Outbound had the potential to be one of the biggest hits of the year, but a gameplay loop that hinders more than it invites, a purposeless open world, and endlessly repetitive objectives make this so-called cozy camping sim anything but relaxing.

The best games rarely cater to the broadest possible audience, and Mixtape is proof of that. The limited gameplay and lack of freedom are deliberate choices that won't appeal to everyone, but they're precisely what make the game what it is. Beethoven & Dinosaur tells a four-hour story that is more convincing, more heartfelt, and more memorable than what most games manage to achieve in dozens of hours. Those who surrender to the experience get something back that is hard to describe: the feeling that you yourself are saying goodbye to Rockford, Cassandra, and Slater, as if you lived through that final evening yourself. And just like the best songs on a mixtape, that feeling lingers long after the last note has faded.

With Directive 8020, Supermassive comes out of the gate strong: a compelling story with a solid, diverse cast that makes for a horror adventure that slowly unfolds. The formula of making choices and living with consequences is somewhat undermined by the Rewind feature. Given the claustrophobic and tense nature of this story, the emphasis on stealth gameplay is a very smart decision. By constantly shaking up its gameplay elements, Directive 8020 never grows stale – helped in no small part by the fact that the game can be completed in six to eight hours. If you're a fan of Event Horizon or The Thing, this game is a must-play. All other horror fans will find a capable game, where the developers take their time building towards something truly impressive.

Like Returnal before it, Saros didn't need to be a roguelike at all. That the experience holds up so confidently regardless is a testament to the game's quality, largely because the core gameplay is once again every bit as tight as you'd expect from Housemarque.

A game that completely absorbed me with my own created world and characters, but ultimately also made me realize that I mainly had to make it fun myself.

The music, voiceovers, and bizarre weapons do a great job of masking the shortcomings of Mouse. Mouse P.I. For Hire won't be the game of the year, but in my opinion, it's the most stylish one.

Pragmata is a game you have to experience to understand why it works so well. The story sometimes lacks depth, but the gameplay more than makes up for it. Everything comes together in a rhythm that keeps you engaged from start to finish.

Ultimately, Pokémon Champions is an accessible VGC simulator that could have been quite enjoyable, but is held back significantly by pay-to-win elements and technical issues.

Reunion is an entertaining but technically imperfect trip down memory lane that proves the bond between Max and Chloe is still worth its weight in gold, even though the rest of the game is a bit less weighty this time around and the resolution sometimes feels a bit rushed.

Grime II fails to learn enough from its predecessor’s shortcomings, especially its technical ones, but still delivers another stunning Metroidvania packed with thrilling action, challenging platforming puzzles, (art) philosophy, and atmosphere.

With Midnight, World of Warcraft once again delivers a fantastic expansion, featuring a beautiful new version of Silvermoon and the surrounding areas, a highly entertaining story, and new systems that can keep the game going strong for years to come.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder + Meetup in Bellabel Park remains a wonderful platformer. Its colorful playfulness bursts off the screen, and the levels remain remarkably inventive. It's a shame this expansion doesn't include more single-player content, but even if the minigames do nothing for you, there's still plenty to enjoy in Bellabel Park. Now it's time to wait for a truly new 2D Mario.

Marathon is a game that is truly unmatched, especially in terms of style and gunplay. Beneath its visual presentation and incredibly strong soundtrack lies a game that is remarkably special, though it will not immediately appeal to everyone because it is so hardcore. For me, it is one of the best first-person shooters ever made. In terms of level design, Marathon is even better than Destiny, and the release of its most recent level, Cryo Archive, only reinforced that even further. It takes a little while to get into at first, but once you push through that initial barrier, you are in for an unforgettable experience.

Crimson Desert is an excellent game with an engaging open world, highly challenging boss fights, and mind-bending puzzles. The game is certainly not perfect, but Pearl Abyss' willingness to listen to feedback gives me hope that Crimson Desert will only continue to improve in the future on what is already a strong foundation.

Tales of Berseria remains what it always was: a strong JRPG with a compelling story and memorable characters. However, this remaster feels less like a true return and more like an expensive 60-fps patch. If you've never played the original, this is still highly recommended. But if you're already familiar with it, you have to wonder if this version has added enough to warrant a fresh start.

Diablo 2: Resurrected is truly back with the Reign of the Warlock expansion, after never really going away.

Pokémon Pokopia has turned out to be an excellent game that, honestly, has given me a lot more enjoyment than Pokémon Legends Z-A and Animal Crossing. It’s one of the better cozy games, and you can easily sink dozens of hours into it. For me, the credits rolled after about thirty-five hours of play, but even after that I still have plenty to do to keep myself entertained.

Resident Evil: Requiem finds the perfect balance between survival horror and explosive action thanks to its two protagonists. The result is an outstanding experience that managed to keep me constantly engaged.

Ys X: Proud Nordics isn’t a revolutionary reinvention of the series, but it is the most coherent and streamlined Ys in years. The maritime system works, the duo combat deepens the formula, and the build options give players more control than ever. The story is solid, but it lacks the emotional high point of its strongest predecessors. The combat is refined, but not limitless. The re-release is the best version, but not an automatic upgrade. What remains is an action RPG that almost never loses its rhythm. And sometimes that’s exactly what a series needs: not a revolution, but a sense of direction.

Mewgenics is a bizarre, complex, and at times unforgiving game. That is precisely why it’s so hard to put down.

With High On Life 2, Squanch Games has created a wonderfully colorful, varied, and creative game. The gameplay is tightly structured, and the humor is absolutely captivating, but never overly crude. It's a game I can't play continuously however as it's still quite chaotic in terms of overall impressions. That said, the game is an improvement over the first installment in almost every aspect and is definitely worth playing. A short break between main missions is certainly a necessity for me.

God of War: Sons of Sparta is a solid and well-crafted metroidvania with strong combat and tight level design. Within the genre, it never truly excels in any exceptional way, but it knows exactly what it wants to be. The repetition in enemy design and the conservative skill tree prevent it from fully rising above itself. At the same time, its focus on character makes it a meaningful chapter within the broader God of War story. The game is neither a revolution nor a new benchmark, but it is a thoughtful and thematically strong origin piece that credibly deepens Kratos’ evolution.

Yakuza Kiwami 3 has turned out to be a very solid remake. RGG Studios has significantly cut back on side quests, but simultaneously introduced new elements and storylines that provide more depth. While the game might be slightly shorter than before due to the trimmed substories, the quality of the overall experience hasn't suffered. Unfortunately, Dark Ties doesn't offer a whole lot of content, clocking in at just a quarter of Yakuza Kiwami 3’s playtime. Nevertheless, the complete package is definitely worth picking up.

REANIMAL feels in every way like the natural successor to the first two Little Nightmares games, yet it manages to establish enough of its own identity to avoid feeling like a simple retread. Tarsier Studios proves they still perfectly master the DNA of this formula, elevating the experience in subtle but meaningful ways through a more intense atmosphere, new gameplay elements, and a more cohesive world.

The biggest issue with Mario Tennis Fever is that it seems too heavily targeted at children. While the colorful presentation, forgiving gameplay, and simple challenges make it accessible, for older players it feels like the game takes too few risks. Nintendo has chosen safety over depth, a decision that ultimately holds the game back. The franchise has proven in the past that it is possible to strike a balance between accessibility and technical finesse, but Fever fails to find that equilibrium.

If you're into surreal games, Romeo Is a Deadman is an absolute must-play. The story is bonkers, and even if you appreciate the idea of a digital art exhibition in a game, it can still be hard to follow at times. The combat could have felt a bit more modern and refined in places, but this is largely made up for by the strong gameplay loop and the sheer amount of playful minigames that keep everything fresh.

When Nioh 3 is at its best, it’s extremely good. Some of the open-world segments can easily hold their own against the best levels from previous games. A number of the new bosses also measure up to the series’ better boss fights. Unfortunately, an open world also comes with the usual complaints.

Dragon Quest VII Reimagined seems to combine the best elements of the earlier versions in many ways. The overall playtime may have been trimmed down a bit and some minor bits of content have been removed here and there, but it’s all been done in service of the story, resulting in a much smoother and more enjoyable experience.