The new benchmark for the RPG genre and masterfully crafted computer games in general.

Link's new open-world adventure is a masterpiece that will enchant fans both new and old.

Bioshock looks fantastic, sounds fantastic, has more vending machines than all other action games put together and dares not to tell the whole story to inspire your own fantasy.

One of the best JRPGs that, despite the long play time, delights from the first to the last second and surprises again and again.

A must-have for every games looking for a clever, funny and original challenge. Portal 2 offers lots of surprises and twists and has been tuned just right to be challenging, but not frustrating. The level design is fair and keeps the motivation high until the end.

Astro Bot is not always challenging in terms of gameplay, but offers pretty, varied and detailed platform worlds full of funny ideas.

Quotation forthcoming.

Hades 2 is a narratively and visually unique roguelite that combines fast-paced, intense combat with an in-depth progression system.

This is the first great game of 2010. It’s a worthy successor to the first game and a fast paced science fiction drama. Maybe no one except Bioware really knows how to tell stories and create believeable characters. It’s more than just a role playing game and also technically advanced.

My conclusion after eleven hours: Bioshock Infinite is one of the best games I've ever been able to experience. My conclusion after twelve hours: What the hell? Whoever calls the finale "unusual" could denote the Atlantic Ocean as a "wet". Infinite makes me simultaneously gobsmacked, amazed and very pleased - and even after two weeks, I cannot tell you exactly which emotion prevails.

The world of the Elden Ring is full of surprises and hard-fought battles with new, imaginative possibilities, to make every choice meaningful.

Captivating story, rad gameplay. God of War Ragnarök masterfully blends established features with new ideas.

The Witcher 3 impressed not just with sheer size, but also with its small scale fully enchanting surprises.

A truly masterful fantasy simulation.

Half-Life: Alyx redefines the word experience. Unfortunately, only in VR. And then again, luckily only in VR, because what Valve delivers here is exactly what VR fans have been hoping for for years: a system seller that makes virtual reality interesting even for people who have not had any interest in it before. And not just because of the name Half-Life, but because of the quality.

I cannot remember the last time a game has grabbed me so much from the first moment. A glorious role-playing experience, which offers incomparably many liberties and is full of content and possibilities. Must-buy.

StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty is as good as expected, but you'll need to be patient with it. The game takes some time to get going and behind all the upgraded technologies it's still the same StarCraft we've been knowing for 12 years. It's the best real-time strategy game of the last years and while not perfect, StarCraft 2 is a real masterpiece of PC gaming and even better as a multi-player game.

Also on the PC a fantastic action-adventure that delights with its presentation, fierce combat and grand emotions.

Still an unconditional recommendation for PC cowboys due to the grandiose staging, the incredible detail and the story of Arthur Morgan.

It has been a long time since a game could make me laugh so wonderfully, I haven't been so in love with characters and their world in ages.

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare may be relatively short with just six to seven hours playing time, but thanks to the brilliant staging those hours are the most impressive ones we've experienced with any action game yet.

Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth irons out almost all the criticisms of its predecessor, making it the best Final Fantasy in years.

Fantastic 2D Jump&Run full of creative ideas for both kids and adults that shouldn't be missing in any Switch collection.

Resident Evil 9 sets a new standard for modern survival horror and is currently one of the most visually stunning games available on PC.

Capcom learns from its mistakes and delivers one of the most fun Street Fighter games in the series' history.

Shadow of the Erdtree offers one of the most fascinating game worlds ever and thus crowns a role-playing masterpiece.

Okami combines typical Zelda-like gameplay with an extraordinary art style and a world full of interesting mythology.

Undertale is absolutely unique. It's a RPG masterpiece full of weird characters and a moving message.

The crowning glory of a ten-year saga.

Metaphor: ReFantazio aims for too much at first but turns out to be a variety-packed adventure with the usual Atlus mix.

A well rounded mix of construction strategy, survival, worker placement and roguelite. Gloomy, without fights, sometimes hectic, always exciting.

Quotation forthcoming.

Graphically impressive flight sim, based on global map data. Great for hobby pilots who fly on sight, but with problems when it comes to big airliners and autopilot.

Wrath of the Lich King doesn’t offer much for new players, it’s made for experienced players. It increases the scale of the game, adds a few new bits and improves the game while still using the same well known and polished game mechanics. This may sound boring, but it’s absolutely not.

Overwatch doesn't reinvent the wheel, but mixes well-known mechanics to create one of the best games of the genre in years.

The most accessible, most extensive and currently simply the best fighting game on consoles - the PC version noticeably lags behind online.

MGS5 is an enormous open-world adventure, a monster of a game that can entertain for months.

A masterful open-world racer in an unforgettable setting - would have benefited from a little more courage to innovate.

Top-class graphics, sound and atmosphere - with due modesty: this is the the world's best first-person shooter so far. A game which combines all the virtues of its predecessors: a thrilling story, an open game world, physics simulation and graphics to marvel at.

At its core, it's still the same game as Crusader Kings 2, for better and for worse. It's still highly complex and tells great stories. And despite the context system, it can still be incomprehensible and frustrating. It's a bit like the Holy Grail. It gives you eternal youth, but it does not make you another person.

Street Fighter 4 turns out to be as good as we hoped. If you've never played a Street Fighter game or even one of the other games of the genre, this is your chance to do so. Countless modes and characters promise fun for several months. Similar games will have a hard time trying to be any better.

Fallout 3, a successful reanimation of a classic role-playing game, is one of the best modern RPGs and one of the greatest games of 2008. With up to date 3D graphics, good game design and adequate playing time, it's one of those rare pleasant surprises one doesn't dare to hope for anymore. For some it's almost video game art, but it's definitely very good entertainment.

Quotation forthcoming.

Quotation forthcoming.

An absolutely fantastic remake of a classic that is a must-have for horror fans.

This is the best game by Bioware since Baldur's Gate 2. It's a highly motivating and excitingly told adventure for adult gamers. You'll experience rage, anxiety, inner conflict, loss, sympathy, bafflement and joy in this epic drama. Probably the role-playing game of the year.

Clair Obscur is emotional, challenging and intense - a role-playing game that stands out in terms of atmosphere and story.

Quotation forthcoming.

Disco Elysium is my game of the year.

If you can ignore the still not perfect controls on PC then Dark Souls 2 is a great game for hardcore gamers that can endure some suffering. They will scream in front of the screen - out of joy and out of frustration.

I'm particularly pleased with how well Nintendo has mastered the balancing act between nostalgia and a modern reinterpretation of Donkey Kong. Anyone who's been enjoying adventures with the ape since the 90s can look forward to a host of familiar faces. Anyone who awakens their inner Kong for the first time will still be able to follow all the action without any problems.

Visually impressive and motivating factory sandbox for dozens to hundreds of hours, with a shallow story and low replay value.

An excellent PC port of an already excellent game.

This is the best WoW so far and that's true in every aspect of the game. It's a bit too easy, but it has the most original quests of every other MMORPG.

Silksong is a unique, fantastic gaming experience - though it may not be suitable for everyone.

Exciting construction and management sim with great gameplay flow. It does require a lot of imagination and thought. Caution: addictive!

Split Fiction is a must-have for all co-op fans and demonstrates why we love video games in a creative and impressive way.

One of the best superhero games that not only delivers brilliantly staged blockbuster action, but is also narratively compelling.

The PC port of this RPG masterpiece beats the PS5 version by far, but it could have been much better.

This independent game is a creative jewel, so motivating and full of love for details, that it puts multi-million-dollar-games to shame. Braid shows how to create an amazing game using the right ideas.

Currently the best way to play The Last of Us 2. Although the roguelike mode disappoints in the long run.

Quotation forthcoming.

Rocking beat'em up with excellent flow, likeable characters and fantastic humour. A good time is guaranteed.

Even on PC and with mouse and keyboard, Ragnarök is an action-packed thriller with an insanely captivating story.

Quotation forthcoming.

Even eight years after release for consoles this is still a great action-rich spectacle which no fan of pc fighting games should miss.

Would you like an inexpensive getaway from the video game matrix for a few hours? Here's your ticket.

The well-made port offers subtle improvements and clean PC controls, but is lacking in terms of reflections and SDR lighting.

This year NBA 2K rocks again, but the onmipresent in-game currency casts a shadow over the career mode.

Quotation forthcoming.

Quotation forthcoming.

Human Revolution is a typical sneak & shoot game, everything else is just eye candy. But that's quite nice for a change, too.

The fact that I delivered this test on time for the deadline is close to a miracle. After all, I had to stop playing Into the Breach to write about it. It's been a long time since I've had such a difficult time putting a game down.

The basics are still the same, but GTA 4 is a masterpiece. The game world created by Rockstar North is simply amazing. The shootings, radio, TV, the story and the characters create more than just a sandbox game. It's almost a parallel world.

Shogun 2 takes the series back to its roots and got rid of a lot of complicated and confusing details. Now it's possible to concentrate on the really important tasks again: battles, ruling the country and cursing.

Empire: Total War still has some teething problems, but the latest installment of the Total War series is its best one nonetheless. The game takes place in the 18th century with eleven playable countries. As usual, you govern you country and move your armies on the strategy map, while battles are fought in real-time, including sea battles. If you like strategy games, you need to play Empire: Total War.

Lots of content, full of variety and extremely will written. This is a well-done add-on for a low price.

A surreal horror odyssey that proves even blockbuster games can make bold design choices.

That's the way remakes should be. The new edition of Resident Evil 2 transports the horror classic of 1998 with stylish graphics and top technology into the modern age.

Neon White has perfected its simple and unique shooter concept. It won't win any awards for its story.

Successful trip to Hawaii with few, but enough new features that proves the Yakuza concept also works outside Japan, especially for fans.

It's better than Dark Souls 2, weaker than the first one: it's a good completion to the trilogy, but it doesn't create new milestones.

It's an RPG with a soul. Every little detail of it. Obsidian didn't just deliver what they promised, they built a bridge between the past and the present. It may be just one add-on away from being the best RPG ever released.

Successful genre mix that runs out of steam near the end due to repetition.

Quotation forthcoming.

It's a playable zombie movie. Would you like to hunt down the infected or rather rip human flesh to shreds? What may look like a simple shooter turns out to be very challenging, scary and a lot of fun. The game may be short, but with great replay value and different ways to play like versus mode or co-op mode.

On the one hand, this could have been a less expensive DLC for Left 4 Dead, just like it was done for Team Fortress 2. On the other hand, we don’t really care, once we’ve chocked someone to death as a Smoker or hit someone with our fist as a Charger. That’s only possible in Left 4 Dead 2.

Thanks to nice improvements and a great career mode, F1 2017 is an absolute must-have for F1 fans and all gamers aspiring to be one.

A dream come true for Pokémon fans and creative builders who love getting lost in the little details.

The abundance of details about politics, technology, planets and the different alien races create an unparalleled depth for a role-playing game. The story is captivating right until the impressive and dramatic finale. If it wasn't for the more or less necessary but repetitive side quests, the game would be exceptional. There is room for improvement, but as far as story telling is concerned, Mass Effect wipes the floor with the competition.

The most imaginative PC platformer money can buy right now.

Phantom Liberty delivers one of the best stories in the role-playing genre and presents Cyberpunk 2077 at its best.

Quotation forthcoming.

Quotation forthcoming.

It combines a terrific single-player campaign with brilliant multi-player battles. The result: the best tatical strategy game of the year with well designed missions and great handling.

Kojima polarises once again: for some players it's a blockbuster, for others it's a bore.

Forbidden West takes a lot of good decisions and is even better than its predecessor - with the exception being the story.

Brain off, trigger finger on. It's easy to forget the simple visuals and it's ideal for a quick game.