The King of Fighters XV doesn't try to appeal to a wider audience, giving us interesting and complex mechanics which aren't really presented in an accessible manner. Long-time fans of the franchise will find some genuine enjoyment and improvements, especially regarding the graphical upgrade, which truly gives new life to these 3D models. It's just about enough to keep SNK's franchise competing for the title.

Martha Is Dead proves that an independent studio has the ability to develop a video game with the same graphics as a AAA with an excellent detail line. This is an intense journey while Giulia navigates through the topic of mental health, putting everything in perspective during an extremely heavy psychological drama. Martha Is Dead is not a game for those looking for a horror experience focused on jump scares, massacres or horror/spiritual activities; nor is it for those who want to see a finite outcome. Martha Is Dead requires an open mind, a strong stomach and a mighty power of reflection.

Warhammer 40,0000: Space Marine 2 is a brilliant third-person shooter and although it doesn't break the mould of the genre, the combat is a visceral delight. The campaign is short, but it doesn't lack epic moments and impressive landscapes, mired in both violence and beauty. The PvE and PvP modes aren't particularly deep at the moment, but mechanically, they're fun enough to keep me up to my knees in Xenos and heretic guts.

The proof of concept is approved, as it serves on an emotional connection that we have with a galaxy far far away, it's a cheap shot, but it reaffirms a so long asked modernization of all TT Games' titles by the fans that we can only guess will be honed on the years to come. LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is in that fashion a fun charm trap that holds on to us thanks to the constant changes in gameplay, snowy AT-AT encounters, and spectacular lightsaber battles where the dramatic flare is replaced by the adorable and unpredictable reactions of the main figures of the saga.

Wartales offers a fantastic sandbox to explore. The nature of this system implies a rather insipid storyline and uneven pace, but in the end, the real treasure is the mercenaries you meet along the way. For those looking for a strategy sandbox with good depth in which to invest many hours, this is a choice that is hard to ignore.

Blanc immerses us in a beautiful and exciting journey through a black and white hand-drawn world. This interactive narrative, without life or mana bars, without battles or complex mechanics, whose adversity is based on the circumstances dictated by a natural disaster and paths that always seem to have no exit, proves to be relaxing and fresh. Each puzzle solved is an achievement that opens the way for the little Wolf and the young Deer, deepening the unlikely relationship between these two and finally shortening the distance until the potential reunion with their respective families.

MLB The Show 21 is the king of the market when it comes to baseball. It has all the weapons to please newcomers as well as the most demanding players, with multiple accessibility and game mode options, although with very scarce updates in relation to its predecessor. Even though the version used for this analysis was the Playstation 4 one, visually it becomes identical to what we have seen in the past, maybe having the next generation “at fault”, but it is still a very enjoyable experience.

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet takes two steps forward and one step back, much to blame for its performance on Nintendo Switch. Still, the new formula is solid and could very well serve as the basis for the next games in the franchise, with plenty of room to grow. With a whole new generation of Pokémons to meet and novel mechanics to master, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet will please new and old fans, casual or competitive alike.

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet takes two steps forward and one step back, much to blame for its performance on Nintendo Switch. Still, the new formula is solid and could very well serve as the basis for the next games in the franchise, with plenty of room to grow. With a whole new generation of Pokémons to meet and novel mechanics to master, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet will please new and old fans, casual or competitive alike.

Crimson Desert is an ambitious game that tries to be (almost) everything at once, only to ultimately buckle under the weight of its own complexity. Although its story is disjointed and uninteresting, the game is ultimately saved by a complex and almost always entertaining combat system, which rewards us as we master it better. Added to this is an overwhelming and visually stunning world, which only needed a bit more narrative coherence to become memorable.

Anno 117: Pax Romana is a fantastic strategy game that can swallow you up for hours on end. The simplicity and ease of the construction system allows you to create beautiful cities and hides a complex system of production and trade. Even for a newcomer to the franchise, it is quite welcoming, with a campaign that, while not brilliant, teaches you everything you need to know to start building your empire.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is a testament to the perseverance of its creators in the face of extreme adversity. The technical problems are undeniable, but the unique atmosphere, tense combat and deep immersion it offers are unrivalled. It's a game that demands patience and understanding, both of its mechanics and its development context, but rewards the player with one of the most distinctive and memorable experiences of recent years. With the promised updates and fixes, including the full implementation of the A-Life 2.0 system, it has the potential to become something transcendental. For now, it remains like a diamond in the rough - hard around the edges, but brilliant at its core. For those willing to accept its imperfections and fully immerse themselves in its hostile and fascinating world, Heart of Chornobyl offers something that few modern games can.

Fundamentally, Jagged Alliance 3 aims to please the fans of the franchise. They are the ones who will have the most fun with the game, full of references to previous titles, and systems that quite frankly, didn't need to be so stuck in the past, especially the user interface. With a great mod compatibility, it's quite possible that this problem will be solved in the near future, because as a starting point, Jagged Alliance 3 offers a pretty solid, competent and fun base for any turn-based tactics fan, as long as they're willing to endure its initial period. There's a lot of granularity in the various gameplay systems, from weapon crafting to squad management, and a respectable dose of randomness that helps make each run unique and interesting, especially if you play it with friends.

Nintendo Switch Sports is about the friend that smacks his hand on the corner of the table as he prepares a Serve in Tennis. It's mom and dad running to catch the shuttlecock in Badminton (nobody told them that the character runs automatically). It's the younger brother flailing the controller in the air because his safety strap isn't properly attached. In this regard, Nintendo Switch Sports honors that unique spirit that Wii Sports gave us way back in 2006. It will surely be a great addition to any group dinner.

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.

Simple, fun and recommended above all for younger players or those with little contact with the Super Mario franchise. Unfortunately, some of its most notable flaws are still present, such as unchallenging levels, again running the risk of putting off the more experienced players. To compensate, and perhaps unintentionally, the remake has a lure for these players: the addition of a robust co-operative mode that makes Mario vs. Donkey Kong more fun and even challenging when played with a friend, making us forget about its imperfections.

With charm to spare, Cult of Lamb blends various unlikely elements in an exquisite way without ever becoming complicated. The result is a fresh, addictive and tremendously fun 'Roguelike/Life Sim' experience.

Starfield isn't everything the developer promised, but it's a very good RPG, worthy of a Game of the Year nomination. Bethesda's new space RPG tells an absolutely intriguing story, treating each main mission like an unmissable episode in a memorable series. Although the game has a few bugs and glitches, the experience isn't traumatizing. It's not Skyrim in space, nor a galactic Fallout, but a new name that assumes its authenticity and dispenses with comparisons. Starfield isn't technically perfect, but it fits in perfectly with the best games of 2023.

Even with its wrinkles of age, Skyward Sword is a mandatory title to all its fans, with the HD version becoming the best version of the game and an excellent excuse to adventure in the skies of Skyloft, a different perspective from the standard in the franchise while we wait for a certain sequel. The celebrated bosses, unforgettable dungeons and a glorious original soundtrack allow you to forget all the problems that the game has, which are polished in this new iteration of the 2011 classic and is representative of a real turning point on the iconic series from Nintendo.

Wo Long: The Fallen Dynasty is a truly gritty challenge. Team Ninja's game puts players' skill, patience, and sadomasochism to the test, rolling out a red carpet for aggression while harshly punishing all and every mistake. The combat systems are complex but work quite well with each other, with the exception of the loot, which is unnecessarily complicated and not very impactful. Wo Long: The Fallen Dynasty will not convince newcomers to the genre, but it will certainly please fans.

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a fine addition to the Nintendo Switch catalog, the second port of the main series after Tropical Freeze. It's true that it includes very few new features apart from the resolution to justify replaying it if you've played some of the previous versions, but it's also a great experience if you like the genre and are looking for a different, more raw challenge within the platform universe. It has another merit, probably the most important, which is that it reminds Nintendo, especially as we approach a new era, that the world deserves a new Donkey Kong.

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.

Dynasty Warriors: Origins gives us back the strongest and most basic premise in videogames: it's a kind of fun that makes you want to pick up the controller and invest hours in it. On top of that, it fulfils one of the promises made by Koei Tecmo, to present something new from a series that was already well known for a formula that became more boring and stagnant with each iteration. It does, however, fail to deliver on some quality elements for players, and the pace of the game is often overwhelmed by a slow story that takes its time to develop. But make no mistake, once you've finished the campaign, there’s enjoyment to be had as many times as you have enemies to face.

After a game that captivated a healthy community of fans, but that was largely ignored by the mainstream, Gunfire Games returned to the fray with Remnant 2, a sequel that doubles down on first game's strength, while improving it's rough edges. The result is an unlikely soulslike looter shooter that wastes no time in showing what it's made of. Fun and addictive, it's full of well-conceived systems that make for a fun experience that takes on new dimensions with friends.

Judgment is a Yakuza spin-off game that presents a captivating thriller investigation narrative. The slow start and less-than-stellar detective gameplay don’t keep the game from being a solid option for anyone who wants to take their first steps into the Yakuza universe.

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.

Borderlands 4's new approach to the franchise's classic formula is expertly crafted. Unexpectedly, the open world fits like a glove into the shooter's irresistible dopamine-fuelled loop. There's always exciting loot to discover, builds to create and enemies to vanquish, in an endless gale of violence, with exponentially greater numbers crushing anyone who dares to stand up to us. A positive point also goes to the tone of Borderlands 4, much more serious and restrained than its predecessor, but without losing its trademark humour. I never thought I'd say it, but even Claptrap is bearable this time around.

Assassin's Creed Valhalla isn't a light, fast and pragmatic Viking ship. It's a Titanic, magnificent, massive, and majestic, made to lead players through a 9th-century epic. With enough content to keep players busy for hours and hours, it's not threatened by any iceberg but rather by the weight of its own size. For the most dedicated, this can be a treat, but for many others, it could be a game they'll leave unfinished, living forever in the backlog.