Deathloop is a bizarre fever-dream that's too fun to wake up from. An absurd, retrofuturistic murder-mystery where you don't solve the murders, but commit them. Leave it to Arkane Studios to make such a surreal world feel real.

The Last of Us Part 1 is an almost exact copy of the original, but according to today's technical standards. Some will see it as a lazy remake with virtually no adjustments, others will be happy that Naughty Dog stays true to the source material. We can argue endlessly about whether the remake is necessary, but at least we don't have to argue about which version of this modern classic is better.

F1 2021 impresses. Whether you're an avid competitor or want to pursue a storytelling career on your own, you'll be given countless opportunities to customize the game. That makes F1 2021 a versatile title. Once on the track, it is still a very solid racing game, suitable for both controllers and (semi) professional racing wheels.

Tides of Numenera is an almost literary experience, it is amazing, it offers a rare combination of thought through world- and character design and the feeling of freedom is almost overwhelming.

Steamworld Dig 2 makes you dig like Minecraft, while exploring away like Castlevania. This solid adventure gets even better thanks to the cool dungeon levels and its duration.

Luftrausers is as much style as it is substance. The retro-appearance and spectacular action complement each other greatly in a hectic arcade shooter with a unique style. The tactical addictions make this a fully fledged game you'll want to keep playing.

Icebreaker breaks the ice for Rovio Stars. Its fundamentals are not unlike Angry Birds and Bad Piggies, which come with wildly addicting and easy to get into puzzle gameplay in Icebreaker. But Viking Voyage is more complete and diverse than those games, because it manages to surprise with new puzzle concepts again and again, even though it's so recognizable.

Rayman goes from 3D to 2D but gains charm and quality in the progress. The hand-drawn levels are beautiful and well animated, the music has rhythm that compliments the gameplay and playing the game with two, three or four players is hectic in a good way.

eFootball PES 2020 is the result of years of experimenting, making mistakes and refining. Both on and off the field this is a phenomenal football game without fuss. The main wishes for PES 2021 are women's football and a defense that is slightly more reliable.

Nioh is amazing, but can be very frustrating. At the same time it is so rewarding, that you keep playing and playing and playing and playing.

Kingdom Rush Frontiers is a wonderful tower defense game. All base elements are there, accompanied by a great upgrade system and absurd enemies. We almost afraid to say it, but we're already looking forward to part three.

​343 Industries is not Bungie and that shows in Halo 5: Guardians. It is a unique Halo game that offers the series a new future. The single player has the feel of a triple A science fiction epic, while the addictive multiplayer often makes us reminisce about Halo 2 in those good old days.

As soon as you cut open your first cyborg and crush his blue core, you’ll have seen enough to know that Metal Gear Rising is a stylistic murder fest with an amazingly satisfying balance between brutality and finesse. Platinum Games proves once again to be the master of hack & slash, without losing that intriguing Metal Gear appearance. Metal Gear Rising is a fantastic spectacle, that unfortunately ends too quickly.

This is a special one. It is a PSP-title that came out in 2015, which combines real-time battle with dungeon crawling. It is as fun to play as to listen to; Brandish is surprisingly good.

Lumines was a strong puzzle game when it first came out and that has not changed. The Switch version does suffer from framerate issues a bit, but other than that this is an amazing experience.

MLB 15: The Show is the best baseball game ever made. But we have said that before about its predecessors. Sony San Diego has been doing so well, it is hard to top their own games. We specifically love the upgrade in the graphics and the online modes that have improved greatly.

The combination of humor, puzzles and strategic battles makes Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door a phenomenal game that everyone can enjoy. Although the game still suffers from excessive backtracking, just like its 2004 version, the complete visual upgrade and timeless gameplay ensure that the remake meets contemporary standards.

A Plague Tale: Requiem is a step forward from its predecessor in every way. The game not only symbolizes the coming of age of heroine Amicia, but also Asobo as a developer. The result is a beautiful and heartbreaking story, tainted only by a contrived ending.

Hob is like working on an exotic island during your holiday. Yes, you are responsible for some things, but during puzzles and fights you can thoroughly enjoy nature, architecture and culture of a strange world.

Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy is primarily filled with hilarity. The dialogue is expertly written, which fleshes out the characters like never before. The dynamic that this creates between the titular Guardians is more than enough to keep you chained to your screen for upwards of 20 hours.

Destiny seldom blows you away with unexpected narrative gameplay and delivers less content than expected. There’s no point in lingering on those shortcomings though. It’s likely you won’t play a better shooter this year. The action is of such high quality and the cooperative and competitive play is interwoven seamlessly. This is still the game by Bungie we’ve been wanting to play.

Anyone wanting to star in his or her own action movie, can thoroughly enjoy themselves with the extreme action of Blood and Truth.

Assassin's Creed Shadows is definitely built with a familiar blueprint, but manages to refine pretty much every aspect or even perfect them. Especially the incredibly gorgeous world, dynamic between the two main characters and the balanced combat system stick out there. Without a doubt, this is the best Assassin's Creed game in years.

Got rid of your handheld because you only play games on your phone? A shame, because with Luigi’s Mansion 2 it's proven how refined a game on the 3DS can be. It’s drenched in a comedic vibe, which keeps things fresh while exploring, puzzling and fighting ghosts for the considerable time it takes to complete the game.

Codemasters shows that they haven't forgotten the art of creating circuit games. Very well improved driving behavior and a extremely gratifying audio-visual presentation gives players a great racing sensation. The lack of a cockpit-view is a shame though, and you'll need some perseverance to get the most out of it.

Fallout 4 stays at the same level as its predecessor, but the open world gameplay has expanded quite a bit and is highly entertaining. The option to rebuild the Wasteland from scratch is great for both players and future modders.

Darksiders II embraces the ancient dungeon-principles from games such as Diablo and The Legend of Zelda. This traditional mixture makes the series unique today and a pleasure to play, what unfortunately doesn't take away from the fact that Darksiders II plays it safe compared to its predecessor. But we can hardly call that a flaw, because Darksiders II delivers on what it does best, and that for over twenty hours.

Though the commentary is a bit old-school, some important licenses are missing in action and the referee is an amateur, PES is an awesome soccer game. The AI and the many tactical options make the soccer feel very real.

Heart of Thorns introduces an innovative progression system that is a lot more satisfying than just adding new 'gear' to collect. The new zones are annoyingly difficult, but that's a good thing for hardcore players.

Persona Q is a great mix between Persona and Etrian Odyssey. The gameplay mechanics from both franchises are complementing each other and offers us a great dungeon-crawler. The interaction between characters is great for people that played other games in these series, but newcomers will find it difficult to really get this game.

It's rough to not have X-Men in this game, and the graphic choices lack a comics flair, but the gameplay feels nice and free and the focus on Infinity Stones truly is an excellent choice.

We do not know a lot of fighting games that are so heavy on exciting sword battles like Nidhogg. The mechanics are very easy to learn, but yet hard to master and the colorful simplistic style fits the game perfectly.

The biggest fault you can make in Elite: Dangerous is waiting till the game lends you a hand. That is not gonna happen, as this is a sim in which you decide your own fate. So, how you experience this game is totally up to you. This freedom and the fantastic flight model makes the milky way your playground. Lovely.

Rare Replay shows other developers and publishers how you release a collection of classics in the right way: thirty games for thirty euros, including fun extra's. The collection also is a good way of getting to know Rare's portfolio. A must-have for fans and newbies.

Dying, again and again, every time in an unknown world. Roguelikes are tough, but Rogue Legacy makes the journeys slightly lighter with rpg elements that make progress attainable every single run. Rogue Legacy also gets a lot of personality and humor from the addition of character specific traits, like a handicap or disability. Rogue Legacy is tough, hard and unforgiving, but still very accessible thanks to these additions. Just what this genre needed.

This collection might not be as huge as the first, you still get a great selection of classic platform games. Even if you can't appreciate Mega Man 7, there are still three awesome games left to play.

Dyad is like an incomplete informative flyer on drug usage. The 'racing game' comes with an obvious manual, but no one will explain to you why you're hanging in front of the television with dilated pupils an hour later, staring at the explosion of color and sound that appears to be emanating from the screen. Let the epilepsy-warning be seen as an invitation to one of the most amazing trips in recent years.

The second part of Citizen Sleeper is an expanded and improved version of the original in every way. A bit more flair would have been welcome, but the writing is so unique and fantastic that you immediately lose yourself in this hopeful story.

Papo & Yo is worth playing for the heart wrenching story alone. It tells about a boy who tries to rid his father of his alcohol addiction and runs into a lot of problems along the way. It's heavy material that's being told to you in a beautiful and emotional manner.

This game is more about the end game than others, but it is still fun to keep all your hospitals on track. It is both comical and grimm, which keeps us interested.

Mortal Kombat 11 is the best modern Mortal Kombat to date, in both gameplay as the (completely insane) story.

One of the best first person shooters available right now. The game has a unique character thanks to the required combination of tactical insight and pure skills. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive's gameplay won't appeal to everyone, but that's also its greatest strength.

Subnautica offers an amazing undersea world. The performance of the game is not great, but the game is structured enough to make us forget.

Shoot‘em-up-fans will get their needs filled on the PlayStation 4, because Resogun is actual space crack. It combines this ultra-classic type of game with everything a hyper modern console has to offer. The old-fashioned blasting of spaceships has never been this pretty or intense. Take into account the challenging, but mostly very awesome selection of worlds, and before you know it you’ll be hunting for high scores for hours on end.

The singleplayer of Modern Warfare 3 closes the trilogy on a high note, the Spec Ops-mode has been improved both quality- and quantity-wise and the multiplayer has been rebalanced. But there isn't any surprise to be found in the game. It's time that the series reinvents itself before its too late, but this is still an extremely solid conclusion.

Revelations is a quality adventure, a complete package filled with spectacle, great presentation and replayability. The game does have some bugs and new players won't be as engrossed as people who have been following the series since the beginning.

This is modern soccer. It might seem boring at the beginning, but it grows into very satisfying and challenging gameplay that offers unforgettable moments in soccer.

The unique atmosphere of a miniature war on a game board is amazing in virtual reality. Even the controls work very well, making this an awesome VR experience with a crazy co-op game for extra fun.

Invisible Inc. is an exciting turn-based stealth-game in which every choice is essential. Although the game tends to be a tad repetitive after a while, the many different difficulty settings and randomly generated levels offer enough content to entertain you for tens of awesome hours.

The gameplay is timeless, but graphically time has not stood still and this final version disappoints somewhat.

F1 2012 is a racing game with guts. It rewards players that invest time in practicing, but those who'd want to take it to the extreme receive even more. Codemasters could've put some more time into providing the game with some new elements though.

Skylanders has a smart concept that has been implented very professionaly. The toys that you use with the Portal really star in this game that is fun for young and old.

There aren't any huge changes compared to previous outings, but just like last season, Football Manager 2012 is the best football manager available. A new training system and proper online mode would be appreciated next year though.

Trails of Cold Steel is an excellent mix of Suikodens political business, Persona's Social Link-system and the daily fun of Grandia, while still being a Trails-game. This is definitely one to recommend to any JRPG-fan you might know.

Beyond Earth translates the praised Civ-formula to a sci-fi setting very well. The freedom you get with shaping the future of human kind, makes every playthrough unpredictable and exciting.

Dungeon Defenders is misleading. Sweet colors, friendly characters make you believe this is a simple game. But Dungeon Defenders is a deep tower defense-game and a good one at that.

Animal Well is packed with imagination and fun. The lack of a story is not a problem at all thanks to the lively world and puzzles that keep your brain ticking just enough. When the credits appear you are far from done, because there are still many secrets to be discovered in the depths.

Amazing Alex is pretty amazing. The puzzle game quickly gets a hold of you and makes you feel smart – even if you haven't got a clue on how to solve certain puzzles. An intelligent rating-system that reminds of Cut the Rope and a level editor will keep you invested in this game extra long.

Call of Duty games deliver exactly what is expected, but Treyarch did make some interesting changes in the multiplayer mode. The battle royale-mode is an awesome addition to this fresh Call of Duty.

The new Tekken does not want to reinvent the wheel, but relies entirely on the rock-solid gameplay for which the series is known. That works out well in this case. The new Heat system makes battles even more explosive and intense, and the Special Style control option ensures that even inexperienced players can pull out all the stops. With these sharp additions and the impressive visual splendor, Tekken 8 can win the hearts of veterans and new fans alike.

Persona 4: Arena is the result of an especially improbable, but successful marriage. Developer Arc Systems bring us one of the deepest and at the same time most accessible 2D-figheter ever. Atlus on the other hand, worked on the presentation with enough love and care to give Persona 4 a worthy successor. Do know that you're getting into though. Whoever wants to play a fighting game a few hours a week, will merely crush the tip of the iceberg.

If you have a difficult time saying goodbye to Geralt, Hearts of Stone is the perfect add-on. The story is pretty exciting and the extra items and surroundings blend in well. The monsters offer an extra challenge, but the bosses are often a bit too difficult.

Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope gets the most out of it as a sequel. The skeleton of the original has remained intact, but almost the entire gameplay system has been overhauled. That works out well, since players are kept much more engaged and are also much more free. The fights are sometimes on the long side, but that's one of the few problems.

Zenless Zone Zero knows what it wants to be with the great setting, animations and designs. The fluid and in-depth combat, together with the variety of other gameplay, makes for a jam-packed game that will only get better. Still, that makes the game unnecessarily complex, and together with the slow start, it may discourage new players.

Thatgamecompany has created a great game with Sky, having a strong emphasis on discovery and friendship. The game regularly feels like an ode to Journey. The in-app purchases hardly affect this magic, but the bugs and sloppy controls sometimes do.

Forza Horizon 5 is once again beautiful, layered, versatile and unique.

Mark of the Ninja effortlessly combines a lot of good and existing gameplay elements and turns them into one great whole. The game challenges you to use all of your techniques the way you like to, which makes you feel all the more like an actual ninja.

Deep Ocean isn't the most impressive expansion when it comes to pure content, but the way the original Anno 2070 has been improved and made more complex makes up for that completely. A must-have for every Anno-fan.

The first Nioh left us longing for more and that is exactly what this sequel gives us. Nioh 2 adds a little extra to all the strengths of its predecessor. Unfortunately, some previous mistakes - such as an inimitable story - are also repeated. Ultimately, however, that is a side issue, because the enormously profound and strong gameplay is amazing. The result is an intense and challenging experience that soulslike enthusiasts enjoy.

Pro Evolution Soccer goes deeper than ever. Thanks to some well thought out additions, the gameplay can be altered more to the players wishes. Newcomers might have some trouble climbing the metaphorical ladder in the arena's (which are still devoid of any atmosphere), but PES-purists can go nuts. Is PES 2013 the ultimate soccer game? It's not, as long as its budget doesn't get a decent boost. It, for instance, lacks licenses and other decorations, but impresses with attractive, unpredictable and assertive soccer.

Black Mesa is a lot of things. It's one of the best mods ever made and a package that offers every Half-Life fan what they want. It's also a chance for newcomers to get to know a game that has been put on a pedestal over the years, in a relatively modern way. But more importantly, it's a very special and entertaining look into the history of shooters.

Black Desert is one of the few MMORPGs that sees all professions as equals. Some days you can have fun fishing on a boat, while others you might enjoy hunting trolls on the ground. This is an MMO unlike anything we have seen the last few years.

The Outer Worlds is Fallout with a heavy scifi influence. A role that gives you so much freedom of choice, whereby every choice also influences the rest of the game in small, practical ways. We have not felt so free in a rpg for a long time.

Burnout Paradise Remastered shows that the original still needs some work after ten years. The mix of speed, sensation and freedom is still near perfect.

The hell of bullets that awaits you when you enter the Gungeon is weirdly addictive, as you have a whole range of weapons and the map changes constantly. The game has a good foundation with great eye for detail, but those beautiful elements do not fully work together all the time, which can hopefully be straightened out with a patch.

FIFA 13 is the impressive result of years of improvements and tests. The impact-engine really comes into its own and can be felt more properly throughout the rest of the game. Additions like first-touch, dynamic commentary and the skill games provide a fresh take on the already refined and expansive base of FIFA.

Papers, Please gives you a simple task that doesn't ask a lot of you. The game outgrows its mechanics though, by appealing to your moral compass and emotions. This indie game will get under your skin, will have you feeling uncomfortable and have you think about yourself, as a person.

Super Mario Maker is a crazy fun way of taking your own spin on thirty years of Mario. It is very easy to use, you can switch between building and playing in an instance and the online experience of sharing levels with other people will keep you busy for an endless period of time.

For those who can choose, they should obviously choose the PC-version: it's best controlled with a mouse and keyboard. But the console-version is in no other way inferior to the PC-version. Even there it's one of the best multiplayer shooters available.

Matching the success of Angry Birds while introducing a new concept seemed like an impossible task for Rovia, but they succeeded with Bad Piggies. It combines that 'I'll-quickly-play-a-game'-feeling with challenging 'build-and-reach-the-finish-line'-puzzle gameplay. It's funny, addicting and last but not least: it doesn't have any birds in it.

PUBG is exactly what the hype says. Its exciting, its filled with explosions and the easy rules make you come back for more. Too bad it is so buggy.

New ways to interact with the game world allow for stronger collaboration between you and Quill. This makes Moss: Book 2 feel both familiar and innovative.

Better late than never: the third Grid game is the best one yet, especially when it comes to variety of racing classes, highly developed driving and artificial intelligence. The rough visual edges do not affect the strength of the experience that is reminiscent of the TOCA and DTM heyday of Codemasters.

A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Astral Chain seems to have been developed with that awareness because every element of the game has been thought out with care and worked out just as careful.

Fall of the Samurai is an excellent mix between old and new forms of warfare, although the game leans more on the new forms of warfare which can make lovers of the old forms feel left out. The expansion is so big on the other hand, that you can't really pass up on it. This expansion lifts the original to new heights.

Dragon's Dogma on PC takes away a few graphical frustrations we had on the console. The improvements the game got in Dark Arisen are still in there, which makes this one of the best and one of the most difficult niche RPG's on the market.

This is an overwhelmingly beautiful retelling of one of the world's most famous Japanese role-playing games. Deepening the story and a new fighting system give newcomers and fans of the first hour an adventure that anyone can enjoy.

The storytelling is not great in Rise of the Tomb Raider, but it does offer a lot more content, more tombs and varied fighting scenes in a very nice setting.

The wonderful hack-and-slash action combined with fluent animations and a beautiful visual presentation make Dust: An Elysian Tail an adventure that you don't want to let go. Fortunately, there's a lot to see aside from the main story in the world of Falana, as to postpone your goodbye with the game quite a bit longer.

Endless Legend has taken a good look at its competitors while introducing some ideas of its own. On top of that, those ideas actually work. The game is beautiful and plays very smoothly, but a few serious bugs tend to ruin the fun.

Alan Wake 2 keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout. If not with survival horror action, then with an abundance of unexpected plot points and gameplay sequences. This sequel is really completely unique in that respect. Not all risks taken pay off, but Alan Wake 2 is an adventure in atmosphere, story and surprise that you really cannot miss.

Quotation forthcoming.

Whoever wants to try something new in 2013: Antichamber has got you covered. The psychological journey developer Alexander Bruce takes you on makes you forget everything you know about videogames, and everything about the world around you. There is a chance that your brain isn’t ready for this type of psychological violence, but whoever dares to surrender themselves to Antichamber won’t be disappointed.

Fast RMX is not exactly charming, but it is definitely a strong racing game. No matter if you play in handheld mode, on the television, alone or with friends, Fast RMX is a fast challenge in any setting.

Forza Horizon 2 is a sequel by the books: the same concept, but with much more content and a more refined end product. The off-road racing injects the game with some variety, but it also ruins the fun for people who prefer to take the roads, as going off-road is almost always the fastest way to your destination.

The Devil in Me is a worthy conclusion to the first season of The Dark Pictures Anthology. The murder mystery is thrilling from start to finish.

Dethroning Mario Kart is an amazing achievement in and of itself, and in that Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed succeeds. It does this as a gorgeous homage with big and small characters from SEGA's franchises, with great courses and gameplay. It's not hard to be impressed by this lovingly crafted, expansive arcade racer.

Gears of War: Ultimate Edition is a loving re-release of the original 360-game. The game looks terrific and offers a lot of content, thanks to the additional missions that used to be only available for PC-gamers. It is a good deal, but it still is an oldie as the franchise developed so much over the past years.