Not only does GTA V on PS4 and Xbox One set a new benchmark for HD remakes, it's also a challenge to the games originally made for this new generation.

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.

It doesn't quite deliver the punch of its predecessor, and right now I'm having a hard time imagining that there's anything more to come out of *this* Hyrule than we got with Tears of the Kingdom. With any luck, we'll find out later this decade. Until then - see those mountains over there? It's never been easier or more fun to try to reach them.

As I was still far from finished with Tears of the Kingdom, I was delighted to be able to do so with improved technology. If you feel the same way, or if you haven't played the title yet, you should definitely go for the Switch 2 version. As with BotW, it's a bit of a shame that the Zelda Notes features are only accessible via an app.

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.

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.

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.

A nice technical upgrade of the modern classic, but nothing more. The Zelda Notes functions should have been in the game rather than on smartphones.

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.

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

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.

This is the sort experience you don't get every day: an easy-to-like spectacle for the masses with enormous production values, but a story right out of the art-house cinema. Granted, the gameplay side doesn't do as much for this experiment as the story and world design do. But this is a balancing act the fewest of teams could pull off. And even if you have the chops, in this risk-averse day and age you still have to have a healthy dose of irrationality to go through with a game as clever as this one. No wonder Levine's team had exactly what it takes.

Super Mario 3D World is not only a fantastic game in and of itself, it's a mandatory buy for any Wii U owner.

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.

It never ceases to amaze how Atlus manages to make Japanese games that lose none of their appeal in their translation to the West. Even though this is totally banking on it's Nippon slice of life approach, its no less compatible with western audiences than any other RPG. This is an approachable and sympathetic cast of characters going through relatable hardships – you don't need to be an anime fan to get that. In light of the Vita's situation you might not want a reason to get one of Sony's struggling portables. Now you have one nevertheless.

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.

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.

Rebirth is a successful remake between nostalgic memory and sequel with a strong combat system. An extensive adventure with small flaws, but also many lovely little things.

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.

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.

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.

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.

It's downright glorious in its focus on local multiplayer. Cramming your room with seven friends and playing this until dawn like it was the mid-2000's is just the best reminder of why I love video games.

Journey is not the kind of game that you finish once and then shelve it forever. Here you play for the enjoyment of playing itself, not to reach a certain goal.

Strong fantasy 'persona' with a clever combat and class system and an immediately gripping story. Technology and parts of the progression seem a bit dated.

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.

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

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.

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.

Rayman Legends is still the same enchanting, cheeky and all-around wonderful platformer, made by people who are absolutely in love with the genre. These guys still can think of something to say where most everyone else is content to endlessly quote the classics.

Dressed up for the present, old strengths preserved, a perfectly executed balance of trash and elegant horror shooter. Resident Evil 4 is still the most straight-up fun outing in the series.

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.

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.

Take it as an old-fashioned, well-known fable. It might not make the grandest strides to evolve its formula, but for many, many players this will be a very pleasant homecoming, indeed.

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.

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

A great port of an incredibly strong sequel – an experience quite unlike anything else. The only question is whether Kojima’s idiosyncratic post-apocalypse can hold the PC community's attention, with Crimson Desert out on the same day. Regardless of its commercial fate: if this is the final nail in the coffin for PlayStation games on PC, at least it’s a really pretty one.

This is the rare case of an archetypical PC game that hasn't lost any appeal in it's translation to console. Colour me impressed.

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

It relieves its predecessor from the position of being the best skill-based game on this platform with honors. And that is a remarkable trick in and of itself.

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.

Overall, though, some of its fights dragged on a bit and I found the plot stronger in the first two-thirds than towards the end. But all in all, Insomniac continues its run of immensely entertaining and impressively robust games in formidable fashion with Spider-Man 2. Few Studios mix cinematic spectacle and systemically satisfying freedom so deftly.

If you own the original, this is not an essential buy, let alone a reason to get a Wii U. It is basically the same fantastic game that crowned one of the best years of the GameCube's run. If you're new to this particular iteration, though, by all means, get this. I kind of envy you, because I will never be able to experience it with that set of fresh eyes again. Don't let this chance pass you by.

Controlling the game with mouse and keyboard doesn’t quite hit the mark, but with better lighting and frame rates as well as more consistent and crisper detail Rebirth looks best on PC.

Clean, unadorned and never pretentious or ponderous elegance. It's an unapologetically modern game in a classic guise.

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.

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.

Puristic stealth, thinking instead of simply reacting, having a plan and seeing it unfold thanks to near-perfect controls – that's how Mark of the Ninja creates its own little sense of addiction.

Let us hope that the next generation of consoles will bring back games enchanting and inventive like this one, marrying the joy of being different to the tradition of good, sturdy game design. Until that day, buy this one!

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.

Well, complete success. This is the return of classic Street Fighter in its entirety. Arcade, Vs, fun modes, online matches, team battles, it's all there, all against friends locally, online or against the CPU. The new style is chic - at least I like it - the stages look the part, and with the different control modes, maximum accessibility is practically guaranteed.

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.

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.

Pullblox is not only an extremely clever little puzzler, but also incorporates the 3D-effect in a neat way to support the gameplay itself.

I couldn't wish for more. The faster pace really does wonders for FIFA 13. It might take a while until you get used to it, but that's a couple of hours well invested as you get much more dynamic, tense and unpredictable game of football.

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.

Even though authenticity-wise Visual Concepts seems to have maxed out this console generation a couple of games ago and big new additions are scarce, NBA 2K13 sits firmly amongst my favorite games this year. I'm excited to see the makers shed the shackles of the old consoles and lead the way into the new generation next season.

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.

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.

There's a lot to like about Unicorn Overlord: Beautiful aesthetic in sound and art and an open strategy world with an addictive gameplay loop are this game's strengths.

A relaxing time-sink and creative outlet with loads of stuff to do. This is what truly great sandbox gameplay looks like.

You will turn and shift every new room like a child handling a new toy that still has that special fragrance of fresh plastic – the smell of birthdays and Christmases. One can easily forget what kind of arduous design-process must have been necessary to create this almost hypnotic and wondrous effect.

This series has accompanied us through the better part of this past year, made us afraid, brought us close to tears and made us question why the hell we were even playing something this depressing. The Walking Dead's answer was one of the most striking ones of this generation of games: Clementine! She's that glowing light that pulls you through the harshest of tortures. She's the heart and soul of this remarkable little game. And when the lights go down on episode five, Lee finds the most sincere of words for her – speaking not his, but the players mind. That is, if you can bring yourself to utter them. What is it that he says? You should really find out for yourself.

The Séance of Blake Manor spices up the classic whodunit formula with Irish folk horror and colonial guilt, sprinkles in a touch of Lovecraft, and serves it all as an interactive unease that creeps under your skin slowly but effectively.

Gearbox has consistently built on the strengths of the first game and managed to capture the sort of gravitational pull that always sucks you in for another go. Sometimes it pays to not change a winning formula all too much.

While Tokyo itself is somewhat disappointing in terms of size and flair, the drift-prone driving physics are incredibly fun. Content-wise Forza Horizon 6 is as big as ever - there are dozens of hours of fun to be had here.

The result is a game I didn't know I needed or even wanted. Death Stranding 2 is huge, pompous, moving, shocking, inspiring, confusing - and ultimately, and above all, concerned with what connects us and makes us human. Even if that thing is just the sheer joy of an insanely long zipline ride through snow-covered mountains.

At times, Infinite Wealth feels a little unfocused in terms of plot and progression, with all its little mini-games and time-wasters in a positive sense. Then again, maybe that's the wrong way to look at this game. These distractions an essential part of this Hawaiian excursion and a big reason why you're doing it all in the first place. It gives these characters and the world life and vigor - you're here to take a vacation. If you embrace that and let yourself drift through Hawaii instead of running from one quest marker to the next, you'll find this the most positively sunny game of the winter.

The strongest new Resident Evil chapter in a long time. Capcom delivers an atmospheric triumph that blends classic survival-horror-virtues with fresh ideas. Even though the boss fights and the finale falter slightly, it remains a truly strong survival-horror experience.

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.

Monument Valley is beautiful game. Stylistically, it might not be all that unique, it's inspirations not all that fresh – Escher's been dead for over 40 years. But that doesn't change the fact that this little gem is a relaxing stimulation of the senses.

This franchise, like no other, is a conglomerate of almost indescribable uniques, which sometimes take themselves a little bit too serious, sometimes not serious enough, but will never fail to captivate.

It might not quite be the new classic some might have hoped for, but it's a very entertaining and intimate proof that Ubisoft isn't all about throwing hundreds of people onto any given problem. They actually know very well how and when to pick just the right guys and gals for a job.

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.

It simply is the most trek-like game on the most trek-like device. This extraordinary gauntlet feels right at home on the iPad.

Everybody should have experienced this interesting and somewhat plausible vision of a possible future and it comes as no surprise that this well done Director's Cut is the version of choice for that.

Dishonored grants us a first look at the future of free-flowing gameplay in the triple A segment. Even though it stumbles over its own freedoms here and there, it still is an absolute winner of a game.

On the track, it shines with its charms and its finely tuned balance between diligence, precision driving and luck.

It's a shame that some features didn't make the cut, but the next gen versions are still the best iterations of FIFA 14.

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

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.

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.

Monster Hunter Wilds has a lot to offer, has been optimized in all the right places and comprehensive post-launch support has already been promised. For fans, there is no reason not to pick it up, while everyone else will certainly find it one of the best starting points to get into the series.

Who cares that some of the secondary activities are a terribly run-of-the-mill kind of affair? Between the skill tree, the unpredictably busy AI and the chaos nature tends to bring to the encounters you'll live through some of the most dynamic firefights in recent memory. It marries an immaculate stealth model, which couldn't work better if this was a third-person game, to a satisfying gunplay. A combination that will please more player types than Dishonored on the one hand and something like F.E.A.R. on the other ever could.

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.

Whoever picks up a Vita these days, should also get Rayman Origins along with it. Do it for yourself. Do it for Michel Ancel, who put his heart into this one. And most important of all: Do it for that strange sausage creature in world three.

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.

Torchlight 2 is the distillate of everything I have always liked about Diablo as a series. People who came to love Blizzard's hack and slash with its second iteration, Torchlight 2 might well be a better choice than Blizzard's own sequel.

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.

The Witcher 2 on Xbox 360 is a wonderful, groundbreaking and lasting experience. So good, that a few visual cutbacks can't diminish the joy of playing.

Blizzard's team has done about everything right with Hearthstone. They took tried and tested pieces from other card games, found clever mechanisms to take away their weak spots and other frustrations and offer a strong and addictive free-to-play experience.

Maybe I already told you too much about The Stanley Parable, maybe I should just tell you that you absolutely have to play this curious little gem of a game. Even though it really is playing you and not the other way around.

Guacamelee does a brilliant job in blending the highlights of the genre's corner stone titles such as Metroid and Castlevania, while still retaining it's own brand of charm.

The last Paper Mario with an RPG twist, charmingly reworked and brought into shape for a new generation, unfortunately only marginally streamlined.

It may not be the action-rpg-messiah that some may have expected, but it easily matches its predecessors... Blizzard's new creation defends the throne with a mix of proven gameplay and tons of features.

Sackboy still doesn't do his actual running and jumping in the same league as Mario or Rayman, then. But at the same time this is by far the best toolbox for gaming creativity this brand ever spawned. How much you will appreciate this package almost entirely depends on how much time you are planning to spend building, constructing and mucking about with this aspect of the game.

Even after a year Joe Danger is still well worth your time. (...) Hello Games gave an excellent debut that doesn't have to dread comparisons to the style, look and feel of classic Nintendo titles.

In this new iteration, Animal Crossing: New Leaf still may not be the most complex sim there is. But it has a special brand of charm that transforms even the most basic of activities, like sitting on a virtual bench, into a wonderfully soothing experience. This is why I love it.