It took me a couple of days to convince myself, because at the beginning Return to Monkey Island seemed to be a victim of the hype: what should we have expected, in fact, from those who wrote the rules of the game and today it goes down again in the arena after thirty 'years? But then I became more and more immersed in the crazy archipelago invented by Ron Gilbert and I can not help but promote the work with flying colors. Only, always remember to face it in difficult mode, because with the "casual" one you would end up getting only a small percentage of the achievements and missing out on much of the more "cerebral" fun.

Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection marks the coming of age for a series that, for the first time, truly manages to shake off the label of being merely a spin-off. Capcom has crafted a solid, multi-layered experience that cleverly weaves together storytelling, exploration and progression systems, finding in habitat restoration a mechanic that is as original as it is seamlessly integrated into the gameplay. The game world feels alive, rewarding curiosity and dedication, whilst the combat system refines its foundations without compromising them. Despite a few inevitable flaws — a certain simplicity in the more conventional side activities, some structural limitations in interaction with the world, and artificial intelligence that doesn’t always measure up in the later stages — the title manages to maintain a rare balance between accessibility and depth. The result is a mature, satisfying and surprisingly ambitious adventure, capable of leaving a tangible mark on the current JRPG scene.

Albeit a little pricey, Blizzard Mountain offers a completely new scenario, covered in snow and ice. Astounding to watch, it also represents a prominent shift from the old arcade-y driving model to something more challenging and satisfying. The career progression is surprisingly deep, and even if the mere amount of new content isn't as overwhelming as the original game, you'll find yourself knee-deep in the snow for quite a while. With a frozen smile on your face.

Botany Manor is a dense and emotionally charged work, designed to bring the player to live in the shoes of Arabella, a young woman who rediscovers her career, finding her own affections. It is a well-crafted and time-conscious production, with well-thought-out and satisfying puzzles. In short, a really convincing test.

As Xbox One and PS4 players already knows, Monster Hunter World Iceborne is an almost perfect expansion, with numerous new monster and new gameplay features, confirming the care of Capcom for its creature. There’s only a few technical problems with the PC version: lot percentage of CPU usage and some lost savegames, but not in our experience.

You need to be in the right mood to fully enjoy something as peculiar as Inside. Take a deep breath, enjoy the silence, embrace the suspension of disbelief, and you'll be in for one of the finest treats of 2016.

The modern superhero genre, with its real-world heroes and corporate dynamics, is very complicated to manage, even for those who work with superheroes every day. ​​To perfectly capture its nuances, while also offering an original perspective, and to do so through a narrative adventure—another genre that's not easy to handle—is a success we truly didn't see coming. Dispatch is surprising, even just for how it manages to handle and connect such diverse dynamics within an experience that keeps you glued to the screen.

With its new title, the GRIS studio does not disappoint expectations at all. The story of Alba and Neva is told very well, with the right rhythms, and manages to touch the strings of the soul without ever falling short. Helped, in this, by an exceptional artistic style, with very few equals in the entire sector, and by music that holds up well in comparison with the rest. To play without a shadow of a doubt, but keep in mind that it has a rather short duration.

Total War: Warhammer II improves over the predecessor in every possible way, from the polished art direction to a - finally - complete and engaging narrative campaign. It's a "more of the same", but a really good one.

Cross Blitz is an RPG deckbuilder with two souls: the narrative mode Fables, structured on a hexagonal map with events and turn-based card battles, and Tusk Tales, a Slay the Spire-style roguelite with branching paths, relics, and permanent upgrades. Combat takes place on eight slots per side, where positioning determines attack and defense trajectories. Mana grows each turn, enabling increasingly powerful play curves. Over five hundred cards, synergistic abilities, distinct archetypes, and variable enemy decks make deck building strategic and highly experimental.

Tales of Arise is a great game and a significant step forward from its predecessor, a wonderful mix of bright narrative and excellent gameplay.

Considered as a simple DLC, The Following is a big, fat expansion. As a whole (i.e., including the Enhanced Edition of the original Dying Light), the game becomes simply humongous. And the buggy is a nice new feature that makes the gameplay even richer.

Marvel's Spider-Man Remastered on PC is an excellent way to live or relive one of the best console classics of last years, a real "definitive version" that can push the game to unprecedented graphical heights.

Antonblast meets the primal need to play a game to smash everything and score points without caring too much about the story, which, however bizarre, is simply a guise for introducing the action. The various levels are very different from each other but always united by destruction. The atmosphere felt owes much to Wario and sometimes even to Sonic, with mad runs down very steep slopes and jumps into the void while crossing fingers for everything to be okay. The ability to remember critical points on the map is rewarded more than the players' actual skill, but who cares? It entertains, and that's enough.

Monolith Soft brings back to light one of Tetsuya Takahashi’s most singular JRPGs, originally buried in the depths of Wii U. The absence of the GamePad is more than compensated for by new content and improvements that refine both the pace of the battles and the narrative experience, making the adventure even more engaging. Living up to its name, Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition is the best way to lose yourself for countless hours among the wonders of Mira.

I can't stop playing this game! Great as a beat’em up, great as a roguelite, Absolum is just wonderful as a combination of the two genres. The cherry on top – but maybe is the foundation below – is a glorious lore and a brilliant narration that will keep you wanting more.

Arco is the kind of video game to which the term “hidden gem” fits like a glove. The story is interesting and cleverly told, with plenty of references to Mesoamerican Native culture. The tiny graphics are full of points of interest to discover along a rather large map that features threats at every corner. Combats, the real focus of the game, are handled with a hybrid turn-based mode that forces reasoning to flip the situation initially always to our disadvantage, and the presence of the ghosts of the past – actual enemies to be killed – require quick decision-making. Those who like turn-based RPGs will have a lot of fun.

Forza Horizon 3 is a a great driving experience, probably the best in years. The Australian landscape is full of things to discover, and it's so sweet to get lost in such a charming setting. Buy it without any doubt, even if you're a PC gamer.

It could be argued that this is a collection of roms and that, in one way or another, the PC community has found a way to challenge each other online for years, but the rich dose of extras and the presence of rollback and ranked matches alone is enough to give the collection an edge, not to mention a great way to legally own seven excellent games. To be had, hoping that sales will prompt Capcom to challenge Marvel superheroes again in the near future.

Psyonix brings to Nintendo Switch all the flawless pleasure of Rocket League in 60 fps, despite a visual downgrade and the absence of analogic triggers. If you want to play for fun only (with no "pro" velleity), this is the version you should consider buying.

Minds Beneath Us is a very peculiar graphic adventure with few puzzles and lots of dialogue. Its strength is the connection it manages to create between the narrative cue and what it requires of the player. The reward for the patience required is a game with an eerie atmosphere that is hard to find elsewhere.

There's a Shakespearean love story that has cursed a village, a wayward king waiting for the right opportunity to get rid of the crown, a fantasy world modelled on our own, and a story that has decisively influenced Japanese fiction: Dragon Quest III is an invaluable piece of history, and this remake is the best way to play it. Provided you are able to stomach a dose of antiquated mechanics.

The Next (Current?) Gen patch of Crash 4: It's About Time ups the resolution to a majestic 4K, guaranteeing stable 60fps in every situation. Plus, it's completely free.

Cuphead is a small, wonderful gem (albeit not a long one), with a truly unique art direction and a real challenging difficulty. It's not for everyone, but it will be an absolute joy for whomever is willing to take up the challenge.

On PC, Rise of the Tomb Raider is the same fantastic action adventure we played on Xbox One some months ago. if you have a high-end machine, this new version offers an even more immersive experience thanks to numerous graphical improvements.

Diablo IV is only the first stage of a long journey and already a convincing ARPG that throws you into a dark open world from which it is increasingly difficult to detach thanks to addictive gameplay and deep customization of your alter ego. Those who dreamed of a work capable of rewriting history might be a little disappointed, but sometimes less is enough to be happy.

Total War: Warhammer is an excellent beginning for the new franchise from SEGA. You can see the game as a traditional Total War on steroids, where everything is more powerful and more spectacular. The gameplay changes drastically depending on the race you choose, and that's a really nice addition for everyone eager to experiment a little bit, or for newcomers to the series.

Don’t judge a book by its cover: Vampire Survivors has a simple gameplay loop, but strong enough to keep you coming back, and wanting more. Thirty minutes is the perfect length to make you think “maybe I can squeeze in another run”, and before you’ve realized it the game has burned through the hours as if they were matchsticks.

Gradius Origins is a celebration, a labour of love for an era when every token was a gamble between you – a clumsy kid – and the universe itself. With never-before-seen goodies, meticulous revisions and gameplay refined with the obsession that only M2 can offer, this collection is as much a historical document as it is an invitation to rediscover a legendary series. It's a shame about the barely adequate museum section, an aspect that should be given more attention, especially now that Digital Eclipse's work has raised the bar, setting a standard that every retro collection should now strive to meet. But there's always time to improve with a second volume: after all, even Gradius IV: Fukkatsu was left out of the arcade discussion.

F1 2020 is the perfect title for those who want to enter the world of Formula 1. Graphics and sounds are ok, there are many game modes and, thanks to the different settings available, the driving system can be adapted to the needs of a wide range of virtual pilots.

Street Fighter 6: Year 1-2 Fighters Edition arrives on Switch 2 with a surprisingly solid porting, keeping the 60fps fluidity intact and making the experience extremely enjoyable on the go. With all the characters from the first two seasons already included, and a truly convincing pad in hand experience, it proves to be a worthwhile purchase for those who want to train or have fun anywhere, albeit with a few technical stumbles in the World Tour and unsuccessful secondary features.

Monster Hunter Rise was an excellent chapter of the series on Switch, but the PC version plays in a completely different category. If you liked Monster Hunter World, you'll love Rise. Yes, even if the thought of starting all over again terrifies you.

Dragon Quest Builders 2 is gigantic, enhancing the original game in every noteworthy aspect.

Death Stranding remains a fascinating experience of highly inspired post-apocalyptic science fiction even on PC. However, the porting is a bit lacking in terms of technical improvements, which are noticeable but not nearly as impressive as we hoped for.

The Witch Queen is a great expansion that puts Destiny 2 on the right track after the partial misstep of Beyond Light. There’s a lot of content here, even though some activities are blocked behind the season pass paywall.

Yakuza 0 is an eccentric, engaging and brutal game, perfectly adapted to the PC platform.

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart finds its fullest expression on the mid-end to high-end PC, delivering unmatched graphics quality that PS5 just couldn’t achieve. It guarantees lot of fun thanks to fast-paced action, tons of enemies to eliminate in the most creative ways, intriguing story, intuitive and responsive controls, puzzles to solve, battles to the last hitpoint, planets to explore, mounts to ride, secrets to discover and weapons to upgrade. The Steam Deck version is a little miracle, properly handling such a hardware challenging game.

Bloober Team delivers us a remake of excellent quality that nevertheless brings with it some elements that are not entirely convincing. Fans of the series will appreciate the faithfulness to the original material and the fact that this blends well with the few but evident changes in terms of gameplay. Unfortunately for Silent Hill 2, in 25 years of fog under the bridge, a lot has passed and in town for some time there has been a new sheriff called Alan Wake 2, who has shaken up the horror genre, becoming the new benchmark.

This remastered version preserves all the magic of Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch and delivers it to all PC and PS4 owners. A highly recommended experience.

Fast, brutal and incredibly fun, Valfaris is as heavy metal as a game can be.

If you're a fan of the broad "bullet heaven" genre, Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor is undoubtedly one of the best games in this category, thanks to its breadth of offerings and overall well-thought-out gameplay. It's a shame there are a few minor stumbles overall, but nothing that seriously compromises the quality of the final offering. And it's all at a truly competitive price.

The Switch version of Donkey Kong Tropical Freeze is basically the same as the one released on Wii U four years ago, and that's a good thing. It was an excellent game then, and it still is today: fun, challenging, full of ideas and tough, like the best games of the past.

Mario Kart World evolves the iconic series with interconnected tracks, expanded multiplayer chaos, and a thrilling mix of exploration and competition — all while staying true to its fun, frantic roots.

Dishonored 2 is a big "more of the same". A gorgeous level design and an inspired art direction are the two main PROs; on the other side, the story is not as good as the previous one and the PC version really needs a patch quickly to fix a myriad of performance issues.

Bayonetta 3 undoubtedly ranks among the best action games out there, and is one of the most ambitious projects out of the PlatinumGames forges. Such a weight makes the technical realization creak, in turn constrained by the limits of the Switch, however the end result is a party for all fans of these games and the charismatic Cereza.

Chants of Sennaar is a game that uses language in a unique way, putting it at the center of its bizarre puzzles. Midway between graphic adventure and puzzle game, it sports rarefied and evocative settings, populated by mysterious figures speaking unknown languages. Beyond that, however, it does something very few other games do: it displaces the player, disorients him or her, and urges them to pursue the discovery of knowledge, instead of replicating already seen mechanics. That is why it is even forgiven for stealth phases.

The Riven remake makes its return to the scene with absolute pomp, proving once again how much the journey is more important than the destination. The graphic modernization is illustrious and of absolute caliber, as well as everything else, elevated to the asymptote of wonder. It could involve both long-time enthusiasts and newbies.

Ghost of Yōtei is an ambitious project, capable of capitalising on the success of Ghost of Tsushima while building its own identity, rooted in the cultural context of the Ainu and 17th-century Hokkaidō. The protagonist, Atsu, is a highly successful character: strong, consistent and driven by clear motivation, she carries the narrative forward with intensity without ever seeming like Jin's female counterpart. The combat system evolves the formula of its predecessor, adding variety and a faster pace, while the game world is rich and dense, rewarding exploration with both concrete upgrades and narrative ideas such as the bond with the Wolf, one of the best-realised ideas. Aesthetically and sonically, the title reaches one of the peaks of the current generation: from visual filters with great personality to an inspired soundtrack, to consistently theatrical art direction, Ghost of Yōtei knows how to enchant with continuity. However, there are still limitations that betray the legacy of the past, including stealth that is still lacklustre and outdated exploration mechanics. Overall, it is a game that is entertaining and engaging, greater than the sum of its parts, but one that prefers caution over revolution.

Not every wrinkle can be hidden by a skillful make-up, but the in-game feeling is very good, and impersonating Commander Shepard gives the same vibrant feelings of the past. Saving the galaxy from the Reapers has never looked so cool.

Final Fantasy XII was definitely too ambitious and way ahead of its time. In 2017, that makes it an incredibly modern videogame. If you already played it back then, know that there are some nice changes to the gameplay that will make FFXII worth your time.

Star Wars Pinball continues to bring credit to the developers of Zen Studios. If you want to experience the thrill of a pinball machine on the move, this title is really for you.

ARC Raiders perfectly combines the punishing gameplay of extraction looter shooters with the setting, graphics, and storyline of the best single-player shooters. Battling against machines is engaging, and the game encourages cooperation even without friends to form a party. The gun physics are very well done and create a pleasant sense of impact. While you can purchase assets with real money, there's no pay-to-win. Servers that guarantee near-instant access and a solid, lag-free netcode complete the package.

Our time with the complete edition of Nioh 2 proved to be really positive, an element that leads us once again to praise the care with which Team Ninja tries to involve PC users, offering them an extremely dignified port of their game. The presence of all three additional contents published for the title guarantees not only an almost inexhaustible fun, given the new stories and modes, but also a good and interesting closure for a story that will leave a mark on the soulslike scene. A word of warning: make sure your PC is within the hardware requirements.

We had high expectations for this new instalment in the Konami series, and for once we can say that they were not disappointed. Silent Hill f is one of the best “classic” horror titles ever made. It manages to revamp the original formula by enriching gameplay that has very few flaws and delivering a deep, multifaceted, painful, unfiltered story that is worth experiencing more than once.

Warhammer 3 is hands down the best Total War ever made. Despite some issues, some of them concerning diplomacy, the many new features and factions largely offset the problems of the game.

Returnal might not be the mind-bending masterpiece that I was, perhaps mistakenly, expecting after the praise I’d heard from friends and colleagues, but it’s still an excellent roguelike with clean gameplay and a beautiful presentation. Word of warning though: the length of each run combined with the difficulty might make it frustrating for some, and graphical optimization relies heavily on the use of supersampling technologies.

Sonic Mania is not a perfect game, and the Sonic playstyle is not definitely for everyone. If you love the blue hedgehog, though, you cannot let this one go: it's huge, challenging, full of secrets, with lots and lots of different situations. Hands down, one of the best platformers of the past ten years.

Mimimi Games did it again. Desperados III is a love letter to a genre of a long forgotten past, beautifully crafted in every single detail. John Cooper and his friends are finally back in action, and let’s hope they are here to stay for a long time.

Art of Vengeance is a title capable of redefining what a 2D action platformer can offer today. Lizardcube succeeds once again, combining technique, style, and rhythm with a mastery that captivates both longtime nostalgics and those approaching the Oboro Clan for the first time. Every fight is a lethal dance, every stage an invitation to explore and improve, and every extra feature a challenge that rewards dedication and commitment. It's an intense, elegant, and ruthless experience, where every victory is earned on the field and every mistake is paid dearly. A return in which past and present collide uncompromisingly, reminding us why Joe Musashi is, and remains, a legend. And now, friends of Lizardcube, how do you feel about bringing Golden Axe out of retirement?

MLB The Show 19 is a fantastic game. Many different game modes, great atmosphere and excellent gameplay. Few sports games have achieved such realism and overall quality.

Resident Evil 7 is a much needed breath of (filthy and rotten) air for the series: it contains the basics of the survival horror genre, together with some of the gameplay pillars of the previous titles, and the result is one of the scariest experiences ever played. The campaign will keep you on the edge for more than 10 hours, and you'll have plenty of reasons for - at least - a second run. We can only hope that this is a new beginning for a glorious ser-- HOLY S**T A SPIDER!!!

Final Fantasy VII Remake Integrade shines as brightly on PC as it did on PlayStation, with a port that's every bit as pretty as the PS5 edition while also being not too demanding, and that includes some nice additions such as 120fps support. Recommended for both newcomers and fans of the original.

For the time being, Playerunknown's Battlegrounds won - pun intended - the battle royale of battle royales. This new "gold rush" spawned a good number of decent titles, but the one created by Brendan Greene if by far the best and funniest to play (even if there's still room for improvement).

Even if the controls sometimes just make you wanna scream, Bonfire Peaks is a nice and small puzzle game worth playing. Its compact diorama levels are brilliantly engineered, using small spaces to test the player’s cleverness. Voxel graphics, more that just being nostalgic, help the game in recreating the right atmosphere of old adventure games like the original Tomb Raider.

Beat Saber is a rhythm game that’s both simple and fun. Unfortunately, its soundtrack is very limited at the moment.

Wildermyth is the best turn based strategy game out in the latest months, and also a great RPG. I would have preferred a unique big campaign rather than small stories that aren't even that tied together, but smaller episodes could be more attractive to a casual audience. Artistically beautiful to the eyes, with a very particular style, capable of keeping you glued to the monitor for a long time, although there isn't that much to do when we aren't engaged in turn-based combat. To be played at a high difficulty level, turning the game into an epic chess battle.

Fantasy Life I successfully expands the laid-back, colorful formula of the original, bringing it to modern platforms with a vast world, flexible class system, and tons of side content. While the story clearly targets a younger audience, the overall experience is rich and rewarding—especially in multiplayer. Combat remains simple but effective, and the excellent localization adds charm. A few camera issues pop up during fights, but nothing game-breaking. Perfect for players looking for a cozy blend of RPG and life sim with a whimsical, fairy-tale vibe.

Luigi’s Mansion 3 is the perfect example of the Nintendo way of making games. It comes six years after the last chapter, it doesn’t revolutionize the core concepts, but it introduces just the perfect amount of new features to feel fresh. However, the most important thing is that it's funny, damn funny, like watching a Ghostbusters VHS every Sunday morning in your childhood.

Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon is a return in style for the series of robots signed FromSoftware. Despite some frankly incomprehensible slip-ups, including the presence of invisible walls and stealth missions that seem to come from two or three generations ago, the Japanese studio's work manages to offer frenetic and deep combat, as well as heart-pounding boss battles and an incredibly diverse customization system.

Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age is probably the best Dragon Quest of all the time, but this does not automatically make it a game for everyone.

Octopath Traveler II is the worthy second chapter of a series that made the history of the genre to which it belongs. The influences deriving from the predecessor are more than obvious, but the filings made to the formula, the additions and the large amount of content make it one of the best JRPGs out there.

Engaging and exciting, Core Keeper is a perfect example of development and creativity. In addition to keeping you completely glued to the screen, with 1.0 it dramatically increases the hours that someone could spend inside it, thus allowing the player passionate about video games of this caliber to lose track of time. The game design of the production is certainly the most alive and irrepressible part, as well as the world around the main character. In addition, I have given names to some animals within the production, which could please the colleagues of TGM.

Returnal is an amazing game. Metroidvania, roguelite and bullet hell mixed perfectly, and the result is fluid, rich and incredibly addictive action. The loop becomes the cornerstone of a mysterious, allegorical, at times terrifying narrative, capable of keeping you glued to DualSense from start to finish.

Easy to learn, hard to master, beautiful to watch and imbued with a performant netcode: REV 2 is probably the best 2D fighting game so far.

Forza Motorsport is bigger and stronger than ever, and undoubtedly the most beautiful racing game on Xbox One. It offers the most varied, approachable and inherently fun driving experience on console (and PC). At the same time, though, the Career mode needs a serious revamp, and the loot system is questionable (to put this gently).

Despite the all-too-demanding hardware requirements, Football Manager 2019 is the ultimate managerial football experience, rich, sophisticated, able to satisfy all its players.

Astral Ascent offers the usual roguelite gameplay where you have to die a ton of times to get a decent build and progress a little bit, and the system of spells and power-ups at the beginning is a bit foggy. After the first couple of hours without any particular excitement though, the game explodes and shows us its full potential, especially when you manage to unlock the four heroes. At that point, it becomes one of the best video games in this genre, despite the fact that not much attention has been given to the platformer component. If you love characters to grow with thousands of combinations, you are in the right place.

Elegant and minimalist, Humanity is an excellent puzzle game. Its philosophy, effectively represented by the constant stream of humans to be led to safety, is supported by excellent technical realization and over-the-top design. Despite levels lasting dozens of minutes, the trials it subjects the player to are al-ways challenging and entertaining thanks to a number of solutions designed to enhance the player's experience, such as the ability to repeat the scenario with given commands, speed up the passage of time, and actual video walkthroughs.

Day of the Tentacle is one of the best graphic adventures of all times. The game is a truly unique gem, full of humour, insane puzzles and an incredible voice-over. This Remastered version delivers stunning hi-res graphics, audio commentary, improved interface and controls (not suitable for gamepads), while keeping intact the original spirit. A must-have for all the adventurers out there.

Cyberpunk 2077 is a wild journey within an incredibly fascinating setting; some technical uncertainties destined to disappear and a partial repetitiveness limit its glory, but overall it is an adventure worthy of William Gibson himself. Cyberpunk 2077 allowed me to finally feel immersed in that pen & paper RPG I discovered in 1988, pouring rain clouding my view in a kaleidoscope of neon signs, just as I had imagined while leafing through those pages. Some may not consider it a perfect game, but I do.

Twilight Princess is respectful porting, maybe even too much respectful, of the original Gamecube version. The control system maintains the original flaws, and there are few, or hardly any, changes to the gameplay. Which might be good for hardcore fans of the original, but newcomers might have expected something more.

Fuga: Melodies of Steel 2 is a RPG that mixes game elements in a wise and detailed way, managing to do something excellent. It’s doesn’t that step than its predecessor, but it improves its qualitative in every aspect. Must have absolutely.

Generations is one of the best chapters of the Monster Hunter saga, a game that will please newcomers and fans in equal measure, thanks to the introductions of arts and styles. A bold step in the right direction, a more than welcome breath of fresh air.

Inscryption turned out to be a small surprise, an indie title that breaks the rules of card games offering players something more elaborate and exciting, by adding in a mixture of roguelite, puzzle and horror. A pity that the game has no voiceover: it would have made its particular setting feel even more alive.

Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope is not only one of the best exclusives for Nintendo Switch, it is a game capable of evolving significantly compared to the previous chapter, reaching an absolute playful level. A hilarious, light-hearted, creative but also pixelated work, with an artisanal and constantly growing level design for the duration of the adventure, exactly like a combat system that is pure joy, tactically deep and at the same time hyper-dynamic , comic and totally available to the player's creativity. The exploratory phase also exponentially improves, very pleasant and full of secrets and secondary activities, immersed in colorful worlds, cared for with love, perhaps not very "galactic" but adorable and embellished with an exceptional soundtrack by the author (indeed, by authors). Sparks of Hope is proof that love for one's work always makes a difference beyond commercial ambitions (Kingdom Battle has sold 10 million copies and expectations go in that direction anyway); the result is a game that takes a lot, a lot, a lot of effort to put down to do something else.

DiRT Rally is probably the best rally simulation ever made, and its debut on console strengthens the good driving model developed by Codemasters. The gameplay is incredibly deep, challenging and realistic, the controls are precise and smooth (even with a gamepad), and the game never goes below the 60 frames per second. A truly unique driving experience.

Fans of sandbox management games will be in their element with Timberborn, though those less familiar with the genre might initially find it disorienting due to the absence of more guided game modes. Once these initial hurdles are cleared, however, it becomes evident that this is a title offering a potential playtime measured in the tens—if not hundreds—of hours, thanks in no small part to robust community mod support.

Yoshio Sakamoto had the right idea when he decided to have MercurySteam involved in the development of Metroid: Samus Returns. It's a decent remake, whose major flaws are the same as the original, and there are some new gameplay elements that will please old and new fans.

Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King is the epitome of how a remake should be made: it adds new elements and improves the original formula, without compromising the feeling and the fun of the original game.

Those who got excited with Slay the Spire should also jump on Astrea: Six-Sided Oracles without delay. Everyone else will find a very complete deck builder in which there are dice instead of cards, using them to build chains of combos relying on the dualism Purification and Corruption. The huge amount of Oracles, dice and Blessing to unlock, Sentinels to upgrade and enemies to defeat ensures excellent replayability even if the too many combinations available encourage a bit too much luck at the expense of strategy. The graphics are inspired although the colors chosen, pale blue and crimson, do not provide good contrast.

The War Within isn't a groundbreaking, surprising, or original expansion, but it's a good jumping-off point for something bigger. It uses subtle improvements to smooth out and tighten up World of Warcraft's traditional gameplay in all the right places, gently evolving it and making it feel more familiar and welcoming than ever, for veterans and newcomers alike.

Uncle Chop's Rocket Shop is a very good video game that manages to fit the simulation soul and the roguelite one. Making mistakes makes poor Wilbur's life a real hell like the real one, and what he manages to achieve is not always optimal. What is really great, however, is this pearl of a game here that manages to do all the right things and implement simulation mechanics that are really well integrated within it. To be had seriously, both if you love space and if you need to stock up on a similar video game.

StarVaders is a really fun and solid deckbuilder, it is well made from many points of view. Even if it has room for improvement, it deserves to sit at the same table as the best "videodrugames".

Wasteland 3 is a good role-playing game, technically passable but enriched by a dense network of intriguing subplots that will push the most dedicated to play it several times. Watch out for the ever-present release bugs, though – best to wait a couple patches if you want to avoid unnecessary hurdles.

Obviously, the PS5 version of Crusader Kings 3 isn’t the best way to experience Paradox’s medieval grand strategy. However, despite its poor interface and the lack of support for mouse and keyboard, this is still one of the best games of its genre.

Between its improved technical performance and the additions to Bellabel Park, the Switch 2 edition feels like the most complete version of a video game masterpiece that, even at launch, seemed unlikely to improve. Yes, only Nintendo can surpass Nintendo.

Aegis Rim is another small, but at the same time impressive masterpiece from Vanillaware that delivers an engaging story through an incredible visual style and an enjoyable narrative-strategic hybrid. This will be remembered as one of 2020’s best PlayStation 4 exclusives.

Anarchic, exciting and at times ingenious: The Legend of Zelda Echoes of Wisdom is an adventure that will test your brains without overstressing your fingertips. It doesn't last long and hardcore gamers will perhaps complete it too quickly, but the journey is sensational and enveloped in the usual ‘made in Nintendo’ magic that makes it a must-have in any case.