Clair Obscur: Expedition

While traditional role-playing games never disappeared, they did become quite rare for a few years. The release of Clair Obscur: Expedition has managed to remind many people why that style of combat was so beloved. Along with an excellent setting that revolves around serious themes like loss and grief, Expedition also has a solid take on turn-based combat, with every single character in your party having their own bespoke mechanics, be it Maeve’s stance system, how Lune handles elements, or even Gustave’s Overcharge mechanics. Pair this with rewarding high-level gameplay with parries and dodging, and you get one of the best RPGs out there.

Baldur’s Gate 3

Baldur’s Gate 3 finally managed to hit mainstream success, thanks in large part to its strong setting and ambitious design. Baldur’s Gate 3 adapts rules from the 5th edition of tabletop RPG Dungeons & Dragons, and features some of the most interesting and likeable characters that have been featured in games in quite some time. Along with this, it also has an expansive story that kicks things off with a great premise: figure out how to get rid of a parasite in your brain before you end up being turned into a mindflayer. What follows is an epic adventure that carries you through different cities and planes, where countless stories and challenges await.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Complete Edition

What can we say about The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt that hasn’t been said already? An entire decade since its original release, the open-world RPG has continued to be awesome thanks to constant support from CD Projekt RED, not only through the release of excellent expansions—but also through updating the title to make use of more modern hardware with enhanced visuals. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt continues to have an excellent story, with plenty of wonderfully-written sidequests. All of this, paired with a great combat system leads to a generally fun way to spend hundreds of hours.

Elden Ring + Shadow of the Erdtree

In many ways, both Elden Ring as well as its expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree, represents the culmination of everything developer FromSoftware has learned in developing titles since 2009’s Demon’s Souls. Along with the slow-paced but heavy combat that the studio is known for, Elden Ring and its expansion also feature a great open world to explore, some of the best boss fights it has ever design, and some incredibly dense lore available for players who would care enough to pore through the dozens of item descriptions and conversations needed to uncover it all. Pair this with tools that provide plenty of options for players that might want an easier time through the game, and Elden Ring and Shadow of the Erdtree simply prove themselves to be the best that FromSoftware has to offer.

Red Dead Redemption 2

Developer Rockstar has had many great games under its belt, essentially changing the entire concept of open-world games with the release of Grand Theft Auto 3 and its host of follow-ups, but none of them have been as jaw-dropping or awe-inspiring as 2018’s Red Dead Redemption 2. Acting as a prequel to the original Red Dead Redemption, the title puts you into the shoes of Arthur Morgan as he experiences the age of the cowboy coming to an end as a member of the Van der Linde gang. Along with some excellent character-writing and fun missions, Red Dead Redemption 2 also offers dense gameplay, taking on a simulationist approach to even side activities like hunting or train robbing, giving players hundreds of hours worth of things to do in its massive and lush open world.

Days Gone Remastered

While Days Gone was originally a PS4 game that came out to a middling reception, its release on PC has been a glow-up for the open-world zombie title, with modern gaming PCs being more than capable of handling the hordes of zombies that get thrown at you. Sure, the main narrative may not be particularly noteworthy. However, the side-activities, as well as the general gameplay loop encouraged by the fact that upgrading your motorbike is important, make the overall idea of setting out to scavenge from long-abandoned medical facilities or even rival gang camps an enticing idea.

Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition

While its initial release may have been a bit of a mess, in the years since, Cyberpunk 2077 has proven itself to be an excellent open-world action RPG. Taking on the role of V in the year 2077, you set out to become a legend in Night City. However, one of the jobs you take alongside your best friend Jackie goes horribly wrong, and now you’re slowly dying and the ghost of Johnny Silverhand lives in your head. Cyberpunk 2077, along with its expansion Phantom Liberty, tells an excellent story that takes you across Night City’s various districts and social strata as you try and figure out the evil machinations of the megacorporation Arasaka that led to the development of the thing that has been slowly killing you. Along with an excellent main story, Cyberpunk 2077 also features several well-written and fun side-quests that can range from getting into a rivalry with a Japanese pop group to discussing the nature of sentience with an AI taxi service.

Disco Elysium – The Final Cut

Quite easily one of the most interesting takes on the RPG genre that has been attempted, Disco Elysium – The Final Cut puts you in the shoes of a detective. You explore the city of Revachol, which is seemingly in the midst of a cultural upheaval in some parts, alongside your partner Lieutenant Kim Kitsuragi. Disco Elysium focuses more on conversation than it does action, and one of its most unique aspects is the fact that each aspect of the protagonist’s mind and body has a personality of its own. Through these conversations, you learn more about yourself, about Revachol, and about the world at large.

Mass Effect Legendary Edition

Mass Effect is one of those rare video game trilogies that deserves its “legendary” moniker. The three titles tell the story of a galaxy’s fight against a cosmic, existential threat, and puts players in the shoes of human Commander Shepard who must assemble a rag-tag crew of allies from the various species from across the galaxy as they try to figure out the mysteries behind the forces known only as the Reapers. Along the way, in true RPG fashion, there are also plenty of choices that players have to make, with many of these choices having far-reaching consequences for the galaxy as a whole. While the ending of Mass Effect 3 might be regrettable, the rest of the journey still holds up even today as one worth experiencing.

Prey (2017)

While it may not have anything to do with its 2006 namesake, Prey (2017) is an immersive sim that puts players in the shoes of Morgan Yu. Working for the TranStar Corporation on ethically-dubious experiments, you eventually start serving on the Talos I space station. However, these experiments eventually start going wrong, and the space station comes under attack by an alien threat known as the Typhon. The twist is that these aliens can shapeshift, which adds an extra layer of tension to the gameplay. Even when you’re just exploring an office room, one of the mugs might end up being a Mimic-type Typhon that can attack you at any time, after all. What makes Prey especially interesting is the freedom it gives the player in how they choose to tackle any situation, be it stealth, combat, or even something more creative, like building platforms out of nearby furniture and your Goo Gun to avoid any dangers.

The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim Special Edition

Skyrim is still – at the time of publishing – the latest game in The Elder Scrolls franchise, and there’s a good reason that it has been the best-selling one so far. Taking place in the eponymous region of Skyrim, the game puts players in the shoes of whatever character they might like to be and, after a short opening quest, sets them free in the world. What makes Skyrim fun is that it has hundreds of hours worth of content, not only through its main story, but through several side quests as well. Along with this, the game also has an excellent modding community that has constantly worked on adding more content to the game, as well as improving what’s already there. Generally speaking, The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim is the closest thing we have to a game we can play forever.

Fallout 3

What Skyrim does for the fantasy genre, Fallout 3 does for players that might prefer a post-apocalyptic setting. Taking place in and around a post-nuclear fallout Washington DC – referred to in-game as the Capitol Wasteland – Fallout 3 sets you loose in an open world with a single goal: find your father. More interesting than the main story, however, is the sheer amount of side-content that is available right from the get-go. The first-person RPG will have you cover the entire length and breadth of the wasteland as you try and do as many side-quests as possible thanks to the excellent writing. While we’re at it, the gameplay isn’t bad either; it might be dated by modern standards, but the RPG systems in the game allow for plenty of player choice in terms of how you want to define your play style.

Hollow Knight: Silksong

After years of memes making the rounds on the Internet, Hollow Knight: Silksong is finally out. Putting players in the shoes of new protagonist Hornet, Hollow Knight: Silksong features an entirely new world to explore, and tons of challenging boss fights to tackle. Along the way, there are also plenty of new gameplay systems to explore, including the new healing mechanics, as well as the ability to change up Hornet’s entire moveset if you so desire. Much like the original Hollow Knight, Silksong has an easy claim to the crown at the top of the genre.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

While Marvel’s Spider-Man was already a fantastic return of the webslinger to the gaming medium, Insomniac Games has taken everything about the open-world action game and turned it up to eleven with Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. Not only does it feature an even more epic storyline featuring plenty of Spider-Man’s rogues gallery, it also features two whole Spider-Men taking on the threats to New York City – Peter Parker and Miles Morales. Throw on top a fun plot about both of our heroes growing together, as well as the unique personal issues affecting both of them, as well as the threat of the Symbiote over the whole plot, and you get a great time.

Little Nightmares 2

Little Nightmares 2 is an interesting game since, while it might appear like a cutesy platformer from the outside, underneath its adorable exterior lies a dark game filled with a surprising amount of horror. The title revolves around a boy, Mono, who finds a girl, Six, trapped in the basement of a dark and terrible house, and the two must work together to make it out alive.Along the way, they will have to deal with many terrifying enemies and other dark secrets of the main setting of the game – the Pale City – and the title makes heavy use of some psychedelic visuals to hammer home the point that the city is not a welcoming place for wayward children.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2

While most open-world RPGs tend to make use of fantasy settings, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 instantly sets itself apart from its contemporaries by instead making use of real-world place, complete with accurate depictions of historical events. Taking place in the lands of Bohemia, protagonist Henry finds himself and his friend, Sir Hans, the victims of a bandit attack on their way to deliver a message to Trosky. What follows is Henry’s attempts to complete his mission, and along the way, grow as a person. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 takes a simulationist approach to its gameplay, with armours and weapons feeling appropriately hard to find and maintain, and crafting systems that will have you reading instructions from books before you go about mixing potions or forging a sword. The title offers hundreds of hours worth of gameplay, along with some of the best sword-fighting mechanics ever executed in a first-person game.

Alan Wake 2

Alan Wake was a masterclass in horror, but its sequel takes things a step further. In Alan Wake 2, players control multiple characters as they explore genuinely creepy locations, face terrifying creatures, and experience it all with an amazing score and exceptional gameplay. This is what horror games should strive to be, and it leaves us eager to see what Remedy has in store for the inevitable Alan Wake 3.

Death Stranding Director’s Cut

Hideo Kojima’s first major project after his departure from Konami, Death Stranding is a game that is quite difficult to explain. Essentially, you are a courier in a world where a global catastrophe has made humanity spread out far and wide, with little to keep them connected to each other. The core gameplay revolves around you taking on delivery jobs and then figuring out how to cross the terrain to get to your objective. What makes this interesting is that Death Stranding is one of those rare games where terrain is quite important, and you can’t just climb any surface you see. This means that you will have to figure out the best route to take that doesn’t risk too much damage to the cargo you’re carrying. Throw on top a bonkers plot that revolves around the concepts of death, the soul and the body, as well as the general creepiness that the ghost-like BTs exhibit, and you have a fantastic time experience, while long, is well worth it.

The Witness

From the developer behind Braid, The Witness is a strange puzzle game that takes a single mechanic – being able to draw lines – and turns it into the entire game. While most of the title will have you finding screens to then solve logical puzzles with your line drawing powers, the whole game essentially blows open at a certain point when you start to discover that the entire world around you is also a puzzle that can then be manipulated and solved in different ways. Along the way, the game also features narration that explores the nature of the island you’re exploring, and what its true purpose might be. All of this is paired with some wonderful art direction and a vibrant colour palette that makes sure that nothing in The Witness ever looks boring.

Ghost of Tsushima

Ghost of Tsushima is an open-world game where the protagonist – a samurai named Jin Kasai – survives an initial battle against an invading Mongol force, and must rally the citizens and soldiers of Tsushima island to mount a resistance against the invaders. Over the course of the fantastic open-world game, Sakai must also come to terms with meanings behind words like honour, and the caste system that Japan was living under at the time. Ghost of Tsushima features simple-but-excellent combat gameplay, as well as quite a few tools for the player should they decide to sneak around instead, as they go around Tsushima liberating settlements from the Mongols and ultimately figure out a way to get at the primary antagonist – Khotun Khan, cousin of Kubali Khan.

The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered

While the original The Last of Us was a great game with a fantastic story anchored by wonderfully-written characters, The Last of Us Part 2 goes a step further, giving us a darker tale that focuses on two distinct characters and their quest for vengeance and redemption. Along with the larger overall scale of gameplay, The Last of Us Part 2 also tells a grander story, and features some of the most fun boss fights to have been put into a title where the gameplay is otherwise quite realistic. On top of all of this, the Remastered release on PC also has a host of extra content in the form of the roguelike survival mode No Return, where you get to take on combat challenges as the character of your choice in a variety of different levels.

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

FromSoftware might be largely known for its slow-paced action RPGs in the Souls series and Elden Ring, but with Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, the studio instead decided to take on a much faster style of gameplay where being on the defensive was punished. Rather than hiding behind a shield, in Sekiro, you are instead forced to learn the timings of various enemy attacks so that you can instead parry them, eventually breaking your foes’ posture to then finish them off with a glorious killing blow. The title still maintains much of the FromSoftware DNA, however, including how death works and the emphasis on smaller-scaled levels that are more dense and intertwining, encouraging plenty of exploration. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, despite its differences from the studio’s other games, can easily be considered one of its best outings yet.

Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection

A collection featuring two games – Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End and Uncharted: Lost Legacy – Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection tells two excellent stories. While one tries to wrap up the ongoing plot of Nathan Drake trying to forge a legacy for himself, the other instead features two supporting characters from preceding Uncharted games in the roles of dual protagonists as they set off on an adventure of their own. Where Uncharted 4 offers a polished take on everything the series has had to offer so far, Lost Legacy instead goes for more experimental game design. All in all, both titles are well worth playing, even if you haven’t been able to play the first three games in the series.

Frostpunk 2

The original Frostpunk was a fresh take on the city-builder genre with a unique setting where you have to build and manage a city around sources of heat, since the planet has essentially frozen over. Its sequel pulls the camera back a bit, and instead of having you put down individual buildings, you’re now laying out entire districts with a single click. Despite this more zoomed out take on the gameplay, however, Frostpunk 2 still makes the player choose between two horrifying choices for the survival of their city, much like its predecessor, and the general progression of the title has been taken in interesting directions, such as how trade routes are managed and how districts can boost or bring down one another, depending on proximity. All of this is paired with some wonderful visuals and excellent sound design that perfectly manage to bring your cities to life.

A Plague Tale: Requiem

A Plague Tale: Requiem is a direct sequel to A Plague Tale: Innocence, and revolves around the two siblings once more having to travel together again. This time around, Amicia and Hugo de Rune have to travel south in order to try and look for a cure for Hugo’s affliction. On the gameplay side of things, it offers more of a refinement over its predecessor rather than any radical changes. Players take on the role of Amicia while Hugo helps out 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.

The Rogue Prince of Persia

After having spent several months in Early Access, The Rogue Prince of Persia was finally out a few weeks ago, and the fact that developer Evil Empire took player feedback quite seriously is evident. The title features incredibly-polished side-scrolling and platforming with smooth animations and a great visual style that still manages to work well with the randomly-generated levels. Throw on top some fast-paced combat that rewards quick timing, as well as a large variety of weapons, and you’re going to have a great time as you figure out the time-bending story of the Prince who is trying to save his people after previously having been the unwitting instigator of this doom to begin with.

Middle-earth: Shadow of War

Middle-earth: Shadow of War builds on everything its predecessor did in expansive ways. It brings back the much-beloved Nemesis system, which allows protagonist Talion to face down various kinds of Orc enemies, each with their own unique personalities and fighting styles. On top of this, the Orcs winning the fight also means that they’ll get stronger, making the subsequent rematch even harder. The Nemesis system alone makes Shadow of War worth your time, but if that’s not enough, it also has a fun story exploring an alternate timeline of the Lord of the Rings books where a giant war was waged against the forces of Mordor well before the events of the books take place. The gameplay also serves as an excellent evolution of the classical style of open-world action gameplay we saw over the last couple of console generations.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider

In Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Lara Croft embarks once again on a perilous hunt for a precious treasure. However, in her carelessness, Croft accidentally sets off a chain of events that threatens the world, and now she must find a way to stop the destruction. On the gameplay side of things, it offers fast and responsive gunplay as well as plenty of options for some stealth, including the ability for Croft to cover herself in mud to blend in with her surroundings better. The star of the game is undoubtedly the platforming, and with plenty of tombs for Croft to raid, Shadow of the Tomb Raider offers just about everything you could ask for.

Black Myth: Wukong

Black Myth: Wukong is an interesting take on a classic setting. The game features excellent boss fights, along with some gorgeous visuals. These aspects are further bolstered by the fact that the combat system is incredible and responsive. Even the encounter design deserves some praise, since Black Myth: Wukong has been designed around the idea of making the player use just about every tool they have at their disposal. There isn’t really much else to say that hasn’t already been said plenty of times already. It did, after all, manage to hold on to its concurrent player count records at launch when compared to any game out there on PC.

Mafia: The Definitive Edition

While the Mafia series has seen a newfound level of success thanks to the recent release of Mafia: The Old Country, the original Mafia is still worth revisiting, especially in its Definitive Edition form, since it now features modernised gameplay and combat systems, as well as a massive upgrade in visual quality. The story revolves around humble taxi driver Thomas Angelo in the city of Lost Haven, who finds himself embroiled with the local mob thanks to a recent car chase against a rival mob. Things slowly escalate as Angelo climbs up the ranks of the Salieri family. Interestingly, the story is told in the form of Angelo confessing to his crimes to a detective, with liberal use of flashbacks as the main storytelling device. The title also features a fun open world to drive through, especially since few games ever use the Great Depression as their setting.

Mad Max

Having come out at a time where many players and critics alike were suffering from open-world fatigue, Mad Max was quite overlooked. However, in the decade since, the title has been vindicated thanks to its excellent open world design and strong gameplay. Mad Max is a unique open world game where the player’s vehicle, the Magnum Opus, is an important form of progression. Much of the game will be spent with you, as Max, trying to find parts and blueprints to upgrade the car. Along with this, there is also an emphasis on vehicular combat, as well as good ol’ fisticuffs and some ranged weapons thrown in for good measure.

Hogwarts Legacy

Hogwarts Legacy is an open-world game that perfectly manages to tap into the world of the Harry Potter books. The title takes place a hundred years before the events of the books, and puts players in the shoes of a budding young wizard joining the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. As they live out their student life, players will also eventually discover a bubbling goblin uprising, as well as criminal wizards. Hogwarts Legacy is one of those games that any fan of the Harry Potter series owes themselves to play because of just how well it captures the magical feelings of the books.

Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon

While Skyrim might offer a fun take on a fantasy open-world RPG, Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon takes a darker turn. The game takes on the classic tales of Arthurian legend, albeit with its own unique interpretations. Along with its vast open world, Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon also features quite a bit of emphasis on first-person combat, be it with swords or at range with a bow and some arrows. There are also plenty of other things to do while you’re out and about, from gathering crafting materials to simply taking a break by sketching some scenery or fishing by a lake.

Star Wars Outlaws

Star Wars Outlaws stands as a redemption story of its own, overcoming early skepticism to win players over. While the game was a mess when it first came out, the developers have taken quite a bit of player feedback to then introduce a host of fixes to the game, from gameplay aspects like improving how stealth works, to the addition of plenty of story content through the release of two expansions. Star Wars Outlaws is a great way to experience the Star Wars universe without the baggage of having to play as a Jedi.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Assassin’s Creed Shadows represents something of a new leaf for the franchise. While many had found the last two releases—Valhalla and Odyssey—a bit too bloated, Shadows pulls its filler and padding back a bit, instead focusing on delivering a few core activities that are actually fun and make the world a joy to explore. It also finally takes the franchise to Japan, and introduces a pair of new protagonists: the stealthy Naoe and the fearsome Yasuke. The two have to work together to figure out the secrets behind Oda Nobunaga’s death, while also dealing with the machinations of an early form of the Templars.

The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered

While Skyrim might serve as a fantastic open-world RPG in its own right, its predecessor, Oblivion, was also a downright excellent game. And now, with the Remastered release, we can once more explore the lands of Cyrodiil as we take on the opening of the Oblivion Gates and a Daedric invasion. Along with this, there are also plenty of side-quests to take on, including a host of factions to join, from the fighter’s guild to the Dark Brotherhood. You can even simply become an arena fighter if that’s all you really want to do, it’s ultimately all up to you.

Atomfall

While Rebellion might be known for its excellent shooter series Sniper Elite, the studio decided to try something different with Atomfall. Rather than taking on Nazi soldiers on covert missions during World War 2, Atomfall instead has you scavenging for resources in a strange world where it is up to you to figure out the game’s story through your own skills of investigation and deduction. While there are plenty of fights you can still get into, you’ll want to be a lot more careful about the kinds of enemies you decide to take on, since you’re a lot more fragile and not as well-armed as you might be in a Sniper Elite game.

Sniper Elite: Resistance

While Rebellion has been experimenting with Atomfall, it still hasn’t left its Sniper Elite series behind. We also recently got the release of Sniper Elite: Resistance, where players take on the role of a brand new protagonist, SOE Agent Harry Hawker, who is taking on missions that run parallel to the events of Sniper Elite 5. Since it is ultimately a spin-off, Sniper Elite: Resistance features primarily the same gameplay as its predecessors, but with quite a bit more refinements in various things, from second-to-second gameplay all the way up to how its missions are structured.

Firewatch

Firewatch is a narrative adventure game where the goal is quite simple; on his first day at Firewatch tower Two Forks, protagonist Henry gets some interesting calls on his radio, which is otherwise only used to contact his supervisor who is based at the Thorofare tower. Things quickly start getting dark, and Henry must figure out who is calling him on the radio, and what exactly is up with his supervisor who he is yet to physically meet. Firewatch doesn’t really feature any combat. Rather, there is a focus on exploration and environmental storytelling, and it’s largely up to the player to figure out where to go and how to get there.

Dying Light

While there have been a couple of sequels out so far, the original Dying Light is still a game well worth playing thanks to its fantastic melee combat systems and parkour mechanics that make travelling through the streets and rooftops of the zombie-infected city of Haran. The story itself is also quite interesting, with protagonist Kyle Crane having been infected with the zombie virus and needing to find a way to curtail its symptoms before he ultimately turns. The title also features an interesting twist on the day-night cycle, with day time being safe for exploration but night time offering far greater rewards at the risk of the player having to deal with incredibly dangerous and more powerful zombies dubbed Volatiles. All of this combined with a fun crafting system that rewards creativity in your weapon choices make Dying Light often feel like it’s still the best game in the series so far.

Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown

Until the release of Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown, the Ace Combat franchise felt like one of the worst-kept secrets in terms of how insane it can be both in terms of quality of gameplay and story. Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown tells a brand new story in the world of Strangereal, with the plot primarily revolving around a massive war between the Kingdom of Erusea and the Osean Foundation. The title features excellent arcade-style dogfighting combat with a host of fighter jets from the real world, as well as quite a few fictional jets for some added fun.

Half-Life 2

Quite an easy contender for one of the greatest games ever made, Half-Life 2 has a sprawling campaign that holds up even to this day thanks to the sheer amount of variety it presents to players, both in the form of different weapons and enemies, as well as the mechanics of various levels. The title was also important in introducing the physics engine that is part of Valve’s own Source engine, and the feature was on incredible display thanks to a weapon like the gravity gun. Throw on top an impressive story that is told in an incredibly minimalistic way without ever cutting to a cutscene, and it’s easy to see why Half-Life 2 is so widely regarded as being such a great game, even in 2025.

Halo: The Master Chief Collection

While PC as a platform is no stranger to first-person shooters, it is hard to argue that the Halo franchise isn’t one of the best that the genre has seen. Thankfully, thanks to Halo: The Master Chief Collection, players can experience almost the entirety of the Halo storyline, starting from the original Halo: Combat Evolved, its sequels Halo 2, Halo 3 and spin-offs ODST, Halo Reach, and even the start of 343 Industries’ (now Halo Studios) run with the franchise, Halo 4. The collection also offers a way to play all of the various games’ levels in remixed orders, following distinct themes like levels that focus on vehicles, for example, to focusing more on certain subplots. Halo: The Master Chief Collection is essentially the best way to experience a seminal shooter series, warts and all.

Monster Hunter Wilds

Quite possibly the most refined gameplay offered so far in the Monster Hunter franchise, Monster Hunter Wilds represents the pinnacle of the series, if not in its smaller roster of monsters when compared to its predecessors, then at least in its gameplay systems and massive, beautiful worlds. Monster Hunter Wilds features a short, fun story that takes you across the Forbidden Lands as you try to get young child Nata back to his family. Along the way you’ll get to take on several monsters, both new to the series as well as returning favourites, using the weapons of your choice out of 14 distinct options. Monster Hunter Wilds features plenty of gameplay refinements as well, including a mount system, as well as the ability to carry around two weapons that you can switch between mid-fight, which is great since each weapon feels like you’re playing a new game altogether.

Returnal

One of the rare instances of a AAA roguelite game, Returnal is an intense third-person shooter that puts players in the shoes of space pilot Selene Vassos who finds herself having crashed on an alien planet named Atropos. What follows is a psychedelic adventure as she tries to find the source of a mysterious signal called the White Shadow, but the twist is that Selene seems to be stuck in some kind of time loop where, every time she dies, she finds herself waking up at the moment of her ship’s crash. The title is filled with fast-paced and tense combat that has you dodging massive projectiles shot by strange creatures, and occasionally also getting your hands on upgrades for your weapons. The story itself is also quite interesting, pulling in plenty of allusions from myths as she tries to make it off Atropos alive.

Sleeping Dogs

Born from the ashes of the long-dead True Crime series of games, Sleeping Dogs is the closest we’ve ever gotten to having a Hong Kong action movie in video game form. The plot revolves around the adventures of undercover cop Wei Shen who must infiltrate a triad gang in order to take it down from the inside. When it comes to gameplay, Sleeping Dogs is an open-world game with several inter-mingling systems, from driving and vehicular combat, to melee combat with slick martial arts moves, and the occasional bouts of ranged combat when you can get your hands on a gun. The game wonderfully realises its setting of Hong Kong, often showing the stark contrasts between the cleaner commercial areas of the city and the but bright and colourful entertainment districts.

Metro Exodus

Whereas the first two games in the Metro series were more focused on offering linear experiences, Metro Exodus broadened its scope by a considerable amount by opting to set players free in more open environments. While far from an open-world game, Metro Exodus still provides quite a bit of freedom to players in terms of how they want to approach any situation. Along with this, the title also encourages plenty of exploration since, in keeping with series tradition, resources are scarce in Metro Exodus. Exploring is also a great way to get your hands on valuable upgrade materials to improve the arsenal of weapons you will ultimately end up using against not only human enemies, but mutated foes as well. The story is also quite interesting, since it revolves around Artyom, his wife Anna, and their friends the Rangers departing the Moscow Metro system in a train to explore the Russian wilderness.

Gears of War: Reloaded

When the original Gears of War first came out back in 2006, it was considered a mind-blowing experience for the time thanks to its visuals, as well as refinements over the turn-based shooter mechanics we had seen done much worse in plenty of other games. Gears of War: Reloaded, however, proves that the original title still holds up to this day thanks to its incredible campaign with plenty of set pieces, fun and varied weapons to play around with, and some downright fantastic visual upgrades that have been made to take better advantage of modern hardware.

Dead Cells

Dead Cells is one of those rare indie games that manages to get just about every single one of its aspects right. Even something as simple as movement and exploration feel great in the roguelite action game, and the level of variety on offer with the weapons, as well as the meta progression system that encourages not only mastery of the traversal systems, but also a willingness to explore, make just about every run of Dead Cells feel like a fun time. Throw on top some excellent pixel art that really makes its massive boss fights come to life, as well as the plethora of additional content – ends up making it very difficult to put the side-scroller down for good.

Detroit: Become Human

While games made by Quantic Dream might be quite divisive at times, Detroit: Become Human is outright the best title that the studio has put out so far. Featuring narrative-focused gameplay that largely involves having conversations and making choices at key moments, Detroit: Become Human tells three distinct stories in a world where humanity treats sentient androids that it has developed as slaves. All three stories have the player take on the role of a distinct android, where you have to figure out the complex moral quandaries that take place throughout the storylines.

Portal 2

When the first Portal came out, it was widely regarded as a radical new entry in a genre that was otherwise known to revolve around killing things. It ultimately ended up laying the foundations for what would become Portal 2 – a bigger, grander sequel in every way possible. Portal 2 takes place an unknown amount of time after the events of the first game, and has Chell once more pick up the portal gun to find her way out of the Aperture Science facility she’s trapped in. Along with GlaDOS returning once more as a major character, Portal 2 also features a new character in the form of Wheatley. We also get a lot of storytelling in the game, since quite a bit of it has you exploring ancient versions of the bathroom curtain company that would eventually become Aperture Science.

Outlast

There might be plenty of stealth-based horror games out there, but Outlast manages to be something quite special thanks to its use of some real-world history to build up its scare. Revolving primarily around the MK Ultra experiments that were conducted by the CIA, the game puts you into the shoes of independent journalist Miles Upshur who is trying to get the scoop on Mount Massive Asylum for the Criminally Insane. Unfortunately, owing to unethical experiments, most of its residents have essentially gone insane, and now Upshur must figure out how to survive and get out in one piece while also making sure he gets enough evidence along the way. Outlast also makes use of a handheld camera as its primary PoV device, since it offers a night vision mode. However, players will also have to keep a track of their battery consumption, since you don’t want to be trapped in the dark with murderous people around you.

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance

Ostensibly the closest the Metal Gear franchise gets to having a “final” game since it takes place furthest into the future, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance is a major departure for the series. It trades in the tactical espionage action in favour of the more bombastic tagline of lightning bolt action, and puts you in the shoes of a fully cyborg-ised Raiden at the peak of his power. Developed by PlatinumGames, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance features a fantastic combat system that has an emphasis on not only long and vicious combos, but also parrying the enemy’s attacks to open them up for massive counter-attacks. This, along with the Zandatsu system that lets you cut just about everything, be it an enemy’s limbs or a bridge’s support, make Revengeance a treat to play. Throw on top an over-the-top but fun story about private military contractors and a cartoonishly evil US Senator and you have an explosive roller coaster.

Resident Evil

Before the remake of Resident Evil 2 back in 2019 was considered the high watermark for video game remakes, the series had already earned similar acclaim for its remake of the original Resident Evil. Originally released on the GameCube all the way back in 2002, the remake of the original Resident Evil eventually made its way to PC, complete with higher-resolution textures and all of the high-quality upgrades that it got over the original. Even after all these years, Resident Evil still manages to feel like a one-of-a-kind survival horror experience, thanks to its tight level design and generally excellent gameplay that melds environmental puzzle solving and tense action sequences, all while keeping you on the edge of your seat thanks to a constant scarcity of weapons and ammo.

Watch_Dogs 2

It’s no secret that the original Watch_Dogs was a bit of a disappointment, both in terms of its visuals, as well as its story and characters. The series’ second stab at the series in the form of Watch_Dogs 2, however, proved to be a much more interesting experience. Rather than focusing on the brooding Aiden Pearce, Watch_Dogs 2 instead stars a group of scrappy young adults as they venture into the real world to start their careers, but find themselves fighting against an authoritarian regime that is making use of high-tech surveillance technology to control the populace. Protagonist Marcus Holloway is a much more fun character than Pearce ever was, and the attempts of his rebel hacker crew, DedSec, to take down ctOS 2.0 are a wild, fun, and often emotional adventure.

Silent Hill f

After the Silent Hill franchise spent over a decade being missing from the overall gaming scene, the series made a bombastic return with last year’s remake of the seminal Silent Hill 2. A year later and now we even have a brand new entry in the stories franchise – Silent Hill f. The game takes place in the unique setting of a quaint Japanese finishing town in the 1960s, where school-going girl Hinako has a strained relationship with her parents and goes to meet her friends for some solace. However, a sinister fog starts covering the town of Ebisugaoka, and Hinako finds herself trapped and fighting for her life. While there is an emphasis on combat this time around, Silent Hill f is still able to effectively pull off the scares and tense atmosphere that the series is known for.

Dying Light: The Beast

The newest entry in the Dying Light franchise is seen as something of a return to form for the series. While Dying Light 2 Stay Human did well for developer Techland, the studio itself acknowledged that it had lost what made the original Dying Light great, and hence we get The Beast. Once more putting us into the shoes of Kyle Crane after the events of The Following, Dying Light: The Beast features improved parkour-based traversal over its predecessor, while also bringing in improvements to both melee and ranged combat, all of which is packaged into a fantastic new open world to explore with plenty of variety, both in terms of zombie types and the scenery.

Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter

A reimagining of an absolute classic, Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter is a ground-up 3D remake of a seminal 2D sprite-based RPG. As its name implies, it is the first part of the expansive Trails franchise, and puts you in the shoes of Estelle Bright and her adopted brother Joshua as they set off as members of the peacekeeping guild, starting out as bracers and slowly working their way up. The Trails series, while long, absolutely features several stories well worth experiencing, and there is currently no better way to start your journey than with Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter.

Blue Prince

Puzzle games, especially in the indie space, tend to come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Very rarely, however, does one show up that ends up feeling like a revelation. This is precisely what developer Dogubomb achieved with Blue Prince. The premise is quite simple: you are stuck in a mysterious manor – Mt. Holly – where the rooms shift around for no apparent reason. The core of the game is exploring the mansion, but the twist is that the player decides what the next room will be every time they open a door. Blue Prince has a wide gamut of puzzles for players to figure out as they try to make their way to the rumoured Room 46. To throw another wrench in your plans, the house once again shifts its rooms around every dawn. Blue Prince is the kind of game where you can spend anywhere from between 15 minutes to several hours at a stretch as you try to comb through the mysterious rooms of Mt. Holly to find a way to their destination.

Commandos: Origins

While the real-time tactical stealth series Commandos doesn’t really need much of an introduction, the latest release, Commandos: Origins, proves that the genre and style of gameplay still has legs in the modern day. Taking us all the way back to the origin of the World War 2 crew of commandos you play in the original Commandos, Commandos: Origins offers entirely new challenges throughout its various maps, all with more modernised gameplay thanks to updated visuals, as well as a large variety of objective types that will have you make use of just about every ability you and your crew can muster.

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

After their success, many wondered where BioWare’s next game could venture. Few expected Star Wars; even fewer expected perhaps the best story in the franchise to date with Knights of the Old Republic. As an amnesiac Jedi, players explore well-worn and brand-new locations while becoming reacquainted with the Force. With stellar writing and companions, an excellent combat system, and the alignment system dictating one’s bent towards the Light or Dark side, Knights of the Old Republic is an iconic title for any RPG and Star Wars fan.

Inside

Combining atmospheric story-telling with clever puzzles, a stark aesthetic, and impeccable pacing, Playdead’s Inside presented one of the best side-scrolling adventure titles of all time. It’s saying something when a title of this caliber launched more than eight years ago, and nothing else in the genre has come close to matching up.

Demon’s Souls

What better place to start your journey with some of the best single-player titles on the PS5 than with the remake of a classic that also happens to be a launch title for Sony’s current generation of consoles? Sure, the remake of Demon’s Souls, courtesy of Bluepoint, doesn’t quite nail the intense atmosphere of the original, but the game still happens to be an absolute treat when it comes to visuals, and more importantly, it’s still excellent evidence that FromSoftware – the studio behind the original Demon’s Souls – knew what it was doing when it came to gameplay, combat, and level design, even all the way back in 2009.

Evil West

While the current landscape of video game releases is largely populated by massive big-budget AAA games as well as indie titles made by smaller crews, Evil West manages to prove that there also exists a solid middle-ground. While not polished to a mirror sheen like a AAA title would have been, Evil West is an excellent third-person action-adventure game that, despite looking like it was ripped straight out of the PS3/Xbox 360 console generation, still happens to be a good time even today.

Returnal

Quite easily one of the more challenging games on the PS5, Returnal is a great example of some of the capabilities of the console. Alongside featuring excellent gunplay, Returnal also makes great use of some of the PS5’s core features, including near-instant load times, the use of haptic feedback on the DualSense controller, and even offering resistance through the controller’s triggers to offer up multiple firing modes for your weapons. The plot in Returnal is also quite interesting, playing into some classic tragedies through the lens of a sci-fi time-loop story.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

How does one follow up on what is widely regarded as one of the best superhero titles out there? Why, you make it bigger and better, of course. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 builds on both of its predecessors by featuring multiple protagonists, as well as a whole new set of antagonists Peter Parker and Miles Morales to fight against. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is essentially an improvement over the last couple of games in every way, complete with more content, as well as expanded gameplay features and new abilities. Playing as Venom was just an icing on the cake!

The Last of Us Part 1

While the fact that The Last of Us Part 1 is essentially the third time the same game is being re-released, there is a good reason for this: it’s just an all-round excellent game. Featuring intense gameplay that seamlessly switches between a variety of genres, from running-and-gunning, to stealthily taking out groups of human enemies, to even a fair bit of horror as you try and avoid the horrific cordyceps as you journey alongside Joel and Ellie across America. The story and characters of The Last of Us Part 1 are especially notable, with strong writing and character dynamics good enough that it inspired an HBO adaptation.

The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered

The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered follows up on what is considered by many to be one of the best games ever made by giving us a wide, sweeping story that tells us a story about vengeance, and the cycle of hatred that keeps getting perpetuated. Featuring multiple playable characters throughout the game, The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered goes to great lengths in not only humanizing even the enemies you often end up fighting, but also allowing us to understand their actions, as heinous as they may have been. This is paired with some excellent gameplay that expertly blends melee and ranged combat, as well as a heavy dose of stealth.

Final Fantasy 7 Remake: Intergrade

Final Fantasy 7 Remake kicks off what is set to be a trilogy in retelling the story of the seminal Final Fantasy 7, complete with modern visuals, as well as gameplay that blends the original’s turn-based combat with real-time action in a way that not only feels satisfying thanks to the tactical options it opens up, but also allows for some great gameplay customization. The game is also notable since, rather than just being a 1:1 remake of the original, Final Fantasy 7 Remake is also trying to explore what the very concept of a remake can be, complete with a meta narrative that shifts the core themes and foundations of Final Fantasy 7 in meaningful and interesting ways.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

Following up on Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth sets players loose in a vast, expansive open world. Picking up right after the events of the first game, Rebirth not only gives us a greater look at the world, but thanks to its many bits of side-content strewn throughout its world, also allows us to understand the various nations, civilizations, and even flora and fauna that dot the landscape. While zooming out for its grand tale, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth also zooms into its individual characters, giving us a much deeper look at various characters like Cloud, Aerith, and Barret.

Astro Bot

While 3D platformers are quite rare outside of the indie space and Nintendo’s platforms, Team Asobi knocked it out of the park with Astro Bot, giving us one of the most fun, endearing, and joyful games on the system. Astro Bot features levels and characters from all over PlayStation’s history, along with a great soundtrack that pays homage to many of these games, as well as fantastic platforming gameplay that, while accessible for just about anyone that might be interested in playing games, can also offer up a decent level of challenge in its later stages.

God of War Ragnarok

Following up on the story of the 2018 reboot, Fimbulwintr has arrived, and things are looking quite grim in all the realms. While Atreus has to figure out how he can deal with the coming apocalypse as well as the machinations of their foes, Kratos, on the other hand, has to figure out how to deal with a particularly vengeful mother, while also keeping his son safe. Ragnarok builds on the gameplay foundations laid by its predecessor, bringing with it a large variety in terms of not only combat options, but also enemy types, locations, and challenges that can be taken on.

Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart

An excellent entry in the long-running franchise, Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart brings with it quite a few new interesting gameplay twists that make full use of the PS5’s hardware. One of its biggest contributions to the franchise is the introduction of a new protagonist in Rivet, who, much like Ratchet, is a Lombax that has a knack for using improbable weapons to deal with problems at hand. The game also features excellent visuals, as well as frantic combat thanks to the rift mechanic that allows players to instantly transport themselves between various places during a fight.

Final Fantasy 16

While far from the most-loved game in the RPG genre, Final Fantasy 16 still proves itself to be an excellent entry thanks to its fantastic combat mechanics. Final Fantasy 16 tells the story of former slave Clive Rosfield, who has set out to rid the world of slavery, while also fighting to take on challenging encounters that threatens the existence of all humanity in the land of Valisthea. Along with its fast-paced action gameplay, Final Fantasy 16 players can also expect to enjoy epic boss fights where Eikons clash against each other in arenas of improbable scale and size.

Control Ultimate Edition

Control is quite easily one of the strangest modern games to have been released. Taking place in a mysterious building known as the Oldest House, which also happens to serve as the headquarters for an inter-dimensional government agency known as the Federal Bureau of Control, players take on the role of Jesse Faden, who is exploring the building in an effort to find her long-lost brother. Thanks to a series of strange events, Jesse finds herself becoming the new Director of the FBC, uncovering and using new powers as she continues her exploration. The gameplay in Control revolves around fast-paced shootouts, coupled with players making use of Jesse’s psychic abilities to throw things around and fly in the air.

The Nioh Collection

Two of the most unique takes on the Souls-like genre, both of the Nioh games have an emphasis on precise, fast-paced combat which serves a sharp contrast to the more slow-paced gameplay the genre is known for. Players also have an incredibly-vast arsenal of weapons, each with different movesets that also change depending on the stance the player takes. It’s also worth noting that both games also feature loot-based progression along with character-based mechanics, which encourages further replayability, thanks to the presence of ever more challenging encounters as the players experience their own rise in power.

Baldur’s Gate 3

One of the most celebrated titles of recent times, Baldur’s Gate 3 is an expansive RPG that is absolutely stunning. Playable characters tend to have their own stories, motivations, and goals. The game also features an in-depth turn-based combat system that gives players an immense level of freedom in taking on encounters, which can range from simple hack-and-slash tactics, to throwing your Halfling friend at an enemy Ogre to keep them distracted while you lay explosive traps all over the place.

Elden Ring

FromSoftware’s most recent Souls-like release has essentially become one of the definitive takes on the genre. The game features excellent combat that rewards players striking their enemies with efficiency, along with a large open world that players are completely free to explore, as long as they can survive. Elden Ring got a DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree, which takes place in the Land of Shadows, where players take on a journey to discover why they decided to come to the Lands Between to begin with.

Resident Evil Village

While Resident Evil Village is more action-oriented than its predecessor, it still manages to maintain the classic horror vibes that the series is well-known for. The game puts players in the shoes of Ethan Winters, who has set off to a rural European city to find his daughter. The game features a number of different styles of horror, ranging from classic gothic horror in dealing with Lady Dimitrescu, to more stealth-based body horror when the player finds themselves trapped in that haunted house. Resident Evil Village also serves as an ending to the story of Ethan Winters, complete with an expansion that explores the physical and mental state of a grown up Rosemary Winters.

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth

Following in the foundations of the new gameplay systems laid by Yakuza 7: Like a Dragon, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth once again returns players into the shoes of Ichiban Kasuga, who finds himself traveling to Hawaii because of events that derail his life in Yokohama. The game sees the return of the turn-based combat system from the previous game, but with more gameplay features to make better use of environmental weapons, as well as an expanded list of Jobs that players can switch between for a larger variety of abilities to use in fights. And if that isn’t enough, there’s also an entire Pokemon-style game, complete with its own combat system and storyline.

Alan Wake 2

A sequel more than a decade in the making, Alan Wake 2 is one of the best horror experiences out there. The game features some downright fantastic gameplay, dual protagonists each with their own unique gameplay mechanics, and a story that, while also tying up the threads left dangling by the original Alan Wake, also manages to tell its own tale in a fun way. Alan Wake 2 puts players in the shoes of the titular Alan Wake, as well as FBI agent Saga Anderson, each of whom is trying to solve the mysteries surrounding Bright Falls. A big theme in Alan Wake 2 is light, and along with some great level design and fun combat, the game also features a fantastic two DLCs that are an absolute must play.

Cyberpunk 2077

Cyberpunk 2077 puts players in the shoes of protagonist V and sets them loose in Night City where they aim to build up their own legend and become remembered like the mercenaries of old. The game features a fantastic story that has V grapple with their own mortality, as well as question the very nature of a person’s soul. Along with a fun cast of side characters, including Johnny Silverhand played by Keanu Reeves, the game also got a DLC release – Phantom Liberty – which features a whole new area, as well as a new story, and new characters. Cyberpunk 2077 is also a visual treat, pushing even modern console hardware to its limits in its gorgeous rendition of Night City.

Hi-Fi Rush

Developed by the studio behind The Evil Within and its sequel, Hi-Fi Rush is a bright, cheerful, colourful third-person hack-and-slash action game with a twist: it’s also a rhythm game. The protagonist, Chai, has a music player implanted into his heart, which not only ends up giving the game a rather fantastic soundtrack, but also encourages players to hack-and-slash their way through enemies to the rhythm of the music. The unique title features a fun cast of characters, as well as some rather fantastic boss fights, all with excellent gameplay mechanics.

Dragon’s Dogma 2

Dragon’s Dogma 2 offers one of the most unique open-world RPGs out there. The game features a dynamic combat system that encourages players to come up with their own combinations of attacks and special ability, as well as a progression system that doesn’t limit the player to any single archetype, allowing them to freely switch between ranged combat as a Ranger, to melee combat as a Knight, and even spell-casting. While the game suffered from performance issues at launch, constant updates since then have made playing the title a much smoother experience.

Mass Effect Legendary Edition

While Mass Effect 3 stumbled quite a bit in its storytelling, the original Mass Effect trilogy is still remembered fondly, and the Legendary Edition proves that nostalgia doesn’t have anything to do with it. Even when compared to modern contemporaries, the Mass Effect trilogy features a downright fantastic sci-fi story set in a believable galaxy where humanity finally achieved interstellar travel. The game also presents players with plenty of choices to make along the way, which further define not only how the world reacts to them, but how the story plays out as well.

Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut

Set during the Mongol invasion of the island of Tsushima, Ghost of Tsushima revolves around Jin Sakai, who takes up arms and rallies the survivors into driving the Mongols out. Throughout his time on the island, Sakai is forced to grapple with the duality of the Samurai code of honor, as well as the need to take out powerful enemies stealthily. The game features fast-paced combat, a fun stealth system, plenty of tools to use in and out of fights, and a drop-dead gorgeous island to explore in order to find better equipment and materials to upgrade your swords. It can also often be just as fun to relax in a hot spring, pet some foxes, or write a haiku every once in a while. Oh and don’t miss its fantasy expansion, Iki Island!

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown provides a platforming experience that would rival some of the best titles in the genre. The game puts players in the shoes of Sargon, who finds himself trapped in a temporal labyrinth. In his quest to discover the mysteries surrounding the kidnapping of a certain character, Sargon must fight his way out of the labyrinth as he explores the game’s intricate world and unlocks new powers to unleash on his enemies.

Stray

Far from a high-stakes action game like many other titles in this list, Stray is a more relaxing adventure title where players take on the role of a cat that is trying to get back to their family. The game focuses more on environmental storytelling than using traditional methods, and has players explore an intricately-made cyberpunk world where humans don’t seem to exist anymore, and the world is instead populated by robots.

Jusant

A unique title about self-discovery, Jusant is a game about climbing. Taking on the role of an unnamed boy, players will get to work, climbing up a gigantic rock tower. As they get higher and higher, players will discover just what happened to the world through environmental storytelling, as well as notes or pieces of art left behind. Interestingly, players can’t really die in Jusant, which acts as encouragement to continue exploring and discovering the secrets of the tower.

Horizon Forbidden West

A follow-up to Horizon Zero Dawn, Forbidden West once again has players take on the role of Aloy who must respond to a new threat, since the Derangement hasn’t yet stopped. As its name might imply, the game takes place in the lawless land in the west, where Aloy is equipped with new abilities and tools at her disposal to explore, as well as take on new machines. Along the way, Aloy will also find new technologies, as well as secrets about her own past. Its expansion Burning Shores is a visual masterpiece and something you should not miss.

Lost Judgment

While protagonist Takayuki Yagami developed quite a bit thanks to the events of Judgment, Lost Judgment puts his convictions to the test with an intense story about schoolyard bullying gone too far, and resulting in a series of deaths. The game takes place in Yakuza 7: Like a Dragon’s setting of Yokohama, revolving around the local high school. When it comes to gameplay, Lost Judgment features a number of enhancements to its combat system, including new stances that Yagami can learn to help him better take on enemies through either counter-based gameplay, or straight-up boxing.

Lies of P

While most Souls-like games tend to be more inspired from titles like Dark Souls, Lies of P instead decided to take its lessons from Bloodborne. Taking on the role of a Pinocchio in a dark retelling of the classic tale, players will explore the city of Krat as they try and look for Mr. Geppetto. The game features an intense, fast-paced combat system that also has players mix-and-match between various weapon parts to violent results.

The Quarry

The first standalone game by developer Supermassive Games since it started its Dark Pictures Anthology, The Quarry is a throwback to classic horror movies of old. The game puts players in the shoes of a number of teenagers who manage to find themselves at the mercy of a mysterious, seemingly monstrous killer on their last day as camp counselors. As they play through the game’s story, players will find themselves making choices that not only affect the story in minor ways, but will also essentially decide who survives the whole ordeal. It’s worth noting that The Quarry has quite an impressive cast, played by actors like David Arquette, Ted Raimi, and Justice Smith.

Black Myth: Wukong

Set some time after the events of the Journey to the West, Black Myth: Wukong puts players in the shoes of the Destined One. His enemies launch an assault on the monkey people, which prompts the Wukong, into action. Along the way, players will have to take on several challenges, including combat against mysterious creatures. The graphics are outstanding, the gameplay is simply superb and there are a ton of secrets to be found. Quite easily, Black Myth Wukong is this year’s game of the year contender.

Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon

Taking place in a distant future full of giant mechs, Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon puts players in the shoes of a mercenary Armored Core pilot that is taking on missions from the highest bidder in order to carve out a place for themselves in a war scarred world. The game features fast-paced mech combat that not only rewards reflexes, but also strategy thanks to the in-depth mechanics of your mech’s loadouts. The game also features an intricate story that tells the grand story of an epic war through the lens of the various missions you take on.

System Shock Remake

While it doesn’t really deviate too much from what the original System Shock, the remake certainly manages to make itself the definitive way to experience the classic first-person horror title. Not only does it feature more modern gameplay, complete with a redesigned HUD, it also expertly simulates the original’s visual style in a modern way by making use of high-resolution visuals that somehow look retro in all the best ways. System Shock Remake is one of those rare remakes out there that manages to hang on to its roots, while also bringing in more accessible gameplay that would allow more players to experience the classic.

Nobody Wants to Die

A narrative adventure game, Nobody Wants to Die is a cyberpunk noir story that puts players in the shoes of James Karra, a detective with the NYPD’s Department of Morality. Karra is tasked with figuring out the secrets behind a murder of an important person in a world where dying – especially for the rich – isn’t really a problem anymore. As players uncover layers of conspiracies happening all around them, they will also find themselves making choices that affect the world, all while they’re hot in the trail of a serial killer that is targeting the elite of New York.

Dead Space Remake

Dead Space Remake manages to be more than just a fresh coat of paint. While it manages to hang on to the original’s core identity, the remake also brings with it a host of changes to various aspects, including a better-balanced arsenal that protagonist Isaac Clarke has more reason to use, as well as some impressive gory visuals thanks to how detailed the horrifying necromorphs can look at times. The Dead Space Remake is definitely well worth your time, especially if the thought of dismembering your enemies from a distance sound like an appealing prospect.

Sniper Elite 5

Taking place directly after the events of Sniper Elite 4’s Deathstorm DLC, Sniper Elite 5 once again puts players in the shoes of Karl Fairburne as he takes on Nazi forces. The game takes place before the events of the infamous Normandy’s landing on D-Day, with players tasked with taking out key targets and gathering intel that will allow the allied powers to take on the Nazis. While a third-person shooter, Sniper Elite 5 places a heavy emphasis on scouting and sniping enemies, as well as stealth–based gameplay. Much like other titles in the franchise, Sniper Elite 5 also features the special camera angles that allow players to see exactly how they’re killing enemies from a distance.

Sifu

An intense martial arts experience, Sifu tells the story of a student who sets out to avenge the murder of their master. The game features a unique mechanic where, the more the player dies, the older their character gets, allowing them to do more damage. On the other hand, being older also means that you have less health, and can’t take as many hits from enemies. The game’s fast-paced combat system allows players to live out their favourite martial arts movie fantasies, allowing players to take on enemies with quick hand-to-hand combos, intricate grapples, and even improvised weapons grabbed from all over the level.

Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy

Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy has players taking on the role of Star-Lord, joined by other members of the eponymous Guardians, including Gamora, Draxx, Rocket Raccoon, and Groot. The game features a unique combat system that has players make use of all of their crew members’ various abilities, each with unique effects, along with a fun story that could just as easily be ripped right out of the pages of a comic book. The game is well-regarded for its excellent dialogue and writing, and the scoring system manages to keep the combat interesting throughout its runtime.

Kena: Bridge of Spirits

Developed by a studio known for its work in animation in the film industry, Kena: Bridge of Spirits is definitely a visual treat. The game features some downright wonderful art and animations that could just as easily be ripped out of a big-budget animated movie, while also featuring good action gameplay. The story revolves around the titular Kena, who is on a journey to uncover the secrets of an old abandoned village. Kena: Bridge of Spirits features fast-paced combat, adorable critters, and downright jaw-dropping visuals and animations.

Conscript

A unique take on the horror genre, Conscript throws players into the trenches of the World War as they take on not only enemy soldiers, but also try and scavenge for supplies. The game features pixel-art visuals that, despite their simplicity, do a great job of instilling a sense of dread and urgency in players. As they continue their journey of survival through the trenches, players will also find themselves trapped in an intricate web of trenches and bunkers that they must navigate if they want to have any hope of surviving. There is also quite a bit of replayability, thanks to additional difficulty options, as well as endings to unlock.

Stellar Blade

A stylish sci-fi action game Stellar Blade, the player is tasked with reclaiming Earth for humanity. The game features fast-paced combat, and players will take on a variety of different enemies with various weapons and abilities that they find throughout their time.

Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster

A remaster of a game originally released on the Xbox 360, Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster has players take on the role of reporter Frank West, as he sets out to investigate the mysterious events surrounding a mall in Willamette, Colorado. The game features a unique gameplay structure where players are expected to make slow progress, often involving dying and restarting, and finding more powerful improvised weaponry, as they take on massive zombie hordes in a mall. The game also features a 72-hour time limit, giving players a sense of urgency in their hunt for answers and fight for survival.

Until Dawn Remake

While the original PS4 release is well-regarded in its own right, the remake for Until Dawn allows more players than ever before to experience the classic schlocky slasher horror story. Featuring a memorable cast and crew, the actions of whom lies in the player’s hands depending on the choices they make, Until Dawn also promotes replayability thanks to the fact that the story and endings can change in interesting ways depending on who lives and who dies throughout the harrowing encounters the game offers.

Silent Hill 2 Remake

Developed by Bloober Team, the remake of Silent Hill 2 pays homage to the seminal PS2 horror game while still maintaining its own identity. While it focuses on retelling the story of protagonist James Sutherland who has reached the eponymous town in search of answers to mysterious questions, the remake features a number of new gameplay elements, including a new over-the-shoulder camera, as well as brand new visuals and voice acting that aim to give a new life to what is widely regarded as one of the greatest horror games ever made. And boy, it succeeded with a bang!

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

A follow-up to Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Survivor once again puts players into the shoes of Jedi Knight Cal Kestis. The game takes place five years after the original, with Kestis taking the responsibility of rebuilding the Jedi order on his own shoulders. The title features the same gameplay as Fallen Order, along with new additions, including the ability to make use of different types of lightsabers, including the iconic dual-bladed lightsaber first introduced in the hands of Darth Maul in A Phantom Menace. The game also features new force abilities, as well as additional lightsaber stances that players can make use of to take on the various combat challenges the game throws their way.

Hitman: World of Assassination

Hitman: World of Assassination allows players to play through the entire storyline of the Hitman games, complete with new gameplay mechanics. Taking on the role of Agent 47, players will travel to various locations as they take on contracts to eliminate key characters in a vast criminal conspiracy. The game also features its own unique take on the roguelite genre in the form of the Freelancer mode, which gives players randomised targets and methods of assassination as they build up their arsenal of weapons, tools, and even disguises by making money.

Hogwarts Legacy

Widely accepted as one of the first great games set in the expansive Harry Potter universe, Hogwarts Legacy divorces itself from its source material by taking place in the past, well before the events of the original books take place. As a fresh transfer to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, players will have the chance to create their own character and live out their fantasies of learning magic among the school’s iconic teaching staff. Along the way, players will also take part in magical duels, as well as take on threats including a goblin uprising, as well as wizard criminals.

Dead Island 2

In Dead Island 2, players take on the role of one of six survivors who find themselves in Los Angeles. The world has moved on from being scared of the walking dead, and some people have even found themselves enjoying the carnage that results from fighting the shambling hordes. The game features crazy weapons, as well as a host of new tools and items which will allow you to pull off some crazy zombie kills.

Oxenfree II: Lost Signals

Taking place six years after the events of the original Oxenfree, Oxenfree 2: Lost Signals is a brand new coming-of-age story, this time around focusing on Riley Poverly, who is investigating a mysterious radio interference coming from Edwards Islands. Players have to explore the island while completing their mission of placing transmitters at key locations, and ultimately deal with a malevolent force that is threatening the world. Much like the original, gameplay in Oxenfree 2: Lost Signals once again revolves around the player interacting with the locals as they try and figure out what is happening on the island.

Viewfinder

A unique game that relies more on the player’s sense of perception and logical puzzle-solving than their twitch action reflexes, Viewfinder gives players a camera and sets them loose in a virtual reality world. The game features many themes, especially ones dealing with environmental issues, as players are forced to deal with the problems created by man-made structures, including a weather-control machine that might end up being the solution to the global problem of climate change.

Lords of the Fallen

Lords of the Fallen is a unique take on the Souls-like genre. Lords of the Fallen takes place in a Mournstead that is on the brink of collapse. The player, referred to in the game as the Lampbearer, has to travel between the material and Umbral world as they take on the hellish new challenges throughout the land. The game features an excellent combat system that gives players a greater level of freedom in how they tackle enemies.

Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection

Featuring Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End and Uncharted: Lost Legacy, Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection is a bundle that tells the story of the final adventure of series protagonist Nathan Drake, as well as a side adventure featuring characters that Drake has encountered throughout his different games – Chloe Frazer from Uncharted 2 and Nadine Ross from Uncharted 4. While featuring the same over the top action that the series is well-regarded for, the duo of Uncharted games in the bundle also feature their own unique twists in the series, including the addition of a small, open world in Uncharted: Lost Legacy where players have more freedom to take on objectives in a variety of different ways.

Dying Light 2: Stay Human

Taking place in a time well after the zombie apocalypse has ravaged mankind, Dying Light 2: Stay Human puts players in the shoes of Aiden Caldwell, who finds himself in the city of Villedor in search of his missing sister. The game features a number of new gameplay mechanics over its predecessor, supplementing the melee combat and parkour-based movement with a variety of new abilities, including a glider and a grappling hook that greatly increases the mobility offered to players. The game also got a series of DLC releases, each of which added new gameplay elements as well as new story content for players to experience and earn epic loot in.

Ghostwire: Tokyo

A single-player action-horror title, Ghostwire: Tokyo is an interesting game thanks to the unique look it offers players with Tokyo’s famous Shibuya district. The city has been struck by a strange fog that has allowed spirits to roam its streets, and the protagonist, Akito, finds himself torn between the living and dead thanks to the machinations of the spirit KK. The game features a dense open-world where players can explore the various nooks and crannies of Shibuya to their heart’s content, while also taking on malicious spirits with a host of spiritual weapons. The game also got a DLC in the form of Spider’s Thread, which brought with it a new map, along with new abilities, and even a new roguelite game mode.

Grand Theft Auto V

Sure, the game might be more than a decade old at this point, but few other titles out there can provide players with the same experience as Grand Theft Auto 5. The single-player campaign of the game puts players in the shoes of Michael, Trevor and Franklin as they pull off a series of escalating heists, all of which ultimately pits them against more conspiratorial forces, while also making each one of the characters question their loyalty to each other. GTA 5 also features the multiplayer Grand Theft Auto Online mode, which allows players to become the ultimate crime boss in Los Santos, while also teaming up with, or fighting off other players with similar aspirations.

Sword and Fairy: Together Forever

A unique take in the RPG genre that makes use of the developers’ East-Asian influences, Sword and Fairy: Together Forever sets players free in a world that mixes classical Asian aesthetics with ancient stories. The game features a whole party of unique characters, each with their own personalities, motivations, and abilities, as they take on the massive challenges that will ultimately decide the fate of the game’s world. Despite being the latest entry in a long-running franchise, Sword and Fairy: Together Forever is meant to be a good point of entry for newcomers to the series, featuring a standalone story that doesn’t rely on a player’s knowledge of the previous titles.

Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time

Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time is the first mainline entry in the classic platforming franchise since all the way back in the PSOne days. Featuring the return of classic mascot character in Crash Bandicoot and his friends, the game involves players trying to fix a hole in the space-time continuum that was caused due to the events of Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped. The game features excellent platforming gameplay that players expect from the series, along with new gameplay mechanics, as well as incredibly trippy visuals.

A Plague Tale: Requiem

A follow-up to A Plague Tale: Innocence, Requiem once again puts players in the shoes of Amicia and Hugo de Rune in their journey through hell. The game picks up right where its predecessor left off, with the two siblings trying to find the cure for the ailment Hugo is suffering from. A Plague Tale: Requiem will have players fight and sneak their way through plague-infested locations, while making use of Amicia’s new abilities thanks to her experience in dealing with fraught situations in the first game. And the rat hordes…those are hordes are absolutely massive this time around.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard

Although admittedly not Bioware’s best work, Dragon Age: The Veilguard is a decent action role playing game that will give you dozens of hours of gameplay. Sure, the game has issues but it features excellent combat mechanics, beautiful graphics and great looking environments that are filled with details. If the developer had put in more work into the game, The Veilguard would have surely been a better game but as it stands right now, it’s a fine single player experience that is fun in more ways than one.

Starting December 6, subscribers of PlayStation Plus Essential, Extra, and Premium will get free access to Mass Effect: Legendary Edition, Biomutant, and the newly-announced Divine Knockout (DKO), a new platform fighter that’ll be available via the service at launch.

Mass Effect: Legendary Edition in particular is a solid offering, so subscribers who haven’t yet played BioWare’s beloved trilogy will have the chance to go it a go. Meanwhile, Divine Knockout’s Founder Edition will be on offer to subscribers, which will also include bonus content.

That, of course, means that PS Plus subscribers have until December 5 to claim November’s free games, which includes Nioh 2.

Available for all EA Play subscribers, users can play the game via the Play List of the app, and enjoy a breathtaking story spanning three games, along with all the visual enhancements, technical improvements, and gameplay adjustments the new versions have to offer. Additionally, Mass Effect: Legendary Edition comes packed with over 40 different DLCs including promo weapons, armor packs, missions, and more.

What’s more, Xbox Game Pass subscribers can also play the game out through the service, as EA Play is included with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.

The weather is quite cold outside, so grab a blanket, put on your headphones, and play through one of the best space operas available out there.

Outer Wilds will also be added to Game Pass for console, PC, and cloud on the same day. Meanwhile, January 13 will also see the surprise launch of Spelunky 2 on Xbox One. Mossmouth’s acclaimed roguelike title launched for PS4 and PC in 2020 and for Switch in 2021, and will be joining Game Pass for both console and PC immediately upon its Xbox launch. Four player co-op first person shooter The Anacrusis will also be added to the service on the same day on console and PC.

Meanwhile, Gorogoa and Olija are both available for Game Pass across console, PC, and cloud starting today.

As spotted by @ALumia_Italia on Twitter, a listing for Mass Effect: Legendary Edition (Rosebud) has gone up on the Xbox Store. Rosebud, in case you’re unaware, is a name that has previously been reported as a codename for other EA titles that come to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate via EA Play (via Pure Xbox).

Of course, EA releases do generally tend to come to Xbox Game Pass some months after launch, with EA Play being part of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscriptions, so Mass Effect: Legendary Edition coming to the service has a high likelihood of happening.

Mass Effect fans have quite a bit to look forward to in the coming years. The next Mass Effect game, reportedly being built on Unreal Engine 5, is currently in the works. Meanwhile, it also looks like Amazon is working on a TV series adaptation of the franchise.

Mass Effect™ Legendary Edition (Rosebud) | PC https://t.co/01yj39yXxV pic.twitter.com/9AIHjPbKVn

— Aggiornamenti Lumia (@ALumia_Italia) December 3, 2021

As spotted by Polish site XGP, the Xbox Store listing for Mass Effect: Legendary Edition was recently updated with mention of the remastered trilogy being available on Xbox Game Pass, though that seems to have been reverted since then. Though no such official announcement as been made, it’s worth noting that with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscriptions also including EA Play, there’s a good chance that this does end up happening, since EA generally tends to bring most (if not all) of its games to EA Play following their releases. Most recently, for instance, It Takes Two became available on Xbox Game Pass as well.

Mass Effect: Legendary Edition is available on PC and PlayStation and Xbox consoles. BioWare is currently also at work on the next mainline Mass Effect game, which, according to reports could see the series shifting to Unreal Engine 5 for development. Read more on that through here.

As detailed by analyst Daniel Ahmad on Twitter, in the latest conference call from the publisher, they specified that Legendary Edition had performed well above their internal expectations. There’s not a lot of details there, so how many units sold that is or what those expectations were is not known, but they clearly are happy with the game’s performance. Considering how long the series was gone, and how much fond memories swirl around it and its choice-based storytelling, it should be no surprise.

Mass Effect: Legendary Edition is available now on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC.

EA Conference Call:

– Mass Effect Legendary Edition performed well above expectations.

– Will continue to invest in the Jedi Fallen Order franchise

– Battlefield 2042 was the most discussed new game during June. Trailers received 210m views across all channels.

— Daniel Ahmad (@ZhugeEX) August 4, 2021