For all the good World of Warcraft: Midnight does, there are decisions being made that hold it back from being an all-time great expansion. I've said it before, but I'll keep saying it: the add-on changes feel like they were done with no real plan in place. Preys are a great feature, but I want to see a long-term vision here, especially because Delves are now delivering that vision. I'm excited to play through Midnight's seasons and experience everything the game offers heading into The Last Titan, but I also hope that Blizzard lets the dev team fully cook. It feels like they didn't with Midnight, and it's a shame.

Regardless of which difficulty you play on, Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2 serves as one of the best entry points into classic Castlevania. Its gameplay, while not as challenging as the classics, introduces interesting mechanics that build not only on the original Castlevania games but the first Curse of the Moon as well. It certainly falls short in a few of the places it tries to innovate, but despite its flaws, Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2 offers a strong dose of nostalgia with a few modern twists and a fantastic presentation that makes it more accessible and sometimes even a bit more enjoyable.

While it's missing a few bells and whistles, Super Mario 3D All-Stars is a wonderful collection of some of Nintendo's most beloved classics.

Like closing the final chapter on a thousand-page-long fantasy novel, The Banner Saga 3 delivers a dark and thrilling conclusion to remember.

I just really, really want to play more.

Death Stranding has its fair share of gameplay issues but also boasts more heart and a willingness to take chances than any other game in years.

Salt and Sanctuary takes the Souls-like formula to 2D and almost perfectly executes upon it.

With a near-perfect blend of old and new, Valhalla is the best Assassin's Creed title in the past decade.

While Magical Delicacy can deliver cozy vibes, it drops the magic ball on almost everything else. The platforming isn't fun, cooking doesn't feel satisfying, and the main gameplay loop boils down to doing fetch quests for NPCs just to get a few extra bits of story and a generic upgrade. Both the cooking and platforming sides work against each other, and everything lacks polish, especially the animations. It's a fundamentally flawed experience with a clashing visual identity, with a great soundtrack and pleasant story being the main saving graces.

There aren’t a ton of games that can make a two-decade jump and remain unscathed, but Spyro Reignited Trilogy does just that.

VA-11 HALL-A should be a must-buy for indie lovers and VN junkies alike.

Little Nightmares 2 pushes the formula from the first game forward with a lot of largely inventive changes, most of which work out.

LEGO games have found a very unique niche in gaming and yet have still managed to continue to get better and better. Even though it likely will not change the minds of those who do not enjoy the LEGO series of games, the stellar presentation, humor, and overall joy found in these recreations of each movie make LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga one well worth picking up.

Super Mario Party Jamboree is an excellent party game, and compares well with previous titles in the franchise. While remaining true to the nostalgic formula, minor tweaks, improvements, and new game modes help it rise above the series' modern releases to shine as a Super Star. Even if you have either of the previous Mario Party games for Switch, Jamboree is worth considering.

PES 2020 is a gorgeous, curling free-kick from the legendary boot of David Beckham that just misses the top right corner as time expires.

Dishonored: Death of the Outsider, shows that if Dishonored is indeed coming to an end, it is a fitting tribute to its engaging world.

Despite faltering in single-player content and gunplay mechanics, Battlefield 6 finally brings back what made the franchise famous: epic combined arms fun with natural teamwork and a grounded setting. My crystal ball is broken, so I can't say whether it'll sell the lofty 100 million copies expected by the previous EA management, but this feels like a new era for a genre that has been stagnant for far too long. It's not the best shooter ever by any margin, but it is the first Battlefield that is ready to dominate the multiplayer scene after years of Call of Duty tyranny, and I for one welcome our new rulers.

If The Last Guardian and its charming duo of characters click with you (or more properly, if you click with them), this is an unforgettable experience that you will probably carry in your heart for your whole life, just like many did with Ico and Shadow of the Colossus, and possibly even more.

With an enriching story, characters, and scenery, Indivisible is a spectacle and one of the best action platformers I’ve ever played.

Ys Origin is a choice that you’d be hard pressed to pass up — especially for its price.

In a space where Mario Kart has been the only kart racer worth talking about for what feels like eons, Sonic Racing: Crossworlds stands tall as a worthy competitor. Beyond the flashy dimension-hopping, the gameplay doesn't reinvent the wheel, but offers enough quentessentially Sonic-style fanfare to appeal to veteran fans, while offering accessible, chaotic racing that will appeal to casual fans looking for a cross-console alternative. The rather uninspired multiplayer modes, the lack of satisfying unlockables, and the focus on a steady stream of paid content make me doubtful that this game can achieve long-term success. But, as far as kart racers go, Sonic Racing: Crossworlds is right up there with the best.

Quotation forthcoming.

What we’ve seen from NBA 2K the past two years with microtransactions is likely the new norm, and I’m going to have to accept that.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard is a compelling new entry in the series, taking the franchise in a new direction with more RPG-lite ideals. This decision will alienate Die Hard fans but will undoubtedly win favor with new fans willing to embrace the series. Veilguard has a fantastic tale to tell, a stunning fantasy setting to explore, a lovable cast of characters, and a dynamic three-prong combat system that offers smooth Archery, melee, and RTS mechanics. The side content and some visual details leave much to be desired, but overall, this big swing by Bioware might just usherin a fruitful new age for Dragon Age.

Tekken 7 may not be the perfect entry point for newcomers into the long and twisted narrative that follows the Mishima Zaibatsu, but they will unmistakably have fun with the rock solid gameplay and mechanics. With the addictive Treasure Battle mode, deep character customization, and strong character options, Tekken 7 is one of the best titles in the 23 year-old series.

A game that shouldn’t be missed for anyone looking for a relaxed mental challenge.

Life is Strange 2 found not only a unique voice with the debut of Sean and Daniel, but an important one.

All in all, WWE2K23 is a great game with something to offer to every WWE fan past and present, no matter what your playstyle. With branching storylines and multiple sandbox modes that let you book and play whatever the hell kind of cards you can come up with, the replayability factor is off the charts. If anything 2K and Visual Concepts have shot themselves in the foot, because it's not going to be easy to top this entry in the series once the next installment rolls around.