It seems like there has never been so much thought put into a videogame as in The Last of Us: Part 2. Not only how it should surpass its illustrious predecessor, but also how you can utilize the gameplay and story as effectively as possible, to draw the maximum of emotions from your players. This game takes interactive storytelling to a new level and is simply a milestone in video game history.

Rockstar came, saw and conquered in 2013 and does exactly the same in 2014. So our grade for GTA V stands.

I'm not going to claim that The Last of Us: Part 2 Remastered makes the existing game even more indispensable than it already is. That's not really possible, because the game was already indispensable upon its original release. But for ten euros this is a great expansion with some interesting behind the scenes material, a lot of skins and at least one very nice extra mode.

More than any RPG in recent gaming history, Baldur's Gate 3 challenges you to experiment with its many fantastic game systems while drowning in the rich, unprecedentedly detailed fantasy world where Larian has the most wonderful adventures, creatures and characters in store for you. On top of that, it also hits a nostalgic chord for me, and the Dungeons & Dragons element has a huge appeal. A 100 is therefore nothing less than justified.

Don't ask me how Nintendo managed to put more than 35 years of experience and love into one product, but they succeeded. Smash Ultimate is not only the ultimate Smash game, the ultimate fighting game, the ultimate party game, and the ultimate collection of videogame nostalgia: it's the ultimate video game. I will continue to play this forever. At least, until Nintendo delivers another sequel.

Creative Assembly has outdone themselves with the best concept for a Total War game since Rome with the biggest, varied and intriguing campaigns in the history of the franchise. The variety between the different races is enormous and the lore, upgrades and units are no slouch either. The tactical decisions you’re faced with are endlessly deep and everything looks stunning as well. This is a masterpiece.

F.ck GoldenEye 007, f.ck Half-Life, f.ck Halo: Combat Evolved. Hell, f.ck DOOM (2016). DOOM Eternal is, in my professional opinion, the new best first-person shooter of all time.

Dead Space is an unmitigated classic, one of the best survival horror games ever, and this remake is on a par with the Resident Evil 2 remake. Not only the graphics, but also the gameplay mechanics, story and overall presentation are quite improved, in a subtle and sometimes rigorous way. Everything that was already brilliant (and that is a lot) has been left intact.

Kojima's last addition to his legendary Metal Gear franchise is the greatest game he's ever produced. An undeniable pinnacle of the franchise and for video games in general.

Whoever is willing to invest in this game will receive the biggest payoff this year could ever give. Rockstar deserves the ultimate respect for taking so many risks, that had no right to unfold as they did in the end. Once again Rockstar Games doesn't set the bar higher, but kicks it into a thousand pieces.

This goes beyond nostalgia. Link's Awakening is a timeless masterpiece, and because of the beautiful, honorable way Nintendo modernized the game, this remake is the best way to experience this timeless masterpiece.

If you have even the slightest bit of love for racing, you have no choice but to play Forza Horizon 5. It’s still a little weird that games like this are coming to the PS5, but ultimately it’s a case of, ‘don’t ask how it’s possible, just enjoy what it is.’ Forza Horizon 5 is still the best open-world racer ever made.

It's unbelievable, but Playground games has surpassed the already brilliant Forza Horizon 4 in every way and sets a new standard for the fun you can have in a racing game. Forza Horizon 5 is a must-have, even as a racing novice, and the perfect excuse to get an Xbox Series X. Viva la Mexico!

If you are going to play one JRPG this year, make sure it is Dragon Quest XI. This game comes as close to perfection as possible, and shows why JRPG's still matter today. This is hands down the best JRPG since Final Fantasy X.

Sunset Overdrive is the most fun I've had in a game so far this year. A brilliant combination of all the best parts of other open world games, complimented with really enjoyable traversal mechanics and a unique sense of style and humor.

Half-Life: Alyx is the best VR game ever made and also a very cool Half-Life game, which everyone should have played. If you were still waiting for that killer app for VR, now is the time to finally go for it.

With Split Fiction, Hazelight consolidates its position as the king of the co-op game with grander, stranger and downright dizzying gameplay situations. While film and game history is celebrated with the utmost sincerity, you experience an adventure with two players that you will definitely not forget. A must play for anyone who can't get enough of (couch) co-op, but actually everyone should free up fourteen hours to experience this. A big fat Gold award.

It's been a long wait, but it's been so worth it. Silksong is, on the surface, "just" a metroidvania and more like Hollow Knight, but the love poured into this world goes deeper. Thanks to Hornet, the battles reach new heights. The sense of adventure that Silksong evokes resonates in your soul, even though your life is constantly hanging by a thread.

Mass Effect 3 may be an anti-climax of Game of Thrones-like proportions, Mass Effect is still a classic and part 2 simply a masterpiece. This collection of remasters fine-tunes BioWare’s masterful trilogy into a somewhat more modern whole, which is more than enough reason to (re)play this emotional, spectacular and totally engrossing sci-fi epic.

Super Mario Odyssey is an absolute must-have for everyone who has enjoyed a Mario game in the past. It's a celebration of the franchise, with all its wacky adventures and beautiful moments you have experienced with it, including all of Mario’s odd jobs, his 2D- and 3D adventures and much more.

If you have the least bit of love for cars and racing games, it is actually very simple ... Do you have an Xbox One X? Go and get Forza Horizon 4. Do not have Xbox One X? Go and get Forza Horizon 4 with an Xbox One X.

Metaphor: ReFantazio may resemble Persona, but it definitely elevates itself to an evolution of those games thanks to a unique setting and a mix of turn-based and real-time gameplay. What's more: character designs, overall art direction, and the fantastic story turn Metaphor: ReFantazio into something more than just a game. This is an experience.

The Last of Us Part I is not an extremely extensive remake like Resident Evil 2 or 3, but also certainly not a mockery in the vein of XIII or Warcraft III: Reforged. With a lot of love and dedication, the game has been aligned with the graphics and, to a lesser extent, the gameplay of The Last of Us Part II, making the two games a perfect match. Ideal if you haven't played both yet, and otherwise only worth buying for the biggest fans and rich tattoos.

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is a monument, and the Switch version a godsend. One that even brings improvements in the form of a new hint system, a partner wheel and unprecedented localization.

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart may not be the best, most impactful or emotionally charged game, but it is one of the most beautiful and most of all the most fun ever made. Every PS5 owner should play this. You don't want anything, it's mandatory.

We had to wait a while, but Starfield fully lives up to his sky-high expectations. It is special how Bethesda makes such a huge universe manageable, tells fascinating stories in it and manages to keep your urge to explore intact even after a hundred hours. Starfield is certainly not perfect, but it is a worthy successor to both Fallout and The Elder Scrolls, and much more than that.

Breath of the Wild is one of the best Nintendo games ever made, and Tears of the Kingdom improves on the formula in just about every way. Yes, there's a sense of déjà vu with Hyrule's existing map, but the wow factor of the first game is regularly matched as you venture into the new areas.

Astro Bot is everything you could wish for from the Playroom demo and so much more. With unparalleled style and immense love, Asobi delivers one of the best platformers in years, full of fantastic details, nods, and music.