Having played Tales of Symphonia and Tales of Vesperia, I went into Tales of Graces f Remastered feeling like I knew what to expect, given that the title is part of the same era of the franchise. But to say that my expectations were exceeded is an understatement. Tales of Graces f Remastered is an important first step in bringing a whole new audience to the Tales series as part of Bandai Namco's franchise initiative, and it's hard to think of a better entry to endear players to all that Tales has to offer.

Her Story is an achievement in interactive storytelling that never spoon-feeds the player information, instead letting you do the digging yourself.

The colorful levels, the synth heavy soundtrack, and the varied weaponry create a feel that’s unlike anything seen today, and the boss battles are equal parts challenge and bombast.

Solitaire is hardly new, but Regency Solitaire, with its attention to detail in story, gameplay, and artistry, stands as an example of how a standard game can be reinvented with creativity.

The writing in the game is second-to-none, and Pillars of Eternity shows how quality prose can augment the role-playing experience.

Monster Hunter World: Iceborne makes important quality of life improvements and gives fans of the game a ton of new content to master. While it would have been nice to have less repeat monsters, the expansion is still massive in scope and has more content than some full-fledged video game sequels do. Iceborne offers Monster Hunter World players their toughest challenges yet, and it should keep fans plenty busy until Capcom does decide to finally give fans a proper sequel.

As it stands, Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut is the comprehensive, definitive Ghost of Tsushima experience. Its new multiplayer mode isn't in the game yet but will be coming soon, and in the meantime, fans still have the current Ghost of Tsushima: Legends experience to check out, the base game's story mode with PS5 features, and the substantial Iki Island expansion. Newcomers and returning fans alike have reason to check out Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut, with it hopefully keeping fans satisfied until they can get their hands on Sucker Punch's first game built exclusively with the PlayStation 5 in mind.

Almost everything about What Remains of Edith Finch is head and shoulders above its competition, though some may be disappointed by its ending and some of the graphical issues. The game’s short length (it can be fully completed in just a few hours) and lack of replayability may also be a turn off for some, but anyone looking for innovative gameplay and some of the best storytelling in gaming should seriously consider picking up Giant Sparrow’s latest effort.

This is the sort of game that seems destined to go down as a cult classic, but should really be enjoyed by anyone with a 3DS system. It’s a true triumph of gameplay over spectacle, and a hugely engaging experience from start to finish.

There’s a reason The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is considered one of the greatest action-RPGs ever made. The world is brilliantly realized, everything from the gameplay to the story contains a great amount of depth, and it gives players the power to make a meaningful impact on the world through the choices they make. And with arguably the most impressive Switch port of any game to date, players have a whole new way to experience CD Projekt RED’s massive hit, one that just might be the preferred way for those who can stomach mildly-reduced visuals.

Sharing too much about Wanderstop’s narrative would be doing it a disservice, but it contained more surprises than expected in a game that seemed from the start to be on the more simplistic side. This isn't a title for everyone, but it's impossible not to recommend it to everyone. A dozen hours is a small price to pay for a little sanity and quiet, and even those who prefer more active and demanding titles can take something valuable from spending time in this little tea shop. Sometimes, grinding isn't the answer.

There's a profound sense of exploration and discovery in Journey to the Savage Planet. It's constantly motivating the player to double back and take another look at an area without ever explicitly telling them to. It's like being let into an amusement park with no lines and no rules, giving players the freedom to make their own fun whenever they need a break from an incredibly vertical, and hardly ever uninteresting, scavenger hunt for new resources and upgrades. It may not be an entire planet to explore, but it could easily fill one up.

At the end of the day, Atelier Yumia is a strong entry in the beloved JRPG franchise. Despite a few growing pains, it adopts the cozy and niche franchise into something more digestible for a wider audience thanks to a well-executed open-world format, modern takes on iconic features, and an engaging, untraditional story.

All told, though, Hitman 3 is one of the best stealth games ever made. Those that have enjoyed the last two games in the rebooted trilogy will find more to appreciate here, while newcomers to the franchise will get a highly replayable romp through expertly crafted levels. The disjointed narrative may be off-putting to some, but those willing to overlook the shortcomings of the story are getting an otherwise near-perfect stealth game with exceptional replay value and astounding visual fidelity.

Whether played alone or with friends through local co-op, it’s hard to resist the urge to take to the skies for one more jaunt through Mars’ danger-filled atmosphere.

Once players have mastered story mode, there is also a powerful level editor available to create new challenges.

Even if the game would've been limited to the first Pro Skater, the remake would still well be worth it. It's a smooth experience packed with rich levels, energetic gameplay, and a ton of style. It doesn't dramatically reinvent the Tony Hawk formula, but it doesn't need to, nor should it. It's the definitive way to experience the core of the Tony Hawk franchise, elegantly surpassing what came before it, and setting a new bar for future entries in the process. For other contenders to the skating game throne, that bar will be incredibly difficult to exceed.

Ikenfell doesn't need an extra push to make its narrative more touching and well-timed, especially atop its unique mechanics and gorgeous art. Throughout the game, players are shown how everyone's relationships change each other. It meditates on the idea that these relationships serve to strengthen and ground them all as the ever-changing seasons of life bring about uncertain situations. What message could be more apt amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic which has affected much of 2020.

Shadow of War offers dozens of hours of entertainment for gamers who enjoy action adventure titles with a strong splash of RPG elements. The moving parts may be a touch too complicated for the most casual gamers, but players who are patient enough to master all of the game’s systems will be rewarded with an exciting story, control of a powerful army, and an unstoppable protagonist.

It has incredible art design and presentation, is so cleverly designed, and has a pace that makes it hard to put down once things get going. The surface-level view of the game is unassuming but digging into the worlds of Cocoon reveals an experience that is unforgettable.

The story plays out subtly throughout the adventure and adds that something special to make the game more than just a pretty platforming journey.

The biggest complaints with the game are not that the concept and execution aren't good enough, the issue is that the game deserves more content, more attention, and more development of its great ideas.

A Nest Of Vipers delivers an emotional rollercoaster of action, consequence, and a distinctly true Game of Thrones feel that George R.R. Martin himself would approve of.

Save for the ever-encroaching reach for players’ wallets with the Virtual Currency system, the sheer breadth of content alone in NBA 2K19 will be plenty to satisfy newbies and long-time fans of the franchise looking for a complete basketball sim experience.

It's not perfect, but that doesn't stop Behemoth from being one of the best VR games to date. It's an action-packed adventure that should greatly appeal to fans of games like The Legend of Zelda and God of War, with a healthy balance of gritty combat, satisfying puzzles, and immersive exploration. It's the latest must-have VR experience and one of the best virtual reality games to release all year.

In some instances, a remake can feel like a brand new game, but that isn’t entirely the case here. The Last of Us Part 1 is no doubt a better-looking game and the DualSense functionality adds some nice immersive touches to the gameplay, but it doesn’t feel fundamentally different. There’s an exceptional game on display but it was exceptional back in 2013 and 2014 for the remaster. As a result, interest in the game is going to be all over the place. Some will see it as a cash-grab, others will be happy it exists for the new fans that will come from the HBO series, and specific fans will appreciate yet another opportunity to journey with Joel and Ellie in an experience that is one of PlayStation’s best.

It’s visually striking, mechanically sound and diverse, and it takes advantage of the bells and whistles tied to the new platform. Some might be disappointed by the story, but overall the dimension-hopping adventure is exactly the type of fun-loving experience that Insomniac Games has been delivering since the very beginning. At a time when there aren’t a lot of games highlighting the power of next-gen, Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart shows the next big leap for gaming.

The controls are tight, the challenge is stiff, and the graphics are second-to-none. Crash Bandicoot 4 is a highly-polished platformer and stands out as easily one of the best platformers available on current-generation consoles.

Velocibox is a a tremendously hard bit of brilliance. It’s highly replayable and it comes highly recommended.

Cities: Skylines achieves everything we wanted in SimCity with ease.

However, there’s still plenty to the game that make it worth recommending to anyone who’s ever enjoyed holding a plastic instrument in their hands. Make no mistake, Guitar Hero is back — and, thanks to the smart changes made to gameplay and presentation, it’s more satisfying than ever before.

Ratchet and Clank makes the rest of the current-gen remasters looks lazy, by rebuilding the original game from the ground up and delivering a hilarious adventure full of enormous guns.

Resident Evil 2 is definitely worth the price of admission, especially for horror fans or fans of the Resident Evil franchise. The game pays homage to the original release while successfully updating the experience for modern audiences. It’s not perfect, but it’s close, and here’s hoping it inspires Capcom to remake other Resident Evil games in a similar style.

Asgard’s Wrath 2 is without a doubt one of the best VR games and a surefire system seller for Quest 3. It presents an engaging character action experience that leverages the power of Meta’s new VR headset and tech to ensure fast and fluid combat, a rich set of environments, and a scope that is consistently jaw-dropping. Some precision quirks with the combat and the lower fidelity graphics are small gripes but they ultimately do little to hold the game back from being a compelling adventure that is hard to put down. If there is a game to showcase how VR can match the scope and the scale of games like God of War and Zelda, Asgard’s Wrath 2 makes the strongest case yet.

A Plague Tale: Requiem is everything that one could want from a sequel to A Plague Tale: Innocence. It's more ambitious and action-packed than Innocence, and is quite easily one of the best new game releases of the year. The fact that A Plague Tale: Requiem is a day one Xbox Game Pass game adds significant value to Microsoft's subscription service, and anyone with Game Pass should be sure to play it as soon as they can. Those on other platforms shouldn't miss out either, as A Plague Tale: Requiem is easily worth full price. Simply put, A Plague Tale: Requiem is a must-play game.

While every Pikmin game has followed the winning formula that was established two decades ago, each has added its own tweaks here and there. Pikmin 4 seems to have taken the biggest leap in that regard, and yet everything feels like a logical and fitting next step. The core of the gameplay is the same and provides the hours of whimsical RTS challenge and fun that fans expect, while the new modes and mechanics keep it from feeling stale. Every mainline game has been an improvement on the last, and Pikmin 4 is no exception. Other than the co-op, there’s really nothing negative about the game, besides perhaps the loading times. But it’s really a testament to how great Pikmin 4 is that waiting 30 seconds to get back into it is too long.

Dark Souls, Far Cry Primal (or any open world Ubisoft game), Uncharted – these are just a few of the games players will cite when finding points of comparison for Horizon: Zero Dawn. But the Guerrilla Games developers have made sure that its game still feels unique by comparison, thanks to a vibrant world bursting with stunning detail, challenging robotic enemies, and a story that explores an uncivilized world in an inventive way. Some weak AI, awkward dialogue sections, and a prototypical open world framework are the game’s bigger faults, but they don’t weigh the game down to much or ruin the experience. When all is said and done, Horizon: Zero Dawn could easily be Sony’s next great franchise, but even as a one-off it’s very impressive.

The game has aged incredibly well, with an engrossing story mode that's an absolute blast (while it lasts) and is greatly enhanced by the addition of local co-op. And even those that have already played Pikmin 3 extensively on the Wii U may want to consider double-dipping for the Switch version, as the new side story missions with Captain Olimar and Louie are a great deal of fun and definitely worth checking out.

Sifu is a one-of-a-kind rogue-like that marries an engaging setup with sublime combat mechanics. It scratches that integral itch that fuels subsequent runs, and it tries its best to avoid the feeling that time has been wasted. Progression exists in many different forms, but Sloclap's standout title pulls off one of the more impressive versions of it. Sifu shows players they are actually getting better at the game.

Super Mario Maker 2 has a bright future ahead of it, but it’s still a fully-featured game at launch. The new tools make for exciting additions to the game, and users have already created spectacularly fun levels that can be downloaded right now. The multiplayer implementation in Super Mario Maker 2 definitely has room for improvement, but otherwise players should have a ton of fun with the game.

Quantum Break pushes the third-person genre through a star-studded cast and time-bending gameplay, although it lacks the replay value that many may have hoped for.

Returnal on PC has all the content on day one that was released for the original game in the year after its launch, meaning that it's debuting on PC in a better state than it was in when it first came to PS5. Developer Climax Studios has hit it out of the park with this port, so any PC gamers curious about Returnal can feel confident picking it up, but they might want to consider getting a DualSense to go with their purchase.

Ultimately, Nioh 3 feels like a confident step forward for the series, expanding player freedom through its Ninja style, Style Shift system, and deep build-crafting without losing what makes Nioh work. While its open-field design can lean on tired ideas, it rarely drags the experience down, and the game's combat is the strongest it has ever been. I enjoyed my time with Nioh 3 enough to immediately jump into New Game Plus, which says a lot on its own, and I'm looking forward to seeing how things play out now with the increased difficulty and customization options it offers. It also helps how well the game runs on the PS5, where it has performed smoothly for me from start to finish with no technical issues to speak of. For longtime fans and newcomers alike, Nioh 3 proves that the series still has room to grow, experiment, and surprise.

The combination of the original game's narrative charm and solid platforming mechanics with a much longer story and more intricate skill trees and bonuses come together to make a must-play game.

Crash Bandicoot‘s original trilogy appears to have stood the test of time better than most, and it’s great to see that Vicarious Visions didn’t fix what already wasn’t broken.

The Bruce Wayne sections help develop the plot and present the player with dialogue choices that will pull their allegiance in one way or another. While the Batman sequences truly typify the character, highlighting both his skills as a detective and a tactician.

Bowser's Fury is great while it lasts, but it is admittedly short, and so Super Mario 3D World's high price tag on Switch may be hard to swallow for those that have already played through the game on Wii U. Double-dipping makes more sense for someone who is wanting to take advantage of Super Mario 3D World's online co-op functionality, but other returning players may want to wait for a sale. However, anyone that hasn't played Super Mario 3D World on the Wii U should go out and buy Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury on Switch immediately, as it is a fantastic Super Mario 3D platforming experience with enough content to keep fans busy for weeks.

Nitpicks aside, Separate Ways is a mostly tremendous addition to the Resident Evil 4 remake and, along with The Mercenaries mode updates that were released for free, goes a long way in making the RE4 remake experience truly complete. Some may still not be happy that Separate Ways is a $9.99 DLC instead of being packed-in with the game like it was in the post-GameCube versions of the original Resident Evil 4, but this version of Separate Ways is a fundamentally different experience and one that surpasses its predecessor in every possible way.

Saros is an excellent, heart-pounding action game that is easily one of the PS5's best exclusives. The combat is exhilarating and Carcosa is a blast to explore. The quality-of-life features make it more accessible than Returnal, and while that might upset some purists, it helps Saros avoid some of the frustrating pitfalls that roguelite games sometimes fall into. Saros is one of the year's best releases and a must-have for PS5 gamers.

Horizon Forbidden West is a step above its fellow open world games because it goes out of its way to ensure that everything is worth doing, not just the main story. It's more of the same from Zero Dawn in a lot of ways, but with significant improvements across the board to create a generally superior experience. And while Guerrilla said that Horizon Forbidden West isn't being held back by being a cross-gen game, it will be exciting to see what the studio can do when building a Horizon adventure from the ground-up for PS5. In the meantime, Horizon Forbidden West is another must-play PlayStation exclusive.

As far as turn-based JRPGs go, Dragon Quest 11 is one of the best we’ve seen in years. The game delivers a classic-style JRPG adventure with small, smart tweaks that make it feel like a more modern take on the genre.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons refines the formula, but doesn't dramatically shake it up. This is still a laid-back game that ultimately lets the player choose what they're going to do at any given moment, but those choices are still primarily limited to what existed in the prior games.

WWE 2K25 is the best WWE 2K game since the franchise made its return with WWE 2K22. The in-ring action is top-notch, MyGM is more fun than ever, and there is enough content here to keep WWE diehards busy for months on end. And that's not even taking into account the inevitable community creations that will supply players with an endless supply of new characters and content. The community creations will no doubt make WWE 2K25 an even stronger game, but even without them, it's a blast to play and has quickly become one of my favorite wrestling games ever.

Inside builds on every strength of Playdead’s Limbo, while also delivering a compelling yet haunting world filled with smart puzzles and inventive mechanics.

The presentation is top notch, in that it doesn’t tamper with the visuals one bit, and the new additions offer replayability that isn’t simply taking on Dr. Robotnik for the 20th time.

The Expanse: A Telltale Series - Episode 1 is a triumphant return for Telltale Games, as it delivers one of the studio's strongest single episodes alongside vastly improved mechanics and an intense introduction to The Expanse universe. The Expanse does an excellent job of engrossing fans new and old in both its source material and Telltale's trademark storytelling. While the impact of players' decisions in The Expanse has yet to be fully revealed, Episode 1 presents players with a greater sense of agency than ever before. By delivering a strong kick-off to Camina Drummer's origin story, and compelling evidence for the studio's return, The Expanse: A Telltale Series is shaping up to be one of Telltale's best experiences yet.

While MercurySteam has done a wonderful job piecing together an engaging world, it feels like there may have been some added benefit in adding additional bosses – something the game sorely lacks.

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart on PC is a near-perfect port of the fantastic PS5 game, giving those on PC the chance to experience its exciting action sequences, emotional character moments, and cutting-edge graphics. There have been a number of poorly-optimized PC ports this year, but luckily, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart has bucked the trend and redeemed the PlayStation-to-PC ports after the disappointing Last of Us Part 1. It's an incredible game no matter where one plays it, but it's definitely cheaper to play it on PS5, so fans should keep that in mind.

Oblivion Remastered delivers a breathtaking open world full of engaging quests and characters and makes smart gameplay improvements to bring the 2006 classic to modern standards.

Where AC Origins introduced RPG mechanics and AC Odyssey took a leap of faith in pushing forward, Assassin's Creed Valhalla brings back the general feeling of being an Assassin from the core action-adventure titles. Indeed, by emphasizing the adventure and exploration components of the franchise, Assassin's Creed Valhalla may just be the most true-to-form release in many years.

A moving puzzle platformer bolstered by strong level design, a creative mechanic, and an unbelievably endearing main character

The Dead Space remake improves on the 2008 original in every category, offering quality-of-life improvements, new story content, side quests, and dramatically upgraded graphics. It's Dead Space, but better, and many fans will be happy to see this classic survival horror experience get the modern makeover it deserves.

Mario Tennis Fever's single-player is a letdown, but the overall package is stellar. The game looks great, has catchy music, features a variety of fun game modes, and most importantly, it absolutely nails the core gameplay. Mario Tennis Fever is the best Mario Tennis game yet, and sets a high bar for future Mario sports games on the Switch 2.

Horizon Zero Dawn is already an exceptional game in its own right, but on PC it is easily the better experience. Whether gamers weren't interested the first time around or they don't have a PS4 but do have a PC, this is still a must-play. Even those that enjoyed Horizon Zero Dawn will find that the PC version brings some new layers to the table thanks to the higher frame rate and improved visuals. The game still adheres to the open-world mold a little more than some might hope, but the environments, story, and gameplay help elevate it enough to be memorable.

The new game retains the core feeling of the original while expanding on it in brilliant and surprising ways. Bloober Team has elevated its game with the Silent Hill 2 remake and delivered what is quite simply one of the best Silent Hill games to date. I sincerely hope Bloober Team gets to keep working with Konami, and we get remakes of the other Silent Hill games with the same level of care that Silent Hill 2 has received.

World Tour is the accessible and content-rich single-player attraction that the genre has been waiting for and has fully gamified the process of learning a fighting game. Battle Hub is one of the most enticing fighting game lobbies ever, introducing variety in the name of fun. Fighting Ground fills any gaps left by the other modes, while also emphasizing traditional gameplay and SF6's new mechanics like the Drive System. These modes easily hook their intended audience, and it seems Street Fighter 6 has reclaimed its spot at the top of the fighting game world.

Cyber Shadow is an indie title that will be remembered for quite some time and only adds to Yacht Club Games' growing library of retro-inspired classics. Any fan of Metroid, Mega Man, Ninja Gaiden, Contra, and even The Messenger should have this game in their sights. It's an astonishing, action-packed ninja adventure that should not be missed out on.

Mortal Kombat 11 may catch some deserved flak for its microtransactions and Ronda Rousey’s bland voice acting, but the core fighting is so entertaining than those issues will hardly to matter to most. Mortal Kombat 11 is simply full of things to do and will keep fighting game enthusiasts busy for quite some time.

The Evil Within 2‘s goofy characters and cheesiness won’t be for everyone, but longtime fans of the genre will likely appreciate it. They will also appreciate its classic survival-horror gameplay that’s blended expertly with more modern features like open world settings, its improved graphics, and tighter narrative. By succeeding in all these areas, The Evil Within 2 is easily one of the best survival-horror games in recent memory, and is a significant step forward from its predecessor.

While it might have taken some time to get there, Life Is Strange Episode 4: Dark Room is DONTNOD hitting their stride, and is well worth pushing through some of the clunkier elements to experience.

It took five years for Nintendo Switch gamers to get their hands on Bayonetta 3, and it was well worth the wait. If Nintendo decides to fund a sequel, then it seems likely that Bayonetta 4 will wind up on the next-generation Nintendo console, and perhaps that entry can address this one's sometimes-disappointing graphics and story problems. Platinum apparently has ideas for at least nine Bayonetta games, and if they're even half as good as Bayonetta 3, they should all be an incredibly fun time.

Overall, Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut feels like a fantastic port. The game was already an amazing open-world adventure, and the PC has made that even better. While the controls may be cumbersome at times, this is still probably the best way to play this game. Whether players are playing it for the first time or jumping in again, Jin Sakai's journey is definitely worth the price of admission.

For sheer artistry and inventiveness, Year Walk is a must play that demonstrates the power of folklore, games, and a familiar journey made strange.

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided improves upon its predecessor in nearly every way and delivers an incredibly tense and entertaining action role-playing game.

The Division delivers on its promise to provide an open-world shooter that scales well enough to play like a single-player campaign or a challenging four player co-op MMO.

As long as new heroes and maps continue arriving in frequent content updates, we expect Heroes of the Storm to have a very long and profitable lifespan.

This game may not be for everyone, but for fans of the genre intrigued by the idea of a swashbuckling adventure, Rogue Waters offers a truly special and unique experience. It manages to pull inspirations without sacrificing its own identity, and its forgiving approach to combat means gamers of all skill levels will likely find it approachable.

As a remake, Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D honors the spirit of the original game in a way that preserves it for future audiences. For better or worse, this means retaining the grindy nature of an old-school JRPG and some occasionally obtuse mechanics. But throughout the experience, it's hard to shake the undeniable feeling of nostalgia that permeates every moment of gameplay. Playing Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D is the equivalent of JRPG comfort food, and if that's any indication of what players can expect from the upcoming remakes of Dragon Quest 1 and 2, I can't wait to pull up a seat at the table again.

Deathloop is one of the best games of 2021 and one of the best PS5 console exclusives so far. Arkane has hit it out of the park yet again, with the PS5 getting yet another must-have title for its growing library of exclusive games. Deathloop may be too easy and there's definitely some tedium tied to the time loop, but most of the time players will be having so much fun that they'll easily be able to overlook its few shortcomings.

From the moment Life is Strange: Reunion begins to the very last choice, that answer is woven into every conversation, every contemplative moment, and every relationship. The answer lives in the same way Max Caulfield and Chloe Price navigate the weight of their pasts, the burdens of their present, and the uncertainty of their futures. And by the time the credits roll, it's clear the answer to my question was always meant to be felt, understood, and ultimately accepted, one way or another.

Persona 4 Golden is a massive JRPG that looks better than ever on PC. Those that have already played through the PS2 or PS Vita versions of the game may not find the HD visuals to be a good enough reason to double dip, but the game is highly recommended to new players. Anyone wanting more Persona after getting their fill of Persona 5 Royal should most definitely give Persona 4 Golden on PC a try.

Monster Hunter Rise is an absolute joy to play regardless of the platform chosen. Console players who do not have a Switch and have been eagerly awaiting this port can finally rejoice because they now have the opportunity to try out this wonderful game. The gameplay improvements found here can make it difficult to go back to World and while it does not have the same overall graphical quality as that game, this newest version is an absolute blast to play and was well worth the wait.

Overall, Mass Effect: Legendary Edition advertised itself as taking the already-popular trilogy, bringing it to modern consoles, and giving it smart improvements. There's a lot that it does to improve the games without detracting from the core experience, and that says something. The first game is 13 years old and the third game is 9 years old at the time of this writing, and Mass Effect: Legendary Edition makes them feel much more current and recent. It's hard to imagine making the original trilogy any better, but these remasters definitely make them much more current.

Hardcore simmers will love it, and for more casual players it is still undeniably fun.

Ultimately, Elex 2 has some small shortcomings like any video game but not where it matters. If players can look past the rough edges, they’ll find an open-world RPG that puts others to shame and a proper sequel that takes everything from the first game and improves upon it tenfold.

For all baseball fans who possess a love for everything analytics and full control of a baseball organization, Out Of The Park Baseball 23 is a can't-miss opportunity. For the price of admission, there isn't anything else like it on the market, and it will be a hard one to follow up in future installments. In the world of sports simulation, Out Of The Park Baseball 23 is a near-perfect rendition, and a promising sign of what the future could hold for this design of play.

The story in Doom Eternal can be completely ignored and one won't have any less fun with the game, so it's not a huge blemish on the experience by any means. Doom Eternal is a non-stop thrill ride, barraging players with incredible fast-paced action from the opening mission to its blood-soaked finale. Fans of the franchise should be thrilled with it, and anyone looking for a meaty FPS to fill their time can't go wrong with this game.

Sword of the Sea is the epitome of short and sweet. All aspects of the game's presentation, from visuals to audio design to score, are the best they possibly could be, and they all go hand in hand with the game's exceptionally smooth and engaging traversal mechanics to deliver a peaceful, introspective experience that's more than deserving of just about anyone's time.

Overall, The Rise of the Golden Idol is a massive achievement in storytelling and gameplay, especially for a point-and-click puzzle game. Despite its steep challenge and the potential for players to encounter a game-halting bug, The Rise of the Golden Idol is worth a try, even for those who might not consider themselves a fan of the genre. Its gameplay is slow and intentional, but filling out those Event pages, completing every objective, and witnessing the whole story unfold is highly satisfying — something even some of the most fast-paced action games fail to accomplish.

Considering the hubris of Chained Echoes, it should not work, but it does, and beautifully. Matthias Linda has created a broad world that is ripe for further exploration. The only worry now is that the bar is set too high, but it's hard to imagine the team creating anything with less passion and polish. After playing through a creative, familiar, yet distinct game that engages players in nearly every way, one can only hope that there will be more from the brilliant team behind Chained Echoes.

Lemnis Gate players will find that the hours disappear when they're playing it. It's addictive, impossible to put down, and could be the sleeper hit of the year if it finds its audience. And with Lemnis Gate available on Xbox Game Pass, it should have no problem doing just that.

Loop Hero blends together familiar mechanics and tropes into something that feels totally refreshing, and it's worth sinking some time into.

Sometimes innovation requires a look back rather than ahead. Battlefield 1 is proof of that.

After a whirlwind 40 hours with Dragon's Dogma 2, it is clear that Capcom has created a flawed masterpiece that might not be for everyone. However, for those that this game speaks to, they will love it to pieces. So, in a way, it is the perfect sequel to Dragon's Dogma. From its unique twist on the RPG party system to its laissez-faire gameplay mechanics that reward players who are willing to think outside the box and dig into every corner of the game, there is nothing quite like Dragon's Dogma 2, and there probably won't be for a long time.

F1 2017 is another extremely strong entry in the series from Codemasters. Although newcomers to Formula One in its entirety might find it a little challenging to grasp, particularly when it comes to the in-depth Career Mode, racing fans and Formula One fans in general should be revving their engines in preparation for the glamorous world of Formula One racing once again.

Rare Replay is exactly what’s been advertised and it’s so modestly priced that it’s easily one of the biggest no-brainers in gaming.

The Zombies, multiplayer, and campaign are all presented with impressive graphics that ensure Call of Duty remains one of the best-looking games on the market. Breathtaking lighting, highly-detailed maps, smooth as butter frame rate, and next-level audio design come together expertly, solidifying Black Ops 6 as the best Call of Duty game in years. Black Ops 6's post-launch support should mean that the game only gets better with time, but what's available at launch is already fantastic and will keep franchise fans entertained for months on end.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate offers near-endless replayability.