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.

Split Fiction is a party from start to finish. You go through beautiful and completely unique game worlds that always manage to surprise in different ways with new game mechanics, puzzles and ways to play together. Some games are a rollercoaster ride, but Split Fiction is the whole amusement park.

Monster Hunter Wilds is a masterful evolution for the series. Hunting and exploration flow together seamlessly, the world feels more dynamic and additions like the Seikret and Focus Mode make the experience more approachable without losing the essence. Veterans might miss a certain degree of challenge, but Wilds proves that Monster Hunter can still take a step up on the food chain.

The writing is phenomenal, the combat flows like an action game, the game world is worth every square centimeter, and even the smallest stories are memorable. Avowed may not be a groundbreaking, dynamic RPG, but it knows exactly what it excels at and fully commits to it. The result is the best Microsoft RPG in years.

The Sims Legacy Collections is exactly as you remember the games, chaos, bugs, glitches and all. The Sims 1 and 2 are iconic for a reason and are still just as entertaining 25 years later as the day they came out. For the true Sims lover who can accept a few crashes, they are definitely worth playing for the nostalgic feeling, even though the technical state of both games is not optimal.

The Sims Legacy Collections is exactly as you remember the games, chaos, bugs, glitches and all. The Sims 1 and 2 are iconic for a reason and are still just as entertaining 25 years later as the day they came out. For the true Sims lover who can accept a few crashes, they are definitely worth playing for the nostalgic feeling, even though the technical state of both games is not optimal.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is moving, hilarious, and an impressive immersion into the life of a medieval person. The game world is breathtaking, its characters are all memorable, the game is full of fantastic details, and on top of that, it offers a great sense of progression. While Kingdom Come 1 was still a rough cult hit, its sequel proves to be one of the best RPGs of this console generation.

Civilization 7 gets a lot right. Deep systems like diplomacy, trade and dealing with resources certainly make this a 'greatest hits' compilation of earlier Civ-games. The new structure with playing in three Ages lifts the game above that though, and really gives it a unique identity. The only major gripe is that the designs and interface tend to get into each other's space. Despite this, the game will soon hold you in an iron grip. At this point it is a cliché, but even in Civilization 7 "one more turn" means that two hours later you're still playing. In that, this is certainly a successful new instalment.

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.

Sniper Elite: Resistance seems very much like its predecessor. There are no innovations. There are missions and modes in abundance, but it is all mainly more of the same.

The subtitle "Black" carries significant weight in the world of Ninja Gaiden. Black is supposed to represent the ultimate, most complete version of a game, but Ninja Gaiden 2 Black falls short of that. Too much content from earlier versions is missing, and the PC version feels too rough. Still, 2 Black is easy to recommend: there’s no more accessible or visually polished version of this phenomenal action game.

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is overshadowed by its successor but remains a very good platformer.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is a fantastic adventure. The storytelling is excellent, the direction is sharp, and the gameplay is surprisingly fun. This is exactly what Xbox needs: a solid single-player game with its own unique identity.

Although the flight model and therefore the simulation is better than ever, there are too many small irritations in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 that affect the experience. The career mode is a valuable addition and the game is almost endlessly replayable for both casual and hardcore simmers. With a lot of love and dedication from developer Asobo and support from publisher Microsoft, it could well be that this is the absolute top in the field of flight simulations in a few months. The game does not reach those heights at the moment.

Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl is a melancholic and compelling shooter made in the most extraordinary circumstances. The beautiful and filled to the brim game world is accompanied by frustrating AI and graphical errors. In addition, the experience is not much different from the previous parts. Despite that, Stalker 2 is a game that you can spend hours in. The more effort you put into exploring the Zone, the more it will yield.

Planet Coaster 2 is a park builder where mostly only your own creativity and imagination are a limit, but sometimes the controls and menu structure also limit you. Swimming pools and slides are a surprisingly successful and well-developed addition. The game has generally been made more accessible for people who do not have the patience or talent to build everything themselves. As a management game, Planet Coaster 2 is still poor.

Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake is actually perfect as a remake. This game manages to recapture the original experience to give you that old feeling, but in a modern guise. The team has remained incredibly faithful to the original. On the one hand, that is excellent news, because it makes this the best way to play this classic. But that also makes it a game made for JRPG fans from the very beginning. For that group of gamers who sat behind an NES or SNES late at night, slowly traveling through a dungeon on their way to the final boss. It is very nice that this faithful remake exists for that specific group of veteran gamers, alongside far-reaching remakes such as that of Final Fantasy 7.

Lego Horizon Adventures is a new Lego success story, especially when played with a co-op partner. The game excels in its small-scale approach, and the humor and characters don't get old quickly. As a result, Horizon has become even more accessible, although this also means the gameplay isn't particularly deep.

Bioware has done it again: creating a cast of characters we would die for. The main story is uninspired and the flashy combat gets a bit stale after dozens of hours, but our love for the Veilguard remains.

Mario and Luigi: Brothership brings together the best elements of the previous titles in the crumbling Concordia. It plays great, is again sharply written and looks beautiful. When fighting, it is mainly the exciting boss battles that stay with you, partly due to the extra layer of strategy that the new Battle Plugs bring with them. But it is the characters that you meet along the way that make Brothership an unexpectedly emotional experience.

Zombies is great this year as usual. The single player is very entertaining, although some missions are a bit boring towards the end. The multiplayer is polarizing. Known problems (spawns, bullet registration) have not been addressed. Although the new way of moving allows for very spectacular actions, the high pace also ensures a high entry threshold. Black Ops 6 is a good Call of Duty as a total package, but will not convince dropped out players. Black Ops 6 is too safe for that - even for a Call of Duty.

Life is Strange: Double Exposure won't make any friends with its decision to leave Chloe behind. The ten year older Max is portrayed extremely well, and the supernatural story is delightful. Still, the writing varies in quality a lot due to an inconsistent tone and characters that make illogical decisions.

With more creative minigames and innovative features like Pro Rules, Buddy minigames, and multiple online modes, Mario Party Jamboree takes the franchise to the next level. The combination of strategy and chaos makes every match unique.

Silent Hill 2 is an atmospheric and above all faithful remake, which presents the fantastic story of the 2001 classic in a modern, more accessible guise.

Neva feels more like a 'game' than Nomada's previous title, but is nonetheless a top-tier work of art.

Until Dawn is a beautiful remake, but feels a bit redundant for fans of the original. With beautiful, vibrant environments, realistic detail, cinematic music, more engaging lore, expanded exploration options and a single new ending, the remake does feel like a ‘complete’ version of Until Dawn. For newcomers it is certainly recommended, but with no cheap upgrade, new choices, gameplay improvements or real surprise elements, there is little reason for players of the 2015 game to return.

Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero brings you back to the glory days of the Budokai series in all its facets, but it's more complete than ever with the addition of the latest films and the Dragon Ball Super anime. From the high-quality presentation and extensive story mode to the awkward camera movements and even the controls, everything feels just like it used to. The end result is essential for any Dragon Ball fan, although they may be disappointed by the absence of the excellent manga chapters that have not yet been animated.

Metaphor: ReFantazio takes bold steps with an entirely new fantasy world, philosophical questions, an expansive combat system full of different options, and an extraordinarily intriguing story.

Frostpunk 2 is a very atmospheric and deep strategy game. Choices are meaningful and the constant time pressure makes it feel like everything can go terribly wrong at any moment. Sometimes the game is a bit heavy-handed because of that. It could have used some humor to contrast all the icy misery. The risk of too much simulated suffering is that the toughest decisions sometimes leave you cold on a personal level. Because the end almost always justifies the means. This makes Frostpunk 2 one of those unique games where you can never really be the ‘good guy’, only ‘less bad’. And that makes for a valuable and well-made experience.

EA Sports FC 25 is especially fun for players who like to tactically control the game thanks to a series of new options. In addition, the game has an enormously wide range with the introduction of a simulation mode and Rush. FC 25 still has some rough edges that prevent us from dealing with a championship-worthy selection.

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is the twist on the old Zelda formula that we've been craving. Classic systems like a large number of dungeons are still present, while the magic system makes for an incredible array of solutions to your problems. The named downsides, like the unintuitive item menu and the framedrops, are annoying, but otherwise do not bother this solid game.

The Plucky Squire has some weird crashes, but it stands out mainly because of the playful and clever design of the game world and the variety of boss fights. The childish story is also well written, which is especially noticeable in the dialogues of the colorful characters. However, more could have been done with the creative mechanism with which the game initially draws attention.

Astro Bot is exceptionally creatively designed, with a few special PlayStation worlds as absolute highlights. However, in terms of platforming, the game does little out of the ordinary.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a well-crafted action game, even for those new to Warhammer. The slick gameplay makes every battle a rush of adrenaline, with plenty of ways to customize your play style. The deep, character-focused story makes it engaging for Warhammer fans and newcomers alike, while the robust modes and customization options will keep you coming back for more.

Crypt Custodian is a game about a cute kitten with a little broom who has to clean up the afterlife. Crypt Custodian is also an excellent metroidvania that doesn’t push any boundaries, but it does understand exactly what makes the genre so good: a cute kitten with a little broom.

Quotation forthcoming.

Investigating as a detective may feel a bit traditional in The Smiling Man, but that doesn’t make the story any less exciting. Sometimes you have to dig around in the menus for a bit too long and that can feel a bit cumbersome. Still, it’s surprising to see a Nintendo game deal with such dark themes. That really gives this murder mystery a face of its own.

Visions of Mana is an excellent role-playing game, full of sympathetic characters and captivating folklore. The unparalleled flora and fauna make it worth exploring the game world, without this being at the expense of the sharp pace of the twenty-hour story. The game is very explicitly based on a bildungsverhaal that we have already seen many times. With a little more daring, Visions of Mana would have been an RPG classic. Now it is mainly a very good game.

Concord feels like a game that was made when Overwatch was just getting popular, but never kept up with any development in the industry. The action is decent, but a lack of good content, personality, and unique ideas do the game in.

Black Myth: Wukong does more things right than wrong. It starts off a bit oddly, sometimes plays stiffly, and the constant stream of bosses will eventually get on your nerves. However, it's surprisingly clever and feels especially refreshing, even though you've undoubtedly heard or seen the story of Journey to the West before.

Star Wars Outlaws deviates little from the formula of an average open-world game. However, Massive Entertainment introduces enough changes to create a refreshing experience.

Just like the funny first part, World of Goo 2 is full of ingenious puzzles and even more creative solutions. The game sometimes reminds you very much of the first part, but you will only really notice that if you have played World of Goo recently.

ExoCross is an arcade racing game as they are rarely made, with an emphasis on physics and sensitive driving behavior, mainly on unpaved tracks. We would have liked to see a more extensive online multiplayer to complete the party.

For a game that wants to do so many things at once, it is remarkable how well Dungeons of Hinterberg manages to keep all the balls in the air. The special setting and cozy vibes make this a unique version of a game where you have to slaughter monsters in dungeons.

Schim is a brilliant idea in a special work of art with a unique, typically Dutch style. As a game, it is unfortunately too repetitive in terms of gameplay and environments to last long.

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.

Dawntrail is roughly the same game as Endwalker and the previous expansions, with a few minor nuances and differences. You may find that boring, but bottom line this is still the best you can find in the mmorpg field at the moment. In any case, it is more than enough for loyal players who are ready for new content.

Shadow of the Erdtree is a full game that happens to be sold as DLC for Elden Ring. With its incredibly layered and interconnected game world, you'll be engrossed for forty to fifty hours. During that time, you'll repeatedly find yourself pondering what you've just encountered. A bizarre weapon, yet another new area, a secret even more hidden than the last. With this expansion, FromSoftware fulfills the promise of Elden Ring: a free world to explore without losing the brilliant direction of its creators.

F1 24 is again an 'in-between game' in which new content is scarce. The career mode is fun, but not enough to pull the cart in a year without Braking Point. Dynamic Handling has potential, but the first version misses the mark in most areas.

Paper Trail is a fairytale game with a unique and intriguing concept. Folding the world around you creates special puzzles that we have not seen before. Unfortunately, the game wavers from too easy to too difficult, but when it does manage to find that balance, Paper Trail is unapproachable.

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.

Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 does not have as much emotional impact as the first part, but that is almost impossible. Part two is still quite authentic and Senua remains a special character. It is logical that developer Ninja Theory did not want to say goodbye after just one game. After Senua's Sacrifice we are willing to follow her anywhere, all the way to the impressive Iceland of the 10th century.

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.

TopSpin 2K25 is a striking return of a decades-old series. The tennis action is exciting and balanced, but all the peripheral issues ruin a significant part of the gaming experience.

Another Crab's Treasure wears its heart on its sleeve. The makers clearly love Fromsoftware and are happy to share that love with the whole world. Thanks to extensive accessibility options and a wonderfully colorful game world, everyone can enjoy it without any worries, until we all disappear below sea level.

There's not that much wrong with Stellar Blade, but there's not that much that's great either. The predictable story and empty characters are offset by exciting and fluid combat. Hopefully our imagination will be stimulated a little more in a possible sequel.

In terms of gameplay, Tales of Kenzera: Zau is not special and in terms of difficulty it is even unbalanced here and there. However, the game immerses you in an intriguing setting with a beautiful graphic style and a moving story. In combination with the entertaining combat, it is still worthwhile to venture to the mythical plains of Kenzera.

Children of the Sun is a short ride, but entertaining from start to finish. The concept, action puzzles that you have to solve with one bullet, lasts for five hours and introduces just enough variety to avoid being repetitive. The simple story about a cult and the unique, bizarre style are the icing on the cake.

Pepper Grinder trades its unique concept just too often for generic mechanics that are a lot less interesting. This leaves a platformer that is only partially brilliant and consists of a lot of unused potential.

Princess Peach Showtime does not reach the heights of the average Mario game. Although the cool princess steals the show with a range of unique power-ups, many levels perform poorly due to the superficial gameplay. Combined with the dated graphics, we are left with the feeling that there could have been more to this.

Rise of the Ronin is bursting with ambition: it wants to tell an important moment in Japanese history in a compelling way in an open game world in which you can lose yourself endlessly. Unfortunately, this does not always work out well and the game feels messy and colorless. Fortunately, Team Ninja's excellent combat saves the day with razor-sharp precision and memorable fights.

Dragon's Dogma 2 is one of the best open world games to date. With its free combat system, the company of quirky pawns and the lively game world, this second part offers the ultimate adventurer feeling. It is still a complex RPG with many underlying systems, but they all work together to continuously provide your gaming experience with unforgettable moments.

This is one of those games whose simple concept lends itself to almost limitless depth. Even after dozens of hours of play, this roguelite deckbuilder manages to surprise you with strategies you never knew were possible.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth's road trip is enchanting and wonderfully written, meandering between emotional and absurd moments. The battles remain great and the soundtrack is overwhelming, but it's the charming environments and characters that make Rebirth a triumph. Every location you visit feels like a small vacation with your best friends.

Ultros is beautiful, psychedelic and a great metroidvania that turns into a gardening game halfway through. You just have to be in the mood for that, even if you don't have to.

Skull and Bones does not offer the celebrated pirate life. Customizing your ship is nice and the naval battles are okay, but otherwise the game has no slick or taste across the board.

Although Helldivers 2 is somewhat lacking in originality and depth in terms of missions and story, it more than makes up for it with funny *tone of voice*, spectacular gameplay and hilarious moments. Despite the sometimes chaotic action, it offers enough tactical depth to give you an advantage in combat, while emphasizing the importance of communication between teammates.

Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden does not seem to be able to support the developer's ambitions. The combat system is fun, but not exploited enough. Exploring the game world is incredibly limited and keeps you on your toes too much. On top of that there are technical imperfections, such as long loading times. Graphically it's all okay, but not brilliant. Characters look nice standing still, but when they start talking it's as if actors are wearing thick rubber masks and the animations are awkward. But the biggest problem is that the game doesn't actually do anything new. Everything you encounter you have seen before and better. Ironically, this game about a ghost and a ghost hunter is a bit soulless.

Games are often more than the sum of their parts. The reverse is the case with Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. The positives are overshadowed by the negative elements, and the result is as messy as it is boring.

Persona 3 Reload is an old-fashioned Japanese RPG that places a heavy emphasis on routine gameplay and collecting experience points. Fortunately, there is light at the end of the infamous Tartarus Tower, because those who play through the game until the final minutes will be rewarded with a fantastic story with intriguing characters that you will not soon let go.

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is a game with many (beautiful) faces. It is a fantastic piece of social criticism, an excellent role-playing game, a tragic comedy, and a wonderful parody of games like Pokémon, Crazy Taxi and Animal Crossing. Infinite Wealth is so diverse and yet so firm: this is why open world games are so much fun.

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.

The Last of Us: Part 2 Remastered places less emphasis on the visual upgrades than the substantive extras, and gets away with that just fine.

The Lost Crown is a great metroidvania. Sometimes the difficulty level peaks unexpectedly, which can lead to some frustration due to the linear nature, but usually the strong combat and fast platforming ensure that this is a very fun game.

Even in this top year, A Highland Song stands alone. Rarely have we seen a game that understands so well how interactivity and freedom of choice enhance the gaming experience, without taking away that same freedom later. A Highland Song is a sublime exploration of coming of age, Scottish history and the myths that arise where man and nature meet.

The world of Pandora offers enormous potential for a video game, and Massive Entertainment has fully exploited that potential with an open game world characterized by fantastic natural environments and stunning details. Unfortunately, the hackneyed missions and shallow combat get in the way of a truly compelling open-world adventure, making the game feel like a mediocre copy of Far Cry in terms of gameplay.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is not a full-fledged Call of Duty, but it is marketed as such. This has major consequences for quality. Whether that quality is relevant to you depends on the mode you buy the game for. The single player is boring, short and bad. The multiplayer is nostalgic, but is also too safe an update of the predecessor with old maps. The Zombies mode is different, big and exciting. So have fun, maybe?

Jusant remains continuously fun thanks to varied climbing puzzles and an impressive game world. Based on that world, Just also tells a moving story with an emotional ending. This is one of those games that you probably want to skip at the tail end of an incredibly busy gaming year, but Gamer.nl recommends otherwise.

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.

To move forward, sometimes you first have to take a step back. Colossal Order is laying a foundation that it can build on for years to come, but currently has its own predecessor as its main competitor.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder is surprising, creative and at the same time a worthy, two-dimensional sequel to Super Mario Odyssey.

Spider-Man 2 is a by-the-book sequel. It offers more of everything that worked so well in the previous parts. This results in an incredibly good and smoothly playable game that oozes fun, but Insomniac often makes the safest choices, so the game does not often surprise.

It makes Cocoon the ultimate example of what a game should strive for: full of puzzles and a strange world to intrigue you, perfectly folded into a final product where it is unclear where the world ends and the user interface begins. It's a game that requires no tutorials or explanations - playing it is as natural as riding a bike. Despite this simplicity, a complex game quickly forms that will haunt your mind for a long time. Cocoon is a game that we can point to for years to come as an example of a perfect puzzle game.

If you are stripped far enough, you will eventually be in your shirt. Assassin's Creed Mirage also experiences this. Everything that does not have to do with assassinations is omitted, but nothing new is added either. The result is at times nostalgic and entertaining, but ultimately as fleeting as a mirage.

Forza Motorsport is an ode to motorsport. Here it's still about petrol, roaring engines, gravel traps and old-fashioned circuits. It is the representation of a culture as it once was: loud, theatrical, bold and yet also a bit masculine. It leads to an intriguing game: never before has it been so cool and exciting to race through the fog at Spa Francorchamps with a souped-up Toyota Celica or a factory version of the Porsche 911 GT3. The only thing missing? A good and varied single player.

EA Sports FC 24 is in everything but the name 'just' another new Fifa, but a Fifa that we finally enjoy playing again. The smoother animations are the ultimate lubricant that finally addresses the biggest pain point of recent years.

Mortal Kombat 1 mainly draws strength from the formula that made the series great. This means a high degree of accessibility, completely bizarre and grotesque characters and of course blood that flows (very) freely. The Kameo fighters are an excellent addition that give the gameplay the necessary depth. This means that Mortal Kombat 1 remains fun to play for a long time, even if you are already tired of the gruesome fatalities.

Lies of P is more than just a Bloodborne clone, although we'd be lying if we said it's just for inspiration. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, they say. Quite literally translating is exactly what happened here, but fortunately the developers have also given it their own look. Lies of P tells a fascinating story, scores above average on the aspects that make a soulslike good and even adds some innovative game mechanics. Look beyond your nose, squint a little and you will still get Bloodborne Remastered this year.

Sea of Stars is a visually beautiful jrpg with tactical combat and fun puzzles. While the game never outshines its inspirations, it's a great homage to old classics.

'Skyrim in space' falls short on Starfield, but at the same time it is the perfect description of this total package. Starfield is so big, diverse and detailed that it's hard not to lose yourself in this world. Not everything is perfect, but the negatives are completely outweighed by the positives. In short, a typical Bethesda game. But then in space.

Blasphemous 2 plays much better than its predecessor in many ways. The focus is more on dexterity and exploring the game world with your newly discovered skills. The lack of friction may have lost the soul a bit, but in return you get a wonderfully varied metroidvania that you can explore to your heart's content.

Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon is difficult and therefore a game for die-hards. It is also a real pleasure from start to finish. The pace is delightful, the story captivating, the combat is fantastic, customizing your mech is satisfying, and audiovisually, Armored Core 6 manages to impress. The game still has some balance issues at the time of writing. That is why the level of difficulty is erratic, but FromSoftware is expected to rectify that.

Baldur's Gate 3 is the best RPG in years. The game is not made for everyone and has a steep learning curve, especially for non-D&D players. But those willing to dive in will find a game that offers you more freedom of choice than we've ever seen in peers.

With brilliant writing and acting and a unique way to influence music tracks, Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical makes a big impression. The fact that your choices don't matter much is not that bad, although it is a pity that the soundtrack does not contain any nice sing-alongs.

Remnant 2 almost feels like an extinct kind of game. It is a 'finished' product - except for the bugs and already announced downloadable content - that you can theoretically (re) play almost 'infinitely', with a maximum of three people and without fuss. Because so many elements are randomly generated, no SEO article or YouTube video can compete with all the surprises and secrets this sequel offers. This is a rare game that you want to app other people about what you have discovered or experienced. They are not often made like this anymore, but Gunfire Games is doing it a second time.

Pikmin 4 bundles the best of all previous parts and removes the most common criticisms. On paper, that produces the best Pikmin game ever, but due to all the improvements, the game lacks some urgency.

Final Fantasy 16 is a daring and ambitious action-adventure filled with memorable moments, gripping twists and a new, flashy combat system that delivers. It might have been even better if the game had said goodbye to its RPG roots altogether, but the love for Final Fantasy and epic storytelling is palpable every minute.

Park Beyond really knows how to add something to the genre with its original attractions, without going completely crazy. The foundation is also surprisingly solid, with intuitive mechanics to manage your park's finances and human resources. But due to the lack of diversity in attractions, the poor control when placing objects and a handful of bugs, the full potential is not yet fully realized.