Tails of Iron II: Whiskers of Winter retains its strong suites (impeccable presentation, satisfying combat) from its predecessor, but the simplistic quest design and, especially, the rote exploration have room for improvement and are holding it back from reaching its true potential.

If we had to rate FIFA 23 as a single release, it would definitely score high for all that it has accomplished and offered this year. But on the other hand, if one also owns last year's version and one's involvement with the series is casual and purely for light entertainment, there is no reason to invest in this year's version.

Having a subtractive design at its core, Blasphemous doesn't fiddle with the tried-and-true Metroidvania formula. Instead, it keeps things simple and grabs the player's attention with its despondent imagery and its riveting atmosphere and world building.

TIAOVH2 is hands down the best single-player action-RPG out there, with engaging gameplay full of discrete doses of witty humour. It shines for catering for the casual player while offering exhaustively deep gameplay elements for the hardcore player at the same time. A few optimization hiccups deprive the game of an almost perfect grade, yet I cannot wait to see the third installment of the series.

Orwell is a very well-written story about the age of surveillance. Our age. But its focus isn’t only to tell that story, it’s also is you, your ethics and your stance on the eternal question of safety vs privacy and freedom.

Child of Light is one of the most attractive, beautiful and atmospheric games I have played in recent years. The fairytale script is good enough to travel you back to your childhood, filling you with nostalgia, the art direction can leave you speechless, as well as the amazing soundtrack. If you are willing to ignore the low difficult level, you will enjoy one of the most honest and full of soul games ever. However, if challenge is what you seek, then it is better to look somewhere else.

Featuring extraordinary writing and the rare ability to completely invest the player into its characters, Telltale's Game Of Thrones stands amongst and actually surpasses the famed TV series' best moments. A high watermark for interactive storytelling and one of the most emotionally resonant experiences you're bound to have with a video game this year.

Watch Dogs is an interesting open-world game, featuring some smart ideas (such as hacking), but in no way does it change the map of the gaming industry. The previously tested and successful gameplay mechanisms that it uses provide a significant amount of fun, similar to what great efforts of the past delivered (such as Sleeping Dogs) minus a remarkable script.

Perhaps it was a bit unexpected, but Darksiders Genesis is more than a decent game, honoring the name of the long-time series. Featuring remarkable graphics and an amazing soundtrack, the new installment can provide you in with at least fifteen hours of enjoyable action.

Well balanced with a nice variety of gameplay delivered by the unlockable gadgets. But don't be fooled by its charming presentation. Stealth Inc. 2 becomes brutally difficult early in the game and will either satisfy your platforming cravings or drive you insane in the process.

If you had a good time playing the two previous Tomb Raider games, the same will happen with Shadow of the Tomb Raider. However, its issues with respect to story, characters and the unbalanced gameplay structure show a lack of solid vision on how the trilogy would be implemented, which in no way ends satisfactorily.

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.

Tindalos Interactive’s capital ship combat RTS provides a mix of deep, tactical gameplay and epic Warhammer 40K atmosphere. It misses on a “classic” status because of repetition in mission types and maps during the game’s lengthy campaign but it is still highly recommended for 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.

Strangeland is a remarkably interesting game for the fans of classic point 'n' click adventures. Undoubtedly, its short duration, combined with the relatively low difficulty of the puzzles and the somehow abstract ending, will probably make you doubt whether it is worth buying. But if you decide positively, be sure that this nightmarish journey will be unforgettable.

Slightly or greatly improved in most areas, still lacking in a few others when compared to Warband and its essential mods, Bannerlord is an altogether updated version of the Mount & Blade series' addictive gameplay and the undisputed king of Sandbox RPGs.

An interesting XCOM spin-off with a few new ideas and great value for money. The writing and a few bugs let the game down a bit but as a whole it is a great appetizer for the eventual XCOM 3.

An exceptional and stunningly beautiful open-world action game, with incredibly rich gameplay and a pleasantly old-fashioned level of difficulty, regardless of its potentially frustrating flaws.

Tales of Zestiria is an absolutely fine JRPG for its target audience. However, if you are not accustomed to this particular genre, you will find hardly anything to grab your attention.

For all practical intents and purposes, this is L.A. Noire’s pocket sized, train-hoppin’, indie tramp cousin. Featuring highly stylized visuals and a soundtrack to match, Phyllis Malone’s investigation in the dark underbelly of 1924 San Francisco may be short but will leave detective mystery fans with a very warm aftertaste, much like the finest bootlegged liquor.

Avowed is not the deepest RPG of our generation, nor a game that will be remembered for its world-changing influence on the medium. Nevertheless, and despite its shortcomings, its gameplay doesn't fail to provide satisfying moments of entertainment.

Kathy Rain is a really exciting point 'n' click adventure that every fan of eerie and dark adventures should play, even if it is hard for some to swallow the pill of the AGS engine.

Resident Evil 3 retells the story of Jill's desperate escape from the doomed Raccoon City, using an intriguing plot and more fleshed out characters than the original. It falls short of the sheer amount of content its predecessors had, but it excels in moment to moment gameplay which it delivers in spades.

The word "Evolve" couldn't be more fitting for the newest title of Turtle Rock. A very interesting co-op experience with a competitive twist that makes every match unique. Despite the business model that has been chosen for it, Evolve is well worth the anticipation and hype surrounding it. Turtle Rock has a firm base for its latest child to "evolve" upon.

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.

An atmospheric tour of the 12 Colonies of Kobol, before the Fall, during the first Cylon War, that happens to be a fun tactical strategy simulator as well.

Little Big Workshop makes a Henry Ford out of you, requiring of you to plan and execute complex products while also handling machinery issues and your workforce. The stage for this labor drama is set on a tabletop providing comic relief and an authentic aesthetic. You get plenty of hours planning and enjoying the fruits of your intellectual labor for a very nice price.

A beautiful but uneven Star Wars game, with inspired moments but also with shortcomings and design flaws that break the immersion and prevent it from truly making a mark as one of the most memorable open-world games out there.