EarthNight's impossibly stylish gameplay and art direction draw players into a whimsical fantasy of dragon slaying. Its multitude of secrets, carefully rewarding platforming, and retro heartbeat allow each moment and each run of this gem to always surprise and captivate.
The Last of Us Part II is an emotionally jarring epic. Players are plunged into the bleak world of the fragile human psyche, twinged with poignant moments of hope and calm and smeared with the violence of reality.
Assassin's Creed Odyssey is a celebration of the series' highlights, transforming the open world genre with its breathtaking scenery, meaningful choices, and exhausting amount of detail that rewards players every step of the way. Ubisoft Quebec's brave quest to make an RPG results in the best entry in Assassin's Creed's historic treks through time.
Since its announcement, Massive and Ubisoft have said all the right things about The Division 2, from a wealth of content to a robust endgame. For once, it's refreshing to see the reality be more than mere words as The Division 2 sets a new standard for the genre. This is the high bar "games as a service" should aspire to.
DOOM Eternal is one of the most exhilarating first-person shooters in recent years. Hesitation is punished but fleet-footed and aggressive players who love a challenge are rewarded with the viscera of a demon bloodbath and spectacularly hellish worlds.
As more than just an homage to 80s pop culture, Huntdown proudly shows off its 16-bit influences. Inspired arcade gameplay keeps a brisk pace while a wealth of inventive boss fights and neon-drenched challenge transport the player to a time when quarters reigned supreme.
Assassin's Creed Valhalla is a refinement of the series as a whole, curating years' of mechanics and ideas into a generational bookend that should please open world adventurers and devotees of the hidden blade.
With The Outer Worlds, Obsidian Entertainment recaptures the secret sauce that Bethesda has let spoil in recent years. Hilarious, engaging, and rife with player possibility, this space-faring romp is everything an RPG fan has been craving.
Prey: Mooncrash melds Arkane's excellent immersive sim playground with the challenge of a roguelike that gives players a good excuse to dive back into what made Prey so fun.
Though abandoning the episodic format, Hitman 2 continues the incredible promise of the 2016 reboot by giving players the exquisite task of cleverly eliminating targets in densely creative sandboxes on the quest to become the world's premiere bald assassin.