William Schwartz
The visual upgrades in GTA V take what was an impressive game on 8-year old hardware, and makes it shine bright on the new consoles. The introduction of first person perspective, and the many refinements to the game make it a trip worth taking, whether you've been there and done that, or not.
This PlayStation release of Rogue Legacy is undoubtedly the definitive release of the game. It might not get the hype and praise that the 2013 launch did, but those who happened to miss out on Rogue Legacy for PC/Mac should definitely take a look at this early release in Sony's Summer Play Program.
Bayonetta on PC is without a doubt the definitive way to play this game. Most gaming PCs will run it with great performance, and whether it's your first foray into this world or your tenth, it's an adventure worth taking again.
Super Time Force is an awesome game from bottom to top. The combination of the impressive presentation and time-bending mechanics left me captivated at times. Fast forwarding and rewinding through my current playthrough to find just the right time to jump back into the action was addictive, and the goofy storyline was enough to keep me invested for the duration.
Rocksteady Studios leaves Batman behind at the top of their game in terms of visual presentation, gameplay, and storytelling. While Arkham Knight's innovations are few, they are impactful and smart, and all work towards the common goal of giving the player the ultimate power fantasy of being the Batman.
An already beautiful experience is made even more gorgeous on the PlayStation 4 -- Journey is a trip worth taking. It's a bite sized adventure that you won't soon forget.
This Xbox One version of the Witness stands shoulder to should with its PC and PlayStation 4 counterparts, delivering the same content we saw in those releases with a comparable visual fidelity.
If you're up for a challenge and a feast for the eyes and ears, Cuphead should not be overlooked.
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain will go down as the best-looking, best-playing, and most ambitious game in the series -- one that utilizes the new-gen hardware and the incredible Fox Engine to deliver both a visual masterpiece and more robust gameplay experience than its predecessors.
With Red Dead Redemption 2 Rockstar Games has set the bar so high that other games of this nature seem infinitesimally lesser because of its existence.
Not content with just being a stylish and smart fighting game, Injustice 2 delves into deeper territory with a must-play story mode for DC fans and progression systems that'll keep players coming back for more.
War of the Chosen is an incredibly compelling reason to return to XCOM 2. Adding both depth in strategy and new content for the game. Anyone who enjoyed XCOM 2 will most certainly enjoy this excellent expansion.
Persona 5 Royal is proof that even the best games can be made better by acknowledging shortcomings and addressing them, however small they are.
Elden Ring is an absolute must-play game for 2022, but set aside some time and some patience.
The collaboration between Slightly Mad Studios and its community of fans have led to fantastic results. Project Cars is one the best, and most authentic racing experiences we've seen in quite some time.
Not quite content with improving the graphics and lumping in the downloadable content and calling it a day, Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin feels like From Software's definitive vision for the game.
Those that are up for the challenge of Bloodborne are going to find a game that plays better, looks better, and has more to keep you occupied than any of the Souls games had.
Right in the sweet spot between being fun and challenging, Helldivers is a superb cooperative experience that keeps you coming back for more.
Turtle Rock Studios' brand of Asymmetrical Multiplayer in Evolve is right up there with the very best that we've seen, with a complimentary presentation to match. For anyone looking for a reprieve from military shooters, Evolve can be an exhilarating change of pace.
Advanced Warfare puts together the most compelling competitive online multiplayer package the series has seen in years. The same can't be said for campaign or co-op, but does it really matter?