Dragon’s Dogma 2 captures the spirit of the original without sanding down the edges of what made it excellent. Its insistence on player exploration and discovery, coupled with an ending I will think about for the rest of the year, makes Dragon’s Dogma 2 a standout game and a worthy successor.
It feels incredible to play and is designed to be a constantly upward ramp in both difficulty and execution. The basic tools and ideas it teaches you in its early stages come full circle when it has you running the gauntlet in its final sections of level
Plot threads will pull you all over, mysteries lie just beyond reach, and getting to them is half the battle. Elden Ring promotes exploration and a sense of place. Each enemy, item, and piece of scenery is placed with purpose.
Everything Inscryption does culminates into a gruesome and harrowing tale told through a simple but rewarding card game. Creator Daniel Mullins had a clear and concise concept for this game executed on the highest level.
Hitman 3 cements itself as one of the best stealth-action games on the market. With lessons learned from the first two games and the ability to import all of those levels into 3, it’s hard-pressed to find a game with as much attention to detail and freedom as this one.
Monster Hunter Rise is the clear next-step in the entry and is right at home on the Nintendo Switch. A great online system and a beautiful-looking game thanks to the RE Engine provides an excellent experience for Monster Hunter fans new and old. Grab your weapon, eat a meal, restock your items, and head out because it’s time to hunt.
Psychonauts 2 is an adventure I won’t forget anytime soon. It’s filled with moments of laughs, tears, and even some confusion, but that’s what makes it unique. Fans who have been waiting for this game since finishing the first game 16 years ago, you’re in for a real treat.