SteamWorld Dig 2 is an improved sequel in almost every aspect, compared with the first one. The act of digging can’t get much more fun thanks to the simplistic yet highly engrossing gameplay. It helps that the union of western tropes with steampunk is such a charming combination.

It’s a true sequel to Streets of Rage, with enough tweaks in its gameplay to make it relevant in this day and age, albeit without complicating the welcoming simplicity of the long-lost beat ‘em up genre. Fans of the series should definitely give it a try.

SMITE brings one of the best MOBA experiences on PS4 without sacrificing its depth in adapting its gameplay for the console.

Keeper is an undeniably beautiful game, if nothing else. Its focus on detailed, distinctive environments is remarkable, and its unexpected duo of protagonists proves surprisingly charming. It could benefit from deeper gameplay, as it leans a bit too heavily on simplicity. Be that as it may, its unique journey remains a truly memorable experience.

A surprisingly addictive game that delivers tense and highly challenging gameplay filled with difficult random-generated burglary scenarios. The well-designed steampunk aesthetic should be considered as a major plus for those fond of this art style.

By continuing the legacy of MudRunner, this new off-road "racing" game offers some intense missions, great heavy vehicle physics and lots of environments to try your skills on.

While it doesn't do anything particular to improve upon the original game, the driving pleasure and excitement in GRID 2 is guaranteed.

A breath of fresh air in the Third Person Shooter genre. Hybrid might alienate gamers with its predetermined cover system and the only-for-6-player modes, but it is different from most other games in this category and is doing a good job in entertaining fans of online shooters.

Grime 2 confidently treads familiar metroidvania ground, embracing tried-and-true mechanics. While it doesn’t introduce anything particularly groundbreaking, fans of the genre will appreciate its deep combat system and challenging platforming sections, all supported by responsive and smooth controls. The entire experience is elevated by the imagination behind its vibrant world.

Even though the prequel to professor's first three games is not as spectacular and the formula seems a little worn out, it can still deliver some great puzzle-solving hours. Oh, and the absence of the London Life mini-game from the European version is inexcusable.

"Bouncy physics" aside, Dead or Alive 6 is first and foremost a great game, with an absolutely fantastic fighting system and superb graphics. It falls a bit short when it comes to its online modes, but this is balanced out by the wealth of the offline content.

The House of Da Vinci VR is a great adaptation of the original game, where the VR element elevates the entire experience. Fans of puzzle games and VR won’t want to miss it.

Ni no Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdom Prince's Edition signals the first coming of the game on Nintendo’s hybrid console three years after its original release. It brings together all the magic, all the thrill of Evan and Roland’s adventure, and all the content that was released post launch, plus all the technical sacrifices and compromises that should be expected on a weaker hardware. A must for those who haven’t played Ni no Kuni 2 before, and only wish to experience this on the go.

Yet another re-release of a Resident Evil game. But Resident Evil 5 was then -and still is- a decent, well designed game that lacks the “horror” element but has lots of soul and substance.

The famous tennis series certainly took its time to come back but the wait was well worth it. Top Spin 2K25 may well be the best tennis game of the past few years, thanks to deep and improved gameplay, and excellent animations.

A wonderful package containing the best Worms games of the past decade. A must have for Worms fans.

By offering a new and quite likable cast, an interesting story and a big improvement on the mini-games, Danganronpa V3 will surely satisfy the fans of this unique visual novel series.

"Pure fun". This is the best way to describe Trials Rising, a game that improves upon the original design by RedLynx with amazing stages and great handling that becomes more addictive the more you play.

Underdogs is a fantastic addition to the PSVR2 library, offering frenetic combat and the satisfying thrill of piloting a massive mech. While the roguelike elements don’t feel fully realized, the excellent gameplay and unique art direction more than make up for it.

The sequel from Roll7 could be easily dismissed as a repetition of the first OlliOlli, only under a new skin, but it would be too harsh a judgment. It may be too similar with the first one, but its gameplay remains fresh and entirely intuitive while the addition of manuals manages to bring an essential tool for combo built-up.

If you are in a search for something completely different, a game that looks back to the age of "choose you own adventure" books, the well written and masterfully crafted story of The Life and Suffering of Sir Brante is a perfect fit for you.

Grundislav Games takes a big step forward with its latest adventure. Rosewater is a great Western, featuring well-written characters and a captivating story. It's also a love letter to the golden era of Sierra adventures, making it a must-play for fans of the genre, especially longtime enthusiasts.

Black Salt Games answers a question we never have thought we’d ask: Would you like to become a fisherman in Cthulhu mythos? The answer is a resounding “yes”, even though Dredge has many areas where it could be enriched.

While this expansion pack is for multiplayer use only and could have benefited from some more content, the new maps and units are great and continue the legacy of Company of Heroes 2.

A pretty, addictive rogue-lite game that offers a unique gameplay mechanism where the player must manage the health bar in order to progress. Note that it’s still in early access and nearly half the game isn’t available yet.

OPUS: Prism Peak tells a deeply personal story with genuinely earned emotional moments. It offers a unique take on the midlife crisis, filtering it through a magical prism that many older players will likely find relatable. However, it’s held back by an unnecessarily complicated notebook system and an overreliance on photography as a gameplay mechanic, which somewhat undermines the idea of the protagonist using an analogue camera.

Tales from Candleforth is a, quite good, throwback to Myst, with charming visuals and well constructed puzzles, offering high challenge. However, it could benefit from a more concise story.

A classic Suda 51 game, with a unique art direction and a well written story. If you are a fan of Suda you know what to expect here.

The Stone of Madness is a worthy addition to Commandos-esque strategy games. Its old monastery setting enhances the stealth gameplay and diverse cast of characters. While its difficulty can sometimes be frustrating and the design lacks variety, its beautiful visuals and macabre aesthetic more than make up for these shortcomings.

This is probably the most complete and rich sports game that has ever been created with tons of content and amazing graphics. But that doesn’t mean it is free from flaws like the problematic A.I. and the toned down defense that actually creates many issues with the gameplay.

This year we got a Call of Duty with an impressive single player campaign - that offers tight and immense fights for about 6 hours - along with a wealth of multiplayer modes for literally every taste. Too bad, though, that Infinity Ward tried to keep everyone satisfied thus changing the DNA of the multiplayer mode with mixed to negative results.

Τhere is a vestigial effort of modernization in Maiden of Black Water and there are some minor mishaps in the control scheme and the level design. However, Maiden remains a very satisfying horror experience with the iconic Camera Obscura and the charming mixture o Japanese Folklore and modern age Madness.

It's a tribute to the Cold War. An addictive game that's full of sarcasm and social commentary. A game that you should definitely try.

The return of a classic game that used to "eat" our coins like crazy back in the late 80's. This new edition of Toki retains all the charm of the original as well as its difficulty. The new art makes it fresh and playable again, but the lack of any kind of extra content left us wanting more.

Another solid addition to the Pokemon franchise that will definitely please the fans of the series.

The new areas and new Yo-Kai creatures don’t justify the purchase of Psychic Specters for those who already have the previous versions, but for everyone else (especially for those who love the Pokemon games) the rich world and the improved battle system make this game a must-have.

Server issues aside and even though is does not expand on the gameplay we saw in the Garden Warfare series, Battle for Neighborville is a pleasant surprise, a nicely crafted and humorous shooter that is ideal for co-op and multiplayer sessions with your friends.

An interesting allegorical journey to overcome our inner traumas that is quite open to interpretation in a way that it will be possible to be meaningful in different ways to each player, according to their own experiences. Even if it doesn’t manage to draw you with its symbolic tale, Gris may still convince you for a short, albeit, beautifully designed world.

Its unique art direction and old school gameplay will certainly appeal to gamers who grew up with adventure games of the 90s.

Despite its flaws Sonic & All Stars Racing Transformed is an all-around better game than it's predecessor and a great homage to Sega's glorious past. It won't convert those faithful to Mario Kart, but it surely offers some good kart racing action and a fun alternative for fans of the genre.

Eternal Strands offers a charming blend of Shadow of the Colossus and Prince of Persia. While it never quite reaches the heights of those classics, it remains an enjoyable experience. The lack of enemy variety and some frustrating camera issues—likely due to budget constraints—are noticeable flaws. However, its fast-paced combat and well-crafted story showcase the developers' passion.

A man's fitness game through and through that disengages from the family oriented competition and offers a strong and strict program which can -and will- enthrall fans of the genre.

Returnal for PC brings technical improvements while retaining the excellent gameplay and overall feel of the PlayStation 5 version. It’s a must play title for roguelike fans, but mainstream gamers that want to experience Returnal’s highly addictive fast bullet hell gunplay should be armed with a lot of patience.

Itagaki-san created a quite interesting game that combines melee and ranged fighting in a unique and great way. It's not on par with the masterpieces of old, but it definitely delivers.

The phenomenon that is The Sims keeps going strong. And with the addition of Pets, the game is becoming more addictive than ever.

It's extremely difficult to present something completely fresh in a metroidvania game but Laika: Aged Through Blood achieves that hard-earned goal. Thanks to the well-made motorbike handling and clever ideas in regards to shooting, alongside a touching and dramatic story this "motorvania" is a must addition to the fans of the genre.

A great return to the roots of the franchise, proving that PlatinumGames was the ideal choice to carry it forward, even if there are a few rough edges. The combat system is nothing short of excellent. Faster, deeper, and more refined, without ever becoming overcomplicated, giving players full control over the flow. With stronger level design, both artistically and mechanically, and more memorable boss fights, it could have been a true masterpiece.

With a great crafting system, some intense boss battles and the unique concept of a "First Person Caster", Lichdom is one of the most pleasant surprises we've had in a long time.

The first part of the collection includes some of the most influential and unique games of a bygone era. New and old gamers alike have a great opportunity of reliving these gems albeit with some technical caveats from Konami's emulation of those titles.

While it doesn’t quite stick the landing, loosing momentum in the last hour of the story, Oxenfree is a masterpiece in interactive storytelling, offering a unique, smooth interaction between characters that is extremely rare in the medium.

A well crafted and quite charming anthology of music with a lot of content from Kingdom Hearts titles that, however, is missing some important songs.

Much like modern Assassin Creed games, Hogwarts Legacy lives and dies on whether you get captured by its spectacular worldbuilding. There are clear and concrete bloatware issues and concerns, but for a Harry Potter fan it can be quite easy to ignore most of them and just dive in its impressive world, chockfull of activities and Wizarding World experiences.

With an "old school" level of difficulty and design and a unique social message, New 'n' Tasty stays true to the spirit of the original, beloved adventure of Abe.

Deliver Us Mars is a truly worthy sequel of the -underdog- Deliver Us the Moon. There is much more effort in developing its characters and the overall story complements and expands the topics of the first game. Expect a slow-burner, hard science fiction adventure and you will not be disappointed.

Don't get fooled. This is not just another "rhythm/ music game". With Sound Shapes you'll find yourself trying those beautiful platform levels again and again until your PS Vita runs out of battery.

An edition packed with extras compared to the original Wii release and with tons of gore, humor and that "grindhouse" style that we love.

Mike Bithell is a talented game designer and that shows in his second endeavor. While it may not have the charm and unforgettable status that Thomas Was Alone had, Volume is nevertheless a competent stealth/puzzle game that is utterly fun to play and a joy to hear, thanks to a (mostly) great cast of voice actors.

The creators’ love for their creation oozes from each nook and cranny of this Dino adventure. It is not without its faults and issues, but its childhood charm and Sunday morning 80s/ 90s cartoon vibe more than make up for it, giving a rare, kind game for all the family to enjoy.

Shadows of the Damned is everything you'd expect from a Grasshopper game, made better by the collective experience of Akira Yamaoka and Shinji Mikami working together with Suda51. It's pure pulpy, cult grindhouse fun, with some excellent action mechanics and awesome sound and music throughout.

Darksiders Genesis is a well thought and executed isometric hack and slash game - with an original progression system - that excels in battle, exploration and co-op mode. A great addition to an already excellent franchise.

Shadows of the Damned is everything you'd expect from a Grasshopper game, made better by the collective experience of Akira Yamaoka and Shinji Mikami working together with Suda51. It's pure pulpy, cult grindhouse fun, with some excellent action mechanics and awesome sound and music throughout.

A breathtakingly beautiful and inspiring adventure that no matter its faults, offers a wonderful experience to the fans of adventure games.

Even though it feels like (and in some ways is) a cut-down version of the Wii U game, Wooly World on the 3DS retains most of the qualities of the original, thus delivering a great platforming experience.

Splatoon 3: Side Order is a worthwhile DLC complementing excellently the main game. It could include a bit more variety in its objectives and levels, nevertheless, its great visuals and fun gameplay will surely be appreciated by fans of the game.

Superb controls, great graphics and an interesting "classic" mode make the new iteration of this franchise a must have for golf enthusiasts.

A collection of six of the most inspired games the Bit. Trip franchise has to offer. If you're looking for something special for your Wii, this is the collection you need to buy.

Despite some of its shortcomings and a very sudden ending Deponia is a wonderfully crafted adventure game that will more than satisfy fans of the genre.

An audio based arcade racer, that’s a bit too simple but with lots of fun. A unique blend of an interesting premise with a “Twilight Zone” vibe and an excellent, absurd and sarcastic writing.

An HD collection that brings back two of Dante's most memorable moments (DMC and DMC3 - DMC2 is not worth mentioning). Young gamers should own it just to see how everything begun and older ones should get it in order to experience the beauty of DMC and DMC3 in HD resolution.

BioWare is having some trouble implementing bits and pieces of the Mass Effect lore in Mass Effect 3. Nevertheless, Leviathan is a "must buy" for hardcore fans of the franchise due to its absolutely essential -story wise- last five minutes.

An excellent addition to the series with the introduction of 20 playable characters, emphasis on co-op and multiplayer, and tons of content. If only the online was beefier.

Having the same gameplay core as its spiritual parents (Left for Dead), Back 4 Blood implements some new tricks to keep the player hooked. Light RPG elements, through weapon customization and deck building, enrich the basic formula of the game, providing a much needed modern approach.

If you haven't tried the original Etrian Odyssey, this "remake/ re-imagining" is the perfect opportunity to experience the origins of this great franchise.

It has nothing to do with the PC games of old, but this Avatar edition of Motocross Madness is as fun as an arcade racing game can be.

The full, compact story, an equally complete cast of memorable characters and an abundance of opportunities to unleash our Kamehameha, Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is a title that players should not miss. Despite some inconsistencies in gameplay and poor development decisions, Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot brings forth the nostalgia and glory of Goku’s saga, leaving only a sweet sense behind.

Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth is a great JRPG with a nice plot, an enjoyable, old school turn-based battle system, beautiful art direction and a design that grants you the opportunity to catch many Digimons.

Rollerdrome's blend of roller skating gameplay and shooting is as unique as expertly created. Thanks to a simple and effective control scheme you would feel as if you are in a cinematic blend between Matrix and Rollerball.

In 2013 Injustice is not as groundbreaking as Mortal Kombat was back in 2011, but it remains a solid and enjoyable fighter with tons of content to keep you occupied for weeks.

Our experience with Regalia: Of Men and Monarchs was similar to the first reading of an obscure fairy tale. At first we were not sure where the writer was trying to go, but several hours later we found a beautiful and charming world to explore.

With a story that tackles the subject of bullying with grit and realism, and gameplay improvements around the block, Lost Judgement surpasses its predecessor in almost every level. But the frustrating decision to lock the wonderfully written main side stories (school stories) behind an incessant amount of mini-games and backtracking is a black mark for the series that we sincerely hope we'll never ever see again.

Far Cry Primal is exclusively a prehistoric theme park. It isn’t ashamed to admit and declare that there isn’t something even remotely reminiscent of a story in the game. But all else is nicely implemented in-game and the theme is so intriguing that, really, there is no need for something else.

An innovative, wonderful game that is further improved in its “Final Cut” version, but is somewhat hampered in the console version by its poor gamepad controls and the annoyingly small text.

Although not without flaws (mainly the uninspired shooting and stealth elements) and a frame rate that needs to be more stabilized, Days Gone still is a commendable first effort from Bend Studio to the big leagues of AAA games. The world they crafted is filled with quality writing and a very strong lead character with Deacon St. John, who is likeable and as flawed as needed in order for him to be more humane than the typical "knight in shining armor".

There's only one way to truly see what the folks at Destineer have accomplished. Helicopter your way to Japan's highest peak, wait until it's dark and begin your descend. Never mind the events; just feel the mountain. That's Stoked!

It's becoming increasingly difficult for a game to truly make a mark in the metroidvania genre, but ULTROS manages to leave an impression, thanks to its mesmerizing psychedelic visuals and thanks to its well thought-out time loop design.

Outriders is a quite pleasant surprise when it comes to its combat mechanics, lore, structure and overall quality. It is a bright example that a looter-shooter can be fun, addictive and extremely enjoyable without the need to reside on a "Games as a Service" mentality.

Whether you are a WoW veteran or thinking of returning to your old gaming habits Legion offers more user friendly options, stellar 5-man content and a brand new class. This time World of Warcraft manages to merge the worlds of the casual and the hardcore player in great fashion.

A worthy The Legend of Zelda game, Tears of the Kingdom is an adventure that spans across time, good and evil and tells an exciting story of light and darkness, yet still manages to fall victim of mechanisms old and new that deprive it of the refreshing addition to the series its predecessor was. Despite this, it’s still a title that is here to stay.

Crypt Custodian goes a slightly different way from the typical indie metroidvania by offering an isometric perspective, which it fully leverages with enjoyable platforming and a charming world to explore.

A multiplayer game that deserves more attention. With well designed maps great gameplay and lots of weapons and abilities for the heroes, this is one of the most enjoyable games of the genre we've tried this year. Too bad the community is so small that it's getting too hard to find a game.

Even though it lacks the technology and the graphics that other modern racing games have, WRC 8 makes it up with a deep and engaging career mode along with superb driving mechanics that really shine when playing with a racing wheel.

It is a hack-n-slash game, with all its advantages and shortcomings, yet with Breath of the Wild being a part of every aspect, down to the core. With an unexpected story that manages to remain captivating and touching, despite being different from the original telling of the events past, the world and character design, visuals and music, Age of Calamity should be a must to anyone who is willing to oversee its technical issues.

This year’s iteration of Call of Duty comes rich in content, with a variety of modes, well-made multiplayer, plenty of maps and solid gunplay. At the same time it delivers a bland and uninteresting story, with poor dialogue and shallow characters. A perfectly timed sniper shot from 300 yards where the bullet ricocheted just before hitting the center of the target. It achieved what was expected, but did not reach the full expectations.

The realism, a deep fighting system and a decent career mode make UFC 4 one of the best entries ever in this franchise.

With a charming 8bit esthetic inspired by the era of the NES, Shovel Knight delivers an easy but addictive, beautiful designed and well executed experience.

An excellent 2D brawler with a rich combat system, many and diverse playable characters, a big campaign and very welcomed RPG elements and character progression.

Paper Mario is something of a missed opportunity because it could become a much better game, but ultimately is very enjoyable and offers tons of fun.

Although very similar to WRC 8, the new entry in the franchise by KT Racing (and the last WRC game by this team) is even more polished and improves the additions made in last year's game.