Doom Eternal is a monster of a game, uncompromising and purposeful in its decision making. Crucial to its success is that it doesn't feel like it's trying to cater to everyone. Eternal can be unforgiving, and there will no doubt be those who bounce off its razor sharp edges. Yet by not watering itself down, Doom Eternal comes away with an incredible focus. This is a blazingly fast shooter that demands amazing feats of skill. Those willing to baptize themselves in the fire will walk away with the kind of satisfaction that few AAA games have the audacity to give.

While perhaps not reaching the heights of Ninja Gaiden during its prime, it's nonetheless a revitalization. Nioh is much, much more than a summation of its influences. The game's white-knuckle action demands a high degree of determination, but controls so well that any failure can be attributed solely to the player. Although finishing a mission in Nioh is exhausting, especially the times when you walk away with only a sliver of health, it's very much a mountain worth climbing. There are few games currently available that are so utterly rewarding.

Devil May Cry 5 has a lot going on in almost every possible way. Some ideas such as gold orbs and linked missions feel undercooked, yet it's hard to describe the fighting as anything other than spectacular. The number of options within any single battle is nothing short of ridiculous. If most games are defined by having a bunch of ideas and then trimming them down to the best ones, it's almost as if DMC5 couldn't say no when it came to weapons or abilities while also taking the time to give each a strong purpose. Beyond the mechanics, what lingers even longer is that some of the encounters, especially toward the end, are exciting because you'll care about the events that led to them. Devil May Cry 5 has been a long time coming, but it feels like hitting the jackpot.

Final Fantasy XIV Online has come a long way since 1.0. Heavensward was an amazing first expansion, but Stormblood outclasses it in just about every regard. It’s by no means perfect, but it’s off to a very good start. Newcomers have a wide variety of options to jump in and get started, and veterans will be amazed by many of the new changes and alterations to the core experience. Anchored by superb visuals, a fantastic soundtrack, a compelling narrative, tons of side content, and an ever-increasing amount of end-game activities, Stormblood is an amazing expansion that delivers an excellent multiplayer experience.

Revisiting a classic is an exciting proposition, yet there are always concerns about respecting the original. Persona 3 Reload doesn’t quite address all the shortcomings of its previous renditions, nor does it include all the extras added over the years. However, it’s another incredible take that stands proudly alongside the other stellar versions of the game. With all of its new additions and features, especially the updated visuals, rewind function, and new battle mechanics, Reload is the best way to experience Persona 3.

NetherRealm has raised the bar for storytelling in fighting games once again. The additional RPG elements could have gone sideways, but the long term goals and rewards create a sense of ownership with each character. The few additions to combat add thoughtful strategy to every encounter while maintaining accessibility for casual players. It’s clear that a lot of care has been put into every element of Injustice 2, making it a game that everyone should try.

Dead Cell’s challenging encounters, rewarding exploration and meaningful upgrades mash together in a slick and successful way. While some moments can be frustrating and feel like a bit of a grind, conquering the island and unraveling its many mysteries is a gratifying journey.

Final Fantasy VII is an ambitious retelling that updates its systems and story for the modern era. The new battle system is fantastic and does a superb job of blending strategy and action. Additional stories and character moments are appreciated, and the way each character is portrayed is perfect. Some technical aspects could be better, but if future installments maintain this trajectory, we can all rest easy.

For as empty as the story can feel, it really speaks to how remarkable much of the rest of the game is that it ends up being worthwhile overall. If you care about action games, Astral Chain is worth experiencing for yourself. The mechanics underpinning combat are generally fantastic. Not to mention Astral Chain has some absolutely ridiculous and visually striking boss fights. With a better script or structure, Astral Chain could have been an all-time classic, but as it stands, it's still a pretty great Platinum game.

While Guilty Gear Strive definitely has shortcomings to consider, they feel almost insignificant when tallying up everything the game does so well. It’s not just another Guilty Gear, but instead a defining moment for the series. In a lot of ways, it's so far ahead of its peers in terms of online functionality and accessibility, two areas the genre fails in time and again. If you've been too intimidated to seriously get into fighting games, it's hard to think of a better game than Strive. If you're a battle hardened veteran, there's no reason to wait. Jump in and start shredding. You'll lose countless hours in the blink of an eye.

If you’re a newcomer to the series, this is an excellent opportunity to learn the fundamentals in a laid-back setting. If you’re a pro, you’ll relish the new options in place for making your Pokémon all they can be. Sun & Moon is a Pokémon vacation we’d gladly take again.

Final Fantasy XVI is a phenomenal game, through and through. A marvelous battle system, incredible story and characters, a wondrous world full of exploration and intrigue, plenty of RPG tropes, and an outstanding soundtrack all highlight why Final Fantasy XVI is truly something special. The last few entries stumbled out of the gates, sowing some doubt about the future of the franchise. In stark contrast, Final Fantasy XVI rises to the occasion, restoring the lofty status the series once enjoyed and taking the franchise in a new direction while still honoring its legacy. In a year full of amazing games, Final Fantasy XVI emerges as a frontrunner.

Gran Turismo 7 certainly has its share of detriments and eccentricities, some of which are bound to bother some players much more than others. Yet, the parts that matter most are at the top of their class. The café guides players through the campaign in a way that feels fresh and fits the GT culture, the visuals can have you doing a double take, and all of it is in support of phenomenal next-level driving. Gran Turismo feels more welcoming and approachable than ever, without sacrificing its identity.

Despite the cumbersome online and overly long story mode, Dragon Ball FighterZ is without question the best time we've had in a Dragon Ball game to date. It's such a delight to be able to play as characters who look and feel as powerful as they do in the source material. Yet even if you strip away the outer wrapping, there’s a completely solid and frantic fighting game underneath.

Link’s Awakening is as charming today as it was 26 years ago. This remake addresses many of the original’s shortcomings, but at the same time, the original still does a few things better. The new visual style is gorgeous, but the frequency of the performance issues leaves room for improvement. Despite this setback, precious few Zelda games have the emotional payoff or the narrative richness of Link’s Awakening. This is still an unbelievable adventure and an absolute must-play.

Insomniac Games has used their power responsibly while translating their vision of Spider-Man, and they’ve created his largest and most detailed adventure to date. They’ve taken lessons from their previous action-adventures, along with recent successful franchises in the super hero genre, showcasing what’s possible not only for Spider-Man, but for all comic book characters in this generation of games.

If you’re a newcomer to the series, this is an excellent opportunity to learn the fundamentals in a laid-back setting. If you’re a pro, you’ll relish the new options in place for making your Pokémon all they can be. Sun & Moon is a Pokémon vacation we’d gladly take again.

There are moments when elements jarringly clash, though. It can occasionally feel weird combing the environment for collectibles in the midst of a dramatic scene, or having minor dialogue loop incessantly, taking away from the otherwise impeccable and engrossing world. Such minor complaints truly sizzle into nothing though when compared to the gigantic achievements of Psychonauts 2. It's the kind of game that feels like it only comes around a scant few times per console generation. In an industry that can sometimes feel like it's just regurgitating the same cynical product repeatedly, Psychonauts 2 is a beaming ray of unbridled imagination. One that will hopefully get the love it’s due.

Hitman 3 is an excellent end to the World of Assassination trilogy. Each mission feels dramatically different with exceptional level design that provides countless mysteries to uncover and options to play with. The story comes to a gratifying conclusion, but even if you’re new to 47’s world of slick kills and dark comedy, there has never been a more appropriate time to take aim.

Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus is a snarling beast of a game. Both its action and story feel like riding a raging bull - it’s exhilarating yet terrifying. But that's also the point. New Colossus knows how to elicit so much emotion from the player because it absolutely refuses to back down in any sense. It knows exactly what it wants to say and what it wants the player to overcome, leaving an impression that won't soon be forgotten.

After previous attempts only achieved half-measures, Tales of Arise finally takes the series in a new direction. There are sure to be veterans who lament some of the changes in the name of expanding the audience, but the risks taken here pay off nicely. The visuals are a marked improvement from any previous entry, and the combat looks and feels better than ever, even if it comes at the cost of losing some depth. Arise’s narrative admirably tackles some ambitious themes, though not all beats hit their mark. However, despite a few flaws, Tales of Arise is a fantastic RPG that stands as one of the best the series has to offer.

The high-end PC settings don’t live up to our expectations, but the handling, courses, and community features are all top of their class. Forza Horizon 3 is the type of racing game that just about anyone can pick up and have fun with, but it still includes depth for committed players. Put that together with a beautiful environment that you can explore at your own pace, and Forza Horizon 3 is one of the strongest and most well-rounded open world racers we’ve ever played.

Cuphead has had a long journey, and it’s great to see StudioMDHR’s efforts pay off. It does a superb job of capturing the essence of the early days of animation with fantastic art and a jazzy soundtrack. Its challenging difficulty provides some heart-pounding moments and an immense feeling of satisfaction once a boss is defeated. Although it suffers a bit in co-op and platforming levels, Cuphead is more than worthy of your time.

It’s tempting to make comparisons given the deluge of similar games in recent months, but The Messenger proves its worth through unique merits. The eventual shift from linear to open progression, the swapping back-and-forth between two retro aesthetics, and the evolving mechanics and satisfying platforming make a strong argument for why you should give The Messenger a closer look.

In spite of any criticisms, however, it is undeniable that Sunbreak is an exceedingly excellent expansion. At their best, the battles with such incredible creatures are really the sort of win by the skin of your teeth affairs that provide such magic and excitement. Sunbreak also props up ideas that were introduced in the base game, feeling like it's actually enriching what's already there. If you've never played Monster Hunter or have always been scared to dive in, you are truly missing out — a sentiment I cannot overemphasize. The particular intricacy of the mechanics and how they all meld into something unique is really quite unlike anything I've experienced.

Aside from the minor revisions and additions, Tropical Freeze is the same great game as before. All of the extras, modes, and secrets return, providing plenty of replay value, and David Wise’s stellar soundtrack is arguably his best work. This is the perfect opportunity for veterans to dive back into this fantastic game, as well as for newcomers to finally experience one of the best platformers around.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is a successful reinvention of the dormant franchise that carves out a marvelous new identity, one that clearly has a bright future. While it doesn’t revolutionize the Metroidvania genre, it certainly elevates it to new heights by refining it and blending in the best aspects of previous Prince of Persia entries. Combined with a terrific soundtrack, a stylish aesthetic, and an intriguing narrative that avoids the pitfall of becoming too overbearing, The Lost Crown marks an excellent start to 2024.

It's been a long time coming for Bayonetta 3, but PlatinumGames has delivered once again. While the technical aspects are disappointing, new additions like taking control of Bayonetta’s giant demons are awesome. As always, the refined combat mechanics are where Bayonetta truly shines, with a diverse and over-the-top arsenal that’s a blast to get your hands on.