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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Blue Prince is quite an interesting game that brings innovations to a stagnant genre, but at the same time suffers from a whole set of shortcomings.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Without a doubt, the developers at Team Cherry didn’t waste these years. They poured an immense amount of work into creating the most ambitious and visually stunning Metroidvania to date—one truly worthy of standing at the very peak of the genre. Hollow Knight: Silksong lives up to the expectations of its devoted fans in every way. Yet, like any work of art, it isn’t entirely free of objective shortcomings and debatable design choices—particularly in terms of balance—that may push away less prepared players.

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.

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.

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.

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

Tekken 8 could be a much more special experience if Bandai Namco's teams took a bolder approach. But as it stands out the game feels like just a pretty good fighting game, that can be enjoyed by both fans and casual players alike.

Neon White is a rare example of a game that is basically almost impossible to put down.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Alan Wake 2 is more than just the best Remedy Entertainment game; it is the most important game in the studio's history. One of the most significant horror fiction pieces ever created and a transmedia sensation.

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.

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.

It feels way too premature to even try to assess Monster Hunter: Wilds as a full package. The game will evolve, the game will be much bigger, and probably much better than it is right now. But even as it stands, Wilds is a delightfully fun. There's nothing better than the feeling of a successful hunt with your palico companion, and Wilds can give you plenty of that.

Lorelei and the Laser Eyes is a rare example of an adventure that grabs attention not with contrived graphics or rivers of blood, but with non-linear structure and well thought-out puzzles.

If you feel longing for something like INSIDE, Journey or ICO, then drop everything and just buy Cocoon. It's one of the most important games this year, and one that will be talked about years down the line.

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.

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.

Consistency is the mother of mastery. And DEATHLOOP is another consistent release of Arkane Studios. For newcomers this game can serve as a great entry point to the Arkane portfolio. While all the hadcore fans will surely get what they expect from this title, even with this new and experimental format. There's no better place for experiments than in the endless time loop, after all.

Metroid Dread isn't a groundbreaking genre piece, and it's not trying to be one. New game lead by Yoshio Sakamoto is aimed at those players, who can appreciate fine-tuned and deep gameplay.

Monster Hunter Rise is something of a middle ground between Monster Hunter World and Monster Hunter Generations, and yet not something that incorporates best aspects of both titles. Rise is a great action game, that brings back some questionable mechanics, and for some reason completely forgets about some interesting old ideas.

Thanks to the new "My Team" mode, F1 2020 refreshes the familiar gameplay of the series. This is the only important change in the game that still allows you to recommend the project to both fans and newcomers. For those who are bored with the gameplay, I recommend waiting for more fundamental changes. Fortunately, in the next two years, not only will the racing regulations change dramatically, but also the next-generation consoles will appear, which will entail a transformation of the visual component of the game and, perhaps, the physics of cars. In any case, F1 2020 is another great game for the official Royal racing championship, and that's great.

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.

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.

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.

The collection for the PlayStation 5 is the perfect gift for Hidetaki Miyazaki's fans, who are waiting for an Elden Ring by FromSoftware right now.

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.

Sea of Stars is an old-school JRPG, cut on modern molds, which because of its dragging and template solutions turns from a fun adventure into a routine work.

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.

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

Every new Gran Turismo game always feels like a truly important event. There is no other game series that treats its subject matter with such care and respect. Gran Turismo 7 is a must buy for every person who can appreciate racing as a sport.

Immortality is an unusual adventure game with strong David Lynch vibes, and a non-linear narrative style that leaves you clueless in the face of deep and mysterious thriller drama.

OlliOlli World is a cozy little game, where everyone will find something for themselves. Despite some rough moments, this creation from Roll 7 studio turned out to be a great follow-up to the original OlliOlli.

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

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.

Death’s Door has a great look, great sound, and a great story about the sweet embrace of death, which all culminates into one cozy adventure. Digital Devolver comes back with another gem on their hands, and we can't wait to see what Acid Nerve can make next.

Mass Effect trilogy feels as great as ever, but the tech side of things in Legendary Edition leaves plenty to be desired. Some of the changes are great, while others not so much. Hopefully a lot of troubles can be ironed out with more patches. But all in all, my return to the Mass Effect universe was a blast.

Return to Monkey Island is a competent nostalgia-filled ride for loyal fans.

Despite a number of missteps, Dispatch has become one of the most notable games of the passing year. And given its success, the development of a second season already seems inevitable.

Streets of Rage 4 is a worthy continuation of the beloved series that has preserved the atmosphere and drive of its predecessors. The developers managed not only to play on the nostalgia of fans, but also to make a modern game that cannot be accused of being too archaic. The project is undoubtedly a must-buy for fans of the genre and all those who appreciate easy-to-learn, but addictive games.

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.

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.

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.

An addendum to Infinite Wealth, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii feels like a vacation after a vacation, a small and silly adventure, a fun time with your crazy friends and not a care in the world. But only up until the ending, where Like a Dragon makes a sharp turn, and remind you of how much of a heart this franchise really has.

Bionic Bay is a bright physics puzzle game that can't seriously challenge your intelligence.

Halo Infinite is definitely one of the best releases of this year. And now we will patiently wait to see where the game goes next with future updates.

Absolum is an interesting roguelike that can be completed in a couple of hours on the lowest difficulty setting. However, even after the finale, the developers encourage players to keep exploring the world to try out new builds and characters.

Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon is a great robot editor that allows all mech enthusiasts to create the fighting machine of their dreams, but a very down-to-earth game with short linear missions, boring environments and weak standard enemies.

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.

For every fan out there who were passionately waiting for the chance to play a localized version of Shu Takumi's last games this is a true celebration. The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles is an engrossing and fun adventure with a unique settings, and a familiar, yet completely new cast of characters.

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.

If you'll ignore all the little hiccups then Sunbreak can offer you tens if not hundreds of hours of engaging gameplay. But sadly the game as a whole feels a little bit stale, so it's possible you won't be coming for more after beating the story campaign missions.

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.

OPUS: Prism Peak is a deeply personal, deeply moving, and at times brutally heavy story about how even after losing everything, you can still find at least hope.

Tinykin is a minuscule and and relaxing experience with some fun Nintendo-vibes. The game is quite short, but for its five hours runtime you won't have the chance to ever feel bored.

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".

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.

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.

As a purely interactive experience, Silent Hill f is as uneven as it gets, honestly. But more than that - it's still a very interesting piece of art. Strange, multi-layered and mostly unique - in all the places that matter.

Total War: Warhammer III is a true gift to any fans of Total War series and Warhammer franchise. It's not a revolutionary game, but the one with many unique features and deep interconnected lore. Sadly, optimization is far from the best, and if you look at Rome II it can definitely sour the whole experience.

Despite a bunch of bugs, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is really one of the best games of 2024, which in everything surpasses the last two films about Dr. Jones. At the same time, this is a return to the form for MachineGames.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is a true gift to every and any person who adores Star Wars universe. But sadly the actual trend of undercooked releases littered with technical issues might sour your experience with an otherwise great game.

To have a genuine love for Dragon's Dogma 2 can be a challenge. And yet, despite its many shortcomings, it's really, really hard not to love it.

Returnal is a bold sci-fi adventure, where the plot and the setting co-exist in a very natural way, while everything else being brought to life through unique DualSense features and great sound from the Pulse 3D headset.

Ender Lilies: Quietus Of The Knights is a gorgeous and a fun to explore metroidvania, that sadly is dragged down by an awful map, limited equipment sets, and wonky difficulty balancing.

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.

Cairn is a tense journey to the summit that, depending on the chosen difficulty, can become either an enthralling experience or the Dark Souls of climbing games. In any case, you will be struck by its bright and slightly melancholic finale.

13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is a really strange case, but in a good way. It's outstandingly beautiful, engrossing the player with a great narrative, telling a story about love, friendship and giant mechs. But the overall structure of the game often exists in an unpleasant dissonance, and it's hard to ignore that the tactical battles can't provide any real gameplay challenge. If you can live with all of that, you should defensively try Vanillaware's newest project. If only for the chance to unravel the intriguing mystery of a talking cat.

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

Suffice it to say, Nixxes Software put a whole lot of work into this new revision of Horizon: Zero Dawn, even if it's not that apparent of the first glance.

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.

This new version of the game will definitely be someone's first foray into the entire Metal Gear Solid franchise, which is honestly the biggest and most important thing about the whole Delta release. And chances are that by the end of the credits this person will convert into a new fan that will carry the series legacy into the future. This is good, isn't it?