Brad Lang
So far, Ori and the Will of the Wisps has taken my breath away. It's possibly one of the most aesthetically gorgeous games I've ever played, even if some parts do feel like they've been ripped straight from the first game and the soundtrack is masterful in every sense of the word.
Bloodroots is an aesthetically gorgeous, grindhouse inspired action game with a glorious combat system that's unfortunately spoiled by some poorly designed platforming segments that just refuse to gel with the game's core mechanics.
Its mediocre ideas result in nothing more than a functionality that spoils solid art. Snack World: The Dungeon Crawl – Gold could have been a unique take on the genre but unfortunately cashes out too early to make any kind of lasting impression.
While Warcraft 3 is still a phenomenal game to play today, Reforged is unfortunately a chaotic storm of failed promises, technical bugs and missed opportunities that makes a great game worse.
Drawkanoid is a unique, creative exploration of brick-breaker games and the mechanics that drive them. It delivers a solidly enjoyable experience but is unfortunately limited in its scope.
Not Tonight is a bold puzzle game that's unafraid to shy away from very serious issues while delivering a strong narrative, cathartic gameplay loop and consistently pretty presentation
The Stretchers is a deceptively simple co-op game that manages to be fun for every second of it's brief run time, delivering interesting levels and hilarious chaos as your shout at your partner (or left hand) to just pick up the damn stretcher
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is an ambitious exploration of the Star Wars universe that succeeds in delivering both compelling combat and characters, even if it suffers from tedious exploration mechanics and a lack of polish.
The Witcher 3 for Switch is a marvellous port that makes some smart sacrifices to graphics and performance to translate a fantastic game in a downgraded but highly playable action-RPG
Outer Wilds is a monumental success in video game design and storytelling and should be experienced by anyone who sees the value in immersive, interactive storytelling despite its graphical hitches on PS4
MediEvil is a loveable, charming romp through a classic action game that unfortunately suffers because of overly stiff controls and combat that often feels imprecise and impractical
Valfaris is a frenetic, violent homage to classic shooters and heavy metal, with satisfying gameplay and challenging boss encounters, it'll be appreciated by anybody looking for something fun to head-bang to
Occasionally obtuse and slow, Disco Elysium excels at delivering one of the best role-playing game experiences in a very long time with exceptional writing, world building and mechanical immersion
While maybe straying a bit too close to older games in the series, Doraemon Story of Seasons still delivers a charming role-playing farm experience with a gorgeous aesthetic and satisfying gameplay loop
Concrete Genie is a short, deeply moving expression of creativity and life. Despite embracing some generic mechanics towards the end, Concrete Genie is a bold, passionate game that bears one of the most stunning aesthetics I've seen all year
Faithfully adapted, bristling with depth, beautifully written and gorgeous to look at, Stygian: Reign of the Old Ones is a fantastic role-playing game that's hampered by a frustrating and tedious combat system that is sure to turn many players away in the early goings.
Dragon Quest XI Definitive Edition is a monumental game. It highlights everything the original already got right and adds so many unique features that enhance an already phenomenal experience. It's a stand-out success for JRPG's and RPG's in general, both a modern epic and classic in every sense of the word.
The Surge 2 does enough to tweak the formula of the original to iron out some of the creases that plagued the original game, these improvements overshadowing the game's hit-or-miss writing and occasionally recycled content.
Blasphemous is a twisted take on religion and Metroidvanias, providing great combat, fantastic visuals and a world that's soaked in both blood and well-written lore
Daymare 1998 is a competent survival horror game that borrows too heavily from its influences to do anything interesting or unique and thus suffers from poor writing and uninspired gameplay