Uncharted 4 is a landmark title that anyone remotely interested in interactive storytelling should invest in. Naughty Dog has once again raised the bar across the industry. Thrilling shootouts, a staggering level of detail, breathtaking visuals and emotional depth come together to make Uncharted 4: A Thief's End a must-play masterpiece.

While it’s easy to rattle off the merits of the various gameplay systems and gush about the presentation, those aren’t the things that make Persona 5 stick with you. It’s a game that’s willing to comment on the issues of today both in a broader sense and on a personal level. It doesn’t just have typical characters but rather people that you come to know by investing serious time in them. Persona 5 honors the now decades-old Shin Megami Tensei legacy without feeling content to stay within its limits, serving as a prime example of what a modern JRPG should be.

There’s no denying that Astro Bot owes a lot to its predecessors, but it still manages to find ways to innovate and make its own mark, from the excellent integration of PlayStation’s history, to the unbelievable Hero Worlds, to the creative new mechanics and power-ups. Add in gorgeous visuals, joyful vibes, near-perfect controls, a terrific soundtrack, and excellent rewards for curiosity and exploration, and you have the makings of something truly special.

Shadow of the Colossus sets the standard for remakes with its gorgeous visuals, new extra features, and refined controls. The essence of what made it great remains pure and untainted -- the epic battles against the Colossi, the great atmosphere, the amazing sense of wonder, and one of the best soundtracks to grace a video game. It’s a class act that manages to rekindle the raw emotion of exploring the Forbidden Lands for the first time, and reminds us once again that video games can truly be works of art.

God of War doesn’t just feel like the next step for the franchise, but for the entire video game industry. Phenomenal visuals, rewarding exploration, and a deep, nuanced combat system contribute to an epic adventure that should be experienced by every human on earth. Santa Monica Studio is taking us all to Valhalla.

Nintendo chose the perfect word to affix to this latest Super Mario Bros. title. It’s the word that best sums up everything about this game. After so many iterations of the 2D Mario formula, it’s a wonder that the developers could still come up with something this innovative, with crazy new levels and cunning secrets that reward your curiosity. The sense of wonder is palpable any time you encounter one of the game’s signature blue flowers, with no idea what will happen next. And the Wonder Effect concept is one of the best new additions to the franchise since Mario first hopped on Yoshi’s back. Most of all, it’s wonder that you’ll feel as you play through one of the best Mario games of all time.

Super Mario Odyssey embraces its heritage at every turn, and the payoff isn’t merely a warm feeling of nostalgia at the fan service, but a reworking of the old with the new to produce something completely unique. Previous games have brief moments of wonder and charm, but they do not come close to the emotional gratification of Odyssey. Near-flawless controls, amazing worlds, a phenomenal new special ability, and a sense of freedom that’s not been seen in any previous game all add up to something special. This is another Mario game that will be remembered for ages to come.

Red Dead Redemption 2 tests the boundaries of interactive immersion. Few games look this good, play this well, and have this much to offer. It begs you to slow down, turn every page of its dramatic tale, and savor every last breathtaking detail. It challenges you to be prepared for anything, and make the right decisions when your choices matter most. Arthur Morgan is the lead, but the world takes center stage to pull you in. With a list of challenges left to finish and an online mode launching soon, we plan to spend a lot more time in Rockstar’s unparalleled recreation of the old west.

Fans have waited an absurd amount of time for a Half-Life game in any form, but when you're playing, the wait is really the furthest thing from your mind. Alyx is so completely captivating that as soon as you put it down, you want to talk to someone about it, get them to play it, really do anything you can to make them feel the same awe that you do. Like any great VR experience, it's something you can't possibly understand fully until you try it, but once you do, it's hard to recognize Alyx as anything other than a monumental achievement.

Resident Evil 4 more than lives up to the legacy of the original game that released almost two decades ago. Combat is dramatically improved thanks to smoother controls, more threatening enemy behavior, and most importantly, the new knife mechanics. Treasure hunting has been rebalanced to highlight difficult decisions regarding resource management. Optional side quests incentivize risk vs. reward, while certain boss fights have been dramatically improved. Capcom continues their winning streak with an absolute masterclass in survival horror.

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.

Any new From Software game comes with a lot of expectations, and Elden Ring delivers. It's a thrilling adventure that provides a wonderful sense of discovery through an expertly crafted world, seamlessly incorporating the excellent combat and encounters the studio is known for. The level of difficulty may be off-putting for some, but Elden Ring is so fantastic that it's absolutely worth fighting through to the end.

If Divinity: Original Sin 2 had only been an enormous single-player RPG, it would still be far better than most of what you could compare it to. The fact that it has such well-implemented co-op and a user-friendly game master mode gives it a tremendous amount of value at a time where such a thing can feel like a rarity. Even if you never touch all of its various components, you'll still be left with a role-playing game that exemplifies the best aspects of its genre.

It’s obvious you get a tremendous amount of value for the price. If you crave a creative outlet, the tools here are effective and easy to learn, and the army of full or part-time developers appear ready to embrace your work. If you just want a wide range of weird games to play, you’ll find your queue refilled on a regular basis with surprises that couldn’t have been realized any other way. There are definitely things Media Molecule needs to focus on now that early access is over, and it’ll be a treat to see the game grow over time, but what’s here now is absolutely incredible.

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is an exhilarating journey that demands your full attention. Taking advantage of stealth and mastering its posture-based swordplay is immensely satisfying. Meanwhile, the wonderful, expansive world is a joy to explore thanks to intriguing design and the emphasis on grappling to new heights. Sekiro often feels daunting, leaving you bloodied and broken at its feet, but overcoming each challenge it throws your way fills you with a triumphant sense of accomplishment.

While it’s easy to find areas to improve, the British countryside is gorgeous, the driving is incredibly well-balanced, and seasons have been masterfully implemented, allowing for more variety than ever before. Make no mistake that Forza Horizon 4 is one of the most comprehensive and polished racing games ever made.

The Last of Us Part II presents an absolutely crucial and challenging narrative about love and hate. Characters have convincing motivations that leave you thinking about more than what’s in front of you. The places it takes you to are awe-inspiring to explore, with unrivaled attention to detail, and although the combat is somewhat forgiving, it remains thrilling throughout much of the harrowing journey. The Last of Us Part II leaves a deep, emotional impact, and this unforgettable continuation should not be missed.

Hades is one of the best roguelikes you can play. An interesting cast of characters, anchored by the lovable Zagreus, is worth learning about, while the seemingly never-ending upgrades always provide something to work towards. A few more bosses and environments would have helped the long road towards the true ending, but with so much weapon and build variety, each run offers a unique and rewarding trip through the Underworld.

As big of an impact as Remake made upon its release, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth eclipses it in nearly every way. It improves upon just about every facet of its predecessor by introducing incredible new mechanics, an unbelievable world to explore, countless charming mini-games, another out-of-this-world soundtrack, some of the most memorable characters, and a fascinating storyline that will leave you on the edge of your seat. This is truly a must-play game for anyone who loves RPGs.

Endwalker exudes excellence. The minor shortcomings pale in comparison to the sheer magnitude of its achievements. It’s one of the most ambitious MMO expansions ever made, and a magnificent conclusion to a journey that boasts some of the best storytelling in this medium. Those harboring reservations about the time commitment should carefully consider that you’re missing out on one of the best experiences in gaming. It’s been a remarkable eleven-year journey, and here’s to many more adventures to come.

Dragon’s Dogma 2 is a hardcore action RPG that demands patience and perseverance. It doesn’t hold your hand, and figuring out how to progress can be cryptic. Combat is spectacular with a variety of classes that all feel distinct and viable, while exploration feels particularly rewarding. In a crowded genre, Dragon’s Dogma 2 feels special, with old school sensibilities that reward you for paying attention.

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.

Alan Wake 2 is both a survival horror and psychological horror masterpiece. It represents the best of the genre with extraordinary atmosphere, characters you root for, and a high stakes narrative with horrifying and emotional weight. Exploration is rewarding, its presentation is pioneering, and it continually makes you question just how much you think you know about what’s going on. Remedy has delivered a special game that will be adored forever.

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.

Kingdom Hearts III brings the entire series to a climax and serves as a satisfying conclusion to the Dark Seeker saga. New additions to combat like attractions and Keyblade transformations are wonderful spectacles, and the worlds you venture to are some of the best ever in the franchise. Though some of its story may be lost on those who haven’t kept up, it rewards those who have stuck with it over the years. It may have a been a long time coming, but Kingdom Hearts III delivers on its promises, and it’s easily the best game in the series.

For as fantastic as Dread looks and generally runs, there are infrequent but quite noticeable instances when the framerate drops. It's also mildly annoying how long the transitions are from one area to another. While these are criticisms worth noting, they almost feel petty when compared to the staggering amount of things that the game crushes. Honestly, it's a relief that Metroid is finally getting the kind of care it so justly deserves. Metroid Dread is the very definition of a must-play title.

Building off the foundation of Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom improves upon its predecessor in nearly every way. It's filled with wonder and discovery throughout, constantly rewarding your curiosity. New mechanics like Fuse, Ascend, and Ultrahand transform how you interact with the world and give you even more opportunities to think differently about traversal and problem solving. Temples are a good upgrade and feel more clever and fleshed out, and the new sky and underground areas are excellent and serve as stark contrasts to the surface. Some technical aspects can get in the way at times, but not nearly enough to diminish the experience. It's been a long time coming for Tears of the Kingdom, but Nintendo has once again delivered a fantastic adventure that shouldn't be missed.

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.