There's a lot to gripe about when it comes to Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, but at the end of the day, it's still hard to put into words just how sublime the action is.

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.

Sword and Shield aren't the best Pokémon games ever, but I thoroughly enjoy the Galar region.

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.

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.

Iron from Ice once again offers everything you’ve come to expect from a Telltale episode: difficult decisions and moral dilemmas, incorporated into fine dialogues and concluded in a SHOCKER of a cliff-hanger. This time it comes in a reasonably successful Game of Thrones-marinade, complete with actors from the series who really seem to give it their best effort. But, again, Telltale seems to be ambitious in their story-telling, but not in the (gameplay-)technical aspect of their titles.

Sword and Shield aren't the best Pokémon games ever, but I thoroughly enjoy the Galar region.

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.

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'...

Octopath Traveler 0 is an unparalleled role-playing game about trauma, loss, and rebuilding. This is the best JRPG in years—and it's also an excellent cozy game.

Ruined King: A League of Legends Story features turn-based combat that won't be enjoyed by everyone for a long time, but is saved by an engaging story, fun characters, and entertaining exploration. As one of the first single player League of Legends games, this shows tremendous potential.

Sword and Shield aren't the best Pokémon games ever, but I thoroughly enjoy the Galar region.

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.

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.

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.

If you grew up with Mario Party in the noughties and you mainly want to wallow in nostalgia, Superstars is the way to go. But if you don't have it yet, you better get Super Mario Party to meet your Party needs.

Before the Storm – Episode 1 doesn’t start of as great as Life is Strange but saves itself halfway through with the growing relationship between Chloe and Rachel. New (insights in) characters, mysteries and the Backtalk conversational options make Life is Strange: Before the Storm powerful enough to stand on its own legs. A fine reason to return to Arcadia Bay.

Lies of P borrows very enthusiastically from FromSoftware games and is therefore fun to play, but it adds very little to the well-known formula. The only exception to this is the weapon system, which comes out well and just in the nick of time gives the game the right to exist and its own face that it so desperately needs. It's a nice treat for Game Pass, but the five bucks you have to put down makes it a little more difficult to recommend in a jam-packed gaming year.

For fans of anime-style action RPGs, Scarlet Nexus is highly recommended, but you have to be able to withstand the typical Japanese vagueness in the story. This doesn't fully release the potential, but the combat system makes up for a lot.

Fast Fusion could be a great snack for many Switch 2 owners. It’s not nearly as extensive as Mario Kart or as expressive as F-Zero, but it goes down like a tasty bonbon: presented like a true delicacy and with more depth than you might expect. Don’t expect months of fun, but a nice snack around the release of Nintendo’s new console. However, online multiplayer would have extended the lifespan of this game considerably.

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]

It’s easy to understand owners of the PS Vita were happy with this game in 2012, but three years later, on the PS4, it doesn’t feel like a full-fledged game. Entertaining and very cute, but not full-fledged. [feb. 2016 / page 062]

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.

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.

Keeper looks stunning and tells a sweet story. Unfortunately, that's about it. It's certainly not a treat to explore the beautiful game world, but ultimately, you get what you'd expect from lighthouse gameplay, which is very limited.

The Magic Circle is meta as all hell and it works in fascinating ways. Its gameplay and graphics are far from groundbreaking but it’s an interesting experience nonetheless. [Sept 2015, p. 068]

When looking at the gameplay, Jedi: Fallen Order isn't that original, but it does give you the drive to keep playing and it will definitely keep you busy until the release of The Rise of Skywalker.

Far Cry 6 is again -and that doesn't surprise anyone- a gigantic game, and not everything in the enormous stream of (side) missions is equally fun, funny or seems to add something to the whole. So you will regularly wonder what you are doing and why, while you will often hope in vain that the next mission is one with a role for Giancarlo Esposito. But with so much content, there is more than enough fun to be had and you will definitely get your Yaran Peso value.

Warhammer: The End Times – Vermintide is a cheap and tasty Left 4 Dead-shaped snack. The center’s filled with smooth and deliciously hard action, and on the outside there’s a refreshing level design. The ideal co-op experience – one that rarely tries anything new, yet due to its excellent finish Vermintide could turn out to last as long as Left 4 Dead itself.

South Park: The Fractured But Whole is an easily accessible but moderately deep light RPG in which fun battles, nice collectables and a lot of crude humour will entertain you for almost 30 hours. But comparing it with its forebear, The Stick of Truth, is unavoidable, and in this it kind of disappoints, feeling a little too similar and not as funny or surprising.

Rollerdrome is a wonderfully chaotic and satisfying game. The gameplay steals the show, the drawn style is unique and the DualSense really adds something. However, the full potential of the concept is not fully exploited. Especially the lack of variety keeps Rollerdrome from being a real masterpiece.

It's a nice touch for the annals that long-time system seller Gears of War is now also available on PlayStation, but of course, anyone who ever really wanted to play Gears could have bought an Xbox at some point in all those years. Gears of War has been well past its sell-by date for quite some time now.

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.

A fine mobile port but the Vita is still the preferred platform for JRPGs. [Aug 2015, p.083]

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.

New Pokémon Snap is great. Some inconsistent evaluations, a slightly low pacing and a few graphical problems keep it from being the perfect Pokémon safari simulator, but those with love for the creatures themselves will love this game.

Quotation forthcoming.

The F1 series is starting to look more and more like FIFA. Bright colours, hip music and the first contours of what could become F1UT. This year I'm still meeting Codemasters (Codematsers!), but they have to counteract that EA nonsense. Just ask Lewis Hamilton how quickly things can go differently, in F1...

I too could not have predicted that the most fun pirate game in years would be a Yakuza spinoff. Fine for once. Let's hope that RGG leads the franchise to quieter, deeper waters.

Sometimes ridiculously ridiculous, sometimes convincingly exciting; this interactive slasher film is a worthy spiritual successor to Until Dawn. Unfortunately, The Quarry has barely been modernized, with pretty much the exact same minimal gameplay, graphics, and story structure. But the plot, characters and kills are most likely exactly what Supermassive Games fans were hoping for.

There's no way you're not playing The Outer Worlds 2 with a big smile on your face. Unless you're bothered by the bugs, of course. Although those are annoying, it's ultimately the fun that takes center stage, and the enjoyment of all the different ways to approach missions.

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.

The way Nemesis is treated is feels like a missed opportunity, I personally would have liked it more if this new version felt a bit more faithful and authentic. But as a continuous, beautifully produced blockbuster, this is easily the second best remake of the year.

Kirby Air Riders is a playful, chaotic mix of races and minigames. The game is charming and energetic, but can sometimes be a bit too much.

Horizon Call of the Mountain isn't quite the game I expected and gameplay-wise it wouldn't be as engaging on a screen, but as a VR game it's a must-have experience and so much more than a simple tech demo. This tastes like more!

Simply put, Star Wars: Squadron is a fine Star Wars space shooting spectacle with a pleasant price tag. It feels a bit cheap and old fashioned to some degree, and there's nothing groundbreaking here, but those are about the only flaws the game has. It's one of the better trips to a galaxy far, far away of recent years, although -as with everything concerning Star Wars- opinions might differ on that.

In Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, we get a unique look at the history of Hyrule, making it an interesting complement to Tears of the Kingdom. If that appeals to you, it's easier to push through the flashy yet repetitive gameplay.

At first glance, F1 Manager 2022 seems like the dream of any F1 fanatic with a penchant for sim games. However, it soon becomes apparent that the depth is lacking, and that the choices made have a lot less influence on the course of races that are starting to resemble each other more and more.

Are you looking for an entertaining, arcade-like, sometimes even caricatural presentation of the noble 11 vs 11? Then you could consider a season ticket for PES 2015. Do you want your soccer to be more dynamic, realistic and, in the end, just plain better? In that case FIFA 15 is your game.

The total package in FIFA 20 is large as usual and the game looks great. But the spectacular fast-paced gameplay that especially leans on tricks, tends to be a bit too arcade-y and therefore loses its touch with the essence of real football.

Just like real-life Formula 1, the F1 franchise is struggling with the direction it should take. Is Codemasters increasingly catering to the casual, or does the loyal, serious (SIM) target group remain the most important? In any case, F1 24 did not make that choice, resulting in a sometimes split game.

Ultimately, we can only judge the product by what it is now, which is a rock-solid online multiplayer shooter. And despite all of us, like Tracer, experiencing that strange sense of déjà vu, Overwatch 2 is more than a 1.5 version of the original. It feels like an evolution of the original that makes for even better gameplay through subtle changes and additions. The new revenue model does leave a bad taste behind and is at odds with the sense of togetherness that Overwatch should radiate.

Civilization 7 is an excellent 4X game that will have you saying “ah, just one more turn” until the wee hours of the night. There are plenty of possibilities now that we can mix leaders and civilizations, and the way your empire grows automatically makes for a wonderfully smooth experience. However, the game becomes more confusing with every turn, and there is little quality of life. It will be a few years before Civilization truly deserves to wear the 4X crown again.

Wild Hearts is most fun when it's fair and unfortunately that often requires multiple players. Monster Hunter players will feel right at home in the world of Azuma, but will still be surprised by the innovative and constantly evolving Karakuri system. However, the high degree of difficulty, technical flaws and the uninteresting story will mainly scare off newcomers to the genre.

Even a stale interface, a boring Career Mode and some unfortunate choices in terms of the progression can’t detract from UFC 2’s brutal fights. The improved ground game and the introduction of Ultimate Team elevate this sequel above its predecessor.

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

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.

The world of Wonderlands and its characters is touching, wacky and wildly imaginative, but the game is filled with unimaginative gameplay. Gearbox has to go back to the drawing board, because Borderlands needs more than just a new jacket and a wizard hat.

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.

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.

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.

Tell Me Why keeps you invested and interested story-wise for the full nine hours, but is lacking in the gameplay department. It's clear that this genre in its current state is standing on its last legs.

Alien: Isolation is an incredibly beautiful game whose regular boring patches are almost always countered with bloodcurdling tension or mind-blowing spectacle. But you should only try it out if you’re a big sci-fi fan and if you have nothing against doing engineering tasks, like in Dead Space. And of course, if you don’t want to miss all of the references, you should at least check out Alien the movie first, if not the entire quadrilogy. ​

Jurassic World Evolution 2 is in every way better and more comprehensive than the original, but still lacks depth in the building mechanics and is too simple, especially for fans of the genre. However, designing and building your own Jurassic Park is a magical experience that everyone with a love for dinosaurs should experience.

Observer is filled with alarming images, sounds en conversations, elements that come together as a mystery which is bound to get under your skin. Let the raw voice of Rutger Hauer guide you through a nasty world, in which the game-within-a-game With Fire and Sword: Spiders forms a nice diversion of all the somber misery. But be forewarned that this is more of a walking simulator than a Outlast-like horror game.

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.

Unravel is a gorgeous tribute to the little things in live. A touching, soft story that’s rarely seen in games.

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.

It was a beautiful aspiration: to make a co-op game that encourages people to work together by means of original gameplay. But in the end, the manner in which A Way Out is played is seldom original and it's written like a poor action movie out of the 90's.

Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream is a beautiful-looking, but ultimately uninspiring stealth game that falls back on predictable gameplay. It's perfectly fine to sneak through in a weekend if you're really into stealth, as it's never unbearably bad or distracting. Perhaps Eriksholm is simply a little too good at what's expected of you as a stealth player: remaining inconspicuous.

The gameplay of UFC 5 is rock solid and has visibly improved compared to the previous part. For example, the new damage system ensures that there is more strategy (and blood) involved in the battles and the polished ground game offers more depth. It's a shame that career mode remains the neglected child for EA Sports, because there is so much more to it.

Crisis Core Reunion falls short of the level of FF7 Remake. However, it is a very good remaster of the PSP game that was painfully outdated in some areas. Anyone with a penchant for Final Fantasy 7 should not miss this.

Skylanders: Trap Team is not the game that will win you over if you never enjoyed Skylanders in the first place, but this is a well-polished entry in the series. Especially the Trap Master figurines are good looking toys that look great in real life. It's still a kid's game, but it is the most likeable, pretty and diverse game in the franchise.

This atmospheric unique gem of a game could’ve done with a bit less talking but you should definitely check it out if games like Gone Home and Life is Strange tickle your fancy. [jan. 2016 / page 065]

Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden will undoubtedly hold players with its emotional and diverse stories, but the game unfortunately falls short when it comes to combat and RPG elements. On the one hand, you want to learn more about New Eden's lore and about Red and Antea themselves. At the same time, this is somewhat hindered by the boring combat, fairly monotonous game world and the lack of valuable upgrades. Maybe an action RPG wasn't the best genre for Banishers, but this narrative adventure certainly deserves a place of honor in Don't Nod's portfolio.

EA Sports has scrapped Ultimate Team from UFC 3, made a few minimal (UI) updates and put a FIFA cover on it. Please, here you have UFC 4. It's that the ten-year-old fighting system still delivers some really brutal brawls, otherwise this would be a complete joke. If you already own UFC 3, I don't see any reason to buy this part.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A has a clear mission and, despite some shortcomings, it absolutely succeeds in doing so.

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.

Destiny 2: Shadowkeep is a lot of old content covered by a coat of paint that can barely be considered new, but thanks to the general update of a few game systems and a decent amount of recreational therapy with which you can increase your Light Level, this expansion definitely makes Destiny 2 a better, bigger game.

After last year's debacle, Fifa 22 is fortunately taking another step in the right direction. It's far from the level of Fifa 10 or the best parts of the previous generation, but at least it looks like football again.

Techland really tried to make something new in the existing framework with this DLC and we enjoyed the buggy and the new missions but it’s simply not as good as the main game. [april. 2016 / page 071]

The question isn’t whether Nightreign is fun enough — that part’s a given. I hate to admit it, but it’s a real rollercoaster ride. Nerve-wracking action capped off with a spectacular boss fight, just like in The Baron. It shouldn’t work, but it absolutely does. This is a game I can see myself playing again and again for a long time — as long as there’s enough interest to keep it going.

When the wind is in the sails, Mario and Luigi: Brothership is a particularly nice adventure with a wonderful holiday feeling. Unfortunately, developer Acquire regularly changes the wind, causing the pleasure trip to come to a standstill. Unnecessarily much dialogue and bad pacing prove to be heavy anchors, which meant that I could never really hang on to the holiday feeling for long.

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]

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.

EA Sports FC 26 has a distinct DNA. Action and spectacle are deeply ingrained in it. Even in authentic mode, almost every goal is a slam dunk, and rarely do we see ugly, scrappy goals that even a self-respecting striker would dare cheer. But that's FC. If you accept that, or even appreciate it, FC 26 is a very complete and diverse package.

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.

Hell is Us has a clear vision and translates it effectively into a captivating adventure. The game rewards curiosity and independent thinking in a way that almost no major contemporary game dares to do. Hadea is therefore a joy to explore, even if the writing sometimes feels a bit rushed. The combat is its biggest Achilles' heel: it's too simplistic and repetitive for the significant role it plays.

Warhammer 40,000: Shootas, Blood & Bitch is a classic sidescrolling shooter with a lot to blow up. The Warhammer style fits well with the genre, but the gameplay can quickly become monotonous. wow.

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.

The Pathless could have been more than it currently is. With more variation in the gameplay and a deeper story, this could just have been GOTY material or at least the indie hit of the year. Still, there's plenty to love if you settle for a minimalistic game crafted with a lot of love. Especially the flow of moving around in the atmospheric world and the brilliant music ensure that The Pathless stays with you.

Tchia has an open world that is full of fun music, creative activities, cultural challenges and a good dose of (dark) humour. As fun as turning into pooping birds, tasty coconuts or explosives is, it just doesn't gloss over the stretched checklist story, poorly fleshed out characters and bugs enough to make it fun more than once.

Riders Republic is the ultimate extreme sports collectible pack. The sense of speed will keep you on the edge of your seat and the varied controls of the different disciplines will challenge you long enough. A footnote is that you should be able to entertain yourself a bit in the graphically beautiful world of Riders Republic, because just like with Steep, the flow of the game is not very obvious. Oh, and give more Mass Races.

Not the best game Platinum ever made but definitely the most true to the series a Transformers game has ever gotten. A relief after the Michael Bay crap of yesteryear. [dec. 2015 / page 063]

FIFA 21 smells like laziness, dollar signs and stinky, old footballsocks. This is the worst edition ever and one of the biggest disappointments of the year. I really hope EA redeem themselves on the next generation of consoles because the way things stand now, FIFA is one big red flag for me.

With Cronos: The New Dawn, Bloober takes a step forward compared to its earlier original games like The Medium and Layers of Fear. However, what lingers most after the beautiful story is the thought that they need a blueprint—like Silent Hill 2—in order to truly shine in the survival horror genre. As a result, Cronos ends up being nothing more than a decent horror shooter with a very interesting combat hook. Unfortunately, the execution falls just short, which means the real tension doesn’t arrive until the very final part of the game.

Playing The Ancient Gods – Part Two is less frustrating and more enjoyable than conquering Part One, and feels like a more balanced experience besides. This is mainly due to the addition of a few interesting new enemies, which makes it all the more disappointing that fighting the Ultimate Antagonist, with whom the DLC and the game ends, isn’t really the final battle Doom Eternal deserves.

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.