Enhanced with fantastic and fresh content, Disco Elysium: The Final Cut is a game that dances through the vulgar and the sublime in an experience that excels in delivering superb storytelling with compelling gameplay mechanics; it’s a hallmark of the genre that deserves every ounce of credit attributed to it.

Like with the Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Baldur's Gate 3 feels like an impossible video game. Everything it does flies in the face of modern gaming and it fulfils almost all of its goals with a tactician's precision and clarity. From its stellar story with hundreds, if not thousands, of meaningful choices and consequences which make every single playthrough special, to the deep and compelling combat which you can spend an age learning, to its impeccable world and sound design, Baldur's Gate 3 is truly something special. While it isn't perfect and stumbles here or there, especially in terms of bugs and technical performance, it would be a crying shame for anyone to miss out on a masterpiece like this. Baldur's Gate 3 is my personal game of the year and I beg everyone who is even remotely interested to try it out.

To call Baldur's Gate 3 a great game would be an understatement. Overlooking a handful visual glitches, every moment of Baldur's Gate 3 is dripping in fantasy goodness. Flawlessly succeeding in what most choice-based narrative games seem to fall short of perfecting, the freedom of choice is endless. The D&D based gameplay sticks close to its roots, with a blend of genres and lore as well as the implementation of the ever-present dice roll and turn-based combat. After "only" 80 hours of gameplay, every moment of my playthrough has engulfed me in a sense of childlike wonder which comes from a well crafted piece of fantasy. No game is perfect, but with Larian Studios staying committed to player experience and releasing quality of life patches since launch, Baldur's Gate 3 is not far from it.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom improves on what many considered a masterpiece in Breath of the Wild. From expanding the locations you can explore, to the new abilities that give the player infinite control with their imagination, Tears of the Kingdom has it all. A few frame rate drops and inventory management can, at times, take away from the experience, but very rarely. Overall, Tears of the Kingdom is a must play for any fan of video games, and is an achievement that many games will strive to top for years to come.

Every once in a while, a game comes around that takes the world by storm, becoming an instant classic. Not only is Elden Ring one such game, it is also one of the most profound among them. FromSoftware’s first foray into the open world genre is nothing short of breathtaking. It effortlessly balances exploration and tough-as-nails action gameplay in a way that has seldom been seen before. While not entirely flawless, it manages to instill a sense of wonder that will make even the most hardened of players feel like a kid again. Although it stumbles, Elden Ring is still leaps and bounds ahead of the competition.

God Of War Ragnarok is an instant addition to the collection of PlayStation classics, standing as one of the best games of all time. It manages to outdo its predecessor in every way possible and despite some of its issues with its ending and a few plot points feeling rushed, it does not take anything away from the masterpiece this title is. Santa Monica Studio continues to produce excellent and masterful experiences with Kratos, and the door is most certainly open for more.

The graphics and lighting make this one of the best looking games I have ever seen, especially on the current-generation of consoles.

Resident Evil 4 Remake is a masterclass in modernizing a tried and true classic game. Though not without faults, they are so few as to be insignificant to the overall experience. Every aspect of the game has been rebuilt in order to make the time spent as Leon Kennedy an utter joy. With a riveting story, rewarding gameplay, and gorgeous design, it is a masterpiece in every sense.

With a gripping, haunting narrative that isn't afraid to tackle darker themes, one of the best turn-based battle systems in RPG history, a gorgeous world to lose yourself in, and some of the best music and performances in years, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 feels like a miracle game. How Sandfall Interactive managed something this amazing on their first go around is a genuine Herculean achievement. This game is a love letter to the rich history of RPGs while also being the blueprint for the next step forward. This is my current Game of the Year frontrunner for 2025 and I can almost guarantee that if you love RPGs - whether you prefer turn-based or action - this game will blow you away.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is without a single doubt the most ambitious FF game to date and drives the story to a much better-crafted concept than its predecessor. It is massive, it expands and upgrades several aspects that previous games of the series have failed to construct. Even with its few but notorious flaws, it marks a benchmark on modern FF games and gives Square Enix the crucial responsibility to make the conclusion of this trilogy as memorable as we all expect it to be.

Although I'd like to see Capcom go further in their story modes by adding a more consistent story, Street Fighter 6 is an absolute blast and a perfect jumping point for those looking to get into the fighting genre. The inclusion of the Drive Gauge Bar adds plenty of new strategy beyond just landing combos and the amount of content packed inside this game to help players get better is unrivaled. Aided by energetic visuals and a confidence in almost all aspects, Capcom has once again kept their winning streak going.

If there is only a game that's worth playing in this year, it would be Diablo IV. There's a lot to do, a lot to explore whether its the game's world or its skill and Paragon tree combinations, lots of monsters to slay and loot their items, and so much more. It might be priced steeply, but once you understand the core fundamentals of the game, it's without a doubt worth the investment.

I loved I Was a Teenage Exocolonist. I assumed it would be something you could play in small bursts to completion, like Growing Up, but each lifetime requires significant time investment. But with how good the story and characters are, I actually like it better this way. The challenges are tough, but fair, the characters are engaging and relatable, and despite being set on an alien planet with a literal dog-boy as one of your potential friends, I can’t help but be dragged back to my high school days as I play. For better or for worse.

Crusader Kings III is a near perfect sequel that expands upon the elements and gameplay of the previous instalment in a way that offers a challenge for veterans and is more user friendly to newcomers. However the game's A.I. is prone to moments of stupidity which can make or break your conquests and the U.I. can be over cumbersome.

Rogue Legacy 2 is a captivating, addicting, and truly unforgettable experience. It doesn't just improve on the first game, it renders it wholly obsolete. It's a truly amazing roguelike, one of the best in the industry. The art is beautiful and the combat is buttery smooth. Everyone should play this game. Especially if you love pizza. And who doesn't love pizza?

Overall, Slay The Princess is a groundbreaking indie horror game. Choose-your-adventures often share the flaw of pointless choices and straight storylines, but Slay The Princess offers a unique story in a way that a choice-driven narrative should be played. With great characters and stunning visuals, it's important to detail how Black Tabby Games ensures a captivating narrative as well. This is a game you could play for hours and still discovers new scenes. A game that deserves to be played.

Insomniac once again delivers an authentic Spider-Man experience with Spider-Man 2. With improvements across the board from previous installments and an expanded New York City to explore, any Spidey fan will enjoy this game. Even if you are not a fan or haven't played the previous games, Spider-Man 2 brings an amazing open-world experience that can make anyone a fan of Peter and Miles.

Ori and the Blind Forest was already a fantastic game, but the Definitive Edition smooths out the edges and adds in extra content that slots in comfortably and adds to both the story and the gameplay. It looks brilliant, it sounds amazing, and it plays smoothly and satisfyingly. Be sure to pick this up if you’re a fan of the Metroidvania genre and fancy a challenge in an incredibly appealing package.

It was a blast to take a trip down to memory lane of playing this beloved '90s relic. Quake II has certainly stood the test of time and is easily one of the best from the retro first-person shooter scene. The amount of value that the remaster version has given the players is simply unmatched and Call of the Machine is also a nice addition to the diehard Quake II fanatics. Quake II Remaster is easily a must have game for the lovers of retro first-person shooters, and can get you into the game if you didn't play it during its heyday.

Sea of Stars is a modern take on the best JRPGs of old. With this, there are parts that don't feel wholly unique. But, with remasters of classic Final Fantasy games and Super Mario RPG coming out, gamers are looking for an experience similar to those days. With a strong cast of characters and engaging story, along with a beautiful soundtrack, any fan of classic JRPGs should give this a try.

OPUS: Echo of Starsong pulls you in like a beautiful black hole, immersing you into a galaxy that will feel familiar to you only after a few hours into your playthrough. The narrative builds steadily on its incredible lore and endearingly imperfect cast of characters, leading up to a worthy emotional payoff. OPUS: Echo of Starsong makes the most of every moment of the player's time, rounding out into an breathtaking intergalactic experience that adventure game and visual novel lovers shouldn't miss.

Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition perfects and fine-tunes one of the most venerated RPGs of the last decade. While the English voice acting and the occasional resolution dip is disappointing, they made such a meaningless difference that it didn't matter in the end. The gorgeous visual upgrade, the wide and varied locations, the deeply entertaining battle system, and the exquisite soundtrack all add together to one of the best RPG experiences possible.

There is frankly no getting away from it. Pizza Tower is a fantastic platformer sporting some great levels, rock-solid gameplay, an amazing soundtrack, and brilliant animation. It quite possibly will be one of the best indie titles to release this year. And could be in the running for game of the year. However, as good as it is it can be repetitive at times and it could be too difficult for some.

While some may have passed on this game whether for console or preconceived reasons, this re-release package deal provides a great opportunity to jump back in. All the variety and creativity of 3D World returns on a portable console, featuring an Odyssey-like bonus mode that takes all the fun from the base game and experiments even more. It's not the definitive Mario experience that other consoles have featured, but there's no denying the amount of flexibility this game provides with its seemingly endless design spectacle, now complete with a chance to live out everyone's fantasy of Nintendo-esque Kaiju battles.

Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration is about as definitive an Atari celebration as you can get. It doubles as both a game collection and an extensive history lesson on one of gaming's forefathers. Not every title is a winner, but in the end, younger players will gain a better appreciation for Atari's contributions and how far gaming has come.

While not suitable for those sensitive to flashing lights and jump scares, Alan Wake 2 is a unique must-play for fans of weird horror and creative flair. The additions and improvements to gameplay are a welcome change, with less focus on the action and more attention paid to narrative. That being said, Alan Wake 2 still excels in all departments, and the slightly frustrating sections can be forgiven when receiving the rewards of more story. I have avoided describing the convoluted story in too much detail - due to the high cinematic standard, Alan Wake 2 is best experienced first-hand.

While the price point might detract some gamers, The Last of Us Part 1 needs to be checked out. If you already played the original game a bunch of times, there's still a lot of value present. Players that haven't experienced one of the best games of all time should buy the definitive way to play this masterpiece.

Wednesdays doesn't try to wow you with flashy gameplay or plot twists. It's a quiet, honest and emotional experience of facing the past and learning to heal. It's the kind of game you play when you want something more personal - something that says something and makes you feel something. If you like narrative games, or crave a story that goes beyond surface drama, Wednesdays is definitely worth playing. It won't appeal to everyone - especially if you need fast-paced action or super-complex gameplay - but if you're open to something slower and more meaningful, it's a little gem that deserves your attention. You won't soon forget it.