Even with a lackluster story and an uncharismatic protagonist, Saros has secured its place among the best games of 2026 so far, thanks to its addictive, challenging, and frenetic gameplay, featuring fantastic battles that showcase all of Housemarque’s brilliance and expertise.

Aphelion offers a compelling sci-fi premise and an immersive soundtrack, but stumbles in its execution. What should be an emotional and epic journey ends up getting lost in a rushed pace and repetitive gameplay, which turns exploration into a tedious climbing (or mountaineering) simulator.

Pragmata is a blend of Vanquish-esque aesthetics, a dash of Resident Evil — minus all the horror — in the final stretch, a good but clichéd story, unique and highly entertaining gameplay, and two protagonists who serve as the essential glue holding it all together. The game shines in its simplicity, excitement, and fun.

Life is Strange: Reunion clings to nostalgia and doesn't allow its protagonists to mature beyond the dilemmas they faced in Arcadia Bay 10 years ago. It's a must-see for fans of the franchise, but it's also a bittersweet experience, delivering a predictable mystery shrouded in technical problems that, at this point, Deck Nine should have already overcome.

Marathon offers the best of what Bungie has to offer in terms of pure gameplay and a unique hardcore experience within the extraction shooter genre. However, pacing issues and its appeal to a niche audience make the barrier to entry too high for the vast majority of players.

The game removes some of the mechanics that made it even more terrifying, but it still stays true to the original and serves as an excellent introduction for a new generation of players.

Even in a genre as saturated as the Soulslike, nothing compares to the Nioh series, and Nioh 3 stands out as the best in the trilogy. The transition to an open world isn’t perfect, but the rewarding exploration, stunning landscapes, and thrilling optional boss battles more than make up for any minor issues. Add to that top-notch combat, an extremely customizable character creation system, a lengthy campaign with a deep New Game+ mode where the loot system really shines, and an auto-equip feature that’s a true godsend, and you have yet another Team Ninja hit that sits at the top of the Soulslike genre.

Right from the first month of the year, as far as I’m concerned, Code Vein 2 has all the makings of one of the most disappointing experiences of 2026. The story is predictable and monotonous; the combat, while decent, gets tedious due to the repetition of enemies and attack patterns; and the boss battles are unengaging—which is probably the biggest flaw in a Soulslike game.

Despite all its flaws, Tormented Souls 2 may still appeal to nostalgic players who miss the classic survival horror games. That said, it doesn’t make up for the game’s script flaws, its unintuitive gameplay, and its predictable jump scares, which get lost amid an excellent atmosphere.

ROUTINE is a unique space horror game with strong references to classic survival horror titles and 1980s science fiction cinema. With its sublime puzzles and well-paced gameplay, the game keeps you hooked from start to finish with an intriguing narrative skillfully woven together through documents, videos, diaries, and even the character’s hallucinations.

Crimson Desert offers a well-rounded experience, even if it has a few stumbles along the way. Its campaign leaves something to be desired, but the game more than makes up for it with a vibrant, detail-rich world. Its excellent combat, combined with stunning visuals and a powerful soundtrack, makes the battles fun and epic, but it was in its open world that I found the game’s greatest appeal and standout feature.

Pokémon: Pokopia revitalizes the franchise by combining the creativity of Minecraft with the charm of Animal Crossing in a deep narrative. Despite suffering from long loading times on the Switch 2 and a slow, real-time-based pace, the freedom to rebuild cities and manage habitats is extremely rewarding. It's an innovative and necessary addition that, even with technical flaws, delivers an exciting and authentic experience.

Resident Evil Requiem combines the best that the franchise has had through 30 years on top of excellent protagonism from Grace and Leon. Unfortunately, the game falters in action sequences which are reminiscent of Resident Evil 6, the worst title in the saga, and stumbles slightly with a narrative that isn't as brilliant and sublime as its horror and gameplay. However, it still demonstrates the mastery that Capcom has maintained with the franchise since RE7: Biohazard (despite the misstep in RE3 Remake).

Stuck in some survival horror tropes that are already tired in 2025, A.I.L.A embodies the terror of AIs with a frightening villain, macabre settings, and great puzzles. A little more polish would be very beneficial for the game, which has a solid narrative and an excellent variety of horror approaches for each experience in the plot.

Even though it's not the best beat 'em up released in recent years, Marvel Cosmic Invasion is another hit in this era of revival of the genre that was all the rage in arcades in the 1990s. The game from Tribute Games and Dotemu shines mainly with its huge variety of characters and, above all, play styles, offering an extremely fun campaign from start to finish. Although the levels often feel repetitive and the game offers a small variety of enemies given the length of the campaign, these minor issues do not detract from the creative merits of a game that feels like a real living comic book. At a time when several classic beat 'em up franchises have returned with great games, from Streets of Rage to Ninja Turtles, Marvel Cosmic Invasion joins this new wave of great successes even though it is not the pinnacle of the genre.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond delivers a solid adventure faithful to the series' legacy, combining good exploration and puzzles that carry the essence of the saga. The game, however, suffers in portable mode, featuring somewhat dated graphics unworthy of such a highly anticipated release, but shines when docked and played on a good TV. The presence of AI-controlled allies is more charming than useful, and although the Vi-O-La motorcycle helps make the journey through Viewros less tiring, it works more as a remedy for a pacing problem than a genuinely exciting element. The price differences between Switch and Switch 2 also raise the question of whether the improvements justify the additional cost, especially when some of them seem to merely mitigate technical limitations.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 slows down a little compared to its predecessor and responds to complaints from the community to deliver a good multiplayer experience in a year when everything is against it. Its campaign, however, highlights what has been sacrificed in the short development time and stands as a strong contender for the worst story in the franchise.

Dispatch is one of those games that is already among the best of the year and puts a smile on your face from the very beginning, even bringing tears to players' eyes — whether from joy or sadness. The writing is brilliant, the choices carry weight, the characters are captivating, and everything in the game just made me look forward to a second season even more. The absence of more interactive moments like in Telltale titles is a little frustrating, but it doesn't weaken the game at all.

With simple but fun and intuitive gameplay, Master Lemon: The Quest for Iceland is a pixel art RPG that delivers on its promises, with several exciting moments that make us reflect and many places to explore. In addition to being a touching tribute, the title shows that Brazilian indie games deserve more and more recognition within the industry.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment successfully expands on the story of Tears of the Kingdom in a satisfying way. The fun and chaotic gameplay is great and is the highlight of the game. Fortunately, thanks to the wide variety of characters, the game avoids the repetitiveness of its very similar objectives. Although it doesn't shine like the main titles, the narrative brings a new perspective to the War of Imprisonment. Learning more about each sage is charming, but even so, there is nothing that makes it a must-have title within The Legend of Zelda.

The Outer Worlds 2 is a fun return to the satirical universe created by Obsidian, maintaining its sharp humor and criticism of corporate capitalism. The game succeeds in offering freedom of choice, good dialogue options, and a setting that balances sci-fi aesthetics with a playful tone, delivering a solid campaign, charismatic characters, and varied missions that guarantee hours of exploration and laughter. However, technical issues still weigh negatively on the experience: bugs, glitches, and even crashes disrupt immersion, even with the promise of future fixes. The main story may not be as memorable as that of other Obsidian titles, but the work as a whole is still convincing.

After a 13-year hiatus, Ninja Gaiden 4 marks the franchise's grand return to 3D hack and slash. With agile, versatile combat that gives the new protagonist Yakumo a multitude of offensive tools, the game shines with its combo systems, good variety of weapons, and extremely responsive commands, as well as offering a good range of defensive options for moments of chaos and boss fights. Although it suffers from linear missions and repetitive enemies, the partnership between Team Ninja and PlatinumGames delivers the game that the franchise deserved and did not receive in Ninja Gaiden 3, with gameplay as sharp as a katana blade.

In a 2025 marked by the excellence of independent games, Absolum arrives to set a new standard of quality for the beat 'em up genre. The game takes the best of the roguelike genre to give a new face to modern beat 'em ups. With extremely varied gameplay and a combat system that encourages a high-risk, high-reward approach to overcoming enemies from common foes to bosses, Absolum presents a progression that requires a strategic approach to each fight, but always offers the player all the tools necessary to overcome these challenges. If beat 'em ups, even in their best recent games, have always been characterized by subtle innovations, Absolum emerges as a true beacon of creativity for the genre.

Creatively different, Pokémon Legends: Z-A sets a new standard for the series by combining the identity of the anime with decades of expectations. The intimate concept of Lumiose, while still highlighting Game Freak's repetitive problems, brings more life to the world in which humans and Pokémon share the disappointments and joys of metropolitan life disrupted by incessant innovative battles.

Without words, Keeper manages to have a touching narrative depth and features wonderful artistic feats. However, technical aspects make the experience unpleasant at certain points and detract from the enjoyment of such a surreal and beautiful world. Double Fine continues to be great at creating works that touch the heart, but perhaps it is time to review the optimization of the studio's works.

Battlefield 6 rides the wave of FPS gaming at the most opportune moment, thanks to the decline of the Call of Duty series, with a masterfully crafted core experience capable of reviving the franchise after years in the shadows. The disappointing and completely forgettable campaign weakens the game, but it is sustained by the foundations of the brilliant and concise multiplayer mode that offers one of the best experiences in the franchise.

Digimon Story: Time Stranger is more than just a nostalgic trip down memory lane—it's a JRPG that knows exactly what it wants to be: grand, addictive, and exciting. With a story that blends mystery and epic, a brilliant digivolution system, and a vibrant Digiworld, it not only honors the franchise's legacy, but establishes itself as one of the best games of the year. An irresistible invitation for veterans and a magical gateway for those who have never experienced the universe of digital monsters.

Revenge is always personal, and Ghost of Yotei knows this all too well. You play as a woman who seeks to defeat all the criminals who ruined her life. This straightforward narrative hides secrets that are revealed in addictive gameplay set in one of the most beautiful and diverse maps of this generation. Atsu has an impactful, powerful journey that has everything it takes to earn her place as the legend of Ezo that Sucker Punch has created.

Bigger, better, and more challenging than its predecessor in virtually every way, Hades 2 is a true lesson in how to make a sequel. With some of the best combat ever created for action games, Supergiant Games' new work impresses with great dialogue full of sarcasm, originality in its representation of Greek mythology, an excellent soundtrack, and beautiful art direction. The roguelike retains the essence of the first game in the franchise, but adds a number of elements that make the gameplay more strategic and challenging. In a 2025 marked by great titles from independent studios, Hades 2 emerges as another strong contender for Game of the Year.

The Rogue Prince of Persia is an extremely competent and entertaining roguelite that excels where it matters most. Its acrobatic movement is the highlight, complemented by a solid combat system and vibrant art direction. While it doesn't reinvent the wheel and follows a safe formula, it executes it masterfully and offers replayability.

Dying Light: The Beast is a fun and confident return to the series' roots. The new mechanic of transforming into a monster is the highlight and, together with the charisma of the protagonist Kyle Crane, elevates the story. With a more contained but dense map and exemplary technical performance, the game does not reinvent the formula, but executes it masterfully. It is a polished adventure, a treat for fans and an excellent starting point for newcomers.

Between the acceleration, drifts, maneuvers, and turbos, Sonic Racing: CrossWorld skids through stages that, despite being fun, lack creativity, fall short in terms of variety of modes, and come at a very steep price for the content delivered.

You can see Team Cherry's love and dedication in every corner of Silksong, from the level designs to the adorable NPCs, the captivating story, the relentless enemies, and a spine-tingling soundtrack, which makes me feel bad for cursing every generation of developers for dying so many times. But that's the charm and appeal of the game.

Even though it is one of the most different games in the entire franchise, Silent Hill f remains true to what the series has always stood for and impresses with its soundtrack, story, graphics, and terrifying atmosphere. Hinako is an impressive protagonist and carries the dark and profound themes with great skill.

Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is a competent return to the franchise's 2D roots, with polished pixel art visuals, a retro soundtrack, and challenging gameplay that should appeal to fans of the NES classics. Despite presenting some good ideas, the game lacks enough variety and personality to stand out as a major modern milestone in the series. It works well as a tribute to the franchise's past and should have great appeal among nostalgic players and speedrunners.

Shadow Labyrinth doesn't quite capture the chaotic charm of Pac-Man. The game seems intent on proving that a dark reinterpretation of this universe can work, but it doesn't really seem ready for it.

In addition to being a city manager with breathtaking visuals, The Wandering Village offers an immersive experience with a narrative that arouses curiosity, a super interesting morality system, and an enchanting soundtrack.

Dead Take experiments with narrative triggers already masterfully employed in previous first-person horror titles and draws players in with well-developed scenarios that represent the emptiness of fame, but it relies on the excellent performances of Ben Starr and Neil Newbon to really take flight.

The prequel knows how to exploit its strengths, with a cinematic narrative full of tension. The setting in ancient Sicily is also one of its strengths, with an engaging atmosphere and a protagonist who carries the weight of his journey well. The game suffers from certain limitations with unrefined features, but even so, the story makes up for it with morally ambiguous choices that keep the player hooked until the end.

Without being scary, with mediocre storytelling and gameplay, an uninteresting protagonist, and cats as the main highlight, Cronos: The New Dawn is a basic and unremarkable survival horror game, but one that will entertain fans of the genre — and that's enough. Unfortunately, Bloober Team has not repeated the quality level of Silent Hill 2 Remake and returns to the level of forgettable games.

Living up to its name, Lost Soul Aside is a soulless game. Its combat, which should be its strongest point, suffers from a lack of responsiveness and boils down to mashing two buttons, while its generic art direction and empty story fail to make any impact. Despite its indie origins, which could justify some flaws, its launch price as a AAA game makes its shortcomings difficult to forgive.

Shinobi: Art of Vengeance marks the triumphant return of the classic franchise, revitalized by the talent of LizardCube. The game delivers beautiful scenery and intense combat that blends the essence of Shinobi 3 with Metroidvania elements. Even with a simple story, its solid execution, responsive controls, and balanced challenges make Art of Vengeance not only a great revival, but a modern classic of the 2D action genre.

In the end, the simplicity in the modernization of some elements of Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater left me frustrated, but even so, I loved revisiting one of my favorite games of all time with graphics and gameplay remodeled for today. Everything new in this remake makes it great, but what makes it incredible and a masterpiece is not the work of Virtuos, but rather Kojima Productions, which created a timeless game in 2004.

Just when Drag X Drive starts to get fun, you reach the end of the content and activities the game has to offer. Simple is the best way to describe this title, and unfortunately, due to the lack of content, the game can't escape looking like a “premium” tech demo.

Wuchang: Fallen Feathers does not revolutionize the soulslike genre in any way, but it stands out for its excellent combat system, which, although it does not reinvent the wheel, entertains with creative boss fights, a good variety of weapons, and a wide range of builds. Despite an uninteresting world to explore and a lack of memorable story or characters, the title developed by Chinese studio Leenzee could mark the beginning of a new franchise that, at least in its debut game, leaves a positive impression and could be fertile ground for more ambitious and creatively rich sequels

Unafraid to explore uncharted territory, Donkey Kong Bananza proves once again that Nintendo has found the perfect union between tradition and creative innovation. The highly modifiable terrains and transformations with targeted powers are the icing on the cake of a universe built not only to give DK an extensive adventure, but also to represent the essence of the Kong family through the exciting main campaign.

More dynamic and intense, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach dodges the judgments of tediousness that the first game received. The gameplay plays on the safe side with high doses of Metal Gear for more action and fun. As for the narrative, the plot is sublime with its criticism of large corporations, social networks and AIs, but it is also extremely emotional when talking about family, friendship, love and depression.

Two Point Museum has enough content and quality to keep you immersed for hours and make your museum the best museum of all - in almost every possible category. You will have work to do on your journey, but the game manages to balance the amount of management with fun and even small moments of humor. It doesn't slow down or get boring because you get too good at what you're supposed to be doing. On the contrary, you can spend hours playing without losing any of the fun. With a few tweaks and content that may arrive in the future, Two Point Museum could become a masterpiece of its kind. For now, it's already a great piece of work and will make you spend much more than just a night at the museum.

With strong inspirations from Persona and Silent Hill, Sorry We're Closed captures the essence of these franchises and puts its own DNA into a good narrative surrounded by allegories about prejudice, loneliness and love. As a survival horror, the game lacks in horror aspects, but still manages to deliver a solid experience with good combat and grotesque enemies.

Wanderstop transports the player to a very welcome moment of introspection, representing the experience of burnout. The highlight of the game is the story, which is very well written and provides great food for thought.

The First Berserker: Khazan is intense for better or worse. When the game is immersed in its combat, creating builds and a few boss battles, it shines brightly, almost reaching the shelf of great soulslikes. However, the poor level design, repetition of enemies, drowsy story and inconsistent difficulty make it fall down the ranks and be just another soulslike, although it still ranks among the good titles of the genre, no more than that. Lovers of Nioh and difficult games will find plenty of fun in the more than 35-hour campaign.

Although well-intentioned, the game tries to embrace the world and show different approaches to survival horror in a shallow and unremarkable way, which makes it a morbid and forgettable experience in a genre full of unforgettable and excellent titles, whether on the indie scene or big AAAs.

The basic modes have been improved and Breaking Point and F1 The Movie show that Formula 1 is possibly the sport that makes the most of different types of media. Whether you're a casual or hardcore fan, playing alone or with others, F1 25 is sure to please fans of the world's biggest racing series.

Deliver At All Costs has a good system for destroying environments and stylish graphics, but lacks much in the way of really useful customization and gets lost in a shallow story with little charisma. Despite this, it's a good title to launch an independent studio, which can take its future projects to greater heights.

Spirit of the North 2 has its ups and downs. The sequel expands its universe and story well, building a plot capable of captivating the player with its mythology and symbolic message. However, the game replicated the same mistakes as its predecessor, flaws that can't just be brushed aside, since they sacrifice gameplay and player progression.

Dune: Awakening takes advantage of the franchise's great momentum to create an immersive experience in the Arrakis desert, mixing MMO and survival elements in a good balance. Despite some technical flaws and combat that will need to be reworked by developer Funcom, it's a solid and fun base for a game that has everything it takes to become a benchmark in the genre.

Mario Kart World shines with a colorful and vibrant connected universe that finally gives a new air to the Grand Prix through simple changes to traditional mechanics that were previously not so frenetic, but it does little to explore the large open world that could make it the great game changer of the saga.

Shrouded in the magic and oppressiveness of the Elden Ring world, Nightreign is a good addition to the franchise, but it's no more than an empty, superficial spectacle that relies on nostalgia for bosses and references to Dark Souls. Fun can be found in the rushed exploration of Limveld and in the battles that are only big in size and have lost their epic factor due to the lifeless arenas. The game, however, could be a new way for new players to enter the soulslike universe thanks to its greater accessibility and less punishing challenge.

Although it doesn't offer a campaign on the same level as Doom: Eternal, Doom: The Dark Ages is yet another success for iD Software since the reboot launched in 2016. Boosted by very welcome additions to the franchise, such as combat with mechs and the possibility of flying and fighting while controlling a dragon, the new chapter in the series is a must-have title for fans of FPS and action games in general. With a huge variety of weapons that completely change the combat, enemies with very different mechanics and maps with lots of secrets to explore, Doom: The Dark Ages is fun from start to finish. However, the gamble of diving too deeply into an uninteresting story with one-dimensional characters shows an exaggerated focus on an aspect that has never been the franchise's strong point. Even so, The Dark Ages seems to be the embryo of a new phase of Doom and stands out as one of the best FPSs of the new generation.

After a hiatus of almost 26 years, Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves has successfully brought back one of the most iconic fighting game franchises of the 90s. With excellent gameplay and a great blend of tradition and modernity, the direct sequel to Garou is still an extremely familiar game for fans of the 1999 classic, but with a host of new features capable of attracting a new audience.

With its touching narrative, creative battle system and striking art direction, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 shows that there is still room for innovation in turn-based RPGs, especially when you mix real-time action. Refining every element of the genre with care, Sandfall Studio's game delivers an engaging and mature experience that deserves attention.

More than just an excellent representative of the adventure genre, Blue Prince is proof that a game doesn't need a combat system or require quick reflexes to be challenging from start to finish. The title developed by the Dogubomb studio and published by Raw Fury is on the same level of quality as young classics such as Return of the Obra Dinn and What Remains of Edith Finch, requiring players to pay great attention to detail in order to proceed through a mansion that will take us down different paths each day, requiring constant adaptability. Full of mysteries and with a story that surprises from start to finish, Blue Prince is a brilliant chapter in adventure games and, even with a smaller scope, has everything it takes to be remembered as one of the best releases of 2025.

South of Midnight is one of the hits that Xbox Game Studios has been crying out for. With a simple but captivating narrative, the game presents good characters and moves you with clear and profound messages. Despite the somewhat repetitive combat, the game is fun in its simplicity and finds its brilliance in a restrained and great folkloric world, governed by beautiful songs and led by the excellent protagonist Hazel.

Assassin's Creed Shadows takes players to feudal Japan on an intense journey of revenge and honor. With Naoe and Yasuke, the gameplay balances stealth and brutal combat in a world rich in historical detail. Despite a few technical stumbles, the game delivers an immersive and engaging experience, reaffirming the franchise's legacy.

Such creativity, inventiveness and irreverence, characteristics that define Josef Fares and Hazelight, make Split Fiction a formidable experience on every level. It's no exaggeration to say that this is the best game of the generation so far. With a touching narrative, captivating characters and a very entertaining gameplay, the game is the culmination of several lessons learned by the developer who mastered the cooperative games and proves that the clamor for It Takes Two is no coincidence.

A strong contender for game of the year, Monster Hunter Wilds marks another great success for Capcom with its most popular franchise. With a grand and impressive world, a huge variety of biomes and fights against breathtaking monsters, the new chapter in the franchise offers some of the best and most varied gameplay of the entire generation of consoles, rewarding players who explore the enormous possibilities that Monster Hunter Wilds has to offer. Whether you're a beginner or a veteran of the series, it will be hard not to be charmed by yet another brilliant piece of work from Capcom.

Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio's new game brings back the best of the Yakuza franchise and pirate games. Humorous, unusual, with frantic combat and full of extra content, the crazy experience of Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii shows that the game doesn't know the words “limits” and “boredom” and provides an extremely entertaining journey for new and old fans alike.

Avowed delivers a solid and accessible action RPG, with a vibrant world and dynamic combat, but without the depth or complexity that many expected. Its predictable narrative works, and exploration is rewarding, although repetition and the lack of impact of choices limit immersion. If you're looking for a successor to Pillars of Eternity, you may be disappointed, but for those who want a fun adventure without excessive complications, it could be a good choice.

Henry is a fun character who, especially alongside Hans Capon, makes for an entertaining partnership. The medieval map is a technical milestone with gigantic regions and a population and animals that really seem to have life. The quests are mostly quite interesting and, apart from a few accessibility issues and some rather boring combat, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is probably the best medieval RPG without dragons and other medieval fantasy elements.

Dynasty Warriors: Origins greatly reduces the scope of playable characters by concentrating on a single protagonist, but with access to a huge arsenal at his disposal and an entertaining campaign from start to finish. The game once again stands out for its good story, beautiful visuals and great combat system, but the repetitiveness of the missions and the fact that the protagonist is overshadowed by all the historical characters in the series, such as Liu Bei, Cao Cao, Diao Chan and Guan Yu, prevent Koei Tecmo's hack and slash from reaching its full potential. Even so, the game shines with its gameplay, captivating plot and delivers the best title in the franchise since Dynasty Warriors 4.

Enigma of Fear, although directly related to the expanded universe of the RPG Paranormal Order, stands on its own with eye-catching artwork, creative investigation mechanics and an engaging story augmented by evidence carefully placed in mysterious rooms. However, it fails when it tries to transport curiosity to certain action and/or adventure elements that end up hindering the fluidity of the gameplay because they don't work at the pace they should.

Without going overboard or using any extravagance, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD revitalizes the Nintendo Wii classic with decency. You can still have fun and stress out equally, but in a satisfying way in the excellent platforming challenges and the beautiful scenery worthy of the masterpiece it is known for. The addition of the Nintendo 3DS-exclusive stages gives it an air of novelty, but it's still too little to justify the full price of a title that hasn't even been localized into Brazilian Portuguese. In short, the game is a timid addition to the catalog of a franchise that deserves more and has been forgotten since 2014, when Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze was released. Who knows, maybe on the Nintendo Switch 2 we'll see our beloved Donkey Kong shine again.

The RPG does what it sets out to do and lets few things slip. Infinity Nikki is a more evolved version of what all fans of dress-up games from the 2000s loved. With thought-provoking gameplay, a detailed world to explore and plenty of content, the game is one of the best surprises of the year.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is a true homage to the best games in the adventure genre that were a hit in the 90s, but with a series of technical improvements provided by the new generation of consoles. With a setting rich in detail, an extremely rewarding sense of exploration and a story that maintains excellence from start to finish in the journey of pop culture's most famous archaeologist, the title closes 2024 on a high note and recaptures the spirit of the classic Indy movie trilogy of the 80s. More than just relying on the name of the Indiana Jones franchise, The Great Circle delivers one of the best games of the year and reinforces MachineGames' excellence as a developer.

Fantasian Neo Dimension enchants with its masterful soundtrack composed by Nobuo Uematsu and its ability to capture the essence of Final Fantasy in an anime style full of charm and a lore with enormous potential. However, the title stumbles over uncharismatic characters and a generic approach that prevents the narrative from reaching its full brilliance, ultimately presenting nothing new.

STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl is great when it's not mired in sameness and technical flaws. In the moments when the game is working as it should, I found great narratives, had fun fighting soldiers and monsters and enjoyed exploring the regions of the Exclusion Zone. If played calmly and after major corrections, STALKER 2 can be a very satisfying experience, but at the moment it has become one of the most stressful gaming experiences of my life.

LEGO Horizon Adventures adapts the universe of the Sony franchise well and brings lightness and humor to the PlayStation Studios production, although it is a duller adaptation than the original series. When compared to the other LEGO games, the game falls short due to some overly simplistic level design decisions. The story tries to be funny in a forced and flawed way, the gameplay is repetitive and tires you out after 30 minutes.

Despite a few stumbles, Mario & Luigi: Brothership manages to deliver a comeback worthy of the franchise. The game strikes a balance between fun and challenge, and it's a great duo job to control Mario and Luigi at the right time to progress through obstacles and face enemies in an exciting combat system.

Life is Strange: Double Exposure is a good game, but it's not even close to the original title. Although the plot is interesting and leaves the door open for a sequel, the new entry in the famous franchise lacks something that made the first game so impactful: a moving story that makes players identify with it. As a result, Double Exposure fails to be as memorable as its narrative predecessor. While the original Life is Strange perfectly balanced the relationships between the characters with the mystery of the story, Double Exposure seems to put aside the more social commentary of the games in the franchise and put more emphasis on superpowers and their possibilities. A new proposal that has yet to prove itself.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard may not be the perfect culmination of a 10-year wait, but it entertains with mistakes and successes in a story that condenses as much as possible about Thedas with new and old faces while presenting different gameplay styles and standing out when it allows the player to escape from the main objective.

The Lake House adds to Alan Wake 2's incredible ecosystem in a simple way, but maintains the quality of Remedy's work. What was great is still great, and now all that's left for fans of the franchise and the developer is to wait for the brilliant new adventures and horrors that Sam Lake and his team are preparing.

Sonic X Shadow Generations is the best version of one of the best games in the franchise, with the addition of a great Shadow campaign. All this makes it the definitive Sonic game so far.

Without saying a word, Neva takes the player on an adventure full of emotions. With breathtaking visuals and excellent audio work, the game tells a story about love and coming of age in such a beautiful way that it's hard to hold back tears. Although everything revolves around putting an end to the evil that plagues that world, the combat is very simple, but just the right amount of challenging to present the player with a certain level of difficulty. As for the game's progression, after a slightly slower start, the game picks up a good pace that doesn't let the player lose interest or get bored.

Mario Party Jamboree is the most fun and complete game in the franchise, combining nostalgia and evolution with mastery. In this game, you'll find adventure, fun and plenty of competition. However, the lack of chat in online mode can hinder gameplay, as can the many fun motion control games, which can be a problem for those using the Switch Lite. In short, it's the game every Mario fan needs to have, and it will keep you glued to the screen.

Silent Hill 2 Remake is a breath of fresh air and a revitalization of a nearly dead video game franchise. Everything that survival horror has to offer is present here in one of the best and most profound narratives in history. The game masterfully recreates the town of Silent Hill while expanding and making familiar locations and moments even scarier, and shows that Bloober Team can, indeed, make incredible horror games.

Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero honors the legacy of Budokai Tenkaichi and is a legitimate successor to the PlayStation game trilogy, in both a good and bad way. With a plethora of characters and transformations, agile gameplay and extravagant combos, the game sometimes falters with its camera system during fights and recounts the events of the anime in a somewhat rushed manner. Even so, the possibility of creating different outcomes for the most striking moments in Akira Toriyama's work adds a welcome touch of novelty to a game that, although far from perfect, impresses with its beautiful visuals and entertains with combats that seem straight out of the anime and a huge amount of content to be unlocked.

With an excellent political plot that brings impactful reflections into dialogue with contemporary reality, a cunning villain, magnificent soundtrack, Homeric combat and captivating characters, Metaphor has established itself as one of the masterpieces of the fantasy JRPG and one of the candidates for the 2024 Game of the Year (GOTY) award, as well as bringing back memories of Final Fantasy 9 and other emblematic titles in the genre.

Subverting the franchise's standard narrative, Echoes of Wisdom sets the titular princess out to save the kingdom - and Link - from the forces of evil. Even without wielding a sword and shield at all times, Zelda uses the greatest weapon she possesses: wisdom, and there's nothing more “Zelda” than that.

Emio - The Smiling Man comes up short being too simple, but it's a very well-constructed game in terms of both graphics and storyline. Despite a few stumbles in the choice of dialogue development, the game progresses to a surprising conclusion and leaves no loose ends.

The Casting of Frank Stone expands the Dead by Daylight universe, but leaves more questions than answers. With a “safe narrative” and solid gameplay, the horror and narrative game manages to be a valuable addition for fans of the work or the genre.

Age of Mythology: Retold is a remaster of unquestionable quality, with improvements to the quality of life that enhance the player's experience and immersion. However, the monetization of the gods favours paying players, leading to a possible pay-to-win atmosphere.

Astro Bot is an incredible and fun adventure that celebrates the history of PlayStation and video games in a nostalgic way, capable of embracing the inner child of those who lived through past generations of Sony consoles. The levels are beautiful, the power-ups add a special layer of gameplay and the boss battles are creative, but the villains are not very memorable, which leaves the title below the best of Donkey Kong, Mario and Crash Bandicoot games.

Visions of Mana renews the soul of the franchise with interesting characters and simple but visually appealing combat. Exploration, interaction with the map and interpersonal relationships are the strong points of this RPG, which is a must for those who enjoy linear heroic adventures. It is, however, a game that stays in the comfort zone of its genre in all respects and optimization for consoles could be improved.

With some of the best world-building in the history of the gaming franchise, Star Wars Outlaws stands out from most of the other titles in the series for its immersion and richly detailed construction of different planets and moons in a galaxy far, far away. The good story and excellent setting are the great strengths of a game that doesn't fly higher only due to a combat system that lacks greater depth and becomes repetitive after a campaign that can easily exceed 50 hours. Outlaws doesn't reach the level of titles like Knights of the Old Republic or Jedi: Survivor, but it certainly ranks among the good Star Wars adaptations for games.

Black Myth: Wukong has everything it takes to be one of the titles in contention for Game of the Year 2024, despite its technical shortcomings. The well-told story features interesting characters, but it's not brilliant, which leaves room for the excellent combat to steal the limelight with great boss battles and a spectacular variety of enemies. The game is an admirable invitation for players to learn more about China's rich mythology.

With extremely entertaining combat, an innovative party system and an interesting, well-told story, Deathbound shines, but stumbles over technical flaws. The game is exquisite in creating a vast world rich in detail, whether it's the mythology created or the seven protagonists who ooze personality. An excellent way of defining Deathbound is that it's a soulslike game from the early 2010s, which hasn't kept up so well with the improvements that other titles in this category have brought over the years, but may please more purist gamers.

The Gentlebros have hit the nail on the head with the beauty and challenges of the world of Cat Quest III. Some points, such as the repetitive combat and excessive dialog, make part of the adventure monotonous, but the unexpected ending makes it all worthwhile.

One of the most eagerly awaited independent metroidvanias of recent years, Gestalt: Steam & Cinder stands out for its excellent combat system, with a huge and diverse skill tree for the powerful protagonist Aletheia, and for its steampunk setting, rich in detail. The title developed by Metamorphosis Games, however, squanders its own potential with an excessive focus on a story that, although promising at first glance, turns out to be drawn out, distant and full of expository dialog and characters lacking in charisma. Despite the neat gameplay, good soundtrack and beautiful art direction, the title doesn't reach the level of the best games in the genre, whether classics from the past or more recent releases.