Despite all its controversies and pressure, Assassin's Creed Shadows is a good game, in which prevails what the franchise does best: a beautiful world and a compelling story, despite its lack of creativity in level design.

MainFrames is a good choice for those who want a simple and challenging game to kill time. The little over four hours of the campaign passed without weighing too much, and even though there are some clear points of improvement, lovers of the platform genre will certainly find themselves in the game.

Josef Fares' biggest project to date puts him among the industry's biggest names as a developer we should keep an eye on. After the 2021 GOTY, the Swedish-Lebanese has outdone himself with a project that once again shows his growth as a creative mind. Split Fiction may not reach the trophies that its predecessor won, but it will end 2025 as many people's favorite game.

Two Point Museum is a must-play for fans of business simulation strategy games.

Monster Hunter Wilds is the best, biggest and most accessible game in the franchise.

Mixing new systems with tried and tested gameplay mechanics, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is a weird game, but it's also full of life and character, and it will rarely leave you bored.

Avowed has a beautiful world full of things to discover, but there's a lot of caveats in the experience.

Quotation forthcoming.

Civ 7 follows the franchise's routine of being avant-garde and will lead a new era in turn-based strategy games.

Threading a line between fiction and reality, Metaphor: ReFantazio wants to discuss politics and create the future of JRPGs. Somehow, it manages to do both masterfully.

Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake is a faithful recreation that respects and celebrates the best this classic JRPG has to offer.

Black Ops 6 is the best a modern Call of Duty can offer. Maybe it's not revolutionary enough to become a cult classic, but that doesn't mean it's a great game to play.

LEGO Horizon Adventures isn't amazing, and it doesn't even aim to be. With beautiful visuals even in performance mode, the game delivers a fun and irreverent story stitched together with competent gameplay. Because it's short, the title barely flirts with repetitiveness, and it's a good light adventure for those looking for some relaxation. The story could delve a little deeper into the details of Zero Dawn... but we already have the original game for that, right?

Metal Slug has remained quite faithful to its original idea throughout its nearly 30 years of existence, but Metal Slug Tactics comes in an attempt to shake up those foundations, despite clinging too much to the past in some aspects.

Brothership keeps the series' spirit alive with smart battles and a funny story.

The potential of this game is overshadowed by a number of technical issues.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard plays safe in a lot of aspects, specially its combat mechanics and by adhering to multiple, separate maps instead of a huge open world. That may seem disappointing coming from a franchise that used to have high complexity in its entirety, but the excellent narrative and great companion development are more than enough to hold the game together.

Super Mario Party Jamboree is the biggest and most complete title in the series. It's a must-have for fans of the franchise, and a synthesis for everything a game needs for someone who wants to have fun with friends.

Neva is a beautiful and emotional journey, with plenty of amazing levels and compelling characters. It's a story that makes you care from its first minute, using only sound and color..

Undisputed does well in reviving the boxing games, being the first to bring licensed fighters in more than 10 years. However, technical issues and a bland career mode weighs against it.

Phoenix Springs is, in its entirety, an artistic experience. You might not be certain of the artist's intention throughout the game, but you're sure to feel something in this point and click adventure. The Leo Dormer mystery is very difficult to crack open, and you will probably find yourself running in circles during some segments. Still, stunning visuals and an narrative that is kind of abstract definitely make up for it.

Dragon Ball Sparking! Zero shines as the return of Budokai Tenkaichi and didn't even need to invent so much, as it is strong enough in gameplay and cast.

Echoes of Wisdom is a great send-off to The Legend of Zelda's most successful era. The game is the ending point for a very clear path started by Breath of the Wild and continued in Tears of The Kingdom, of games that have an unyielding faith in the player's ability to solve problems in very creative ways. All of that is combined with the structure of classic 2D-era Zelda games.

I believe that Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a perfect game for the current era of modern AAA titles. It gets straight to the point, respects the player’s time, and offers the opportunity to dive deep into its different modes. Delivering a exciting and challenging gameplay, with the most beautiful graphics any Warhammer game has ever had, Space Marine 2 establishes itself as a must-play for fans of third-person shooters.

The Plucky Squire brings us back to our childhood, when we were still learning about videogames. Despite its ambitious premise, the game makes you fall in love with it with innocence and simplicity, remembering us why we even like games after all.

Astro Bot lives up to all the clichés: the game is, indeed, a love letter to PlayStation and all the franchises that are part of its history. Team Asobi didn't even need this to make a good game, as is evidenced by its excellent platforming, level design and gameplay mechanics, but they took advantage of the platform's rich legacy to transform this experience into something memorable.

Visions of Mana is a worthy revival of a franchise long kept aside by Square Enix. Inspired by trends in the genre, the studio updates its classic JRPG for the Genshin Impact era, while making an honest adventure with a callback to Mana's traditions as a game.

With a charismatic and charming cast, incredible ambience and one of the best companions in recent memory to compensate for its dated design and truly barren open worlds, Star Wars Outlaws is more than the sum of its parts.

Black Myth: Wukong delivers on the hype that was built during the four years since its reveal. The agile, challenging combat mixes really well with stunning visuals. A few minor mistakes, such as unfair hitboxes and story pacing do not deny all the great elements in the game.

They've delivered the true entertainment of reality shows in a way never before seen.

Arranger is a cute game that will welcome both puzzle veterans as well as those who never tried the genre. The unique premise and the creativity to apply it in different ways throughout its stages is great and feels really satisfying.

Nintendo World Championship Edition: NES Edition doesn't bring anything particularly special, but it's a good ride for lovers of classic NES games (made by Nintendo itself) who want the opportunity to play iconic beats, be it solo or with friends.

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is a bold statement by Capcom. Surfing a tide of recent great games, the company felt comfortable enough to experiment a little with a mix of tower defense and action games. The result is a beautiful, fun game, which is definitely difficult to explain to someone who hasn't played, but still satisfying and complex.

Mullet Mad Jack is a straight punch of chaos and nostalgia that hits you right in the face. Bringing Hotline Miami vibes to the FPS genre, the game has an intense and frenetic gameplay that mixes really well with its roguelike elements.

Luigi's Mansion 2 HD is, for good or ill, the minimum that a Nintendo game's remaster for the Switch can offer. It's not essential, but not everything has to be.

In conclusion, The Final Form is a redemption for Bungie and a closure in style. A great story, interesting activities and plenty of content for any type of player are available in this new expansion. However, what was once a reason to make players hopeful about the future, at least in the near future, of Destiny 2 or the franchise itself, in this case the much-talked-about Episodes, is nothing more than a different name for content that doesn't offer anything all that new. The closure of the ten-year saga was exquisite and makes it clear that there is much more to explore in the universe, but if the game continues without more radical changes or any major revelations from Bungie that offer something to look forward to, this expansion could be marked as Destiny's last major event.

F1 24 tries to gamify the dynamic between drivers and teams in the paddock, in a clear attempt to attract fans of the sport who play video games. It's a valid and positive strategy, but for those who come in the opposite direction - the audience that likes racing games more than Formula 1 itself - it's impossible not to feel like they're playing a racing version of EA FC.

In its relaunch, MultiVersus sacrificed a lot. Therefore, it is a game that presents several problems and, perhaps, is even worse than the beta version in terms of gameplay. But in terms of content, it seems to be on the right path, as it has enough to keep its player base interested for longer than in 2022 and 2023. The problems should be fixed in the long term. The question is whether the heroes, villains and other characters will survive the harsh world of games as a service.

By fixing what needed improvement and keeping what was already good intact, Nintendo gave the Switch the definitive version of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. It's a small miracle, especially if we remember that this game probably wouldn't get this treatment if the Japanese manufacturer wasn't experiencing a moment of absolute confidence with its current console.

Hellblade 2 embraces the cinematic experience and never looks back, which is sure to be polarizing. That approach makes room for a narrative-driven game, and, sometimes, it may seem like you're playing a cut-scene. Surely there will be fans that love this style, while others should feel disappointed with the lack of mechanical complexity.

Endless Ocean Luminous lets the player loose and, at the same time, blocks its progress by imposing limits to the story progression by requiring exploration in its free diving modes. But you only need a few hours of gameplay to understand the game's true goal: to offer a relaxing and therapeutic experience.

Despite having a lot of references that are far from subtle, Stellar Blade still finds its identity in greatly designed villains and, mainly, excellent, flashy combat. Bringing together elements from NieR, Devil May Cry and Bayonetta, and a sip of the soulslike genre, it stumbles on clunky platforming, but delivers a pleasant experience with a wide variety of combos and skills.

Part of a project that also includes an anime series and a film, the video game adaptation of Sand Land highlights, in many ways, a less celebrated side of Akira Toriyama: its talent for building worlds and technology. And there's probably no better way to showcase this than in a game.

In Dragon’s Dogma 2, every system, every combat and every companion teaches us that there is weight in our decisions. Choices bring consequences. When something changes, it changes for good. Therefore, when we enter this final stretch and our will is not only capable of reshaping reality, but also the very tool through which we can bring the game to its end, it is also necessary to recognize the excellence of the game. This is also why frustration leads to admiration. Yes, I wanted to go back. But that would go against everything that makes Dragon’s Dogma 2 special. I can create another game, another reality, but that one was definitive. And what better way to leave a world real than to make it definitive?

Princess Peach: Showtime! is a good game, and shows a glimpse of what the character has to offer what it has a chance to be in the spotlight. But, despite having numerous good ideas, it doesn't seem interested in developing them to its full potential.

It's difficult to think of Rise of the Ronin as an epoch-making game. Perhaps it will even leave its influence on future soulslikes with its difficulty selector, but it is easier to predict an impact similar to that of Ghost of Tsushima: a game that will be well received by the majority of players, but should not aim for higher flights in terms of awards and lists of required titles.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth constantly balances itself between the familiar and the unknown. Sometimes, it moves between these two field in a very defined division. At other times, it mixes these two sides with a clear intent to confuse and dazzle. Therefore, it's game that will delight, surprise, and sometimes disappoint you. Sometimes, it will do all of these things a the same time.

Ultros is one of biggest surprises I've had with a game recently. I expected a metroidvania with weird and psychodelic art, and it's definitely that. But more than that, the form in which it blossoms and reveals its true nature is so well executed that, despite a few bump, I won't stop thinking about it for some time.

Quotation forthcoming.

Persona 3 is not only a nearly perfect version of one of the most important RPGs in the last 20 years, but it is also the best entry point in the franchise, refining the formula established by the original game by applying every improvement made to it by the time of Persona 5 Royal.

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is more proof that this is not only Sega's premier franchise, it is one of the best in all gaming. While not a reinvention on the scale of Yakuza: Like a Dragon, this new adventure brings a larger scope, with new companions, skills, and a strong story that resonates specially with longtime fans Even though it's still January, this might be one of the overall best RPGs of 2024.

Tekken 8 gives the impression that Bandai Namco wants everyone to play for a long time. The bar is set high in terms of visuals, narrative and in-game possibilities, although the single player content leaves something to be desired. Bandai Namco's new release is one of the best fighting games in a long time. Whether you're a Tekken fan or not. There are so many characters that it's impossible not to like any of them. It's a very worthwhile game and is already one of this year's highlights.

For those craving tactical and extremely realistic shooting games, Ready or Not is the best option currently available, whether you're a fan of single-player or multiplayer games.

The Last of Us Part II Remastered truly stands as the epitome of Naughty Dog's contemporary classic infused with intense emotions. However, the newly introduced game modes and enhanced visuals may not necessarily justify the investment for those with a more casual interest.

Prince of Persia makes a triumphal comeback with The Lost Crown, a challenging and rewarding metroidvania with a vibrant personality that leaves a lasting impression by mixing familiarity with innovation.

The appreciation for James Cameron's creation is undeniable from an aesthetic point of view. Walking or flying through the forests of Pandora is a great experience and, without a doubt, the closest anyone can get to feeling like a Na'vi. However, this visual exquisiteness serves to immerse the player in an extremely repetitive gameplay loop that doesn't even try to hide this fact. Depthless missions, unimpressive characters and an uninspired narrative make you feel that, to relive the Avatar experience, the best alternative is to re-watch the movies.

Modern Warfare 3 is two thirds failure, one third competent - but even that one winning third relies heavily on the merits of the 2009 MW2's multiplayer maps, and not their own. Meanwhile, the new Zombies mode is a grindfest, while the campaign feels rushed to completion.

While Naruto x Boruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections makes a few nice changes to certain gameplay elements, it still bears a striking resemblance to its predecessor, Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4. For die-hard fans of the franchise who missed out on DLC characters in the previous installment, this iteration might be worth exploring.

Even without some necessary changes, Super Mario RPG remains one of the plumber's most charming and eccentric adventures. The remake faithfully maintains it's quirkyness while expanding the magic with one of the Switch's most impressive graphic treatments. If you are a fan of the original, however, know that this is not exactly the remake that the original deserved.

UFC 5 makes the recreation of the sport more engaging and exciting than at any other time by providing not only the best visuals in the franchise's history but also an overall experience worthy, at last, of the current generation of consoles.

While not bringing much that's new in terms of gameplay, Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name is a great epilogue for Kiryu's story, bringing out what's best in the series in a smaller package.

Sonic Superstars embodies the classic 2D Sonic game qualities, which is a commendable feature as it ensures an enjoyable gaming experience. However, this also serves as a point of critique, given the series' frequent reliance on nostalgia in past iterations.

After conquering the world, FromSoftware returns to its roots in a passion project manages to elevate Armored Core's original concepts through its newfound technical mastery without ever diluting the game's classic formula.

Ghostrunner 2 suffers from a problem of expanding scope, especially regarding exploration of the outside world. And yet, it's simple additions to the combat and traversal make what was already great into one of the most challenging, frustrating and rewarding action games of 2023.

Marvel's Spider-Man 2 is a phenomenal action game that will make everyone feel like Spider-Man again, but with even more madness, with even more intensity, a larger scale, more spectacular fights and even more cinematography. The game is a love letter to all Spider-Man fans, delivering everything it promised and leaving many eager for Insomniac's next work.

Detective Pikachu Returns maintains the charm and simplicity of the original game, which makes it another great entry-level game for children. On the other hand, it stands in the shadow of it’s predecessor, since the mystery fails to retain interest. Still, Returns is a worthwhile experience for Pokémon fans, who’ll find depth and the fun in dialogue and interactions with the little monsters.

Mirage is a beautiful and competent throwback to Assassin's Creed's origins that unfortunately fails to leave its own mark in the series. Despite that, it's refreshing as a shorter adventure - one that proves that less can be more.

EA FC 24 fulfills most of its promises and shows that it remains the definitive soccer game. The new visuals make perfect use of the available technology to promote a richer experience for fans of the sport. There are small problems here and there as well as remnants of dated approaches to some game modes, but even so, EA FC 24 ushers in a new era of soccer games in a big way and proves that it's not just more of the same.

Gunbrella is a straightforward, short experience that's refreshing amidst so many games that aim to fill up months of our play time. Its combat might be a bit repetitive, but it's still always a pleasure due to how great it feels to wield the game's titular weapon.

As a fan of science fiction, space, spaceships and so on, so far I'm very happy with the final result of Starfield, although there are points that could even be considered disappointments. However, the game really exploits Bethesda's mastery of creating all these different systems and it's clear to see the dedication and care that has gone into creating a new franchise for the company after so many The Elder Scrolls and Fallouts.

Sea of Stars carries on the legacy of some of the greatest RPGs of yore, such as Chrono Trigger and Breath of Fire, with modern sensibilities and beautiful pixel art. Its combat may get a bit repetitive after the player figures out some patterns, but the quality world-building and strong characters make the game a worthwhile experience throughout.

Pikmin 4 isn’t only the definitive evolution of the formula created by Shigeru Miyamoto, but a surprisingly all-purpose game. Hardcore fans and new players alike will find something for them in this adventure. Above all, those akin to strategy games will easily be won over by this game.

Final Fantasy XVI is a messy game that sometimes delivers and sometimes does not. The new combat system only becomes good after many hours and the fetch quests are an insult. Still, the story is captivating and so are the characters.

F1 23 is another improvement over the previous game, with refined mechanics and new experiences that will please any racing fan. Not only that, but it makes it clear that upcoming games in the F1 franchise cannot be lacking in content that generates more engagement, hitting the nail on the head with F1 World and, most importantly, Braking Point 2. Any new F1 game that does not have these features will be considered a step backwards.

Diablo IV is an action RPG game that aims to redeem Blizzard's reputation - and nails it. With an engaging story and well-developed characters, the game presents a gripping plot and intelligent dialog. The quest to prevent Lilith from obtaining the power of Hell is accompanied by other characters with their own ambitions. In addition to the main story, the side missions are also captivating. Diablo IV retrieves the magical essence of the series and delivers an immersive experience from start to finish, showcasing Blizzard's care in crafting a satisfying and exciting tale.

Capcom deserves congratulations for Street Fighter 6, which addresses and resolves many of the issues found in previous editions and fulfills numerous requests from the community. This game appeals to a wide audience, catering to both casual fans and dedicated players who have invested years into the franchise. The new fighting system strikes a balance, offering accessibility while still providing depth for those seeking a challenge. The fast-paced gameplay, innovative Drive System, and diverse control options foster experimentation and generate excitement for both players and spectators. While not flawless, particularly in the new World Tour mode, it doesn't diminish the fact that Street Fighter 6 is undoubtedly one of the best entries in the series.

LEGO 2K Drive has a satisfying campaign, with rich exploration and good gameplay. This review was based on the game's performance on Xbox Series X and throughout the eight or so hours of gameplay, I didn't notice any bugs or performance drops, even on the heavier maps. The game's biggest flaw is getting hung up on microtransactions that are too easily accessible, especially considering that the game is aimed at a children's audience. Other than this issue, which cannot be ignored, I had a lot of fun with the gameplay and exploration. The customization of the cars is heaven for long-time fans of the franchise. A pity that character customization is not included in the game as well.

Honkai: Star Rail does not deviate from the already popular model of HoYoverse's RPGs, but makes life easier for those who decide not to spend money on the game, which is a plus. With an intriguing new story, charismatic characters, and a friendlier system that respects both players' money and time, Honkai: Star Rail is a respectable RPG, and those who decide to venture out with the Astral Express will have content for years to come.

I really, really wanted to love Redfall. It is genuinely impressive how much a development team from a studio recognized for its talent and design philosophy took the wrong decision at every fundamental aspect of a game. After finishing the game, the only relevant question in my mind was "how did we get to this point"?

Superior to its predecessor in every way, Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is the true definition of an open world game. 'Open' not only for you to explore, but also for you to unmake and rebuild, only limited in ways that are hard to fathom. It is a monumental triumph of a media that's constantly reinventing itself, but rarely in such large strides.

Dead Island 2 knows exactly what it is — and you should know it as well before buying. If you really, really love killing zombies in lots of different ways, go on, you'll have a lot of fun. If zombies are just normal enemies for you and you think a game needs more than that in order to work, don't even get close.

Despite its lack of polish, indicating a need for further development time, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor represents a significant improvement over its predecessor, particularly in regards to combat and platforming. It's difficult not to feel excited about what the future may hold for Star Wars games.

Re-Boot Camp rescues Advance Wars' brilliant gameplay formula from a 15-year hiatus, but does so without ever displaying any amount of ambition. Its lackluster online multiplayer offering is emblematic of a re-release that shines on purely through the ingenuity of the original's gameplay loop.

Minecraft Legends is a great option for fans of Mojang's sandbox, a gateway to the strategy genre - increasingly defined as a niche - and also an interesting activity for those who want to explore every possibility of its mechanics, although it may disappoint some by its simplicity in presentation.

GrimGrimoire OnceMore effectively rescues a beautiful and ambitious, albeit limited in scope game from the PS2 era to immortalize it on current platforms. Vanillaware's experiment in 2D RTS remains as charming as it was back in the day, but thrives with OnceMore's resolution bump.

Despite a disorienting control scheme and level difficulty that takes time to pick up, Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon succeeds in being a memorable and adorable interactive storybook. The game also surprises by being a rare example of good representation of girlhood in gaming, offering a melancholy and deep origin story for Cereza that is reminiscent of Child of Light.

In Terra Nil, the player must rescue and restore life in a desert scenario by creating biomes for the restoration of life on a desolate planet. With an incredible graphic style and relaxing music, the game presents addictive challenges and mechanics. It’s sad that such an enjoyable game to play has so little content - I wish it had more stages to play. Even so, I recommend that you spend hours and hours with this game.

With a disappointing campaign, Lighjfall astonishes by not repeating the feat of The Witch Queen right off the bat. While it has been made clear that explanations will come as the seasons of 2023 progress, there is no denying that the quality of the plot is disappointing. However, everything beyond the main story adds to the Destiny experience. The new subclass offers interesting possibilities, while updates to mechanics such as those involving Champions and quality of life improvements provide refreshing and compelling content for both long-time players and those new to the series.

Nobody needs to say, these days, how the original version of Resident Evil 4 changed the industry forever. It should also be obvious that Capcom's newest recreation doesn't repeat that feat, although it does make the whole experience feel more contemporary.

Through its inventive Karakuri real-time building system, Wild Hearts finds its own stride amidst efforts to emulate the Monster Hunter formula. The ability to create huge walls to stop monsters in their tracks, or automated hammers to knock them down gives players more flexibility in how they choose to tackle each mission, and in turn makes multiplayer hunting particularly engaging.

Horizon Call of the Mountain is easily one of the best options you have for PS VR2 during the launch window. This is a highly immersive virtual reality game that allows players to return to a dystopian future filled with robotic dinosaurs. The game features stunningly designed biomes, and players must navigate and climb mountains while fighting off enemies with a bow and arrow. However, the game lacks significant challenges and relies more on creating a sense of wonder and amazement for players. Despite this, Horizon Call of the Mountain is a must-play for those seeking an immersive and thrilling VR experience.

Harry Potter fans will hardly find Hogwarts Legacy a forgettable experience. What really sets the game apart, though, is its ability to entertain and engage a wide audience with its unique combat, superb world-building and enchanting interactions. It does have edges that need refinement, but the game’s charm is powerful enough to make it one of the most memorable gaming experiences in recent years.

Fine-tuned throughout an entire decade, Theatrhythm culminates in Final Bar Line - an outrageously humongous celebration of Final Fantasy's musical legacy that's easily the most riveting rhythm game available on modern platforms.

Hi-Fi Rush arrived by surprise, unassumingly, without many compromises, and just like a rock star, it uses its personality to get the audience off the ground and mark everyone with a memorable experience. Although it still has an air of "experimentation" with bold gameplay but knows how to "step on the brakes," Chai's adventure can quietly be considered one of the best surprises of recent times, and is probably what many gamers were needing but didn't know yet.

As the first Resident Evil remake, Dead Space is extremely faithful to its original material, limiting its changes to mechanical and visual updates and lore expansion. To be honest, sometimes the game looks way too conservative in its alterations decisions and, being exclusive for the current console generation, also falls short on some technical aspects. That said, the final result is respectful to the legacy of one of the best survival horror games ever made. It doesn’t feel like a rerun, but achieves to offer a refreshingly scary experience, as if it were the first time.

Overall, Forspoken is a failed experiment. The few moments of joy are rarely not succeeded by the most absolute boredom or by questionable gameplay decisions. Look for something else, really.

Fire Emblem Engage puts combat front and center, rewarding old fans of the series with one of the most versatile unit progression systems in franchise history. Three Houses fans will be disappointed to find, however, that the story and characters are as generic as they can be.

One Piece Odyssey offers a lot in the way of gameplay and exploration for those who want to enjoy it, but it also has a clear route for those who just want to finish the main mission and enjoy a new One Piece story. All the content is filled with dialogue worthy of an anime arc, the unreleased characters get respect, and the memories are extremely touching for those who have followed the gang's travels. However, Bandai's title falls short in offering a rich experience for those who are not already familiar with Oda's work.