In the end, CS:GO is CS. There's something to be said for a game that knows what it is and executes that idea well. Between the refined quality of classic CS, and the new tweaks and modes, there is plenty here to warrant a $15 price tag whether you have played CS before or not. The potential value is absurd given the historic and expected persistence of the community. CS:GO is hard, hardcore, and still a blast to play.

A great game for the handheld and can satisfy any hardcore gamers' craving for something more than cooking games and language teachers on their DS.

Metro Exodus is the most ambitious game in the series to date, and also the most impressive.

Iconoclasts is a brilliant game that permeates from the amount of care and time put into it. It is by far one of the best of 2018, and I recommend everyone give it a go. It is now available on almost everything (still waiting on my XB1 version guys!) and even if you are as sick of the tried and true formula of so many other games in this genre, this one stands out. Yes it is worth noting that we are affiliated with the publisher, but I promise that has no bearing on my feelings for this game. It stands out above the crowd and deserves so much more attention than it is currently getting.

Forza Motorsport is a game I rarely get excited about playing, but almost every time I dive in, it gets better.

The learning curve is not very steep, and newcomers to the series shouldn’t have any problems grasping the gameplay, especially if they listen to Anna.

Much of the changes in Civ Rev are of the give and take variety ultimately streamlining gameplay with little sacrifice.

If you’re into pinball, particularly ZEN Pinball, the Iron and Steel pack is yet another great addition to an already solid library.

Truly one of the most impressive years for the monstrous sports studio.

For what it’s worth, The Division 2 is a fine game. It’s finely tuned, looks gorgeous in 4K, plays like I would have hoped, and just takes a great idea and improves on it. Co-op is the way to go, and solo players will still have some fun with it, but it will be a more difficult romp. Massive has shown they listened to their fans and wanted to make a game that the players wanted to see and they did just that. It’s a great shooter, great RPG, and well worth the time for anyone looking for a rewarding adventure.

Thumper is one of my favorite games this year, simple yet challenging, visually stimulating, and excellent sound use. Easy to play, hard to master is the familiar phrase that comes to mind.

Without redefining the foundations of the original, Outlast 2 weaves an intriguing tale- paced expertly through environments that breed a sense of tension and paranoia only the best in the genre can muster.

High on Life is a fantastic experience hindered by some technical shortcomings. The world and characters are simply fantastic and it is genuinely hilarious, which is one of the hardest things in gaming to achieve. This game shot up my list of the best of 2022 from the outset and it didn’t disappoint by the end. I really enjoyed my time with it and look forward to what the team works on next. The fact that it is available on Game Pass is just icing on the cake. I can’t recommend this game enough, it is a wonderful way to end the year and more than worth playing through.

GRAW 2 is the definition of a year-to-year sequel. All of the things great about the original are here and all of the issues have been addressed in some form or fashion.

You'll never feel more like a badass and you'll never have a bigger smile on your face.

At ten bucks it is hard to go wrong, even if it lacks online play, a mission mode and true widescreen support. Soulcalibur is one of those games that everyone needs to play at least once in their lives, and there has never been a better time to jump in.

It isn't full of guns, aliens or even tons of gore and it certainly doesn't have the marketing muscle of some of the other games currently occupying store shelves, but it does have one thing most of them lack: character. The relationship between Elika and the Prince is easily the best duo found in a game yet and the developers have done an outstanding job of forcing you to care for Elika more than even yourself.

The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing was a fantastic game and the Complete Pack adds all the extras that were released.

Go Home Dinosaurs may seem like a Plants vs. Zombies clone on paper, but is only similar in spirit and shouldn’t play second fiddle.

It remains a perfect game for a mobile platform – something that can be quickly picked up and enjoyed for either a short or long stretch of time. It's still the best game of its kind, and something that will keep puzzle fans happy for a very long time.

Set in a world of wise cracking, battling robots, Robocalypse offers madcap weaponry and uproarious destruction, all embedded in a deep strategy war game.

Need for Speed: Shift is a large step forward for the genre. The balance between arcade and simulation is nearly flawless, not to mention the graphics are jaw-dropping.

Very addicting.

Even when I found myself getting kind of bored doing the same thing, the game still sucked me in because I wanted to solve the very interesting maze puzzles that the game would throw at me.

Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice is the pinnacle of the series and really does cater to the hardcore fans.

I really enjoyed Shank. It was a somewhat short experience of around four hours, but the entire time I was having fun. The combat and the platforming all flow so smoothly throughout the game.

The multiplayer is a blast and the battles just feel so epic. For $15, you really can't go wrong with this action RPG. It will take some patience, but once you understand how the game works, you will be hooked.

For an indie game that was created by Mark and a handful of other people, this is actually really impressive.