An excellent rebound from the divisive The King of Fighters XIV, KOF XV showcases developer SNK's deep fighting game chops via a creative combat system, vibrant graphics, and many fun extras.

Nioh 3 is a massive, thrilling action-RPG that masterfully expands the series with new combat styles, sprawling maps, and fantastical Japanese history.

No single release from an annualized franchise revolutionizes the gameplay experience, but Football Manager 2022 delivers visual and mechanical improvements in multiple areas, making it the best series entry yet.

Nintendo’s overlooked Pikmin series shines as the latest Wii U Port on Switch, though the core gameplay experience is largely unchanged.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land is the series' first real step into 3D action, and the game deftly makes the transition with its many challenges and secrets. However, there's less ambition on display than you might expect.

Featuring 4K textures, smooth frame rates, and new content that complements the core story, Death Stranding: Director's Cut tops the vanilla game in nearly every way.

Featuring a large cast of superheroes and supervillains along with deceptively deep strategy mechanics, Marvel Snap turns the popular comic book universe into an ingenious and irresistible mobile collectible card game.

Tactics Ogre: Reborn is a thoughtfully updated port of a 2010 remake of a 1995 game. Contemporary tweaks let the strategy-RPG's story and gameplay shine.

Horizon Zero Dawn's PC port lets you hunt robot animals and explore a massive post-apocalyptic world on your own computer, with consistent and reliable performance.

Mortal Kombat 1 isn’t the clean narrative reboot that its name implies, but its rich single-player action and new tag-team aerial brawls make for the best fighting system in the history of the franchise.

With its martial arts attacks, weapons, and general urban chaos, Streets of Rage 4 feels like a natural extension of the series. The game may have taken a long, long time to arrive, but the developers' love for the license and genre shine through in nearly every area. Late-game difficulty spikes and limited movement options dull the experience a bit, but, overall, Streets of Rage 4 is a remarkably fun game, particularly when played with friends. Hopefully, we won't have to wait decades for a follow-up.

Although a relatively short game by genre standards, Shredder’s Revenge takes you on a fun, mutagen-powered romp through New York City's ninja-filled streets.

The Tales series makes a triumphant return with Arise, a game that delivers excellent, highly polished RPG action that stands above its predecessors. Despite being a RPG, Tales of Arise features a rich combat system that makes the title contend with some of the best action games released this year.

With its reworked graphics and battle systems, Dragon Quest VII: Reimagined is the definitive way to play the beloved JRPG, though some of its mechanics aren't as revolutionary as they once were.

Super Mario RPG for Nintendo Switch is a great-looking and faithful remake that brims with the original release's charm and wonder.

Football Manager 2024's improvements make for a notably more realistic simulation with new front office options, set piece coaching, and a superior match engine.

Despite its uncanny superficial similarities to a certain popular Nintendo IP, Genshin Impact has enough personality to stand on its own, while also offering a creative combat system and an expansive world to explore.

Persona 5 Strikers isn't a Dynasty Warriors game with a coat of Persona paint slapped on it. It's a Persona game that cleverly incorporates Dynasty Warriors combat into its systems. The shift to more action-focused gameplay works extremely well.

Blasphemous 2's grim world packed with brutal monstrosities, haunting religious symbolism, and gripping action make it a standout title in the oversaturated Metroidvania genre.

Splatoon 3 offers entertaining, fast-paced multiplayer action that anyone can enjoy, but the new features don't differentiate the game much from its predecessor.

Hogwarts Legacy delivers a detail-rich world steeped in Harry Potter lore with satisfying spells, exploration, and combat, though it plays better on consoles than on PC.

Battlefield 6 reinvigorates the long-running series with chaotic and dynamic multiplayer gunplay that's sure to satisfy new and returning fans.

Although it can't match the thrill of a truly new entry in the series, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is an honorable and beautiful recreation of the original stealth masterpiece.

Featuring many beloved titles and new accessibility and graphics options, Capcom Fighting Collection 2 is a fantastic addition to any retro fighting enthusiast's library.

Dead Rising is back from the dead with a remaster that completely overhauls the visuals and brings other improvements to the 2006 classic.

From its neon graphics to its tactical mechanics, Knockout City’s take on multiplayer dodgeball is over-the-top in all the right ways. It just sits in an awkward limbo between free and paid games.

Triangle Strategy is an outstanding tactical-RPG that brilliantly marries narrative-based decision making with polished fantasy and strategy elements, making it a must-buy game for genre fans.

Starfield is a massive space-based RPG with a galaxy of content to explore, but it has a surprising lack of ambition.