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Playground Games has been honing this open world racing formula for close to a decade at this point, making meaningful improvements with each iteration- and with Forza Horizon 5, once again, the series has touched new heights. As impossible it may seem in the moment that it will be surpassed, however, if history has taught us anything, it’s that this is a series that never stops improving.
Horizon Forbidden West is an impressive achievement in storytelling, game design, and technology, and in improving upon its predecessor in nearly every way possible, it delivers one of the finest games of its kind in recent memory.
It will be hard to find a game that is as lovingly crafted as Gran Turismo 7. The king of racers is back, and what a triumphant return it is.
Persona 5 Royal was a masterpiece when it launched, and two years later, it is more resonant than ever. No matter what system you play it on, you are in for a treat, and one of the greatest games ever made.
God of War Ragnarok surpasses its predecessor in every way. From its captivating story to its thrilling combat to the endlessly explorable and wonderfully designed Nine Realms of Norse mythology, it's an unequivocal triumph from top to bottom.
Dead Space is one of the best survival horror games ever made, and one of the greatest remakes of all time. It takes a masterpiece of the genre and allows its biggest strengths to shine brighter than they ever have, while also improving upon it in meaningful ways with smart changes and additions. Motive Studio has delivered an instant classic and a true giant of the genre.
Resident Evil 4 perfectly captures the tone and strengths of the original game, while also managing to improve upon it in truly meaningful ways. In doing so, it once again becomes a standard-bearer for the survival horror genre, while also setting a new bar for Capcom as a developer, for video game remakes, and for the Resident Evil franchise as a whole.
Tears of the Kingdom ups the ante on its predecessor, and follows up on one of the greatest games ever made by exceeding it in every possible regard to a thorough, comprehensive degree. If you are a fan of the medium, you owe it to yourself to play this game.
Final Fantasy 16 isn't just a stellar video game with gorgeous graphics and incredible combat. It's also an emotionally engaging experience and the absolute peak of everything the series stands for.
Like Divinity: Original Sin 2, Baldur's Gate 3 redefines what a role-playing game can offer in character-building, combat, story-telling and choice. It's a compelling experience that simply shouldn't be missed.
As unfathomably vast and boundless as the subject matter it covers, Starfield raises the bar for its genre and for the medium as a whole in countless ways - much like the best of its Bethesda-developed forebears did in their time.
Baldur's Gate 3 is a landmark release in the RPG genre that has instantly cemented itself as one of the best games of its kind, and an absolute must-play for all PS5 owners.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder lives up to its name and delivers one of the most joyous and inventive 2D titles the Mario series has ever had.
The promise of those old, grand, globe-trotting Final Fantasy epics from the series' 16- and 32-bit heyday in AAA form has been fulfilled at last. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth finally realizes the series' central, implicit potential, looking to the past to pave the way for hopefully the start of a new golden age for the series.
Dragon's Dogma 2 is a landmark release for open world action RPGs. From its thoroughly immersive world and its stellar combat to the incredible emergent gameplay its bevy of systems enable, Capcom's long-anticipated sequel delivers spectacularly in more ways than one. By definition, it's going to turn some people off with its many eccentricities, but it's those eccentricities exactly that make it such an utterly unique and unforgettable experience.
Shovel Knight is a game that you should buy, plain and simple. It takes what could have been a simple nostalgia trip to a new level and shows that shovelry is alive and well.
Despite its troubled launch, the PS4 version of Ultra Street Fighter IV honors Street Fighter IV's impressive legacy while adding a few wrinkles of its own, making it an essential purchase for long time fans and newbies alike. It is easily the best and most accessible console version of the title available, and will do more than enough to keep you busy until Street Fighter V. If you're looking for the definitive edition of one of the best fighters on the market, look no further.
Bloodborne will keep you addicted for weeks if not months. Sony finally have a winner for the PlayStation 4.
Overall Alien: Isolation is the game Alien fans have been waiting for. In spite of the numerous broken promises in the last 35 years, Creative Assembly has successfully formatted a love letter to fans of the franchise, one that has taken far too long to get here. A golden standard has been set for all future titles in the Alien universe. Simply put, Isolation is the definitive Alien game that no fan should miss out on.
A beautiful and memorable 2D platformer that will linger in your memory long after completion.