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Breath of the Wild laid the groundwork for what is possible in a Zelda game, and then Tears of the Kingdom took all of that, broke the rules, and added more to that equation. It’s a game that can be experienced at any pace and is the magnum opus, if not the swan song, of an aging console that proves it can still make masterpieces.
You may not hear a playful theme song when you ride a Chocobo, but the spirit of the series lives on in how Final Fantasy XVI weaves both combat and story to create an exciting experience that is hard to put down.
With hundreds of hours of gameplay, various quests to complete, and thousands of planets to survey and explore, Starfield capitalizes on everything that has worked for Bethesda in the past, giving us an experience that feels like a giant leap in greatness.
It was a long road for CD Projekt RED from the botched launch of Cyberpunk 2077 to the game it has become with Phantom Liberty – and although the road was bumpy, the light at the end of the tunnel was real after all. The only expansion this game will receive has a fantastic storyline, plenty of feels, entertainment, joy, and technical bells and whistles.
Ultimately, it's hard for me to believe not only that I just played a Ubisoft game. It's also hard for me to believe just how much I liked Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. This is not a good game. This is an excellent title, one of the best in its genre, and if it's not a candidate for the game of the year, it should certainly be nominated as one of the biggest surprises, but from the pleasant category.
System Shock is a remake years in the making, and Nightdive Studios masterfully reimagines the critically acclaimed classic. From the challenging puzzles, dangerous combat, cyberpunk aesthetic, and the tragic story that serves as the backbone for it all, there’s a lot to love about this game. System Shock’s legacy will live on in this brilliant modern take.
With a faster feel, reworked move lists, and a Drive system that rewards aggressive and defensiveness at the same time, Street Fighter 6 revitalizes the series and offers all kinds of players something new to learn and plenty to do.
Darkest Dungeon II continues the legacy of the original game as a brutally dark and difficult roguelite turn-based RPG. Much like the characters in the game, riding out in a hopeless effort to stave off the apocalypse, the player will find themself pushing forward despite certain defeat, with only a weak promise that next time it will be a little easier. It’s impressive that such a relentlessly challenging game can still have the player coming back for more.
Pikmin 4 is the best the series has produced so far. It brings with it elements that have worked before to give us a complete package that keeps the magic of Pikmin alive.
FromSoftware has once again delivered and fulfilled my silent dreams. Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon is a brilliant game – and that's that. It's very addictive, extremely attractive, and – simply – worth recommending. Get into the cockpit and fight for freedom
Baldur’s Gate 3 is a great adventure that's fun to be in. I adore this game despite all the potential pitfalls. Its freedom and possibilities really stand out – I think about the only game that could rival this RPG would be Fallout: New Vegas.
It may not reinvent the superhero video game format, but Spider-Man 2 refines what came before and gives us an adventure that carefully balances gameplay and storytelling while keeping us entertained even after the credits roll.
Alan Wake 2 proves to be worth the wait. This sequel is an upgrade in nearly every way, and while player influence on the story can feel limited at times, the engaging narrative more than compensates. From the challenging, tense combat to the excellent environmental storytelling, Alan Wake 2 will have no trouble hooking players from start to finish.
The Talos Principle 2 is a powerful puzzle game that builds on its predecessor and effortlessly takes your mind for a ride.
There really is a lot to love about Tekken 8, and the great thing is how familiar the game still feels while constantly impressing you with everything that’s new and shiny. This is a new generation of Tekken that is sure to keep you hooked for a very long time.
From its music to the new battle enhancements to even how certain characters convey more empathy in their line delivery – Reload is a labor of love that modernizes Persona 3 while still retaining the alluring charm of the original.
While may stumble at times with balancing the amount of mini-games it throws your way, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth excels in all other areas and feels magnificent when all its pieces click into place.
Stellar Blade is an above-average title. Well-developed, with a captivating story from the first moment, and most importantly engaging due to thoroughly well-planned and competently executed gameplay. The South Korean studio Shift Up performed exceptionally well, and despite my initial skepticism, I ultimately saw it as one of the top games of 2024.
Cities Skylines 2 offers a myriad of great, all-round, quality-of-life improvements over the prequel. Whereas the game faces technical challenges at launch, it seems well set to become a worthy successor of the original, being much more sleek and accessible as well as bringing a bunch of fun novelties.
In some respects, The Invincible is simply a work of art. And among others, a great story and 6-8 hours of wandering through one of the most beautifully designed planets in a video game.