Street Fighter 6 just raised the bar for AAA fighting games midway through 2023, and its long-time 3D rival Tekken has already matched it. Tekken 8's story mode is a breath of fresh air after T7's, and its abundance of single-player modes will give casual fans plenty to do afterward. Veterans can enjoy Tekken 8's new characters and mechanics without the game’s fundamentals being compromised, and a top-notch presentation will impress without technical hiccups. No one could have expected Tekken 8 to improve this much after Tekken 7 was already so strong, but it's clear that the new game won’t settle for anything less than being the series’ best.

What makes Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 worthy of recognition isn't just how well everything works, but the fact that it all sticks with you. The characters, the music, the world design, the emotional throughline that runs underneath all the strategy and spectacle — none of it ever fades into the background. Clair Obscur is the kind of game that lingers after the credits roll, not because of how much it offers, but because of how much it gets right. It’s rare to see a game so mechanically confident and emotionally grounded, but that's exactly what Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is.

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.

For Nintendo Switch 2 owners, Donkey Kong Bananza is a no-brainer. It successfully appeals to old-school Donkey Kong fans and newcomers to the franchise alike. Simply put, Donkey Kong Bananza is the Nintendo Switch 2's first must-have game since Mario Kart World and a good reason to go out and buy the new console.

Dragon Quest 11 still remains a great adventure for both newcomers and hardened JRPG fans, but this version is easily the best way to play this game. Only new fans may have some trouble getting accustomed to the game's atmosphere, but the game is incredibly rewarding for anyone who can. All of the enhancements make for a much improved gameplay experience, and the 2D homages to classic Dragon Quest are an awesome touch. This is easily the best way to play Dragon Quest 11.

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.

Despite only a handful of maps, no story, and no ranking system upon release, Overwatch more than makes up for all of that with its masterful focus on teamwork. The game is clearly designed with teamwork at its heart, which is a major strength, but can also lead to frustrations for any lone wolf gamers.

The game’s throwback sound and graphics look fantastic on the PS4 and the Xbox One, but obviously a game built around the 8-bit aesthetic doesn’t benefit from a current-gen remake the way something like The Last of Us or Grand Theft Auto 5 is able to.

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.

The more one plays Blue Prince, the more enthralling it becomes. The thrill of finding an item that opens the door to new possibilities in previously-searched rooms is hard to match, and unraveling the game's mysteries is an experience that all gamers should seek out. Blue Prince is the new king of puzzle games and is quite simply can't-miss.

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance offers a lot for players, both old and new; an impressive enhanced art style, multiple story paths, and a definitive sense of the series progressing from what it once was. There may not be a ton of new things to justify purchasing the game again, but the additions that are here are excellent at keeping fans intrigued about what's going to happen next. Long-time fans will likely already know what they're getting into, as the game hasn't changed its turn-based combat and capture loops in a while. Still, those same fans have kept these games going until now, and Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is another in a long line of enjoyable titles in the long-running series.

If anything, Spider-Man 2 could have benefited from cutting out the Mary Jane sections and trimming a few of the side quests to make it an even leaner, more perfectly-paced game. But even with some flaws, Spider-Man 2 is still a spectacular experience and the best entry in Insomniac's Spider-Man game universe to date. It delivers everything hardcore Spider-Man fans would want, with breathtaking battles against some of the hero's most iconic villains, and a gorgeous open-world New York City to experience it all in. It's certainly in the conversation as a Game of the Year contender and a must-buy PS5 exclusive.

Its monster battles are intense and thrilling, and the wealth of content available should keep players busy for weeks, if not longer. Simply put, Monster Hunter World is a must-play game.

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.

The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered is a more fully-featured and overall superior version of an already-incredible game. No Return makes it worth the $10 upgrade by itself, and the game is an absolute must-buy for anyone who has never played the PS4 original. The Lost Levels are a bit of a letdown and the graphics haven't gotten as much of an upgrade as some may have hoped, but this is still the definitive way to experience Naughty Dog's masterpiece.

Every moment in Dave the Diver feels unique the first time through. The constant changing of side-missions, the cutscenes when upgrading weapons or fish dishes, and the eccentric cast of characters, all blend together so well into a game that, when viewed just from the surface, might seem shallow. But players willing to dive into the meat of the game will find even more enjoyment than they bargained for, especially with its official 1.0 release. It’s a single-player adventure with heart, good music (‘Hot Pepper Tuna’ will likely end up on a lot of people's personal playlists), and a cast of characters that feel right at home around The Blue Hole. Its eccentricities make it memorable, and Dave might be the kindest and most fun adventuring protagonist players encounter in the world of video games this year.

God of War Ragnarok will give PC gamers their money's worth and then some. It's a lengthy adventure and one of Kratos' greatest outings to date. Still, there are some pacing issues and the PSN account requirement is a disappointment. It's unlikely that Sony is going to let-up on the latter, so PC gamers that want to enjoy the company's games without buying a PS5 should keep that in mind.

The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered is a great port that successfully brings the PlayStation classic to PC. It's a stellar-looking game with engaging gameplay and a brilliant story that will keep players engrossed from start to finish. PC gamers that enjoyed the original and can't wait to see what happens next shouldn't hesitate to pick it up.

Alan Wake 2 deserves recognition for what it has accomplished with its graphics and audio design, but many will be let down by the gameplay and story. Even if the game's rather frustrating technical problems didn't exist, Alan Wake 2 would still be a disappointment because of its shortcomings in those departments. That being said, Alan Wake 2 is home to some of the best moments in any game this year, with two sequences in particular standing out as especially memorable. To go into detail would be to spoil them for anyone who plans on playing the game, but rest assured that despite its issues, Alan Wake 2 has a few bright spots that may still make it worth it for hardcore fans of the original game. Others will want to hold out for a patch and a sale.

Despite the plethora of side missions distracting from the main quest, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth still brings a decently poignant story to the forefront of the series. The turn-based combat might not be enjoyable for everyone, but it certainly will entertain fans of a variety of genres and game types. The game has a knack for keeping a player's interest, which is something extremely difficult in this day and age. It uses its craziness in such masterful and fun ways that most players won’t be able to help themselves from smiling and laughing along with Ichiban Kasuga and the rest of the cast in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth.

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

With fun multiplayer and an addicting story mode that is virtually impossible to put down once you get going, Pokopia has absolutely nailed the concept of combining the world of Pokemon with the life-sim genre. It's as good as the best life-sims, and a must-buy for Switch 2 owners. And if you don't have a Switch 2 yet, Pokopia is one of the best reasons to go out and buy the console ASAP.

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.

As the capstone project to CD Projekt Red's efforts in fixing Cyberpunk 2077, Phantom Liberty and Update 2.0 see the studio at its best, delivering a story that is emotional, refreshing, and up to the caliber that fans expect from CDPR while also reworking the game into its best and presumably final form. If this is truly the end for Cyberpunk 2077, then we're excited to see where CD Projekt Red goes next with the franchise because it's clear there are more stories to tell in this world, either in Night City or outside of it.

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.

Whenever Final Fantasy 7 Remake fans get the chance, they should definitely give the Yuffie DLC a shot. It's not meaningless filler as some DLC packs tend to be, but rather it provides substantial new story content and is a fun time to boot. As for the base game, those that already own the PS4 version can enjoy the free PS5 upgrade, and while they may not necessarily feel like going through the entire game over again on the new console, they can at least use Chapter Select to pop into a few spots and admire the improved visuals and 60 fps gameplay.

NieR: Automata The End of YoRHa Edition carries over almost every bit of what made its PC and PS4 versions so popular. It doesn't carry the same graphical prowess as its original, but that isn’t surprising as a port. Still, it is easy to see why it was so acclaimed by critics and gamers alike back in 2017. For players hoping for a portable version of NieR: Automata to take with them everywhere, Virtuos and Square Enix did an excellent job making it available for just that. Players who missed it the first time around have a chance to finally experience everything NieR: Automata has to offer in a portable and shiny, though slightly uglier, package.

Everyone is here for it, and the utter chaos of this finale is memorable, tear-jerking, and instantly replayable. Everything has been building to this moment and the building of emotion grants an overwhelmingly triumphant and satisfying conclusion, but it also begs the question of what comes next but hope for the future.