God of War: Ragnarok is simply fantastic. The story is excellently told, the characters outstandingly written, and the many gameplay innovations so well thought out and fun that the entire game is just a joy to play. From the first hour to the last, I found myself emotionally rooting along and worrying about the fate of the characters. The twists and turns in the story and all the sometimes really ingenious ideas captivated me time and time again.

GTA 5 is still a masterpiece. The open world is fantastic, the presentation is brilliant, the characters are well-written and the varied gameplay is still a lot of fun. Thanks to the technical improvements of the remastered version for PS5 the game still feels fresh and the gameplay is even better because of up to 60 fps in the two performance modes.

All in all, the Final Fantasy 7 Remake port on the Switch 2 is very well done. Players get the excellent Intergrade version with only a few graphical compromises compared to the PS5 version. These differences are hardly noticeable, especially when playing in handheld mode. In terms of content, Final Fantasy 7 Remake remains exceptional. Fans can look forward to one of the best role-playing game experiences of recent years.

Elden Ring absolutely manages to deliver on what was promised, and is, despite some minor annoyances, one of the finest gaming experiences I’ve had in years. That’s not only due to the rock-solid gameplay foundation, with its flexible class system, versatile weapons and progression mechanics. It’s also not only because of the morbid, dense atmosphere and the mysterious, captivating setting. It isn’t even solely the open world, which makes me want to spend every spare second exploring it with its gorgeous, monumental vistas and densely packed locations. Instead, the masterful combination of all these great qualities is what really makes Elden Ring special. Yes, the game has stopped me in my tracks multiple times, forcing me to leave bosses and places for later due to the somewhat slower progression system. But every time it does, it offers up dozens of other locations to test my mettle, become stronger and more skilled. And this cycle of trial and triumph is so immensely engaging that it’s going to keep me entertained for months to come.

The Last of Us Part 1 is the definitive version of Naughty Dog's masterpiece of the PS3 era. Although it does not include the new gameplay mechanics from Part 2, like dodging or crawling, the game still feels modern and the story is still one of the best in video game history. The graphics are absolutely phenomenal and because of the new facial animations Part 1 is even more emotional than the original. Thanks to the Features of the Dualsense controller and 3D Audio is is also more immersive. The Last of Us has always been a special experience and now it is one for the new generation as well.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is a great game and manages to go one better than its great predecessor. Due to the enormous scope of Rebirth, the first game feels more like a small prologue and now the game has really begun. Despite its scope, we never got bored for a second. The game is more versatile and varied than we have experienced for a long time. We were literally thrilled by the new gameplay elements that constantly presented us with new challenges. Then there are the great characters and the gripping story, which touched us again and again with emotional moments.

Silent Hill f impresses with its psychological horror and the sense of unknowing that doesn't disappear even after reaching the first ending. The combat system is just as enjoyable as the horror.

A worthy expansion with great scope, exciting characters, great mission design and an absolutely fantastic spy thriller story.

Baldur's Gate 3 is also on the PS5 the masterpiece that all role-playing game fans have been hoping for and so much more. The gameplay freedom, the great characters, the top-notch narrative, the satisfying combat system are unparalleled and blend in perfect harmony to create a true work of art.

The setting is refreshingly different and can only be compared with Deus Ex, even if CD Projekt Red has a whole lot more to offer in terms of style. I also really liked the great characters. And I'm not even talking about Keanu Reeves here. I especially took characters like Judy, Panam and Delamain into my heart and followed their subplots with almost more joy than my own main story. As a role-playing game, it offers me exactly the right mix of profound character system and gripping combat action. I'm already looking forward to another round in which I'll try a completely different approach. I actually find it rather positive that it is not as extensive as The Witcher 3. Yes, the game still has a surprising number of unpolished edges, and yes, there are a few small imperfections that I don't really like. But I just hope for the first patches, because in the end Cyberpunk 2077 is a great game that you should have played even with these corners.

Technically and graphically, the PC version even goes one step further than the original. New features such as support for up to 120 FPS, customized lighting and improved light rendering make Rebirth shine even more beautifully than before. Provided you have a powerful PC with an even stronger graphics card that can withstand the demands. In our test with an AMD Ryzen 9 processor with 32 GB RAM and a GeForce RTX 3090, we had a few small stutters with the "Medium" graphics preset at a resolution of 1080p, especially in the video sequences, even though both the CPU and GPU were above the data recommended by Square Enix.

In addition to the graphical adaptations to the new hardware, the developers at Naughty Dog have also thought about how they can further enhance the remaster. The excursion into the game's development history alone is an exciting new experience. The roguelike mode offers many hours of additional fun for anyone who wants to push the game's combat system to the limit. The actual story campaign remains an exciting experience of a special kind anyway.

Baldur’s Gate 3 is the masterpiece every RPG fan has been hoping for and so much more. The playful freedom, the great characters, the first-class narrative, the satisfying combat system are unparalleled and merge in perfect harmony to create a real work of art.

The developers at Larian Studios have created something very special with Baldur's Gate 3. And even if developers of large studios fight tooth and nail against it: This role-playing game sets new standards, and future RPGs will have to be measured against it. It is a video game in its purest form that holds a mirror up to the industry. It shows us how video games used to be and how they should be, something the industry has forgotten far too often. It is a work of art, born from the passion and love of a studio that has not been corrupted by the industry's rampant greed. You can tell in every fiber of Baldur's Gate 3 that it wasn't created to generate maximum revenue. Instead, it is a product of the love for video games that characterizes Creative Director Swen Vincke and his team.

Split Fiction is a declaration of love to the world of video games and I am happy to play it together with my friends. It will be a big contender for Game of the Year.

Hazelight has done it again! Split Fiction is an absolute masterclass and a big contender for Game of the Year. The gameplay variety in the coop adventure tops even the amazing It Takes Two and the story delivers as well. Graphics, audio and gameplay fit together perfectly, and it will be hard to push Split Fiction from the throne.

The Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D remake closely resembles the originals in every relevant aspect and offers solutions to familiar problems. It represents the perfect version for revisiting the old classic or for getting into the series for the first time.

Mewgenics does exactly what a roguelite should do: it never gets boring. Every time we think we've seen it all, another class is added. Or a new mechanic, effect, or level. The 13 years of development time were definitely worth it, because so much content in a single game is anything but ordinary. If you're into roguelites, turn-based tactics, or cats, you should definitely check out Mewgenics.

One and a half years after its initial release for last-gen consoles, you’ve probably heard it before: GTA 5 is one of the best games currently out there. So go ahead and buy it already. Rockstar even did a mighty fine job with the PC port.

Mindbending puzzles, a ton of humor topped with a good story and an outstanding coop mode, Portal 2 is the game you have to play. You will laugh, you will think till your brain hurts and you will cheer considering the love and cleverness that Valve put into this diamond of a game. From sound to innovation to comedy to gameplay the game is simply perfect. Play and enjoy.

Divinity: Original Sin 2 is a game for connoisseurs and patient people. The great and atmospheric world is worth exploring. I spent almost 100 hours in Rivellon, but the game would have had a lot of potential for a twice as long stay.

A hot contender for Game of the Year 2016. If you’re into turn-based tactics at all, this is the game for you. XCOM 2 builds and improves upon every aspect that made Enemy Unknown great. After XCOM 2, there is simply no reason to go back to Firaxis’s first game in the series.

More than six months after the console-launch GTA 4 hits the PC. With better graphics and the teriffic replay-editor the story about Niko Bellic will arrest your attention to your PC for weeks or even months... promised.

Like a good wine Civilization gets better with age. Gathering Storm combines fantastic new ideas like natural catastrophes and climate change with fan favorite features like the world congress to bring Civ 6 to its high point.

A huge accomplishment that surpasses its predecessor in almost every way, with polished gameplay, great storytelling, fantastic atmosphere and outstanding voice acting. It's a deeply satisfying Batman experience and one of this year's finest video games.

Battlefield 4 is a great first person shooter. Although the campaign and it’s story aren’t really memorable, the outstanding multiplayer makes the game nearly perfect.

Street Fighter IV is the real "King of Fighters" – on console and PC! With its deep gameplay-mechanics, lots of game-modes, awesome design and rock-solid online-support, the lasting appeal is almost endless. To enjoy SFIV to the fullest, a decent gamepad or – even better – an arcade-stick is a must-have!

Forza Motorsport 7 is the high point of the series. Turn 10 delivers a great racing game in almost every aspect, which skillfully manages the balancing act of being a sophisticated simulation and an accessible racer at the same time.

Battlefield 1 offers hands down the best graphics of any shooter, nay, any game to date. While its single-player-campaign is – again – unnecessary drivel, as short as it is forgettable, the multi-player-offering is in a league of its own. If you only buy one shooter this year, make it Battlefield 1.

Firaxis took the essence of the beloved 1994's classic X-Com and didn't just perfectly modernize it, the Civ-makers even expanded the great concept with new mechanics to deliver an even deeper experience. Thanks to the addictive gameplay, Enemy Unknown is easily the best tactical game since Jagged Alliance 2 and my personal game of the year.

Nothing short of a masterpiece. With its deep storyline, smartly written quests, a stunning world to explore and more than 100 hours of roleplaying goodness, The Witcher 3 is in a class of its own.

The most exciting RPG, that follows the footsteps of the Baldur’s Gate-series. Bioware goes back to its roots, combining classical party-roleplay and tactical battles with a cinematic presentation that reminds to the Lord of the Rings-trilogy by Peter Jackson. The storytelling and the dialogues are fantastic, the sound effects are great and you’ll be deeply involved in the game within minutes. Though, the technical background isn’t state of the art. Lack of high textures and missing details in the surrounding level-area aren’t satisfying.

Despite its low price tag, Blood and Wine is a substantial 30-hour expansion filled with memorable moments, tons of quests and a beautiful new world to explore. A must-buy.

Dishonored 2 is a masterpiece in level design, marred by some glaring technical flaws on PC. Smooth-as-silk stealth and cool superpowers make this one a must-buy for any gamer – provided your PC can run it. If in doubt, wait for the first couple of patches.

Sporting a memorable combination of superb stealth gameplay and gripping action, Dishonored offers simply one of the best single-player experiences in videogames this year.

Finally Blizzard revives the classic World of Warcraft. With a new livery the shattered Azeroth becomes more challenging for returners and encourages newcomers to start off. It's about time to play the best MMO ever!

If you liked the graphically overwhelming Crysis, you must not miss Crysis Warhead. Crytek just continues with what it can do best: Excellent graphics coupled with straight action.

Gorgeous from start to finish, highly polished and sometimes deeply unsettling, Inside is not only a worthy successor to Limbo. It's one of the best games of 2016.

Crysis 3 is stunningly beautiful and will make your video card cry out for joy. Due to mistakes in the past this shooter lacks a good and comprehensive story (and some ground-shaking boss fights), but the fighting mechanics work perfectly, slightly improved by small but suitable changes. Crytek has outdone itself with the creation of a devastated New York that has been reclaimed by nature. This is by far the best looking PC game to date.

The story has stirred me speechless and compelled me to think.

A near perfect blend of west and east, complexity and accessibility - Dawn of Discovery is by far the best economic simulation to date.

As expected: an open-world epic with a huge scope and a great atmosphere.

Finally there’s a reason to delete Civilization 5 from our hard drives. Firaxis has improved on many systems, while adding some clever twists like the city sectors. Civilization 6 is a blast to play and we cannot foresee a time when it won’t be installed on our hard drives. This is the definitive turn-based strategy game of the decade.

Enemy Within is a terrific expansion to an already awesome game. It gives classic XCOM a delightful twist, fighting aliens and corrupt Exalt agents with superheroes and mechs instead of normal soldiers.

A fantastic throwback to the D&D classics of yore, Pillars of Eternity is also a brilliant modern RPG in its own right with none of the typical Obsidian problems at launch, be it bugs or performance issues. Tactical combat, excellent atmosphere and great writing coalesce into a beautiful experience. It would be a shame not to play it several times to experience all of the meaningful decisions and consequences. As great as Baldur’s Gate.

Dawn of War 2 presents itself as a fast-paced RTS that shines with brilliant grafics, a highly addicitve unit upgrade system and a multiplayer mode that grants weeks of entertainment. Unfortunately the story isn´t worth mentioning and the mission design could be better.

While the first two Modern Warfares proved to be the extraordinary work of a single, incredibly talented team, the third instalment in the series stands as a manifesto to what three great teams, working together as one passionate unit, can achieve. It's an improvement over its predecessor in pretty much every aspect and a return to former strength after the stagnation that was MW 2. Sledgehammer and Infinity Ward deliver a natural conclusion to an astounding trilogy - and the best Call of duty since the first Modern Warfare.

It's essentially a Persona game set in a fantasy universe and one of the best games this year has to offer.

Hellblade 2 is a new reference in terms of graphics and audiovisual production, but has to make concessions in terms of gameplay.

An extremely well-done genre mix with massive battles and fantastic graphics. Both the base building and the RTS elements work extremely well.

Jurassic World: Evolution 2 brings some cool new features and content to the table that elevates it over its predecessor. The story campaign is a bit short and lacks in a compelling narrative and challenge. But the Chaos Theory missions make more than up for that. The increased complexity and depth in a lot of game systems are exactly what the game needed. And in the end the game draws a lot from the unbowed fascination for dinosaurs.

Quotation forthcoming.

The masterpiece is back. A great story and dense atmosphere meet modern graphics. The remake of Silent Hill 2 is the best horror game of the year so far and can compete with the remake of Resident Evil 4 and Alan Wake 2. Great times for fans of horror.

Chained Echoes delivers an almost flawless classic JRPG experience that reminds us of the best parts of the 90s era games. The typical genre problems have been worked around beautifully and the gameplay is kept fresh and masterfully portioned and balanced.

Anno 1800 is going back to the roots of the series but also manages to introduce exciting new features to the proven formula. The result is a building game that captivates for endless hours and challenges the player more and more with every new unlocked production cycle.

With Spider-Man 2, the developers at Insomniac continue the adventures of Peter and Miles with a gripping story, taking many of the strengths of the predecessors and making meaningful improvements in the right places.

Heading Out is a beautiful mix between racing game and visual novel. The gameplay makes a lot of fun and the story delivers a great experience. The style of the game is absolutely amazing and matches perfectly all other parts of the game.

There‘s something magical about Kirby’s new adventure. It brings back that childlike joy which comes from exploring a big museum, library or department store. The game is easy enough to pick up, but also more challenging than recent outings of the pink puffball. In some places, it is breathtakingly beautiful, while in others, it is just cute, silly fun. It may have a nonsensical story, it may not be a next grand open-world adventure, but Kirby and the Forgotten Land is wonderful nonetheless. It is pure joy from start to finish.

Quotation forthcoming.

The compact game plays consistently excellently, because no gameplay element seems superimposed and the feeling of progress is so successful precisely because Kena focuses on the essentials. Only on the story level was I left a little disappointed. The game makes an effort to touch the player emotionally, but it didn't really work out because the story and characters are shifted a little too much into the background. Nevertheless, the gameplay and presentation are so successful that they easily carry Kena over its ten to fifteen hour runtime and keeps me waiting eagerly for the studio's next project.

A great finale to a remarkable series. While Mass Effect 3 may not be perfect, the stirring story, smart writing and fast combat still make for an exceptional experience.

Short, charming, sweet as pie and overall, just an absolutely wholesome experience: A Short Hike may not bring with it big set pieces, a complex story or a whole lot of gameplay systems. But it has more heart than a lot of other games combined, which makes it something truly special.

Inscryption is a masterpiece. It combines rogue-like elements with card-based gameplay and brings with it with one of the best stories we’ve experienced in a long time. The only real criticism we have is the relatively short time it took us to beat the game. Nonetheless, Inscryption is one of the best games of the year, indie or otherwise.

With great looks, new features and refined gameplay, Capcom has made the survival horror milestone fit for the current generation.

Even tough Islets was developed by only one person, it’s definitely a well-rounded and surprisingly extensive Metroidvania. The developer clearly has a lot of love for the genre and implemented varied and challenging boss fights, a well thought level design and interesting skills. Some minor bugs, for example too far away teleport points and rough animations show that this game is made by only one person. But that shouldn’t prevent you from enjoying this very hard, but rewarding game. Definitely not the sweet, carefree island adventure it looks like on first sight.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard is a fantastic role-playing game with action-packed battles, lots of exploration potential, great characters, an incredible amount of lore and epic stories.

A feast for horror fans. After Alan Wake 2 and the Resi 4 remake, Silent Hill 2 now delivers. The dark season can come.

Blasphemous combines extreme difficulty, some religious elements and a beautiful pixel-art-world in a truly fascinating way. Recommended for everybody who does not only want to be entertained, but also challenged.

Shadow of the Erdtree is a gigantic cherry on top of Elden Ring’s magnificent cake, and while it reuses a bit too much from the base game, the superb new world is the best From Software has ever made.

If you liked the first one, you will love Rogue Legacy 2.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 tweaks all the right rough edges of its predecessor without losing any of its character. The result is a fantastic role-playing game in which you can lose yourself for hours.

A masterpiece that transcends the boundaries of platformers and puzzle games alike. Beautiful visuals, smooth gameplay and fantastic audio - it's one the most atmospheric games we've played in years.

Improved in every single aspect, Rogue Legacy 2 is not only a fantastic sequel, it's simply one of the best rogue-lites we've played in years.

All in all, Anno 1800 is one of the best building games on the market, even on the console. Of course, the port in its current form is not very interesting for those switching from the PC. There is simply too much content missing and the change in handling can't be ignored. But as a pure console player, you can look forward to a top-class building game that will excite you for countless hours.

Ninja Gaiden 4 is the best action game ever.

The most beautiful, comprehensive, and best game in the series.

Ghostrunner is fast, hard and unforgiving. But in a good way! It’s also beautiful, has an interesting world, a great soundtrack and the gameplay is just on point. The combat-system is with all the enemy-types rich in variety and pure fun, especially for speedrunners. Sometimes the world-design is a bit repetitive and not every enemy-type gets the screentime they deserve, but everything else is just great.

With Dragon Age: The Veilguard, I basically got exactly what I had hoped for from a sequel to Inquisition. An epic story about elven gods, the end of the world and the previously little-explored nations in the north of Thedas. Plus a wonderful cast of companions who all grew on me in their own way. All of this, embedded in the same attention to detail that made Inquisition one of my favorite games. Rounded off with very satisfying gameplay that works wonderfully in its mechanics. I simply had a fantastic time with Dragon Age: The Veilguard.

With Deadfire, Obsidian delivers a worthy successor to Pillars of Eternity.

Anyone who enjoys arcade skateboarding in the style of the early 2000s will be delighted with the remake of parts three and four. The adaptation of the fourth part to the basic structure of the first three is a bit of a shame, but not dramatic. The adapted parks, as in parts 1 and 2, are very well done and have been wonderfully expanded by the community. Even newcomers will quickly shred their first combos and enjoy the game.

The Division 2 seems to try to atone for the mistakes that where made with the predecessor and it succeeds in an impressive way. Massive clearly learned from the past and crafted an outstanding loot shooter experience. It’s only big flaw is the bland and trivial story and pale characters.

Almost two years after its initial release Rise is still an amazing Monster Hunter game and a great way for newcomers to enter the franchise. Technically it is everything you can ask for in a console port. And with all the free title updates of the main game it delivers a package, that even veteran Rise players will find enjoyable to play through once again.

The biggest and darkest Diablo yet, with a huge world to explore, robust mechanics and tons of quests to do along the way. Some features feel a little undercooked, but provide a great foundation for updates and improvements, much more than Diablo 3 ever could. The MMO design does not hurt the experience and the current monetization is easy enough to ignore. However, this might change in the future, as new mechanics, shop items and seasonal content are rolling in. Blizzard will have to be careful not to ruin what has been an amazing launch so far.

Lara is back to her roots. The focus on adventure instead of endless fighting is fantastic and the gameplay has been evolved for the better again. On top of that Tomb Raider never did look so good.

Horizon: Zero Dawn actually exceeded my high expectations. A great game that hardly ever makes mistakes.

Even after 21 years Metroid Prime is in a class of its own. The gameplay has aged remarkably well and the new dual-stick controls work like a charm. Visually this is one of the best remaster treatments we have seen so far: Everything looks like we remembered it, but with so much more detail added that you might mistake it for a fully-fledged remake. Although lacking new content or added features, this game is still an easy choice for every Switch owner: If you buy only one Metroid game in your lifetime, let it be this one.

Hitman 3 is the epic finale for the reboot trilogy, which started 2016. The different locations are breathtaking and long term satisfying. The game includes also two of the best Hitman missions of all the time. Dartmoor and Berlin are different to any other previous scenery and really amazing to play. A profound and dark story rounds off this great stealth adventure. There is only one big weakness in Hitman 3 and that’s the annoying and chunky gun handling.

Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands takes the proven Borderlands formula and puts it in a crazy fantasy world and it works just as great. The gameplay loop is insanely fun just like you would expect from a Borderlands game.

The Legendary Edition is a worthy remaster to carry Commander Shepards Legacy into the future. You can feel in every corner the love and passion of the Bioware developers who poured their hearts into this project. With it’s remarkable story, the well written characters and epic moments Mass Effect is still one of the best SciFi worlds video games have to offer.

Tekken 8 takes everything that made its predecessors so popular and takes it to a whole new level.

Once again, fans of The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion can celebrate. They can look forward to rediscovering many well-known characters and locations like the Black Forest. On the downside, the main storyline is boring and our relationships to the new companions do not matter at all. Overall, the new expansion is worth playing for fans of Oblivion as well as for newcomers.

Quotation forthcoming.

Anyone who falls into this well won't want to leave it any time soon: Animal Well is a Metroidvania milestone.

The new features like the spy and the financial takeover are perfectly integrated into the new multiplayer mode. In addition, Related Designs has implemented enormously entertaining scenarios which compensates for the missing campaign mode. A very good add-on.

Even though Live a Live is an old game, it feels fresh and exciting. Moreover, it looks gorgeous. This is a good choice if other JRPGs are too lengthy for your liking.

If you are craving a game like the original Commandos, this is the one to get: Great level design, likable characters, sleek mechanics and challenging missions make Desperados 3 every bit as good as Shadow Tactics, which is quite a compliment on its own.

A complex and great remake with only small weaknesses, but the age difference to the masterpiece Persona 5 can be seen in the game structure.

If you like Metal and fast paced shooter-games like Doom, Quake or Unreal Tournament, but without Multiplayer components, then this is your game. The movement is great, the rhythm based shooter gameplay feels fresh and the soundtrack is a blast! You can forget about the story, and if you search for secrets or special areas in the levels, you won´t find any. It´s all about the action and the music which is awesome. We can´t get enough of it.