Zenzizenzic is a fantastic bullet hell experience that manages not only to delight longtime genre fans, through its Classic mode, but also to add innovation with its Macro experience.

One of the most accessible and most fun multiplayer online battle arena titles out there. Sure, it lacks the complexity of Dota 2 or League of Legends, but the short length of matches (around 20 minutes) and the polish that's characteristic of a Blizzard product make it stand out.

Xenopurge is a solid, tense, tight experience that manages to walk the fine line between challenging and frustrating without stumbling. The game is at its best during the final sector mission, when players have to achieve three difficult objectives but can also rely on the abilities of their equipped and upgraded squad. The graphics aren’t complex, but, alongside the solid sound design, they create atmosphere even as the narrative moves through some familiar moments. Finding the path through the nodes that boosts a tactical approach is fun. Xenopurge is adept at creating tension and dread, while constantly giving players new objectives to aim for.

Far Cry 4 is a stunning iteration in the series that manages to bring forth great gameplay, superb visuals, and a pretty good story with a fabulous villain. While the competitive multiplayer may not feel all that great and there are some lackluster story missions, overall you'll have a great time with the first-person shooter.

A great improvement over the original, a fantastic journey with a distinct old-school vibe, with a lot of heart and with a glossy modern veneer. Even if you haven’t played the first one, it’s a proper standalone, self-contained experience.

Wolfenstein: The Old Blood is a great follow-up to The New Order, adding plenty of adventures for BJ, not to mention new enemies, weapons, and more. Throw in the Nightmare stages and you have a compelling package with great value for your money.

Emperor Edition really shows how much the title from The Creative Assembly has evolved since it was originally delivered and the way the entire experience has been updated based on the needs of the community and the cool ideas of the development team.

Meg’s Monster is an emotional journey with a lot of depth, a twisty narrative, and some great character moments. I loved spending time with Meg, Roy, and Golan. Combat isn’t very challenging but still generates tension. I actually wished that the game offered more to do because I wanted more time in its universe, even if I think it’s perfectly paced to deliver its payload of feelings. Some fans of the role-playing genre might be disappointed with the relatively thin mechanics. Others might find some situations a little manipulative. Every player should give this game a try, regardless of whether they have a connection to its genre or not. Meg’s Monster is a perfect example of how video games can be great vehicles for stories because of their interactivity.

Sekiro is a beautifully realized next step in the evolution of From Software’s staple genre, but the renewed focus on combat mechanics and increased difficulty level might prove too much even for some Souls veterans. If you keep at it, however, the game’s world, level design and story (not to mention the nicely done nods to previous Miyazaki games) make the effort more than worthwhile.

Valiant Hearts: The Great War is a truly impressive experience that manages to focus on the realities of World War 1 without becoming a dull or upsetting experience. It adds just enough cheerful moments to stay upbeat and you're certainly going to care and fall in love with the main characters, especially the small dog.

Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope is the perfect Switch exclusive. The game marvelously captures the playful spirit of the Mario universe, while offering some serious tactical strategy options for those looking for fix for their XCOM addiction. All aspects of the game have been improved over the predecessor, including visuals, combat mechanics, exploration, and soundtrack. Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope is double the fun, thrice the charm!

Infernax uses retro elements very well, but this is not an experience that simply appeals because of nostalgia. The core mechanics are very good, the action is fun, the level of difficulty can be tweaked to suit both veterans and newcomers. This is how modern developers should approach old ideas. The game could use more info for the on-screen map and maybe a little more in the way of a narrative hook. But for anyone who has played and enjoyed its inspiration Infernax is a great experience and Berzerk should expand on it while keeping between this kind of balance between old and new.

Galactic Civilizations IV: Supernova takes the best elements of the initial Epic release and adds plenty of new mechanics. It’s a great space and turn-based strategy experience that will please any fan of the series. All the featured civilizations are interesting and AlienGPT can quickly create more driven by player prompts. It might be a little too complex at first for newcomers but even failure, up to a point, is enjoyable. Don’t be afraid to experiment with galaxy creation and the number of rivals to get very different scenarios. Galactic Civilizations IV: Supernova is a strategy game that can deliver hundreds of hours of fun to those willing to invest energy to learn all its systems.

Split Fiction is an amazing game, and it is akin of any kids first visit to a candy store. It is crammed full of new ideas, new gameplay mechanics, bigger and shinier levels, but somehow along the way it’s lost a part of its soul and along with it some of the appeal It Takes Two had. Don’t get me wrong, it is a very good game, and I cannot recommend it enough, but the characters and the flow of the gameplay seem to have been misplaced among all the new things the developer throws at you. For me, this is a split experience.

Crusader Kings III has good mechanics and production but what sets it apart is the way it connects to the era it depicts. The experience leans into role-playing and personalities in a way that feels true to the image that most players have about the period between 867 to 1453. Without striving to be educational, the Paradox title also manages to be an excellent jumping-off point to learn more about the period, its main characters, its social dynamics. The development studio has also done well when it comes to post-launch support. There’s downloadable content, of course, but free patches have also arrived regularly, improving systems and eliminating bugs. But more work is needed both in the balance and the immersion department. Crusader Kings III is an excellent way to tell and enjoy stories and I can’t wait to experience how Paradox will add depth to its various mechanics.

Imagine Earth is a very good title for both fans and newcomers to the building and management genre. I loved the likes of Pharaoh (when much younger) and Cities: Skylines (more recently) and really appreciate both the foundations and the quirks this game has to offer. For someone who is exploring this gaming space for the first time the difficulty ramps up gently and there is plenty of info on how to engage with the mechanics. There are times when the title seems to deliver more core ideas than it has to, possibly to add more challenge even if it does not need to. But most of the time the game from Serious Bros is both engaging and enchanting. Imagine Earth shines in both campaign and free play and I cannot wait to see how the team expands on its core mechanics.

FIFA 15 is not a revolutionary title but it has the potential to fill hundreds of hours for a football fan, be it in classic multiplayer, Ultimate Team or the classic Career Mode.

Even though this is certainly one of the games that won't let you leave the station until you finish it, what really makes Devil May Cry 5 great is how it captures all the elements that fans enjoyed in the previous games, makes them better, and removes the rest. As for those who haven't played any of the other titles, Devil May Cry 5 should be the reason to rectify the error. It took CAPCOM quite a long time, but at least they got it right, Devil May Cry 5 is a masterpiece.

The Royal Writ takes a few familiar ideas and puts a unique spin on them. Exploiting characters, the lanes, movement, keywords, and more to hit high damage numbers is fun, and the game reveals extra layers of complexity as the runs get longer and the challenge level increases. It offers enough characters and relics to make each attempt feel unique. The action is enhanced by the game’s unique world and its beautiful presentation. The character designs are great, and the music enhances immersion. The Royal Writ might be a little hard for newcomers to get into, but it will bring joy to fans of classics like Balatro or Slay the Spire.

VED takes risks in a way that only an indie passion project can. Not all of them pay out yet the end result is worth playing for gamers who like both turn-based combat and extensive conversations. The narrative involves the fate of two worlds and touches on big themes, although the writing quality is uneven. The game’s combat system, turn and tile-based, creates tense battles, especially once players unlock extra powers. The dice-focused encounters do not add much to the experience. VED isn’t perfect but has ideas that are worth experiencing.

Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 is a solid fighting game, made unique by the way fighters can be swapped in and out of combat and by the options that various combination of characters open up.

Football Manager 2022 is a great take on the most popular sport of the world. It provides ways for both casual and obsessive fans to get more involved with their favorite club or almost any other team they want. The new animation system changes the experience quite a lot, both visually and tactically. Some transfer action might feel a little unreal and the game still generates new players that sometimes make little sense. But this is a solid game with a lot of options and plenty of incredible moments.

GRID Legends is without a doubt an evolution of the 2019 installment, even though hardcore fans of the franchise expected a bigger upgrade. The overhaul is not very obvious at first, and this is why I think you should give it some time. Try the story mode, even if it’s quite short, and pay attention to the smallest details. This is what GRID Legends is all about. It’s a more refined version of its 2019 sibling, and in many ways, it feels the racing experience even more involving. But at the end of the day, it’s essential to always know what to expect. GRID Legends isn’t by any means supposed to be a racing sim. It’s still an arcade title, and as long as you have this mind, there’s absolutely no chance you’ll end up disappointed.

Technotopia is an atypical city builder that understands what makes the genre appealing. It is turn-based and built around cards, but it manages to give players freedom while making it clear the pressures of constant development. The narrative framing is good, although the characters do not shine, and the presentation is impressive. Its run-based structure keeps things interesting, although I would have liked a slightly faster pace of unlock for new buildings. A clear list of everything players can get and hints about how they can reach their aims is also needed. Despite these small issues, Technotopia is a very good game that should attract a wide audience.

Cobalt is an instant classic for side-scrolling brawlers. The combat is varied and addictive, the mechanics sufficiently complex to satisfy dedicated players, and the competitive modes can entertain all sorts of fans. Throw in the pretty fun story mode as well as the support for the Steam Workshop, through which players can devise their own maps, and you have a great investment.

I have no doubt that Mortal Kombat 11 is the best game in the series thanks to the incredibly deep combat mechanics, customization options and addictive addictive extra activities. Not the mention that game brings new meanings to the word “bloody.”

A great reimagining of the series, delivering a fun experience to shooter fans, while bringing a good story and some solid mechanics that feel fresh but still know the roots of the franchise.

Per Aspera is a very good science fiction driven management and building game. The story will keep fans of the genre engaged and mixes well with the core mechanics. Once that’s no longer interesting a Sandbox mode introduces the freedom to build-up Mars however one wants. The twin challenges of expanding and re-building for greater efficiency are carefully balanced and truly engrossing. Just make sure to take tour time and explore as much as possible before moving through the checkpoints of the campaign. And spend as much time as possible running at the slowest speed, watching how mars can be changed from inhospitable wasteland to a new cradle of humanity. Just don’t forget to ponder whether it’s actually worth it, just as the protagonist A.I. does.