Realms of Ruin is certainly not a bad game. With its engaging story campaign and map editor, it nods to the giants of the RTS genre. Gameplay-wise, it leans towards a simplified version of Company of Heroes, with decent graphics and everything generally working as intended. Its main shortcoming is the lack of originality and any unique, fresh ideas, which may lead to a sense of monotony during extended play.

From my perspective, buying the new installment doesn't make sense. It's particularly irrelevant for those who purchase Call of Duty once in a blue moon and desire a complete package, including an entertaining campaign and perhaps cooperative missions. Exhausted zombies don't salvage it. While the multiplayer is successful, the overall package leaves a bitter aftertaste.

After eight years, the legendary Codemasters has taken charge of the WRC brand. Unfortunately, their debut isn't as assured as one would expect from the creators of Dirt Rally. EA Sports WRC boasts a superb driving model and an enjoyable career, but there's much to criticize on the visual and technical fronts. The new systems seem more like a teaser and lack the necessary depth. Despite this, the driving experience is enjoyable, and it's certainly not something Codemasters should be ashamed of, although they are capable of much more.

Persona 5 Tactica is a bit deceiving addition to the series and rather an experiment. It's easy to get the impression that Persona loses some of its charm due to the shift to a turn-based strategy, but the series is more taking a step sideways and introspecting. Despite criticisms of the narrative and its pacing, it is more than just an entertaining venture.

A surprisingly robust culmination of a phase in the famous football series. Football Manager is gearing up for significant changes next year, but this year it has already delivered an excellent experience that addresses some of the most pressing issues. Coaching your own team on the green pitch is once again fantastic.

Super Mario RPG provides an excellent way to introduce a remarkable classic to a modern audience. Unfortunately, it doesn't go the extra mile and, in its effort to be as 1:1 as possible, occasionally feels a bit dated. However, turn-based battles with rhythmic elements remain entertaining, and the new graphical touches suit the most famous plumber and his companions well.

An incredibly addictive platformer with adorable graphics and a fantastic musical score. Its gameplay captivates newcomers and challenges experienced players alike, and if you aim to collect everything, you're in for a decent challenge.

An average survival game, with a functional but unremarkable gameplay offering nothing we haven't seen repeatedly elsewhere. It fails to captivate through its story or combat, with its only real strength lying in the immersive environment and the portrayal of the Lord of the Rings lore. This means that if you're not interested in Tolkien's world, Return to Moria isn't worth your attention.

Truck Driver: The American Dream teased an Unreal Engine 5-powered, narrative-driven trucking game, only to unveil an unenjoyable arcade experience with highly frustrating road traffic, uninteresting chatter, and audiovisual elements that fall short of both the chosen engine's capabilities and the standards of current consoles. At a significant discount, it might temporarily satisfy the appetite for console trucking, but don't expect much beyond that.

Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged takes the very solid core of its predecessor and adds a plethora of smaller changes, making it feel fresh. The updates make racing even more challenging, strategic, and thrilling, with the track editor standing out as one of the best in the genre. It's a shame about the imbalanced difficulty, the element of chance in obtaining new vehicles, and the lack of truly groundbreaking innovations. Nevertheless, it remains a highly entertaining racing arcade, a rarity in the genre.

The Man Who Erased His Name will be most enjoyed by seasoned fans of the Like a Dragon series and Kazuma Kiryu. It may not be as lengthy or unpredictable as other installments, but that's not necessarily a drawback. Primarily, it serves as a satisfying prelude to Infinite Wealth.

The Master Collection stays afloat solely because the first five Metal Gear games remain superbly playable and timeless even after two decades. However, the minimal effort put into archiving and bringing these legendary espionage thrillers to modern platforms resulted in an incoherent collection riddled with technical glitches and perplexing unfinished elements.

Cocoon is a confidently crafted and impressively detailed puzzle game. It isn't afraid to let you explore and figure things out, rewarding your efforts with unparalleled satisfaction. The fantastic visual design and beautiful soundtrack complement the experience. While you might not be left gaping at plot twists during the credits, you'll undoubtedly sit back with a profoundly content feeling, knowing you've cleverly solved it all. That's precisely what I expect from a puzzle-centric game.

Punch Club 2: Fast Forward might deter you with two things – significant grinding and the fact that the sequel doesn't stray far from the original. However, grinding is integral to this game, and the first installment worked beautifully. The sequel also boasts a futuristic setting, consistently great humor, polished audiovisuals, and intriguing stories. If you're looking for something to sink your teeth into this busy year or simply want to unwind with a game, Punch Club 2 will keep you entertained.

Jusant is a meditative gem that allows you to savor both the tranquility and the beauty of the surroundings, as well as the adrenaline rush of scaling high cliffs. It captivates with its beauty, mystery, and exploration, instilling an unwavering desire to climb higher until the very last ledge. It's just a shame that the metaphorical summit didn't reach the lofty heights that may have seemed possible through the misty clouds.

A fantastic adaptation of the cult action classic that is sure to ignite the enthusiasm of any fan of the cybernetic law enforcer, Alex Murphy. RoboCop: Rogue City is an excellent shooter infused with robust RPG elements and adventure, where your decisions shape the narrative. Despite occasional rough graphics, it's a superb homage to the films, and, moreover, it's an absolute blast to play.

El Paso, Elsewhere will be a nostalgic journey for many, reminiscent of a time when action games were refreshingly straightforward. Its unique noir-supernatural setting and action sequences filled with slow-motion and flying bullets are engaging. The story keeps you glued to the screen, but the game struggles with a lack of variety. Just a pity that the artificial intelligence leaves much to be desired in the intelligence department.

Heretic's Fork takes well-established mechanics and blends them to create a highly refreshing and addictive game. This deckbuilding with a twist spins a devilish web around a rather ordinary tower defense concept, all under the veil of humor and a distinctive aesthetic. It's a fantastic indie gem that will keep you hooked for quite a while.

Ghostrunner 2 is incredibly addictive and entertaining, honoring its predecessor. Most changes are for the better, but there are a few alterations that don't quite harmonize with the overall feel of the game. Nevertheless, Ghostrunner 2 undoubtedly earns its place among the best action games of the year. The second installment is a resounding success.

A mysterious detective tale filled with bizarre moments and occasionally overly convoluted storytelling. However, it oozes personality and charisma by the gallons. Remedy crafts their peculiar universe on a solid foundation, resulting in a fantastic and original game. It's just not for everyone.

A superb bite-sized experience with an excellent combat system, enchanting graphics, and fantastic flamenco-infused music. En Garde! oozes humor, its fencing duels are action-packed and truly satisfying. Regrettably, it falls short in terms of its relative brevity, simplistic platforming, and uninteresting storyline.

Hellboy: Web of Wyrd is unequivocally the best Hellboy title to date. It's captivating, featuring an intriguing world and a narrative that pays homage to the universe crafted by Mike Mignola. However, the slow and monotonous combat system significantly hinders the game's overall appeal.

An adequate port of a classic that will mostly delight fans. Gothic still shines brilliantly after twenty years, thanks to its story, atmosphere, and open world. It's a pity that the abysmal combat system didn't receive an overhaul, and it still falls short on the technical side.

Cities: Skylines II bears a striking resemblance to its predecessor, but the developers have significantly deepened, expanded, and improved its mechanics in almost every aspect. While it currently offers slightly less content, its foundation is as solid as a rock, and from a gameplay perspective, we are treated to an outstanding city-building strategy experience. Unfortunately, the overall enjoyment and impression are mercilessly shattered by the dismal technical state.

Playing Super Mario Bros. Wonder is a pure joy. This triumphant return to the franchise's 2D platforming origins showcases Mario and his companions in their best form. Wonder artfully blends nostalgic elements from earlier titles with tasteful innovations, resulting in a harmonious fusion that's virtually foolproof and won't get old easily.

A fantastic pocket-sized turn-based strategy game that you can play almost endlessly thanks to its rich content. Wargroove 2 captivates with its beautiful design, new mechanics, and an excellent roguelite Conquest mode. While I might opt for more complex strategies on PC, it's definitely among the gems on Switch.

We'll still have to wait for successors to giants like Medieval II or Rome II, but even so, Pharaoh is the best attempt at a historical Total War since Attila, despite borrowing many systems from Warhammer or Saga-labeled titles. Add an extra point if you have an affinity to ancient Egypt and can be satisfied with two or three completed campaigns. On the other hand, if you expect extensive entertainment for hundreds of hours or units that rival the fantasy branch of the series in diversity, you may soon start to get bored with Pharaoh.

Spider-Man 2, unlike its protagonists, remains grounded in terms of innovations and doesn't swing the series forward. It stands on a very solid foundation, subtly tweaking it, usually in the right direction, and tells a story that, while lacking in surprise, remains quite enjoyable. It's once again a great action adventure, but next time, the series would really benefit from a more significant shift.