Not only has Microsoft made one of the best RTS games of all time enjoyable using nothing but a controller, but they have even improved on the original release in some key ways. Age of Empires 2 is just as good as ever on the Xbox and should be a must-play for strategy fans everywhere.

Thought provoking, confronting and gripping – Disco Elysium: The Final Cut is a triumph of interactive storytelling.

Diablo IV is everything fans could want and more. An amazing world, engaging story and mountains of captivating content make this the best game in a franchise filled with amazing experiences. Diablo IV, simply put, is amazing.

To make a process that is usually so mundane into something so magical makes Unpacking a must play.

Monster Hunter Rise is at its best on the PC. The extra power brings a smoother, prettier experience to an already cracking game.

Tactics Ogre: Reborn really set the gears in motion for a genre. Since the first launch of this game in 1995, a lot has changed and this title has been staunch in both keeping to its roots and also making some needed changes to modernise the game.

The game is sublime and, if you have the rig, it runs well on the PC. It just has a host of small niggles and irritating problems surrounding it that are not an indictment on the game at all, just an indication that Sony still doesn’t get PC games. As a result, the PS5 version is still the best one available as of right now, though that may change as the game is inevitably patched to solve a few of these issues.

I didn’t necessarily believe it at first, but after spending some time with it, I feel like maybe Mario Kart World was the perfect launch title for the Nintendo Switch 2. It reminds us of the pure joy that can come from just sitting around, talking smack, and playing video games with your friends, whether together or apart.

Is it the best Nioh game? Despite how overwrought it is in some areas, it’s the Nioh title I’ve felt the most driven to keep returning to.

A truly innovative murder mystery that really makes you consider the consequences of not only your actions, but the actions of those that came before you. The narrative is at times a little too bogged down in complex lore, but it's a story to be remembered.

While there is a lot of craziness in the world of Bayonetta 3, at its core the game provides solid combat that I’m sure will keep fans entertained for hours.

Ghost Of Yotei is a triumph of all artistic disciplines in the video game medium. A devastating narrative hook will quickly lead to 50+ hours of riveting adventure.

The best version of an already great game, Returnal on PC is a fantastic rogue-like experience if you have the hardware to handle it. It also serves as proof that Sony is really starting to understand the PC platform as a whole.

Free, great DLC for an incredible game is a no-brainer recommendation from me.

Desperados 3 is a sensational game that boasts challenging game design that is as equally rewarding as it is frustrating. With an engaging story, interesting characters, and a great setting, it’s easy to recommend this game to just about everyone.

A beautiful and exciting action platformer that will test your skill as it stuns you with its looks. Welcome back, Shinobi, welcome back.

Only the mildest inconveniences dampen the experience. Make no elder dragon bones about it, Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection is the best in the sub-franchise, and one of the best JRPGs on the market at present.

Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade allows you to relive your youth in this collection of fantastic arcade games that works as it should and looks great to boot.

Successfully blending genres is a tough task, but Monster Train makes it look easy. Addictive rouge-like card-based gameplay with a presentation that is second-to-none.

A mash-up of everything that makes video games great, Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time is probably better than real life.

Octopath Traveler II expands and improves upon the established formula of the original game in incredible new ways that will appeal to JRPG fans old and new.

An example of games as art with the polish and sheen to achieve mainstream acceptance, Mixtape is a pitch-perfect slice of nostalgia that remembers that maybe it's not the time we miss, so much as our ability to appreciate a part of what could make said time special.

Though a much harder game to pitch than many other exclusive titles that come from PlayStation Studios, Returnal has every right to belong in the same conversation that titles from the likes of Insomniac, Naughty Dog, Sucker Punch, Guerilla, and Santa Monica do. It’s a wonderful point of difference within the PS5 portfolio of titles, but in its own right, it shines too. It might feel like you’re beating your head against a very smart wall, but persist, because as you learn to play by the game’s very specific set of rules, mastery will reward you with one of the finest titles you’re likely to play in 2021.

A hauntingly beautiful-in-motion Metroidvania seeped in death.

Inscryption is full of charm, humour, and a healthy dose of mystery. Forget what you think you know about this game, it’s so much more.

At the end of the day, the entire concept of this game still feels incredibly strange and deeply unhinged. But maybe in a good way? It certainly brings a unique angle and some fresh mechanics to both Mario games and now to strategy games with the inclusion of these open world mechanics. I think it’ll struggle to find an audience with die hard fans from either side, but it will go down well with those looking to dip their toe into the strategy genre, or who are introducing their kids to those games for the first time. While at times it was frustrating, I had a lot of fun with it, and plan to spend some more time wandering around the overworlds finishing up those side quests even though the main story is done. To me, that’s the ultimate sign of a good game – even if it is a game that has me constantly questioning whether or not it’s trying to reference that cursed time we all used words like ‘smexy’ on the internet.

Judgment is still a fantastic title on the next-gen systems and while existing owners may not see a reason to upgrade to the newer version, there is no reason anyone else should hesitate in diving into this addictive crime soap-opera.

With a focus on freedom of choice that is second-to-none, Wasteland 3 has set the benchmark for CRPG narratives, all the while being supported by wonderfully engaging gameplay and roleplaying mechanics.