Ghost of Tsushima is the best Assassin's Creed game there is, and likely the closest many users will ever get to experiencing what it's like to be a samurai in 11th century Japan.
Although they're mainly known for maintaining the video game distribution network Steam these days, it's important to remember how instrumental Valve's games have been in moving the video game industry forward. With the recent release of Half-Life: Alyx, Valve's most impressive title yet, it's hard not to think that a new era for virtual reality has either just ended, or just begun. Either way, the game is a step forward for new, more immersive ways to engage with the interactive storytelling medium, and once a larger number of players get a chance to experience Half-Life: Alyx for themselves it's likely many, many more people will be inspired to go out and buy their own virtual reality headsets.
Elden Ring is a nearly perfect game.
For people who have been playing Dead Cells routinely since launch, Return to Castlevania offers a cathartic experience akin to your favorite author reading you their favorite book. For new players who love games like Castlevania: Symphony of the Night but haven't yet tried Dead Cells, there has never been a better time.
Bloober Team's Blair Witch game sequel to 1999's The Blair Witch Project introduces an inventive combination of gameplay mechanics and a spooky story.
The Outer Worlds is exactly what players expected, and that's not a bad thing.
DOOM Eternal is a fantastic game, taking all of the elements which made DOOM 2016 such a surprisingly enjoyable reboot of the franchise and implementing dozens of new concepts in a way which makes the entire experience feel fresh all over again.
Even with smaller stakes, XCOM's strategy shines through.
Hitman 3 is the best of the newer Hitman games and quite possibly the best Hitman game in the franchise.
Unavowed expertly blends fantasy and crime genres with stellar writing, acting, and artwork to create a game that is both memorable and entertaining, and should be experienced by anyone who thinks the glory days of Sierra On-Line are the only time period where great point-and-click games can be found.
From a fantastic opening credits scene performed by Puddles Pity Party to its final exciting moments, I Expect You To Die 2: The Spy and the Liar delivers exactly what fans of the first game have come to expect - a campy spy adventure with increasingly deadly stakes, dramatically elaborate puzzles, and lots of physics objects to pretend to eat or simply throw across the room. For anyone with a fondness for James Bond stories or 1950's noir - and access to a VR headset - The Spy and the Liar is a fantastic choice.
With any roguelike game, the biggest problem is repetition. Hitman: Freelancer is in a strange place when it comes to this; the core gameplay loop and these levels have, in some cases, been around since 2016, and repetition is built into the game's framework. If someone has yet to play the recent entries, and with all three previous games wrapped up in one package, Hitman: World of Assassination is an incredible deal. As a free update for players who already own Hitman 3, it's absolutely worth jumping back into.
Armored Core 6 is one of the best mech games I've experienced in years, and it's one I expect to play through at least two more times. The story of Rubicon, and how your decisions as a mercenary shape it, is my favorite story in gaming this year, up to and including all the big releases that have come out so far. It's an exceptionally well-made title with few bugs, incredible graphics, great gameplay, and a thought-provoking narrative. I just wish it was a little longer.
Spyro Reignited Trilogy releases on Switch and PC, an enjoyable experience for all 3D platforming fans.
Wreckfest finally brings its demolition derbies and violent vehicular races to consoles.
Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain is a buggy masterclass in third-person shooter fun.
Everything about Qubit's Quest, from the game's story to its defensive mechanics, is designed in such a way as to be enjoyable for any age group, and with so many different forms of gameplay included this title is easily the best MARS lightcon game currently available.
Red Dead Redemption 2 on PC remains both a visual and storytelling masterpiece.
Darksiders Genesis is a fantastic continuation of the series' traditional formula.
RE3 is good, but it's just more of the same.