UNBEATABLE combines rhythm gaming with a heartfelt story and incredible characters. The title is punk throughout, both in its messaging and its nontraditional approach to storytelling, and at times feels more like an interactive music video than a video game. In the end, it truly is an “UNBEATABLE” experience.

ROMEO IS A DEAD MAN carries on and exemplifies the surreal and violent legacy of Goichi Suda and GRASSHOPPER MANUFACTURE INC, creating an exciting, visually stunning, and delightfully confusing adventure with plenty of opportunities for bloody murder.

Resident Evil Requiem has everything fans have come to love from the series, combining two very different styles of game into one experience to enjoy. The story is rich, the characters are excellent, and the scares are outstanding, making for what is now likely this Resident Evil devotee’s favorite game in the franchise.

Sons of the Forest is an incredibly unique, immersive, and terrifying horror survival game that pits you against the mutated inhabitants of an island far away from civilization. The story is incredibly interesting and forces you out of your comfort zone as you delve deep underground and brave the horrors of the island while seeking answers.

While not your most traditional “game,” Harold Halibut is without a doubt a true work of art, something the likes of which we haven’t seen before and are unlikely to see again.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is everything players wanted from a sequel, delivering more incredible open-world medieval adventures with a focus on realism and historical accuracy. Full of cleverly designed mechanics, surreal levels of immersion, and phenomenal writing, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is honor-bound to excite you.

Europa is the closest thing we have to a Ghibli movie in video game form. With stunning visuals, a relaxing atmosphere, satisfying movement mechanics, and an intriguing mystery to uncover, Europa is a game worth losing an afternoon to.

Enigma of Fear is an excellent little horror puzzle game. With cute characters, fantastic art, and thoughtfully challenging puzzles, it should easily become a favorite of genre fans and newcomers alike.

Thronefall has easily become my new favorite tower defense game, thanks to its solid mechanics and the absolute wealth of variety present in each aspect of the game. Countless difficulty mutations and enemies await you in this game, which gives new meaning to the word “replayability.”

Mouthwashing is a masterclass in psychological horror, featuring phenomenal writing and striking imagery that is sure to leave you awed, inspired, and utterly terrified.

Revenge of the Savage Planet was a blast to play, and even more fun just sitting back and watching the game’s many hilarious cutscenes. Full of absurdist humor, slapstick visual comedy and a genuine sense of adventure, this game took me by surprise and got me hooked.

Absolum blew me away with its mastery of the side-scrolling beat-’em-up and roguelike genres, seamlessly combining the two in a game that is exceptional on a technical level and a blast to play. Paired with the excellent combat and roguelike loop are phenomenal characters, great worldbuilding, and gorgeous art, making for a game that is an absolute steal at just $25.

Styx: Blades of Greed is a master of stealth gaming, with excellently designed levels, incredibly fun stealth and kill mechanics, and a rich and engaging fantasy world to host it all in. Fans of the franchise and newcomers alike are bound to enjoy this third installment in the Styx series, which knows what a stealth gamer wants and executes it flawlessly.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth continues to blow me away with its thoughtful remake of one of the best games ever created, expanding the incredible story and opening up the gameplay to a more broadly appealing, exciting experience.

Eternal Strands serves as an incredible debut for Yellow Brick Games, stunning with its incredible visuals and wowing with its great magic system and enthralling gameplay.

Tactical Breach Wizards uses great writing, genuinely well-executed humor, and subversive takes on genre gameplay and pairs it with a super unique setting to make what is one of my favorite new titles.

Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter is an incredible adventure game, one that will challenge you with its engaging combat mechanics, wow you with its incredible art and worldbuilding, and pull on your heartstrings with its powerful story, but not without making you chuckle at a clever rat pun or six in the process.

Marvel Rivals has hooked me back into the hero shooter genre with its huge roster of characters, exciting gameplay, and excellent sense of style.

Bandle Tale captures the essence of the Yordles’ fantastical home and delivers a delightful and bittersweet experience. As Riot Forge’s final contribution before its closure, Bandle Tale stands as a testament to the studio’s collaborative genius, the creativity and clever game design of Lazy Bear Games, and leaves players with a fond farewell to spinoffs set in the Runeterra universe, at least for the foreseeable future.

Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered features a faithfully remastered take on three classic Tomb Raider games, with improved controls, graphics, and quality-of-life features, all of which can be disabled, creating the perfect package for faithful fans wanting a modern update on a nostalgic title, or die-hard fans who want to experience the games as they originally were.

Hollowbody is the best horror game of the year, standing out with its remarkably good use of tension and incredible atmosphere. Clocking in at about three hours, your short time with this game will surely be memorable, tense, and terrifying.

Mewgenics deserves all its praise and more, delivering a solid monster-rancher premise with strong roguelike gameplay and packaging it all with incredible humor that only the creative minds behind Super Meat Boy and The Binding of Isaac could pull off. You couldn’t swing a cat around in this game without smashing it into something awesome.

BALL x PIT does everything I want a roguelike game to do, delivering fun mechanics in an infinitely replayable loop that also manages to be a unique departure from many games in the genre. Paired with gorgeous dark fantasy pixel art, incredible music, and a fun, unique setting, the game gives you many reasons to give it a try and few excuses to avoid it.

Microtopia is a factory logistics game that uses its clever ant theming to provide an incredibly fun production puzzle that stands out amongst its genre. Fans of games such as Factorio are sure to find some good, ant-y fun in this clever, modestly priced title.

Still Wakes The Deep stands out as a triumph in horror games, blending thrilling gameplay with a unique, inspired, and haunting atmosphere, with a compelling story and characters to boot. It’s a must-play for horror enthusiasts and anyone looking for a game that pushes the boundaries of the genre. Still Wakes The Deep is not just a highlight of the year; it might very well be a benchmark for future horror games.

Static Dread: The Lighthouse is an excellent resource-management horror game that excels with its fantastic storytelling, incredible art, and hypnotically immersive setting. I have no doubt that this excellent piece of horror storytelling will soon explode in popularity, rightfully winning over fans with the sea-dredged gold it has to offer.

Sorry We’re Closed is a remarkable fusion of punk aesthetics, survival horror mechanics, and deeply authentic character-driven storytelling. Its unapologetic blend of style and substance, from its diverse cast to its unique visual flair, makes it a standout in a genre often dominated by darker, more serious tones.

Planet Coaster 2 excels in amusement park management, presenting a superb combination of gameplay depth and accessibility. You’re sure to enjoy the ride in this brilliant coaster tycoon.