Obsidian Entertainment has crafted a masterpiece; every RPG fan owes it to themselves to play Avowed. With a breathtaking world, incredible companions, thrilling combat, intricate customization and deep systems, The Living Lands beckon.
Blue Prince invites you to discover its most profound secrets while offering one of the best puzzle games of the year.
Ys X: Nordics showcases many outstanding elements the series excels at — combat, skills, music, and characters are on-point and some of the best we've seen in the nearly 40 years the series has existed.
Mario & Luigi: Brothership may not reinvent the series but it's yet another excellent adventure filled with over the top humour featuring the iconic Mario brothers.
Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D is an excellent remake. Despite some cumbersome traditional gameplay mechanics the series holds onto, like item and party management, the classical turn-based combat is well-paced and offers a fair challenge to everyone.
In a love letter to the character, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle proposes that the series' future isn't in film but in video games.
With an engaging dub, thoughtful combat, and a commendable cast, Fantasian Neo Dimension is one of this year's best — and one of Mistwalker's finest titles.
Hazelight Studio's Split Fiction elevates the co-op experience to new heights while telling a touching story about loss and friendship.
Xenoblade Chronicles X is an ambitious and sprawling RPG that excels in exploration, world-building, and strategic combat.
Doom: The Dark Ages is much more focused than its predecessors and more fun thanks to id Software’s ability to continually refine the Doom formulas to feel different enough that it never gets boring.
Sea of Stars: Throes of the Watchmaker is an excellent follow-up that further fleshes out supporting characters and backstory.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a likely frontrunner for Game of the Year. For a studio comprised of newcomers, Sandfall Interactive has crafted a love letter to JRPGs and rekindled the discussion of whether or not turn-based games have faded into obscurity.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is a bigger and bolder expansion that will once again split fans and critics. The improvements across the board are felt immediately, bringing about a significant amount of much-needed change to the formula. Between the changes to stealth and combat, the new structures you can build, and the new settings, cast, and music, Death Stranding 2 has proven that Kojima is not only on point but also an auteur of the industry. There is nobody like him doing what he does, and I sincerely doubt there will be.
While EA Sports FC 25 features welcome improvements to player movements, reactions, and overall pacing, staples like Career Mode continue to saddle the bench.
Super Mario Party Jamboree is easily the biggest game in the Mario Party series. It's brimming with charm and packed with characters, boards, oodles of minigames, and humour.
Fear the Spotlight delivers chills thanks to a moody atmosphere and great use of silence. Together, these elements work with the narrative to tell a thrilling story with shocking revelations.
Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven is an eclectic, brilliant remake. The presentation, art direction, battle system, and music deliver an all-time classic for a new generation. You can see how much love and attention the developers put into celebrating the original.
LEGO Horizon Adventures is a great way to experience Horizon Zero Dawn, but it isn't the best way. That's what the recent remaster is for. Either way, you can't go wrong here, as Guerrilla Games and Studio Gobo deliver an excellent title that'll resonate with younger players and fans of the series.
Undoubtedly, Antonblast is one of those few platformers you'll remember for ages.
Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana is a look to the past for the series, updating one of Adol's best adventures with bells and whistles like Turbo Mode, new voiced lines, and more. If you're curious about the series, The Oath in Felghana is a great place to start, but be warned that there is a challenging game ahead of you. Thankfully, it doesn't overstay its welcome and has a straightforward story that'll keep you invested to the end (and onward to more adventures).