Sektori is a direct continuation of what Geometry Wars did so well: easy to learn, hard to master – all the while including a double shot of Housemarque for good measure.

Assassin's Creed finally arrives where it has always belonged: firmly into the stealth genre, where a mistake is just as deadly as your famous blade. The division into two characters, each with their own weaknesses instead of one superhero finally allows for new, successful impulses for the series. And old Japan is simply gorgeous.

Extensive re-release of an excellent game. Croteam not only improved technical aspects in terms of graphics and controls but also added a whole new chapter as well as compelling audio-commentary.

Silksong spins yarns of pain and freedom into a breathtaking Metroidvania fill of surprise and secrets.

Conrad Roset's second game is a visually stunning parable about life and death - very straightforward, but with a touching story and inventive combat.

Ultimately, Cyberpunk 2077 is one of the most remarkable games you can buy for the launch of the Switch 2. Firsty, because the port proves what Nintendo's console is technically capable of. And secondly because this is just a massive, excellent RPG that has matured nicely, indeed.

Absolum is a game that convinces you of its quality right from the start, only to reveal new strengths with every run and every new ability. Do yourselves a favor.

And the prize for the 'Most Game 2023' goes to South Korea: Dave the Diver tirelessly surprises with new ideas and keeps its catchy basic elements as fresh as good sushi. One of the year's most addictive games.

It's both the funniest and most exciting game story of the year, presented in a package of incredible creative integrity. Dispatch presents the most convincing argument against player-facing generative AI in video games. It's full of life and character that machines will never be able to replicate.

Minishoot’ Adventures is the triumphant fusion of nostalgic dungeon exploration and modern bullet-hell precision – further proof that the best ideas are often the simplest.

On Wii U this stays an essential buy for everyone that hasn't played it yet. It is a very, very accomplished game and great for all the reasons the original was a few months ago, but you don't have to buy it again for the WiiU. Also, it doesn't do much to prove that conversions to this platform are necessarily better than their 360 or PS3 counterparts. It's still 'just' one of the best games in recent years as it was back in summer.

With Mass Effect, Bioware created something really unique. A fascinating universe, that not only rivals Star Wars and Star Trek, but – at least for me – exceeds those. Mass Effect 3 is the crowning achievement for this trilogy. A true masterpiece.

With the Apollo Justice Trilogy, Capcom has released what is probably the most successful Ace Attorney collection for the current console generation. Both the design of the 2D and 3D models in the RE engine and the bonus material are impressive. An excellent example of how to bring back aged games in a successful fan package for the current generation.

Is this the only shape a fresh new XCOM could have taken? Definitely not. What it is though, is a sincere and absolutely splendid tribute to one of the best games ever made; undyingly in love with the source material, but at the same time absolutely determined to be its own beast. 'On the shoulders of giants' one of the final achievements says. Firaxis just put another giant there.

Buy it if you liked the first one. Buy it, if you love it over the top all the way. Buy it if you love video games. Buy a Wii U if you have to. Bayonetta 2 sings all its praises in a celebration to this hobby of ours. But don't make the mistake of not playing it.

The Wii U version reaches hitherto unknown heights which I would never have expected from a direct sequel, let alone in this genre. Which is why I might as well just say it: Rayman Legends is the best 2D platformer of all time. Take that and stick it on the wall Ubisoft Montpellier, you earned it.

The name is a good fit in more than one way. For one thing, because it seeks a justified closeness to Super Mario World, which the game itself has long since found. For another, because you're constantly 'wondering if...', filled with wonder and marvelling at wonderful effects is the predominant emotion while playing.

The Drifter combines everything we love about point-and-click adventure games with modern storytelling, clever controls and the kind of style and character that few adventure games have had since the Lucas Arts classics. This is more than just life support for a genre that has long been said to be dead, it's a highlight for anyone who loves captivating stories.

This balance and rock-solid confidence in the basic architecture of its Action-RPG existence is something the series has worked hard to achieve over decades, and so it's not only understandable, it's the only correct thing to do, for Diablo 4 to build on exactly that. The series brought innovation and upheaval when that was needed at the time. Since then, it is what it is. Diablo. The only true devil in Action-RPG hell.

You'll get everything the fantastic console version had: a feeling of insecurity, respect for the apparently insurmountable, an unparalleled combat system. A nigh on perfect game.

Is the new technology worth the 10 euros if you already have the original in your collection? Yes, I think so. Is it worth buying if you've never played Zero Dawn? The answer should be clear: Horizon: Zero Dawn Remastered is a must-have.

Highly addictive tactical roguelite with flexible rules and endlessly motivating progression. Already one of the candidates for game of the year.

Stunning, deep, and incredibly rewarding - Monster Hunter Stories 3 transcends its spin-off roots to become its own unique beast. A top-tier, premium JRPG experience.

Given the state of our world today, a game about the mechanisms by which violence reproduces itself uncontrollably is even more difficult to digest, but arguably all the more important. It's an ugly, mean game in all the right ways: a blockbuster that has no desire to pander, putting its message above the will to please. Daring.

The fifth game in the series combines the delusions of grandeur facilitated by the most detailed open world to date to super-solid shooting and driving mechanics. Previous lengths have been traded in for a consistently captivating narrative which not only holds everything together, but really makes this game seem more than the sum of its parts. The only remaining question is: Where will – or can –the series go from here? I am looking forward to finding out.

What might be the friendliest extraction game out there might also be the best: Incredibly solid core mechanics converge with a captivatingly beautiful world that consistently produces memorable moments.

Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles is the long-awaited return of the series that I have been hoping for for many years. But it's not just the excellent voice acting that's impressive; lots of welcome and significant changes to the core of the game elevate the experience.

This is not exactly the worst port in the world, but the only glorious thing about it is its sheer existence. But nonetheless, PC-gamers should still be grateful, even if it does not offer the kind of technical improvement that they are used to and have to battle a few odd bugs. But since these are mostly restrained to graphical issues which can be fixed – not always thanks to FromSoftware ... – neither the score nor the conclusion have to be changed: Dark Souls is THE game of the last few years.

Chants of Sennaar is a strikingly stylish and, above all, playfully addictive puzzler, where you have to decipher foreign languages to understand the puzzles and their world. For me, it's a big hit, which certainly didn't come out at the most opportune time of the year. But ambitious tinkerers should not lose sight of it despite everything.

Not only does Tekken 8 give its spirited martial arts show additional momentum by using the heat energy as a call for a stronger offense. It also looks great after the graphical redesign and is packed with game variants and training options as well as clever ideas.

Don't Nod has arrived among the greats: Banishers combines a huge, enthralling world and a engaging narrative with good technology and effortlessly entertaining Kratos-style action-adventure combat.

What else can you say about these two games? For me, they were and remain the crowning glory of Mario creation, masterpieces of level design, and a bottomless treasure trove of interesting ideas to toy and tinker with.

Saros might not be perfect, with the storytelling in particular showing some rough edges. It takes a while getting up to speed but when all systems are in place, it's an exceptional arcade shooter and an extraordinary spectacle.

Beautiful Metroidvania with a clever combat system that sparks curiosity about discovering a magical world.

With Dragon Age: The Veilguard, BioWare manages to bring the series into the present: great technology, excellent playability, engaging story and characters and, above all, fantastic action combat make for an outstanding modern role-playing game.

If you're willing to put in the effort, you'll get a game with unparalleled depth and competitive fun. This one has one hell of a learning curve, but climbing it, you'll find, is a huge pleasure in and of itself.

Beautiful in its presentation and with a powerful protagonist: Hellblade 2 is a landmark in fantastic storytelling.

Especially if you have children with whom you can pass the controller back and forth, Astro Bot is one of the feel-good games of the year. And if you don't have any offspring, this will let out your inner child with ease. Astro Bot, then: a game that was well worth sending a chrome Sackboy back through time for.

Don't miss out on this gem! Even if you know Tower Defense inside out or perhaps don't like it at all... although: especially then. Because Kunitsu-Gami feels so distinct, as is rarely the case under the umbrella of a big label like Capcom, and is made with so much attention to detail it enchanted me from the very first minute.

Minor quibbles aside ... just like the ruins you sift through, Metroid Prime is a monument - it was just a bit overgrown and blended into the scenery of collective gaming conscience. Now it's back in the limelight. Pristine, demossed and its fissures glued, fresh and relevant again for a gaming world that was on the verge of forgetting about it.

It is the rare case of a game that gets better and better the deeper you get into it. Not only because there are new things to see and do and the hero becomes more and more powerful, but also because you grow as a player.

This golden age of Marvel Games and the tournament brawler genre has aged well. Fluidly and with vigour, these heroes fight each other a quarter of a century later as if no time had passed and no MCU had ever happened.

Marathon is an incredibly intense, nearly perfect first-person shooter in a visually breathtaking scenario. It keeps you engaged with an incredibly well-tuned cycle of looting and improving, while you constantly progress even after failing a mission.

The heart-rending story isn`t romanticizing nor does it drift into the pathos other, less subtle games so often lean towards. That's the line where good craftsmanship becomes art, and an excellent game.

Hades 2 elevates what Hades began: It's a beautiful and incredibly engaging sequel with mightily satisfying combat.

Shadow Gambit shines with its well thought-out systems, the multitude of characters and possibilities, and offers you significantly more options and even more reasons to seriously think about your approach and experiment. That's exactly what such games are all about, and it's outstandingly implemented here. If you liked Shadow Tactics and / or Desperados 3, don't think twice and get Shadow Gambit, you won't regret it.

Sure, Shadow of the Erdtree doesn't turn Elden Ring into a new game, and if you were expecting big new impulses in terms gameplay, you were mistaken. From Software has been improving their thing for 20 years, and they did so in leaps and bounds. But it's not like they're straying from their path. Just as well, if you love their concept for what it is: the best game in the world.

Halo 4 is something really special. Not only is it a first-rate exclusive for the good old 360, it's also a shining example of the kind of technical excellence that's still possible on the elderly hardware. It's one of these games that justify the decision to buy this console. 343 Industries has gone ahead and obliterated my qualms about the brand's change to another developer than Bungie. Now there's only one thing I want: More.

You can't meaningfully see Phantom Liberty without Cyberpunk 2077. Both together are like a director's cut of an already outstanding game. And together they are more than the mere sum of their parts. The new story fits seamlessly into the saga of V and Johnny in a way that makes you truly admire CD Projekt's artistry. Tugging at the interconnected threads of a game as artfully convoluted as Cyberpunk 2077 and incorporating this new episode meaningfully into everything is quite a feat.

In terms of action, it is in a class of its own, while in terms of substance it is ahead of almost everything else that video games have to tell. Few others reach a similar level in their own way. In my opinion, none is better.

Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred finally raises the game to the level we had hoped for in 2023. The campaign has a few weaknesses, but the endgame is great and the new Spiritborn class is the new benchmark for future heroes.

The best JRPG in years - despite coming from France. Hard-hitting, well thought-out and utterly rewarding, Clair Obscur is a beautiful reminder of what truly matters.

Chic, sleek, addictive, Thronefall is an artful gift to anyone who has been wanting to play a strategy game again for a long time, but who has struggled to integrate this often over-complex genre into their everyday lives. That's what makes it precious.

If you get involved with No Man's Sky, you can expect a phenomenal space adventure. Something I certainly wouldn't have said with such enthusiasm about the game that was released under this name in 2016. I'm sure it can be said often enough how much Hello Games put into this to take you into space the way they imagined it. But I haven't said it often enough yet, so I do it once more.

Everything is here, and as with the other franchises Konami tackled before, Gradius Origins is the ultimate fan package. This is how you remaster and present old games. This is the way, no question about it.

Three years after its initial release, Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance remains the perfect JRPG, which shines in the new edition with better performance and an expanded story. Sensible additions to the game elements also make it easier to get started without scaring off hardcore fans, for whom new conveniences remain optional. A clear recommendation for anyone who has always wanted to get into the franchise or is simply in the mood for one of the best modern JRPGs.

With a lot of affection for their own past, Lucid Games have given a well-loved classic a new kind of drive.

So, is Guild Wars 2 the MMO messiah everyone is waiting for? Maybe not. What it is, though, is the first MMO in years that really does the "massively multiplayer" part justice. This is a gigantic, sprawling world for explorers, with countless wonderful stories and characters, all backed by a gameplay concept that treats all players as equals. And that's just the basis of what Guild Wars 2 is.

World of Warcraft: The War Within represents a strong start for the worldsoul saga and brings with it many improvements and numerous new features that will advance WoW in general.

Not only does GTA V on PS4 and Xbox One set a new benchmark for HD remakes, it's also a challenge to the games originally made for this new generation.

Forza 5 isn't a fluke. It's the product of almost a decade of refinement, evolution and an unbelievable amount of experience on Turn 10's part. In essence, this is a game without any real weaknesses.

It challenges you, it gives you room to breathe, but also a purpose and of course it´s fun for every minute of it, which is all that counts in the end. You don´t have to invent everything again to get that. Not, if you have mastered the craft like Vigil Games obviously has.

When the prospect of the adventure eventually ending causes you nothing but grief, there's only one score to give.

Cutting your teeth on astonishingly good-looking and immaculately presented fluff pieces and then going ahead to produce arguably the darkest game of this generation – that's the sort of trick only the real heavyweights can pull off. Naughty Dog's game ain't begging for sympathy, it doesn't care if you like it or not. As such, it's a wake-up call for the medium, determined that the line isn't drawn between good and evil or right and wrong, but between you and the others.

And that's just what it is: incomparable. A confusing, but incredibly fascinating mess of a game. It knows the power of having you question your senses and the timing of a well-placed floorboard creak as well as the lure of a question without an answer or the rush of spine-tingling ghostly shootouts. Whatever the Remedy-verse has in store for us after Alan Wake 2, I'm insanely looking forward to it.

For me, The Talos Principle 2 is more than just a puzzle game. It is a game that makes you think in every respect. One with which gets your gray matter firing in the best possible way.

A monumental masterpiece: Despite the bugs, clunky menus, and awkward controls, its magnetic pull is simply impossible to resist.

Ninja Gaiden 4 marks a milestone for the series as well as Platinum Games. It features fast combat, precise controls and a uniquely exhilarating experience like no other - it's a step up from all its predecessors.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is so close to the original that it almost feels like a precious relic in its own right: a long-lost type of adventure that even the recent movies have been unable to unearth, no matter how hard they dug. It is playful, cheeky and blessed with an enviable innocence that you would not have expected from such a large, lavish mainstream product from one of the biggest publishers in the world. It belongs in a museum.

Astlibra does everything, and it doesn't always get everything quite right. But as an overall construct, running pretty much alongside our timeline, it's as unusual a genre mixer as it is fantastic.

The rich environments and the heartfelt, touching story easily make the price-tag seem irrelevant. Left Behind is on par with the main game in all but length, built with great care and attention to detail. It's the best DLC I have ever played and even though I never for a moment wanted The Last of Us to extend beyond its perfect conclusion, Naughty Dog almost made me think that a sequel to this might not be a bad idea after all.

Three of the best Castlevania games in a lovingly prepared collection with lots of great extras, all for 25 euros. Sometimes, life's good after all.

Split Fiction starts strong and gets better and better, only to leads to an unexpectedly profound story. Hazelight's new co-op game shines with terrific, inventive gameplay, and really ups the ante in an epic finale.

A slow and difficult start, but well worth the effort: Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 delivers a grand medieval world and fills it with many quests, exciting NPCs and, above all, endless role-playing systems that are very reminiscent of this genre's long forgotten ambitions.

A game that almost only Nintendo can make. Colorful, entertaining, and always a little crazy. Bananza is bursting with creativity and ideas.

Lumines Arise is a fresh and striking audiovisual experience that elevates the only game matching the brilliance of Tetris to a new level.

A spotless conversion of this top-of-class action-adventure, which shines with excellent boss fights, an exciting scenario, engaging exploration and many entertaining ideas.

Games like Skyrim or GTA love talk about open worlds, but it seems, that so far only Minecraft has truly embraced this principle. (…) This here is your story, that you simultaneously write and experience. All at your own pace.

Larian promised a game experience like at the role-playing table that would not be inferior to the old classics. Surprisingly, the only promise they didn't keep is a release on Stadia. Well, we'll get over it.

Much seems familiar and sometimes a tad uniform, but a strong combat system, excellent boss fights, an exciting scenario, the motivating environmental exploration and many well thought out ideas make Stellar Blade an excellent solo adventure.

Rarely have I experienced such a thrilling rush of action and acrobatics, and if you're even remotely in the mood for that, don't miss Turbo Overkill.

Playful and atmospherically captivating adventure without combat, but with imaginative challenges and lovingly executed ideas. Discovering a mysterious world has rarely been so much fun.

It's not as special as the title suggests. But that doesn't make it any less – or more for that matter – of a brilliant game.

Dexterity, nerves, observational skills - Snow Riders loves to see all of this from you, both solo and in multiplayer. But this game is also fine with you wanting some peace and quiet or a little vacation feeling in the mountains. To me, this vibe is a revelation.

The last time I had this much fun with a similar racing set-up, I was playing Project Gotham Racing 2. Fans of the genre should definitely keep an eye on whatever Playground Games decides to invest their considerable talents in next.

Thanks, Ubisoft Montreal, for getting this right on the first try, because this is undoubtedly the only time it will be fresh and exciting. Still, the degree of creativity and the load of ideas on display really demonstrates which ways you can treat your source material inventively via spin-offs or DLCs. I really could get used to that.

Do yourselves a favor and buy this one. And if you don't have a 3DS, get one in a bundle. Then show it all your friends and colleagues so that they proceed to do the same as you. This way, and no disrespect to Fire Emblem, maybe Intelligent Systems can procure the resources to produce a Game of Thrones spin-off I keep dreaming about.

This is not a weaker version of what awaits us when the Wii U outing rolls around in a few weeks time. It's one of the best handheld games out there.

Taken as a toy, Trap Team overshadows everything I had as a kid.

Carbine never was set to reinvent the wheel. But they put a nice set of custom rims on their vehicle. And then they strapped the whole thing on a space shuttle and send it into space.

This expansion continues to exude the of strange charm of the original, in spite of retaining all of its awkwardness. But, again, this Dragon's Dogma manages to grow in parallel to the engagement you display. You're going to sweat, you're going to get really, really mad – all of which makes your hard earned triumphs all the sweeter. You'll gaze in amazement at some of the sights the well designed Bitterblack dungeon has to offer, an island you'll just as much struggle to comprehend as Gransys before it. Maybe that is why in total I'm 200 hours into this and the original, and I still can't get enough of it.

This is a great 4X title that leaves little to be desired. You really feel the decades of experience behind Beyond Earth.

Trine 2 Director´s Cut on Wii U is an essential buy. It's beautiful, clever and quite big, which is a combination not too often seen these days in videogames.

It's just a joy to play, even though Saints Rows biggest accomplishment is leaving its troubled – and troubling – early phase behind to become gaming's one true enfant terrible, fleet-footedly hopping back and forth between infantility and pure genius.

This playable tale once again dares to discuss the more substantial implications of the survival-horror scenario, a setting that was once mostly defined by scarcity of ammunition. I'd lie if I professed that The Walking Dead had anything to do with "fun" in the traditional sense, but here for once, it's a glowing compliment. I'm not looking forward to accompany these Walking Dead on their last steps to the conclusion. But I wouldn't want to miss it for anything in the world.

In the end, its faults are only minor, really. This is by far the most engrossing co-operative arcade experience I have had in a while, probably the best since Left 4 Dead 2 came around. Pulling the trigger of a Uzi in close proximity of an enemy is like shoving a rabid Tasmanian devil into someone's face. The guns really feel that exciting and dangerous - one of the key differences between a good shooter and a great one. I have a feeling this one will stay with us for a while.

It shines in each and every discipline, only taking the very occasional and tiny misstep, you'll be hard pressed to notice or get in arms about. It's one of these games that gets you thinking long after you finished it, which makes me want to recommend it even more.

NBA 2K15 is beautiful, atmospheric and oozes class that's worthy of the best league in the world.