Overwhelming at first, but incredibly enjoyable throughout each hunt, Monster Hunter: Wilds is a fantastic action RPG. The gameplay is great and relies on various finely crafted elements by the Capcom team, from the monsters to the weapons, not forgetting the game world, which is as big a protagonist as the former. The PC version only suffers from a few noticeable performance issues, but these aren't enough to affect the fun of Wilds, at least in my experience.

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is the result of a studio's love for a character, a story, proving that the best of the past can be transported to the present, hand in hand with what today's technology can offer. Ratchet, Clank and Rivet deliver the best PlayStation 5 experience, a memorable story that takes its inspiration from the greatest animation. From weapons to enemies, from characters to the environment, this is a title that grabs us, being one of the most fantastic gateways for the youngest to this universe of incredible and impactful experiences that we call videogames.

Rogue Legacy 2 is a worthy heir to the 2013 original and solidifies the legacy left by one of the best examples of what a roguelike/Metroidvania is. Its difficulty may put some players off, but don't be fooled, Rogue Legacy 2 is highly addictive, deep and fun.

Almost thirty years later, Final Fantasy Tactics stands as both a mirror of its era and a lesson for the present. The Ivalice Chronicles isn’t a nostalgic love letter, it’s an act of respect that proves a classic can be rewritten without losing its soul. It’s absolutely essential for fans of the genre, even for those who, unlike me, devoted the hundreds of hours it deserved in its original form. For everyone else, trust that it’s still possible to learn strategy through repetition and pain, a certain kind of integrity from another time, when suffering wasn’t frustration or bad design, it was part of the fun.

The main conclusion that we have arrived at after spending hours and hours with Horizon Forbidden West is very simple, the new generation of consoles is finally here. No, this is not Playstation's first exclusive worthy of mention, but it's visually imposing, gigantic in content and production values, very well written and interpreted, and has an entertaining gameplay that sometimes touches what we call excellence. Welcome back, my dear Aloy.

Samus Aran's triumphant return to a genre that she herself helped to name proves once again that there are no styles worthy of being caged in the past. The risk taken by MercurySteam results in one of the best games ever in the series, a chapter with its own personality that puts the bounty hunter alongside Link and Mario, making it one of the console's must-have titles. From the memorable bosses, to the harrowing encounters with the E.M.M.I. all painted by an artistic direction that takes the most from Nintendo Switch, making Metroid Dread one of the best of 2021.

Capcom did not forget Nintendo, delivering a mesmerizing and anticipated entry using what has been done so well in MHW. It adds something new to the series, with a mantle of Japanese folklore and culture. The innovations are enough to make us feel the weight of Monster Hunter Rise, a truly differentiating title that, like Monster Hunter World, will leave its mark to be replicated in future generations. Fast, fun and extremely addictive, Rise shows that Nintendo platforms continue to be one of the best places for memorable hunts.

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, recognized as one of the great GameCube classics, is back, this time on the Nintendo Switch. The improvements are clear to see in a remake that highlights the original's greatest qualities, without ever losing the charm of the GameCube's unique atmosphere. The sublime art direction and delightful soundtrack are still present and make this the best way to experience what will go down as the biggest and best Super Mario epic to date.

The biggest part of what lies within Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut is not new, but we are standing before a flash flood of content from the best that Playstation has given us in the past few years with new additions and improvements that are more than enough to deserve the attention of all those who complimented the game in the past. The story of Jin in Iki is well framed and is not narratively superficial, and the consequences will be felt as soon you find him again, which bears to mind that this expansion is also a good sample of what it may be a sequel free from the bindings that hold down Gen 8, with the same aesthetical identity but with a new power to explore.

Like a well-tuned train, Monster Train 2 doesn't deviate from the tracks it laid in the first game. The experience of the sequel is familiar to those who already know the franchise, but the new mechanics and new game modes translate into (another) hundreds more hours of fun.

Without straying from the excellent formula they gave us in Returnal, Housemarque has delivered a spiritual successor in Saros that achieves the rare feat of improving in almost every aspect. At the same time, it is far more accessible and respectful of the player's time, without ever diluting the level of challenge and adrenaline the studio is known for. Frenetic from start to finish, Saros leaves us with that "just one more run" itch while simultaneously inviting us to discover all its secrets through a narrative that starts slow but ends up being truly surprising.

Pikmin is Nintendo's ugly duckling. The idea of having plants that act like worker ants, of different colors and qualities, isn't all that appealing. Funnily enough, it works: I surrendered to the gameplay, creativity, lightness and relaxation that Pikmin 4 manages to deliver. Admittedly, there is still work to be done on other components, such as strengthening the cooperative mode, local and online, in order to offer a more interesting shared experience for all players. Still, the solo story mode made me feel the Nintendo magic again, the one I felt when I first played Pokémon, Super Mario, Wario or Zelda. It's a title that proves how little our age matters in the face of a game, only mattering how it makes us feel.

Final Fantasy XVI is an admirable new direction for the franchise. Square Enix shows tremendous confidence in moving away from one of the franchise's cornerstones, while never letting go of the essence that defines the magic of Final Fantasy. With an enticing story, unforgettable characters, a striking soundtrack, and epic battles, Final Fantasy XVI has its place reserved in the pantheon of the franchise.

It’s hard to say anything against not one but two Uncharted games in a single volume, specially if they have been visually and technically enhanced by the capabilities of Sony’s new console. This collection is mainly directed at those who never played the games, although veterans will still take pleasure in revisiting the protagonists on the PS5 before going to the movies and see Tom Holland but of course, the console has many colossus coming already in the beginning of the year and not all pockets are deep enough for every possibility.

Gran Turismo 7 is the prime example of a driving simulator. It doesn't offer too much in the way of sandbox options, because that is not why Polyphony created this franchise. Gran Turismo today serves the same purpose it served 25 years ago: showing that automobilism is an art form. It does so by incorporating the DualSense in the track experience and through the respect it shows for any of the cars we drive. From the heavy turning of a Fiat 500 to the incontrollable kicks of a Ford Mustang, Gran Turismo 7 is passion on wheels, this time with some neat content creation tools added.

Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 return on Nintendo Switch as two historic giants of video game design. These are works that not only withstood the test of time but remain perfectly relevant today, still capable of raising the eyebrows of even the most veteran players. They took risks, played with gravity, reinvented the power-up catalogue, and delivered characters and moments forever cemented in the plumber’s history. Eternal extras may be missing, but the essential is here: games that still feel like they came from the future. Do they hint at a third entry to complete a trilogy on Switch 2? We don’t know, but they fit perfectly into the anniversary celebrations.

The fact that Unicorn Overlord is both accessible to new players of the tactical genre while still managing to please the most experienced and demanding fans of the genre through its complex and extensive customisation of strategies and units is an achievement. With five regions to explore, more than 60 characters to unlock and 7 or 8 dozen hours of gameplay, the it's only real problem is the emptiness it leaves behind once you've finished it.

Deathloop is yet another clear example of Arkane's potential, with the studio refining its Prey and Dishonored formula, injecting it with a massive dose of style, creating a game that overflows with confidence and creativity. Deathloop’s mix of genres and flawless execution makes it one of the strongest candidates for best game of 2021, burying any doubts about Arkane's talent.

Hitman 3 is not just the final chapter in the trilogy for the series' fans; it's also a gateway for newcomers, who have an opportunity to experiment with its best version here. The story isn't the strong point, and even though it doesn't introduce many levels, they're all exhilarating, incredibly detailed and varied, with a range of challenges that make you go back, again and again, to complete the puzzles in different ways, expressing all your macabre creativity.

Silent Hill 2 Remake is a masterful modernization of a survival horror masterpiece. The depressing narrative and oppressive atmosphere combined with the haunting audio design creates an experience that is both nostalgic and refreshing. It's an uncomfortably striking, psychologically challenging experience and just like the original, its influence will be felt for decades.

Over eight episodes, Dispatch doesn't waste a single second. There's no filler here, just quality, in a touching narrative told at a perfectly paced rhythm, brought to life by animation quality that rivals the best productions. Aaron Paul and Laura Bailey stand out in a cast marked by surprising performances, bringing to life a group of villains who have become heroes in my heart. The writing and dialogue are so superb that they immediately made me forget the odd narrative cliché. What remains is the mark of a story and a team of superheroes that I will not soon forget.

The Tales series celebrates its 25 years with a fantastic title that deserves to be played by all fans of the genre, in yet another demonstration of the good path that Bandai Namco has traced over the last few years, at least with PIs that don't come from known Anime and Manga. The intricate narrative accompanied by a relatable cast bursting with personality and an artistic direction so rich that paints the game's combat and setting elevates the series and makes Tales of Arise one of the best JRPGs of 2021.

Much to the chagrin of some extreme fanboys, who incomprehensibly defend the total and eternal exclusivity of PlayStation Studios' games, Sony seems to have other ideas. And I'm glad that's the case, because a game like Spider Man Remastered deserves to be played by all video game enthusiasts, whether they are Spidey fans or not. Who knows, maybe they will be finally convinced.

A must for fans and recommended for newcomers, Halo Infinite may not be the epic experience everyone's been waiting for, but there's no doubt about it - it's an incredibly solid foundation for the future of Master Chief. 343 Industries assembled the canvas and painted the outlines. Now all that's left is to fill in the painting.

Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition has made a splash among the must-have games on the Nintendo Switch, bringing back a sleeping giant from the Wii U era with various technical and gameplay improvements. It's the ideal RPG for lovers of good micromanagement, it really encourages exploration of a gigantic open world and it knows how to guide the moments of reward with real amazement, either through the dramatic development of the narrative, with surprise attacks and unexpected heroic acts, or through the spectacular combat and the gigantic Skells.

With Diablo IV, Blizzard opens the gates of Hell to all players, from the most casual ones to the most hardcore. Being impossible to please them both at the same time, the former risk hitting a wall when they reach the endgame, while the latter may not find the challenge interesting enough. Still, Diablo IV is a highly recommendable experience for all players, with a solid, addictive foundation and a tremendous potential to evolve in the coming seasons, especially when played with friends.

With a few additional online options and perhaps more rewards added to Free Play for the open world, Mario Kart World would be perfect. In every other respect, it's an absolute win for Nintendo and the plumber. The visuals are incredible on a TV or in portable mode, the gameplay is extremely polished, easy to learn, and deep to master, with new options and a remarkable fluidity that blends beautifully with the new Knockout mode. I predict a long and prosperous future for it on the Nintendo Switch 2, now with even more options that serve solo play, in a franchise where it's not easy to uncover new ways to play and where Nintendo still manages to innovate.

Obsidian already has its name established in the market, but Pentiment came to present a new talent from the producer. The game explores an impossible-to-ignore narrative and a progression scheme that captures the attention of any player, even those who are not fans of the genre. This is an invitation to Celtic music, rural landscapes, medieval habits and ancient arts such as illuminations and woodcuts. The story of a murder becomes the perfect excuse to explore the disturbing streets of Tassing, a city full of secrets to be revealed.