The Prince of Persia is back, and even though it doesn't look quite like we remember, The Lost Crown is a great game - not only an exemplary representative of the metroidvania genre, but also just a very well-made action platformer.

Despite some shortcomings and impediments in the combat system, Valkyria Chronicles has barely aged at all. Sure, it's a last-gen game, but it's still charming, intriguing and forcing to use a tactical approach.

Rare Replay is a delight and the perfect formula for collections of older games. The only downside is the lack of control options in some of the games.

Anno 117: Pax Romana clearly builds on the foundations laid by Blue Byte with Anno 1800. However, the developers have introduced plenty of freshness and new ideas, and the whole experience is both engaging and fun. I won’t hesitate to say it’s one of Ubisoft’s best games in recent years. Much like Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, it shows that slightly more niche projects with smaller budgets than yet another Assassin’s Creed installment can offer more interesting ideas and higher quality.

Frontier Developments went with well-known concepts, improving selected mechanics and tools. Gameplay is fun and reminds us of the best times in the RollerCoaster Tycoon series, but Planet Coaster lacks something truly original and unique.

If EA Sports will stay on this path and plans to provide a story next year, this mode should be improved. It's already a great foundation for the future, though not without flaws. Fortunately, the new engine, other, proven and reliable modes, with quick and rewarding gameplay, make this year's FIFA a really good one.

Salt and Sanctuary can be called a 'Dark Souls 2D' and certainly is more worthy of this name than the official Slashy Souls on mobile. Frustration, perseverance, joy, satisfaction - all present. Shortcomings are not serious enough to overshadow this specific kind of enjoyment, characteristic for Souls series.

Zero Sum is a very optimistic start of a new story by The Walking Dead studio. The beginning of a great and engaging adventure.

The latest installment of the semi-simulation series represents a reboot of sorts, managing to finally finds its own path and at least partially escape the 'Gran Turismo clone' stigma. Forza Motorsport provides plenty of satisfying racing, but also suffers from lack of content.

Gears of War 4 as a whole looks interesting and it's definitely a pleasure to once again become an armed warrior and jump from cover to cover. The game may not impress in terms of graphics, and the universe is not as captivating as it used to be, but it's still good, demanding "Gears" - and that's crucial.

Halo 5 lacks something fresh and surprising, a breath of new life. The campaign is interrupted in the wrong moment and the lack of split-screen is disappointing, but these cons are balanced out by addictive and satisfying multiplayer. The game is not without certain defects, but it's still worth recommending.

Dungeons, monsters and madness - Darkest Dungeon in a nutshell. Well-realized gameplay, dark atmosphere and high quality graphics makes it very hard to quit. Better keep the narrator happy.

Devolver Digital proves once again that it knows very well which independent games are worth supporting. Enter the Gungeon is a deeply engaging proposition and the multitude of challenges will keep you occupied for hundreds of hours.

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided keeps you engaged and touches on some serious issues, with great combination of stealth and action to boot. Some elements have been improved and there's no shortage of new gadgets, but players expecting significant changes in Human Revolution's formula will be disappointed.

Extremely well-made title, worth recommending to fans of classic Metroid-style games even despite its flaws.

Hyper Light Drifter offers an engaging, mysterious adventure. Heart Machine's game demands patience, but rewards with great atmosphere and satisfying combat system. All we need is an addition 30 frames per second. 30 FPS lock can be a valid design choice, but not in a dynamic game with a focus on action.

Hogwarts Legacy is a very good game with a few weaker features that do not match the rest. However, the game is made with great care and, as a result, guarantees a fantastic adventure in the well-known world of magic. I would even let someone cast Obliviate on me, just to forget this game and be able to experience it again.

SOMA is not the best interactive horror in history. It is, however, a moving and engaging story about the importance of consciousness and essence of humanity. SOMA can scare, but it seems that creating terror was not a priority for Frictional Games.

Icey is a fantastic combination of a great slasher and intriguing story, with original narration. It could seem strange at first glance, but it's a great game, unique and engaging.

Although the term 'remastered' is too generous in this case, the refreshed Grim Fandango is still a great adventure game, even if a bit outdated by today's standards.

There's no doubt that Fallout 4 is worth recommending and that everyone will find something interesting here - it's an impressive and addictive game. It's only a shame that Bethesda didn't try to change the gameplay formula a bit more or iron out the technical problems.

The developers behind Super Mario RPG Remake have done their job almost perfectly. New game effectively refreshes the visuals and improves the turn-based gameplay, although it doesn't quite cope with the archaic maze level design. In the end the pros prevail and any enthusiast of turn-based combat will have fun here.

Despite the technical shortcomings, Crate Entertainment managed to develop a worthy spiritual successor for the Titan Quest series. Grim Dawn is extremely rich in content, providing hundreds of hours of hack'n'slash fun.

The formula known from Little Nightmares has undergone a subtle evolution, and you can feel that Reanimal is a different brand, sharing only similar DNA. On paper, the changes might sound slightly off-putting, but in practice everything works exactly as it should, and it’s hard to tear yourself away from the screen. It’s a strong title that avoids excessive grotesque elements, bluntness, and violence; instead, Reanimal resonates on a different, much deeper level - somewhat like This War of Mine. It’s an experience worth going through.

Offers little new in terms of gameplay, but it's hard to deny the power of the games message, which will stay in your head for a long time.

As long as you know what kind of strange journey you’re signing up for, you’re getting the chance to comfortably revisit - or experience for the first time - one of the most unique and phenomenal games ever made, presented almost exactly as it was two decades ago.

Black Ops 6 is a surprisingly thrilling installment of the Call of Duty series, and it's clear here that an extra year of work has resulted in a much more interesting and thoughtful product. The campaign makes a very positive impression, offering varied missions in locations scattered around the globe, the multiplayer is satisfying (largely thanks to Omnimovement), and the Zombies mode makes you want to return, despite some repetitiveness.

The result of many years of work meets expectations and ranks among the best representatives of the genre.

WWE 2K24's developers have risen to the challenge and delivered a game that may not be reinventing the wheel, but is a polished evolution of last year's installment. It's pure fun, and pummeling opponents with chairs and locking them in coffins under the ring gave me so much joy I felt like a ten-year-old.

There's definitely something addictive in the new Hitman, especially when revisiting the same locations over and over again - thanks to interesting challenges. Level design is impressive and multiple ways to eliminate targets will keep you occupied for a long time.

It was worth the wait - Prison Architect is a solid, engaging game with enormous number of options, presented in a well-thought-out way. Managing a virtual prison has never been so enjoyable.

Mortal Kombat X is polished and engaging - a good choice even for players new to the series. New fighters and modifications keeps the game fresh.

LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight deserves a spot on the shelf right next to the very best Batman games ever made. Sure, it’s a more streamlined experience tailored toward a younger audience, but in this form, I couldn’t have imagined a better return to the streets of Gotham.

Another good game with pocket monsters, providing hours of fun for fans. But it does not offer the same breath of fresh air as last year's X and Y.

Abzu is a captivating and intriguing adventure, once again proving that the journey is more important than the outcome. Journey was maybe a little bit more moving, but Giant Squid's title is still one of the best artistic indie games in recent years.

Despite the rather limited content at launch, it's been a long time since I had as much fun in co-op as I did in Helldivers 2. The transition from a top-down perspective to a classic TPP couldn't have gone better. That's how you do bold action game sequels.

Mortal Kombat 1 is a must-have for any fan of the series and for most fighting game lovers. Despite minor flaws, the game is a lot of fun, looks amazing and always runs smoothly. New players may feel a bit lost, as familiarity with at least the previous installment will make it much easier to understand the storyline, but you can have a great time even without that. Mortal Kombat 1 can quickly become number one on the list of the best installments of the series.

Free Lives Games managed to publish a game that seems to be a love child created from Metal Slug and best action movies. Fighting hordes of enemies, challenging boss fights and classic movie jokes are hugely satisfying.

Lies of P neatly combines the most important elements of soulslike games while retaining its own style and personality. Satisfying combat system, unique world and high difficulty level will satisfy the most ardent fans of the genre, while a set of well-thought-out simplifications will help less experienced players find their way in the dark alleys of Kratu.

Marvel's Midnight Suns is an original blend of seemingly unrelated genres and mechanics: turn-based card battles, extensive story and dialogues, base development and even exploration. Surprisingly, ingredients of this explosive mix turn out to fit together quite well. It's just a shame that none of them have been properly polished.

Hearts of Iron 4 makes it hard to sometimes register what's happening on all the fronts, but gameplay is extremely engaging - and exciting, when watching the frontlines move. Paradox Interactive managed to create an atmosphere of overwhelming conflict, making it very hard to quit.

Klei Entertainment once again delivers an interesting, original game. Invisible, Inc. is a challenging and engaging strategy in cyberpunk world full of spies and big corporations.

Gears of War: Ultimate Edition reminds us of the good and bad sides of the original. Prettier Gears can be a lot of fun, it's just a pity that developers didn't refresh anything substantial in gameplay. It's possible that new gamers will recognize the "charm" of the original.

Strange sequel. The world is bigger and hacking is more advanced, but there's a lack of real innovation. Story is mediocre and the new tone won't sit right with everyone. Overall a solid game, with nothing exceptional to note.

Another good game with pocket monsters, providing hours of fun for fans. But it does not offer the same breath of fresh air as last year's X and Y.

The huge Kickstarter success story is now a finished game - with a great concept and solid execution, but it's also too small and short to really engage the player. Constant action drags us forward in neck-breaking pace, only to emphasize this flaw.

Warhammer 40K deserved this game. Space Marine 2 is not without flaws, but most of the shortcomings are effectively made up for by a great and quite complex combat system and co-op fun. It's a bloody, testosterone-filled action game that will expand this universe's community with many new recruits.

There's a lot to complain about The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered. The game suffers from serious bugs, doesn't offer mod support on consoles and in a few respects can be quite disappointing. Still, that doesn't change the fact that it's one of the best RPGs of all time and a beautifully refreshed classic that anyone who is disappointed by new games in the genre should reach for. It's a game you play - do quests, explore, fight, live adventures. It doesn't instruct us how to live and what to think, it doesn't show us with a finger what to do and how to do it, instead it allows us to get lost and lose ourselves. And it's just incredibly fun, despite all the shortcomings.

Battlefield 6 is exactly what fans of the series have been asking for over the years. It plays things relatively safe, but perfectly captures the essence of the franchise’s most beloved entries. It’s refreshing to see a major publisher actually respond to player feedback instead of doubling down on bad decisions and pretending that’s what the community wanted. The campaign is a typical ‘play it and forget it’ experience that the game could easily do without, but the multiplayer delivers pure, explosive fun in a pleasantly old-school fashion.

The Last Guardian is one of a kind and very difficult to compare to anything else in video games, perhaps besides Ico on PlayStation 2. You can feel the touch of developers who previously managed to offer something this unique and special. This adventure invites you into a fantastic world and impresses on every step, even if it sometimes also tests our patience.

Resident Evil HD offers a unique and emotional trip to the origins of survival horror. Thanks to its release on current platforms, the younger generation can for the first time cross a threshold into the evil mansion.

The Veilguard is not the sequel I dreamed of ten years ago, when the Inquisition's credits rolled on my screen. Nonetheless, the game reassured me that there are still people at BioWare who sincerely respect and love the Dragon Age world. However, if the series is to return to its golden age, the developers cannot allow themselves to take shortcuts and water down the key elements that made it special in the first place.

The inconspicuous title from Scottish Sad Owl Studios is not only one of the best narrative puzzlers ever, but also a dark horse in the race for Game of the Year title. Playing Viewfinder is a fun intellectual challenge and at the same time an artistic experience.

Severed is a great game, drawing from the classic dungeon crawling adventures, with an interesting gameplay model and unique visuals. Unfortunately, full playthrough is a little bit too short - it's a pity to part with such a good production after seven hours of fun.

The Burning Shores expansion is a satisfying culmination of Horizon Forbidden West's story and a good reason to return to its beautiful world. Nearly twelve hours of additional gameplay on islands built out of remnants of the former City of Angels is a lot of fun for anyone who enjoyed the main game.

Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 is a compilation for fans who are ready to ignore the outdated, not very interesting gameplay model and overly complicated storyline.

Shadowrun Hong Kong shows the excellent level of skills in Harebrained Schemes. Although the title can't compete in terms of graphics with high-profile productions, and the gameplay model can still be improved, new Shadowrun is still a very recommendable game.

Splatoon is one of the best games for Wii U. It is clear, however, that Nintendo lacks some experience in the online shooter genre. There are a few strange solutions, but the shortcomings quickly fade away during gameplay.

Even the best stories and intriguing atmosphere is not enough if other elements do not match their level. Constant repetition makes the dark sea adventures less and less interesting with each try.

Tearaway Unfolded is a recommendable dose of positive energy for the kids and a very relaxing escape from more bloody games for an older audience. Great, addictive platformer.

Codemasters had a tough nut to crack in order to please die-hard fans after a frosty reception of F1 22. New game refines aspects of the previous installment, but there's also no lack of new features and changes "under the hood", which will surely be appreciated by the most demanding racing enthusiasts.

Helldivers is simple in concept, but demanding and very engaging. Hours of fun guaranteed.

Despite the lackluster ending, Firewatch is certainly a worthwhile production. Well-thought-out and executed graphical style, amazing vistas and fascinating dialogues are definitely something to see and experience for yourself.

Despite its shortcomings, Marathon delivers solid fun and can really pull you in. Its distinctive art style and Bungie’s signature shooter feel are without a doubt something the competition doesn’t offer. That alone could keep players engaged for the long run, especially once the game gets more content and irons out some of its early issues. For now, I’m giving it a 7/10, but I believe even a 9/10 is within Marathon’s reach.

Final Fantasy XV is a good game, suffering after years of chaotic development. It's definitely worth checking out, but bare in mind That Square Enix have not managed to make a "Final Fantasy for everyone", like the company claims. All we get is an approach to find the golden mean, not always a successful one.

Jagged Alliance 3 comes almost a quarter of a century after the release of the cult classic second game. It's a really decent sequel, combining old-school gameplay with modern trends. It's just a pity that it will be appreciated primarily by experienced gamers, while newcomers will give up rather quickly.

The release of Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred is quite an interesting case, as the best changes are brought by the free 2.0 update, not the expansion itself. In the expansion, however, we get a powerful and well-designed Spiritborn class, companions, as well as a new map section loaded with quests and side activities for single- and multiplayer. Unfortunately, the new features are a bit lacking, and the storyline isn't particularly captivating.

Stardock Studio stood up to the task. Third Galactic Civilizations is an absorbing strategy game, one of the best of its genre. It's also a difficult game, but accessible and worth the time.

Company of Heroes 3 is in many ways an exemplary sequel. Relic Entertainment improved many aspects of the series, most notably in the tactical pause mechanic, but there's also an excellent and innovative Italian campaign.

Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden combines the best of old-school action RPGs with a touch of novelty. The game's strongest points are its brilliantly portrayed characters and moving stories, which reminded me of my best moments spent in The Witcher 3.

Though Stellar Blade draws some ideas from FromSoftware's games, it's immediately clear that Shift Up is following its own path. It's action-packed science-fiction served with a philosophical and... sexy sauce. A sauce that makes it taste like a dish you've never eaten before.

Contrary to appearances, slower pace of combat never makes it boring. Successful hits from long distance are very satisfying, even after many hours. It's a pity that the micro-transactions system is not perfect.

I wish Hellblade 2 was entirely as bold as the second half of the game, but even in the beginning of Senua's new quest you can't deny the beauty hidden in darkness and misery. In many ways it is an impressive game, but it lacked some emotion and fresh gameplay ideas.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 is an interesting game with a campaign that might be a bit disappointing, but additional modes - especially multiplayer - make up for the shortcomings. Developers put a lot of effort to try and please everyone, forgetting perhaps that its quality that matters, not quantity.

Redout delights with its fast, fluid pace and an incredible sense of speed. It's a great choice for perfectionists: although the game is very demanding and can make you gnash your teeth, every perfect lap is extremely satisfying.

Gameplay changes are substantial, but not always in the right direction. Nevertheless, the new FIFA is still a very robust and rewarding production. FIFA 16 is not a blast from first match but gains our respect with each season.

Minor technical problems and a slow start to a story do not change the fact that The Book of Unwritten Tales 2 is worth recommending - a solid and beautiful adventure game.

The conflict between zombies and plants has lasted for years, but still has its original charm. New classes, costumes and locations are appropriately varied and fun, making Garden Warfare 2 a bloodless and colorful shooter for people of all ages. Accessible to beginners, but sufficiently deep to last for hours.

I was surprised how different Bayonetta Origins is from the main series, with strong gameplay and a nice atmosphere. It's clear that PlatinumGames knows very well what it wants to do with the franchise.

Tyranny offers a few fresh, well-thought-out mechanics and fragments of really engrossing story, between longer periods of terribly boring combat. Open ending is not good, either - all we get after 40 hours is a suggestion that the interesting bits were saved for a sequel.

Latest Football Manager is still a great game, easily the best in genre. There's a few interesting innovations and fixes, but they're not necessarily important enough to warrant a purchase if you still have a save going in FM16.

Oxenfree from Night School Studio is a beautiful interactive thriller with interesting, but not very complicated story - a perfect game for an evening or two.

Provides a lot of fun, but too often demands repeating the same steps to achieve specific goals. That's what makes Frontier's new game very good, but not outstanding.

On a basic level, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is a decent game, but it doesn't stand out from Nioh in any way, which makes it hard to recommend without some small print. It will be appreciated by people who didn't play Nioh before - or by gamers who can't wait for more of the same.

Avowed can be fun, but if you've finished even a few popular RPG titles, Obsidian Entertainment's new game won't surprise you with anything new or brilliant. It's a decent game with impressive visuals, but ultimately a bit shallow, without that magical spark that fires the imagination and makes us return with our thoughts to the game world and plan our next steps while we're at work or in class. Experienced gamers will tend to think about what other titles this game reminds them of.

Gravity Rush 2 is a big surprise. It's not just a repeat of the previous entry, but a richer, more interesting and colorful world that you just want to visit again and again. Fascinating adventures of Kat and her friends are definitely worth your while.

Remnant 2 is simply the perfect sequel. It improves the elements that already made the first game great and interesting, while not changing what was best in the original. It is clear that the larger budget not only had a positive impact on the visuals and gameplay improvements, but also allowed the developers to unleash their imagination when it comes to world design. It is currently the best soulslike game not focused on melee weapons.

The Parasight's first game impresses from the start, with a fairy-tale atmosphere and a few interesting mechanics. After a while, however, various shortcomings come to light, such as repetitive gameplay and technical issues. There's a lot to enjoy here, but Blacktail won't be a revelation to finish off the year.

Ghostrunner 2 is a good, atmospheric and at times quite challenging game. However, it seems that it was created from random pieces, which the developers did not manage to put together in one coherent vision. What hurts the most, however, is that the spirit of the phenomenal first installment has disappeared somewhere in the Cybervoid depths, and a trace of it remains only in the title.

At first, hours spent with The Division go by very quickly. Constant action in Manhattan can engage for a good while, but the game becomes repetitive and monotonous if approached without friends or other agents.

Attila is a small evolution of what we received in Rome 2 - Total War as a whole clearly needs a more distinct changes.

Interesting story and great combat system can't hide the issues, like poor graphics and very high entry level for new players. Fans of western RPGs like Witcher 3 will most likely skip Tales of Berseria, even though it's definitely worth checking out. And fans of Tales of series? They are probably deep inside the campaign already.

Stasis provides few hours of an engaging, dark adventure. Developers managed to create a poignant atmosphere, and even create fear - all in isometric perspective, unusual for a horror game. Traditional mechanics can be a put-off for people not used to traditional point'n'click games.

This new game in the Warhammer universe does a lot of things better than the most popular representative of the genre, Left 4 Dead. Loot system and clear differences between characters are big advantages, but the most important is the emphasis on melee combat - Vermintide puts us much closer to the action.

This remastered version of one of the more interesting Kirby games not only makes the game look better than ever before, but also adds fresh. Return To Dream Land Deluxe is a successful - if at times too easy - platformer that's plenty of fun.

After Dark won't make you learn the game mechanics anew. It's mostly a collection of models and small, more or less successful improvements. The biggest addition is not the new specializations and building, but the day and night cycle, available for free.

Thanks to solid foundations of the first game, as well as mostly successful changes and new features, Warzone 2.0 is one of the best multiplayer games on the market. After ironing out technical issues - which will certainly happen, given the size of the franchise - we'll be able to safely call Warzone 2.0 an almost perfect game.

Terrifying night in the snowy mountains is a surprisingly exciting adventure. The interactive video structure works great, grabs your attention and keeps your eyes peeled to the screen, even if horror is not your favourite genre.