Joel's redemption is bittersweet, and come the end credits, you may wonder what it was all for. I know I did the first time around, but with the benefit of time on my back, I've come to appreciate the nuanced storytelling that much more, and for me, that's where The Last of Us: Part 1 finds its worth; it's the best possible version of Naughty Dog's best ever game.

After 100 hours of gameplay and reaching Hunter Rank 110, I can confidently say that Monster Hunter Wilds is a better game than World and Rise. Largely focusing on streamlining and making the overall experience more accessible, without removing the core principles that veteran hunters have come to know and love, Monster Hunter Wilds is a game that should be experienced by everyone. While the main story isn't anything to write home about, it's still an enjoyable one and a great way to get prepared for the real game — High Rank. 2025 is packed with current and upcoming games that are already looking to be GOTY contenders, and even though most of them aren't released yet, I just feel it in my bones that Monster Hunter Wilds will be getting at least a nomination to take home the grand prize.

What Remains of Edith Finch may only provide a brief glimpse into the lives of its characters like a family photo albums filled with moments that have long since passed, but it’s sure to leave a lasting impression.

Tetris Effect Connected innovates further on 2018's mesmerizing, beautiful and addictive iteration of the Tetris formula, introducing a stable of tried and true multiplayer offerings, as well as a delightful new mode.

Lorelei and the Laser Eyes is a surreal and mysterious puzzle game that executes perfectly on its vision. A potential all-timer for fans of the genre.

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2 is one of the finest remakes to have come out of 2020 in keeping its original roots intact but to modern standards.

It’s a fantastic and well balanced mix between sleek PlatinumGames action and JRPG gameplay, resulting bigger than the sum of its parts. It brings forth an absolutely fascinating setting, and charming, likable and memorable characters that will both make you smile and tug at your heart strings.

Pentiment is a shining example of committing fully to an idea without worrying about where it fits in today's gaming market. The result? One of the best games of the year, narrative and otherwise.

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart seamlessly integrates the new with the old, keeping the classic elements that fans know and love, whilst introducing new gameplay features to keep the series fresh. There's no doubt in my mind this will be one of the biggest hits of the year.

DOOM Eternal proves now more than ever that the grandaddy of the first-person shooter genre is once again the king of them all -- and it doesn't look to be ceding the throne any time soon.

The developers of Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles went above and beyond in not only recreating the feel of the original game but also upgrading nearly every aspect of it. It’s hard to improve upon a masterpiece, but Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles accomplishes just that, and I hope that it doesn’t get ignored come awards season, in such a stacked year full of great releases.

But on a technical and artistic level, Cuphead is a stunning achievement in both gaming and interactive art, and unlike anything I’ve ever played before. Some of the game’s levels had me on the edge of sanity trying to best them, and I ended Cuphead with a few sore spots on my thumbs because of it. More importantly though, I had a smile on my face the whole time through it all.

Deathloop is a game that will be talked about for a long time and one that will undoubtedly be in the running for Game of the Year 2021. Its well-crafted systems, gripping narrative threads and quasi-choose your own adventure style gameplay make it the best Next-Gen title so far.

Sword of the Sea is everything we could have hoped for, and then some. Offering sights and sounds that most games could only dream of replicating, but with the added caveat of incredibly satisfying and slick traversal that makes moment-to-moment gameplay much more involved and fun compared to its contemporaries. It's an all-killer, no filler experience with jaw-dropping moments at every turn, and a soundtrack that is sure to win a slew of awards in the near future. My only gripe is that the story doesn't offer a grandiose message or hit as hard as I would have liked, relying more on pageantry and spectacle to get by. But, rarely does a game take me aback and thank my lucky stars that the medium of video games exists, and that's why we see this one as one of the standout performers of 2025 so far.

Super Mario Maker 2 may make a weaker impression than the game-changing original, but it breaks out the gate with far fewer problems and with much more skill level appeal. Though it misses the mark in some highly-requested QoL improvements, it adds much more in value, diversity, and replayability. Super Mario Maker 2 is the game that keeps on giving, while leaving enough room to build in the future.

Apex Legends is a game overflowing with so many quality-of-life features and improvements that its very release has, for me, been a soft-reboot of the genre, and has established a new higher standard for future games to come. Within its genre, Apex Legends is a masterpiece and a game that other studios, and publishers, looking to cash in on the craze will look towards for years.

SteamWorld Dig 2 is a game that — much like the original — has no issue reveling in its simple yet undeniable gameplay loop. Fans who expect much of the same will be surprised by the polish and excellence that a hand-crafted world, power ups, and more dynamic art bring to the table.

Nex Machina is quick, challenging, and exactly what the arcade shooter genre needed. The team at Housemarque has clearly taken a lot of influence from shooters of the past while still knowing how to add their own special spice to the mix.

Ultimately, NiOh is a really fantastic game. It comes with some flaws, and a few elements that are a bit rough around the edges, but it hits almost all the right notes. Team Ninja’s latest labor of love is packed with charm, atmosphere, and one of the best action battle systems that you’ll find across the industry.

Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 is an unapologetically unique RPG that takes everything that was great about the original and takes it to the Nth degree. It's a cinematic, historically charged epic with a sublime open world to explore, a depth of systems to master, a wealth of meticulously designed quests to complete, and a sandbox survival format that makes simply existing in this world a satisfying and rewarding experience. Some minor issues carry over from the past campaign, and it still remains a game that will alienate more casual players. But all in all, this is a monumental RPG in terms of scope, scale, and quality. I used to long for an Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion remake. But now, I feel sated by the Bohemian masterpiece War Horse has created.

Back in the day, Trails in the Sky hinged on its story and world-building to make up for its other lacking characteristics. Twenty years later, Trails in the Sky: 1st Chapter not only brings back the full heart of what made the original a classic, but it can now stand tall beside any other heavyweight JRPG. The visual presentation is beautiful, the mix between real-time and turn-based battles is a blast, and the quality-of-life additions adhere to present-day audiences. I can confidently say that Trails in the Sky: 1st Chapter is a quintessential JRPG that should be cherished by every fan of the genre.

While DMC5 has upped the series’ style and flashiness to heights never seen before, it also packs in a surprising level of warmth and humanity that doesn’t completely let its focus on style overwhelm substance. After having waited over a decade, I realize that Dante might be a little older and grayer now, but I’m sure as hell glad to have him and the rest of the gang back again.

Ultimately, Stormblood is without a doubt the best content that Square Enix created for Final Fantasy XIV since the game’s inception.

New levels, new targets, new graphical improvements, same Hitman taste. Hitman 3 won't be everyone's cup of tea, but the niche should be extremely satisfied.

Persona 3 Reload is a captivating reimagining of the genre-defining RPG, reborn for the modern era with cutting-edge graphics and gameplay.

NeatherRealm has proven once more that they are the best at crafting stories for fighting games, and may have made one of their best in Injustice 2.

Final Fantasy 7 Remake is arguably the best non-MMO Final Fantasy game released in a very long time. Despite my qualms, it’s been a welcome Reunion.

A beautiful homage to the JRPG genre that still manages to stand on its own, while taking care to let go of all the annoying gimmicks that plagued JRPGs in the past. Played on PS5.