It isn't very often you get a sequel that improves in so many areas without changing too much, but it is clear that Dance Central is worthy of your precious holiday dollars.

Ori and the Will of the Wisps improves upon its predecessor in almost every way, from its drastically improved combat system to its use of NPCs and side quests. Like Ori and the Blind Forest before it, Will of the Wisps is held back by intermittent technical hitches that can result in some frustrating moments, but it hardly keeps this incredible sequel from shining through.

Stunning graphical overhaul aside, Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age delivers several gameplay-improving mechanics never seen in North America. While balance is still occasionally wobbly, there’s no doubt that Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age is a masterclass in the light but deliberate touch necessary to take something great and make it even better.

The Gardens Between is a masterpiece of minimalist storytelling, weaving a wordless tale of friendship and time. By drawing upon a few, nearly-universal childhood events, it allows the player to fill in the story with their own emotions and memories, creating a shockingly moving, personal experience. Featuring a gorgeous, surrealist style and challenging but fair puzzles, this is a must-have title for anyone who enjoys puzzle games.

Age of Empires helped define an entire genre, and under the steady hand of RTS masters Relic Entertainment, it may once again wear that crown -- Age of Empires IV is that good.

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is an absolute masterpiece. Well paced, written, and executed, the game is Respawn’s best thus far.

Teslagrad is an exceptional example of non-verbal storytelling, relying on delightfully smooth animation and clever puzzles to see the player through to the end.

Dreams is an ambitious game that succeeds on every front where others have failed. Media Molecule took what they designed, developed, and created over the years and encapsulated it into an experience that has endless possibilities; for them and us. It’s hard to sum up how groundbreaking and pioneering the game is as it’s more than the sum of its parts, it’s exactly what you make of it. Let your dreams come true.

While there are some niggling bugs and occasional minor frustrations in the game, Red Dead Redemption gets so many things right that you’ll hardly even notice. Red Dead Redemption is the best Western game I’ve seen and I can’t recommend it highly enough.

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy is a complete and utter masterpiece, and not playing it should be considered a criminal offense in the gaming community.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor improves on its predecessor in every way, giving us not only more of what we loved, but doing so in a massive cinematic interconnected universe full of brand new engaging features. This is your early contender for game of the year.

In 2014 MachineGames made a statement with Wolfenstein: The New Order. Now, with Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus, they’ve written their manifesto. It’s easily one of the best games you’ll play all year.

South Park: The Fractured but Whole captures the very best of South Park. The creators have woven irreverent and offensive humor seamlessly into an outrageous and entertaining RPG adventure. By making the leap to the Switch, the Coon and Friends can now be played on the go, but at the cost of slower load times. Even so, this is a raunchy superhero epic no fan should miss.

LOUD turns the volume to 14 with 14 original pop-punk tunes telling the story of Astrid going from playing guitar with a broom in her room to rocking the stage years later. A wonderful game for those new to rhythm style games while giving quite a challenge to those with experience in the genre. At the price of $11.99, this is a must have for anyone who loves pop-punk music.

Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles improves upon the original in nearly every way. It truly is the ultimate version of Final Fantasy Tactics, and an amazing adventure from start to finish.

Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon is a fantastic spinoff depicting an early adventure of a beloved character. Controlling both Cereza and Cheshire to solve puzzles and defeat faeries is a ton of fun, with a lot still left to discover even after the lengthy main story. This is a delightful start to what will hopefully be a fantastic sub-series.

Symphony of the Machine is the epitome of what a virtual reality experience should be. It nails everything from visuals to sound, from challenges to object interaction, all without a hint of motion sickness. This peaceful puzzler will calm your mind, challenge your brain, nurture your green thumb and leave you wanting much, much more. It’s rather light on content, offering one to two hours of gameplay, but scores perfect marks in literally every other regard. While the short gameplay may be disappointing for those looking to squeeze every minute of entertainment out of their dollar, Symphony of the Machine is a must have for those dedicated apostles who seek to spread the gospel of VR.

Fire Emblem: Three Houses is the best Fire Emblem game since 2005’s Path of Radiance. Players who skipped Shadows of Valentia may find a lot of things strange and different at first, but it all fits together so well that it starts to feel natural pretty quickly. Even if you don’t know what you’re doing in the beginning, you can still succeed and enjoy playing in the long run. The story is fascinating, the characters are lovable and entertaining, and the presentation is great.

This is a once-in-a-generation action RPG that redefines the genre, providing hundreds of hours of incredibly varied gameplay that never stops giving you new things to do. There are a handful of bugs to hammer out, but don't let that dissuade you — you're looking at your likely RPG of the year.

Baldur’s Gate III is a wonderfully crafted game now jumping on the Playstation 5. The addition of Splitscreen Co-Op makes for an entirely new way to play with a friend. While Splitscreen has some issues with lag during casting and conjuration, there was nothing that stopped us from playing hours and hours together. Online Multiplayer is a breeze to set up and works so well considering how much goes into Baldur’s Gate III as a whole. If you're looking to jump into the world of Baldur’s Gate but don't have a PC built for it, the PS5 version is here to save the day.

I have played ESO since beta, and have loved pretty much every expansion and DLC that's been released, but I have to say Elsweyr, along with the Scalebreaker and Dragonhold DLC’s are simply fantastic. The story was well done, the furnishings are some of the best they have come up with, the landscapes are breathtaking, and I mean come on...there are dragons. That you get to fight. If that doesn’t make you feel like a true hero, I don’t know what will.

Disco Elysium is a difficult game to describe, but it’s easy to recommend. One of the most inventive games in recent memory, it’s an often cynical, mean-spirited RPG that’s nonetheless full of beauty and humanity. While its obsession with the nastier parts of the human psyche will definitely turn some people off, the depth of its story and systems reward a deep dive into the mire, as do its beautiful art and writing.

While I will continue to miss Sully, Nathan, Elena, and young would-be adventurer Cassie, The Lost Legacy is another amazing adventure in the living Uncharted world. Whether it spells the start of a new direction for the series, or just a fun encore, it’s an excellent experience for any Uncharted fan.

Perhaps the greatest feat that Infinity Ward has performed is not only living up to the hype of Modern Warfare 2, but actually exceeding it.

Citizen Sleeper 2 shakes up its own already stellar formula in a way that’s fresh and innovative whilst also dialing the stress to 11. Its scope is larger and more ambitious but also maintains that fragile beauty of the world and its inhabitants. There's a lot to uncover here for new and existing players, but be careful, this time around it doesn't hold your hand but leaves you flailing around in space. But once you find your feet, you’ll find that you can never tire of Citizen Sleeper’s world.

Tales of Arise is a huge leap forward for the series. Combat is incredibly fun and fluid, the story is fantastic despite a lackluster finale, and the characters are as charming as ever. It’s not only one of the best Tales games, but one of the best the PS5 has to offer.

Street Fighter 6 takes the series to the next stage with a wildly fun fighting system that emphasizes personal choice. Each mainline Street Fighter tends to define its era of fighting games in some way, and Street Fighter 6 confidently steps forward to that next era. From its battle system to its bevvy of modes such as World Tour, it dives deep into everything that makes fighting games great.

Remnant II Dark Horizon is an extremely fun DLC that caps the game off in a brilliant way. Sure, there is no expansion to the main story but there didn’t need to be. Instead, the story of N’Erud is finished in a fun way.

Umurangi Generation is one of the most important games of the modern era. It captures young people’s current anxieties in a masterful way, and allows you to approach them in your own way through taking and editing pictures. It’s powerful and a ton of fun to replay, but sadly suffers from slow down fairly often.

Hi-Fi Rush presents some of the best action combat out there and combines it with rhythm game mechanics to make something truly special. This is a game that’s firing on all cylinders constantly and bursting with creativity and style.

I can’t imagine the pressure behind the scenes, but everything that Rockstar has attempted with Grand Theft Auto V gels together perfectly. As we look forward to the next-generation launches in just a few months, it’s pretty awesome to see the best game of this entire generation cap it off.

Super Mario 3D World is a masterclass of game design, and the result of decades of iteration and improvement — which makes its overall brevity that much more painful.

Eliza is a poignant, well-presented tale about how even technology created to help people can be harmful when it replaces human connection. Rather than demonizing technology, though, Eliza is a paean to compassion, communication, and all the varied ways people can lift each other up.

Whether you’re a seasoned Jurassic World Evolution player or brand new to the franchise, I can guarantee you that you will have a blast with Jurassic World Evolution 2. While I think a couple of things could be tweaked to make certain things more obvious, it doesn’t stop you from having an absolutely wonderful time playing the game. The addition of the flying and aquatic dinosaurs has been excellent, and I really hope for more content and DLC to go along with it!

While Sam & Max Save the World remastered makes a few concessions for its console release and the touch screen support is lacking, it’s still a gorgeous and hilarious game that is well worth playing in any form.

Skate Story is the perfect skateboarding game for your friend who always says they’re working on a screenplay but never actually gets around to finishing it. Or maybe that’s you. Or maybe that’s me. Or maybe it’s just perfect for everyone. You’ll be moved, you’ll bump to the incredible music, and most importantly: you’ll shred.

Onrush is a racing game that strips away the commonly understood mechanics of the genre to deliver something that is both fresh and classic at the same time. And a vivacious multiplayer experience that rivals some of the big contemporary shooters of the day.

Control manages to take the awesome cutscenes we see in other games and makes them playable. A bizarre adventure with rewarding power fantasy, this is the culmination of all previous Remedy games. Part exploration game, and part sci-fi shooter, Control blends a tight narrative, stunning graphics with RTX-powered lighting, and a hub-based world to create something entirely new and absolutely gorgeous.

Like opening the hood on a Ferrari, Forza Horizon 2 is filled from fender to fender with absolute awesome.

With three titles of great quality being redesigned to be beautiful even by today’s standards, the Spyro Reignited Trilogy burns bright. Little touches such as a unique design for every Elder Dragon, an attention to detail in the aesthetics of the levels, and a dynamic music system breathe life into what was already a lively collection. Spyro is back, and his games are exactly as good as you remember.

Persona 5 Royal makes the leap to PC with aplomb. There’s a decent suite of options including rebindable controls and resolution scaling, but it’s not quite perfect. Keyboard and mouse leave a small amount to be desired and the UI looks awful at resolutions below 1080. Still, if you’re looking to play one of the most stylish and fun JRPGs around, PC is the perfect way to experience it.

Igarashi-san has made another masterpiece. Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is an unapologetic celebration of the best parts of his previous work, bringing them all together with some fresh approaches to progression. Gorgeous and rewarding, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is phenomenal and is a worthy, near flawless successor to Symphony Of the Night, and that’s high praise indeed.

The Kingdom Hearts PC ports are surprisingly excellent. With a substantial amount of options in 3 especially, this will no doubt please players who want to experience some of the saga at upwards of 900 frames per second. While there are a few blemishes, like blurry movies and no mouse support, each of these games is well worth owning for fans of the series. Just wait for a big sale.

HEX Entertainment has found success by blending the strengths of traditional trading card games with the possibilities of a digital platform.

The first-person survival horror aspect of the game doesn’t suffer at all on the Switch. From the visuals, audio, and inputs, everything feels and plays as if the series was made for the console. In fact, it’s a testament that the Switch is more than the sum of its parts. Though there is a loss of some visual fidelity, and some sacrifice made while playing in handheld mode that comes in the form of battery life, Metro 2033 Redux and Metro: Last Light feel at home on this hybrid console.

The Lord of The Rings Online: Mines of Moria is a complete expansion and not just an attempt to cash in on an existing franchise.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is not only a worthy successor to Remake, but to the original title. With an incredible and multi-layered open-world, outstanding combat, and a heartfelt story that takes you on a beautiful scenic route, Rebirth reaches heights you’d need one wing to touch. Rebirth is special; First-Class in a way only the best Soldiers can be.

The Last of Us spells the magnum opus for Naughty Dog on the PlayStation 3, offering us a unique experience that easily eclipses anything else we’ve seen on the system. This game is easily a contender for adventure game of the year.

Realm of Magic occupied my life for days straight, and I am still actively playing the Sim I created for this pack on a daily basis. The spells and potions are just so invaluable that she will probably be my main Sim for some time. I personally loved this pack and would highly recommend you grab it!

Demeo is a fantastic dungeon-crawler, and a perfect addition to the PSVR2 library. Demonstrating a visual clarity not seen on any other platform, the PlayStation VR2 version is the best possible platform. This is an easy recommendation and a must-have for any PSVR2 owner.

Star Control: Origins successfully grasps the perfect balance of serious and silly while making an engaging universe that’s fun to explore. The voice acting is wonderful, the script is brilliant, and the fleet battles are short, sweet, and exciting. With an in-depth crafting system, a living universe, and a multitude of choices that subtly affect the story, Star Control: Origins soars.

The sum of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate’s parts is nothing short of excellent. From single-player to local multiplayer, there are very few flaws with the experience. Whether you’re hoarding spirits in World of Light, spiking your friends in a versus match of Smashdown, or running through Classic mode with your favorite fighter, there is no shortage of smart, creative action to be had. That said, in a game so well assembled, its lackluster online portion stands out even more starkly. However, when taking Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as a whole, that one blight does little to diminish the overall mastery on display. This is not a game Nintendo Switch owners should be caught without.

Unsighted is this year’s best Metroidvania/Zelda-like game by a long shot. It’s creative, gripping, and accessible with a ton of stuff to do and see. There are a few small issues, like some awkward writing or too much menuing, but those are well worth it for such a fun, polished experience.

Jackbox Party Pack 7 is yet another fantastic party game with something for everyone. While Talking Points and Blather ‘Round are the highlights here, every game is still bundles of fun. I wonder, does Jackbox Games get tired of putting out banger after banger every year? Because I’m sure not tired of their innovation and creativity.

The little details like glass shattering, reflections and shadows, and even exhaust, are meticulous enough that it just took my breath away. I love how this game looks, period.

With innumerable improvements to the formula, Mimimi has delivered another hit. Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew is a wonderful tactical title with an even better story than its predecessors. This is the formula perfected.

Chicory: A Colorful Tale is a delightful experience that, while confronting some of the darker parts of creativity, will simply make you feel good. The world is cute and fun to explore, puzzles are a joy to solve, and coloring in the Picnic Province is relaxing.

The Last of Us is truly the game of a generation, and the Remastered edition brings the harrowing adventure to a whole new generation with expert style.

People of Note is a beautiful musical RPG starring Pop, Rock, EDM, Rap, and Classical styles of music with countless others showcased throughout the adventure. From witty puns of your favorite bands, engaging combat and puzzles, and even full music videos from heroes, villains, and more--People of Note delivers an adventure unlike any other. Help Cadence and friends save the world and learn about musical genres and mash-ups along the way! If you studied music, teach music, make music, or simply love music, People of Note is an adventure across genres you'll undoubtedly love.

Persona 4 is still one of the best JRPGs of all time, and this port only further proves that while clearing up your vision of Inaba and adding a new control scheme with which to Face Yourself. With this PC version bringing along the enhancements and new features of Golden, there’s never been a better time to Reach out to the Truth for newcomers or for veterans to Make History.

Moss: Book II is a genuinely emotional, surprisingly creative, and incredibly gorgeous follow-up to its critically acclaimed predecessor. Book II takes the themes and gameplay ideas from the first title and nearly perfects them and in doing so has created a longer, more difficult, and more fulfilling adventure for Quill.

Whether you prefer, multiplayer or story, Dominion or Duel, viking or knight or samurai, there’s something for every gamer in For Honor. With a compelling story, beautiful customization options, competition, community, this game is both a triumph and a damn good fight.unity, and a damn good fight.

Franchise Hockey Manager 2 is a wonderful entry for hockey into the world of sports simulation, and is of the highest quality in terms of design, layout, navigation, and accuracy. Nothing particularly special to look at when compared to other “action” sports titles, Franchise Hockey Manager is for hardcore hockey fans who are more interested in Euroleague transfer rules than on-the-ice action.

The Sims 4 Carnaval Streetwear Kit is just fun, plain and simple. It might not be for everyone, but I really enjoyed the pieces. There are so many items you can use to change up the look of your Sims; nails, accessories, clothing, makeup, even some cool shades. Now for my suggestion to the Sims team, give us an actual Carnaval destination! Let us dress up and travel to Brazil and have a blast.

Bloodborne takes what made Souls amazing in the past, and infuses it with speed, risk-reward play, and a haunting atmosphere. Only a few technical hiccups hold back a masterpiece from Miyazaki and From Software. This is a must-play game for any PS4 owner with a masochistic side.

The Phantom Pain strays from the formula to perfect a new one, offering the best in open-world emergent gameplay we’ve seen this generation. While the story sometimes falters under expectations, the characters, aesthetic, and polish of this game set it apart as one of the year’s best.

Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore is the best version of a great game. It’s got great characters with a lot of depth (except for Itsuki), varied visual themes, wonderful music, and an addictive battle system. Its debut didn’t get the attention it deserved, but maybe this encore will shine a spotlight on one of the best RPGs in recent memory.

The transition from portable devices to consoles hasn’t hurt the quality of the Ace Attorney Trilogy, which remain some of my favorite games of all time. Phoenix Wright and company are deserving of the big screen, and this game is well worth your time if you haven’t gotten around to playing it elsewhere.

Dandara is an excellent game and I can’t believe I haven’t heard people talking about it. Its unique movement is accompanied by an equally unique world, soundtrack, and symbolic story that will fascinate lore nerds. While it’s controls may not support the precision combat asks of you, the Salt is definitely a world worth saving.

Astral Chain brings together gameplay elements from all of Platinum’s best, from Bayonetta to Transformers Devastation, and adds the secret spice of detective work to tie it all together. It’s easy enough for newcomers to the genre, deep enough for veterans, and one of Platinum’s best.

With incredible aesthetics and an ever-expanding soundtrack, Synth Riders continues to dominate the rhythm game beat. It’s accessible, fun, and an absolute must-have for anyone with a VR headset. Come on in – join the neon-soaked party.

Gone Home is not only an important game in its own right, but is absolutely vital to the advancement of how we approach narrative in games, as well as the subjects we tackle.

The Sims 4 Journey to Batuu Game Pack was a fantastic experience from start to finish. I can’t wait to see The First Order quests. This was exactly what the franchise needed. I’ve enjoyed most of the expansions, with Realm of Magic game pack being my favorite. Journey to Batuu blew that one out of the water and has zipped to the number one spot. As someone who loves Disney World, Star Wars, and The Sims, this was a welcome surprise. Who wouldn’t want to play with their favorite things in one of their favorite games?

After the overwhelming success of "SSX Tricky", SSX 3 had monstrous expectations to meet... not only does it meet them, it slams them head on like a Mack truck into a flea.

It takes the well-oiled RPG mechanics of its predecessor and delivers a vast and alien world so meticulously and passionately designed that it’s easy and fun to get lost inside of it.

Pode is breathtakingly beautiful, and a must have for any lover of puzzle games. The characters are simple but expressive, each with their own mechanics, physics, and skills, wandering a barren mountain which comes to life before your eyes. A co-op title at its core, Pode can be played in single-player with the same level of fun, and overflowing with puzzles that are fair and approachable while still offering plenty of challenge.

2023 has already been strong with Game of the Year contenders, and Atomic Heart is another one of them. It lives up to all of the hype and all of its promises; an amazing debut game for Mundfish. Nailing down a few things Atomic Heart is phenomenal at is nearly impossible because it’s extraordinary in all of them. This isn’t just my favorite game of this year, it might be one of my favorites of the decade.

Another World is a game that has critical acclaim, cult appeal, and this remastered version of the game makes the experience smoother and better looking while not sacrificing any of the original game’s charm. There are some frustrating moments in the controls and the game is very short, but both of these are less drawbacks than they are just leftover remnants from gaming’s bygone age. Another World has one of the best stories ever told through a game and remains a true shining gem in both the past and present of gaming.

Card Shark is unlike any game you’ve played before. As a card game where you don’t actually play cards, learning and executing various methods of cheating is a ton of fun. The historical setting contributes to the conspiracy central to the story, while adding its own colorful cast of enjoyable characters in the gorgeous setting of 18th century France.

Graphically there is nothing on the console that compares, and in terms of the complete package, it delivers in every way.

With procedural worlds, fantastic cooperative combat, and a storyline that makes you care about the entire Bergson family, Children of Morta represents the best example of games as art. There are still a few months to go in 2019, but Children of Morta is looking like my Indie Game of the Year.

Like a bayonet charge to the face, Battlefield 1 packs a serious punch, and it looks damn good while doing it. With a revamped, emotionally charged campaign, the single-player experience is, without a doubt, the franchise’s best. The multiplayer combines solid classics and unbeatable mechanics with new modes that fit the WWI setting brilliantly. Could this be the Battlefield to end all Battlefields? It just might.

Inscryption is a game that breaks the mold and revitalizes the rogue-lite deck-building genre. It surprises players with its unique twists, innovative mechanics, and constant evolution that keeps them engaged and challenged. The game's visuals and sounds are a treat, immersing players in a captivating atmosphere and charming art styles. Its gripping narrative unfolds with excitement, drawing inspiration from acclaimed directors like David Lynch and David Cronenberg. The gameplay is genuinely astonishing, requiring strategic thinking and offering a captivating array of challenges and surprises. While the journey may demand time and dedication, the rewards are undoubtedly worth it. Inscryption delivers a thrilling and addictive experience that will leave a lasting impression on players.

Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics is what every retro game collection should strive to be. It presents the games within as close to their original forms as possible, while still offering players a wealth of options to customize their experience.

Torchlight II on the Nintendo Switch is not just a re-release of an established game, but it takes full advantage of this transformer-like platform. Its ability to utilize all the Switch’s hardware to make the game more appealing was achieved, without cutting corners or gameplay experience. Offering hours and hours of single or multiplayer monster demolishing gameplay, Torchlight II is everything it was when it first debuted, and more.

Monster Hunter Wilds is the best Monster Hunter has ever felt. It looks incredible and plays even better with fluid weapon combos, an incredibly addicting gameplay loop, and various monsters to fight. It’s not quite perfect, with the multiplayer features being unintuitive, but once you start playing you just don’t want to put it down.

Dance Central 3 isn't just the best reason to own a Kinect; it is the reason you need to own one.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt ends Geralt’s tale in spectacular fashion, finding ways to fill a giant world with thrilling combat, beautiful sights, and a bevy of compelling content.

Patapon 2's remaster still retains some dated discordance. However, the 4k/1080p remastering of this sequel’s unmistakably cartoony beauty will strike a chord, as will its harmoniously musical gameplay. Ultimately, Patapon 2 remains one of the greatest rhythm games of all-time, if not the greatest.

I cannot stress enough how incredibly great this game is. The storyline, the graphical style and movie-like scene-shifting, the incredible score, the voice-acting, it's all top-notch.

Despite Parry Nightmare’s short runtime, it makes the most of every action-packed second by flawlessly combining addictive, high-tempo, parry-based combat and attention-grabbing visual storytelling baked directly into the enemies’ sprite art and level design.

As someone who spent their entire life being extremely athletic and active, I love being back in the swing of things again. I actually look forward to my Ring Fit workout everyday. I feel like people of all fitness levels can hop into this game and benefit from it. When I started this back in January I was as out of shape as it comes, and Ring Fit Adventure eased me back into things at a pace that felt comfortable. The combination of walking, Ring Fit, and elliptical has shredded pounds off of me, and I couldn’t be happier about that!

A showcase of what’s possible in VR, Assassin’s Creed Nexus VR delivers a completely unique foray into the world of Templars and Assassins, but in a first person perspective, and frankly, there’s nothing quite like it. While the Quest 3 isn’t up to the task, making for some wobbly frame rates, the game is thankfully a nausea-free experience you’ll want to experience.

Dragon’s Dogma II is a masterfully refined take on the original game. It’s easy to get lost in its massive world for hours on end and truly immerse yourself into the role of the Arisen. There are a ton of technical problems and oddities throughout the game, but somehow those didn’t stop us from having a blast. In an age where the limitations of video games are a known quantity, Dragon's Dogma II transcends them to become a game that truly feels real.

Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door on Switch shows why the game is considered one of the best in the first place. It’s a magical, fun, and hilarious adventure with some dark turns that give a new perspective on Mario’s world. Additions and changes are sometimes small, yet very significant, but this remake doesn’t quite make the game a painless experience. Even so, it’s well worth playing again and again for a reminder of why we fell in love with Paper Mario in the first place.

Out of the Park Baseball 18 is just another fantastic entrant into the game’s series and is perhaps the best-received new release in years. Clean, sleek, accurate, and easy to learn and navigate, OOTP 18 gives players ultimate control over their team, in any form, year, or league they choose. The inclusion of new leagues, new features, and the all-new Challenge Mode enhances a game I already consider the capstone of the genre. A must-own for any sport simulation fans.

Trek to Yomi is a beautifully crafted experience. From your first steps into the game’s world to your last players will be constantly enthralled by the tense combat, tightly written story, and exquisite art direction. It is rare that a game is released that thoroughly wows you with its graphics, atmosphere, and creativity and Trek to Yomi succeeds in all three departments. It is an experience that I highly recommend to all players.

Xenoblade Chronicles 3: Future Redeemed is a fantastic addition to the Xenoblade Chronicles saga. It ties up the story so far in a nice thematic bow, with equal amounts of new additions and returning favorites. The combat system is tighter and incredibly satisfying, and is even tied to exploration to make you feel like you’re always growing. Once again, I can’t wait to see what Monolithsoft cooks up next.