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.

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.

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.

God of War Ragnarok builds upon its predecessor achievements with a far more ambitious campaign. It's way more diverse visually and design-wise, while telling a compelling story about — ironically — very human themes. Absolutely, the best in the series and a must-play for all PlayStation fans.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 reflects all of the maturity accumulated throughout the last 12 years by a franchise that struggled to survive since its very first game, which was released by Nintendo in the West only after fan petitions. The game streamlines the action, gets rid of juvenile erotization and tells a story with heroes that talk like actual human beings, while simultaneously refining the exploration and world-building that already shone in its predecessors.

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.

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.

This remake is the definitive version of The Last of Us: prettier, better to play, technical features in a state-of-the-art, new extras, and it's completely true to the original. Apparently, Sony's plans are to try to reach a new audience that will seek out the game because of the TV series that premieres next year. But the $70 price tag of this re-release prevents me from recommending it to everyone.

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

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.

Horizon Forbidden West is, above all, more Horizon. And, I would say, more refined in many ways, but still with the fundamental elements of its predecessor. And that's a good thing. The world full of secrets with many things to explore and more secrets to discover. The Forbidden West is big and wild, but finding out more about it, its people, and its past is quite rewarding.

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.

Quotation forthcoming.

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.

Gran Turismo 7 is a saint without miracles and has Lewis Hamilton, Igor Fraga and another legion of professional players as apostles. With an iconic Formula 1 driver and the Brazilian Gran Turismo Sport world champion advocating in its favor, who would I be to say a single word against this title? Well, I have several words for what Gran Turismo could do to be a better racing game, but nothing that could tarnish the reputation of this letter to motorsport fans. It's a game with impeccable gameplay, incredible graphics, and makes an ode to the history of motorsport, with the potential to suck up thousands of hours of gameplay (playing alone or online), this year and beyond. If you're a fan of racing games, you won't regret playing it and having it in your collection. Perhaps my biggest mistake was creating expectations for this title. I swore that this was the ideal time for the Gran Turismo series to go back to being revolutionary as it was in the past, but Kazunori Yamauchi chose to just follow the teachings of your old testament.

Like any good skateboarding game, OlliOlli World has a soundtrack that perfectly matches the atmosphere of the world in which it is inserted, although I personally don't like the chosen musical genre so much, I can't deny that it worked well with the cartoonish and even bizarre visuals. OlliOlli World has everything to be one of the best indie games of 2022, which combines the single-player experience with an extremely competitive multiplayer experience, with a scoring system and that you'll want to compete against your friends to see who can score the most in each stage.

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.

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..