The nostalgic return of the hero who captivated us at an innocent age came to remind us in the most emphatic way that no matter how old we get, we will always want to be children.

The Excavation of Hob's Barrow is an adventure of a rare "harvest", which, if it had been released in the golden age of adventures, would now be remembered as a top example of the genre. With its brilliantly written plot and a thrilling finale, Cloak & Dagger's creation has already carved out a lofty place among the best indie games of the year.

Soulstice is a decent hack 'n' slash game that is not ashamed of its influences, but at the same time it attempts to deviate from them by implementing its own version of the familiar battle system. It does not have the same finesse as DMC, for example, but fans of the genre will appreciate it a little more.

Stylized, with several doses of tactics and familiar battle system, Sunday Gold is an interesting experiment that could achieve more.

Appropriately mysterious, clever, and humorous, Nine Noir Lives is another excellent adventure that deserves attention.

South of the Circle, an artistically vibrant narrative-based game, deals with the maladies of the academic milieu amidst the 60's Cold War paranoia. It features a wonderful pastel palette and minimalist style but be forewarned that player input is also kept on the minimal side.

A truly unexpected and ultimately successful mix of roguelite combat and city management. Aside from the remarkable gameplay, the excellent aesthetics also provide pure watching entertainment value, from which some balance issues can't be taken away.

Justin Wack and the Big Time Hack is another great adventure for this year, which is recommended to all fans of the genre. It features good humor, a relatively long length, dozens of puzzles to solve and a clever and entertaining story that, without being overwhelming, makes it a highly enjoyable adventure experience.

An essential purchase for spidey fans and open world enthusiasts, with only the mediocre side content depriving it of the title of the ultimate superhero game.

Endling: Extinction Is Forever is a survival game with a clear message about the need to protect the environment. However, it never rises above mediocrity in any of its individual elements, but the shocking ending really saves the day.

A successful sequel that doesn't innovate but clearly improves on the previous game.

Two Point Campus comes as a complete package. Incorporating all the improvements and lessons learned (pun not intended) picked up from Two Point Hospital, it promises hours and hours of engagement trying to bring out the best architect, dean, and administrator in you. It is possibly one of the best and funniest management sims currently on the market.

Stray is a disgustingly cute and visually gorgeous post-apocalyptic cat game. Rather short, and not without its flaws, but a truly unique title nonetheless.

Rock 'n' Roll Will Never Die is an adventure worth trying at some point in your life, especially if you are a rock culture lover. It may not impress with the ingenuity of its puzzles, but its satire of rock music's cliches and misconceptions is so successful that I doubt there will be anyone in the future who does it better.

The folks at Supermassive Games offer us a delightful choose your own adventure experience, with an 80's horror VHS backdrop. I would recommend The Quarry to both fans of interactive storytelling and people who are not well versed in survival horror games or are easily stressed by them.

Souldiers manages to marry the chibi aesthetic with challenging gameplay and an interesting combat system. Some minor mishaps in handling and pacing detract from the overall experience, but it's still an honest solution.

Born Punk is an adventure that certainly had all the potential to stand out, but unfortunately it fails to impress. It undoubtedly has its strong moments, but the overall taste it leaves after finishing it is mediocre, which leads us to recommend it only to adventure game fans.

Despite a complete lack of competition, Total Mayhem Games delivers a successful and satisfying sequel to the We Were Here series. It's worth a try for all fans of the genre, no matter how alien the idea of an online co-op adventure game may seem to them.

Overlord is a bountiful expansion to Stellaris that enriches one of the few remaining underdeveloped aspects of the base game. However, its core additions may not seem particularly "vital" to all players.

TMNT: Shredder's Revenge is a beat 'em up that delivers exactly what it promises. Although its content is a bit poor, it offers great doses of pure fun, especially in multiplayer mode, and is a first-rate title for those who want to throw a few quick punches. Cowabanga dudes!

Card Shark is an original game that is worth your time, even if you are not a gambling fan. The individual pieces of gameplay may be essentially quite simple (visual novel and mini-games), but they are so aptly married and combined with the witty and phlegmatic writing, they make for a very addictive game that will keep your interest until the credits roll.

Quality work by Neocore Games and a title that offers dozens of hours of addictive gameplay. Clearly recommended for fans of the genre.

Rogue Legacy 2 is a case of a perfect sequel to a very good game that was among those that shaped the indie scene back at the beginning of the last decade. As such, it's a game that oozes quality content and well-crafted gameplay.

Kao The Kangaroo is an enjoyable and fun platformer, whose low difficulty level combined with its short duration is a hindrance to its potential to be placed alongside top titles like Crash Bandicoot and Ratchet & Clank. However, its overall quality is high enough to make it undoubtedly a worthy recommendation for platformer fans.

Voodoo Detective is a remarkable adventure with a unique aesthetic, which could have scored even higher if it had a little more difficult puzzles and a longer duration. However, it does succeed in introducing a likeable new hero to the adventure genre, who may star in even more adventures in the future. After all, he has a debt to Baron.

A solid Narrative RPG, not without its flaws, but one that works unsurprisingly decently as a substitute amidst the scarcity of Vampire RPGs.

Crowns and Pawns: Kingdom of Deceit is an adventure that pushes all the right buttons for fans of the genre. It features a beautiful story, well-written dialogues, enough interesting Lithuanian history and the necessary mystery to keep the player's curiosity high until the credits roll. Even with its slightly disappointing ending, this is a game you ought to add to your collection.

Trek to Yomi is a game you should try at some point, no matter what kind of game you prefer. It may not impress with its combat system and linear gameplay structure, but both its flawless cinematics and unparalleled atmosphere are enough to make it memorable.

Kapital Sparks of Revolution suffers from a few technical difficulties such as some bugs and mechanism ambiguities. However, it offers a wealth of options marrying aspects of Anno and Tropico series and newer titles like Frostpunk. The 2D late 90's aesthetic is superb and fits the character of the game. All in all, a decent indie game, we await more titles with even greater scope from Lapovich team.

A quality FTL-like game with addictive gameplay, beautiful graphics and some interesting new ideas. If you've been looking for more FTL for a long time, you've found it.

Blast Brigade is obviously a game full of quality and passion. The lovable graphical aspect is accompanied by tons of humour and satire, and a quality voice-over, while the gameplay has an impressive depth and is enriched each time so aptly that it sharply renews interest until the end of the adventure.

Weird West is a worthy first effort from WolfEye studios. With a little more thoughtful combat system and more voice-over it would hit the top. Fans of RPGs with immersive sims and those of the Wild West should definitely check it out.

Tiny Tina's Wonderlands is a very remarkable member of the Borderlands family, in terms of pure fun the best moment of the series since Borderlands 2. Though smaller in scope than the main games, it's still satisfying, and it will speak directly to the hearts of those who love tabletop RPG gaming.

After the misstep of the third instalment, Syberia: The World Before offers us that warm sense of melancholy and magical realism that the series is known for. If it had a few more challenging puzzles, it could have been the best in the series so far. Thanks for everything Mr. Sokal.

A typical interactive storytelling game that offers some aspect of choice and consequence through dialogue with our ghost companion. Its strong point is the Victorian aesthetic that characterizes the melancholy that resides over the abandoned buildings of the islands that our heroine is marooned at. The main story is somewhat lacking and expected, and the game mostly shines when telling the lesser stories of the other past inhabitants of the islands. Technically although the 3d assets and the art that the player interacts with are highly polished, the outside natural locales are mostly unimpressive.

FromSoftware has opened up metaphorically and its bet has paid off. Elden Ring is a solid contender for Game of the Year 2022 despite any technical issues it may have.

Ghostwire: Tokyo doesn't have any major flaws that would make it a huge disappointment. It may not fascinate with its gameplay and repetitive action, but thanks to its excellent atmosphere, impressive realization of Japanese lore, and sometimes entertaining combat, it manages to outperform the average with ease.

We can't help but admit that 2K managed to create perhaps the most complete title of the series. Despite any hiccups, WWE 2K22 entertains enough to be recommended to people with little involvement with the genre or even an interest in sports martial arts.

Those who start out unsuspecting, relying on RPG captions and promises of "isometric Dungeon Master" will be disappointed, and that's clearly a problem. Still, Dungeons of Dreadrock is a perfectly honest puzzle game, at a very low price.

A nice action/RPG in a cyberpunk background, with a beautiful and unique personality, but with a plot that falls short.

In contrast to the sunny Tuscan countryside, Martha Is Dead is a melancholic drama with few bright aspects, but it adheres to the norms of interactive storytelling games more that we would like. Although it makes some small steps forward compared to the developers' previous game, they are not enough to make it stand toe to toe with the top representatives of the genre.

Those expecting a well-polished AAA RPG experience with the highest possible production values will probably have to lower their expectations. For Piranha Bytes fans, however, ELEX II is exactly what they would want it, and expect it, to be.

Keeping its solid mechanics intact, improving multiplayer and offering 8 factions out of the gate, Warhammer III provides a complete offering on the most advanced forms of the Total War series.

Shadow Warrior 3 isn't the next "big" FPS we might have been expecting, but it's a quality work from a team that knows how to deliver a good shooter to its audience. Fans of the genre shouldn't miss it, and for those looking for a strong action-packed "dose", the game is a worthwhile proposition.

Dexter Stardust: Adventures in Outer Space is a game worth trying at some point for adventure fans, especially at the price offered. It's not going to leave an indelible mark on the adventure game world, but it's an honest effort from a man who loves the genre and wants to contribute his bit to it.

KAPIA is a point and click adventure reminiscent of the great classics of the 00's. Although it's pretty polished it seems as a demo of something bigger and the ideas it addresses fail to develop organically. As far as puzzles are concerned, they are fairly plain and offer little challenge. Considering that it was developed by just two people, some aspects of the game like its aesthetics, animations and voice acting are very commendable.

God of War merges all its gameplay elements into one excellent package, dressed in unparalleled direction and amazing storytelling. The scale of the narrative, the divine but always human Kratos, the "boy" who sees everything with childlike enthusiasm, all this offers the player a thrilling story that has at its heart the most human and natural relationship between a parent and his child. Regardless of preference, God of War is a must-see title. Benchmark for each and all its elements and still fresh in 2022.

Sifu will show no mercy. It's a well thought out game, superbly combining an addictive gameplay and a unique combat system, that high challenge and martial arts enthusiasts will enjoy to the fullest.

Dying Light 2: Stay Human is a game that successfully manages to marry all the cliches of open world/zombie games in a highly attractive and complete title. The open-world market may have been saturated for years now, but it's hard to see a similar title being released this year that's more fun than Dying Light 2. And I think that's what counts in the end.

Rainbow Six Extraction really is what its description says it is. A stealth shooter spin-off of Siege. Although it's played comfortably solo or with random players online however the experience takes off when the party is planned, and team tactics can be unfolded in really many alternative ways. It may suffer in the variety aspect, both in enemies and mission design, but given the different approaches depending on the operator and the random distribution of objectives it's sure to keep even the least relevant to the genre glued for several hours.

Despite the rather overstuffed Legion Management aspect and the lingering feeling of watching a "Netflix adaptation" of ancient Rome, the game's objective-based combat, high production values, as well as the plethora of available RP options, make Rome the most complete Expeditions game yet.

Diablo 2 remains an addictive experience capable of keeping you busy for hours. The endgame grind shows how far the genre has moved forward to embellish the loot piata, but its itemization remains unsurpassed and an example to follow.

Hextech Mayhem is the kind of rhythm game you are expecting to play for free on your mobile. Short, repetitive and without any depth to its background story. The only good thing about it is that it's music and the rhythm beating behind it is almost excellent, making it a perfect boredom killer while you are waiting for your next game to be downloaded.

Warp Frontier is a nice adventure game that is suitable in times of great adventure game drought. It doesn't impress, but it doesn't disappoint either, so understandably a fan of the genre would be hard pressed not to spend a few enjoyable hours with it.

The arrival of Maiden of Black Water makes for a major addition to the PC horror games catalogue. The use of the camera in dealing with tortured spirits and the blend of fiction and folklore from Japan is delightful. The slow pace of the plot and repetition of areas, however, make Maiden of Black Water less scary and memorable than we would have liked.

Not exactly a flawed gem but definitely an interesting attempt at an atmospheric FPS. Technical problems and sluggish combat don't let it stand out.

Ruined King is an excellent western JRPG and is one of the most pleasant surprises of the year. Combining an extensive and interesting campaign, a well thought out battle system, lovely graphics, and impressive soundtrack, it will satisfy turn-based RPG's fans to the fullest. Highly recommended.

I don't think there's a motoring enthusiast who won't be excited about Forza Horizon 5, with a slight caveat for those who have had their fill of Forza Horizon 4 and might want more of the same - though honestly, I can't imagine how the formula could be improved upon, which in the arcade driving department is bordering on perfection. It promises and delivers an incomparably customizable driving experience, with dream-cars, in breathtaking landscapes.

The Legend of Tianding is a surprise game that we liked more than we expected. The level of production is high, while all its individual elements are harmoniously linked together (brawling, platforming, visual novel), accompanied by a quite interesting story and a likeable protagonist. For fans of the genre (and not only to them) it is highly recommended.

A well-crafted and complete title, capable of offering exactly what one expects from a modern RTS. While it has some weak points, like simplifying some of the series' core micromanagement, in the end it offers a solid experience which should not go unnoticed by fans of the genre.

Well-written dialogue and central plot, clever cases to be investigated, equally clever humorous touches balanced by some genuinely dark elements, extensive customization of the difficulty to prevent any notion of hand-holding, always coupled with the gorgeous isle of Cordona and touches of familiar Sherlock lore. Regardless of the genre one chooses to place it in, Sherlock Holmes Chapter One is a really good, perhaps even excellent game.

There's certainly no debate about whether Football Manager 2022 is worth the money, that's self-evident for a game that offers thousands of hours of gameplay, but you won't be missing out majorly if you continue with FM 2021.

Lone McLonegan is not a bad adventure. It's an above average game that obviously had a lot of room for improvement that would take it up at least one notch in quality. However, combined with the low retail price and the amount of effort will take for someone to finish it, they represent a game that won't waste the time of adventure fans.

Although Tails of Iron is made with care, exploration and player freedom could be emphasized much more. Thrilling combat, meagre optional content and some simplified quests strewn over a small gameworld comprise a game of contradictions. We hope it is successful enough so that we can see a more ambitious sequel at some point.

Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy is for the most part a very enjoyable experience. A pure singleplayer title with a beefy campaign (at least 15-20 hours), smart and quality writing, great presentation and faithfulness to the universe it translates to game form.

Saint Kotar is an adventure that is more aimed at horror stories fans, rather than those looking for a point 'n' click adventure that will challenge their brain cells. If you can get past the "clumsy" first few hours, the game ends on a positive note and will satisfy fans of the genre for the seven or so hours it lasts.

Aragami 2 has its good moments, its old-fashioned take on stealth games occasionally is fun, but ultimately, the taste it leaves is that it's a mediocre game. To its credit, Lince Works decided not to take the easy route of simply improving on cons of the first Aragami and promote it as a sequel, but the result doesn't fully justify that decision.

Disciples is back with a very interesting and lengthy campaign and addictive turn-based battles. A clear recommendation if you are interested in this genre.

Steel Assault is one of the cases that I would compare to a good cup of coffee. Enjoyable while it lasts, but something you'll probably forget after a few days. The wide gap between difficulties and the lack of variety in its action set pieces diminish its replayability and lasting appeal.

A high-quality adaptation of the board game with plenty of content and rich replayability. What it does seek to offer, the gaming experience of a classic tabletop board game for one or more players, it achieves in an almost flawless way.

A special blend of Survival and Single-Player RPG gameplay with beautiful graphics and interesting management mechanics, whose rather empty and generic medieval world ends up detracting from the whole experience.

Suffering from technical problems, its familiar musical notes and gameplay are not enough to hold his audience for long.

Despite its flaws FIFA 22 manages to find the balance point between simulation and fun. Although the fact some of its modes are far from perfect, it can offer the thrills that football gives to its fans, both online and locally. The much-discussed HyperMotion does its job perfectly and justifies the need for this year's edition, in contrast with previous years. If you consider yourself a football fan, there's no need to hesitate into buying this year's edition.

The Sundew is what we call "wasted potential". Without being in any way bad and providing a remarkable artistic approach, it promises much more than it ultimately delivers, and its good ideas get lost in the general mediocrity that pervades it.

The conclusion that comes out of our experience with F.I.S.T.: Forged in Shadow Torch is that it is a high quality and entertaining Metroidvania that is highly recommended to fans of the genre and not only to them. The increased difficulty level towards the end of the adventure might be a deterrent for some players, but the game proves to be so enjoyable to play that we won't hold any... grudges.

If you have no prior experience with the franchise, Far Cry 6 is a game that can definitely be fun to play. If you're one of the series' devotees, you'll spot stagnation and repetitiveness in its mechanics from a mile away, to the point where finishing it at 100% is a real feat. Therefore, if you know what it's all about and haven't had your fill yet, then Far Cry 6 is for you. If you think you'll cry out "enough" if you see one more fortress, then leave it alone.

An improved, standalone piece of the ATOM RPG experience that will fully satisfy both fans of the original game and fans of turn-based RPGs.

Kena: Bridge of Spirits is "to the point": visually it's a feast for the eyes and with an interesting percussion-based musical score. It's fun, thoughtful, made with care and inspiration, even if it doesn't offer anything original in its individual areas. Especially considering that this is Ember Lab's first effort, the future is bright, and we can already imagine an even better sequel.

A quality cRPG in the footsteps of classic Fallout that will satisfy fans of the genre. Some flaws do not allow it to reach the top scoring levels but in any case it is clearly a worthwhile purchase.

Boasting good puzzles and solid level design, Tormented Souls doesn't break new ground, but it does well what it set out to do. It's not a game I would recommend to everyone since you have to get used to the clunky combat and the lack of guidance and be equipped with enough patience to overcome the initial difficulty barrier.

Tales of Arise is a strong addition to the "Tales of..." series that will surely satisfy those looking for a worthwhile JRPG experience. However, we must point out the timidity shown in not innovating and limiting itself to a standard scenario and a predictable structure. Perhaps that's why people love the series: because they know what to expect. So, if you do too, feel free to invest in Tales of Arise.

Deathloop is a welcome breath of fresh air for all fans of titles like Deux Ex, Dishonored or even Bioshock or Splinter Cell. It may in no way match the top games of the genre in terms of quality, but it still offers immersive sim entertainment and keeps the genre in the spotlight.

Lost in Random is a gothic tale with charming world-building and mature writing. The battle system unfortunately does not allow the whole project to claim a place in the undisputed must plays of the year.

Despite being a little rough around the edges, Anshar Studios' first RPG attempt in the cyberpunk world of Gamedec manages to hold its own against even AAA ventures in the genre.

Eastward is a charming game, with the simplicity and "naivety" of JRPGs, but with its own unique personality.

Visual surrealism, difficult handling, vague and abstract lore. Grime is a title that every metroidvania fan should consider. Brutal and gorgeous, it gives the impression of a diamond in the rough that captivates you with all the perspectives that unfold before its carving. For us it's already the metroidvania of the year.

Different look but familiar and beloved gameplay with some successful innovations. Any issues are relatively minor and do not significantly detract from the enjoyment.

It's a shame that Cris Tales' design held promise for something grander and although it tries to do something innovative with the combat and the implications of our decisions, the end result leaves the impression of a somewhat lite version of its best influences. Maybe we'll get there on their next game.

A fun and addictive beat 'em up, that aptly combines the simple gameplay of the classic titles of the genre with a modern approach. Shame about the lack of on-line co-op.

Chernobylite was a surprise for me. A game with addictive gameplay, interesting sci-fi plot, substantial role playing options and plenty of replayability. I definitely recommend a purchase to those interested in this type of game, but also to players who would like to try something different from the usual.

Death Trash is literally a game about PIXELATED MEAT. Even though it is heavily influenced by Fallout, it seems to lack any similarly deep moral and philosophical ambiguity, memorable NPCs or open-ended questlines (in its Early Access state, at least) and instead focuses mainly on delivering an imposingly grotesque post-apocalyptic atmosphere filled with blood, vomit, machines and MEAT. Its Meatpunk aesthetics definitely manage to win us over in this EA release, as well as make us look forward to how the game's content will be further enriched in the future. [Early Access Review]

Orcs Must Die! 3 is a highly entertaining blend of action and tower defense. Although the formula hasn't changed substantially from the previous installments in the series, the game promises unadulterated fun, especially in co-op play, and slaying orcs in creative ways is still something we'll never get tired of.

Greak: Memories of Azur is a beautiful action/adventure, featuring unique ideas and clever puzzle mechanics, but also comes with notable shortcomings.

The Ascent is a decent and well-crafted twin-stick shooter, especially in co-op mode it can release huge amounts of adrenaline. It may not avoid the flaws and shortcomings that would give it an even higher rating, but if you're looking for an action game that will keep you fully entertained for about fifteen hours, you need look no further.

Simple, plain, and unadorned, Monster Boy IV comes with a time capsule to fill you with feelgood vibes, but that's about it.

There may not be any groundbreaking improvements in the graphics/audio aspects, but the gameplay enrichment is so apt and entertaining that it raises impressively the overall value of the game. Therefore, if you enjoyed Streets of Rage 4, there is no reason not to get this DLC, which, thanks to the new characters and Survival mode, is capable of keeping you busy for many hours.

Scarlet Nexus has paid a lot of attention to the action part and succeeds very well in delivering an intense, fun, and enjoyable game. If there was a more substantial story, more imagination in the latter stages of the game and more RPG elements, our impressions would be better. However, the hours we spent with it were not wasted at all and it is a worthwhile addition for fans of Japanese action games to their collection.

An excellent Metroidvania game, that aptly combines the best elements of the genre with quite increased difficulty.