Brad Lang
The Last of Us Part II is an exceptional experience from beginning to end, uniting its gameplay and narrative into a cohesive unit while also delivering some of the best writing and acting seen in a video game to date. It is undeniably one of the best games I've ever played.
An incredible port of an incredible game, Divinity: Original Sin 2 is just as ground-breaking and clever as it was on PC while running impressively well on the Switch’s lower-end spec.
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.
A stunning remaster of one of the greatest game trilogies of all time. Whether you've played them before or just want to relive the magic, this is definitely worth picking up.
Trials: Rising is a wildly fun game that offers both simplicity and depth in the most satisfying of ways, despite an occasionally annoying soundtrack.
We. The Revolution is a gorgeous, high stakes, intense exploration of politics during the Reign of Terror and combines interesting mechanics and storytelling to fully immerse the player in a story of corruption and desperate survival
Sea of Solitude is a masterpiece of storytelling, art-design and thematic visualisation. While not necessarily lengthy or mechanically deep it is an astoundingly well-crafted game that should be experienced by everyone
Children of Morta is a resoundingly beautiful game that tells a compelling story of growth, forgiveness and love through a set of deep of satisfying rogue-like mechanics that only kept me invested in the gameplay but the journey of The Bergsons throughout my playtime
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
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
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.
Risk of Rain 2 is an exceptional example of how to combine the rogue-like genre with shooter mechanics. Deep, satisfying and just so addictive, it's taking every cell in my body to prevent me from taking a week off from work just to play more of it.
A consistently compelling progression curve, gorgeous world, and a staggering amount of fun content makes Immortals Fenyx Rising a truly fantastic game, even if it is rather derivative at times.
Beautifully crafted, satisfying to play and over-flowing with content, Hades is a phenomenal video game that continues to impress long after you complete your first run.
Super Mario 3D is a great game to play solo or with friends and shows off some of Nintendo's best level design yet, while Bowser's Fury is an inventive take on the Mario formula that's more generous with its content than it ought to be. Both games make for a fantastic bundle and should be checked out by fans and non-fans alike.
Monster Hunter: Rise is fantastic from start to finish. It feels like a game that many will come to consider an essential on the Nintendo Switch thanks to its stunning graphics, addictive gameplay loop, consistently engaging combat, and bountiful bowls of unlockable content. Oh, and fighting alongside giant cats and dogs is simply too cool.
Resident Evil: Village is equal parts terrifying and empowering. It's haunting, tense, and filled with all kinds of gruesome action you'll only ever see in a franchise that revels in its campy nature. Fans of the franchise will no doubt pick up on its familiar beats, but that's for the best as it strikes a happy balance between fresh and familiar.
The Textorcist is a punishing, brutally difficult game that feels so good to finally conquer. A truly unique and engaging combat system accompanied by great music make this a memorable experience
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
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.