But, beneath the surface lies hidden depth. Its Icelandic-influenced setting isn’t just a backdrop; it’s a personal world, crafted by a studio that genuinely cares. And now – with the arrival of Echoes’ Enhanced Edition – the rough edges have been rebuilt or transformed outright. Finally, it’s a game which showcases the contemplation behind its features. The Enhanced Edition proves Echoes of the End isn’t underrated because it was mediocre, but because the version you played never fully reflected what the developers were aiming for.

At a glance, it’s easy to see why Echoes of the End struggled to stand out. Yes, its marketing reads like template fantasy-adventure copy, but early reviews also framed it as a restrained, AA spin on modern action games: tight corridors, linear-based progression, and the occasional boat ride, punctuated by cinematic cutscenes. Sure, Echoes is very much in the vein of various other action adventure games, but it’s without the AAA sheen that makes those odysseys sing.

Throw in reports of unresponsive inputs, missing assets, crashes, and awkward traversal stuttering – issues the base version suffered from far too often – and a picture quickly forms. What you saw was another mid-budget game chasing blockbuster ambitions. If you dove in anyway, you were swiftly kneecapped by its unattainable scope and lack of polish. Echoes was more than playable, even promising in places, but it couldn’t shake free of its shortcomings. Its ideas were sound – they just needed steadier execution.

Yet, the base version didn’t communicate how these ideas actually fit together. Easily missed is that Echoes of the End wasn’t attempting the same mythic sweep as its AAA contemporaries. Its scope was intentionally smaller, its narrative more intimate, its world built with the kind of regional specificity rarely seen outside of AA passion projects. Even the most derivative-sounding ingredients – its swords, magic, vestiges, rope swings, and air-dashes – were part of a framework intended to embed you into your character’s world, not just to induce wide-eyed spectacle.

But, as is often the case, first impressions take root. Once that perception sets in, revision gets locked out. Conversation stagnates – the game now must work hard to prove itself.

But, before we detail what Echoes’ Enhanced Edition brings in, let’s outline what the game nailed the first time around.

Swimming beneath the familiarity, Echoes’ storytelling kicked the game to more interesting shores. Multiple reviewers flagged the game’s writing as its unexpected strength, but even that undersells how character-driven it actually is. Beneath the sweeping landscapes and magical setpieces lies a human story built on grief, trauma, fear, trust, and the burden of power – all conveyed with subtlety that many players never realised was there.

At the centre is Ryn, whose attitude became a point of contention in online discussion. Some players saw her as unnecessarily abrasive, while others praised her emotional arc. But the more forthright introduction of the Enhanced Edition – plus a closer reading of the game’s themes – makes clear her persona isn’t bravado but armour. Ryn is a vestige – someone born with barely controllable magic power, with her volatility causing an accidental injury to someone she cared about. But, instead of leaning into cliché empowerment tropes, Echoes’ takes a measured approach. Ryn’s bluntness isn’t standoffishness for its own sake, but a defence mechanism. She keeps others at arm’s length so she doesn’t hurt them again. And flipping this around, Echoes establishes clearly that society has grown wary of vestiges, perhaps precisely because of Ryn’s miscontrol.

Ryn’s foundational persona epitomises Echoes’ restrained emotional language, wherein characters carry weight without melodrama. Their inner turmoil shows in ambivalent tones of voice, guarded body language, and expressive facial animations that are noticeable in trailers and footage if you pay attention. Echoes does a prime job of establishing its lore, but its personal silence demands you peek through its veneer.

And then there’s Ryn’s ever-present companion Abram, whose presence is as a genuine counterpart rather than glorified quest giver. He’s reactive, adaptive, and someone you’ll build trust with throughout Ryn’s journey. Their partnership is the spine of the story, and the friction between their goals – her search for her brother, his unspoken agenda – grounds the narrative into something tense, dynamic, and relatable. Strip away the fantasy aesthetic, and Echoes is a story about learning to trust again, and discovering that power – both in the magical and emotional sense – is only dangerous when wielded alone.

Then we have the combat which, in Echoes of the End’s original release, imbues the game’s ambition. Yet, while it was widely praised as enjoyable it lacked sharpness: lightweight hit detection, loose lock-ons, and spasmodic combos left skirmishes feeling tiringly ornamental rather than tirelessly engaging. Echoes’ Enhanced Edition re-works combat with retimed animations, while remixed sound and visuals add incisive force. Combos now continue through dodges and parries, with lock-ons moving fluidly between targets. Sure, these tweaks are subtle rather than radical, but Echoes’ fight scenes now feel authored; finally, they’re bouts of precision, not approximation.

Where these combat fixes steady the ship, the Enhanced Edition’s new content strengthens Echoes’ trajectory. Redesigned progression – a leaner, more readable Gear System – expands customisation, where unique playstyles can be cultivated at a pace which matches the story. Retooled difficulty options massage the challenge to meet a broader spectrum of newcomers, while veterans can access New Game+, where elite enemies meet new abilities, with outfits and relics retained from earlier playthroughs. Fresh dialogue options, environmental hazards, and accessibility options widen the experience further.

Developer Myrkur Games insist Echoes of the End is not patched-up, but clarified. They haven’t just sanded down the rough edges, but confronted the base version’s shortcomings with honesty and humility – an increasingly prevalent characteristic of the AA space. The Enhanced Edition coming a mere two-and-a-half months after the original release is a sign of their commitment. Likewise, the game’s environment reflects their connection to Iceland, where its distinct cultural overtone sits comfortably with other ambitious, mid-budget AA titles – Clair Obscur: Expedition, Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden, or Eternal Strands. These games are made by nimble teams not defined by constraints, but a willingness to explore deep meaning; in their systems, in the beat of their worlds, in tone, pace, and how it all speaks to you as a player.

The fact Echoes’ Enhanced Edition is a free upgrade is icing – Myrkur Games is a studio whose ambition is matched by genuine artistic and cultural pursuit. What began as a broad sketch is now sculpted into an experience the studio always meant to release. Its first wave didn’t find an audience – many players didn’t even know of its existence – but now, in a year dominated by mid-budget giants, it’s a small Icelandic studio that is delivering one of 2025’s most heartfelt adventures. In an industry where first impressions matter, Echoes of the End: Enhanced Edition proves reinvention isn’t always necessary – just a second chance to show what was already there.

Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization.

But as with every other genre we’ve covered, some games have just surged ahead of their peers thanks to unique features and gameplay innovations that make the experience they offer unforgettable and very entertaining to play. And of course, one of them does the job so well it’s our favorite one of the year.

Without further ado, here are the nominees for the best action-adventure game of 2025.

1. Mafia: The Old Country

Going back to the early days of organized crime, this romp through the Sicilian countryside in a story that was quite interesting brings everything that’s good about the Mafia franchise to the table. Its visuals were outstanding, complementing the narrative while the gameplay remained as exciting as it has always been in the franchise.

Enzo’s tryst with the Torrisi family is a title worth checking out if you happened to miss it earlier this year. If we were to complain, it would only be to lament that there isn’t more of it to play.

2. Ninja Gaiden 2 Black

Blending the best of the original experience and Sigma 2, this one took us right back to fond memories of the game, while getting to revisit any of Ryu’s adventures is always going to draw us in. But having three new characters to play, while New Game Plus mode is an option, makes this an action title that can have you very invested in its systems and mechanics.

It’s also quite rewarding, with the combat system allowing you to pull off some spectacular combos in battle, provided you know how to wield your weapons effectively. Give this one a go for some old-school fun.

3. Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Hunting down the Shinbakufu across ancient Japan was an absolute delight in the game’s take on a very interesting time period. With a world designed for Naoe’s unique brand of parkour and combat that allowed Yasuke to truly shine as a great take on a tank character, this was among our favorite ones to explore to its fullest.

The new and improved stealth mechanics can have you clearing out entire castles without anyone even realizing you were there, which is always welcome in an Assassin’s Creed title. We recommend making the most of its Exploration Mode if you’re looking for an authentic experience.

4. Split Fiction

Mio and Zoe’s excellently written story is definitely something you want to bring a friend along to. Split Fiction ticks all of the right boxes with some incredible level designs, great bosses and enemies, and a premise that sets the stage for the game to truly shine.

It’s full of wit, charm, emotional heft, and references to some very popular names in modern entertainment for you to tease out. While the AI does allow you to experience the game fairly well, this one shines when there’s a second player at your side. It’s a game that’s so much fun you’d probably just dive right back in for the heck of it.

5. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond

Playing as Samus in Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is a complete blast, and despite a few unwelcome enemies on your journey this time around, this is a game that blends an excellent world with an intriguing setting that sucks you in with an explosive introductory sequence and then sets you on your way to a lot of fun.

Samus gets some powers, too, and using them to navigate the world around you and also in combat could be the recipe for a lot of fun evenings if you decide to give this one a go.

6. Metal Gear Solid Delta Snake Eater

Konami did well to bring a near perfect remake of the original Snake Eater, allowing an entirely new generation of gamers to learn more about why this franchise enjoys the almost reverent respect that it does. Naked Snake’s first foray with forces beyond his world view is a pleasure to play through, and of course, there’s always FOX Hunt for some multiplayer fun.

This is a game that’s legendary, and Delta is certainly the best possible way to experience it. That’s partly due to several quality of life changes that Konami made, which make it feel like a more modern Metal Gear Solid experience.

7. Hell is Us

Remi’s travels across Hadea and his search for his parents might not be the most cheerful of adventures, but this is a game whose systems work very well to reward curious players with lore drops and useful items. However, only the most observant players are going to get to see more of its world, as this one has a lot to discover but almost no way to track it all other than your own wits.

It’s nice to see a game that’s as opaque as this one, and slowly peeling back the layers of its world and the events that transpired in the past is harrowing yet satisfying to progress through.

8. Echoes of the End

Although Ryn and Abram’s adventure hasn’t managed to capture as much of the spotlight as Deep Silver might have hoped, it’s still a solid game with a story that has many memorable moments, along with mechanics that make for fast-paced, satisfying combat. There are many memorable moments to experience in your time with this one, both part of its main story and the ones you get to make along the way.

Its voice actors do really well to sell the material they’re working with, while the entire experience comes together reasonably well enough to make this one entertaining the first time you play through it.

9. Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii

Getting Goro to go on a swashbuckling adventure where he takes command of his own crew of pirates competing with a ship is every bit as fun as you’d imagine, and then some. It’s a great story that sets the stage for Ryu Gya Gotuku to bring an experience that is a great showcase of Like a Dragon’s popularity.

The combat is a treat, and finally having a jump button is a nice way of acknowledging player feedback. The story is quite a rollercoaster, while a plethora of optional activities via side content means this one is going to keep you occupied for many an entertaining hour.

10. Shadow Labyrinth

It was a delight to join Puck and Swordsman #8 on their adventure across a mysterious world that seems intent on hindering their journey at every turn. It’s a punishing world that can push you to the limits of your skills and tactical ability, but it’s all the more worth it as a result.

The level design is top-shelf, as are the enemies and bosses you find, making this one a game that’s so good you’re going to keep coming back for more. There’s also a bunch of tongue-in-cheek references to other successful Bandai Namco titles and franchises if you keep a sharp eye out.

11. Death Stranding 2: On The Beach

There’s a lot of action to be found across Mexico and Australia in this new adventure from Hideo Kojima, and a story that’s going to leave you gaping at what the current generation of games can achieve both visually and narratively. Everything that was good about the original Death Stranding is here, along with ambitious new additions that take the franchise forward in ways that must be seen to be believed.

It’s a game that will have you completely invested from the very moment it begins, and we’d probably leap at any excuse to start up a new playthrough just to enjoy as much of it as we can another time.

12. Ninja Gaiden 4

With enough of the franchise’s best features in it to make it a nod of respect to veteran players, while adding enough new content to make it welcoming to newcomers, Ninja Gaiden 4 has done well to bring the franchise back into relevance with style.

With Ryu taking on the Dark Dragon yet again, joined by a new protagonist who brings interesting new twists to the game’s combat, this long-awaited new addition to the franchise does a lot of things right, making it one of the year’s finest action titles whose main narrative can have you increasingly curious to know how things pan out.

13. Hollow Knight: Silksong

Silksong took the world by storm this year, and with good reason. Putting Hornet front and center of the story this time around allowed the game to take a new approach to its combat and traversal, while increasing its size and scope over the original Hollow Knight by a significant amount.

The result is a game that’s a near-perfect blend of exploration, traversal, combat, and story beats, which is just sublime to play despite survival being a challenging affair in its world.

14. Ghost of Yotei

The land of Ezo has turned out to be a great place for you to leap onto your horse and go out seeking adventure and any excuse to draw your weapons against deadly foes. Atsu’s story of revenge is certainly compelling, but it’s in the way you guide her towards rediscovering the home she left behind while making her a legend to be feared among the land’s villains that makes this one as endearing as it is.

Of course, its beautiful landscapes and brutal combat encounters make for action that’s probably going to be something we keep revisiting from time to time. This is a PlayStation exclusive that might even sell a few consoles this holiday season.

15. Dying Light: The Beast

Boy, was this one good! Kyle Crane’s latest tale might be darker and grittier than his past appearances, but that only serves to make this game more immersive as a result. The Beast is designed to balance exploring its excellent world against encounters with the Infected that could take nasty turns if you’re not smart about how you use your limited supplies.

The story is a perfect example of a Dying Light game, and franchise fans are quite happy with the cliffhanger it sets up. This is definitely a game that you can take on if you’re looking for some nail-biting action and a great story to frame it all.

While each of these titles has been special in its own right, we’re handed the challenge of picking one out of them all as a winner.

The winner of the best action-adventure game of 2025 is:

Ghost of Yotei

Atsu’s adventure is just so intricately crafted that wandering the lands of Ezo leads you to new things to engage with so organically that you could almost forget that there are numerous systems working behind the scenes to bring them to you. This one’s a masterpiece whose many systems click together in place to bring you an open-world experience like no other, while its combat is a deadly dance of blades that ends with only one of its practitioners standing around the devastation of those incapable of defeating the onryo.

And that’s a wrap on our list of the best action-adventure games of 2025. In the aftermath of a year that’s been this good, we can only grin with anticipation as we think of what’s to come in the next one!

We’re here to give them the spotlight they deserve, and perhaps give you a great new game to pick up and play. Join us as we take a look at a few excellent titles that deserve your attention. There’s something for everybody, and you’re sure to find a title that joins your list of favorites!

1. Blue Prince

With a rather unconventional premise, and a whole lot of entertaining puzzle-adventure gameplay to stretch your brain power to its limits, this is a gem of a game that did not get its due in a year crowded with huge releases. But Simon P. Jones’ surreal trip through the Mt. Holly Estate and the discovery of its story make for an unforgettable adventure.

If you enjoy solving puzzles and are the kind who doesn’t like to leave any loose ends in their games, this one is going to have you occupied for quite a while.

2. Dispatch

It can be jarring to be relegated to a desk job after an exciting stint in the field even for the best of superheroes. But Mecha Man, aka Robert Robinson III, faces a frustrating twist to his career and having to manage a team of reformed supervillains is the perfect recipe for a story that’s told with heart and charm.

A stellar voice cast elevates the experience, and Dispatch is a game that you enjoy from the very beginning right up until you navigate a roller coaster of decisions whose varying outcomes could have you wanting to dive back in for another playthrough. That’s certainly a game that’s easy to recommend.

3. Tormented Souls 2

Caroline Walker (or Emma, if you’re familiar with this one’s predecessor) just can’t catch a break. This sequel builds on the first game’s strengths while telling a grim, chilling story about a cult that seems intent on continuing Noah’s work.

But Caroline has never been one to sit around and wait for fate to play its hand, and you’re going to be navigating dark hallways and dangerous places with bated breath. This is an excellent horror experience that does well to bring forgotten genre trappings back with style.

4. Keeper

It isn’t everyday a game gives a lighthouse the ability to walk, and puts its players behind a character as unique as the one in Keeper. As the lighthouse, your travels aren’t as lonely as they could be thanks to Twig, and the bond that forms between them as they tackle the scourge that’s affecting their home is a lovely story.

This one’s bizarre premise lets its creators come up with some very inventive designs in their levels, and navigating its world isn’t going to be easy. But we can tell you it’s definitely worth it.

5. Atomfall

An action survival gameplay loop set in an alternate, post-apocalyptic version of the British countryside into a radioactive zone was always going to be a blast, and our time with Atomfall had us chuckling away at the humor that it has managed to bake into an otherwise grim world.

The story is definitely gripping enough to make this a rewarding experience while the side content brings some top-shelf writing into the fray. This is a world that’s going to be very worthwhile to those of you who like ferreting out secrets and leaving no missions incomplete.

6. Cronos: The New Dawn

The Bloober Team cemented its reputation as a talented horror studio with its take on a time-travelling survival horror adventure. As the Traveller, every step you take into the game’s world makes you feel the weight of its desolation, while its threats can have you missing perfectly aligned headshots thanks to their raw aggression and feral rage.

However, for those of you who learn the art of survival in this bleak world, you get to find very creative ways to turn the tables in a deadly dance of tactics, strategy, and skillful shooting. It’s a slow-paced ride but a wild one nonetheless.

7. Hell is Us

Although this one did gain a fair bit of traction, it can be hard to put the allure of a world that staunchly refuses to reveal its secrets to none but the most diligent of players into words. But Hell is Us does just that, leaving you scribbling furiously away on a notepad just so that you get to experience all that it has to offer.

It can be quite a disorienting experience at first but the story and combat can have you quite invested. If exploration and lore hunting sound like hours of fun to you, this one is going to have you very content with how it presents its best features.

8. Shinobi: Art of Vengeance

Fast, stylish, and well-paced, Joe Musashi’s battle against the ENE Corporation is a great game. The story moves along at a breakneck pace, giving you new ways to dish out damage in your 2D platforming adventure. Musashi’s agility and the fact that the stakes are literally about life and death with a dollop of vengeance thrown in make this a shinobi adventure with all the good stuff.

Just be ready to bring your best fighting skills to the table as you take on the ENE’s hordes of soldiers, yokai, oni, and imposing bosses.

9. Echoes of the End

Although Ryn and Abram’s journey didn’t get the start that developer Myrkur Games might have wanted, the studio has done well to release an enhanced edition of Echoes of the End as a free update, fixing a significant portion of its launch issues and making it a very enticing offering.

The combat is now quite good, while the story has several great moments in the second half of the adventure. Stick with this one and you’re going to find yourself quite invested in how things turn out.

10. The Rogue Prince of Persia

If you’re a fan of roguelites, this one might be right up your street. Playing a Prince who is on the run from an army of possessed soldiers is a great way to spend a few hours exploring well-designed levels with mechanics that are quite engaging.

Evil Empire has done well to capture the look and feel of a Prince of Persia game a action adventure game, and you should definitely give this one a shot. Its recent Switch debut should see it get some well-served attention, too.

11. Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound

This side-scrolling hack n’ slash spin-off of the popular franchise is definitely up there with the best ones of the year. Kenji Mozu’s inspired effort to defend the Hayabusa village from demonic threats, leaving Ryu free to live out his legend in America, is a very entertaining take on the Ninja Gaiden universe.

Its slick combat and challenging platforming make it a pleasure to play too. This is a great choice for those of you who love to let your blades do the talking.

12. Wuchang: Fallen Feathers

If you’re a Soulslike fan and have somehow missed this one from Leenshee Games, it’s worth checking out. Bai Wuchang’s mission to save her sister quickly turns into an exploration of sinister events against the background of a failing dynasty.

That premise does very well to set up battles that can test your reflexes and ability to improvise in the field. Combat is an art in this game, and you’re given a wide set of tools to use as you paint a bloody canvas that tells an epic story. Expect to be challenged, and this one is going to take your breath away.

13. Shadow Labyrinth

Bandai Namco’s refresh of the classic character was such a blast we almost forgot our initial scepticism of the entire exercise. The swordsman and Puck are quite a duo, navigating a treacherous world that leaves a very interesting trail of information about its history and denizens.

With challenging enemies and mechanics, Shadow Labyrinth is a game that has you always on the lookout for a detail that you missed, and can take a long time if you’re intent on teasing out all of its secrets.

14. Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream

While it can be difficult to handle the emotional weight that this excellent story brings to the table, Hanna’s desperate journey to rescue her brother, and the people she meets along the way make this one a worthy addition to our list of 2025’s underrated gems.

This is a game that brings some great stealth mechanics in a world in which the shadows are your biggest strength, and a story that underlines the importance of staying unseen through the eyes of a young orphan. This one’s a winner for all of you stealth nuts out there.

15. Steel Seed

Bringing excellent stealth action, robust platforming, a dark sci-fi-world, and a relatable protagonist and companion duo, there’s a lot to like about Steel Seed. Although this one did draw a bit of flak on the critical front, its story and excellent world building are compelling reasons to dive into this title.

Zoe’s sassy yet earnest nature wins you over quite quickly, and her proficiency with her weapons make her fun to embody in this tale of redemption. Despite a relatively shorter runtime, this game has its charms, and the journey is definitely worth it.

And that’s a wrap on our best single-player sleeper hit titles that you might have missed out on this year. Here’s to a fresh new batch of winners as we look to 2026 and beyond.

Atomfall

Atomfall represents an interesting experiment by Rebellion – a studio known for its World War 2-based series of games where you take control of an elite sniper taking down hundreds of Nazi soldiers. Instead of arming the player to the gills and taking them through a roaring adventure, Atomfall instead makes sure the player is constantly scavenging for resources just to survive as they slowly uncover an epic story through their own investigations. Atomfall offers a unique single-player experience that blends investigation, stealth, survival, and just a hint of intense combat to keep things spicy.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

Picking up directly after the events of Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth takes us deeper into an epic story about environmentalism and the evils that mega corporations are capable of when allowed an unchecked monopoly. This time around, however, we get a massive open world to explore, complete with its own set of secrets for players to discover, as well as a host of fun minigames that help further flesh the world out. Pair this with an evolution of the already-fantastic combat system from its predecessor, and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth tends to make for dozens of hours of pure fun.

Silent Hill 2 Remake

Trying to remake a game that is seen by many as one of, if not the best horror game ever made is no easy task, but Bloober Team managed to make it look almost effortless with its remake of Silent Hill 2. Much more than a remake, however, Bloober Team’s Silent Hill 2 gives us a look at how the seminal horror game would have been if it were made in the modern day – none of its feels even remotely dated, and the game makes use of the dense atmosphere and spookiness of its setting perfectly. Pair this with gorgeous visuals, incredible level design and wonderful creature design and you basically get one of the best horror experiences out there today.

The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered

While it may have been a bit controversial when it first came out, The Last of Us Part 2 features some downright phenomenal storytelling thanks to strong writing and excellent voice work and facial capture, The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered features some of the best third-person action combat in any game today. Add on top wonderful encounter design and clever, but tense, boss fights, and you get what essentially feels like a wild roller coaster ride of emotions along with high-octane third-person action.

Elden Ring + Shadow of the Erd Tree

What hasn’t already been said about the brilliance of FromSoftware’s single-player opus Elden Ring, as well as its critically-acclaimed DLC Shadow of the Erd Tree? The base game, on its own, is a culmination of over a decade’s worth of game design that FromSoftware had originated, improved, and ultimately mastered. Add on top some excellent and tense combat, plenty of character build options, and a wide-open world where only your own skill level can really block your path, and you have a title that deserves just about every accolade it has gotten since then. And once you’re done with the base game, Shadow of the Erd Tree offers an entirely new level of challenge, complete with a brand new landmass to explore, new bosses to fight, and even more of the intricate lore to uncover.

Astro Bot

Astro Bot is a game that proves that Nintendo isn’t the only major gaming company that can make a beloved 3D platformer. The title, essentially a love letter to just about every aspect of PlayStation, also manages to be a great game on its own thanks to its excellent level design, great visuals, fantastic soundtrack and tight gameplay. While the story is simple enough, with Captain Astro trying to reunite with the PlaySquadron after the PS5 mothership is wrecked by Nebulax, what really elevates Astro Bot along with its core gameplay is the reverence it has for all things PlayStation. The game is also filled with plenty of nods and references to the history of the console, including even references to niche titles like Loco Roco.

Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered

While the 2017 release of Horizon Zero Dawn was no slouch when it came to visuals and gameplay, the whole game got massively upgraded thanks to the Remastered release, bringing it up to par with its sequel. Essentially an origin story, players are put into the shoes of Aloy who is trying to figure out how she can stop the wars between the neighbouring tribes. Along the way, plenty of mysteries are uncovered, including the very nature of the world and the mechanical beasts that roam its lands. Horizon Zero Dawn is an excellent open-world action-adventure game which offers a great mix of strong writing in its main campaign, as well as optional objectives through side quests as well as open-world collectibles.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows

While Valhalla was met with mixed reception, especially with some of its gameplay elements, Assassin’s Creed Shadows is evidence that the genre is still capable of strong games with fun open worlds to explore. Besides Syndicate, we now get to play as two distinct protagonists in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, each with their own distinct playstyles – the combat-oriented Yasuke and the stealth-oriented Naoe. Through the two characters, we get a unique take on Sengoku-era Japan, with the duo trying to figure out the conspiracy behind not only the death of Oda Nobunaga, but also the death of Naoe’s family as well.

Baldur’s Gate 3

Baldur’s Gate feature incredibly strong writing full of interesting things to do, as well as by offering players an almost infinite amount of freedom when it comes to figure out solutions to problems. Baldur’s Gate 3 takes place during an invasion by mind flayers, with the player themselves being implanted with a tadpole that will at some point also turn them into a mind flayer. After escaping from the captivity of the mind flayers, the player finds themselves, along with other unlikely heroes, on an island, where they must work together to figure out a way to not only make it to the city of Baldur’s Gate, but also to get rid of the parasitic tadpoles that they have all been implanted with.

Days Gone Remastered

Days Gone offers a unique take on the open-world zombie survival game by giving the player one of the most important tools you can have in such a situation – a motorcycle. Along with his bike, protagonist Deacon must explore the world, deliver supplies, protect his friends, and in the process, figure out what led to the “Freaker” outbreak, and how he can save his wife. The game also has a unique system that allows for incredibly massive hordes of zombies to attack the player if Deacon accidentally trips an alarm that attracts them to his location. Coupled with fun combat courtesy of a mix of melee and ranged weapons, and Days Gone Remastered has all of the ingredients to make for a fun time.

Dead Space Remake

The original Dead Space was rightfully praised for its excellent atmosphere and strong gameplay paired with intense claustrophobia and incredible monster designs. The remake of Dead Space takes these elements and cranks it all the way up to eleven. While you’re still going to be stepping into the shoes of Isaac Clarke as he explores the USG Ishimura, several things have been redesigned, from the massive planet cracker class ship’s layout making more sense, to weapons getting rebalanced so that the Plasma Cutter isn’t the only good weapon you have access to. The story also gets some expansion thanks to Isaac no longer being a silent protagonist. The presence of a new kind of collectible also ends up adding a few more interesting wrinkles to an already-strong story.

Resident Evil Village

A few years after the series managed to reinvigorate itself thanks to Resident Evil 7, the franchise decided to take a more action oriented approach. Much like the transition from classic horror Resident Evil games to Resident Evil 3, Resident Evil Village ups the ante on not only the action, but also the scares and the story. Taking place after the events of RE7, Village involves protagonist Ethan Winters once more setting out against unimaginable horrors in a mysterious village to rescue his daughter. The title features plenty of boss fights, great combat encounters, and one of the most insane endings to a game out there. The Winters Expansion also brings with it new content, as well as a third-person mode for the main campaign.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 

The first title by studio Sandfall Interactive, Clair Obscur: Expedition managed to set the world on fire in large part thanks to its deep and thoughtful story, imaginative and gorgeous visuals, and a clever combat. What sets Clair Obscur apart from others in the genre is how it makes use of not only parrying and dodging as active actions the player has to time with enemy attacks, but also the fact that each of its characters has unique mechanics of their own, be it Gustave’s Overcharge system, or Lune’s element juggling, or Maelle’s stance system.

The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered

A remastered release of a classic open-world RPG that came out all the way back in 2006, The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered is not only a great game in its own right, but also acts as a fun history lesson to help us understand just how Bethesda got to its follow-up, Skyrim. Oblivion Remastered takes place in idyllic pastures of Cyrodiil in the midst of an invasion from the various Oblivion realms. The player will also get to explore several cities and villages, while also partaking in epic questlines for various activities, from stealing to assassination, and even gladiatorial combat. Despite the almost two decades since its original release, the level of freedom offered by Oblivion still manages to feel unparalleled.

Cyberpunk 2077 + Phantom Liberty

With Cyberpunk 2077 and its Phantom Liberty expansion CD Projekt RED ended up creating one of the most ambitious urban open-world games out there. Along with telling a deep and compelling story with themes about rebellion, mortality, and the sense of self, Cyberpunk 2077, along with its spy thriller expansion, also managed to offer plenty of fun side-activities for players to do as they drive around Night City and try out their fancy cybernetic implants against gang members, corrupt cops, and corporate mercenaries.

Dragon’s Dogma 2

Dragon’s Dogma 2 is one of the most unique open-world fantasy RPGs out there. Along with a unique class system where the player is encouraged to keep switching between different classes to mix and match abilities, the game also features some epic boss fights in the form of mythical monsters to kill. Oh, and there’s also the Pawn system, where a player can create a companion for themselves who can also be sent out to other players’ games to assist them and come back with experience and new items. Pair this with a mind-bending plot that involves the world also getting messed up because of the player’s own actions, in turn opening up even more epic boss fights for adventurous players to take on. And now that most of its technical issues have been ironed out, Dragon’s Dogma 2 has become an excellent way to spend a weekend or two.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

While several games have tried to put players in the shoes of characters inspired by Indiana Jones, few have done it as well as Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. The first-person action-adventure game melds puzzle solving with intense action sequences, some platforming courtesy of Indy’s whip, and plenty of stealth as players try to avoid crossing paths with hostile soldiers.

Lies of P + Overture

While we may not be getting ports or remasters for FromSoftware’s Bloodborne any time soon, we did get the next best thing in the form of Lies of P and its Overture DLC. The Soulslike action RPG puts players in the shoes of “puppet mechanoid” Pinocchio with a simple mission – find Mr. Geppetto. As he explores the city of Krat, however, he comes across deranged hostile puppets that he must deal with. Along the way, players get plenty of choices when it comes to what kind of weapon they’ll use thanks to the game’s unique weapon system where a player is free to mix-and-match different handles and edges to get unique weapons with their own movesets and special abilities. The Overture DLC expands things further by sending players into Krat’s past, where they get to see the city before its fall.

Ninja Gaiden 2 Black

A remastered release of classic hack-and-slash action game Ninja Gaiden 2, Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is by far one of the toughest games available these days. Putting players in the role of ninja Ryu Hayabusa, the story revolves around the machinations of the Black Spider Ninja Clan as they launch an assault against Hayabusa Village. As Ryu fights off these threats, players will have to learn how to effectively wield his various tools, from the straightforward katana to more advanced items. The game also allows players to dismember enemies, and while they can still attack after losing limbs, they can at least be killed off for good by using the Obliteration Technique.

Shadow Labyrinth

While Shadow Labyrinth might not look like much from the outset, it ends up being quite a clever platforming game that melds exploration with gameplay inspired by classic arcade titles. Players take on the role of Swordsman No. 8, who wakes up on a mysterious planet. As they spend time exploring this planet accompanied by Puck, players will have to discover secrets and get new abilities as they figure out how to take on many of the various challenges they will face throughout their time in Shadow Labyrinth.

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

While the Ratchet & Clank franchise had gone mostly silent after the 2016 reboot, it came back with a bang on the PS5, not only acting as a great showcase for the hardware capabilities of the at-the-time new console, but also being a fantastic action/adventure game in its own right. Along with telling a fun story with everyone’s favorite Lombax, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart also introduces us to new character Rivet, who serves as a deuteragonist in the story. As the two desperately jump across different dimensions to stop the evil machinations of Dr. Nefarious, players will also find themselves making use of new, strange and funny weapons to take on the enemies they face.

RoboCop: Rogue City + Unfinished Business

RoboCop: Rogue City being such a fun experience with a surprising level of polish is the biggest example for the fact that the AA games scene still exists, and maybe even thriving. The game puts players in the shoes of RoboCop as he takes on a variety of different missions in crime-ridden Old Detroit. Along the way, players will get to make plenty of choices that further help define just how much humanity RoboCop still has within him. The standalone expansion Unfinished Business adds even more content to the game, bringing with it a host of new challenges for RoboCop to take on as he takes on mercenaries and new enemy types occupying OmniTower.

Sifu

While action games have always been incredibly popular, few have ever managed to nail the martial arts genre as well as Sloclap did with Sifu. With players taking on the role of a martial artist out for revenge for the murder of their mentor, Sifu features unique action mechanics where players can make use of their own Kung Fu-styled movesets, as well as the environment to take on groups of enemies. The title features 15 different locations, across which players will get to take on a wide variety of enemies. Along with this, the title also features a unique mechanic where a death leads to the protagonist aging, making their strikes deadlier but also making them more frail. Sifu has also gotten quite a bit more content thanks to extensive post-launch support by Sloclap.

Dynasty Warriors: Origins

While Koei Tecmo’s Dynasty Warriors franchise has seen its fair share of ups and downs, the company undoubtedly struck gold with the release of Dynasty Warriors: Origins. The game, introducing a brand new protagonist, also brings with it some of the grandest battles that the franchise has ever seen. The gameplay largely revolves around the player cutting down large swathes of enemy soldiers across various battlefields as they also try and complete objectives to further continue the campaign of the various factions warring for supremacy over Mainland China.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

After the success of Respawn’s Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, the sequel served as a way for the studio to expand on every aspect of the game. With five years having passed since the events of Fallen Order, Survivor once more puts players in the shoes of Cal Kestis as he sets off on a battle against the Empire. While things start out well enough, a mission eventually goes badly enough to force Cal to get some allies for his struggle, including brand new characters as well as returning characters from Fallen Order. The gameplay offers considerably more options than its predecessor, with new stances that offer more chances for unique gameplay, as well as a more interesting skill tree this time around.

Suikoden 1 & 2 Remaster

A remastered release of seminal RPGs that were originally made for the original PlayStation, Suikoden 1 & 2 Remaster is a great way for a new generation of players to experience a pair of the most unique RPGs to have ever been made. Along with the player taking on the role of a protagonist, players will also have to find and recruit special characters known as the Stars of Destiny into their own army as they fight off the forces of evil. Both titles also feature heavily political storylines, with corruption playing a central role throughout their stories. What makes both titles even more fun to play back-to-back is the fact that they take place in the same world, so the sequel becomes a great way to see what has changed since the events of the first game.

Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection

While the Uncharted series has been one of the most iconic franchises for PlayStation since the first game came out on the PS3, all good things must come to an end. Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves features two titles – Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End and Uncharted: Lost Legacy. While A Thief’s End focuses on the final adventure of protagonist Nathan Drake, Lost Legacy is a smaller-scaled game with brand new protagonists in Chloe and Nadine, as they face off against a warlord named Asav can get it. When it comes to gameplay, both titles feature third-person action, plenty of areas to explore, puzzles to solve, and in the case of Legacy of Thieves, even one larger space where more experimental gameplay can be tried out.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2

While many of the best games out there can be described as being subtle, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is not one of them. Every bit as loud, brutal, and exaggerated as the Warhammer 40,000 setting demands, Space Marine 2 puts players in the power armour of Ultramarine-turned-Deathwatch Soldier-turned-back-into-Ultramarine Demetrian Titus as he ends up on Imperial planets Avarax and Kadaku in the midst of the first Tyrannic War. Facing off against hordes of Tyrannids, players must make use of the game’s hybrid ranged and melee combat system to stop all opposition and complete various objectives. Once you’re done with the campaign, the game also features extra missions in the Operations mode which, while meant to be played in co-op, can also be enjoyed solo along with AI-controlled team mates.

God of War Ragnarok

Taking place a few years after the events of 2018’s reboot, Ragnarok kicks things off with the coming of Fimbulwintr, as the player figures out how to best keep their people safe from their enemies. Ragnarok features a blend of excellent level design and offers several enhancements to gameplay, with bigger worlds to explore, and plenty of more skills to make use of in the game’s frantic, high-impact combat.

System Shock Remake

A remake of a classic sci-fi shooter/RPG hybrid from 1994, System Shock Remake does a masterful job of recreating the feeling of playing the original thanks to its unique art style that melds modern graphical technologies with a low-fi look that maintains the vibrant color palette of the original. System Shock Remake is also one of the best ways to experience the origins of iconic evil AI SHODAN, who serves as the primary antagonist for the player as they explore Citadel Station and try to figure out how they can survive, and ultimately, escape. Along the way, players will have to fight, sneak, and shoot their way through enemies that were once the human inhabitants of Citadel station.

Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist

While the indie game space has many 2D platforming titles, few have reached the quality that Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist manages to reach thanks to the title’s strong level design, well thought out upgrades, and interesting story. The game takes place in the Land of Fumes which, because of unchecked science, has started turning artificial beings, dubbed Homunculi, into feral monsters. Players take on the role of an Attuner named Lilac who can save the Homunculi from their gruesome fate. Players will get to explore a variety of zones, from abandoned laboratories to ancient caverns and vibrant fields, as they explore the Land of Fumes and unlock new abilities to further aid exploration and combat.

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora

The genre is no stranger to crafting compelling open-world games, and this quality is shown off quite well in Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora. While it might be easy to brush aside as a movie tie-in game, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora ends up being a fantastic way to explore the world first seen in James Cameron’s Avatar movies. In Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, players must ultimately defend Pandora against the forces of the RDA. The game features a compelling main campaign, along with several side missions that help further flesh out the world.

Gran Turismo 7

Quite easily the standard bearer for the modern driving sim game, Gran Turismo 7 has just about everything that a fan of cars and the culture surrounding cars and driving could hope for. Along with franchise classic gameplay mechanics like license tests returning, Gran Turismo 7 also features a massive collection of cars for players to collect, as well as constant updates that further improves the car collection of the game, as well as bringing in new events across various vehicle classes that players can compete for.

Hitman World of Assassination

Essentially the most complete package in terms of the Hitman trilogy, Hitman World of Assassination features quite a bit of content for the intrepid single-player game fan. Along with an epic campaign spanning three games’ worth of locations and targets, the title also features the Freelancer mode, which combines the title’s free-form gameplay with a roguelite progression mechanic. Hitman World of Assassination offers players plenty of unique ways to take out their targets, alongside a wide variety of items and weapons that can be used to accomplish just about any task the game throws the player’s way throughout its levels, which span from the US, to South America, to India, and even Dubai.

Alan Wake 2

Quite easily one of the strangest games to have come out in recent times, Alan Wake 2 is a survival horror title that picks up more than a decade after the original Alan Wake. While the titular character serves as one of the protagonists, quite a few parts of the game have players take on the role of FBI agent Saga Anderson who is visiting Bright Falls to investigate the brutal, ritualistic murder of fellow FBI agent Robert Nightingale. Along the way, the paths of Saga and Alan intersect in interesting, fourth wall-breaking ways, and Alan Wake must ultimately figure out the best way to end the story of Saga Anderson.

Neva

Equal parts platforming game and atmospheric experience, Neva puts players in the shoes of a young woman, Alba, and a friendly wolf as they explore a world that is on the verge of dying. As is to be expected from a game by the developers of Gris, Neva features downright gorgeous art and a gripping soundtrack that adds several layers to the atmosphere as they explore a dying world. The gameplay revolves around Alba and her wolf companion slowly learning to work together as they complete platforming sections, combat encounters, and even a few puzzles along the way, all while the duo try and figure out how they can survive.

Little Nightmares 2

A low-key experience, Little Nightmares 2 explores the wider world outside of the first game’s setting of the Maw. With players in the shoes of a young boy named Mono, as he explores the Pale City. The game makes use of a more minimalistic style of storytelling, leaving it up to the player to figure out the secrets behind the Pale City, the signal tower, and the things that lurk within the tower.

Nobody Wants to Die

While narrative adventure games can often be quite fun, few match the level of polish and visual fidelity of Critical Hit Games’ Nobody Wants to Die. Taking place in the year 2329, the player takes on the role of NYPD detective in the Department of Mortality James Karra. With the gameplay largely revolving around puzzle solving and exploring the overall narrative, players will have to figure out the strange circumstances behind a mysterious death affecting a victim that wasn’t supposed to die – a member of the New York City elite. As the mystery unfurls, players will find themselves in the hunt for a serial killer, as they also explore concepts of morality, and what immortality truly means for a person that has more money than they could spend over several lifetimes.

A Plague Tale: Requiem

A direct sequel to A Plague Tale: Innocence, A Plague Tale: Requiem picks things up around six months after the events of its predecessor. The story revolves around siblings Amicia and Hugo de Rune, who decide to travel south in order to try and look for a cure for Hugo’s affliction. The gameplay is an iteration over the first title, with players taking control of Amicia and being helped out by Hugo from time to time. However, both characters also have plenty of new abilities to play around with in combat encounters. A Plague Tale: Requiem also acts as an absolute feast for the eyes considering its incredible level of visual fidelity and strong art direction.

Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster

An RE Engine remake of a classic zombie game, Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster has players take on the role of intrepid photojournalist Frank West as he is exploring the circumstances surrounding a military-enforced lockdown in the sleepy town of Willamette, Colorado. In a series of events, West, along with a bunch of other survivors, find themselves trapped in a mall that also happens to house hordes of zombies, as well as a few psychotic lunatics lurking around. West only has three days of real-world time to figure out a way to escape from the mall with as many allies as he can. The original Dead Rising, and by extension the Deluxe Remaster, is famous for the immense level of customisation offered by the game when it comes to its weapon crafting system, focusing primarily on melee weapons.

Pacific Drive

A unique take on the roguelite formula, Pacific Drive combines the sense of adventure one might find in exploring randomly-generated levels, along with the joy that often comes from working on a beaten up car to gradually improve it with better parts over time. The player is put into the shoes of “The Driver” as they explore the Olympic Exclusion Zone after accidentally getting pulled into it through a vortex. The zone is full of strange activity, however, with even roads constantly shifting and moving about, and the player must find other survivors and eventually, a way out. To help the player accomplish this, they have a car known only as the Remnant, which can be improved with new loot that you find, as well as new parts that you can craft once you get the right materials.

Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector

While the original Citizen Sleeper was a, pardon the pun, sleeper hit in its own right thanks to excellent writing and unique gameplay elements inspired by Disco Elysium, Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector is an improvement in just about every aspect. Carrying over its predecessor’s strong anti-capitalism slant with an interesting story, Citizen Sleeper 2 revolves around the player trying to figure out a way to escape the “ownership” of Laine, and in the process, ending up in a lawless portion of the Hellion star system, known only as the Belt.

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

While Kojima Productions’ first outing as an independent studio after Konami – Death Stranding – was an interesting and unique game in its own right, the sequel, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, takes things up a notch in every way possible. Along with broadening the core gameplay loop of making deliveries across long treks, Death Stranding 2 also features a more grand story of wider scope, with more interesting main villains. Along with this, the core combat has also seen massive improvements, giving players more tools to take on an even wider variety of enemies, ranging from well-armed humans to massive kaiju-sized BTs. This along with a jump in visual fidelity makes Death Stranding 2: On the Beach a journey well worth taking.

Black Myth: Wukong

Black Myth: Wukong features some downright fantastic boss fights and is further elevated by the fact that the game’s combat can be described as being nothing short of absolutely joyous in how well it controls, how responsive the game feels, and how well the encounters are set up to get players to use every tool they have in their kit. There’s a reason, after all, why Black Myth: Wukong would launch to immense success in terms of concurrent player counts as well as copies sold.

Hogwarts Legacy

It’s easy to describe Hogwarts Legacy as an open-world action/adventure game, but that would be ignoring how lovingly it recreates the world of Harry Potter that long-time fans of the book series could finally explore in depth. While the title doesn’t really do anything new, it is still a fantastic way to spend some time owing to the care with which the titular Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and its surrounding areas have been recreated. Players can live out their dreams of being an aspiring wizard in the world of Harry Potter, attending classes, getting stronger at magic, and even helping quell a goblin rebellion in the process.

Star Wars Outlaws

While Star Wars Outlaws may have been released to middling reception and suffered from plenty of problems, several updates since its release have turned the game into a must-play adventure, especially for fans of Star Wars. Now that plenty of the game’s fundamental issues, like broken stealth mechanics, have been fixed, the story of Kay Vess is quite a bit of fun to experience, especially thanks to the open-world structure of the title, complete with different factions vying for your attention. The adventure also continues thanks to the release of two expansions for the game – Dead Man’s Hand and A Pirate’s Fortune – both of which add plenty more content to an already feature-rich title.

Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream

A unique take on narrative games, Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream has players exploring the city of Eriksholm in the shoes of Hanna. With an emphasis on stealth, Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream gives players plenty of chances to figure out the story behind the world as Hanna slowly continues her quest to find her brother. The game also features gorgeous visuals, with the city of Eriksholm being one of the most interesting settings for a game in recent times. Along with this, players will also get to make use of an extensive arsenal of tools as they sneak around the guards of the industrializing city.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

While 2018’s Marvel’s Spider-Man was a fantastic return of the web-slinging superhero to video games, its sequel – appropriately titled Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 – decided to expand on the original’s ideas in epic ways. Along with featuring two Spider-Men, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 also gives us a deeper look into the stories and motivations behind both of the superheroes. Pair that with an incredible open-world that is an absolute joy to traverse through thanks to Spider-Man’s set of abilities, as well as a fun rogue’s gallery to take on throughout the story and side-content, and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is in many ways one of the best superhero experiences currently available on the PS5.

Horizon Forbidden West

A follow-up to Horizon Zero Dawn, Horizon Forbidden West once again puts players in the shoes of Aloy as she decides to explore parts of the western coast of the continent. Along with brand new visuals and a deeper look into the overall world and lore behind the Horizon franchise, Forbidden West also gives us improved combat that feels a lot more dynamic, along with more fun and intense boss fights that will have players make use of just about every tool they have at their disposal. Horizon Forbidden West, along with its Burning Shores expansion, can in many ways be described as the ideal sequel, where it builds on the foundations set by its predecessor in new and interesting ways.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2

In a genre that is dominated by fantasy and sci-fi works, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 manages to stand out thanks to its use of a real-world historic setting. Along with exploring the lands of Trosky in the 1400s, players – who once more take on the role of Henry – not only get embroiled in a plot that can be best described as a political-thriller-meets-war-story, but they most also live in an interestingly simulationist game world. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 of will have you squint your eyes as you try and make out text in a book, depending on Henry’s level of literacy, and train with swordmasters to learn new ways to swing your sword, all while also trying to make sure that you don’t die of starvation or villagers don’t run away from because you haven’t had a bath in a while. These gameplay systems makes for a great way to kill a few dozen hours.

Hi-Fi Rush

The last hurrah – at least for the time being – for Tango Gameworks before the studio was shut down by Microsoft last year, Hi-Fi Rush is a unique hack-and-slash action game that rewards players that have good rhythm. The unique hook of the game is that players are encouraged to attack, jump, and dodge their way through fights to the beat of the background music. While you can still finish the game if you miss every beat, landing the beat with good timing rewards you with higher damaging moves. Pair that with a vibrant art style, hilarious writing, an excellent soundtrack, and some downright fantastic boss fights, and you get one of the most fun and unique action games out there.

Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden

When it comes to third-person action RPGs that have a heavy emphasis on their narratives, Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden is one of the most interesting releases of the lot. Taking place in the unique setting in 1695, players take on the role of Banishers as they set out to explore the lands, figure out the origins of curses, and most importantly, unravel mysteries that could lead to some very uneasy answers to important questions.

The First Berserker: Khazan

In the over a decade and a half since the release of the first game that could be called a Soulslike – Demon’s Souls – we’ve seen plenty of studios take a stab at making their own. Few have gotten as close to the standards set out by FromSoftware as Neople with The First Berserker: Khazan. Alongside taking place in an interesting world based on the DNF franchise, The First Berserker: Khazan also offers some strong action RPG gameplay, complete with a wide variety of weapons and incredibly challenging boss fights. Pair this with a downright gorgeous art style and you are bound to end up with a good time.

Jusant

At the outset, Jusant looks like it will be an incredibly simple game. Its core gameplay mechanic revolves entirely around climbing, after all. However, while the gameplay mechanics themselves might feel simple enough, Jusant also uses those same mechanics to deliver an incredibly powerful story that is slowly unraveled as the player – in the shoes of a nameless boy climbing a gigantic rock tower – makes their climb. Sure, there might not be much in the way of stakes, especially since you can’t really die in the game. However, the strong, often emotional writing throughout Jusant more than makes up for any shortcomings that might be present in the gameplay department.

Mafia: The Old Country

While Mafia 3 might have served as a bit of a detour for Hangar 13 with its focus on open-world gameplay, with Mafia: The Old Country, the studio went back to the franchise’s roots in more ways than one. Not only is it a linear story-based game with set missions that players will take on, its story is also taking us all the way back to the eponymous Old Country, where the Sicilian Mafia first originated. The gritty early-1990s mob story features Enzo Favara as the new protagonist, as players live out his fight for survival in his attempts to get a better life for himself after living through a brutal life filled with forced labour. Mafia: The Old Country is an incredible return to form for Hangar 13.

Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2

While the original Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice was an interesting game anchored by strong performances, especially from lead actor Melina Juergens as the titular Senua, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 cranks just about everything up to eleven. Not only has the gameplay seen plenty of improvements, the story itself, along with the presentation have been upgraded so much, the word “cinematic” hardly does the title justice. Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 once again takes us to Viking Iceland where Senua has to take on difficult battles against the forces of tyranny to save not only victims, but also save herself in the process.

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater

When it first came out, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater was widely considered to be one of the best games for its home platform – the PlayStation 2. 21 years later, we now have a remake in the form of Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater. Not only do we get upgraded visuals and improved gameplay with modern control schemes in the remake, we also get to re-experience a fantastic spy thriller set during the Cold War, the events of which end up having repercussions for the entire Metal Gear franchise as a whole. Snake Eater has players take on the role of Naked Snake as he sets off on Operation Snake Eater to take down The Boss, her elite squad known as the Cobra Unit, as well as commander of GRU Volgin.

Gears of War: Reloaded

It’s no secret that the original Gears of War was one of the most important games on the Xbox 360, helping spawn an entire franchise that is still going on to this day. Celebrating this history, developer The Coalition has bought back the Gears of War Ultimate Edition with a fresh coat of paint. Calling it “faithful remaster”, Gears of War: Reloaded features high-resolution assets, as well as full optimisation to run on all modern-day gaming platforms, including the PS5. Along with the excellent campaign that kicks off the saga of Marcus Fenix in his war against the Locust threat, Gears of War: Reloaded also includes plenty of multiplayer features, including co-op mode for the campaign, as well as competitive multiplayer.

Echoes of the End

While a debut outing for studio Myrkur Games, it could be easy to assume that the developers behind Echoes of the End have had quite a bit of experience with game design. The game may not feature complex customization options and deep puzzles. Rather, it features fun combat, a gorgeous world, and puzzles with just the right level of complexity to not get you too frustrated. Pair that with some excellent writing and characterisation for protagonist Ryn and her travelling companion Abram Finlay, and you have a great single-player campaign that doesn’t overstay its welcome thanks to its 14-hour runtime.

Animal Well

While at first glance, Animal Well might not look like much thanks to its art style making use of stark colour contrasts, often with black backgrounds in most of its scenes. Spending a little time with the tidal, however, reveals one of the most interesting platforming titles to have come out since maybe Hollow Knight. Animal Well puts players in the shoes of a small creature that has freshly hatched from a flower, and must now explore the world to figure out their own life. What sets the title apart is how well it makes use of its art style – which features wonderfully detailed environments all over the place – not only for the sake of gameplay, but for atmosphere as well. Along with its platforming trappings, Animal Well also serves as a horror title thanks to the player not having ways to fight back against creatures that might harm you; players must instead make clever use of the world around them to figure out ways around dangerous obstacles.

When it comes to actually playing the game, however, in many ways, Echoes of the End ends up feeling like a throwback to an older style of action RPGs that we often saw during the PS3 and Xbox 360 era, and by no means is this a bad thing.

"As far as stories go, Echoes of the End doesn’t really do anything mind-blowing."

The story setup is quite simple; you – in the shoes of powerful magic user Ryn – along with your sibling Cor, are out in the countryside on a routine quest to make sure that the Wards that protect the borders of their country are safe and functional. After mopping up a few of the local threats, however, things start getting out of hand when you come across soldiers from the neighbouring kingdom Reigendal. Once you actually get to the main Ward, this invading army is also revealed as having a character named Ryn among them, who has figured out a way to destroy these Wards from within.

As you might expect, a showdown takes place and in a series of events, Cor ends up getting kidnapped by the invading forces. We know he’s safe because they need a local guide to wage a stealthy war of conquest against your country. Things aren’t completely hopeless, however, since Ryn is rescued by a friendly scholar who just happens to be in the area – Abram Finley. After discovering that Abram also happened to be an acquaintance of Ryn’s deceased father, the two then set off to try and warn the nearby military camp of the incoming invasion before it’s too late.

As far as stories go, Echoes of the End doesn’t really do anything mind-blowing. However, what it does quite well is set up some appropriate stakes that melds a personal quest, getting Cor back, with the larger threat of the incoming invasion of Reigendal looming on the horizon.

"Abram also acts as an excellent sounding board for Ryn."

Considering the character-focused nature of the game, it is worth noting that some of the most interesting writing in Echoes of the End comes from Ryn’s interactions with her travelling companions. You get a great look at the relationship she has with Cor in the early chapters of the game, as well as a decent idea of how the two got estranged, how their father treated both of them, and how Cor’s mother was a contentious person in their lives. While Ryn comes off as a bit cold in the beginning, with acts like refusing to hold her brother’s hands, reasons for this are quickly explored, and it largely just comes down to Ryn’s desire to protect her brother.

Abram also acts as an excellent sounding board for Ryn. Since he knew her late father, he tends to have some interesting insight into the man. At the same time, we get to see Ryn warming up to Abram and seeing him as a friend in real time thanks to both of them coming to terms with the horror of an invasion making them realise exactly what’s at stake. The character writing is pretty great, and while some characters might feel like they’re one note, they start getting plenty of depth. The only downside here is that we don’t get to see the antagonists as often as we should, and instead, we only really get to fight faceless and nameless soldiers.

While the story might be a great setup, the gameplay feels like the glue holding everything together. The moment-to-moment gameplay feels like a pretty bog standard take on a Souls-like action system that has been toned down quite a bit in terms of difficulty. You’re often facing between 2 and 5 enemies in levels that feel like they were built for fights to break out, and you’re also given plenty of tools to let you deal with them in smarter ways than just slowly drawing them closer one attack at a time.

"Enemy encounters in the game are often separated by various environmental puzzles that Ryn and Abram must often work together to solve."

Abram also plays a vital role in the combat, since; you can have him attack your target, stunning them for a short duration and leaving them open for a big attack or two. Abram will also occasionally help you out in fights by holding an enemy down, leaving them vulnerable for a quick kill. Much like Ryn, Abram’s abilities can also be upgraded through the skill tree, giving him access to more attacks and more varied ways of supporting you in battle.

Ryn has a few magical abilities of her own to wield. These largely revolve around gravitational forces; the most basic ability you start out with, for example, is Shift, which lets you pull or push enemies in specific directions. This move can be used to great effect by, for instance, pulling an enemy into another one, knocking both of them down in the process and leaving them open for a few swings of your sword. More powers are unlocked over time, greatly expanding Ryn’s capabilities especially when it comes to dealing with multiple enemies at the same time. However, it is also worth noting that many of these abilities are also simply upgraded versions of your base abilities.

You also have a few defensive options that you can make use of to better manage the multiple enemies that are often thrown your way. Aside from the standard blocking and dodging, Ryn can also time her block perfectly to execute a parry, leaving the enemy open for a counter attack. These defensive options can also be further expanded upon through the skill tree by giving you new follow-ups. A parry, for example, can be followed-up with a magical blast that throws your opponent away. Similarly, well-timed dodges can be followed-up with a ground smash that damages the enemies surrounding you.

"Ryn’s capabilities also play into things outside of combat."

Despite the moment-to-moment combat having incredible potential for being fun, unfortunately, we don’t really get to see much of this depth explored thanks to enemies often feeling one-note. You’re not going to see regular soldiers pulling off some new moves, and even the ones that are equipped with more unique weapons seldom use them in interesting ways. Rather, the game’s idea of introducing more variety in fights largely boils down to throwing multiple archers in your way. Even more encounters where the soldiers are equipped with the grappling hook-styled tool Abrams would be welcome. Instead, you’re largely stuck with standard enemies and sometimes-interesting boss fights.

Speaking of which, abilities are unlocked through a simple leveling system where fighting enemies and finding collectibles gives you experience points. Getting a certain amount of experience points, in turn, rewards you with a skill point that can then be spent on new abilities, improvements to existing abilities, and even more mundane upgrades like getting more health or regenerating mana to cast your spells at a faster rate. While this might sound like a bit of a let down, especially when compared to action RPGs with much larger skill trees, it certainly helps the overall gameplay pacing of Echoes of the End and helps keep the focus on the narrative and strong character writing between Ryn and Abram.

Ryn’s capabilities also play into things outside of combat. Enemy encounters in the game are often separated by various environmental puzzles that Ryn and Abram must often work together to solve. Some of the game design chops at developer Myrkur Games are on clear display with these puzzles and how they’re designed to gradually introduce new mechanics to the player before they’re thrown into progressively more and more complex puzzles to solve using a combination of platforming and making use of Ryn’s abilities to manipulate the environment. While there are a few places where you’re going to get into back-to-back fights, the game also tends to give you plenty of breaks by introducing simple platforming challenges along the way, or even a puzzle that might involve manipulating a series of bridges and pulleys. This also helps give Ryn and Abram more time to talk, further diving into the strong character writing of the game.

"It’s a downright gorgeous game, and Myrkur definitely knows this since there are also plenty of scenic vistas peppered throughout the game to let you appreciate the landscape."

The overall gameplay structure of Echoes of the End harkens back to a much older era of gaming, where fights took place in specific arenas that were often separated with puzzles or platforming challenges. In many ways, the DNA of the design can go as far back as the PS2 era. However, Echoes of the End is a much more polished affair, and platforming isn’t nearly as core of a gameplay mechanic for it as it used to be for action-adventure titles of the past.

One of the key areas where Echoes of the End excels at is visuals. It’s a downright gorgeous game, and Myrkur definitely knows this since there are also plenty of scenic vistas peppered throughout the game to let you appreciate the landscape. Along with some of the more idyllic beauty captured by the title, there are also some solid depictions of more gruesome things, like a burning village, or even a cavern that was thought to have been long abandoned but is currently occupied by a mythical creature that feasts on the dead.

All of these visuals were also quite well optimized, and while I did see a couple of frame drops here and there, they largely disappeared once I was beyond the first chapter of the story. For context, I reviewed this game on a PC with an AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D CPU, 32 GB of RAM, and an AMD Radeon RX 7800XT GPU. Throughout my time with the game, with all of the visuals set to max and motion blur disabled, I was getting stable frame rates of between 80 and 90 FPS.

"Echoes of the End feels like a great first stab for a studio’s debut outing."

The visuals pair excellently with the soundtrack which tends to largely stay out of the way. While there are grand, sweeping orchestral tracks in Echoes of the End, most of the time, the music is much more understated, with the game focusing more on providing a quiet atmosphere to match the idyllic mountain paths or the melancholy of the brutal sight of a village getting destroyed. Even in gameplay terms, the sound effects do a great job to depict the impact of Ryn’s swords, and even the force of her enemies getting flung into each other.

Echoes of the End feels like a great first stab for a studio’s debut outing. The story hints at grander things happening in the background while still keeping things relatively personal for protagonist Ryn, and the gameplay is well paced, with epic fights punctuating environmental platforming and puzzle solving. Generally speaking, the title never really feels like it’s overstaying its roughly 14 hours of runtime. The combat, while not too deep, still feels quite fun when you can pull off the perfect use of Ryn’s abilities and Abram’s ability to stun foes. The quieter times afforded by the platforming and puzzle segments also help elevate the game’s pacing quite well.

Ultimately, Echoes of the End is a pretty fun action adventure game with some light RPG elements that is easy to play through over the course of a weekend thanks to its strong presentation, compelling writing, and fun combat.

This game was reviewed on PC.

The studio has published a post stating that it wants player feedback for the performance issues they might be facing, along with more details like where in the game they faced these issues, what the game’s graphics settings are set at, and the player’s PC hardware specs. Using these details along with the feedback, the studio hopes to fix up the technical issues that the game might be facing.

“The game has been live for around five hours now, and as expected we’re seeing user feedback pouring in,” wrote the studio. “We’re thrilled to see you all finally be able to enjoy Ryn’s story, but unfortunately we are seeing that some of you are experiencing some performance issues, particularly in the game’s earlier chapters.“

“We want to assure you that we are actively looking into these reports and will be moving forward with patches to address this rapidly.”

Echoes of the End was released on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S earlier today. Leading up to its release, Myrkur Games had released a behind-the-scenes video where it discussed its philosophy on what makes a compelling protagonist for a game. “That was the thing we knew about [protagonist] Ryn before we knew anything else,” said performance director Dadi Einars in the video. “That was the game we wanted to make.”

“Before she was a person, she was, well, a warrior with magical abilities. Over time, that description evolved. She wasn’t just a warrior, she was a ranger on a solitary posting expected to be able to fend for herself in the dangerous wilderness. She didn’t just have magical abilities, she was a Vestige, born with an affinity for destructive magic that most people feared and shunned. Her solitary posting became less about faith in her abilities, and more an expression of the fear her people felt for her.”

The video also featured the voice actor for protagonist Ryn, Aldis Amah Hamilton, who spoke about her experience with the game’s script, and how much she started loving the character the moment she saw the story.

“For me, the most helpful thing when I get to know a character is, of course reading the script, and their responses and reactions to whatever is going on,” said Hamilton. “But I also am just inherently curious about why people do the things they do and how people tick.”

Echoes of the End isn’t slated to be a long game, with the studio having confirmed that it will take players somewhere between 14 and 15 hours to finish if they focus on its 10-chapter story. Special attention, however, was paid to ensure that the game felt like an adventure for players.

The response, at least on PC via Steam, is fairly tepid thus far, with only 558 peak concurrent players at launch. It also has a “Mixed” rating with only 54 percent of its currently 105 user reviews giving it the thumbs-up due to performance issues.

Echoes of the End offers ten story chapters and lasts about 14 to 15 hours. Combat is somewhat akin to a Souls-like and 2018’s God of War, as players control Ryn directly while Abram assists. There’s melee combat and spell-casting, with Ryn capable of manipulating gravity to gain an advantage on foes.

Those same powers come into play during exploration, and Myrkur Games touts unique mechanics in each chapter that players must solve to progress. For more details on its combat, check out this developer video. You can also learn more about the process of creating its characters here.

In the video, performance director Dadi Einars takes the lead in talking about how the studio started its development of Echoes of the End with a simple concept – “A warrior with magical abilities”.

“That was the thing we knew about [protagonist] Ryn before we knew anything else,” said Einars in the video. “That was the game we wanted to make.”

“Before she was a person, she was, well, a warrior with magical abilities. Over time, that description evolved. She wasn’t just a warrior, she was a ranger on a solitary posting expected to be able to fend for herself in the dangerous wilderness. She didn’t just have magical abilities, she was a Vestige, born with an affinity for destructive magic that most people feared and shunned. Her solitary posting became less about faith in her abilities, and more an expression of the fear her people felt for her.”

We also get the developers discussing how they see Ryn themselves, and how they could relate to her character and the backstory that was eventually developed for her. Aldis Amah Hamilton, who voices Ryn, for instance, spoke about how much she loved her as a character right from the get go.

“For me, the most helpful thing when I get to know a character is, of course reading the script, and their responses and reactions to whatever is going on,” said Hamilton. “But I also am just inherently curious about why people do the things they do and how people tick.”

Einars and Hamilton also talk about the other characters in Echoes of the End, including Ryn’s brother Cor, the rest of her family, and her main travelling companion for the game, Abram Finlay.

Myrkur Games had released another behind-the-scenes video for Echoes of the End earlier this month focusing on the game’s cinematic approach to its combat, and how the studio took player feedback from the previous trailers into account as the game got closer to release.

“When we started making Echoes of the End, we already had some pillars in mind for the combat system,” said Einars in that previous video. “First, Ryn is both a trained warrior and a vestige; someone born with an affinity for ancient destructive magic. She is powerful, and playing as her, you should feel powerful too. Second, we wanted the interplay of melee combat and magic to be central to the experience. It’s about mobility and precision, weaving in and out of range, and using your abilities to control the battlefield.”

Echoes of the End is coming to PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S later today. Game director Halldór Snær Kristjánsson has also confirmed that it will have a runtime of between 14 and 15 hours for the main story.

However, you shouldn’t expect a God of War or Ragnarok-length adventure. Speaking to WCCF Tech, game director Halldór Snær Kristjánsson revealed that it’s about 14 to 15 hours long if you focus on the story.

“The game length is generally, I would say, 14 to 15 hours during our playtests when we get people in to try the game out. It’s longer than we set out to do. One of the reasons we offer for that as well is that we have 10 main chapters in the game, and each chapter in the game actually has a distinct environment and visuals.

“But we really wanted this game to feel like an adventure, like you’re traveling throughout the different biomes and seeing different parts of the world, and that’s exciting on a visual level, but also on top of that, each level will have its own kind of key mechanic in the game. So, as Ryn and Abram are going throughout the game, once you get into a new level, we’re gonna throw a new kind of mechanic at you to interface with, and that’s a promise that we give out to players.

“Once they play the first two chapters, they’ll start to realize, okay, they’re switching it up every so often. The way that we talk about this internally is that Ryn is a hammer and Abram is a screw, and they’re solving problems together or dealing with different things. We always throw completely different problems, and those are usually tied to the biome that you’re in and the story of the biome that you step into.”

Some of those mechanics are teased in the initial announcement trailer, says Kristjánsson. Each chapter will introduce and then expand upon these mechanics, making them “more complex.” You can also look forward to about 20 unique enemies. “Then, of course, the bosses on top, and those are also quite tied to the themes of the chapters. So you might see an enemy in one chapter and not in any other.”

Echoes of the End launches on August 12th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC. The story follows Ryn, who teams up with explorer Abram Finley to save her brother. Venturing through the Iceland-inspired Aema, the former utilizes swordplay and magic to topple enemies while the latter can assist in various ways. Head here for more details on the combat system.

Starting things off, Einars spoke about the feedback the studio got after it released the gameplay trailer last week. Noting that some of the feedback revolved around the game’s combat looking slow, Einars has said that changes have already been made to the game, and more improvements are constantly being worked on. He noted that the gameplay footage in the new video is from an earlier build of Echoes of the End. This means that the gameplay improvements that have been made to the game since then aren’t reflected in the new footage.

“When we started making Echoes of the End, we already had some pillars in mind for the combat system,” said Einars. “First, Ryn is both a trained warrior and a vestige; someone born with an affinity for ancient destructive magic. She is powerful, and playing as her, you should feel powerful too. Second, we wanted the interplay of melee combat and magic to be central to the experience. It’s about mobility and precision, weaving in and out of range, and using your abilities to control the battlefield.”

“Third, we didn’t want it to be a cakewalk. Ryn is powerful, but it’s that power that makes it even remotely possible for her to emerge victorious against the enemies she’s going to face on her journey.”

We then also get a look at how some of Ryn’s combat abilities will work, featuring gameplay programmer Oksar Emanuelsson. Ryn will have quite a few abilities right from the start of the game, including standard attacks and dodges. “More uniquely, my favourite ability in the game by far is the shift, which allows you to take an enemy and shift it over in another location,” explained Emanuelsson, who went on to note that the ability allows for unique ways to take out enemies, like shifting them off cliffs and letting gravity handle the rest.

Quite a bit of the rest of the video features various analyses by Emanuelsson of some of the combat that we got to see in last week’s trailer. He also provided some insight into some of the encounter design that was shown off in the trailer, such as Ryn having to manage multiple enemies while her partner in combat, Abran, is making use of his own abilities to help out.

Echoes of the End is slated for release on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S on August 12. The release date was announced through a trailer that gave us a good look at the game’s combat as well as the various magical abilities that Ryn and Abran will be able to use in their adventure together.