The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is a title great enough to unite the whole industry. A game to celebrate the past and find the best in the most innovative future Nintendo can offer.

The original Resident Evil 4 is a game that truly managed to stand the test of time, and became something that people are drawn back to even almost 25 years later. And if anything could be said about this new version of Resident Evil 4, it sure seems like people will be playing the remake after another 25 years from now on.

Keeper is an unexpected masterpiece from Double Fine Productions and one of the most captivating walking simulators of the past few years. It dazzles the imagination with its rich visual design and an unconventional narrative approach that borders on genius. It’s truly disappointing that Microsoft’s incompetence led to the game’s release being overlooked by its target audience, which now puts the studio’s future existence at risk.

It will be nearly impossible to evaluate Final Fantasy VII Rebirth outside of the trilogy as a whole in the years to come. But right now nothing is stopping us from doing so. To put it succinctly, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is one of the finest games in Square Enix's entire history.

The journey for Larian Studios was a long one, and it's safe to say that Baldur's Gate 3 is truly worthy of all the praise it has received to this point.

Elden Ring is the true triumph that FromSoftware was striving for all those years. Complete and utter triumph.

Developers at team Awe Interactive managed to catch rhythm-shooter hype with a real finesse, and showing others how to make games in this new subgenre.

Ghost of Yotei is another sequel in the vein of modern Sony titles. While keeping the core foundation intact, the developers made this new entry far richer and more varied than its predecessor. Comparing Atsu and Jin directly doesn’t make much sense — they’re just too different. Personally, I preferred Jin, but the fierce Onryō, with the stubbornness and boldness of a honey badger, turned out to be an interesting character as well.

The remake may not have met my own interpretations and feelings of the original Silent Hill 2 in all the right ways. But it would be foolish to deny the amount of effort and love Bloober Team poured into this whole project.

Given the perfect track record of Supergiant Games, Haded was simply fated to became a great little gem of it's genre, but no one would have thought that this game can go head to head with this year's major AAA releases. What we have here is a fully realized, well thought out project, one that you can sink your time into no matter what you prefer - a strong narrative adventure or a hardcore gameplay experience.

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 is an incredibly fun and addictive game. I felt the same enthusiasm and excitement that the original games in this series gave me. Craftsmen from Vicarious Visions have once again confirmed their status as high-class reanimators of old projects.

Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury for Nintendo Switch effectively handles two important tasks: introducing new players to the classic game that came from the Wii U, as well as pleasing hungry fans with new great content. Definitely a must-play for all Super Mario fans.

And now it is time for NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139…, which corrects almost all the flaws of the original release. You can still easily see glimpses of old NieR here - it's almost the same exact game. And that's great, because even after all those years there's still nothing like it. rn

The consistency and foulness of the Iki Island expansion is stunning. Especially compared to many other add-ons. It's well worth the buy, both for fans and wider audience alike.

Hi-Fi Rush is not only a great surprise for the whole Xbox audience, but also a strong contender for the Game of the Year. Tango Gameworks should definitely experiment more often.

Paper Mario: The Origami King is a full-fledged, large and very beautiful adventure with role-playing elements, which pleases with an abundance of gameplay mechanics, a great sense of humor, an interesting plot, a well-developed world and a huge number of entertaining puzzles. The game will give you dozens of exciting hours in the paper world and is just a must-buy for all owners of Nintendo Switch.

Marvel's Spider-Man 2 is the best technical showcase on PlayStation 5, one of the best games the platform can offer, and just a great Spider-Man story.

Ghost of Tsushima is a stunning mix of Assassin's Creed and The Witcher 3, based on samurai films and traditional Japanese contemplation of nature. At the same time, this is the best Assassin's Creed ever created. There are no emasculated positive heroes and unambiguous villains, the tasks are exciting and interesting. And this is currently the most fascinating and visually impressive game on the PlayStation 4.

Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time is one of the best platformer games we've played in recent years. Toys for Bob managed to perfectly encapsulate the soul of original trilogy, and then create more with it, by not only repeating old gameplay tricks with new and shiny graphics, but also by offering something completely new, which would definitely make all the fans bursting with joy.

We hope that discounts and word of mouth will allow this great, unique strategy game to gain the popularity it deserves.

Street Fighter 6 is a resounding success. The team at Capcom managed to give newcomers smooth transition into the game with new modern control scheme and big story mode, while also not loosing the gameplay depth this series is known for.

Desperados III is an excellent tactics with a deep gameplay, interesting features and references to the cowboy movies, which successfully revives the original series and continues the ideas laid down by the developers in Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun. An exciting gameplay, built like a puzzle, makes you think ahead and improvise on the go. A convenient save system and fast loadings help to minimize annoyance even if your risky plan fails. If you like real-time tactical games and you like westerns, it is not recommended to skip this game.

Super Mario 3D All-Stars is an amazing retrospective that shows us the first few steps that the series took going into three-demensional space. Even in this original form the trilogy easily stands tall among most modern games with it's timeless game design. All we can do now is just appreciate this masterpieces and celebrate Mario's anniversary together.

The Last of Us Part II is the high point of the PlayStation 4. The plot is controversial, but the game is the incredibly addictive adventure of Ellie, from which it is impossible to pull away from the opening and to the very end.

Even though the old guard of Blizzard Entertainment is no more, the team under Rod Fergusson's leadership managed to create something everyone was hoping for - a true successor to the legendary Diablo II.

The relationships between the remake of Resident Evil 4 and the original game would be a subject of much heated discussions in the coming years. But if anything could be said about this new version of Separate Ways is that it's a major step up from its 2005 counterpart in pretty much every way.

The overall design choices and visual presentation of Cris Tales are one of its stronest suits. The game looks like an animated film, and paired with lots of calm and relaxing tunes, you get a very cozy atmosphere that feels nice to get back to every single time.

Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun is a gift to anyone who have strong feelings towards the universe. It's a great shooter, the best one that came out under 40K brand, and probably one of the best games this whole year.

TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge is an impressive retro-style action title with great combat system and strong focus on team work. If you're looking for some couch co-op action then look no further than this.

Despite the aforementioned shortcomings, Donkey Kong Country: Banana Kingdom literally draws the player in and doesn’t let go for a single second. This is a unique platformer with incredibly addictive gameplay, stunningly diverse levels, and magnificent music.

Death Stranding: Director's Cut is great way to revisit the game, especially if you enjoyed your first playthrough. And now it's time to go back to the roads most taken with your fellow BB in hands. Unity always beats isolation, you only need to make the first step.

Vast as an oceanic soul of late-stage alcoholic, Disco Elysium remains one of the most sincere, deep and meaningful stories about destructive nostalgia, communism, and a true unending love.

Lost Judgment is a big step forward, with many updates based on audience reception of the original title. Sega released a game that elevates the Judgment franchise to a whole new level.

Until Then is still a visual novel, clinging to a large cultural stratum of contemporary culture. However, it is also a very emotional and lampooning story about growing up, friendship, betrayal and love.

Dragon Quest XI S is a monumental game, the king of traditional JRPGs. If you want to bring back those "glory days", you don't need to search through the dusty closet, just play DQ XI S.

Dave the Diver is an eventful experience where every new dive is an adventure of its own that always come hand in hand with an unexpected plot developments.

There is a lot to unpack in Infinite Wealth if you played any of the previous games. And even if you don't, it's still worth your time, even for a chance to have this crazy and wacky Hawaiian vacation.

I have had a difficult relationship with 11 Bit Studios since one of last year’s reviews, during which the developers accused me of political bias. Despite this, The Alters can be considered one of the best games of 2025, offering a unique and memorable gaming experience.

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is an exciting action title, that simply never gets boring. You can expect colorful characters, epic battles, and fun to explore worlds. On the tech side Rift Apart shows everything that PlayStation 5 has to offer, be it great visuals, surround sound, or DualSense features. It's the perfect benchmark for Sony's new gaming system.

Horizon Forbidden West is one of the best open world games from the last couple of years. Whether you a fan of the original title or just love yourself a grand adventure — Forbidden West is something you would really enjoy.

Demon's Souls marks an important step for the video game industry as a whole, whilie Bluepoint Games developers yet again shows their immense care towards some truly cult classics. If you like the Souls series, or just looking forward to dive deep into medieval fantasy filled with dragons, demons, and knights, don't miss out on this masterpiece of a game.

A Plague Tale: Requiem is one of the most prominent games this year. Great plot, lots of characters, game systems and some unique ideas is what drives this whole apocalyptic experience.

It Takes Two is probably the biggest surprise of this spring. While the world is still in a pandemic lockdown, and games are getting delayed left and right, Josef Fares gives us an insane adventure that is full of both drama and cool gameplay ideas.

Even in the era of remasters and remakes from famous studios, the updated Riven doesn't look like a gray mouse. It's a beautiful quest with a high-quality "facelift".

Resident Evil Requiem is an amalgamation of different ideas, eras and creative intents. But instead of trying to harmonize them into a straightforward experience, the game does the opposite. It celebrates Resident Evil's legacy as a whole - as a horror game, an intense action, as a spy thriller, and as a science fiction. Resident Evil is all of those things simultaneously, and it has never been more apparent than now.

Assassin's Creed Valhalla is still an Assassin's Creed title, but the one that manages to left behind some questionable things from the last two games, all the while presenting us with a much greater direction, a really dense map, engaging plot, and a breathtaking setting.

This is a game we can confidently recommend to all RPG fans — and without a doubt, it's one of the strongest contenders for Game of the Year. But beyond that, it's important to recognize the significance of this project and what its success means for the modern gaming industry as a whole. This is the kind of healthy, grounded approach to game development that we desperately need right now. It’s not just about mechanics or genre — it’s about the philosophy behind the work: a small team of former big-studio developers delivering a high-quality modern title with beautiful visuals, thoughtful direction, and, just as importantly, a reasonable budget. Guillaume Broche and his team are not the first to take this path, but we need more projects like this — and if that happens, it’s a win for everyone.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is a great return of the series, as well as one of the bright and exciting projects of the beginning of 2024. The game will appeal to both old fans and inexperienced newcomers.

Although Split Fiction works on the It Takes Two formula, it makes up for it with an absolutely insane pace of on-screen madness.

There's simply not a lot of stealth-action games that can hold a candle to Hitman III, with its hours upon hours of engaging gameplay and high replayability. The sheer variety of different locations and missions, and also the inclusion of all the legacy content, turns this title into something you don't want to miss at the start of 2021.

It definitely feels like with Cyberpunk 2077 CD Projekt RED tried to tell a really meaningful story, while using as a backdrop a truly unique setting. And all the while the developers made sure that the game still feels approachable by all kind of people, and that it presents itself with insane graphical fidelity painting an image of an eerily realistic world of tomorrow. We doubt there are too many people who don't believe in CD Projekt RED, but in case you're one of them, be warned - Cyberpunk 2077 is something that will change the way you look at the gaming industry as a whole.

The original Persona 3 was a game that solidified the overall formula the franchise is renowned for today. Reload is a JRPG that stays true to its essence and is a great and approachable choice for fans of the genre.

Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon is a perfect case of a confident and fun game that can be enjoyed by a wide variety of players, including younger audience. But even if you are a dark and gloomy adult there is still lots to find in this magical fairy tale.

The team at Creative Business Unit III has found their spark, and managed to use it to turn Final Fantasy XVI into unyielding flame. One that shines more than many others.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder is one of this year's most exciting games, offering interesting gameplay mechanics and challenges of varying degrees of difficulty for audiences of all categories.

Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath Kollection is a great re-release, including an interesting additional story that expands the game world and adds three cool characters, as well as a full “battle set” with six new fighters. All of them have their own unique features and are aimed at different audiences. The new chapters of the story are well-directed and represent a fascinating mini-series with breaks for gameplay. In addition, the new arenas, as well as the introduction of Stage Fatality and Friendship, will please old fans of the series.

Forza Horizon 5 is probably the best arcade racing game of recent times, and one of the most prominent releases from this year. Even if cars is not your thing, there is plenty to love in this new Microsoft exclusive.

Troubleshooting: Abandoned Children is a big, complex game with an incredible number of settings, crafting and modifications, which can take hundreds of hours to complete. The anime style, atmosphere of Atlus games, deep characters and a strong plot make this project a real gift for fans of the genre.

The return of Hades is a true feast, and a great opportunity for PlayStation and Xbox players to dive deep into the waters of River Styx. The escape from the underworld itself is an impossible feat, but it's sure as hell worth a try.

Xenoblade Chronicles is still one of the best games of the genre, which 10 years later continues to delight and surprise with a unique world, luxurious epic landscapes, an incredible sense of freedom, beautiful music and a really interesting story. Of course, it is a pity that the Definitive Edition has a technical limitation in terms of resolution, which does not allow the image to really shine in 2020, but otherwise it is a chic project that every fan of the genre of adventure and Japanese role-playing games should play.

Reanimal has delivered what Little Nightmares III could not. Tarsier Studios has shed the constraints imposed by the Little Nightmares universe, subjecting its audience to an emotional bombardment while simultaneously pushing them out of their comfort zone.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is the perfect case of when any high score doesn't really clear the picture. Is a 9 simply too high of a praise? One may say so. While another would say that even a 10 just don't do this game enough justice.

An unforgettable JRPG epic that in some aspects has not been surpassed by any other game. Unique characters and situations, a non-linear narrative structure, a deep combat system and an atmosphere of endless adventure will not leave anyone indifferent.

For The Democracy.

Famicom Detective Club holds your attention from first the first frames and to the credits, even if you know the genre like the back of your hand. Every piece of the story works in a tandem, creating a dark and twisted adventure with believable characters. Every session with Detective Club is an adventure of its own, and when you put the game down, it's hard to not delve on what will happen next.

Famicom Detective Club holds your attention from first the first frames and to the credits, even if you know the genre like the back of your hand. Every piece of the story works in a tandem, creating a dark and twisted adventure with believable characters. Every session with Detective Club is an adventure of its own, and when you put the game down, it's hard to not delve on what will happen next.

Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy is an excellent story-driven game with compelling characters, nice humor, great narrative and amazing visuals.

Age of Empires 4 is an exemplary return of the great series to its roots and an excellent basis for future additions.

Ghostrunner is a game that elevates developers from One More Level to a completely new level. The project on display here is something truly special, something you can compare to the never-ending hard rush of adrenaline with great cyberpunk aesthetic design and soundscape.

Age of Mythology: Retold is an exemplary update to the classic strategy game, which now also works great on Xbox consoles.

In this season Infinity Ward shows really exemplary support for Modern Warfare 2019, interest in multiplayer does not fall and the game surprises with a variety of activities and content. There is really nothing to find fault with. Call of Duty: Warzone was definitely a success, especially considering free access for any player.

Final Fantasy VII Remake is the game we've been waiting for from Square Enix for so long. Atmospheric, interesting and exciting all your attention modern jRPG with an interesting story and spectacular battles. To achieve the ideal, the project only needs more even graphics and all the content from the original release. If you were waiting for a turn-based classic with new graphics you will most likely be disappointed, since the game has changed a lot. Everyone else is happy with the release of the first really powerful single-player release from the internal Square Enix studio for many years. Especially after the failure of Final Fantasy XV.

Shadow of the Edrtree expansion transported me back to Elden Ring in a surprising and nostalgic way. Two years later the game is still fresh as it's ever been - with unique pacing, artistic style and sense of progression. And if you ever stumble upon some annoying sections, you can always count on your fellow Mimic Tear friend.

Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection is worth its price-tag, offering a gorgeous games with high resolution and nice performance boost.

If you love northern mythology, while also can enjoy stories about fatherhood and can appreciate deep combat systems, then God of War Ragnarök is something you should not miss.

Dead Space has died once. But nothing stays dead on USG Ishimura. Some things will always come back, and scarier than ever.

The Xbox version of Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition managed to surprise us with the controller controls. After such a fun experience there is no doubt that Age of Empires IV port will turn out great.

It's really hard to find any compelling reason for anyone to skip on Astro Bot. Sometimes it's easy to forget how fun video games can actually be, and Team ASOBI did a great job reminding us of that, and all the shared joy this industry can bring.

For several years rose-engine channeled their creative prowess to create it's own take on Resident Evil and Silent Hill. The results are weird, purposely uneven, while at the same time beautiful and ambiguous. Basically it's everything and more you could have hoped for by listening to this radio frequency.

Metaphor: ReFantazio is an excellent story about hope and the pursuit of a better world that is both overtly naive and fully honest. The game can feel truly inspirational when it reminds us that virtuous heroes can exist even beyond the limits of fantastic reality.

You should look at Yakuza: Like a Dragon through the lens of it's protagonist. This game is unapologetically brash, unmistakable bold, life-affirming and insanely charismatic. The legend of Ichiban Kasuga journey, like a bright flame, tells us one familiar, but sweet and romantic idea - each and every one of us can become a true Hero, even if you have to fight the fate itself, while making your way through hundreds upon hundreds of random encounters.

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is a great adventure with interesting mechanics and exciting puzzles.

Kirby And The Forgotten Land is one of the most fun, polished and bright games this whole year, while also being a family-friendly title which is a big plus.

Tales of Arise is the peak of Tales of franchise, where the dev team managed to use years of experience to craft something really great.

The Talos Principle 2 is a superb sequel that demonstrates how to greatly expand your previous ideas in both gameplay and narrative terms.

Resident Evil Village is a loud and bombastic game, paired with an over the top story, a great set of characters, and really impressive visuals. The more action-oriented gameplay approach in the latter half may leave a bitter taste to the more orthodox fans of the series, but nevertheless, Village is on its way to becoming one of the best games this year has to offer.

What we're left with is the fact that Microsoft Flight Simulator is a truly unique game. It manages to be both things at once - a deep instrument for the aviation maniacs, and a great chance to explore the most far away regions of our planet.

Stellar Blade absorbed the best developments of the genre created over the last 10 years, skillfully combining them with science fiction and sexy characters.

Psychonauts 2 is a true sequel, that evolves a lot of ideas from original game, while still stays true to the style the fans love. If you're looking for something special, then this title is fore you. Whimsical and fun Psychonauts 2 is one of the best games we played this year.

It is possible that Children of the Sun is only the beginning of the outstanding developer's journey. It remains to follow the trajectory of his shot.

Marvel's Spider-Man Miles Morales is a wonderful game with some truly charismatic characters, strong narrative bits, and the perfect amount of cut-scenes. But the most important thing is that you won't ever get bored in an eight hour runtime the game has, with zero to none repetitive content.

Destiny: Rising has become one of the biggest unexpected surprises of 2025. NetEase has unexpectedly offered a highly competitive alternative to frustrated Destiny 2 fans, albeit presented with a touch of gacha elements. This should be a wake-up call for Sony and Bungie.

Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy is a worthy sequel with a cool cast of characters and an interesting story to boot, which is great for all the newcomers.

New Pokemon Snap is a true gift to the fans, that came out 22 years after the original release. But newcomers can enjoy this game too, by having fun with tons and tons of pokemons, in an easy going and enjoyable ways.

Small Saga is a cute and exciting adventure with role-playing elements that influence the development of the story. If not for the strange love line and the lack of Russian localization, the game could be recommended Small Saga to the widest possible range of players.

Rise of the Ronin surpasses Ghost of Tsushima in many aspects (with the exception of graphics), while offering a highly entertaining slice of Japanese history. And the high level of variation and the plethora of options make Ubisoft managers cry in the closet.

It's a shame that music from NieR, Octopath Traveler, Xenogears and other games is only available through DLC.

Neva is not yet a modern classic, but it's one of those games that can be completed in a couple of evenings but is memorable for years to come.