Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition on the Switch 2 can rightly be called the most complete edition of the game. Okay, visually it's not comparable to playing the game on a PlayStation 5 Pro, but those who don't obsess over graphics will get a game with multiple control options and the ability to play it in handheld form at a fine resolution.

The Plucky Squire does a lot of things right. It pairs a delightful animation style and fun game mechanics with childlike wonder and a set of life lessons that, while not subtle, are well delivered. However, the most remarkable achievement is not found in a review, but somewhere in my heart. With each page and puzzle, I forgot more and more about the world around me. And there, in the land of Mojo, I was ten years old again, if only for a moment.

Destiny 2 is tough to compare to other shooters or games, but it is evidently a better title than part 1. The campaign is longer, the progression makes more sense, the structure is more satisfying and the sheen and splendor on the various planets entices even more. Destiny is comparable with its predecessor after the add-on The Taken King, and is therefore a more solid foundation for the coming months of content.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is the most stunning entry yet. Parkour is tight, combat hits hard, and managing your Creed feels nostalgic. Japan’s world kept pulling me into photo mode—I can’t wait to explore more. This is Assassin’s Creed in Japan done right.

The Lost Legacy is not as great as a real new part in the Uncharted series, but as an insanely expansive stand-alone DLC it's more than successful. We will always miss Nathan Drak, but hopefully Uncharted will continue in this form for a long, long time.

What a rush to be able to play a sequel that exceeds its predecessor in almost every way. Injustice 2 is in terms of looks, gameplay and the amount of (interesting) characters leaps ahead of the previous installment without losing its accessability. And then there's the loot... my god, THE LOOT. The current system might not (yet) be perfectly balanced, but it is definitely the ultimate addition to a fighter filled with super heroes. The loot fighter: finally it has returned.

Mario Kart World proves that clever innovation not only keeps a classic franchise alive, but also prepares it for the future. The open game world full of surprises and personal choices gives the classic Mario Kart feeling new strength and a fresh, daring twist.

Diablo III: Ultimate Evil Edition is the best dungeon crawler in recent history. It looks great, it plays smoothly and it’s filled to the brim with content. This is truly the ultimate version of Diablo III. [Aug 2014, p.61]

There are few open world games in which you can move so easily from one adventure to another, but Capcom does it by cleverly bringing together all kinds of well-known gameplay systems. Dragon's Dogma 2 offers fantastic combat and a wonderful sense of discovery, and above all a series of unforgettable moments.

Super Mario Maker is the most accessible and fun to use level editor yet and there’s more than enough to do if you’re not the creative type.

Nathan Drake breathes Adventure with a capital ‘A’. That’s why the collection is a must-have for anyone who’s never played the original games before. A godly trio on just one disc. [Sept. 2015, p. 064]

Diablo 2: Resurrected is made for Diablo 2 veterans and is proud of it. Being one of those veterans, I can't predict how a modern audience will react to this idiosyncratic arpg, but I can say that in my eyes this is the perfect remaster (and not a remake). Hell has never felt like such a warm bath.

Because a few fine features from XCOM: Enemy Unknown/Within didn’t make the cut, and other adjustments make the gameplay different, but not necessarily better, XCOM 2 isn’t the best sequel ever. Nonetheless it offers ridiculously addictive and extremely exciting turn-based tactics, which is unequaled even though the genre is becoming more and more popular lately. Accept no substitutes.

The most addictive and fascinating card game in recent history just got more addictive and fascinating with the Whispers expansion. [July 2016 / page 071]

FFVII Remake has some rough edges, but is generally the ultimate nerdgasm for FFVII fans and a cool new Final Fantasy game for newcomers who have never played the original. Square has made the impossible possible and not only made my ultimate fantasy come true, but made it even more beautiful than I would have dreamed.

As a reissue, Burnout Paradise Remastered isn't really that special, offering not much more than a fine graphical update together with some DLC, of which the Legendary Cars kind of screw up the strong structure of the game, so you might want to ignore them. But Burnout Paradise remains such a classic; intensely spectacular, bizarrely joyous and with an almost incomparable sense of speed, that this is still a must-have. Too bad it's pretty expensive for a new layer of paint.

Life is Strange is our sleeper hit of the year. A new benchmark for the adventure genre and a must play for everyone that enjoys a good detective story. [dec. 2015 / page 067]

Pentiment is an unconventional masterpiece. Those who embrace the game - despite its slow start - will be presented with a compelling story with absolute world-class writing and a touch of humor. The game grabs you by the throat and won't let go until the credits roll across the screen.

We were never big fans of Hoenn, the region where the third generation of Pokémon games took place, but Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire changed our minds. These remakes go beyond the usual new lick of paint and give players so many cool new mega evolutions, story lines and overhauled versions of familiar locations, that the whole experience feels almost as fresh as X and Y did.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 surpasses its predecessor in every way. With stunning visuals, refined gameplay, and a more consistent experience, it delivers the ultimate medieval simulator—provided you're ready for Warhorse’s hardcore RPG elements.

You ARE Peter Parker, you ARE Mary Jane, you are [REDACTED DUE TO SPOILERS], you ARE the spectacular Spider-Man and for dozens of hours you don't want to be anyone else than these beautiful characters, doing amazing stuff in a gorgeous, detailed and lively Marvel New York. This is the best superhero game since Batman: Arkham Knight and the best Spider-Man game ever, especially potent for sentimental fanboys like me.

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach balances between genius and madness, but above all, it defies comparison. There are no other games like Death Stranding 2. Even Metal Gear* was never this bizarre, full of contrast and—yes, I’ll say it again—cool, and that includes Metal Gear Rising. Honestly? You could give this game any score, and it would be justified. That’s what pure art does to you. If that’s not cool, then I don’t know what is.

Returning players won't find much new here, but that shouldn't spoil the fun. Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 remain timeless classics and are a must-have for any Nintendo fan.

This extra long pit stop for the series has raised certain expectations, but secretly this is just Forza Motorsport 8. Fortunately, Forza Motorsport still has that wonderful magical combo of arcade and simulator gameplay.

The Plucky Squire does a lot of things right. It juxtaposes a delightful animation style and fun game mechanics with childlike wonder and an unsubtle but well-delivered set of life lessons. The most remarkable achievement, however, is not to be found in a review, but somewhere in my heart. With every page and puzzle, I forgot more and more about the world around me. And there, in the land of Mojo, I was ten years old again for a moment.

There would have been no shame if LA Noire: the VR Case Files was Rockstar's experimental venture into Virtual Reality, leading to an okay experience. But instead it looks as if the seven year old game was specifically made voor VR and it even sets a new standard. Only Rockstar can accomplish something like this; unprecedented.

Halo Infinite is a sequence of Greatest Halo Hits, stitched together with an open Ring world. The game offers a level of action that only the early parts can compete with in sheer fun. Ignore the 'call to duty' and ignore the 'battlefields': in the 26th century, Halo Infinite is where the shooter action of the year is.

Final Fantasy XVI isn't the next gen game I expected and as a fan you tend to be disappointed but if you go in with an open mind and Square Enix fixes that frame rate it's an action RPG not to be missed .

Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number is one of those rare sequels like DOOM 2, Metal Gear Solid 2 and Metroid Prime 2 that seems identical to its predecessor, but manages to be a different beast entirely. It’s harder, more story-driven and even more subversive, and seems to specifically made to destroy the expectations of those who have mastered the first game. It might not be as pure and focused as Hotline Miami 1, but it’s everything we wanted from a sequel and way, way more.

The experience SF5 offers isn’t a completely new one but it will be a living platform for fighting fans for years to come and we can’t wait to see how it unfolds. [jan. 2016 / page 019]

Immortals Fenyx Rising offers delightful combat, smooth traversal and outstanding puzzles in an eye-catching, beautiful environment. The almost perfectly executed (and often well-stolen) gameplay, however, is somewhat at odds with the strange tone of the story. Ubisoft Quebec has tried to put a certain whimsy on the characters and dialogue, but I struggle to get caught up in the humour and playfulness of it. Hopefully you can, because if so, you and Mr./Mrs. Fenyx will have an excellent time together.

Rare Replay is a super extensive, well made and above all timeless ode to Rare’s body of work. The only bummer is the lack of GoldenEye and Donkey Kong game. [Sept. 2015, p. 062]

It’s a thrilling race game – the first one to actually make my hands sweat - but it isn’t the most beautiful one out there. You’ll need your best racing skills to complete it, but if you’re not scared by a challenge, DiRT: Rally is the perfect game for you. [feb. 2016 / page 068]

Anyway, all these negatives really only stand out if you place Dread in the pantheon of previous Metroid classics and then compare very closely. Because what I mainly want to communicate is that those Spaniards have done the impossible: creating a really good, classic Metroid! And that in a world in which the term metroidvania hardly raises any question marks. With production values of 2021, wow! So make a few more, MercurySteam; I promise I will never doubt you again. And… please don't take twenty years, okay?

BioWare has written and coded itself into oblivion (no pun intended) the last four years, resulting in a staggeringly huge adventure. It’s not flawless, it’s not on all fronts an improvement on the previous installments, but it’s a free-roaming RPG in which many a poor sod will lose their soul and weeks of their time in, with a happy smile on their extremely content faces.

Mr. X Nightmare makes an already very nice game an even more extensive and fun whole, thanks to the addition of a fantastic Survival mode and three delicious, new characters. This 10 MB really offers a huge amount of fun for the few bucks it costs.

With a sigh of excitement, a frustrated scream and a sad sob you will arrive at the ending of this art-y, pitch black trilogy. We won't give it our coveted Gold Award, because there hasn't been a lot of innovation through the years (part 1 was from 2014), but the trilogy as a whole definitely deserves cold gold.

The biggest letdown of Fallout 4 is that by now the engine is almost as retro as the style of the game, because this iteration has the same technical limitations Bethesda-RPG’s have had since 2006. Thankfully the story is more vivid, the customization system that handily cooperates with the building of settlements and the Power Armor is ridiculously expansive, and slightly faster gameplay makes it feel fresh enough. Bethesda-lovers will be engrossed, totally, but this is no revolution.

With Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Sandfall Interactive delivers an impressive debut game. In this unique RPG, the French measure themselves against the Japanese, by combining an imaginative, fascinating and downright strange story with compelling combat and a memorable party. It results in a special and unlikely melting pot of Western and Japanese RPGs in one pleasant package.

Far Cry 4 is not the best game to come out this year, but definitely one of the more enjoyable ones. A blind purchase if you enjoyed Far Cry 3. Just don’t expect much in the way of originality.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond proves that Nintendo did a good job returning the series to Retro Studios. And they, in turn, claim to know exactly what they're doing. Capture a bit of the magic of the past, borrow lessons from previous installments here and there, and—unfortunately—never add anything new worth mentioning. But just as Metroid is a relatively small series for Nintendo alone, a relatively "regular" Metroid Prime game is still a fantastic title.

A gigantic time-guzzler that combines a lot of elements of the best open world games, from Assassin's Creed to The Witcher and from Far Cry to Red Dead Redemption; Horizon Forbidden West wants it all. Due to this enormous ambition, this has unfortunately become a less perfect and more overwhelming game than predecessor Zero Dawn, but certainly no less unforgettable.

If Monster Hunter isn't your thing, then Rise won't convince you otherwise. But anyone who's not shy for bossfights, will be taken by the amazing flow and refreshing focus on speed, and will lose themselves for tens or hundreds of hours in this deep and engaging monster-mayhem.

Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon offers a pulse-pounding and demanding gameplay experience, deep customization options and a desolate game world that looks like something straight out of a sci-fi painting. The influences of especially Sekiro and other soul likes are palpable, but Armored Core is really its own game. It's a must-play for fans of hardcore gaming experiences and manages to hit that chord flawlessly, save for some solvable balance issues.

One last time 343 Industries (and consorts Ruffian, Saber and Certain Affinity) honors Bungie's legacy with an ode so expansive, that it beats Halo: Reach as the ultimate Halo-package. Halo fans, who probably already own Halo Anniversary, should get this for the 106 MP-maps and Halo 2 Anniversary with its amazing new cut-scenes, plus, of course, the Halo 5: Guardians beta, and should consider Halo 3 and 4 to be very, very nice bonuses.

Its impressive roster of almost fifty playable characters manages to draw in both newcomers and veteran players, and keeps them hooked through relevance, balance and sheer playability. The physical limitations of the 3DS system does hinder the experience somewhat, especially initially, and this game’s equivalent of the Adventure Mode (Smash Run) lacks the immediate fun of its two predecessors. But the multiplayer is as strong as ever, with the potential to become the series’ most celebrated yet.

Black Myth: Wukong is imperfect, but it lives up to the hype. You feel a little more powerful every five minutes than you did before, and the excellent combat is not only addictive, it also communicates why Sun Wukong is one of the most legendary mythological characters of all time. If this quality is any indication of what the coming years will bring for Chinese games, we are in for a very good time.

Codemasters does it again. What could well have been an update to F1 2019 with a coat of new paint and some extra circuits, makes the optional Career mode with your own team feel fresher than ever. In addition, it races just a bit tighter, so that F1 2020 also climbs the top tree of the podium again in this rare, shortened season.

There are more RPGs out there that promise you can make your own character en story, but The Outer Worlds makes that promise come true more than any other game I've ever played. An amazing experience.

It's all about the fun factor, which is higher than ever in Super Mario Party.

Resident Evil Village is one of the most versatile instalments of the franchise when it comes to environments, enemies and puzzles. It’s a rollercoaster of memorable moments, nasty body horror and fan service. But like most funfair rides it doesn’t offer much in the way of sideshows and the fun is over way too quickly. But you can always go again!

In terms of improvements, there could've just as well been a 5 behind this Borderlands.

I’m absolutely delighted with Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater. This is the more beautiful, modern version of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater that my heart desires. While Delta doesn’t innovate in the way the recent Resident Evil remakes do, that’s understandable given the weight of the original. Another great touch is that purists can dive into the settings to make the game as ‘faithful’ as possible. Unfortunately, a 60 frames-per-second cap on PC is downright absurd, especially since frame drops—though rare—can still occur.

Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns offers plenty of content to make both PvP as well as PvE oriented players happy. Besides this the MMORPG has become more social with the release of this expansion. The only negative worth mentioning is the fact that your character doesn't really 'grow' while experiencing Heart of Thorns. But ah well, I'm sure you'll soon forget this once you're gliding through the jungle.

Race the Sun is a randomly generated thrill ride that keeps pushing you harder and gets better every time you play. [Aug 2015, p.082]

Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle might be an unpleasant surprise for every (oblivious) Mario-fan whose hoping to go jump on platforms again, but for gamers who like to be strategically challenged, this is highly recommended. Mario + Rabbids might not be a perfectly polished product like some ' real' Mario games, but Ubisoft took a great risk, bringing us an ideal game for the Switch.

Experimental, surprising and original: Alan Wake 2 is not a standard survival horror or action game, but an interactive mindf.ck that houses more than a decade of ideas. It relies more on building up tension, story and mystery than the first part, less on action, does not always keep you interested and is sometimes a bit iffy on a technical level, but you will experience things here that you have never seen in games before. Bold and mega-meta!

Sekiro is without a doubt a powerful, timeless addition to Miyazaki's legendary collection of difficult but amazingly satisfying action RPG's, something that fans of Dark Souls will be very happy with. We have to be honest though, Nioh is a stronger Sengoku-game then Sekiro and we miss some of the usual From Software variation.

Monster Hunter: World is no longer a game only for the hardcore gamer who manages getting over the high entry threshold. Even though the online functionality isn't that great, the game itself is. Great news for anyone who couldn't stop drooling over all the spectacular trailers: This game more than delivers.

Not as revolutionary as the technical reincarnation had us hope or fear, but it scores the most tweaks on the tried and tested formula. A strong single-player and enough choices in the multiplayer to give every type of shooter player what they want. And again: crossplay included and without season pass.

Into the Breach is a small miracle: complex, challenging, comprehensive and a lot of fun, so exactly what you desire from a strategy game. Not every session is as much fun as the next, though, and it could use a bit more narrative, but these are very, almost petty, gripes.

The Beginner’s Guide is as fascinating as The Stanley Parable is hilarious. One of the most intriguing ‘games’ that we’ve played in recent history and an easy recommendation for everyone who likes weird game experiments. [dec. 2015 / page 062]

Every Breath of the Wild Fan should play this and, like myself, will love all the similarities to that specific game while even enjoying the enriched Warriors-like-gameplay.

Dispatch continues a trend of unique superhero stories with enthusiasm. The dispatching is deceptively layered and compelling, the characters aren't all incredibly deep, but they are all memorable, and your choices within the story transform even a man without powers into a full-fledged superhero—or not.

We’d have to look long and hard to find negative aspects in Trackmania Turbo. The racing feels great, the content is more than sufficient and it’s polished to hell. We’ll be playing this one for months.

The flowery, happy, intensely funny action of the first Garden Warfare is improved and expanded with a huge single-player mode, making this a way better game than the first one. [april. 2016 / page 058]

The singleplayer isn’t worth your time—unless you enjoy incomprehensible writing and insanely bad endings. Luckily, that hardly matters, because Battlefield 6 features one of the best multiplayer modes in the series. I would’ve liked to see one more Conquest map, but the military feel, tight action, and incredible destruction will make sure I keep playing this game for dozens more hours.

Nuclear Throne sparks the same addiction Spelunky did a few years ago, and does so with big guns, cool secrets and a perfect difficulty. An ideal game for on the go - on the PS Vita. [feb. 2016 / page 064]

Dirt 5 doesn't really look next-gen, but there is very little wrong with the game itself. It plays so well, that you'll forgive and forget to poorly design choices of the game. Highly recommended for anyone who loves arcade racing games.

Flight Simulator is a technical high-flyer that takes attic room pilots with an Xbox Series X or S into higher spheres. But it is and remains a simulator, so think carefully about whether you really want to do 'nothing' for hours.

AC: Unity is a fantastic game, with loads of atmosphere, gameplay and an enormous city to spend days or even weeks of your time. The game could've used more polish, although the glitches and bugs can't spoil all the beauty and fun it offers.

Visual Concepts has surpassed WWE 2K24 with this new release. Thanks in part to small gameplay and presentation additions and extensive game modes, it is a true pleasure to play for the WWE fan. Unfortunately, in some modes you are bombarded with attempts to earn extra money from you through microtransactions, which does detract from the experience. WWE 2K25 does almost everything right, but wants you to pump extra money into it just a little too much. As a result, the game misses out on a Gold Award.

Guardians of the Galaxy is one of the funniest games of the year, in which a cleverly written and compelling story predominates and the - nothing more than fine - gameplay dominates. At first or into games that heavily emphasize the emotional journey of their main characters, you'll come to love this startling adventure through a unique Marvel universe. It helps enormously if you are a somewhat nostalgic thirty-something and of course have eagerly devoured a Marvel film or comic.

The qualities that make Xenoblade Chronicles X such an impressive and unforgettable game are the same things that make it a slog every now and then: its humongous size, dense flora and fauna, and overwhelming depth. All in all, it's easily one of the best role-playing games of 2015.

Wreckfest has some raw edges and is not top graphically, but the fun that can be experienced there is unprecedented.

FFX is still one of the best oldschool JRPG’s ever made. If you haven’t play this one you should totally pick up this bundle. [Jul 2015, p.067]

THPS 1 + 2 is one of the best remakes ever; no nostalgia is needed whatsoever to enjoy this gem. Although the game is filled with recognizable moments for veterans of the series, the gameplay is so smooth that even newcomers are welcomed with open arms. The Tony Hawk-franchise finally has the right to call itself a proper franchise again.

Marvel Cosmic Invasion feels a little less fluid than Shredder’s Revenge due to the Cosmic Swap mechanic, but that same feature actually makes fighting in this beat-’em-up more enjoyable overall. It also fits perfectly within the Marvel universe that Tribute Games has created with such love and attention to detail.

It Takes Two is a crazy rollercoaster ride filled to the brim with fun co-op mechanics, references and wonder. Hazelight Studios shows they have learned from their previous game, and with It Takes Two delivers a wonderful feel-good game that will drag you along for an amazingly long time. This one is going to show up on the "best co-op games" lists.

Detroit: Become Human has some long-winded scenes and at times slightly boring gameplay, but it looks stunning, and excels with a dazzling amount of relevant and tense choices packed in a well-written story that frequently managed to move me.

FIFA 16 is the football simulation of the year and delivers a great complete package of football. You'll have to give it time though, to hone your skills and get better. If you don't, FIFA 16 can get slow, boring and even frustrating, but if you do, you're in for an exciting and deep football experience.

Yooka-Laylee at times feels more like a remake of Banjo-Kazooie than a completely new game, that's how much they are alike. But in this case it is only meant in a positive way. The world needs more games likes this, you know.

NieR: Automata is not for everybody. In fact, the game looks to be aimed at the most refined fans of the medium by not caring about the regular gaming conventions, in the same way the works of David Lynch are perfect for the hardcore moviegoers.

If you play Ori and the Will of the Wisps on a PC, then you have a fantastic successor to The Blind Forest. Xbox One owners are better off waiting for major updates.

The areas are more beautiful than ever, the story technique is strong and the new features are nice additions.

Street Fighter 6 makes a serious effort to bring all those departing players back in - and I think it has what it takes to succeed. Online the game is more social, the story mode is great if you're not competitive and the modern controls make the game more accessible. This has what it takes to become the big EVO tournament sport again.

One of the best remakes ever gets the port it deserves with Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 for the Switch. Gameplay is paramount with this handheld version, making it a great skating experience that is barely inferior to its bigger console brothers.

Rise of the Ronin isn't the dream entry into the realm of open world games that Team Ninja might have hoped for, but it delivers a very competent gaming experience. The open game world is completely dedicated to the blood-curdling combat, so there is more than enough to discover. Add to that Team Ninja's clear love for national history and you have a wonderful piece of entertainment that also immerses you in an interesting, historical setting.

Civilization: Beyond Earth may be a spin-off but one that can stand on its own. Things are more unpredictable but the gameplay is still very familiar. More important: Beyond Earth is more than just Civilization V in space.

Whether you're a Drive to Survive-looking casual fan or a hardcore racing fanatic who knows the precise sector times at Spa-Francorchamps from the past ten years by heart, F1 2021 is literally for everyone's Maximum enjoyment.

Under the illusion of a relaxed island existence, this Animal Crossing gives you more to do, experience and build than ever before, all in a thoughtful, pleasant, time-and-time seductive way, making it the ultimate AC. An enrichment of my existence where I hope to spend many days, months and years.

The tension is not always extremely high and the story is missing the epic nature of The Last of Us, but if you're looking for an awesome single-player adventure for those long spring evenings, then Days Gone is the game for you.

It’s not easy to add something to a game as perfect as Bloodborne and The Old Hunters isn’t revolutionary or super original, but it definitely gives the hardcore fans exactly what they need.

Though refreshing and well-polished Invisible Inc. is equally unforgiving and a bit bland in its presentation. [Jul 2015, p.070]

Yes, Pokkén Tournament DX is essentially exactly the same game as the one on the Wii U that came out one and a half years ago. But the five new characters, the new modes and the mobility of the Switch make this a worthy port, not in the least because the fighting system is simply very cool.

Helldivers 2 is a spectacular, hugely entertaining, surprisingly tactical and brutal multiplayer game. Especially now that the server problems have largely been resolved, the game is practically indispensable for anyone who wants to have fun with three friends. Making progress in the battle passes feels a bit grindy, but because this is also the case for players who buy their in-game currency with real money, it continues to make fair progress for everyone. For Democracy, Liberty, and Freedom!

Do you like being tactically challenged and do you love farfetched, beautifully told fantasy stories? Immerse yourself in the world of Divinity 2: Original Sin 2, because this RPG is a gift that keeps on giving, if you are the kind of gamer that likes great characters and a deep battle system over gigantic battle royale experiences or an Active Touch System with Cristiano Ronaldo.

A Days Gone remaster wasn't really needed yet, but the result is generally impressive, especially on the PS5 Pro. And if this means that the door to a possible successor is ajar again, we can only applaud it.