If you’re in the market for a superb mystery visual novel, then look no further. Staffer Case: A Supernatural Adventure, offers players a fantastical version of 1960s London. Investigate various murder cases in a world where some people have superpowers and everyone has a motive.

With improvements in literally every area, Forza Motorsport 6 positions itself as the absolute best racer on the market. There are a few oil leaks, but when compared to the upgrades, they are easier to ignore.

Planet Zoo is the culmination of the best parts of Frontier’s previous efforts, but is far more than the sum of its parts. Hundreds of creatures, both cute and deadly, need homes, and it’s up to you to help them thrive and survive. While a few bugs hamper the overall experience, this is another simulation game that’ll keep me building sprawling and ever evolving parks for hundreds of hours to come.

Grey Goo wildly exceeds all expectations for presentation and gameplay. While there are a few issues with cheating and infinite units in single player, the multiplayer is rock solid.

While the gameplay is similar to years past, the new modes add a ton of previously unfound variety. The Road to the Show mode has finally been updated and is guaranteed to hook longtime players. On top of that, Diamond Dynasty no longer feels like an afterthought, and is instead one of the most joyous things about the game. After a slip and fall last year, Sony has managed to make sure MLB The Show 16 lands directly on its feet.

More than Theme Hospital for the modern age, Two Point Hospital brings fresh features and new maladies to a genre full of try-hard games that tried to be what this game is. With charm and wit to spare, Two Point Hospital is the game patients have been patiently being patient for.

Indivisible takes the best of RPGs and fighting games and mixes them with a world full of secrets to find and a healthy dose of platforming goodness. While it doesn’t reach its full potential in some areas, it’s still a great time throughout.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land is an excellent first foray into 3D for the pink puffball. There’s so much to see and do on this adorable adventure it’s hard to focus on just one thing for long, and it’ll keep fans new and old entertained for some time.

Immortals Fenyx Rising: Myths of the Eastern Realm gives us a fresh protagonist, a completely new setting, familiar mechanics and a few new tricks. With fantastic logic puzzles and the same tight combat as the base game, Myths of the Eastern Realm represents a great new way to experience everything we loved from the original. Let’s hope Ubisoft continues to take risks like this as they seem to pay off in a big way.

The title is chock full of little details that make it a must-have. While it is a bit on the short side, there are plenty of collectibles to keep you busy after you complete the game, and the entire ride is entertaining from start to finish. In a sea of holiday sameness, how many games can make that claim?

The Arbites class embodies the Lex with a powerful new arsenal and unyielding dedication to enforcing justice. Whether you're shrugging off a hail of lead while your dog devours your foes or toppling crushers with the word of the law, the skill tree is flexible enough to offer a plethora of build diversity to fit your playstyle. While the Arbitrator may not fit the existing narrative perfectly, the fun factor alone is enough to look way beyond this small grievance.

Super Bomberman R Online is THE reason to get a Stadia account. While the paid premium pack can deal some unfair advantages with the initial release, the innovative mixture of classic Bomberman gameplay and a Battle Royale twist make this the best exclusive, and perhaps game available on Stadia, so far.

Grand Kingdom is a grand triumph of innovation and amalgamation, standing alone as a semi-new type of JRPG altogether. Mixing elements from other JPRGs, classic fighting games, and board game elements into an all new experience, Grand Kingdom will have some dedicated players still moving troops through enemies lands for years to come.

20XX isn’t just a good Mega Man X clone, it’s an insanely fun and addictive roguelike with plenty of personality and possibilities. Each run is different from the last, and each death feels fair and justified. I’m confident that 20XX will only become better over time and be a shining example of how to do platformer-based roguelikes.

Pixel Ripped 1995 is a fantastic game which expertly combines well-crafted game homages and VR features to provide an enthralling, albeit short but well-paced, adventure. DOT’s never-ending battle against the evil Cyblin Lord provides the perfect backdrop for this adventure, and the surprisingly heartfelt story about family adds an extra layer to an already impressive game. Those looking for a hit of nostalgia or just a well-rounded VR game need look no further.

A graphical masterpiece.

NBA2K26 is a blast to play. The physics feel tight when needed and quickly swap to feeling fluid when needed. The city is awesome, and playing your character as he moves through his career is a blast.

Despelote was a bit of a personal one for me, and I can see why some players may not love it due to it being a walking simulator where you kick a ball around. But for anyone willing to give it a chance, you’ll find a snippet of pure sentiment to engage with as you put on the shoes of its developer. You see Ecuador for its authentic self as a child and witness a moment that you probably never batted an eye at before. But you leave with a fuzzy feeling, wanting to reminisce about your own memories you had as a child.

Hatsune Miku: Project Diva Future Tone is everything you love about J-pop. Its infectious music, snazzy visuals, and accessible yet challenging gameplay will have you shouting for an encore.

Spacejacked is a wonderful combination of tower defense and fast paced action. The game's hectic nature along with the necessity to plan out your defenses makes for a fun and engaging challenge. It may take some trial and error to find what works best for each player, but that's part of the fun.

If you enjoy that type of pleasure mixed with pain, and have been craving a cutting-edge platform adventure with a truly imaginative and polished visual style, look no further: Runner2 is a game that you ought to make a dash for.

Shinobi: Art of Vengeance doesn’t settle for redoing the past. Instead, it brings the series forward with a distinct art style and bold new ideas. Art of Vengeance captures the spirit of Sega with a well-designed game that as an overly concerned Shinobi fanatic, I can muster only minor gripes about. It's good, it's fresh, and it's fun.

The Banner Saga 2 is a worthy sequel to a great franchise. Combat is vastly improved, and the narrative is deep and rewarding, even as the game punishes the player every step of the way. The game suffers from a unwieldy UI, and some poorly placed setpieces that obscure the player’s vision in combat, but these drawbacks are minor.

Fallout 4 may be an iterative step forward for the series, but it is every bit what RPG fans know, love, and expect.

Hatsune Miku: Project Diva Future Tone is everything you love about J-pop. Its infectious music, snazzy visuals, and accessible yet challenging gameplay will have you shouting for an encore.

While it may look simple and even a bit silly on the surface, The Final Station is quite the captivating game. The story and survival aspects have been blended wonderfully, and it leaves you with plenty to mull over long after the credits roll.

Tales from the Borderlands concludes with some series-defining moments and choices, solidifying it as one of Telltale’s best, if not the strongest offering the studio has put forth in several years.

Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands presents a fresh take on Borderlands, retaining the core of the series while adding some fun new twists both in its setting and gameplay. Character creation and multi-classing ensure each Fatemaker is unique when shooting, looting, and questing. While it certainly has issues like less weapon variety and a lack of challenging content, this is the best in the series so far.

Persona 4 Arena Ultimax is a worthy successor with enough gameplay differences to justify a purchase for those who have the original.

Warlords of New York is easily the best expansion for the game to date. With fresh foes, a new portion of New York to explore, great gear, and some brand new reasons to care about loot, it delivers on its lofty promises. Now, we just need Massive to settle in and swat some of these bugs…

While the battle between the two modern warfare juggernauts will be settled in multiplayer, the single player stands well enough on its own to justify your purchase.

Despite superficial similarities to classic Nintendo games like Super Metroid, Axiom Verge isn’t afraid to bring a lot of new ideas to the table, and is all the better for it.

So, if you have no problem with a 3rd person view and enjoy fast-moving action games with a definite flare for movie feel, you should go out and pick up EoN.

If the guitar gets a tad better, and the drums a little more ... well more, then I'd have to give it aces nearly everywhere.

The story is top-notch, the graphics are excellent, the controls are great, and the gameplay, while difficult, is still rewarding.

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: the Game is one of the best modern beat-em ups, despite a lack of much competition in the genre. It’s gorgeous visuals and amazing soundtrack complement its surprising depth in combat perfectly. Scott Pilgrim is back, and hopefully here to stay.

Submerged: Hidden Depths is the perfect game to play when needing a break from the more stressful or narrative intense experiences. Featuring a powerful orchestral score, relaxing exploration and puzzle solving, and a subtle yet interesting story about the bonds of family and the power of hope, Submerged surprised me and provided me with one of my favorite experiences of the year.

It’s an enormously fun and creative take on two genres you would never think to see in bed together. The gameplay is tight and responsive, the boards are intricate and clever, and the splendid voice acting is an added delight.

Sea of Thieves on PS5 is another great way to play a good multiplayer game. There’s a lot more content now than at launch, with tons of things to do either solo or with a crew. With cross-play and save, a wealth of convenience options, and even more coming down the pirate pipeline, this may be the perfect time to brave the Sea of Thieves.

Franchise Hockey Manager 6 is a fantastic game in a long line of great hockey simulation titles from OOTP Developments. The game is a hockey head’s dream, giving you complete control of franchise operations for countless teams both modern and historical. The game doesn’t change much from year to year, but has improved again with this iteration and represents the most complete experience to date. An overall triumph and clear leader in its genre, Franchise Hockey Manager 6 is a niche but near perfect game.

Shadow of the Ninja Reborn is a welcome change of plans, pushing an NES classic into fascinating new territory. With katana in hand, Reborn carves out its own niche with its meticulous, plan-based platforming. Its strong design combined with a high amount of replayability invites its science-based community of ninjas to keep experimenting long after their first playthrough.

Zero Escape: The Nonary Games is the best way for you to play two of the most frequently overlooked visual novels out there. The additions to Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors bring new life to a underrated gem, and Virtue’s Last Reward is still as close to perfect as it was when it was first released. If you want to experience two of the best stories from the last generation of handhelds, this is the best way to do so.

Digital Eclipse has made this journey as earnest and effortless as possible. For those who want to forge a deeper bond with the medium (you know who you are), Wizardry 2.0's worth your time and money.

If you like to be immersed in a wonderfully historic world of political intrigue and epic battles with the added touch of some great role-playing elements there is no reason for you not to go out and buy Romance of the Three Kingdoms VIII right now.

Astro Bot captures all of the strong points of a brand new puppy. It’s cute, playful, and doggedly loyal to PlayStation’s history. While it still has room to grow into its legs and sharpen its teeth, most missteps are easily forgiven. I mean, just look at it!

If you even remotely liked the first two, then this title, which only adds more quality to the series, is a must have. The Time Crisis series upholds its throne as the light-gun shooter king, though anyone who is looking for more in a game will not find it all here.

Dead Cells is an amazing rogue-like 2D action platformer. Fast, fluid combat is enjoyable, especially with the different weapons and tools you can find. Permanent upgrades add a sense of progression and give you more goals to work towards.

Balanced gameplay, a memorable story, characters with depth, and more than two dozen hours of content scratch a shooter itch that has been long dormant. Wolfenstein: The New Order delivers an experience well beyond my expectations, elevating this venerable series not only into a new generation, but raising the bar for story-driven shooters as a whole.

What Lies in the Multiverse is one of the most unique puzzle/platformers released in recent years. Featuring gorgeous pixel-based graphics and a charmingly self-aware sense of humor, the game constantly throws a variety of new set pieces and obstacles at you and continues to find clever ways to use its central universe swapping mechanic. Despite some unexpectedly dark undertones, the game remains mainly upbeat, telling a story that deals with loss, friendship, and life in a surprisingly mature way. What Lies in the Multiverse is well worth picking up for fans of puzzle based games.

The Metronomicon: Slay the Dance Floor is one of the most infectious rhythm games this year. Its perfect blend of music gameplay and RPG mechanics is an ambitious one that sticks the landing, and the addictive soundtrack will have your toe tapping long after you turned it off. Just stay away from the dancing bears if you’re not shaking it like a Polaroid.

Spirit of Justice is yet another fantastic game in the Ace Attorney series. The gameplay is better than ever, and the stakes have never been higher, all of which only helps to make one of the best stories in gaming even better. Play this game — you won’t regret it.

Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly is a wonderful followup to a chill and touching story that retains the charm of the original while not feeling bound by it. The character arcs feel even more human and relatable within a fascinating world and branching story.

Dead Rising 4 is bloody, chaotic, and downright hilarious. If you’re looking to turn your brain off this holiday season, and de-stress with gratuitous violence, this is the game for you.

With an abundance of accessibility and irresistible charm, this version of Two Point Hospital is a shining example of a console port done right. The incredible control scheme will make you forget that the PC version even existed! With its clean bill of health, this is the best business sim game you will find on consoles.

Very approachable and just the right level of challenging, Deus Ex GO extends the main product perfectly. It captures the look and feel of Mankind Divided, while boiling down the stealth and combat gameplay into approachable turn-based action. The only thing missing here is the soft gravelly tones of Alex Toufexis as Adam Jensen.

Guitar Hero Live gives us an offline first-person rock-and-roll fantasy, but it’s Guitar Hero TV that gives this series new life. The new guitar gives veterans new challenges while breaking down the barrier to entry for new players. While the on-disc tracks are, in my opinon, throwaway, Guitar Hero TV should keep players busy for a long time to come.

Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris’s new mechanics and graphical improvements make it a must-have for any couch co-op fan.

While the visual and stylistic choices may not prove to be to everyone’s tastes, there is plenty of both new and familiar to satisfy anyone willing to hop on aboard and see where Beyond Earth is able to take you.

Dreamfall Chapters is a strong adventure game, held back only by the required knowledge base for entry. A fascinating game with interwoven tales, beautiful set pieces and believeable protagonists, Dreamfall is going strong and only getting started.

Mortal Kombat X improves upon a classic franchise in nearly every way. From its surprisingly impressive story, to its great new characters, to its expansive amount of new content, Mortal Kombat is a must-play for any fans of the series.

The Pale Beyond is a masterclass in tone and atmosphere informing gameplay. As Captain Robin Shaw, you’ll need to make tough decisions constantly, but this stressful journey is well worth seeing through to the end.

The Swapper delivers on nearly every front. The puzzles are intelligent and challenging, the story is deep and philosophical and the visual style is incredibly unique and inventive. This is a title that is sure to satisfy fans of science fiction and platform puzzle games alike.

Layers of Fear is an incredible, mind-bending horror game. The gorgeous environments are both detailed and terrifying, and the story will captivate you as you work to unravel all the threads. What it lacks in polish it makes up for in how obsessed you’ll become with finishing the masterpiece.

Grim Dawn: Definitive Edition is an overwhelmingly great package, stuffed with hundreds of hours of content, incredible replayability, a variety of distinct classes to choose from, a huge open world ripe for exploration, more loot than imaginable, and fun combat. Despite its age, Grim Dawn holds up incredibly well when stacked against more modern ARPGs and has made a fluid transition from PC to console with only a few minor slowdown issues.

Coming out of seemingly nowhere, Touhou Spell Bubble is one of the best puzzle games I’ve played all year. The mix of rhythm gameplay and a reimagining of the Bust a Move formula is wrapped up in a Touhou presentation, and it’s an addictively fun experience that diehard Touhou fans should definitely check out.

Episode 3, the final installment of Bear With Me, is the darkest and most narrative-driven yet, filled with surprising depth and humanity. What started out as a silly little point-and-click adventure game has retained all its quirks and charms while telling a touching story with themes of acceptance and forgiveness. It serves as an unexpected but incredibly satisfying end to a truly memorable gaming experience.

The Sims 4 Seasons is quite frankly the best expansion to come out yet. There are tons of new items, but what sets it apart are the ways it changes the game. It adds so many new activities and things to do and wonderful holidays, it honestly made me feel like this is the first must have expansion for The Sims 4.

A delightful journey behind the whiskers of a fuzzy feline friend, Stray is a wonderful game for both cat enthusiast and indie enjoyer alike. The story, while simple, is enchanting with each new discovery – with some that may just make you shed a tear. Gameplay doesn’t break new ground, but feels unique from the perspective of a cat, which is handled purrfectly. Stray is incredible, and one you should be playing right meow.

I'm surprised to say that this is a title that you could play through once, then turn around and play through it another 5 times or so to unlock all of the goodies.

Samorost 3 is a sensational journey through a delightful yet deceptively twisted world where fairytale collides with science fiction, themes of addiction and power mix with lighthearted play, and the adventures of a little the gnome always kept a smile on my face.

Not for Broadcast VR is an often hilarious and surprisingly well-acted game, made better by its excellent use of VR and the sheer creativity on screen during every news segment. I found myself drawn into the story and gameplay from the very first moment, and it held my attention throughout its ten-hour duration. I highly recommend those looking for a unique VR experience to check out Not for Broadcast VR.

LEGO Horizon Adventures offers a playful retelling of Horizon Zero Dawn, blending the iconic story of Aloy with LEGO's signature charm, humor, and style. This isometric action-adventure game simplifies the original's intense narrative, focusing on environmental themes and character relationships, providing a lighthearted, engaging experience for fans of all ages.

Inside is an incredible sophomore swing from Playdead, as the atmosphere, aesthetic and gameplay meld into one glorious experience that demands attention. Don’t read about it, don’t seek more, don’t ask questions — just clear your afternoon schedule and experience it.

Return to Monkey Island is a fantastic end to Guybrush’s compulsive search for the secret of Monkey Island and perfectly encapsulates what made these iconic games so popular in the first place. Despite the 30 year absence, not a step was missed, as Return is just as funny as its predecessors and seeing Elaine, LeChuck, Stan, and the rest of the gang together again is rather bittersweet. Charming characters – old and new alike, great dialogue, fun puzzles, an intuitive hint system, and a story which sees Guybrush visit multiple islands, all blend to make Return everything I had hoped for. I’m glad that I was able to finally uncover the secret of Monkey Island.

It’s not just a nostalgic trip; A Link Between Worlds is an excellent game on its own. That said, this title functions most effectively as fan service to us old heads — the references to the source material are as numerous as they are captivating.

By taking the chains off of the game mechanics, removing the disruptive Auction House, and refining the game mechanics that serve as the base of Diablo III, Reaper of Souls is finally the loot-grabbing adventure we all wanted.

Super Crush KO is an incredibly fun, if short and easy, character action game. It’s as ridiculous and over the top as its contemporaries. Combat has a lot of depth, while remaining simple enough for beginners to pick up or veterans to enjoy.

Tides of Tomorrow is a great adventure game with an excellent story, striking aesthetic, and the potential to connect players worldwide in unique ways. Like our lives, the choices you make will affect those who follow you. With a narrative that speaks to real-world concerns and the consequences of choice, Tides of Tomorrow leaves a lasting impact everyone should experience.

Buy it. Play it. Enjoy it. It’s as simple as the game feels, even if it challenges you more than you’d ever think it would. The more I’ve played it, the more I see every one of it’s accomplishments, with fantastic gameplay and a great choice of art style and soundtrack jewels in its crown. Death’s Door does nearly everything right for what it is, and even the shortcomings of the narrative is barely a blemish on a spectacular résumé.

As long as Activision supports this title with solid downloadable content (which they have a great track record of doing) DJ Hero is a game that you’ll keep coming back to.

Injustice 2 is feature rich, and its story adds depth to its exceptional fighting. While there are several areas that could use small tweaks, NetherRealm has set down a spectacular base for a fighting game I can’t wait to see grow over the years.

Zenzizenzic is rapid, colorful, simple, and just about as much fun as you can have playing a video game.

Hero-U: Rogue to Redemption is fantastic. It’s a highly immersive experience with great writing that will have you fall in love with some characters and hate others, while also giving you the opportunity to live out your rogue fantasies. Every minute is a genuinely fun DnD-esque experience, even when having to study for a test or have the protagonist complete tasks like learning how to lockpick or fight. A definite must-have for any isometric RPG fans.

This k-horror survival game gives us a breath of fresh air by using contemporary survival play strategies, while giving us the freedom to choose our own path. Having two endings in the game so drastically different just makes the gamer want to play over and over. Coma 2: Vicious Sisters is a must buy for its unique gameplay and 2D design along with great character development.

Variety. This game is about variety to the Nth degree. You can fight a hundred different ways and still never be wrong.

One of the most cohesive and intricate releases you can find, but not for the faint of heart.

Overall I loved Disco Dodgeball Remix. This wacky FPS dodge ball game keeps the fun coming with various game modes, high intensity music, and extremely entertaining gameplay. Although the art style looks a bit childish, it works for this game.

With excellent level design, smooth animations, impressive pixel art, and a bunch of brand-new twists on classic-style gameplay, Sonic Mania manages to feel both old and new at the same time in the best way possible. Whether you like the old Sonic games or the new ones, or even if you've never played one before, Sonic Mania holds plenty of fun for everyone.

Shovel Knight on PlayStation is just as spectacular as it was last year and the extra content, while minor, is a welcome addition to an already awesome game.

For the most part, The Old Hunters feels like a tight, good bit of content that fans of the original game will thoroughly enjoy. The Old Hunters ratchets up Bloodborne’s difficulty quite a bit. But in doing so, the satisfaction of beating bosses only gets stronger.

While the maps and enemies could be more varied and interesting, there’s no denying that the gameplay is stellar, rewarding you for working closely with your teammates and punishing you otherwise.

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is frankly a fantastic game and is objectively one of the best Star Wars games ever made. The languages are accurate, the character designs are flawless, and the art design is incredible. It's no surprise that the game is revered by both standard RPG and Star Wars fans, and thankfully, the Switch version pulls through with a highly efficient port.

The Great Ace Attorney is a duology that any fan of the series should play and also serves as a great entry point for newcomers. Whether it’s the great new story and characters, the high quality slate of cases, or the new mechanics that help break the usual mold of the series, there’s very little to dislike about this fantastic spinoff.

Goodbye Despair may fall into some ridiculous scenarios and dialogue that clash with the game’s otherwise dark atmosphere, but when Danganronpa 2 is at its best, there’s little else that hits harder.

Tetris Effect: Connected upgrades its musical rhythms and visualizations with fun multiplayer PvP, but the new Connected mode steals the multiplayer show with an exciting, energetic way to play Tetris that’s a welcome alternative to its competitive modes.

A masterclass in narrative driven storytelling. Every character is important and every choice could lead to your doom. Play it and see if you can solve the mystery for yourself!

Sucker for Love: First Date is a gut busting romp through relationships with several eldritch abominations. While this visual novel has a few rough edges, it is a must play for fans of comedy games.

It even makes great use of the Gamepad with real-time maps and streaming Gamepad play, while staying away from needless touch screen gimmicks. Ultimately, Black Ops 2 is just as good on the Wii U as it is on Xbox 360 and PS3 – save for the complete lack of a multiplayer community.