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Dead Island 2 is a huge return for the series. Fans of the first game will find much more to enjoy than just their nostalgia in this new title, and I can see a whole new generation of gamers falling in love with zombie-chopping in Hell-A.
In a world where the latest half-baked Pokémon has taken up most of the bandwidth for a creature-catching game in people’s lives, Cassette Beasts is a feast. Players are bound to spend countless hours in the game as they come to understand what a fresh perspective using current-gen tech is able to accomplish in a genre that has been more or less stagnant for decades.
Honkai: Star Rail is a gem I didn’t see coming. While the Gacha system might put some players off, the new setting and tone of HoYo’s latest title is bound to appeal to both Genshin fans who are looking for a change of pace, and players like me who couldn’t get into the game’s predecessor.
Bramble: The Mountain King is one of the best story games I’ve played in a while. If the uniquely tragic subject matter is something you can deal with, you’re in for a uniquely heart-wrenching, tension filled horror story you just won’t find anywhere else.
Darkest Dungeon II will appeal to fans of the old game and new victims. I mean, players, alike. The cosmic nihilism and battle to preserve hope in Darkest Dungeon II’s narrative is paired with solid gameplay improvements that are less likely to turn players into nihilists themselves.
While Tears of the Kingdom suffers from noticeably more visual bugs and dropped framerate than its predecessor, this can largely be attributed to the sheer size of the world. As with BOTW, players will be comparing every game to this for the next five years, at least. It’s one of those things that you can’t understand unless you play for yourself and it’s wise to go in as fresh as possible.
The Outlast Trials is going to take the multiplayer horror genre by storm, with a game that’s just as truly terrifying with friends as it is alone.
It’s hard to think of anything negative to say about CONVERGENCE. The game was clearly made with a lot of love, which shows both in the way the game plays and the portrayal of the world it’s in. CONVERGENCE: A League of Legends Story shines as the gold standard of what a platforming title should be.
Homebody is a fantastic piece of psychological horror that’s sure to live in your mind long after you’ve finished the game. With a narrative as interesting as it is unpredictable, you’re bound to be glued to the screen as you try to discover the mystery behind this strange house and the friends within.
Diablo IV is the monumentally fun game that such an iconic series deserves while still being approachable for new players to enjoy. The gameplay relies a lot on the grind, but you’re almost always rewarded with something of equal quality to the effort you put in. The story would get stale if you had to play through it each time, admittedly, but you can skip it for any additional characters once you beat it once.
Aliens: Dark Descent successfully pays homage to the Aliens franchise by deftly incorporating fear and suspense into story and gameplay alike. It embraces the established aesthetics and lore of the series, delivering an immersive experience that’s sure to resonate with fans. With a story that clearly loves its originator and gameplay that’s fun for RTS and Horror fans alike, Aliens: Dark Descent solidifies its place as a faithful and masterful entry in the Aliens universe.
While faithful to the genre, Ember Knights make some solid creative decisions and implement quality-of-life fixes that many roguelikes desperately need, and opens the genre up to a multiplayer experience. Unafraid to make players feel powerful while still presenting a real challenge, Ember Knights is a game that feels like it was designed to have fun, favoring fun builds and creative interactions with the world over any artificial difficulty, providing a genuine challenge that’s no less fun for players alone or with a group of friends.
Arcadian Atlas successfully captures the essence of a bygone area in RPG gaming. Nostalgic but original, the game is reminiscent of classic titles but never strays away from doing its own thing. With a brilliant jazz score, beautiful and expressive visuals, and a compelling, dark story, Arcadian Atlas is a newfound classic that’s sure to appeal to nostalgic gamers and first-time RPG players alike.
Baldur’s Gate 3 easily cements itself as a titan of the roleplaying genre. With incredibly faithful recreations of D&D’s game system and lore, BG3 easily serves as a substitute to Dungeons & Dragons than can be played alone or with friends. If you’ve never played D&D, you’re in for a surprise as you learn just how much freedom and player expression is built into Baldur’s Gate 3’s truly unique experience.
Blasphemous II will go down as an icon of its genre, attracting fans of Metroidvanias, Soulslike games, and newcomers alike. Its dark world is wholly unique and is gorgeously presented with the best pixel art I’ve ever seen. The talent, passion, and creativity that went into this title elevate it far above even its most frustrating moments, making a game that captures your attention and keeps you engaged even in its toughest fights.
Sea of Stars is a fantastic RPG that pays homage to its inspiration while standing out on its own. A beautiful world and a story that’ll captivate anyone, this is truly a game I recommend to all audiences. Even those who aren’t a fan of turn-based RPGs will find something to enjoy in this game, which cleverly innovates on classic gameplay and delivers a title worth truly trying for yourself.
Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon pairs its fast-paced, exciting, and downright fun gameplay with incredibly rewarding progression and a staggering amount of player customization. Its quick but thrilling missions are paired with challenging FromSoft-style boss fights that will test your knowledge of the game’s easy-to-learn, hard-to-master mechanics in fun and exciting ways. More than that, it beautifully delivers on the fantasy of being a mech pilot with its gritty world and excellent mech control and fighting, creating an immersive game that feels as good as it plays.
Phantom Liberty and the 2.0 Update feel like a totally new launch for Cyberpunk 2077. With a new, hostile, and alien district and story for V to explore, along with huge overhauls to the base game, you’d struggle not to find something new and exciting to do in Night City, no matter how many playthroughs you’ve done so far. Phantom Liberty sets an amazing precedent for what an RPG game expansion could be and gives me hope that CD Projekt red will continue pumping time and love into this fantastic game.
El Paso, Elsewhere is a rare gem that I think everyone should have in their libraries. Fans of shooters and the supernatural share common ground in this phenomenal title, filled to the brim with rich writing, a unique world, and gameplay and presentation absolutely packed with personality. El Paso, Elsewhere is sure to be one of the most memorable gaming experiences you’ll have this year, perhaps ever.
There isn’t a single thing I don’t like about Slay the Princess. The presentation is beautiful, the story is fantastic and moving, the voice acting of amazing characters is done phenomenally well, and the branching paths of the story give you what feels like unlimited possibilities. If you’ve got the time, take a trip down to a cabin and see if you can slay the princess — or see if you can save her and discover the secrets of this strange place.