The perfect sequel exists in Tears of the Kingdom and is scattered throughout Hyrule. It can be found in the vast improvements to the mechanics introduced in Breath of the Wild, the narrative expansion, the attention given to certain characters, and the increased participation they have in the story and combat. It gets lost, however, in an unnecessarily prolonged stay, with new game mechanics taking center stage at the expense of exploration and challenging puzzles. The feeling of being in front of a DLC, with dozens of hours, with repetition of ideas and assets, is therefore inevitable.

The secret of Astro Bot lies in its aesthetic and mechanical variety, and the reason why we can easily lose hours with its animated charm.

The innovation that Metroid brought to the platforming genre, in each and every aspect (gameplay mechanics, power system progression, synergy between exploration, combat and narrative development, among many others), inadvertently turned it into something bigger than the game itself. The unexpected remaster reinforces this argument, through impressive visual and gameplay improvements that push it to the border between remaster and remake, thus inviting not only veterans, but also new players to visit and explore the delicious biomes that Talon IV holds in store.

With Elden Ring, FromSoftware adds new ingredients to the Dark Souls formula, creating a world that is an absolute masterpiece. Combat remains as fluid as we’re used to, providing us with even more tools to master and ignite our sadomasochistic tendencies. The game's plot is often impenetrable and requires a tremendous investment to decipher it, but they payoff is there, if have the time and soul to endure it.

Santa Monica did it once again. God of War Ragnarok offers us pretty much everything, relatable characters, the evolution of the combat that won us over in 2018, epic and stunning settings and a huge world to explore, with a guarantee of dozens of hours of gameplay and a set of characters of curious characterization, something that we know will be widely discussed. Until November 9, stay away from spoilers and enjoy, Ragnarok could be just around the corner.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth has been both a respite and a surprise, and this for someone who didn't play the Remake but finished the original several times. It's much more than a remake, even though it shares the same themes and motifs, centered on Sephiroth's manipulation and uncertainty regarding Cloud's memories. It's a gigantic title, with a remarkable visual scale and a fantasy world where we would be able to live in and therefore want to get lost in. It's also one of the best games of early 2024, packed with content that's bound to keep you engaged for many hours.

What Metroid Dread ultimately represented for Metroid, Super Mario Bros. Wonder achieved for 2D Super Mario titles. The comeback is more than triumphant, effortlessly dominating the genre it helped create, with refreshing ideas and stunning aesthetics. It definitely raises the bar for what the gameplay and aesthetics of a 2D Super Mario game should be. I see Wonder as a solid starting point, a sort of "Super Mario Bros." so that one day the "Super Mario World" masterpiece of this new era of two-dimensional Super Marios can emerge. The foundations are laid, the base is established, the door is open and the carpet is rolled out. Now it's onwards and upwards.

Forza Horizon 5 is a monument to freedom, adrenaline and arcade fun, in a Mexico whose dimension is rivaled by its breath-taking beauty. With hundreds of cars, dozens of events and an immaculate driving experience, it's by far the best arcade racing game of the year, with a surprising depth that might even surprise the sim racing purists.

Shadow of the Erdtree is an expansion that offers more for those who weren't satisfied with Elden Ring. More than a complement to the base game, it's an extension of what the base game offers, a kind of new endgame, built in a compact world, absurdly dense and unbelievably, better than the original. Robust and incredibly solid, it's an essential expansion for anyone who wanders the Lands Between in search of a new challenge.

Hazelight Studios gained more attention after It Takes Two, a fully co-op game, surprised the world by winning the 2021 GOTY. Split Fiction is an evolution of that model that made Josef Fares' studio stand out, more refined and much more varied aesthetically and in terms of mechanics, interspersing antagonistic magical worlds with problems and challenges from different gaming genres, all very well structured in a story with a huge heart, that celebrates creativity and friendship.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 took me by surprise and I'm glad it did. Sandfall Interactive has managed to create a delightful RPG that combines modern influences with an irresistible old school sensibility. The story is another of its great assets, enhanced by an excellent cast who, with a fantastic performance, help paint this canvas that I won't soon forget.

Donkey Kong Bananza was a pleasant surprise on first contact, it made me forget the absence of a new 3D Mario in the initial line-up of the Nintendo Switch 2, and now a pleasant confirmation of the excellence of the Nintendo EPD team, in this case led by Kazuya Takahashi. It manages to revamp and revitalize a franchise in one fell swoop, it's an irrefutable proof of concept for a technology that we'll certainly see return and the second major exclusive to grace Nintendo Switch 2 in less than two months. In the meantime, it has even resulted in the strengthening of the partnership with Universal for another movie, meaning you can be sure that we'll be seeing more adventures from DK and Pauline.

I could label Marvel's Spider-Man 2 as one of the best PlayStation 5 games, but the truth is that would be an understatement because Insomniac's sequel has gone straight into my top of the best games ever. The depth of the city, which has been expanded with additional districts, is impressive, the gameplay is always enjoyable and so is the combat. Marvel and Insomniac have outdone themselves on the narrative side, with a story about tragedy, overcoming, friendship and love. I can find room for improvement, in the AI of some opponents and in certain facial animations, for example, details that don't detract from what is an absolute masterpiece that we as gamers should applaud, hoping for more.

With the console version of Microsoft Flight Simulator, Asobo and Microsoft managed the incredible feat of creating a demanding PC experience on the Xbox Series X with absolute detail and fidelity. It may not appeal to every gamer due to its structure but deserves to be played even once by all Xbox Game Pass subscribers.

Resident Evil Requiem is a conscious exercise in reconciliation, bringing face to face two fundamental ideas that have always defined the series: vulnerability and competence. Capcom revisits the traumatic memory of Raccoon City and attempts to stitch together narrative threads that for decades seemed scattered, placing that weight on the shoulders of two dichotomous protagonists. Grace embodies fear, scarcity, and psychological burden. Leon symbolizes legacy, experience, and the inevitable erosion of terror in someone who has already seen too much. This duality is not merely narrative, it is mechanical. Requiem builds two distinct rhythms and alternates between oppressive tension and controlled release, in a carefully designed cycle that draws from the franchise’s own history and intersects it with an intelligent evolution of design. The result is a succession of memorable moments, not always staged with the restraint horror requires to fully assert itself.

Mass Effect Legendary Edition is the best way to experience one of the most memorable trilogies in video game history. The remake doesn't just capitalizes on the nostalgia of an entire generation of gamers – it keeps the original experience intact while modernizing it, opening the door to a whole new legion of fans who have here the greatest example of Bioware's magic.

After 13 years of waiting, Alan Wake II is everything fans could ask for, and more. Despite some bugs and performance errors, Remedy delivers a memorable experience, full of moments of terror, action and, above all, mystery. The cast is charismatic, the environment fascinating, and the combat fun. Not only is it the best technical production from the producer, it is also an example of how a game should be presented in 2023.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon takes the risky option of including RPG elements in its core, but it does this absolutely brilliantly. It's a new approach that may make those fans of action in previous games a little apprehensive, but it does deserve a chance. It's a fantastic gateway to the series and not to be missed by fans of Japanese RPGs. It maintains the series' spirit, refreshing it with Ichiban Kaguya, heroes who risk becoming the new icon of Yakuza.

Pokémon Pokopia is one of the year’s biggest wins, a game where the motivation isn’t about defeating some looming antagonist, but about the calm, deliberate restoration of order, reclaiming a space that was once beautiful, a process that feels within reach of our own hands. There’s no combat and no urgency, just a therapeutic hypnosis carried by the gentle brushstrokes of the adorable creatures that have captivated multiple generations. It’s probably the best Pokémon spin-off to date.

In short, there are two things that both games do very well; they surprise you at every corner and offer more than just a way of using a certain mechanism or dealing with an issue. No matter how carefully the next "piece of the puzzle" is hidden, there's a magical hand to guide your behaviour, through inducement or muscle memory, depending on the type of problem, in a constant stream of rewards that appeal to the "completionist" in all of us. It's charming but difficult to explain, the same way it's hard to figure out where the pleasure of crushing the head of a goomba, or stomping on the shell of a turtle comes from.

Psychonauts 2 is a brilliant experience that makes the 16-year wait since the first game worth. Creativity is the key, in a title that offers one of the best audio-visual experiences of the year. Expectations were high, but Double Fine corresponded to the fans expectations with a game that follows the formula of the first, while adding a series of improvements and features that make it a must for any fan of the genre.

There's never been a better time to take a look at Cyberpunk 2077. Phantom Liberty is what any content expansion or DLC should be: meaningful, relevant and deep. It adds tremendous value by adding an engaging story, a vast cast of captivating characters and mechanics that revolutionize the gameplay. Added to this are dozens and dozens of hours of secondary content, a new place to explore and an impressive direction that switches between gameplay and cinematics, putting us in the driver's seat of a spy movie. It doesn't do it without stumbling slightly, but I feel that Update 2.0 and Phantom Liberty are CD Projekt Red's ultimate redemption, finally presenting the Cyberpunk 2077 they always wanted to deliver.

Dead Space Remake is the new benchmark for what a successful remake should be. Motive Studio has shown that the right formula is one that treats the original content with courtesy, adding only the strictly necessary elements to adapt the experience to the current technology. Once again, Dead Space takes the crown of the sci-fi horror genre, with a gameplay experience that is absolutely fascinating and gripping across the board. The care and respect invested in this remake is evident at all times, making it it a strong candidate for the GOTY title.

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is confirmation that Kojima's radical vision was not a cosmic accident, but rather a new way of thinking about what video games can be and do. It is a game that trusts in the inherent genius of Death Stranding's central formula, and the good news is that there is no tension between these two perspectives. For those who fell in love with the original, this sequel is a deepening and refinement of everything that made that experience special. For skeptics, it's a second chance to understand a work that time has validated as visionary, with far fewer barriers to entry to embrace that vision. It's not a game for everyone, and it never intended to be. It's a deeply personal work about human connection, disguised as a futuristic delivery simulator. It's ridiculous and sublime, frustrating and transcendent, familiar and alien. It's unique.

Persona 3 Reload is a worthy and fabulous remake, packed with numerous improvements that turn the original into an even more appetising RPG. Although it has some dated aspects, Reload exudes style, thanks to its revitalised visuals, a well-paced turn-based combat system, an infectious soundtrack and a cast of actors who bring unforgettable characters to life. It's just a shame that the FES and Portable content isn't included.

It Takes Two is a journey through a magical world, expertly crafted with the greatest of affections. There is not a single dull moment along the journey, which is full of humorous moments, a dash of mom and dad rivalry and a cast of characters that manage to be memorable, even with short appearances. The puzzles are imaginative, the action is fluid and the experience is a must.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is an improvement on every aspect of the first Warhorse game and is an action RPG in its own right. With an epic story, delightful sidequests, a fantastic hand-to-hand combat system and a world that grips you from the very first moment, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is the crowning achievement of Warhorse Studios.

This remake reveals the secret of Naughty Dog's latest success, the way it has perfected its gameplay model, without ever neglecting the cinematic element. The story remains central to the experience in The Last of Us Part 1, but taking everything it learned from the second part, the studio gives us a true masterclass in set pieces of action and emotionality. We go through scene after scene totally immersed in Joel and Ellie and their quest, as if to "live a movie" that we no longer remember, even though we know how it will end.