Transistor is no pioneer of the genre, but it is not afraid to be "special". It's a game which squeezes emotions out of you, and which will reward you with its both greatly written and put story, and enjoyable gameplay. This is a must for everyone who seek intense gaming experiences.

An extravagant puzzle adventure combines gambling, carnival and detective story. From all this came an irresistible game full of tension, logical thinking and time shifting. A must-have for anyone who do not mind using a brain while playing.

PA is an entertaining, comprehensive and accessible simulator of prison complex management. If you find this genre at least a little bit interesting, don’t hesitate buying it.

A great and hardcore platformer with RPG elements that's been created by just two people. But actually, this information does not matter while playing. The important thing is that Valdis Story is excellent fun for plenty of hours.

Shadowlands is the shock to the system World of Warcraft needed. It says goodbye to Azeroth and leads the player to places unknown, places full of creativity and vision. If you haven’t played WoW for some time, now is the time to jump back.

After this remake, Advance Wars doesn’t feel like a 20-year-old game at all. Nice graphics merge with the original systems – and those are pretty ageless. There are two massive campaigns, an editor, both local and online multiplayer variants and other details which make this an ideal package for all the strategists out there.

There’s no innovation, no evolution, nothing particularly exciting about this DLC. What you get is what you’d expect - three new missions which feel exactly the same as the original ones. 

This addon can defend its existence with its head raised. The Frozen Wilds add on comes only with little improvements and a weaker story than the original game. But it does not lose the excellent gameplay and in 10-15hrs gametime it offers a selection of the best.

The story is so dense, it could discourage with a pile of text and a small amount of action, but anyone who gives Trails in the Sky the 3rd a chance, gets tens of hours of great entertainment, brilliantly written characters and an interesting story.

Cave Story+ is quite an engaging, an entertaining, even nostalgic experience if you are inclined to be swept over by a wave of nostalgia. An ideal game for everyone, who is longing for classical times of video games, and who is not ashamed of it.

A difficult survival game, stunning through the original setting, fantastic atmosphere and joy of exploration. Even the combat system is good, there’s astute design to be seen everywhere - Grounded is well worth spending time in, even if it’s not any sort of revolution.

This is a better game than its predecessor - richer, with more paths to take and with a better story. Its world is extravagant, yet detailed. Its systems complement each other and make it one of the most robust RPGs on the market, a few design lapses notwithstanding.

Not your usual Pokémon game, a step in a slightly different direction. Arceus isn’t without its faults, but it is fun – and that might be the most important quality of this experiment.

A well-crafted soulslike that doesn’t reinvent the genre, but excels where it counts. The combat is sharp, visceral, and deeply satisfying, offering a solid challenge without feeling unfair. Boss fights are a definite highlight, with memorable design and mechanics. Unfortunately, the overall experience is held back by a weak story, uninspired level design, and rather monotonous environments. Still, for fans of the genre, it’s a gritty and rewarding adventure that hits most of the right notes.

Grand finale of an unconventional adventure is a success and the whole game has truly the one of the best stories of this year.

Cairn is a first-rate climbing simulator that goes far beyond its genre. It captivates with its environment and vistas, soothes with its melodic tones, moves with stories grounded in basic human experiences, prompts reflection on one’s own motivation, and rewards effort of any kind: Significant or small. A profound experience that lingers long after playing, and even when the summit is reached, its repeated call continues to resonate within.

The Plucky Squire is an extremely playful platformer that bombards you with one creative idea after another. Surprise, surprise… it works! It's the creativity in puzzles and environmental interactions that makes this adventure in a children's book truly special. Never mind the bland combat or the stretched-out final third. The Plucky Squire is a whimsical tale that warms the heart.

Simple concept, but incredibly amusing symphony of destruction with a strong multiplayer, spiced with humor and 80-90ties blockbuster references. No one should miss this arcade, no matter if single- or multiplayer.

A well-executed take on Soulslike genre, which draws inspiration from various sources while also incorporating its own unique elements into the mix. It stands out as a technically excellent and visually stunning game that holds its own in this eventful year.

Like all previous DLC Vive la France! is also very good add-on, which offers many hours of entertainment on countless kilometers of new roads.

Midnight Suns is so huge you probably won’t believe it at first. The sheer magnitude of its superhero-themed content is acceptable, though. Why? Because the game is good. Its tactical combat is fun, its storytelling hits all the right beats. The only true drawback is the aged graphics.

Sword & Sworcery offers an extraordinary audio-visual experience comparable to the price of a ticket to the movies. Even though it has a different yet traditional approach to a player, this game won't satisfy everyone. However, in its class it's an exceptionally original and well-done work of art that will touch your heart if you let it. Besides, you get an amazing soundtrack.

One of the best war strategies I have ever played is a great compromise between fidelity to reality and pure entertainment. Besides the monotony of the environment and the small flaws in the user interface, you can’t complain to anything.

Amazingly sophisticated and despite its complexity surprisingly accessible strategy for all enthusiasts of the Second World War. It’s easier than the previous game, it has flaws, but it still rocks.

Excellent tactical game that suffers from occasional megalomania and also a lack of testing. Moments when everything works as it should are a true balm for every strategist's soul.

The new Counter Strike game is the king of tactical first-person shooters. It is perfectly suited for the professional gamers as well as for the casual ones. The game offers plenty of hours, even days, probably even years of fun and gameplay. You won't sleep well until you get to 1st place.

The Last Campfire is proof of the creators of No Man’s Sky’s ability to conjure up an exciting game of a wholly different genre and scope. This is not a risk, this is a game that leans heavily on those that came before it, but the end result is a comfortable, emotional adventure made to fill one fine afternoon.

Donkey Kong is a well-oiled machine perfectly functioning for more than 30 years, showing even this year it has no flaws. Quite the reverse, it scores with its breathtaking rendering of the game's world along with, quite possibly, a high level of difficulty. However, the difficulty is perfectly legitimate, reminding you of the amount of ways for a game to be creative.