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.