Hollow Knight: Silksong improves on nearly everything Team Cherry established eight years ago and I hope other games will learn from its excellent enemy design. A true success that somehow managed to meet the high expectations.

If Clair Obscur - Expedition 33 doesn't appear in all the best lists of the year despite its strange title at first glance, you still have a great year of new releases ahead of you, but I don't think that will happen. Because this game is almost perfect. A fantastic story in the truest sense of the word, great gameplay, constantly challenging battles, an incredibly intense atmosphere and visuals that you've almost certainly never seen before. The fact that Sandfall is reportedly already negotiating with a Hollywood studio for the film rights will come as no surprise to you by the end of the game. Thank you for this game!

A brilliant puzzle and strategy game that constantly surprises with new challenges and revelations.

Metaphor: ReFantazio is an excellent combination of Persona's time management and classic Japanese fantasy RPG structure.

UFO 50 is an impressive achievement with a strong love for the medium while also understanding numerous genres on a deep level. A true masterpiece and resounding success on every level.

Colossal co-op entertainment: The action-adventure Split Fiction ignites a veritable firework of gameplay in breathtakingly beautiful game worlds - and tells a touching story along the way.

Donkey Kong Bananza delivers tons of creative fun and is the first compelling reason to buy Nintendo's new hybrid console.

Animal Well is an extraordinary Metroidvania with a dense atmosphere, as well as creative puzzles and platformer passages that often lure players out of their comfort zone.

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is just as controversial and masterful as its predecessor. The tough challenge has given way to a tough story. A change of focus that won't pick everyone up, but will definitely make everyone think.

Resident Evil Requiem delivers one of the series’ best survival‑horror campaigns with Grace Ashcroft and a brutal, visually impressive action romp with Leon in ruined Raccoon City. However, its generous resources economy, the action-focus in the second half and split identity keep this ambitious anniversary entry just shy of true masterpiece status.

Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 is an epic, beautiful and authentic medieval adventure full of fun, love, cruelty and war. Warhorse Studios tell a dramatic and twist-filled tale of friendship, loyalty, betrayal and politics that fills at least 65 hours of playtime. The depiction of late medieval statehood is just as captivating as the small sidequests and stories with their strong and authentic characters from sheperds to sword masters. In addition, there is a picturesque world, with probably the most impressive medieval city depiction I've ever seen in a video game. But not everything is perfect. The game design is annoying with forced stealth on top of a frustrating save system. That's especially true for some of the longer story missions. On top of this, the combat mechanics are extremely inaccessible and, with their mercilessness, put far too many obstacles in the way of the players, especially at the beginning. Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 is nevertheless an utterly unique, ambitious and, in large parts, very good adventure. But it's also a video game that misses important points a little too often in the gameplay details and does not respect the player's time in certain places.

While not as innovative as previous installments, Monster Hunter Wilds successfully builds upon their ideas to create one of the franchise's most robust experiences. A perfect starting point for potential new hunters without diluting what makes it so appealing to veterans.

Persona 3 Reload is an excellent remake of a classic JRPG whose social and emotional themes are more relevant today than ever. Aspects such as the battle system or the staging of the locations could have benefited from a stronger modernization, but the strong story with its excellently written characters makes it easy to overlook this. What's more, the light-footed audiovisual style manages to bring us closer to heavy topics such as bullying, depression and suicide without underplaying their weight.

Saros is a fiercely focused hybrid of bullet-hell, roguelite, platformer, and horror sci-fi whose demanding but fair combat and aggressive risk-reward loop easily outweigh its flat supporting cast and static hub.

A cool story with lots of nice cinematic vibes, but the imprecise controls and stupid opponents tarnish the otherwise good impression.

Mixtape is a one of a kind adventure game that allows me to dive deep into the emotionally complex world of teenagers. It’s silly and over-the-top from time to time, but often also heartfelt and nostalgic - especially thanks to the fantastic ’80s soundtrack. I still lacks depth in terms of gameplay, partly because Mixtape is over far too quickly. But the simple gameplay sequences still impress with their creativity and variety.

A lovingly and carefully ported collection of classic fighting games that are still worth playing today, with new life breathed into them through online functionalities. Video game history is successfully preserved here.

Bloober Team has succeeded in creating a good remake of a horror classic that respects the original in the most important aspects, but expands it where it makes sense and doesn't change the core ideas.

Mario Kart World on Switch 2 is a blast, especially the Knockout Tour with friends! The cow character is already iconic, and the animations are top-notch. However, the open world feels a bit like a sticker hunt, the costume unlock system via "Dash Food" is confusing with unequal outfits per character (some get none!), and it disappoints regarding the single-player focus. Some tracks are too wide, and no 200cc at launch is a bummer. Still, it's charming, chaotic fun with potential to be the GOAT - albeit with updates.

In the roughly 60 hours I spent with Nioh 3, I often only reluctantly put the controller down for breaks. The enhanced gameplay structure and clever, new elements reliably prevent you from getting frustrated and losing your temper on a boss, without sacrificing the series' signature edge. Nioh 3's more open approach reliably motivates you to keep at it and consistently creates an exemplary, captivating flow. If you've only ever tentatively eyed the Nioh games from afar, this latest installment offers the best opportunity yet to jump into the series.

Ghost of Yōtei is a masterful lesson in refining an established formula, demonstrating how a new theme can lead to a cascade of improvements that elevate an already beloved concept to new heights. Sucker Punch has not only retained the best elements of Tsushima, but has also boldly broken new ground, taking the experience to a new level. The central conflict shifts from Jin Sakai's internal struggle for honour and cunning to Atsus' personal quest for revenge and her potential healing. I felt that this thematic shift is the driving force behind all of the game's profound mechanical innovations. The Western theme runs like a thread through every aspect of the gameplay, from the bounty hunter system to the non-linear narrative. It kept me hooked until the very end. Truly a revenge story with enormous gravitational pull.

Silent Hill f is a very special game. Rarely have I seen a video game narrative told this well while taking advantage of the medium's unique strengths. Even after several playthroughs, my perspective on the story keeps changing through uncovering new aspects of its mystery.

As a fan of the first two games, Monster Hunter Stories 3 immediately grabbed me. This isn't just a small, "nice to have" spin-off, but a lavish and richly complex RPG that doesn't need to hide behind the beloved main series. On the contrary: Twisted Reflection once again successfully translates the strengths of Monster Hunter into the turn-based RPG genre, surpassing its predecessors in both presentation and game design. The latter, however, requires a willingness to persevere through an overloaded tutorial and a whole host of question marks until everything clicks and the pieces fall into place. Then there's not much standing in the way of a great RPG experience.

A fantastic metroidvania offering one of the genre's most interesting combat systems and surprisingly human characters set in a brutal world.

It's a little strange: although I have very little connection to real climbing, Cairn immediately captivated me. Over time, I have developed something like “para-expertise,” which would be of limited use in real climbing, but opens up undreamt-of possibilities in Cairn. “What, we're supposed to climb this smooth, hundred-meter-high rock face?” you ask yourself at first – only to later scan the rock with an expert eye and figure out a possible route. The game may become a bit too challenging in places from the medium difficulty level onwards – but if you have patience and frustration tolerance, you will be rewarded all the more by your sense of achievement. Even for those unfamiliar with mountaineering, Cairn offers an unforgettable adventure that combines flow and natural beauty with well-paced drama. The mountain is calling, definitely.

In regards to its content, The War Within is the best expansion for WoW to date. The story is fantastic, the music incredible, and on top of the group-based content fans have come to expect, from raids to battlegrounds to arena battles and mythic dungeons, the new Delves finally offer a great opportunity for smaller teams, lone wolves and casual players to make meaningful progress, get stronger, master their class and receive powerful gear. Warbands make powering up and gearing new characters easier than ever. Granted, these are all features, which other MMOs have been offering for years in some form or another, but if your heart beats for Azeroth, you may not be interested in any alternatives. Issues such as deleted guild banks and balancing problems with the crafting system, classes, hero talents and delves are a source of frustration. Still, now is a great time to go on a(nother) trip to Azeroth, even or especially when you don't have as much time to play as you did 20 years ago.

Esoteric Ebb is a charming and clever role-playing game that combines D&D virtues with a strong focus on story and contemporary themes. Even though the graphics and fantasy setting speak a different language, it almost feels like Disco Elysium 2.

Doom: The Dark Ages returns to the uncompromising action roots of the series without overloading it with unnecessary game systems, as was the case in its predecessor. It still feels like work at times, but the new melee combat system in particular makes up for the occasional hiccups.