Live A Live presents an interesting take on the JRPG genre, with seven separate stories to complete across wildly different genres. The premise deserves a lot of credit, as does its confident execution. However, some chapters are much better than others, and the combat isn’t quite strong enough to work as Live A Live’s central mechanic.
Bayonetta 3 takes what worked about the first two games and continues to refine it, from the balletic combat, to the diverse assortment of wacky characters, to the snarky sense of humor. Aging Switch hardware means that the performance is uneven, however, and the difficulty curve can sometimes swing a little too far toward “punishing.”
Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope is a worthy sequel to one of the most bizarre games on Nintendo Switch
Grounded is an unusual take on the survival/crafting genre, with a clever premise and a decent sense of style. Tedious gameplay drags the experience down, though.
Diablo Immortal has solid core gameplay, dragged down by incessant and confusing free-to-play nonsense.
Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers brings a daring and unusual JRPG back into the spotlight, but doesn’t smooth over many of its rough patches.
Babylon's Fall is an ugly, clunky, incomprehensible mess, and gamers should expect better from both Platinum and Square Enix.
Elden Ring offers rewarding gameplay, a cohesive setting and gripping lore. Some of the open-world systems feel clunkier than they should, though.
Age of Empires IV may not redefine the real-time strategy genre like its predecessors, but it's still a deep and challenging dive into the world of medieval warfare.
Metroid Dread meets - and arguably surpasses - its lofty expectations, with demanding gameplay, clever level design and an ambitious story.
Diablo II: Resurrected recreates the best parts of the original game with a fresh coat of paint. However, the core gameplay design feels a bit dated.
Deathloop makes the most of its creative time loop mechanics and tight gameplay, but the repetition can wear thin after a while.
Tales of Arise doesn't exactly forge new ground in the JRPG genre, but a fast-paced battle system and a well-told story make it easy to pick up, and hard to put down.
Marvel's Avengers: War for Wakanda adds an interesting playable character, but the game's structure is as repetitive and unfocused as ever.
Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut is the best way to play one of 2020's best games, but the PS5 upgrade can be a bit pricey.
Assassin's Creed Valhalla: The Siege of Paris provides more familiar gameplay, but doesn't add much to the well-worn series formula.
Neo: The World Ends with You is filled to the brim with style and charm, but actually playing the game can get tedious sometimes.
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD makes a few smart improvements to an excellent game. A cumbersome control scheme still holds it back, however.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade leverages the PS5 to make a great game even better, but it's the Intermission DLC where the experience really shines.
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is the exclusive title the PS5 has been waiting for. With finely tuned gameplay, an ambitious story and terrific production values, it's a high-water mark for the series.