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.

I find it hard to say whether Tears of the Kingdom is worth revisiting on the Switch 2 for returning players. I haven’t had that experience myself, after all. Plus, the €10 upgrade only gets you a higher resolution, HDR, and a more stable framerate — nothing that truly shakes things up functionally. That said, I do expect that almost anyone with a save file from 2023 still has plenty left to do before reaching 100%. For new players or returning Zelda fans who walked away from Breath of the Wild disappointed back then, I’d say: give it a chance. After playing Tears of the Kingdom, I’m still not entirely convinced — I’d love to see a brand-new, traditional Zelda on the Switch 2. That said, I’ve come to appreciate the direction Zelda took in 2017 a lot more now.

Hollow Knight Silksong exceeds all expectations. Team Cherry manages to create an amazing ever expanding world that has a new challenging adventure around each corner. You feel that every little detail of this game has been hand crafted with so much love and attention. Silksong is an artful masterpiece at a price tag of only €20.

Fans of the original will get more of what they know, but newcomers can also pick up Kingdom Come: Deliverance II effortlessly. It’s a wonderfully realistic RPG where countless systems seamlessly intertwine within a beautifully designed open world.

Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is a brilliant action game that plays just as wonderfully as it looks. It’s easy to pick up, yet packed with depth thanks to a combo system you learn organically. The game continuously expands both combat and exploration with new abilities. Above all, it looks breathtaking with a unique painterly style and stunning lighting effects. Every level is crammed with secrets and extra challenges that provide countless hours of fun. The bosses are tricky, but they never gave me the feeling I couldn’t overcome them. Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is the kind of action game they rarely make anymore – and it plays even better than it looks.

Forza Horizon 6 is the dream of every car enthusiast who has been asking for Japan over the past decade. Playground Games not only delivers a stunning, diverse, and massive map, but also innovates brilliantly with the dynamic system of 72 micro-seasons. The intense focus on deeply-rooted JDM car culture, the spectacularly improved engine sounds, and the addictive mountain roads make this an absolute must-play for racing fans.

Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time feels like it was made by fans of the original with the mindset: let’s fix everything that could be improved and make what was already good even more fun. And in my opinion, Level-5 has absolutely succeeded. The game is accessible yet impressively deep. Each of the fourteen different Lives has something unique to offer, and the game is packed with fun activities, quests, and secrets to discover. Longtime fans already know that Level-5 has delivered plenty of great RPGs in the past, but I didn’t expect the leap in quality over the original to be this significant. Then again, these are the kinds of surprises we gamers live for.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a fantastic game that everyone should play. The combat is a unique combination of turn-based and real-time, while the game completely captivates you with an immersive story and interesting characters. The focus on exploration is special, but occasionally ensures that you as a player can get lost. Still, this is only a small downside in an otherwise excellent game. For me, it is the best game I have played this year so far and there is a good chance that this will not change in the coming months.

Infinite Wealth has made me feel like I've been on a warm, colorful and wacky but fantastic vacation during this cold winter time. The gameplay may be more of the same if you look at Like A Dragon, but the game is very well put together and there is so much to do that you can easily spend hours distracted from the main story with mini-games and fun activities. Fortunately, the story of Infinite Wealth is also strongly crafted and the game managed to keep me constantly entertained. The amount of content can give you dozens if not hundreds of hours of gameplay, and people who really want to complete everything will be able to top that number with ease. Infinite Wealth is simply the best Like A Dragon/Yakuza game I have played so far.

Hades II delivers an excellent sequel to a fantastic game. It does just enough new things to feel refreshing, while never forgetting what made the first entry so great. The game looks stunning and plays beautifully on the Switch 2. With a bit of effort, you can finish it in just a few hours, but at that point, you’ve really only seen the tip of Olympus. Hades II has become one of the best games of the year and is one everyone should definitely try. With Blue Prince, Expedition 33, Donkey Kong Bananza, and Hades II, it’s going to be tough to decide what my favorite game of the year will be. But Hades II absolutely deserves to be in that conversation.

The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered may seem like an unnecessary re-release, but with an inevitable PC version on the horizon - and because there's obviously no better way to cash in on the popularity of the TV series - it's nice that we get to play this version on console as well, with a number of extras that are definitely worth it! Graphically, the game is still gorgeous, and the new No Return mode and extras are well worth the entry price for current owners of the game. Anyone who, like me, didn't have time for The Last of Us Part II upon release will also absolutely enjoy getting this Remastered version into their home.

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is a game that exceeds even my wildest dreams in terms of production value. It is by far the most visually stunning game I’ve seen on the PlayStation 5, accompanied by a soundtrack from Woodkid that reaches similarly impressive heights. The game has clearly taken past criticism into account, resulting in a much more accessible experience. Death Stranding 2 is certainly no walking sim, although it does start at a walking pace. Beyond that, it’s a groundbreaking game with an emotionally gripping story, making it one of the best PlayStation 5 exclusives to date. Meanwhile, Elle Fanning and Troy Baker manage to steal the show – their performances alone are reason enough to play the game.

Elden Ring Nightreign is a bold and surprisingly successful evolution of the Elden Ring we know. With this co-op spin-off, FromSoftware proves that the world of Elden Ring also thrives in a more social setting, without compromising on challenge or atmosphere. In fact, the presentation during certain boss fights might even surpass the original, precisely because so much attention has been paid to it. The addition of teamplay, roguelite elements, and nostalgic bosses from earlier titles results in a game that feels both familiar and refreshing.

Monster Train was already brilliant, but this sequel streamlines the experience while making it fairer and more challenging. I thoroughly enjoyed the wealth of options and the constant sense of progression as you unlock new content. Every run can play out completely differently thanks to the many variables, and there’s plenty to dive into with challenge runs and other optional modes. Factions have strong synergies, and there are countless paths to success. The new art style and soundtrack are impressive, but the true star is the gameplay – a must-try for any fan of tactical games, deckbuilders, and roguelikes.

Battlefield 6 is Battlefield at its best. The game looks impressive and the audio is, as we’ve come to expect from DICE, absolutely top-tier. But this time, the rest of the package is just as strong. With the return of traditional classes, crisp hit registration and a wide arsenal of weapons, there’s a solid foundation in place to keep Battlefield relevant for months, and maybe even years, to come. The single-player campaign also deserves praise: it doesn’t feel like a box-ticking exercise, but like a meaningful addition. Battlefield 6 once again bursts with the spectacle that made the series famous, even if the amount of content at launch could have been a bit more substantial.

Where Link’s Awakening already looked fantastic and sounded even better, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom has all of that, but with a unique gameplay concept on top. The ability to learn and copy objects and enemies adds so much more depth than you might expect at first glance. It seems like multiple solutions are possible for everything, and you might have a completely different approach to most of the game than I do. Selecting the Echoes is somewhat awkward, and this user interface is the biggest criticism I have of the game. By limiting direct combat, you’re forced to think differently, and in most cases, this works out well, though it can be frustrating at times. Beyond that, you’ll find a wonderfully traditional Zelda adventure full of secrets, great dungeons, and boss fights, but filled with small environment-based puzzles and challenges.

Persona 3 Reload has everything you want from a modern remake. New content, better voice acting, new events, a big graphics and music update, and more. A perfect mix of style and substance make sure Persona 3 Reload never gets boring for new and recurring players.

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.

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

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

Dispatch puts you in the heart of moral dilemmas as a dispatcher, with cryptic requests, strong voice acting, a vivid graphic novel style, and an immersive soundtrack. Eight episodes full of choices, reflection, and moral tension.

A somewhat inconsistent difficulty level and checkpoint system fortunately do little to detract from this excellent platforming experience. Astro Bot has all the potential to become PlayStation's permanent mascot, precisely because he embodies everything that makes PlayStation what it is. I sincerely hope he gets that chance, because if this game proves anything, it's that even a longer Astro Bot game isn't long enough. This leaves you wanting more once again.

After more than thirty hours with the Switch remake, I joined the group of people who have been saying for years that Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is the best Mario RPG. It lacks some quality of life aspects that I would have liked to see in a modern release, but this is just a small blemish on an otherwise great game. The memorable characters and moments in the story, combined with the large dose of dry humor, made the time fly by.

Black Myth: Wukong is a visual masterpiece that brings the rich Chinese culture and mythology to life in an impressive way. The combat is satisfying, and the variety in environments and bosses keeps the experience fresh. Despite some frustrations with invisible walls, occasionally inconsistent difficulty, and performance issues, Black Myth: Wukong offers a unique and immersive experience. For those who crave a deep cultural immersion and challenging action, Black Myth: Wukong is definitely worth it.

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.

All in all, Metaphor is a different game than I expected. In a way, that's a shame: I was quite curious about what the Persona developers could achieve with an entirely new set of systems. Still, it's certainly not a bad thing. Metaphor does everything Persona did, and in many areas just that little bit better. The visual style is stunning, the battles and everything around them are more streamlined, and although it takes place in a fantasy world, it has just as much to say about our reality as its socially engaged predecessors – for games, at least. I'm very much looking forward to Persona 6, but perhaps I'm even more excited about the future of Metaphor.

Cyberpunk 2077 is just as impressive on the Nintendo Switch 2. It includes the fantastic base game and its equally strong expansion, and it runs remarkably well. The game looks stunning — especially in handheld mode — and performs great, particularly when you enable the performance mode’s framerate boost. In handheld mode, the analog sticks lack a bit of precision, making motion controls almost essential. It's a shame you can’t dynamically switch between gamepad and mouse controls. Still, Cyberpunk 2077 is a fantastic experience that will keep you engaged for many hours in a beautifully crafted world.

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.