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.

Forza Motorsport is back. The driving is muscular, the emotion is very present and the visuals are capable of giving us a truly fun, accessible and complete experience on the asphalt. Whether you're using a controller or a steering wheel and pedals, Forza is ready to take you trough high speed, well-designed and modeled circuits. Despite a meager single-player experience, the multiplayer mode has grown in size and strength and is capable of providing hours of fierce competition. There are several aspects that can be improved, but this title strikes an interesting balance between casualness, simulation and competition that builds a solid foundation for an excellent racing platform in video games.

Detective Pikachu Returns arrives on Nintendo Switch with the promise of concluding the narrative than was born in 2016. The story is indeed told to the end, but at the cost of one of the great qualities that defined its predecessor: puzzles as a visual representation of reasoning. Gameplay has become an automated, unnecessarily simplified process, capable of insulting even the youngest players. If you're expecting Detective Pikachu Returns to be a step forward in this line of Pokémon spinoffs, through a narrative evolution and a deepening of the detective mechanics, you'll be disappointed. It's just another Pokémon game that validates the feeling Nintendo has left us with: the comfort of the franchise's success and popularity allows it to produce titles without soul or effort.

Assassin's Creed Mirage is a return to the past in more ways than one. More focused and cohesive than its recent predecessors, it leaves the chaff aside to focus on what's really fun. The reduced size suits it perfectly and anyone who missed the classic Assassin's Creed action will feel right at home in the city of Baghdad, which is possibly one of Ubisoft's most captivating recreations.

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.

In a year of change, EA Sports FC 24 doesn't revolutionize the series. Even with the goal at its mercy, EA has decided to bet on the game's new image, tidying up the wrapping paper and maintaining the same experience that all fans already know so well. Graphically it has never looked better, but there are few new features in terms of gameplay. New jersey aside, the gameplay of FC 24 is very similar to that of FIFA 23, for better or for worse.

The Crew: Motorfest is a solid and capable title, but it can easily be labeled as a clone of its competitors, such as those in the Forza franchise. Despite this, it still offers a mature arcade experience with plenty of customization and attention to detail. It has taken a few steps backwards, but all the ones it has taken forwards have been in the right places.

Telltale has delivered yet another thrilling experience, but this time they've gone all out with the choice system. The player's decisions carry a very fine line between life and death, and every stage of the story can be altered depending on the actions of the player. The Expanse: A Telltale Series not only serves as a testament to the evolution of Telltale's game design, but also boasts stunning visuals that keep the pace with constant technological development.

Mortal Kombat 1 maintains the violent tradition of the series, with a very interesting narrative campaign that presents the classic characters in a new light. Although the multiplayer component isn't as rich as some of its counterparts, at least for now, Mortal Kombat 1 offers plenty of single-player content and troves of cosmetics to unlock. All of this comes wrapped in a package with breathtaking visuals that set a new bar in the genre.

Although derivative in its approach to the Soulslike formula, Lies of P stands out from so many other games in the genre thanks to a captivating world setting, satisfying combat and an in-depth weapon and customization system that lets you let your imagination run wild.

There really is very little of interest The Teal Mask. Throughout the four hours of gameplay - which left me sleepy - I felt like I was playing an uninteresting filler, or some kind of visual novel with no content. The bulk of the DLC is dialog where you spend your time pressing "A". All of the story and characters introduced are nothing more than an excuse to sell Pokémon and cosmetic items to players, sneakily masking a completely insignificant story and additional adventure. Despite its flaws, and as I said at the beginning, here's hoping that part 2, The Indigo Disk, will be better and deliver an interesting Pokémon 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.

If, on the one hand, Stardew Valley has become the ultimate farming sim, Fae Farm has the potential to become the ultimate cozy cooperative farming sim. Fae Farm's philosophy is just one: to make the experience of a farming simulator as relaxing as possible by removing everything that might get in the way. To do this, it takes the complex and diverse systems and mechanics of farming simulators and strips them of responsibilities, dull repetition, the most time-consuming grind, punishments and frustrations, then covers it with a cozy environment, full of relaxing tasks, with music and visuals that, on the whole, work in its favor.

Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon isn't one for half measures. It's a game that knows exactly what it is and doesn't waste a single minute getting me into the cockpit and letting me live out the fantasy of piloting a giant Mech. The story may not leave its mark, but the customization system won't leave my mind any time soon, constantly inviting me to create a new solution to the game's missions and a new way of approaching combat.

All in all, Immortals of Aveum is an interesting proposition, with an intense and fun combat system, even if it doesn't revolutionize the FPS genre. The world is interesting enough, the light show mesmerizing, but the plot leaves a lot to be desired, with characters and clichés we've seen hundreds of times in other games and films.

Baldur's Gate 3 is Larian Studios' Magnum Opus. It's a must-play masterpiece that sets a new bar in the RPG universe. Even at over a hundred hours, it never fails to surprise and impress with a deep story, hypnotic villains, enticing companions, a world where you can get lost forever and a combat system that rewards creativity. But more than all this, Baldur's Gate 3 is the fruit of the passion and love of an entire team that has dedicated body and soul to capture the magic of video games.

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.

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.

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.

Making Gylt cross-platform was a wise choice from Tequila Works. The game that was exclusive to Stadia now has the opportunity to reach more players, and raise awareness for bullying. Despite the stealth and combat mechanics being very basic, the story that sustains the action is interesting enough to hold us until the end, making the experience extremely satisfying.

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.

Master Detective Archives: Rain Code promises to satiate those hungry for more Danganronpa through gameplay that is as familiar as it is distinctive. It is able to effortlessly blend adventure, visual novel, mystery, detective and exploration elements with bold mechanics that surprise us at every turn. Given the experience of the developers, I expected Master Detective Archives: Rain Code to be a more robust product, with fewer technical glitches, better graphics, faster loading, better dialogues and a more rewarding gameplay cycle. Still, none of this completely spoils the overall experience, nor does it erase my desire to play the next title Too Kyo Games cooks up.

AEW: Fight Forever successfully fulfills the founding principle it set for itself: providing an experience that brings back simple, frenetic, fun gameplay that gives wrestling games back the arcade vibe that has been lost over time. At its best moments, AEW is all of that, but it still fails to be much more. The scarcity of game modes, a roster with gaps, the somewhat persistent bugs, and a Road to Elite far from the quality of the predecessors it draws inspiration from are damaging to the experience and don't give us many reasons to come back. Nevertheless, with promises of constant development and regular updates from the studio, we have reason to believe that there is room to fix these shortcomings and offer a more complete wrestling experience. It just isn't it at the moment.

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.

Overall, F1 23 is in good health and is recommended to all fans of the sport. It positions itself on both the arcade and sim racing sides as a competent and improved game over its predecessors. With the ability to provide a more authentic and immersive experience for players, as well as a unique perspective through Breaking Point 2. It might be far from perfect, but it's a big step in the right direction. We look forward to the future of the franchise.

Despite some mistakes, Layers of Fear is a horror game that will remain in the memory of players as one of the most appreciated of this year. Bloober Team delivered exactly what the franchise needed. With some changes in the narrative and the introduction of new details, Layers of Fear solidifies the story, not only with new plot points and mechanics, but also with new animations, collectibles and puzzles . Combining the three games into a single title is an ingenious strategy, with the studio coming out on top of this challenge.

Amnesia: The Bunker is the best horror experience in the entire franchise. Frictional Games has fixed some issues with previous games, and wanted to leave the "free horror" label behind. The Bunker has the ability to blend the real terror experienced throughout WW1, and adds the fantasy of the monstrous creature that we used to in Amnesia storylines. The Bunker will, from now on, be the model to be followed by all those who base the terror gameplay experience in “walking simulators”, showing that there are more survival resources than just the legs to run.

Convergence: A League of Legends Story is another success story in the League of Legends universe. With Ekko at the forefront, Double Stallion has managed to create a solid and fun Metroidvania, perfectly combining precise platforming with intense combat, without losing a drop of the personality of this intrepid hero.