Death Stranding is an absolute masterpiece. It’s a triumph of one man’s unrelenting, uncompromised vision of hope. So powerful was this vision that it gave a deeply cynical individual like me a reason to hope. It’s a technological achievement on so many levels. But perhaps most of all, its revolutionary story, outstanding characters, and singular theme of human connection is the lingering triumph of Death Stranding. It is simply one of the greatest games I have ever had the pleasure of experiencing. It is, in every single glorious way, a Hideo Kojima Game.

If you’re looking for the next, and perhaps greatest, grand cRPG; if you’re aching for an epic single player adventure; if you’re seeking a setting outside the norm; if you’re hoping for a story that takes you in and hangs on, Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire fills the bill. It is something special, something you’ll want to play again and again and is a game that will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the genre’s best.

Metaphor: ReFantazio is ATLUS at the height of its powers, and it’s a game that any fan of the studio - or any JRPG fan for that matter, should play.

Final Fantasy XVI is a tale of loss, sorrow, revenge, and hope. It’s a story that feels human and down to earth, yet still retains the essence of what makes Final Fantasy so great. [...] Final Fantasy XVI is a masterpiece. From its stellar writing, music, world-building and incredible cast, this has easily taken the mantle as my favorite Final Fantasy in the series to date.

Throughout the entirety of my runtime, I felt transported, compelled to help find a way to save myself and the companions I had grown to love over time. And it’s a world I don’t want to leave, at least not yet. Baldur’s Gate 3 is, simply put, the greatest RPG I’ve ever played.

I’m honestly happy I waited until Persona 5 Royal came out to play Persona 5. It is well polished and feels like a game that could have come out for the first time this year. This is absolutely an excellent example of how to rerelease a game and make paying full price for it worthwhile. For me to only have minor complaints about a game, which is easily well over 100 hours of gameplay, even if you don’t do everything is rare. If you loved original Persona 5, Royal is worth your time. If you’ve never played the original or any other Persona game, Persona 5 Royal is a perfect game to pick-up and get into the series.

RDR2's start is slow, measured, but as the layers begin to unfold and the scope of the game's sandbox is known, you see just how impressive it all really is. This is easily a top candidate for one of the greatest open world RPGs of all time.

I honestly can’t express in such a limited space how amazingly good Divinity: Original Sin 2 truly is. From the astonishing amount of replayability it provides to the gorgeously detailed world you and your party will inhabit to the awesome and though-provoking combat and so so much more, DOS2 is a game that you do not want to miss. With over 60 hours in, I only want more, I’m mourning the inevitable end of this play through and I’m already planning my next adventure. I will not soon forget Rivellon. If you love RPGs, if you love excellence in game design, if you appreciate a great story, then Divinity: Original Sin 2 is a must have.

CD Projekt Red has raised the bar on what it takes to make a high quality story driven RPG. They did not fail to deliver on Geralt’s final tale either. If this is our last hurrah with the White Wolf it was time well spent.

Hearts of Stone has pulled me back into The Witcher Universe with its finely crafted story and menagerie of clever side characters. A cat burglar acrobat, a suicidal Firestarter dwarf, a lifelorn ghost, and more are all people that will stick with you for a while even after you are done playing. While this story may only take you 10 hours to complete make sure to set aside more time than that because you will probably need it.

So as the story unfolds, along with your map and you get into this gathering, parkouring and hunting rhythm here comes the main reason that has me rate Odyssey right up there with Origins. Next to Kassandra herself and animal taming, it’s the Naval component that really makes this Assassins Creed epic.

Bungie has delivered an experience that, down to the last bullet, is truly satisfying.

For those who prioritize combat, you may be left frustrated. But I prioritize a beautiful world, wonderful music, magnificent platforming, and phenomenal tech. And on those grounds alone, Kena: Bridge of Spirits is a triumph, an utterly brilliant experience. And when each of those parts are this good, this lovingly crafted, this polished, it’s incredibly difficult to ignore. Ember Lab have created something truly special. This is a gem. Kena: Bridge of Spirits is the best game I’ve played all year. And you should play it.

Solasta: Crown of the Magister is an excellent game for anyone who loves turn-based RPGs or D&D in general. Since there are so many options for difficulty and game rules, pretty much anyone can play it regardless if you want something easy to experience the story, something extremely challenging, or something in between. Additionally, although I did run into some issues early on, all of them got better as I moved further into the story, which is the reverse of most games that typically start super polished and get rougher as you move closer to the end. This isn't a game to sleep on.

Horizon: Forbidden West is everything I wanted from a follow-up to the excellent Zero Dawn, from the twisting story and fierce combat to the cast of memorable characters. Playing this for the first time felt like getting back on a bicycle, and before long I was traveling the wilds with Aloy just as we did before. There are a few technical missteps, and some of Aloy's dialogue sounds forced, but the majority of the game is simply amazing. I couldn't wait to get back into the world of Horizon after Zero Dawn, and now I can't wait to return again after playing Forbidden West.

Although it’s possible that Monster Hunter Wilds could put off some veterans who started early with the series, it’s made a massive jump in progress towards being a more well-rounded game that is inviting to a much broader audience. In terms of visuals, it’s the best the series has to offer and the seamless world makes the environments come to life like never before. Add on the improved combat and mount controls and it’s a game you won’t be able to put down once you start.

Final Fantasy VII REBIRTH is a modern RPG masterpiece and solidly sets up its third installment in the Final Fantasy VII REMAKE Project. It's ambitious and massive in scope - and that's before we even get to the daunting task of recreating one of the most iconic stories of all time. At its core, Final Fantasy VII REBIRTH retains the essence of what the original story contained, expanding on it meaningfully in a way that feels wholly new. And I can’t wait to see how it all concludes.

Armored Core VI Fires of Rubicon has everything you could want in a mech game. The tight, responsive controls leave nothing to be desired. Every battlefield is a work of art. … This is the Armored Core you've been waiting more than a decade for, and it is absolutely worth it.

I generally don’t determine where an expansion ranks compared to the other expansions until it’s finished. So much of our time is spent outside of the launch period, and quite a few expansions that have started off promising have languished. That said, Midnight might be the best World of Warcraft expansion to date. I’ve played them all. I have never experienced this level of things I can do, while also feeling the freedom that if I don’t want to do something, that is also fine. It’s amazing. Midnight isn’t perfect; there have been some bugs and hiccups here and there. In the realm of MMOs, though, that has been remarkably light, and Blizzard has been consistently patching things up. No surprise, I love it. Now, I’m off to hop back in the game.

With the release of The Witch Queen, Bungie has taken Destiny 2 several steps in the right direction. The length of the campaign is nearly perfect and when coupled with higher difficulties as well as replayable campaign missions, Destiny 2: The Witch Queen delivers a stunning experience of rewarding gameplay that values a player’s time investment within it. All of that would be incredible on its own, but these are backed by incredibly well-developed stories and mysteries that have yet to be uncovered. It is a truly awesome thing to be a witness to!

It’s hard to follow up on what is considered by many (myself very much included) to be one of the finest Samurai epics in video games. Yet Ghost of Yotei improves upon nearly every aspect of its predecessor; it’s easy to say that Sucker Punch once again knocked it out of the park with this one. From its quiet contemplative moments, taking in the aurora borealis atop the peaks of Mount Yotei itself, to the nail-biting assaults on castles or liberating towns from Saito’s grasp, Ghost of Yotei was an excellent experience from start to finish…Usually, when I’m finished with a review like this, the last thing I want to do is hop back into a game I just spent weeks playing almost by myself. Yet, even as I type this, Atsu is playing her Shamisen overlooking the Ishikari Plains, the work of the Onryo not yet done. And I can't wait to dive back in to finish what she started.

You will enjoy this game if you can stomach the abuse that Elden Ring dishes out. Even if you cannot, there is so much out there that you can do if you aren't afraid of running from scary fights. Some locations can be less fun than others, and some bosses create skill-based stopgaps. Elden Ring is all about picking yourself up, dusting yourself off, and sometimes finding something more enjoyable to do. It's worth the investment.

After spending over 90 hours in the world of Dragon’s Dogma 2 I find it be a masterful example of how exploration and adventure should feel, offering a vast and immersive world to explore and conquer. With its rich lore, engaging gameplay, and expansive world, this sequel has captivated and immersed me in a world of fantasy and intrigue that only a few cult fans experienced in its predecessor. Whether battling fearsome monsters or unraveling the mysteries of Gransys, I found myself drawn into a journey of epic proportions — one that I expect will leave a lasting impression long after the final credits roll. So gather your party, sharpen your blades, and prepare to embark on the adventure of a lifetime in the world of Dragon’s Dogma 2.

The new monsters in Iceborne are the main topic worth talking about. The return of some from other games in the Monster Hunter franchise is enough to make Iceborne a worthy purchase. It’s a chance to see monsters in higher definition quality than the graphics of older consoles and in many cases, handheld ones. Capcom presents a way to appreciate old monsters as if seeing them for the first time through new eyes.

Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles has finally made one of the best games ever accessible to nearly every audience. The addition of an amazing voice cast along with updated visuals has allowed this classic to level up, but these improvements aren’t even necessary for it to remain relevant. If you’ve never played Final Fantasy Tactics then I urge you to get The Ivalice Chronicles.

As I’ve previously mentioned, Diablo IV is a blast to play. I like the much darker overall vibe than Diablo III and the unrelenting brutal storyline throughout. The variety of class builds and how Diablo IV unfolds the complexity over time helps new players get into it and delivers variation and fun for veterans. Additionally, as I mentioned in my previous Review in Progress, Diablo IV is a game that respects the player’s time and doesn’t ask us to do the same things over on all characters unless we want to. The main negative currently is server instability. Generally, that hasn’t been a huge problem, but it pops up regularly and can be a particular problem while playing a hardcore character. That said, I’ve been having a blast in Sanctuary and don’t see any sign of wanting to take a break from it, which is abnormal for Diablo games and me. Generally, I play the main campaign once, and I’m done playing until there’s a new story to play. I’m already thinking about what’s next for me in Diablo IV.

[Endwalker] is a lofty, ambitious epic that ties together story threads, characters, and powerful themes in a way that only a story so trusting of its players can pull off. It’s not perfect, but Endwalker’s tale feels so authentically conveyed, even despite how big FFXIV has become, that many players will feel like it might as well be.

Grim Dawn: Ashes of Malmouth is an excellent expansion to an already excellent ARPG. As I have spent time with the title’s expansion I cannot help but remember and compare it to how it felt to play through Diablo 2’s Lord of Destruction expansion. In many ways, Ashes offers the same types of refinement, story rich campaign and quality of life features that LOD did to D2. This is high praise for any expansion and if you are an owner of Grim Dawn I highly recommend picking up Ashes of Malmouth as it will be a great addition and continuation to an amazing Indie ARPG.