Jason Fanelli
God of War: Ragnarok is, simply put, the complete package. It tells one of the best stories in video games, one that will have you run the gamut of emotions while playing through it. Fighting the enemies of the realms feels a lot like the previous game, but there's enough new and refined elements to help it stand on its own.
As a seasoned veteran of the series from the very beginning, believe me when I tell you that Super Smash Bros. for Wii U is the pinnacle of Smash.
The idea of old life versus new life is a recurring theme throughout Uncharted 4 — Drake asks Sam at one point what they're even doing in this situation — cycling these themes through scenes past and present.
The Frozen Wilds makes no changes to the core gameplay, following the “don't fix what isn't broken” philosophy.
Horizon: Forbidden West is everything I wanted from a follow-up to the excellent Zero Dawn, from the twisting story and fierce combat to the cast of memorable characters.
With Horizon Zero Dawn, Guerrilla Games crafted a beautiful open world filled with life, both mechanical and human, and crammed full of things to do.
With Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration, Digital Eclipse has set a new bar for future historical compilations in video games. It's a digital traveling museum exhibit, as the game bursts at the seams with nostalgia thanks to more than 100 playable games and hundreds of relics from the developer's vault. While a good amount of the games offered will pass by quickly, those brief life spans cannot weigh down the amazing historical value of Atari 50, and I hope Digital Eclipse has more wings of its digital history tour opening in the coming years.
Capcom's flagship fighter is back in form with intricate but approachable fighting mechanics and a feature-rich package.
Sabotage Studio unearths a time capsule in this incredible retro-style RPG.
Amazingly, with all of its roots firmly planted in the past, Cuphead raises the bar for indie games and platformers alike.
The Long Dark is a tense and harrowing experience both in Story and Survival modes.
Skyrim is still a beautiful game to behold six years after its original launch, only now I can play it wherever I wish.
Street Fighter V: Arcade Edition has reignited my love for the franchise, and the future of SFV shines even brighter.
The Messenger is a love letter to a bygone era that drops me right back into those wonderful times as soon as I turn on the Switch. Make sure you schedule a delivery with The Messenger, because you will not be disappointed when you sign for it.
The Council Episode Four Burning Bridges is the best episode of the game so far.
It’s maybe a half-hour longer than it needs to be, but that 30 minutes cannot damper the total package of GRIS. Put this game on your radar immediately and take the time to experience it
Hitman 3 defies every expectation I had for it, from the size of its maps to the scope of its missions. I am truly free to approach these jobs however I wish, so long as the objectives are met, and that freedom is downright exhilarating. It’s not without its foibles, the inconsistency with its enemies being one that I ran into, but any issues are easily overcome by the quality of the overall experience. This may be 47’s last hurrah for a while, but dang if he doesn’t go out swinging.
If you liked Final Fantasy VII Remake, you're going to love Intergrade. I know that sentence has a lot of "well DUH" energy, but it's the truth; at its core this is an enhanced version of one of 2020's best games. From visuals to framerate, Intergrade improves upon the original, with some scenes really popping off of the screen thanks to the PlayStation 5's prowess. Intermission is at its core more of the same, but the tandem attacks are an excellent addition and the story implications are intriguing. It's not Part 2, and Lord knows when that's actually happening, but for now Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade scratches the FFVII Remake itch.
Starfield is one of the best space-based RPGs ever made, one where hours fly by in minutes, and one where the only hard limit is your imagination.
Mortal Kombat X continues to launch the game to new heights. It's a bloody, gory bout of glory with intricate controls, a varied and balanced roster, and a ton of ways to play both online against peers or alone on the couch. I had a blast fighting my way through the game, and I suspect I won't be the only one.