As a fan of the series, I am very happy that Doom: The Dark Ages turned out to be a breath of fresh air for the series. It took me 18 hours to complete the game, but I will definitely be back to max out each of the 22 levels. The new combat features, like the shield-related mechanics, are good enough that I'd like to see them in some form in future installments of the series. The final score is brought down by minor glitches and a handful of not very well thought-out elements, like the boring dragon segments. For fans of unusual takes on fantasy or just old-school shooters, however, this is obviously a must have.

Although the gameplay was based mostly on the concepts of the first installment, there was also plenty of room for successful experiments. Thanks to this, Frostpunk 2 gained its own identity and became something more than just a bigger and more complex Frostpunk 1. Although you may not see it at first glance, these are two vastly different games that I will be returning to regularly.

Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun manages to resurrect a genre without a good representative for almost a decade. Minor shortcomings of this title can't lessen the satisfaction of every successful mission or a smart move around enemies.

Pro Evolution Soccer is one step closer to perfection. Gameplay in PES 2017 is fantastic and engaging, but many of the elements not directly related to kicking the ball need more attention, especially licenses and interface. Fortunately, Konami is on the right path.

Nioh 3 is not without its clear flaws, which makes it hard to justify a solid nine out of ten. In terms of gameplay, however, it’s a highly polished experience and one that’s immensely engaging for fans of hardcore challenges. It’s been a long time since a video game kept me up so many nights.

Yakuza 0 is a specific game that demands turning a blind eye on some elements, like mediocre graphics, technical shortcomings, long cutscenes and slow story. If we can accept these issues, Yakuza offers a rich world and hours upon hours of gameplay. Seems like the best moment to check out this Japanese fenomen.

Excellent choice for people new to the series, but also a treat for Halo fans who can add this great edition to their collections.

The Alters impresses with its sci-fi setting and the story seamlessly woven into it. It's not just another survival game with base-building elements - those mechanics serve a greater purpose: telling the story of Jan Dolski, a man forced to do the impossible in order to survive. While it’s not without a few rough edges and technical shortcomings, The Alters stands as another strong entry in the portfolio of 11 bit studios.

The Ratchet & Clank series returns to its roots, years after first release. This extensive remake looks beautiful, offers long campaign, varied gameplay, plenty of good humor and an accomplished dubbing.

For enthusiast of pure fun and open world shooting. Everything's in its right place and perfectly arranged, with added bonus of cooperative adventures.

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.