Shadow of the Erdtree shines as a fitting conclusion to ELDEN RING, encapsulating every element that has characterized FromSoftware. You'll encounter swampy sections, sweat-inducing combat, beautiful and melancholic locations, and challenging platform segments featuring leaps of faith, scaffolding, and chapel rooftops. Striving to deliver all the classic elements of the Souls saga, Shadow of the Erdtree stands as a love letter to everything the series represents and serves as a worthy farewell to an already legendary game.

Super Mario 3D World is one of the best platformers ever. Period. It is a formidable testament in creative level design that shows everything a Mario Bros. game should be. Bowser’s Fury is an interesting experiment that tries to take the 3D World engine into an open world. The result is fun, but lacks the polish that made 3D World a classic. A must own game for Switch owners.

With its brilliant, well-thought-out design, Hearthstone is destined to become one of the best card games ever created. The expansion improves upon the impressive original card design and brings more strategies to the table. Any gamer, whether TCG fan or not, should appreciate the amazing work Blizzard has done.

God of War Ragnarök is a spectacular action game with a monumental scale, filled with moments that will go down in gaming posterity, accented with visceral and brutal combat. A production of the highest budget, worthy of gods.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond marks a triumphant return for Retro Studios delivering a masterfully crafted Metroidvania that captures the atmospheric tension and immersive world design that defined the original trilogy. With intelligent level design, fluid controls, striking art direction, and a strong sense of discovery, the game blends elements from past entries to produce a dynamic emotional experience. Although its slow opening and certain open-area sections slightly hold it back, Beyond ultimately proves that the long wait was worth it.

Elden Ring is everything we dream of and much more. It is the natural evolution of a franchise that has captivated several generations and is now ready to capture many more. Elden Ring will be the most talked about game of the next decade. It's proof that FromSoftware is a master of its craft and a testament that it dominates the genre it has created. Those who try to do something similar will remain mere imitators: they will never reach the level of sophistication achieved in Elden Ring.

Naughty Dog again proves that it can rise to expectations. With The Last of Us Part II, the studio maintains its prestigious status with a continuation that keeps intact the shades of the original, although it fails to completely overcome it. In parallel, it attempts to resolve a multi-faceted conflict that is impossible to cut, judge, or limit to spectrums as simple as "good" or "evil." Although character characterization is commendable, sometimes they feel without growth since they make the same mistakes over and over again. The outcome is grimly satisfying (in a sick and odd sense). The result is a visceral delivery supported by its combat, stealth, and world-building. Part II reaffirms how far the medium has come and the impressive craftsmanship behind its creation.

Forza Horizon 5 is the racing game for everyone, which takes outsiders from the racing genre and turns them into followers of the speed, and for those who are already fans, it offers an almost endless variety of activities and challenges. Also very remarkable is the representation of Mexico, which offers vibrant landscapes full of incredible details that only those who live in Mexico will recognize. It is an indispensable game and highly recommended.

Shadow of the Colossus is a great example on how to remake games. The Bluepoint work is respectful, impressive, and it’s ready to inspire a new generation.

Final Fantasy VII Remake is the piece that knew to blend the past with the present. What Square Enix has done is cause for celebration, as it has been able to fabricate everything we imagined and the vision we had of the original more than two decades ago. Easily, Final Fantasy VII Remake can give modern makers a lecture on how a remake should be done. The adventure that started in Midgar relives again and has surprised us again.

Overwatch is one of the most refreshing experiences in the FPS genre in recent memory. It’s easy to pick up but hard to master. Seventeen years after its latest new IP, Blizzard finally has a new crown jewel.

Dragon Quest VII Reimagined is a remake crafted with an immense amount of love and care. Visually, it's majestic and full of charm, the voice acting is superb, the pacing has been polished to be more fluid without sacrificing important narrative points, and the combat is amazing. We hadn't had this much fun grinding in a JRPG for a long time, and we believe that with Reimagined, Dragon Quest VII will no longer be seen as one of the black sheep of the franchise; on the contrary, it will be considered one of the best in the series.

At first glance Nioh could be perceived as a Dark Souls Clone because they share basic concepts like repetition, muscle memory, perseverance and a high tolerance to frustration. But after some time playing, the differences between the two are obvious and it becomes clear that Nioh has enough strength to stand alone with pride and could even be the responsible for sparking a new wave of games with similar mechanics. Nioh is an intelligent, inspired, polished and exciting game that will keep you elated for hours on end. It takes a proven formula and improves on it in every aspect. It is that good. We might be looking at a game of the year here and it will surely be a beloved game for a niche of people who like difficult, demanding games.

XCOM 2: War of the Chosen is the very definition of an expansion pack properly delivered. This new installment, seamlessly adds tons of new content on top of the base game, elevating and intensifying the core experience.

Capcom has once again succeeded in recreating a masterpiece in a manner that faithfully captures the spirit of the original while also evoking new emotions that challenge expectations. This remake does far more than simply recreate the past; it is an excellent reinvention. Capcom has raised the bar for what is expected of a remake while simultaneously preserving an enviable legacy. Without a doubt, Resident Evil 4 remains the experience that defined genres and stands as one of the greatest games of all time.

Dave the Diver is an unique experience that constantly throws something interesting and fun, even when you are 30-40 hours into the adventure. Is a game that made us smile from the moment it begins until the end, and the diversity of the gameplay is fantastic and fascinating.

Loyal to its roots and perfectly executed, Dark Souls II is not only a worthy sequel: it is the worthiest homage to the mettle and spirit of hardcore gamers.

Persona 5 tries to captivate the player in every possible way. Its masterful mix of genres, crisp art style, and music, as well as the glorious game mechanics won't let you drop the controller until the very end. This iteration of the franchise sets a new standard for the JRPG genre and it is, naturally, an excellent addition to the Best of 2017 games list.

Bend Studio delivered a great narrative game, innovative mechanics, addictive gameplay, a very well-considered progression curve, great audio design, stunning graphics, and it's very fun to play. The hordes of the game are something that we've never seen and are simply amazing, an impressive technological display that's not just surprising but a lot of fun. Days Gone is a very welcome addition to the PlayStation classics library.

The Wonderful 101 is an absolutely spectacular and memorable game that manages to represent the authentic spirit of arcade games, the original spark that gives life to great video games. This is not an easy game, nor does it facilitate the player's experience, but it reflects so much authenticity, life and pride for the trade that all minor imperfections are more or less forgiven.

Fast, stimulating and vibrant, Mario Kart 8 improves almost every aspect of the franchise. It's a shame that the Battle mode is now a watered down version of a normal race. The low frame rate during local 4 player competitions also affects an otherwise pristine experience.

Hard, frustrating and beautiful. A game that will make you think and wonder why it feels so good to solve a puzzle. You'll hate and, at the same time, love The Witness. Brilliant.

Helldivers 2 is a massive success and a breath of fresh air for the entire industry. Arrowhead Game Studios surprises with an exceptional game that delivers an epic cinematic sensation, keeping you on the edge of your seat without any pretensions. All of this is achieved without succumbing to the vices of the industry, where players are often exploited with predatory monetization schemes. This deserves to be celebrated. At the moment, we can only highly recommend Helldivers 2; it is a much-needed triumph in the current gaming landscape.

The ideal introduction to the bullet hell genre, Deathsmiles keeps every inch of its freshness and appeal to this day. The Steam release includes all six versions of the game and all the goodies of the Mushihimesama release. All in all, a game that nobody will regret owning. Highly recommended.

Pokémon X/Y represent one of the largest steps the franchise has taken since its beginnings. The main game mode is not only vast, but fun. Anyone who gets through the initial portion of the game will found a deep and complex RPG experience and a rich competitive side that is more accessible than ever. It doesn't matter if they are veterans or newcomers; every 3DS owner need this game.

By fully taking advantage of its medium Fire Emblem: Three Houses tells a compelling story and makes you feel part of it by letting you take a side in a complex and morally grey conflict. Gameplay wise, Thee Houses delivers a fun and accessible strategy RPG that has everything that Fire Emblem fans have loved through the years. One of the best Nintendo Switch exclusives so far.

Thanks to new customization possibilities, a lot of classic charm and many QOL improvements, Animal Crossing: New Horizons stands as the best of the franchise so far. This game builds a community sense in different levels, something that we need at present time.

Gears of War 4 delivers a solid entertainment experience. Supported by a great multiplayer and cooperative modes as well as an amazing campaign, the game only falls short on its script and character development. Horde 3.0 is awesome and deep, the new multiplayer modes are fun and the history feels like a 3D Contra game. Leaving other minor technical setbacks aside, Xbox One users can't go wrong with this one.