Super Mario 3D World is the closest we will ever come to a perfect Mario game, one that is a culmination of every right decision ever made in the series. Alone, or with friends, the first time, or the tenth time, it does everything right. It's a wonderful adventure, and makes me proud to be a Wii U owner.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild could very well gone down in history as the best The Legend of Zelda game ever made. I genuinely feel it is the best entry in the series I have ever played.
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask is a must play game now, even more so than it was when it first launched. This experimental installment in the series is a boundary-expanding triumph. It challenges people's perception of Link's adventures and action RPGs in general. The time limit makes things feel more real, and the masks make the game more compelling. The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D may deal with dark matters, but it will light up your life.
It transcends the open-world, outlaw-focused games like Red Dead Revolver and Red Dead Redemption to become so much more.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is a game that rekindles a fire you may not have even realized was fading. This racing game is absolutely incredible. It takes Mario Kart 8, an absolutely fantastic game, then improves upon it by offering the sort of Battle arenas and experiences we adored in previous games, the ability to play it anywhere in any way, and various quality of life adjustments. Everything has been tightened, fine tuned and is firing on all cylinders. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe isn't just here to help you coast through the launch window, it is a game that will offer comfortable cruising for years to come.
It's difficult to describe just how good ARMS is. The best analogy I can come up with is that it is to fighting games what Splatoon is to third-person shooters. ARMS is a bright, colorful, and welcoming game. Newcomers can easily hop in and enjoy most of the matches and modes available. Meanwhile, the more dedicated will find themselves developing complex strategies based on characters and ARMS loadouts and captivated by the opportunities to challenge others online. I would not be surprised to see it spawn multiple successful successors.
A copy of this game was provided by the publisher.
Perhaps the best thing of all is how Spiritfarer builds, grows, and ends.
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is full of the sorts of complexities and nuances that make you want to double back and analyze the script, lore, and artwork in every scene.
Shin Megami Tensei V is an incredible and memorable experience. It does some extraordinary things, both in terms of gameplay and its story. I’d even say the experience could be daunting, but in the most positive way. It is going to test you and make you think.
Chrono Cross has always been an exceptional and historically important game, and this is even more true with the remaster.
After getting a bit experimental with Three Houses, Intelligent Systems returns to more traditional, stellar gameplay with Fire Emblem Engage.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom offers something for every player, and does so while welcoming anyone with its accessible premise and world.
Pikmin 4 is a stunning, cozy game, and quality of life features like the addition of Oatchi help relieve any sources of stress.
Sea of Stars is a lovely, heartfelt game with a cast of well-realized characters, a fun battle system, and a world begging to be explored.
It may only be February, but I'm confident Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is going to be 2024's Game of the Year.
The poker roguelike. Balatro is a hypnotically satisfying deckbuilder where you play illegal poker hands, discover game-changing jokers, and trigger adrenaline-pumping, outrageous combos. Switch version reviewed. Everything comes together beautifully and seamlessly in Balatro, and it is now one of my favorite deck-building games ever.
The accommodations made to ensure the inputs are perfect for your setup, the ability to customize everything right down to the vocal parts, and crisp presentation make for a game that people will want to keep in their living rooms and enjoy for weeks, rather than play once then pop into storage.
There's just so much to do in Kirby Triple Deluxe, further proving that Kirby is still our lovably stalwart companion. He's been by our sides as we've grown up, and will undoubtly remain a part of our lives as long as Nintendo makes games. For this, we should be thankful and, it seems as long as HAL Laboratory is around, we will be guaranteed fantastic installments. Kirby Triple Deluxe is an amazing game with tons of replay value and is one of the few games that makes the most of the 3DS' capabilities. It's a sure winner and will long be remembered one of the best games the 3DS has to offer.
You have the freedom to explore San Francisco and see the sights, get involved with side quests, or keep going after Blume. It’s this wonderfully open and freeing experience and, while I can’t speak much to the multiplayer endeavors due to extenuating circumstances, Watch Dogs 2 feels like a stronger, more solid, and more enjoyable game.