There are good games and great games, and then there are games that change the game entirely. Baldur’s Gate III is that rare case that charts its own route, building on the best of what came before it and breaking new ground. With how responsive the game is to the specifics of your created character, it could be explored virtually forever with endless new stuff to discover tucked into millions of little corners. The world is intricate and wonderous enough to want to live in it, and the characters are so intriguing that you cherish every conversation and want to save them all from themselves (and good luck doing that!). It’s an explosion of the imagination so powerful that it’s unthinkable that Larian was able to fit it all into one game, but they did. So, gather your party and venture forth!

Bioware has delivered everything they have promised with Mass Effect 2, and then some.

The latest Elder Scrolls has such confidence in the allure of its open-world structure that it shirks the need to compete. And, it largely succeeds in being better than the sum of its parts.

If Breath of the Wild is one of the greatest games of all time, and Tears of the Kingdom improves on it in every way, does that also make TotK one of the greatest games of all time? That’s a question to ask in a few years when we have more perspective. But right now, I can confidently say The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom will be one of the best games released in 2023, and will stay with me as one of my favorite video game experiences ever.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom sets a new standard for the open-world Zelda formula. It’s a truly unforgettable experience that manages to encapsulate everything good about its predecessor while setting itself apart from what came before. When combined with the power of the newly released Switch 2, it truly comes into its own and exemplifies exactly why Zelda is so revered within the gaming landscape.

A fun, but dated and unoriginal flight through the land of Hyrule. The main quest may be longer than most, and the sidequests may be in abundance, but that doesn't help Twilight Princess from feeling like the same thing we all played nearly ten years ago.

So does Hades II live up to the original? Absolutely. It retains much of what made the first title great while offering a different kind of gameplay. With Hades II, Supergiant Games proves that even Zeus can’t claim a monopoly on lightning striking twice.

Persona 5 Royal is possibly the best enhanced port ever made, and it helps that the original material is still as amazing as ever. This is a must play for RPG fans.

Gamers expecting a truly memorable narrative may be slightly disappointed with Mass Effect 2. The game is far too much setup and not enough payoff to be considered anything more than an opening act to the (hopefully) epic finale.

OoT provides a worthy challenge, and I can't say many games today are making players think as much as they should.

Mass Effect 2 is as engaging as it was a year ago. Despite lacking some of the content found in the 360 and PC versions thanks to the lack of the first game, the overall story of the game is left intact and gameplay is still as excellent as it ever was.

It's not a perfect game (but I've yet to see a game that is), but if this is the direction next generation RPGs are headed in, then fans of the genre should rejoice.

My experience with Persona 5 Royal on the Switch is exactly what I wanted. The game is of exceedingly high quality, and we’ve known that for years. We’ve wanted a portable version for a long time, especially considering Persona 3 Portable and Persona 4 Golden both came relatively quickly after their respective progenitors. It’s finally here though, and it’s an appealing release for both first-timers and returning players.

The feeling of happening upon a village in your travels and discovering a whole questline that takes up hours of your time alongside a compelling story fraught with dicey moral dilemmas is truly unmatched, even now.

Metaphor: ReFantazio is Atlus’s crowning achievement—a culmination of the best elements from their past titles and across the RPG genre. The Press Turn system, combined with the genius of the Archetype and synthesis facets of battle, creates a thrilling, strategic, and well-balanced battle system as you face off against one incredible boss after another. The impressive moments never stop, never cease, and the utterly magnificent plot is paced perfectly, with no dull moments. A cast of wonderfully written characters carries us through a magical, cohesive, and alluring fantasy world lifted to dizzying heights by a bombastic score and stunning visual design. Atlus has shown that fantasy is not dead.

Do yourself a favor, if you haven't gotten a hold of this and you're at all into PC RPGing, it's a necessity buy.

It’s been my sincerest pleasure experiencing FromSoftware’s latest work. Elden Ring is a landmark title that I hope shapes the future of what this industry can do; maybe we can one day point at this time in 2022 and note that this is when gaming took a giant leap. At risk of “laying it on thick” and coming off as hyperbolic, in my more than 30 years of gaming, I have almost never played a title that so neared perfection. I’ve devoted 80 blissful hours to Elden Ring, and at no point was I not enjoying myself or captivated by this world. My wish is that this team continues to receive the support it deserves and graces us with more opportunities to lose ourselves in the fantastic.

As I led off by saying, if you enjoy action RPGs and have an iOS device, you should buy Bastion. It's a little pricier than many games in the mobile market, but it is absolutely worth the money.

Environments look absolutely stellar with BioWare's new 3D engine for Knights of the Old Republic.

Divinity: Original Sin 2 was over a hundred hours of pure RPG bliss. Memorable from start to finish, I'm somehow unaware of where the time went. My Steam account could have reported half the time I actually spent, and I wouldn't have questioned it for one second. Odd how people gauge the quality of something based on length of time committed and felt. Divinity 2 won't be a title I soon forget, if ever. While I am most certainly done with the experience for now, I have no question that the community has already begun working on some fantastic mods and campaigns. I smell spiritual successors in the near future. Regardless of what the future holds, the present is good, because I've experienced Larian Studios' epic, and I'm all the better for it.

Sure, the music is infectious to the point where I'd find myself humming it days later. Yes, the dialogue is stunningly well-written. Meeting and experiencing the varied cast is a delight, since you never know what will come next. And okay, yeah, there are countless little touches and fleeting moments that would make me stop and appreciate what was happening. And that's the real secret about Undertale. There isn't one thing that makes it special, because everything makes it special. It has a heart, a soul.

Atlus has taken a four-year-old game and reinvigorated it in every conceivable area.

Persona 5 is not nearly as subversive nor as smart as it wishes it was, but it's stylish as hell and a gripping ride. Worth the wait, and worth your time.

The graphics are stylish, the sound is gorgeous, the gameplay is fun, and the story is cinematic. Some players may find the game too short or skewed easy, but those are not problems to me.

Ultimately, Bethesda triumphed over all odds with Fallout 3. Defeating hype and the need to live up to the past, the Fallout 3 team created an intensely profound world and worthy successor to the franchise.

It's easily the best game I've played in a long time and the benchmark by which future Zelda titles will be judged.

Hades is a game for almost everyone. The only people I could see not getting struck by Aphrodite are those who can’t stand procedural generation or action games at all. If you’ve got even a cursory interest in roguelikes or action RPGs, you absolutely cannot pass this game up. Its only real shortcoming is the less-than-stellar story, which is a first for Supergiant Games. Rest assured, the gameplay, characters, secrets, and customization more than make up for a lack of a gripping narrative.

With fantastic art direction, technical stability, a compelling storytelling, addictive and enjoyable gameplay – we have the recipe for success.

In lieu of a traditional conclusion, I’ll just say this: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is the single most impressive debut RPG I’ve ever played. If this were a Final Fantasy title, it would easily rank among my all-time favorites. I can’t recommend it enough.

Some of the choices made in both the presentation and the design of the port are questionable and show some of Square Enix's disconcerting business ethics, but as a game, TWEWY is still very enjoyable and arguably a worthy purchase.

Everything in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth comes together into an extensive package that’s earnest both in its desire to be faithful in the ways that matter to the original and in being its own thing. I can’t help but love it. Does everything always work? No. But it manages to modernize the way Final Fantasy VII felt all those years ago, and it’s beautiful. After all, if you told me I got to explore the Gold Saucer in full HD 25 years ago and the minigames are even better than the original? Well, that’s all you need to know.

If you came here looking for anything but glowing praise, you came to the wrong place. All the work that Takahashi has put into building his world pays off beautifully here with a fun, rewarding nostalgia trip, the most refined gameplay in the series, and the same beautiful look and sound we’re accustomed to. Frankly, my biggest criticism is that I wanted more. Future Redeemed may close the door on one chapter of the Xenoblade Chronicles saga, but hopefully it won’t be too long before Monolith Soft opens another and I get just that—more Xenoblade.

I started Bloodborne scared and unsure, quaking in my boots every time a new enemy showed its ugly face. I was horrified, timid and alone. But now, I have a confidence and strong sense of self. I am a hunter in Yharnam. I'm confident in my abilities, I know my weaknesses, and I trust my instincts. There's a real bloodlust that builds up in you once things start to click. You'll want to hunt, you'll want to kill, and you'll thirst for blood to make you more powerful. I find Bloodborne intoxicating, and I trust you'll find the same should you let it get into your system.

All told, for a game that wasn’t even on my radar until recently, Blue Prince is a truly wonderful surprise, serving as a new benchmark for both adventure games and roguelikes moving forward. It can be equal parts rewarding as it can be frustrating, depending on how you approach it and how the dice may roll. Yet, despite those frustrations, there’s still just so much to love about Blue Prince that I can’t ever stay mad at it.

Final Fantasy's final swan song for the PlayStation 2 is a complete masterpiece. Square Enix's attention to detail and love for their craft is embodied through and through. This is an adventure that will, without a doubt, stand the tests of time.

What I'd forgotten since first experiencing the game back in 2015 was that Undertale is more than just internet jokes, amazing music, and crazy boss battles — it's a heartwarming, beautiful, and tearful romp. I said at the beginning there was nothing like Undertale at the time, and there still is nothing else like it. It's hard to explain what makes Undertale so special without spoiling a lot of it, but all you need to know is that this is a modern classic at its most accessible, and it's worthy of your time, whether you're new to the game or returning for another adventure. This review should fill you with determination to play Undertale.

The Witcher 3 presents a realistic, engaging, and dark fantasy world. With fast-paced combat, deep character customisation, and massive locations to explore, it's a game not to be missed.

Once again, would-be designers should take note of what the developers have accomplished here, especially in terms of world and map design. To sleep on Shadow of the Erdtree is akin to depriving oneself a potential Game of the Year contender. Can DLC be Game of the Year? If it has the size, quality, and feeling of independence the way this DLC does, I say “Why not?”

It’s still an amazingly stubborn classic, one that manages to feel individualistic even now. It doesn’t do everything right, but the remake proves the bones of the original game are still strong and relevant today. Like all of FromSoftware’s latest games, Demon’s Souls gets under your skin with a combination of abject aggravation followed by glorious elation. It’s currently the best reason to own a PlayStation 5, and will likely still be an easy recommendation when we start thinking about PlayStation 6.

With Nintendo's handheld expecting many promising RPGs in English this year, Awakening still ought to be near the top of any RPG lover's list, as it easily stands out as one of the very best 3DS titles to date.

While the DS can do more than the SNES could almost 15 years ago, this version of Chrono Trigger is definitively basic and could keep you entertained forever.

Wrapping up a story is never easy, even in a single-player game. Wrapping up a near decade-long arc and meeting the high bar set by previous expansions is even more difficult, but Endwalker manages both with aplomb. Even with the promise of a new adventure on the horizon, I was still sad things were over when I reached the end credits and immediately wanted to start a replay. By my reckoning, this is the sign of an exceptional, unforgettable experience, and I enthusiastically recommend it to anyone with even a passing interest in FFXIV.

You may find yourself occasionally frustrated with a design choice, but do yourself a favor and look past them, for the simple act of carefree exploration and discovery appears lost to most developers these days.

I loved Slay the Princess, but truthfully enjoyed Scarlet Hollow even more. The sheer number of story permutations and complex character relationships offer a replay value I’ve rarely seen in a VN. I’ve only completed two playthroughs, but I will be returning for another few runs before the next episode. Black Tabby Games has created something special that all adventure game and VN fans should experience, even if they don’t love horror. Yes, Scarlet Hollow is technically a horror game, but it’s not full of jump scares or cheap thrills. Instead, it gently pulls you into the world of this small, decaying town, allowing you to experience the rot within. By my fourth day in the game, I realized I didn’t want to leave Scarlet Hollow. It’s the first time I’ve ever been content in a small town, and if that isn’t a testament to the quality of this wonderful, terrifying game, nothing could be.

Slay the Princess – The Pristine Cut is a work of video game art that should not be missed by anyone fond of this form of the genre. It takes you down the stairs, traps you in the basement, and forces you to confront yourself in a dark mirror that wears a tiara. Pick up the blade. You’re going to need it to face what’s down there.

I’ve played many impressive games over the years, but I don’t think I’ve ever been quite as impressed by a game as I have with Chained Echoes. The sheer quality and quantity of content is honestly kind of insane for a solo developer, and while there are some bugs here and there, it all runs pretty damn smoothly too! Whether you’re looking for a nostalgic adventure or just want to play a fresh, new indie RPG, Chained Echoes is a gem that should not be missed.

Overall, there are not many negative things I can say about Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition. This version took the foundation of an already truly excellent RPG experience and built upon it further, offering new features and quality of life improvements along the way. I poured over a hundred and twelve hours into Dragon Quest XI S, which is more than I've spent on any other RPG recently, and I never once looked back with regret as I wholeheartedly fell in love with the gameplay and story. Having only played Dragon Quest XI S, I can't say for certain if there is enough new content here to warrant an additional playthrough, but if you've yet to play Dragon Quest XI and have access to a Nintendo Switch, this version is truly the "Definitive Edition" that the title claims it is.

Blood and Wine isn't going to change anyone's mind about Wild Hunt, and that's both a blessing and a curse. The new story content is a bit drab, but it is more adventuring with everyone's favorite monster slayer.

If you pick up this title, you'll get a face full of space opera, with decent combat and lots of character interaction, and if that's your thing, snatch up this game pronto!

Bioware has crafted a truly remarkable game, but don’t be surprised if you have to pour over an FAQ to find the right combination for your party.

Disco Elysium is a landmark title in gaming that will hopefully set a new standard for quality game design and writing.

A new Zelda that will set the standard for years to come.

If you've never played NieR: Automata, this package is the perfect way to experience this bizarre and haunting masterpiece.

As someone generally more motivated to complete a playthrough than get caught up in a cycle of experimenting and restarting, I’m not sure I’m the main audience for Caves of Qud. This makes me even more impressed by what a good time I had with it. Whether you’re signing up for one playthrough or one hundred, it’s hard not to be captivated by its depth and imagination once you get a sense of how the world works. And if I were the type of player who liked to invest the bulk of my gaming time in one single-player experience, this would be a rabbit hole worth falling into.

Two steps forward and one step back for this incredibly challenging and rewarding experience.

I typically favor games that introduce something new to the gaming landscape, because I think trudging through old waters — even incredibly — doesn’t really push us forward as a culture or in terms of design. Dragon Quest XI is just too good, though. In fact, it’s one of the best games I’ve ever played. I laughed, I cried, and I’ve felt a part of this cast. I’m actually on hour 140 with no signs of stopping, and I couldn’t be happier. Without question, this is one of the best-designed games I’ve played to date, and I’ve had the beautiful opportunity to share it with my daughter who has adorably pointed at the screen, screaming, “It’s a monster octopus!”

Shadowbringers is not just the best FFXIV expansion yet, it's also one of the best Final Fantasies, period.

Cataclysm delivers exactly the high-quality gameplay experience we've all come to expect from World of Warcraft. Complaints about class changes and extreme difficulty aside, this is a truly enjoyable expansion and an absolute must-have for any current player.

Bigger and better console Diablo III, plus remote play.

ICO has met and transcended most of my initial expectations: espousing staggering beauty with elegant control in a fantastical world of very human characters. I can only describe the game as a breathtaking voyage, filled with the wonder and majesty of a most regal dream.

While I by no means think Slay the Princess is for everyone—this is a distinctly indie game—the thoughtful, curious, and those hungry for an imaginative experience will be more than satisfied with what it has to offer. With some tweaks, improvements, or inclusion of quality-of-life features, Slay the Princess rises to the ranks of legendary indie status. As for me, I am going to keep my eye on Black Tabby Games, because it has another game in the works (Scarlet Hollow) that could be just as good, if not better than what’s been gifted to us here.

Once again, Mario and Luigi star in one of the most ingenious and well-polished titles on the DS. Their Fawfulized adventure through the bowels of the Mushroom Kingdom and its number one bad guy is one no one is likely to forget, especially Bowser.

The second half doesn't quite live up to the first, but Broken Age is still a journey worth taking.

Thanks to the Swift Sail, the bar for water-based exploration has been raised so high that I'll never be able to play Suikoden IV again. Not that I was planning to, of course.

Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass was a fun game. On top of that, it was creative and used the DS in ways that really showed off the potential of the system.

Jack Jeanne is an interesting otome title focusing more on its plot and emotional buildup than on direct romance. However, it still manages to spin a compelling and thought-provoking narrative with a whole lot of heart. Jack Jeanne celebrates creativity with characters you can truly appreciate when the final curtain falls. It’s a prime example of a game taking an innovative risk by leaping into the unknown and becoming a much stronger gaming experience.

There’s not much I can critique about FFVII Rebirth. It reminded me of everything I love and appreciate about the original game while granting a new perspective. It’s a wonderful action RPG with some addicting minigames to boot. I like the slight element of choice interspersed throughout the narrative as well. I can see where some of the more original aspects of FFVII Rebirth’s story could be divisive to fans of the original, but for my part, I felt they helped set the stage for what could be a wholly new experience (a rebirth, if you will). Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is a game I’m glad I played as a fan of the original and a newcomer to this remake trilogy, as it’s an excellent Final Fantasy title with its own merit. I’m now curious and eager to see how this game’s ending might change what’s coming next.

Persona 4 Golden is a fantastic game, and this release is the best way to play it. The characters are loveable, the story is driving, and the entire game is hard to put down until you’ve absorbed it all. Persona 4 Golden might just be the apex of the series so far, and really, don’t you deserve something nice for yourself?

Suffice it to say, Shujinkou is one of the most ambitious indie games I’ve ever played. It not only satisfies the DRPG craving, but also rivals the industry and genre giants in delivering a complete experience. Whether you’re a longtime fan of the genre or just curious to try something new, this is the one.

Among the cookie-cutter sequels and half-hearted remakes, Persona 4 is a near flawless example of the perfect balance between "falling back on what works" and "pushing the genre forward." That said, I wholeheartedly recommend it as one of the best RPG experiences of the year.

Videoverse has to be one of the most authentic time travel pieces of media I’ve ever experienced. I’ve played countless games that lean heavily on nostalgia—oftentimes cheaply—to try to make me feel like a kid again or at least like I was immersed in something similar to those RPGs of yore. Videoverse might be the only title to truly accomplish that.

Obsidian’s medieval murder mystery Pentiment is a small but incredibly dense narrative with little gameplay but heaps of some of the most exquisitely crafted dialogue in all of gaming. It’s more captivating than it is exciting, and it may appeal more to readers rather than gamers. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with it and already know its writing will stick with me far longer than most bigger, more technically impressive games.

Monster Hunter: World is a remarkable game. It's a rich, worthwhile experience that you'll sink hundreds and hundreds of hours into thanks to incredibly fun multiplayer and engaging gameplay. The new additions and simplified mechanics couple well with the buttery smooth combat, making the game accessible and enjoyable to both new and returning players. By breaking the traditional Monster Hunter mold, World successfully thrusts the global status of the series from beyond the niche and into the mainstream.

Star Traders: Frontiers achieves what many games attempt and can't quite accomplish: naturalistic procedurally generated content, interconnected game systems, and strong narrative possibilities existing within the chaotic environment of said procedural generation.

OPUS: Echo of Starsong was a complete surprise to me in several ways. The gameplay was enjoyable without ever becoming too frustrating or boring, the visual presentation was beautiful, and the focus on audio was implemented well. But what ultimately stood out to me most was the creativity and care put into the story. This was an absolutely touching and memorable sci-fi tale with an endearing cast of characters, and it left quite the impression after I finished the game. Much like the echoes of ephemeral sound that the characters follow throughout the stars, OPUS: Echo of Starsong might just leave you with a lasting impression.

After spending fifty hours with GW2, I have a lot of praise for ArenaNet's work and the way it changes up some of the typical trappings of the MMO. And yet, I find myself thinking less and less about it each day. It's not a declaration against the product, mind you, but simply a fact that this game still is very much an MMO, and your enjoyment will directly relate to how much you enjoy the genre. For many who were hoping for a clean break from MMO design philosophy, Guild Wars 2 will probably come across as a slight disappointment. It pushes the genre slightly forward, however, and could lead to even further development in the future.

There are fumbles present which hint at a larger scope that may have been compromised during development, but the core essence of player choice and flexibility stands true. The sense of reward for each thoughtful approach and calculation brought a smile to my face and made me feel like a complete badass. Just like the original, Human Revolution is at its best when it shuts up and lets you decide how to accomplish your goals.

An impressive expansion that takes the best bits of Wild Hunt and adds great new ideas.

Mass Effect: Legendary Edition is just about everything I had hoped it would be. It carries the torch from past into future, dutifully imbuing Shepard’s fantastical voyages with a sense of modernity that will help the series continue to attract new fans as we inch boldly closer to whatever comes next. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel because that’s not what it sets out to do, but it does improve the first game to a considerable degree. It takes care to transfer the largely-unchanged sequels into a new decade of gaming.

In a narrative sense, Act IV is most likely the calm before the storm in Act V, and falls perfectly in line with the five-act structure often used to analyze Shakespeare (the section of falling action). The best adventures are ones where the location — physically and mentally — one begins and where one ends up are shockingly, violently different. Kentucky Route Zero embodies this notion as the characters (and the player) disappear into the night.

The title Trails from Zero is particularly apt because the Special Support Section literally starts from nothing and has to work hard to rise to prominence in a city where police are seen as incompetent and corrupt. They face many barriers as they struggle to justify their existence, and in true Trails fashion, the road is long and slow at first. But if there’s one thing Lloyd and his friends are good at, it’s overcoming the seemingly impossible odds stacked against them. They even managed to beat the incredibly low chances that the Crossbell games would ever come out in the West. It’s been a long time coming, but to answer the question I posed at the start of this review, the wait has definitely been worth it.

The only way you'll be disappointed is if you go into the game expecting a brand new game. For all those looking to play an enhanced version of an old favorite, there's no better way to do it than Persona 3 Portable.

Regardless of Future Connected, Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition is a must buy for all fans of RPGs, regardless of your history with the series. It is the perfect example of a remaster done right: it retains everything that is excellent about the original, but updates and smooths things in almost every important way. It's an amazing time to be a fan of the series, and I can't wait to see what Takahashi comes up with next.

Dragon Quest VIII may not revolutionize the console RPG genre, but it has done one thing that all the older RPGs have strived to be: it has become the greatest classic RPG experience of all time. [JPN Import]

Majora's Mask 3D is a game worth experiencing, even just for its bizarre and unsettling themes. However, while enjoyable, it's not among the best the Zelda series has to offer.

Folks that loved how engaging and approachable Monster Hunter: World was will find Iceborne offers more of the same with enough exciting changes to invigorate the many hunts they're sure to have.

Despelote‘s short length will put some people off and the finicky controls could use some fine-tuning and extra settings to adjust. But if you’re even a little intrigued by trailers, the demo, or indeed this review, you’ll find a truly charming and sincere little odyssey with a sweet story to tell and a unique, engaging way of telling it.

All-in-all, Demon's Souls is a game every PS3 RPG fan should buy just to say that they own it, just to say that they've played it. It's up to you as the gamer to figure out if an incredibly difficult, incredibly unique game is the game for you.

The best RPG Obsidian has ever made. Just be ready to read.

If you've been hankering for a good 2D Action RPG that lets you dash around as a half-vampire in a massive dungeon, maybe it's time you go back and check out the game that really started the modern Castlevania phenomenon.

Fable II is a game that is much better than its separate parts might suggest. As an experience, it's some of the most fun I have had all year.

The stories of art and media shift over time, but when treated with care their impact remains the same. Final Fantasy VII Remake is a stunning example of this, and this portable, more accessible version reflects that same level of care.

Dead Cells is an absolute blast when the stars align, but that only happens every four or five runs. Everything else feels like a waste of time. I truly don't understand the phenomenon behind this game. Compared to its ilk, Dead Cells is just less.

I cannot overstate how much I enjoy Unicorn Overlord, but it is not a game that everyone will enjoy. Even with accessible difficulty options, there are still several systems to manage. If you enjoy Fire Emblem, make sure you give Unicorn Overlord a chance—try the demo. Personally, I believe this is one of the best strategy games released in a generation. You can play Fire Emblem, Triangle Strategy, and Tactics Ogre, and each one will give you a great strategic experience, but no modern games play like Unicorn Overlord. The experience is unique for everyone who plays it, every time they play it. The replay value of Unicorn Overlord cannot be overstated; there are multiple difficulties, multiple story paths, and more items, characters, and classes than you could ever properly appreciate in a single playthrough. In short, Vanillaware has created the spiritual successor to Ogre Battle and surpassed its inspiration in almost every way.

An excellent addition to the Souls series and a huge improvement on Dark Souls II.

Pokopia is a rare example of a game that takes inspiration from as many genre juggernauts as possible, yet ultimately exceeds them all. The building mechanics may not be quite as expansive as Minecraft, and not all of the 1000+ Pokémon creatures feature here (though weekly events are scheduled to add more). Yet, by combining the strongest core elements of city builders, social simulations, and creature-raising RPGs, Pokopia emerges from the rubble as a monumentally addictive achievement in game design that millions of players will enjoy for years to come.

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is a reminder that “good enough” isn’t good enough. Takahashi and the rest of his team could have relied on doing the same thing they’ve always done. Heck, they’ve already revolutionized the genre once. Instead, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is no revolution; it results from listening to what doesn’t work, tirelessly working to do better, and knocking it out of the park. Put simply, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is a masterpiece, and one of the finest games the genre has to offer.

BioWare has created a top-shelf RPG with Mass Effect, though it's not without its flaws. Many of the issues present in the Xbox 360 version of the title are gone, and while there are new issues thrown into the PC version, they are minor in comparison.