Persona 5 is the definition of style and is a masterclass in how to make a good RPG. There’s nothing about it that doesn't make it stand out. The soundtrack is one of the best I’ve heard in a long time, the combat is simple yet surprisingly deep which allows for not only the game to be quite accessible, but it is also easy to pick back up.
Backed by an incredible and rewarding open-world design, Elden Ring is a masterclass in every facet that it brings to the table. Without a doubt, this is FromSoftware’s magnum opus.
Larian's mastery of RPGs is in full swing with Baldur's Gate 3 and at no point does the game pull its punches. This game is nothing short of a masterpiece.
Striking a balance between superb visuals, outstanding sound design, excellent character writing and a well-written story which spans wonderfully rich Celtic and Norse mythology, Hellblade will go down as one of my favourite games of this generation and perhaps even longer than that
Pokémon Sun and Moon is a breath of fresh air in a series that was perhaps becoming a bit stale. With the new region of Alola being divided the way it is, there is a great emphasis on variety and diversity.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is an incredible game that was crafted from the ashes of a Tenchu reboot
Monster Hunter World: Iceborne has blown me away with just the sheer quality that it puts forth
Monster Hunter Rise shows a tremendous amount of progress in terms of game design and accessibility, even after the great strides that Monster Hunter World made in those fields, and continues to improve upon itself with interesting ideas like the new monsters and the Wirebug – this game is a must buy.
Attack on Titan: Wings of Freedom impressively captures the finesse and chaos that the anime conveys. With its Spiderman-like grappling system and simple combat, the game should be a welcome addition to fans of the series and gamers alike.
Forza Horizon 4 offers an insane set of visuals, vast amounts of content, an impressive level of optimisation and great structural changes that allow for a genuinely enthralling experience and cements the Xbox ecosystem as the home of racing
NieR: Automata is a triumph of creativity, superlative combat, interesting characters and is just an all-round great game. Its short-but-sweet story is given substantial depth by a game structure that encourages and incentivises multiple playthroughs
Bayonetta and Bayonetta 2 are fantastic games on their own and they are a true mark on PlatinumGames’ ability as creative developers
The Outer Worlds consistently raises the bar for what an RPG of its kind should be like
A few missteps don't stop Nioh 2 from being a superb sequel to one of the stronger Soulslike games around
Great storytelling, solid characters, impressive performance and subtle changes to the formula set by XCOM create the impressive spinoff title that is Gears Tactics
Monster Hunter Stores 2: Wings of Ruin has made me a believer that not all JRPGs will rub me the wrong way. Its charming, lovely story mixed with its wonderfully engaging combat and being able to kidnap monsters create a fantastic experience which also adds to the depth of Monster Hunter's world and lore.
Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope expertly toes the line between Nintendo's penchant for accessible titles targeting younger audiences and Ubisoft's matured gameplay systems to create an experience like no other.
Tekken 8 is as equally ridiculous as it is sensible. It makes crazy, entertaining choices for its story while also opening its doors to a more contemporary, wider audience through some systems that increase the game's approachability.
Persona 3 Reload risked feeling like a Persona 5 mod with some of the proposed changes in its promotional material, however, ATLUS rose to the occasion and succeeded in bringing the series' seminal moment into the modern light.
Halo Wars 2 brilliantly captures what was great about the original, while also adding more depth and variety to the playing field. This is definitely a game for both newcomers and veterans alike.