The most fun we’ve had on a touch screen in recent history. [Sept. 2015, p. 069]

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is a wonderful little game that proves that a limitation (in this case, Toad’s inability to jump) can be the cornerstone for some truly inspiring and creative ideas. Each of the seventy plus levels is a masterclass in level design and will invite you to find every little secret they hold. Our only regret is that there aren’t even more levels in this package, as even these seventy levels are over far too quickly.

Stellar Blade is a well-finished action game that has a lot to offer. There is extensive combat that tests both your thinking and reaction skills, spectacular graphics and performance, a fascinating story in a world with a lot of lore and, in addition to the more serious moments, also a good dose of fun with collectibles and side missions. It may not be for everyone due to the over-the-top fanservice, lifeless NPCs, and character and boss reskins that are quite unnecessary. If this doesn't really matter to you and you're looking for challenge, splendor and splendor, then you've come to the right place.

After the heart-wrenching The Walking Dead and the dark murder mysteries of The Wolf Among Us, Tales From The Borderlands: Episode 1 feels like a delightful change of pace. The hard choices are still there, but the action scenes are a lot funnier and the comedic dialogue is being kept at just the right balance. A fine start for Telltale’s newest series.

Sunbreak is an absolute must-have for Monster Hunter junkies. The world of Elgado is full of new areas and adds seventeen monsters to the game. A disappointment is that there are only four really brand new monsters, but at the same time it is very cool to see monsters from older games. The new Switch Skill Swap mechanics and the weapons and gear that continue to evolve keep Sunbreak more than interesting even after completing the story.

Gamers who have played the Wii U-version will not find shockingly-new content in New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe. On the other hand this Mario-title is a must-have for newcomers and 2D-platformer enthusiasts.

It's wonderful, more people are now able to enjoy Cat Mario's linear jumps. And it's amazing Nintendo added such a substantial, delightfully cool open world game to the game. This is the type of entertainment that humanity can really use at this time.

Look, this is exactly what you want from a WWE game, especially if you grew up in the '80s and '90s. Plays well, looks good and a wonderful trip down memory lane.

Dead Island 2 improves on its illustrious predecessors in almost every way, while retaining strong points such as atmosphere, setting and gameplay loop. The fact that the game sees the light in this state after almost ten years of trouble-ridden pregnancy is only inferior in wonder to the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary.

I love Avowed, which excels at being nearly flawless. This is largely due to making safe choices in terms of gameplay systems and a story that is never allowed to become grander than the characters themselves. The downside is that on paper, heavy story choices feel like something out of a children's book in practice. For some, this risk aversion is a price they are unwilling to pay, despite the reward being highly entertaining writing. But since the rest of the game flows along at a comfortable quality level, the average Obsidian fan has little to complain about.

After all these years Intelligent Systems finally pulls off developing a game that comes close to the extraordinarily charming The Thousend-Year Door. The brave new combat system with cirkels takes some getting used to, but doesn’t get in the way of the delightful Journey with Paper Mario and his companions.

Planet Zoo is a beautiful zoo simulator that shines in options, depth and challenge, and it gives you the possibility to build true gems. Every now and again Planet Zoo drops the ball when talking about smaller animals and building options, but the messing around is more than worth it.

The Evil Within 2 exchanges oppressive survival horror for a more open kind of action in a messed up playground. That part is pure enjoyment, but some far fetched plot elements and a script that is not great, prevent it from being the classic it could’ve been.

It’s official! Gears of War is still a classic. The gameplay still holds up and the same can be said for the graphics. A must-have for collectors. [Oct. 2015, p. 054]

I have been enjoying Hitman 3 so much that I probably won't be playing anything else in the coming weeks, to be able to discover every nook and cranny in the different levels. You do notice that at the end of this trilogy, the concept is getting a bit pale and it is time for Agent 47 to get a makeover. Nevertheless, this is a very big end to the series that will undoubtedly be in my top five at the end of this year.

After years of mismanagement and poor sportsmanship, PES is finally able to compete with FIFA again. Best football game of the year? Too early to tell, but a contender it is. [Oct. 2015, p. 063]

Underneath the beautiful presentation lies a great JRPG that unfortunately lingers a little too much in its old glory. Being nostalgic for the past is super fun, but things like the random encounters, the turn-based battles and the story have really gotten better in modern RPGs. I also expect that from Octopath Traveler 2.

Slaughtering Orks with Assassin's Creed-like stealth-gameplay and beating them silly with the fighting-system we know of the Arkham Batman games: it's lot of fun for a good while. Shadow of Mordor offers raw, nasty action, plus enough collectibles, upgrades and other free-roaming tricks to keep you hooked. The biggest surprise though is that it's all interwoven by an interesting, almost Tolkien-worthy narrative.

Despite being light on The Legend of Zelda in favor of being not much more than a Dynasty Warriors reskin, Hyrule Warriors still manages to be perhaps the most accessible, charming and exciting entry in the Musou franchise. Zelda fans will drown in its nostalgic presentation and rocking rearrangement of beloved theme songs, while getting the chance to experience how riveting the action-packed gameplay of the Warriors games can truly be.

HotS is great piece of fanservice that’s wrapped in accessible, polished MOBA trappings. [Aug 2015, p.081]

The first Hitman episode makes us eager for more but Episode 1 provides enough replay value through its challenges to keep us satisfied till the second one comes out.

Tales of Arise doesn't do anything new, but also almost nothing wrong. The story continues to captivate from start to finish, although some of the plot twists are quite predictable for the seasoned JRPG player. The combat is the showpiece of the game and offers wonderful depth, challenges your tactical ability and is a feast for the eyes. You take the small flaws for granted and quickly forget as you wander through the beautiful settings of Dahna and beyond.

Besides the hugely improved Build Mode and Create-A-Sim and the fact that the game runs very smoothly this time around, this is the weakest base-game in the Sims-series. But luckily not by a great distance. Burrowing deeper than the first, somewhat disappointing hours, players will find that a lot of the missing features (basements, toddlers, pools and a ‘open world’ village) are compensated by lots of animations, objects, collectibles and other fun stuff that only Sims-lovers can truly appreciate.

Samurai Shodown isn't unnecessarily complex and has enough depth to ensure a fighting game that should appeal to almost everyone. The lack of a good Story Mode should not spoil the fun, because you'll want to play Samurai Shodown for the great multiplayer.

Looking at it negatively, you could say that PES 2018 is torn between two ideas, even seems to have some kind of identity crisis. Glass half full types will see it as a lovely soccer game, that can even be more fun than FIFA when played with friends. The added realism even gives it the credibility needed to give it an edge over FIFA.

Rocket League Sideswipe is a fantastic translation of a console and PC game into a mobile game. The controls are so intuitive that anyone can pick up the game, yet challenging to really excel at it. It looks clean, offers a full and accessible experience and is a nice extension of the Rocket League brand. Unfortunately, the amount of content is still on the meager side and the lack of statistics is a big loss.

You could see Mario Kart 8 Deluxe as an easy port, because it is to a certain extent. But it would be silly to disregard the ultimate fun this kart experience offers because of this. If you have a Nintendo Switch, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is an essential purchase you will play for over three years and never regret buying.

Subnautica: Below Zero cannot match the original game in terms of scale; therefore it is a standalone expansion instead of a full-fledged sequel. Despite this, it offers a more immersive and streamlined experience through a more emphatic story, great voice acting and plenty of quality of life additions. The three bucks that Below Zero costs are more than worth the at least twenty hours of exploration fun.

I had sky-high expectations for Cities: Skylines 2, and they were largely met. The larger scale, satisfying progression system, more realistic cities, improved AI and an extremely well-reformed road system have me completely hooked by this game. Unfortunately, there are also some negatives, which fortunately did not hinder my enjoyment. This will definitely be a regular on my PC for the next five years.

Platinum Games no longer hits the mark with every title, but luckily they do with Bayonetta 3. The game doesn't look as nice as I had hoped, that has to be said. Otherwise, this is again one of the wildest and most creative action games I've played in years. Hopefully Platinum will give us three more Bayonettas!

As a big fan, I might have hoped for a little more content, but Intermission is an unmissable experience and the ultimate setup for what's to come in the second part of Final Fantasy 7 Remake. Can. Not. wait.

We're happy to conclude Renowned Explorers is indeed exactly as fun as it looks. There’s a very small learning curve, yet the game offers enough depth to keep it fun for a long time. [Sept. 2015, p. 065]

Far Cry is enormously big, has a beautiful open world, soaked in a great atmosphere. It's stuffed with content and is sometimes a bit chaotic, but the story is well built up and is highly memorable with great bad guys and girls. It does, however, have some frustrating moments and lacks good stealth gameplay.

Project CARS turned out to be an awesome hardcore simulator but the sheer mountain of options and settings might scare off the casual set. The real car freaks won’t mind and are likely to play this one with huge grins on their faces.

We get more game variety and freedom than ever in this franchise, London looks insanely good and the themes of the game are more relevant in 2020 than ever.

Hohokum is a perfect blend of low-impact gameplay, adorable visuals and a great soundtrack. The only downsides are some of the harder puzzles towards the end, but those frustrations are easy to overcome if you give Hohokum the time it deserves.

Everybody’s Gone To The Rapture is not for everyone but it's so unique and daring, and so good at what it does, that you simply have to be made of concrete to not be touched by the story it tells.

Quotation forthcoming.

Spongebob Squarepants: The Cosmic Shake is a colorful, creative and funny platformer that will keep any yellow sponge lover entertained for hours. Despite the one-sided side missions and weapons arsenal, exploring the seven absurd and recognizable dimensions is fun for both young and old.

Despite some questionable decisions and technical flaws, Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope is another wonderfully moronic, playfully creative, colorful gang. Perhaps not necessarily much better or more extensive than the first part, but a full-fledged, cheerful sequel.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land remains a wonderfully varied and cheerful platformer on Nintendo Switch 2. The new content feels like a fun bonus that easily stands alongside the rest of the game.

2015 was a great year for big open world games and Just Cause 3 is the cherry on top of that cake. JC3 isn’t groundbreaking or revolutionary but it’s super enjoyable, pretty and huge. (Both console versions are plagued by technical issues.)

You should just walk past Earth Defense Force 2: Invaders from Planet Space if you’re scared of insects or can’t handle technically outdated games. The rest of you should at least try it, I bet you’ll get addicted. [feb. 2016 / page 063]

F-Zero GX for the GameCube brought the genre of futuristic racers to perfection, and Shin’en only added to its gameplay with Fast Racing NEO. The ‘wow’ factor is abundantly present – not bad for a download-only game with a price tag of 15 bucks. [feb. 2016 / page 066]

A fleshed out premium platformer without nasty in-app purchases with great boss battles and well built puzzles. [Sept. 2015, p. 066]

Quantum Break’s tv-series is mildy fun at its best but in the end it is the gameplay that makes you want to experience this title. The spectacular shoot-outs deliver.

We're giving FIFA 19 the exact same rating as Diego Costa, since their styles are very similar. Clinical, sometimes a bit blunt with some dirty manners, but ultimately helming the skill that draws you to the stadium.

State of Decay 2 is not the most original game. Or the most polished. However, it is the most exciting zombie game since the first game, as well as the best Xbox One-exclusive in a very long time.

Hogwarts Legacy is without a doubt the best Wizarding World game ever, but one that borrows a lot from other RPGs and contains a lot of technical flaws. For Potterheads, that won't spoil the fun, and a surprisingly action-packed game awaits that confirms that you don't need Harry Potter for a nice piece of magic.

The charm of Persona 5 + the demons of Shin Megami Tensei + the intense hack-&-slash-action from mosou = a damned strong sequel. Because against all expectations, that's exactly what Strikers is: Persona 5-2!

Call of Duty: WW II's single-player is somewhat on the short side, but it's very impressive, versatile and has some memorable, replayable moments. Apart from some changes, the multiplayer feels very familiar, and it adds the fun Headquarters and War modes. Zombie mode is very dark and is easier to get into this year. All in all WW II is very good, but can't measure itself with the classics.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 didn't impress me as much as I expected... until I passed the forty hour mark and this game almost turned into the philosophical masterpiece its predecessor is.

Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island is the better platformer still, but Woolly World is a great runner-up when it comes to its pure fun.

Dreams is like shopping for free in a game store, where there are almost exclusively cheap knock-offs on the shelves! Besides that, this game is the most user-friendly game-building tool on the market, which will probably produce some great things in the future.

The hype and the expectations associated with it have been a double-edged sword for Destiny, with disappointment as a result. This game doesn't offer the single player-experience we hoped for – despite the unbelievable audio-visual splendor - due to a short, repetitive Story Mode. But if you play Destiny competitively and/or cooperatively, then it's almost impossible not to have fun, thanks to constant rewards and delicious gameplay. And it still has the potential to become the game we wished it had been.

As a reboot, Mortal Kombat 1 is a complete success and the series has a colorful, sunny future thanks to the completely overhauled combat system, characters and aesthetics. If you look purely at the content and the way the modes have evolved, it is all a bit less impressive, but this is still a bold but successful new direction for the now classic franchise. It almost made me forget Injustice...

Dying Light 2 is larger and more atmospheric than its predecessor and therefore offers exactly what fans of part 1 want. There are better RPGs with better stories and better combat mechanics, but there are too few games like Dying Light 2, which focus on clumsy action and wonderfully smooth gameplay. Dying Light 2: stay you man. Because you add something important to the game offer, also in 2022.

On principle Halo 5: Guardians’ grade should be historically low due to the fact that 343 Industries left out the splitscreen co-op, but that would be unjust. Because its single player campaign has been improved from that of Halo 4 –although not narratively-, the multiplayer has been modernized (more than the single player) and the new Spartan skills are almost all great additions. Halo 5: Guardians is a great shooter, but once again not one of the greatest entries in the Halo saga.

If, like me, the Zombie Army and Sniper Elite franchises are secretly the best shooters, then this Switch version is a no-brainer. For everyone else, however, this is probably a typical case of 'between art and Switch'...

Battlefront is more arcade-y than we’ve come to expect from modern day shooters, but the glorious Star Wars magic makes up for its lack of depth. The game is extremely polished, runs as smooth as Hoth’s snowy surface and will warm the hearts of every Star Wars fan out there. However, Battlefront won’t convert you to the light side if you’re not already a fan of Lucas’ space opera.

Tekken 7 is very much Tekken, exactly like you've always known it. Luckily the game knows how to get maximum gain out of seemingly minimal additions, like the flashy Rage Arts, tactical Power Crushes and surprisingly spectacular presence of Street Fighter icon Akuma. But due to the pretentious and disappointing single-player content it will never be a classic.

Remnant 2, like its predecessor, is an almost infinitely playable amalgamation of a soulslike and a looter shooter, mainly thanks to the co-op that perfectly matches the game's 'procedurally generated' content. It's not a huge improvement on the first part and as a single player experience it's only recommended for the most hardcore gamers, but the original bosses, levels, beautiful music and exciting Events make it highly recommended for game packs.

Aspyr bundles two games together instead of releasing them separately in a more profit-driven approach, adds some great behind-the-scenes and deleted content, and otherwise keeps everything largely intact. Whether fixing up a bit more would have been a better choice is something we’ll never know. But it’s no coincidence that I fell in love all over again with these two legendary games and their unforgettable game world. Never change a winning team. [Issue#361, p.12]

Vampyr is a moody, dark game, centering around a very charismatic vampire. Through him, using an ingenious cause and effect system, the player can exert a great deal of influence on a gloomy part of London in the early 20th century, which should have all matter of emotional effects on them. Too bad the combat is far from perfect and technically it’s no masterpiece, but the emotional resonance and originality of Vampyr make it quite unforgettable in its great ambition.

Wild Run still has some of the same pitfalls The Crew did, but it finally runs smoothly. The technical parts of the game have been improved, and on top of that there’s an abundance of cool new events and other content. [jan. 2016 / page 084]

People who are not into Naruto wont be turned by Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 as this is mostly fanservice, but you’re in for a treat if that’s not a deterrent because this is is the best and prettiest shōnen game yet.

Technically and mechanically, Sifu is very solid as a strong roguelike beat-'em-up with a slick style and atmosphere. However, if you haven't reached a state of enlightenment and eternal peace, this can be an extremely tough game for you and the euphoria of success should keep you going for hours of rehearsal and practice. But it is well worth it, in my opinion.

The king is dead, long live the king! King’s Quest - A Knight To Remember is a funny, heartwarming, nostalgic and well written adventure. Episode two can’t come soon enough.[Sept. 2015, p. 060]

Peach takes the lead role and proves herself in a unique and idiosyncratic setting. Show time! is a refreshing addition to the Nintendo games lineup.

Dead Kings is great if you enjoyed Assassin’s Creed Unity and want more of it, but it’s not going to change your mind if you hated the main game.

I could go on and on about this for a long time, but short and sweet is more than enough: Dead Rising Remaster Deluxe is just awesome.

I would have preferred the cute anime designs and simple story after Three Houses, but otherwise Fire Emblem Engage is familiarly good. The maps in particular are very strong and offer enough challenge for the very strong Emblem Rings.

PGA TOUR 2K21 is definitely not perfect yet, but it is absolutely vivacious. The physics are one of 2K21's strong points and although it's lacking a story mode, PGA Tour 2K21 successfully keeps triggering players to continue playing. And when the game releases later this week, I hope you will all join my Society: Wonderspons International.

Resident Evil 2 Remake initially seems to be the perfect marriage between the fear of the classic Resi's and the power fantasy of the more modern ones, but sometimes the combination of these two worlds did not feel right. Then again: a good Resident Evil definitely doesn't feel right... right?

The good news is that both Alex the Action-fan, Susan the Stealth-lover and Gareth the Graphics-geek are going to enjoy Dying Light. The bad news is that Steven the Story-freak won’t be joining them.

When Death Stranding came out in 2019 I was in a bit of a conflict: on the one hand it was a great gameplay experience that presented me with something I hadn't played before, but in terms of story it sometimes completely derailed by tons of dialogue. The Director's Cut gives me the same feeling, but I'm convinced that newcomers will definitely take advantage and enjoy the new quality-of-life additions and the DualSense features. On the other hand, it offers owners of the PlayStation 4 version enough additions and improvements to justify a ten euro upgrade should they want to play this unique game again.

The Gears 5 singleplayer is better than any in the Gears of War series has ever been, with a stunningly beautiful, spectacular and (emotionally) satisfying campaign. Too bad the multiplayer part of the game hasn't been improved as much, making it only a slight disappointment. But on a whole this is a seriously fun and complete rated M for Mature shooter package.

Capcom seems to be going a bit too far in its obsession with attracting new players with Monster Hunter Wilds, but fortunately it recovers enough in high rank to still leave with a positive feeling. The story is the biggest blemish on an otherwise fairly familiar experience - although it is a lot less hardcore than before.

Deathloop chooses to keep an ambitious and unique premise playable and that sometimes hinders your mental freedom of movement. However, it manages to keep a game in which repetition is ingrained, entertaining, fascinating and often intense.

As Psychonauts 2 surprisingly deepens the Psychonauts story and its characters, throws new twists and turns and improves on all aspects of the original, the sequel is well worth the wait for fans. In the meantime, however, much better platformers have appeared on the market and therefore Psychonauts 2 will not be able to convince all newcomers, although Game Pass offers a solution in that regard.

Sons of the Forest offers one of the most exciting, mysterious adventures of the year, perhaps thanks to the many challenges of surviving in the beautiful forest, the fact that you are regularly frustrated by technical limitations, the minimal narrative and the high difficulty level . Since it is also a lot of fun to play with friends and the survival aspect apart from the story missions is also entertaining, Sons of the Forest really offers you tons of janky fun.

The Crown of the Ivory King DLC could have been the best thing that ever happened to Dark Souls 2. It's just too bad that From Software dropped the ball on some design choices. It has great bosses and an overall perfect feel, except that one area... That area will make you hate snow and blizzards even more than you already do. It's a good thing it's optional. The rest is nearing perfection.

Until Dawn has a smart, layered and well-told story that’s exciting, fun to play and gets real scary at times. Developer Supermassive Games claimed a spot on our list of favorite storytellers and restored our faith in the 'interactive movie’-genre.

We expected this one to be a shallow and extremely niche JRPG but it turned out to be an addicting and extremely deep variation on the Persona formula. Too bad the Fire Emblem side of things doesn’t really shine through. [July 2016 / page 069]

Better and more complete than the original Wii U Game. However, we do hope for a bit more Zelda and a bit less Dynasty Warriors for future Hyrule Warriors titles.

Pay attention, Blizzard: the Command & Conquer Remastered Collection is how you bring a classic RTS to the present! Full of improvements, fan service and respect for the source material. Of course, the games themselves feel a bit simple in 2020, but the CGI videos are just as brilliant as before. And that for less than 20 euros.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 reinvents the wheel in every way, but also smashes your brain in while screaming at you about brotherhood. A flawless action game that lets you live out the ultimate power fantasy, and more than makes up for its meager content with a deliciously bloodthirsty gameplay loop.

Grim Fandango Remastered still feels dated at some points, but the fantastic atmosphere, brilliant cast and its rock solid dialogue will make you accept it.

Monolith set itself a goal to make Middle-earth: Shadow of War a lot bigger and more expansive than its predecessor, Shadow of Mordor, in which they definitely succeeded. Too bad they didn't tweak or beautify the three years older forebear, and that they actually went a bit too far with the amount of content on offer.

Attacking is more fun and spectacular in FIFA 18 and the game offers a huge package which will definitely water your mouth if you're a football fan. That's why it is such a pity defending is less fun and some new features are somewhat unpolished.

All the new and surprising combinations, elements and options make it that the possibilities in Mario Maker 2 now truly are limitless.

This is the definitive version of an iconic classic, which for a long time was difficult to play if you didn't own a PlayStation 1 or PSP. A few more improvements to the playability and difficulty would have been welcome, but Final Fantasy Tactics effortlessly maintains its status as one of the very best games in its genre.

The personality of Lara and the many beautifully designed tombs that can be discovered should make Shadow of the Tomb Raider the best in the series, but due to the sloppy finish this is unfortunately not entirely the case.

Those who played the PC version of Blackout in the open beta already know that the PC version is not an awkwardly masked port, but a game that has been built entirely from scratch for this platform - from navigation through menu screens and gunplay to customization options that a PC player can expect.

Forza Horizon 2 makes a great first impression but becomes stale after a while. It's a bit like a long vacation in that sense.

Pokémon Legends: Arceus feels like Game Freak's big, successful experiment. The gameplay cycle, new combat system, and sense of discovery make it the freshest Pokémon experience in years. Unfortunately, the technical aspect keeps Legends: Arceus from being a really great game.

Forza 6 is a proper sequel to Forza 5 with some fun new content, but the game really only excels in its presentation rather than with its physics. A recommended get for the petrol heads, but don't expect Project CARS' realism .

Lethal League is worth checking out, especially is you have the means to play it on the couch with friends. The online mode is decent but the offline experience is where it’s at.