Madden NFL 21 has an excellent new game mode that's great for short spurts, but the series staples don't move the needle.
PGA Tour 2K21 builds off of the solid foundation of The Golf Club series, delivering a wonderful golf sim that's getting closer to the real thing.
Skelattack is a side-scrolling platformer with a lot of heart, but it ends too quickly and the obstacles it places in front of you are hampered because of it.
Kingdom Hearts 3: Re:Mind's new playable characters and post-game bosses aren't enough to save it from feeling like a tired retread of events experienced just last year.
Nothing offers the lighthearted, fun for all ages battle royale that Fortnite does.
Link's Awakening is the best top-down Zelda to date.
Blasphemous is an eery Metroidvania with gorgeous animations and combat that's just a tad too one-dimensional.
Monster Hunter World: Iceborne is one of the best games of the year, expansion or not.
Astral Chain is every bit as awesome as it looks in motion, which is to say it's downright incredible.
Madden NFL 20's Ultimate Team and Franchise modes are superb, but the career mode misses the mark.