Dirt 4 manages what very few racing games do. It’s driving is challenging yet accessible, and it pairs this with an almost endless amount of content. The career mode is robust, and the stages are varied and beautifully designed, but the ability to create your own unique tracks using Your Stage is what sets Codemasters’ game apart from every other rally game that has come before.

Mario & Luigi Brothership has made it to the top of my favorite Mario RPGs, a feat that I never thought would be achieved. Everything is constantly entertaining throughout the experience, from the creative animations to the energetic sound effects and wonderful roulette of activities; the game provides a revolving door of engaging fun at every step.

Episode Intermission builds upon the already solid foundation of Final Fantasy VII Remake and delivers a new story chapter that is both a comedy and a tragedy at the same time. It adds to the mythos of Remake’s world, gives us a new look at various side characters we only spent a few minutes with in the base game, and most importantly, sets the stage for the next crucial party member we’ll meet in the second instalment. It’s a good time all around, and I couldn’t recommend this more to fans of FFVII Remake.

Minor gripes aside, Darkest Dungeon II: Binding Blade is an exemplary expansion to the already impressive base game. Those who have been playing the game since its launch earlier this year will find plenty to sink their teeth into via the new characters and content, while newcomers will have a few more great reasons to give the game a chance.

This game feels so polished with its satisfying combat and its insanely deep loot and crafting system, along with the hundreds of hours of content it has on offer. Ultimately, Nioh is the mixture of two really awesome video game things: Souls-inspired gameplay and a rewarding loot system that lets you craft truly unique gear. If either of those two things appeal to you, you’ll enjoy this one.

The story goes some surprisingly emotional places, and the sheer variety of gameplay styles is a huge strength. Code Vein is easily one of the sleeper hits of the year, and it's an experience that's a joy to sink your teeth into.

Apocalypse’s brand new story, engaging characters, and deep gameplay systems are more than enough to warrant a playthrough for fans both new and old. If you’re looking for a lengthy, satisfying handheld RPG to play, Apocalypse is a great candidate.

Final Fantasy XV was quite different from everything I had ever expected an entry to be, but it turned out to be exactly what I had been looking for.

Super Mario Maker 2 is not without its small gripes, but if you put away the magnifying glass and look at the game on a whole, this game is a perfectly executed idea from Nintendo. This is the Mario Maker game creative fans have been dreaming of.

Hearts of Stone never feels tacked on at any point, and although the side activities are a bit lackluster there are more than enough highs to make the singular low seem insubstantial. This is a true expansion, one that builds excellently on the already amazing base game.

While it may require a lot of effort to truly master, once you get to grips with the more advanced aspects of the simulation, you'll unlock nearly infinite possibilities. I know you hear this often, but this time, I can truly affirm that the world is at your fingertips. I'd say that the sky is the limit, but the Microsoft Flight Simulator's sky doesn't have any limits.

Death Stranding isn’t a masterpiece; it doesn’t have the nuance or depth for that kind of lofty praise, but it does straddle the line between being just a video game and a tool that pulls people together. Death Stranding revels in the mundane and the simple joy of taking a hike while delivering packages from one place to another. It also has something to say about human nature and the resilience of our species, and while the message itself gets muddied in all the other overwrought filler that bogs down the game, it feels earnest, heartfelt, and genuine.

Return to Castlevania is, hands down, Dead Cells’ best expansion yet, and it’s not even close. This isn’t to say that its previous add-ons have been lackluster, as every update to the game has only served to help flesh it out even further. Dead Cells continues to be one of the very best rogue-lite games that have released in the past decade, and this just further cements its place as an outstanding entry in the saturated genre.

Spiritfarer is one of a kind, and well worth anyone’s time. Its energetic art style, moving score and uplifting stories about acceptance and loss all meld with the gameplay for an experience players won’t soon forget, even as they move onto their next adventures.

If you’re looking for something to break through the mould, look no further than Event [0], an innovative indie title with a lot of charm.

It’s tough for me to say that Mushroom 11 is a game for everyone. Still, fans of puzzles or platformers definitely owe it a look, and those who enjoy trying out new things are sure to find something here.

Sunbreak represents the very best of Monster Hunter Rise, recontextualizing the base game through its clever integration of the old and the new. It won’t convert die-hard fans that bounced off of Rise, but for those that loved the changes to the Monster Hunter formula, Sunbreak represents a new high water mark for the series and is an absolute no-brainer for anyone looking to dive back in.

Once all the glitches and other buggy performances are cleared away, I’m sure My Time at Sandrock will be a practically flawless, cozy game. I look forward to continuing my town expansion, and I already can’t wait to see what new adventures await for the rest of the My Time series.

Being able to take the excellent experience on the go is a huge draw, and there’s a decent amount of new content at the same time. However, the truth is, this isn’t a new Mario Kart game. For all the new additions, fans that sunk hundreds of hours into the Wii U version won’t find an abundance of new content. Despite this, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe truly is the definitive version of the game, and probably of the entire series.

This game absolutely does not respect player boundaries when it comes to genre—you will fall deep into its whimsical embrace whether you are usually a fan of action-packed games or more of a cozy gamer. What seems to be a wholesome tale of two companions journeying together toward different goals quickly blooms into a deep, heart-warming story about the origins of one of gaming's most loved female protagonists.

Without a doubt, this is the very best place for newcomers to jump on, but there’s still plenty of depth for vetaran fans. In all respects, from the guest character to the presentation and new mechanics, this is the best that SoulCalibur has been in a long time. It’s not just one of the best fighting games of the year, it’s one of the best games of the year, period.

Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown finally fulfills the expectations of those players from my generation who loved Ace Combat 04 and 5, bringing the series back to its roots in a masterful way. While there are a few relevant innovations, the good folks at Project Aces kept their eyes and ears open and listened to the fans of the franchise who wanted to return to Strangereal and to the Ace Combat that we know and love.

Klaus is, in a word, brilliant. While it may not exactly win the hearts of those who don’t like the 2D platformer style, it’s an expertly-designed addition to the genre that creates a challenging experience without ever seeming insurmountable. With intuitive controls and a seamless integration of its parts, it easily creates an experience worth the $19.99 price on the PlayStation Store.

Every once in a while, a true indie gem comes along. A classic for the ages lauded by critics and players alike. One inspired by classics, taking their best mechanics before refining and crafting something wholly unique and simply unforgettable, for better and occasionally, for worse. After more than 15 hours of deciphering cryptic clues and losing myself in its meticulously-crafted, mysterious world, Tunic has cemented itself in that bracket of all-time indie classics, and one that you simply have to play.

I cannot recommend playing Marvel's Guardians enough for the experience it provides. Its decision to focus on story, characters, and ambiance instead of trying to throw in a bunch of content that pads the adventure results in an amazing game. It is right up there with the Arkham Trilogy and Marvel's Spider-Man as one of the best superhero video games of all time.

Life Is Strange: True Colors is right up there as one of the best games in the series, if not the outright best. Its characters are interestingly complex and believable, the writing is strong — albeit a bit clichéd in true Life Is Strange fashion — and its more sinister narrative has plenty of twists and turns that’ll keep you hooked. It’s all punctuated by heartwarming, lighthearted sections reminiscent of Before the Storm’s beloved ‘play’ scene, and its decisions will have you second-guessing yourself for hours. The whole experience is wrapped up in the strongest presentation values and a soundtrack that never skips a beat. This is a must-play for fans of the series, and a serious contender for my Game of the Year.

Earth Defense Force 6 is one of those games that I will never get tired of, as I have gone back to every single game in the series time and time again. As a whole, Earth Defense Force deserves way more attention, and I can't imagine there's anyone who wouldn't like it. If you like cheesy dialogue, giant monsters/bugs, and shooting progressively crazier weaponry, give this one a shot.

The formula has worked very well and with a few tweaks this is definitely the best entry in the series. A huge roster worth using, tons of new special attacks, crisp visuals on the newest generation, and enough content for fans to sink their teeth into for hours.