Marshall Honorof
Ghost of Tsushima is pretty similar to other open-world games, but a strong combat system and a solid samurai story give it some staying power.
Trover Saves the Universe feels really, really chill, and that alone makes it pleasantly different from most other games out there.
Nier Replicant deserves praise for its clever characters and unorthodox setting, even if the gameplay and level design can get repetitive by the end.
Assassin's Creed Valhalla is a good time, with fun combat and a beautiful setting. But it's also full of the open-world busywork that's characterized the series lately.
Assassin's Creed Odyssey has everything it needs to be bigger and better than Origins. But in practice, it's mostly just bigger.
Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Wrath of the Druids is an expansion that plays it safe, delivering the same basic gameplay and structure as the core title.
Deathloop makes the most of its creative time loop mechanics and tight gameplay, but the repetition can wear thin after a while.
Neo: The World Ends with You is filled to the brim with style and charm, but actually playing the game can get tedious sometimes.
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.
High On Life is an anarchic take on the first-person shooter genre, replete with improvisational, off-color humor and a bizarre tone that few other games can match. Even if you don't vibe with its comedy style, though, High On Life still offers tight gameplay, with plenty of ways to customize your playstyle.
Marvel’s Midnight Suns delivers satisfying strategic battles, as well as a full-fledged superhero social sim. The deckbuilding elements give players plenty of room to find their own strategies. The game has some graphical and technical shortcomings, but a strong story and cast should keep superhero fans hooked for dozens of hours.
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
Defense Grid 2 offers tight strategic gameplay with a wealth of options and a story that's much better than it needs to be.
With a gripping story, refined gameplay and some bold new ideas, Shadow of Mordor is a must-have title.
Bloodborne is an exceptional game for both longtime fans and newcomers, but it's a little less delightfully vexing than its predecessors.
The Handsome Collection targets a very specific type of Borderlands fan, but for the intended audience, it's a great buy.
Until Dawn is a B-movie delight for horror fans, thanks to creative narrative mechanics and excellent production values.
Minecraft: Story Mode feels more like a Telltale adventure than a traditional Minecraft experience, but it's still a fun and unusual take on a world that, until now, has had almost no storyline.
Assassin's Creed Syndicate has polished gameplay, gorgeous visuals and a big world to explore, but feels very familiar overall.