

New Pokemon Snap is everything I hoped it would be. It's beautiful, well designed and full of endless charm. There's so much depth and replayability that I felt compelled to return over and over.

There’s no doubt that Death Road to Canada makes for a great time, regardless of whether you find yourself in the rogue-like or zombie survival camp. While the game doesn’t do much to innovate the genre at large, it’s hard to argue with having such a good time.

If the premise as a whole seems off-putting to you, I’d recommend giving it some time and seeing if you enjoy the game more once Kanto opens up.

With its fun story and entertaining characters, Young Horses' Bugsnax is a charming game that shouldn't be missed -- whether you play on PS4 or PS5.