For the first time since the very first Valkyria Chronicles, it feels like the series has realized its full potential. It’s easily the longest Valkyria game yet, but it doesn’t suffer for it. Longtime fans have a lot to love here and for newcomers, it’s the very best place to try the series out.

Besides those two slight issues, Oxenfree is a compact, fresh experience that introduces lovable characters, a phenomenal soundtrack, and one of the no doubt dopest endings this year.

Though it has a few minor blemishes here and there, they're never significant enough to really detract from the overall experience. Whether you're a long-term Spider-Man fan or someone who only knows a little, Marvel's Spider-Man is an incredibly easy game to recommend for anyone who owns a PS4.

While it’s not the new Kingdom Hearts game that many may have wanted, it’s much more than just a simple collection of old titles or some cheap cash-in. It’s a bridge to what awaits, and I can’t help but feel excited after watching the credits roll for the umpteenth time.

As you’ve probably expected from FromSoft at this point, Sekiro is a game that relishes in its ability to challenge and punish the player with little to no room for error. The developer’s methods of storytelling may start to feel a tad stale at this point, but the game still manages to capture that immense feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment like no other.

Injustice 2 is one seriously impressive package. NetherRealm has never shied away from packing their fighting games with lots of content for players to sink their teeth into and this latest installment is no different. The tighter balance, freedom offered by the gear system, and the solid story make this an entertaining fighter that is so much more than just punching other powerful people in the face. It's a unique experience that compiles all that the studio has learned from its games and gives them a voice all of their own. Injustice 2 isn't just a less violent clone of Mortal Kombat, it sets a new bar for the developer and I can't wait to see how it influences the future.

A Plague Tale: Innocence is a late-generation gem that shouldn’t be missed by anyone with even a passing interest.

Overall, Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope is able to captivate with its worlds and pull you down rabbit hole after rabbit hole of side quests, treasures, and battles. You’ll find yourself wandering off course to help a Rabbid in need or rescue a Spark who will then help you on your journey.

The blend of combat, RPG elements, platforming, and a much more serious and interesting narrative makes for an engaging romp through the ancient lands of China, and aside from some small AI hiccups and design choices, there really isn't much there to dampen my revitalized love for all things Romance of the Three Kingdoms. All hail the newest and most polished Soulslike to come out in a while.

Fire Emblem Fates: Conquest is a must-have gem for the 3DS.

As a first foray, it is an incredibly impressive effort from Creative Asselby Sofia, a team that has done incredible justice to one of the most important tales of the ancient world.

Oxenfree II: Lost Signals is everything fans could want from a sequel. Though it might not be flawlessly designed, it builds on what came before it and offers plenty of new and compelling stories as it ties up the loose plot threads from the first game. Fans of narrative and choice-driven experiences owe it to themselves to check this game out as soon as possible.

My Time at Portia cultivates hard work and pays it off with a sense of progression and achievement. When you aren’t searching for materials or crafting a new gadget, you’re off cavorting at festivals or bonding with the friendly townsfolk. There’s always something waiting for you at Portia, and it pulls you back in every time.

Crammed to the gills with campy humor and a series B-movie look and feel, this is nearly a must-play for anyone who’s a fan of the old, cheesy films of the past or who enjoys listening to C-list directors ramble near-incoherently about their creations.

Jusant is a delightful joy of a game, and one I’ll use as a standard for indie games from this point on. Not only was it visually striking, but the developers had something to say and they expressed it flawlessly. It finds the perfect balance of being light-hearted while respectfully diving into some darker themes, and the game functions as a dichotomy between the failings of the past and what they can teach the future. That in and of itself is beautiful, but to then seamlessly combine those themes with the blissful experience of climbing makes for an experience that I won’t forget.

Ubisoft has fully embraced the RPG formula with Odyssey, and they’ve created a game that feels refreshingly confident and self-assured. There are still a few missteps to work out, but for now, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey is one of the most charming open world RPGs you’ll play this year.

It’s beautiful animations and art style, deep and engaging combat, and meta-commentary on the way we play games combine to make CrossCode a modern classic in its own right, and a fantastic throwback to one of gaming golden ages.

But here, in Destiny 2, from the moment I took control of my Warlock, whom I missed dearly, I was legitimately enjoying myself. From each story beat to every public event where players refused to trigger Heroic, right down to all the engrams that became everything I didn’t want, I’ve had fun.

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is an absolute must-buy for Switch owners who are looking to pick up their next game. No matter if you’re a longtime fan of the franchise or a first-timer, this game is one of the best RPGs on the Switch that can easily last hundreds of hours for players who never want to leave the world of Aionios.

Although What Remains of Edith Finch is a short experience, Giant Sparrow’s second game tells a beautiful and emotional anthology of stories, woven together by the titular characters equally touching tale. The allegories are unique and convey just what is possible from video games, in terms of storytelling and design.

While Endwalker fails to eclipse Shadowbringers in most areas, it succeeds in what is by far its most important mandate: properly ending this extremely long storyline in an incredibly satisfying way. It’s a solid tale from start to finish. The expansion adds beautiful new areas, well-constructed new jobs, and all in all, ticks off everything that you want a Final Fantasy XIV expansion to do with the level of polish that players have come to expect. So take a deep breath Final Fantasy XIV fans, Endwalker is fantastic.

The medieval adventure you have been waiting for, this sequel improves on everything and then some, delivering a tale that is worth experiencing for a long time.

The chemistry between the main characters is electric, and pacing issues aside, there's just no denying the narrative strength of both games as a complete package. Even with the absence of Phoenix Wright, The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles is a bold step forward for the series and a crystallization of what makes it so special.

If you’ve not yet experienced the game — or just thoroughly enjoyed the original release — then the Judgement PS5 version – and I imagine the Series X|S versions – are the absolute best way to experience Kamurocho through the eyes of a detective. The visuals are better than ever, the 60fps framerate really amplifies the fluidity of Dragon Engine and combat, and load times are near non-existent. It may take a little while to get going, but once it has got its claws in you, it’ll be difficult to put down.

Fire Emblem: Three Houses is, quite possibly, the most ambitious JRPG you'll play this year. And perhaps the most impressive part about the whole game is that it actually manages to deliver on that ambition.

Marvel’s Spider-Man continues to be one of the best superhero video games released in the last decade, thanks in no small part to Yuri Lowenthal’s committed and passionate performance as Peter Parker, and the overall lighthearted tone that keeps players feeling good over the course of its 20-hour runtime. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend that you run out and buy it if you’ve already played the base game at launch, but if you’re looking for an excuse to jump back in and take a crack at all the DLC missions that have released since then, you can’t go wrong here.

An incredibly complete package and is among the best sport sims you can play currently.

Sea of Stars successfully modernizes and builds on the traditional 2D pixel RPG game and proves how such a genre has the potential to thrive among the saturated market hype for realistic games through beautiful storytelling, engaging gameplay, and brilliantly written characters.