I could tell hour-long anecdotes about my adventures in this weird world. Find another Spelunky-Player and these spin out of control – into endless amusing conversations. It may not be for everybody, but once it's got you hooked, it won't let go of you for days.

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

This impressive console port is a great fit for those who are new to the series and to co-op fans alike.

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.

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

A first-class Monster Hunter experience! Sure, its Switch roots are showing, and it's not the most sumptuous game to look at on these new platforms, but Monster Hunter Rise more than makes up for that in the gameplay department.

A sterling example for an effective and utterly successful overhaul of a proven and compelling concept, rather than a fundamental shake-up. This might not be a system-seller some people might have hoped for. But those who already own a Wii U can and should look forward to many, many hours perfectly tuned Nintendo entertainment.

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.

Whatever Visual Concepts has in store for the next generation: I can wait. The enhanced defense and the overhauled ball handling will make this year a short one.

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.

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.

In any case, Fall of the Samurai demonstrates what releasing a good add-on truly means. They could have gone down the cheaper "a little more of everything" road. But instead, Creative Assembly invested their hearts, brains and their uncompromising attention to detail into this, to give this expansion its very own charm and character.

The shortcomings of the career are the main reason why my enthusiasm is a little bit dampened, but the rest of the game was improved in all its aspects. The new moves, attacks and the inclusion of the PRIDE-Modes make it a must-buy for fans. Even newcomers and people who so far just liked the UFC-Videos don´t need to be afraid of the steep learning curve they found in the earlier games.

Age of Empires 2 hasn't lost any of its fascination, the Definitive Edition brings it in line with modern gameplay sensibilities and, as an upgrade, is as good as it gets. If you've ever wanted to play Age of Empires from the comfort of your couch, now's your time.

The most beautiful version of Dragon Quest 3 to date knows exactly how to make a visual impression. However, the teeth of time have been gnawing mercilessly at the plot and gameplay.

Once again, Two Point Studios succeeds in combining their mix of quite complex, demanding management, which requires a lot of thought, with humor and the usual silliness that you know from the series.

Incredibly charming depiction of Batman's entire history in a game that could easily be a full-on spin-off from the Arkham series.

Very entertaining action adventure with extremely likeable characters. However, its launch on the PC is not flawless.

Respawn created a game that's easily on equal footing with the big-name established franchises, while breathing new impulses into the genre.

This Silent Hill 2 is more beautiful and bigger than ever- And those are just two of the problems with this fantastic remake. What can I say, it's complicated.

1000xRESIST tells a surprisingly deep and compelling story. What at times it lacks in terms of pacing and production value, it makes up with an abundance of creativity and unique storytelling.

Blizzard has once again proven its flair and a sure hand in expanding upon StarCraft 2's multiplayer. Don't expect big innovations, though, it's just reasonable improvements that are on display here. The campaign is entertaining enough and some of the mission designs are a real treat, even though 'zerging' through enemies by way of simple bases still promises sure success a bit too often.

Forbidden Solitaire turns a simple game of patience into a surprisingly clever horror card adventure with dungeon-crawler DNA. Not every battle hits hard, but its musty ’90s CD-ROM charm works brilliantly.

While Ghost of Yotei’s gameplay and structure are fairly conventional, it’s still home to a gripping revenge story, a great combat system, and one of the most beautiful game worlds in a long time.

Between the clever level design, the game's gentle way of teaching you the mechanics and the simple, heart-felt story with it's phenomenal finale, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons should be played by pretty much everyone.

The Ghost Trick Remaster is a neat fan package and, despite some outdated decisions, makes for a great puzzle adventure thanks to exciting ideas and a well-crafted (if somewhat unfinished) storyline.

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.

It took Ubisoft some time and Assassin's Creed 4 hasn't totally freed itself from all its past sins, but the fourth numbered entry in the series managed to capture me from start to finish, thoroughly entertaining me, wrapping me up in the engaging, often truly joyful proceedings.