The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Re-writing the rulebook of its already wildly creative, ultra-successful predecessor Breath of the Wild was no easy task for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom but this sequel is proof that lightning can strike twice. A vertically expanded Hyrule, deeper combat, and bold additions in the shape of the new Zonai devices gave fresh power to twist and mould practically any object which takes Link’s fancy. A towering achievement on Nintendo’s aging console.

Mass Effect Trilogy

The much-acclaimed Mass Effect trilogy needs no introduction, these action RPGs ushering a new standard for narrative-heavy third person shooting that other space-faring shooters have struggled to match. The series’ central antagonist are the Reapers, a race of sentient star-ships who originated one-billion years prior when the galaxy controlling Leviathans created the synthetic lifeform the Catalyst which then turned on its creators, absorbing their genetic material to create the Reapers. The Reapers awaken every 50,000 years to conduct galactic-level mass destruction with the trilogy centring on Commander Shepard and his crew stopping them.

]]> 604774 https://gamingbolt.com/15-essential-nintendo-switch-games-you-need-to-play Wed, 23 Oct 2024 14:29:23 +0000 https://gamingbolt.com/?p=601327 The Nintendo Switch has proven to be a really successful venture for the Japanese gaming giant, and it was a really fortunate success after the massive failure of the Wii U. In addition to the innovation in the hardware department, Nintendo Switch is also home to some of the best games of the last generation ranging from sprawling open-worlds to racers and shooters, and this feature runs down 15 of the best games that you can play on the console right now. Please note that this list is in unranked format.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

It’s safe to say that Nintendo knocked it out of the park with The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, knitting together a complex web of intertwining systems with mechanics that let you express your creativity to the fullest resulting in an experience like no other. It takes everything that worked in the original, and amps it up to eleven – be it Link’s powers, the size of the open world, or the many options for tackling a dungeon or boss fight. Despite a few technical hiccups owing to the hardware limitations, Tears of the Kingdom is easily one of the best games that you can experience on Nintendo’s hybrid handheld.

RoboCop: Rogue City

RoboCop: Rogue City recreates the atmosphere of the classic 80s action flick while adding dollops of actual police work, like investigating crime scenes and patrolling around. However, its combat is straightforward. Walk towards the enemies, blast them to smithereens with a range of weaponry, get some upgrades, and repeat. It’s fun though, and fairly compelling as you evolve into a nigh-unstoppable killing – er, law enforcement machine.

Everspace 2

For all the talk about its multiple systems and extensive side content, Everspace 2 is a space shooter, first and foremost. There are several ship types suited for different needs, and the range of weapons, including EMP missiles, mines, gauss cannons, and much more, can get pretty ridiculous. Still, coupled with how natural the movement feels, it’s easy to jump in and destroy with impunity. Just don’t wander into a system with higher-level enemies by accident.

Resident Evil 4

The original Resident Evil 4 is already a masterpiece in terms of combat, and while the remake doesn’t fundamentally alter the formula, it does enhance it. With QTEs removed, you can now parry at will, making for some awesome moments like stopping an enemy’s chainsaw with a knife. Otherwise, the feedback from popping heads and kicking enemies into each other feels better than ever, and weapons get new Exclusive Upgrades to further enhance their capabilities.

Dead Space

Motive Studios put in significant work to revamp Dead Space’s graphics and exploration, and it’s certainly one of the most stunning games of the year. However, it went even further with the gameplay, introducing the Peeling system. This gave enemies layers, with different weapons having unique effects when targeting limbs, making combat more visceral. Of course, the improvements to the Zero-G sections, new rooms, and puzzles also didn’t hurt.

Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon

FromSoftware’s latest has an involving story, but if you’re in it just for the action, there’s plenty to go around. There is a plethora of weapons to choose from, including shotguns, missile launchers, beam rifles and plasma, and it can get somewhat overwhelming to fit it all into a single build. Still, the extensive customization helps, so if you want to be a glass cannon with insane damage or hover endlessly and rain fire down, you can do that. It also helps that there are so many bosses to test your builds on and provide a worthy challenge.

Quake 2: Enhanced Edition

The surprise release, developed in collaboration with Nightdive Studios, turned a classic into one of the more underrated shooters of the year. Along with enhanced visuals, it sported quality-of-life features like the Compass to more easily navigate levels, accessibility options and new attacks for enemies like the Berserker. With the base game, The Reckoning and Ground Zero, Quake 2 64, a new episode, Call of the Machine by MachineGames, and the id Vault, Quake 2: Enhanced Edition is an absurd amount of value and recommended for the id faithful.

Metroid Prime Remastered

After numerous rumors, a remaster of Retro Studios’ classic finally arrived for the Nintendo Switch. Shock of shocks, it’s still incredible, with the exploration, level design, puzzle solving and combat on point over two decades later. The revamped visuals garnered the most attention since they went beyond a simple remaster. However, the new dual-stick control scheme and narration options also make this a worthy revisit for fans. Even if you’re not a twitchy shooter fan, Metroid Prime Remastered is worth playing.

Starfield

There are a few things awkward about Starfield, but admittedly, its gunplay can be pretty fun. Iterating further on Fallout 4, the shooting – especially from first-person – feels more fluid and responsive. More weapon types are welcome, but taking threats down with old-school ballistic weapons or flooding them with Microgun fire is equally enjoyable. If you’re more about space shooting, shipbuilding can be fun, and taking your creation into space to obliterate anything and everything is cathartic.

Remnant 2

One of my personal favorites, Remnant 2 is everything about the first game turned up to 11. Its build-crafting is expanded thanks to the new Archetypes. The biome generation is also phenomenal, presenting wholly different worlds, bosses and enemies to fight in each run. Above all else, the shooting and movement are fantastic, mixing the tense Souls-like dodge-rolling with unique weapons that feel amazing.

THE FINALS

THE FINALS is more than just a gun game, mixing all-out environmental destruction and fast-paced movement with strategy and teamwork. Nevertheless, scoring a triple-kill with the pump-action grenade launcher or three-tapping someone with the revolver feels great. It’s this mix of free-flowing gunplay, seamless traversal and more unmitigated chaos, whether you’re chasing down a vault or guarding a bank with all the random nonsense you can muster, that makes THE FINALS so addictive.

Trepang2

Monolith Productions may never revisit the F.E.A.R. franchise, but thankfully, there’s Trepang2. Don’t let the cliché premise stop you – it boasts fast-paced action with all the slow-mo and brutality you could want. Sliding, using enemies as shields before tossing them, melee combat, and much more enhance the experience further, and the presentation is on point throughout.

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora

It’s weird to put Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora on a list of best shooters, given its focus on gathering, exploration, investigation, and peacefully co-existing with nature. However, when it’s time to hunt, the bows and spears feel great to use and are all the more effective on RDA AMPs and soldiers. The shotgun also feels nice and hefty, and chaining together slides and leaps to reposition and effectively slaughter your enemies is fun.

Turok 3: Shadow of Oblivion Remastered

Turok 3 is far from the best game in the series, focusing more on a linear campaign with underwhelming dialogue and little replay value. However, it’s still fun, thanks to Nightdive Studios’ remaster, with the environment, characters and weapons receiving hefty visual updates. The feeling of sniping enemies from afar or unleashing hell with the Cerebral Bore is also intact.

System Shock

Nightdive Studios had a much bigger shooter release this year with System Shock, a remake of Looking Glass’s 1993 classic. Everything about it is sublime, from the revamped visuals to the feedback from the weapons. It’s not your average run-and-gun shooter thanks to the scarcity of ammo, but that’s part of the appeal, and all the little improvements, including the revamped cyberspace, make for an immersive experience.

Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty

CD Projekt RED leaned in with the decision-making and consequences for Phantom Liberty, conjuring a memorably tragic tale. However, it also cooked well with the combat, partly thanks to the changes in Update 2.0 – from slide reloads and air dashes to finishers – but also due to the new Relic tree abilities. There’s nothing like launching an enemy into space with overpowered Gorilla Arms or launching multiple explosive shots from the arm cannon. With movement feeling more fluid than ever and new threats to tackle, Phantom Liberty represents the peak of the title’s combat.

Resident Evil Village

The Resident Evil series has seen its fair share of remakes in the form of the stellar Resident Evil 2 and the disappointing Resident Evil 3, but it has consistently delivered high-quality follow-ups. These include Resident Evil 7 and its follow-up Village, the latter of which represent the best of what the series offers. Resident Evil Village majestically swerves from one kind of horror to the next without any hiccups, and the action keeps pace with the changing scenery and shifting mechanics. The core gameplay of shooting down zombies is much faster than Resident Evil 7, but it retains the heft and groundedness of a survival horror game that comes together to make it one of the best in its class.

Bahamut – Final Fantasy 16

This fight is impressive in many ways, not just because it’s coming after the battles with Titan but because of how much more epic the scale feels. You’re fighting on the ground as Ifrit and get an awesome beam attack. Then you transition to a Panzeer Dragoon-style shoot ’em up as Phoenix, which is way cooler than the first time you played him in the Prologue. Ifrit and Phoenix then team up before combining and battling Bahamut in the planet’s orbit. It’s flashy but substantial and becomes even more exciting with each new sequence.

Golden Tempest – WILD HEARTS

The Golden Tempest is first spotted grooming its paws like a cat would. How cute. It then proceeds to obliterate you with sand projectiles that expand on impact, sometimes covering the immediate area. Of course, its physical attacks are arguably worse since they chunk a significant amount of health on hit. Perhaps the coolest part is when it creates a sand orb in the air and slam-dunks it for a massive explosion. Difficult? Yes, but Golden Tempest also feels fair and is still one of the best bosses in the game, despite so many new additions post-launch.

Metroid Prime – Metroid Prime Remastered

Metroid Prime isn’t just one of the greatest bosses ever made – it’s also one of the toughest out there. That still holds in Metroid Prime Remastered as it adapts to your attacks and even changes forms as the battle progresses, requiring different weapons, scanning modes, and more to succeed. It’s an exceptional final boss that tests your mastery of every mechanic and doesn’t overstay its welcome.

Lu Bu – Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty has its share of tough fights, and for many, Lu Bu is one of the toughest, despite being in the middle of the game. He starts on horseback, riding around, firing arrows and leaping into the air to slam back down. While things seem like they’ll be easier when he’s knocked off, Lu Bu doesn’t miss a beat, firing off rapid shots and unleashing flaming spear strikes that deal massive damage. His horse is also running around during all this and can hurt you if you get in its path. Even with Cao Cao and Guan Yu fighting alongside you, Lu Bu takes on anyone and everyone without missing a beat.

Leviathan Remnant – Dead Space Remake

If you ever felt like the Leviathan was too much of a pushover, then good news: The remake adds the Leviathan Remnant, which requires activating cannons and targeting it to destroy. More than combat, it’s a showcase and test of your Zero-G traversal skills as you float from one objective to the next to deal damage while avoiding the Remnant’s projectiles and even traverse a minefield before taking it.

Roquefort – Hi-Fi Rush

Hi-Fi Rush is full of incredible boss battles, but there’s something about Roquefort. Maybe it’s the high-powered, sleek-looking mecha wolf suit or him moving around quickly, using hit-and-run tactics. The fight eventually progresses to other areas, as you call in Korsica, to help during a rhythm mini-game, dodge laser nets, and avoid attacks from below in a giant vault with gold coins. Best of all is the ending, where Roquefort gets his just deserts.

Titan Lost – Final Fantasy 16

If any battle could emulate the feel of the old-school God of War games, it’s Titan Lost in Final Fantasy 16. Fresh off of a knock-down, drag-out brawl with Titan, Hugo Kupka absorbs the surrounding Aether and becomes absolutely massive, towering over Clive and Ifrit. What follows are auto-running sequences firing boulders out of the sky and cinematic moments as Ifrit jumps from one stone tentacle to another and turns them against Titan Lost, culminating in a crazy final attack. The crazy part is that the battle continues beyond this and still manages exceptional heights in epicness.

Primordial Malzeno – Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak

As the last free monster added to Sunbreak, Primordial Malzeno is a force to reckon with. It has similar attacks as the original while mixing in new combos with its wing swipes and tail lashes. When powered up, it begins unleashing beams, flames, rupturing the ground, and much more in an over-the-top display. It’s overwhelming and almost a force of nature, which fits well with its almost uncontrollable destructive power.

Ultima – Final Fantasy 16

Breaking down every part that makes this fight great would take a while. Long story short, it’s everything that a final boss should be. Challenging, but also testing your knowledge of all the Dominants fought thus far. Epic, as seen in the Eikon battle, when it unleashes swathes of beams and attacks. Above all, however, it’s fun, and that final single punch for 999,999 damage, the highest in the game, is just satisfying.

Bode Akuna (2nd Fight) – Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

After Bode’s betrayal, you finally exact some revenge and take him on. The fight is exceptional because Bode is a competent Jedi and very good at mixing in Blaster attacks. Having Merrin’s help also leads to some cool moments, and eventually, Bode will become serious enough to two-hand his Lightsaber, changing up his move set entirely. Of course, the conclusion is also top-tier, calling back to a classic Star Wars moment, but with a twist.

Ranrok Dragon – Hogwarts Legacy

Ranrok Dragon is the final encounter in Hogwarts Legacy, and it moves from one part of the stage to the next, attacking and encouraging you to give chase, adding to the big fight feel. When there’s nowhere left to run, it starts unleashing a massive damaging field alongside its breath attacks and projectiles. It’ll even land on the ground and attack up close, necessitating staying on the move and attacking.

Horus Titan – Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores

Guerrilla Games was touting the power of the PS5 and how essential it was for one particular sequence in Burning Shores. That sequence is the battle with the Horus Titan, a powerful Machine responsible for the old world’s collapse. Aloy has to move to keep up with it, firing at vents and exposing its weak points before climbing up its tendrils and dealing more damage. It then transitions into a straight-up brawl as the Horus Titan slams its legs down while firing projectiles. The sheer spectacle of the fight is undeniable and feels like a step up over the base game’s final boss.

Ganondorf – The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

This fight is so great because it starts one-on-one, and Ganondorf shows off his exceptional swordplay and uses Link’s tactics, like Flurry Rush, against him. Of course, he calls in some clones in phase 2, but then the Sages show up to even the odds. It’s all just the precursor to the real epic final battle with the Light Dragon showing up to save Link, and the two work together to take out Ganon’s dragon form and end him for good. In terms of mechanics and sheer awesomeness, this fight had it all.

Astaroth – Diablo 4

While the Uber boss may be most people’s pick due to its difficulty and patterns, Astaroth is still an enjoyable fight. It’s set in Cerrigar, as innocents are burned to death, emphasizing the situation’s urgency. Astaroth is also constantly on the move, with his Cerberus-style mount emitting fire while meteors file from the sky. It can be a pushover when geared properly, but it’s still fun, especially given the emotional stakes involved.

JP – Street Fighter 6

JP isn’t an end-boss in the traditional sense – he’s playable from the start, unlike M. Bison or Akuma were in their first appearances. However, he’ll often show up at the end of several routes in Arcade Mode as the final challenge. Given his skills as a zoning fighter, setting up portals and attacking from range, keeping you guessing all the time, he can be an exceptional threat. Bump up the CPU Level to the max and experience true terror as you get hit from every angle without much chance to fight back. His victory animation, where he casually steps over you without a care in the world, is just salt in the wound.

Final Fantasy 16

Even with the shift to real-time action and a darker story, Final Fantasy 16 excels at the genre’s main pillars. Its story is gripping with excellent characterization and well-written dialogue; the combat is satisfying with a wealth of options and a variety of unique encounters, and the presentation is simply excellent with its visual fidelity (especially in the Eikon battles) and soundtrack. Issues with Performance Mode and some lackluster side quests aside; Final Fantasy 16 is just fantastic.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

The expectations for Nintendo’s long-awaited sequel were sky-high, yet it went above and beyond those to deliver one of the greatest games ever made. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom didn’t just quench one’s thirst for adventure but gave them so many awesome tools to outright break the game. It then presented various unique puzzles and combat scenarios designed around the same, encouraging players to dig deep into the sandbox and really comb Hyrule’s depths (and Depths). However, it also offers one of the more satisfying Zelda stories. From top to bottom, Tears of the Kingdom is a masterpiece.

Resident Evil 4 Remake

From the new Parry mechanic to gameplay, Resident Evil 4 Remake offers new and engaging features. The gorgeous visuals, which look incredibly stunning and add to the darker atmosphere, don’t hurt either.

F1 23

After last year’s underwhelming entry, F1 23 signals a return to quality with new tracks, features like 35% Race Distance (and the return of Red Flags), and a new Braking Point campaign. F1 World expands on F1 Life, with goals to pursue across all modes, and the Safety Rating system ensures better online play. It all comes together well with the solid racing, and having the Podium Pass return on top of everything else is great.

Street Fighter 6

Capcom’s newest mainline Street Fighter casts off the shadows of its controversial predecessor with a gorgeous new presentation, the Drive system for strategic yet fast-paced mechanics, and loads of new features to make online play great. The 18 characters each feel excellent to play, while Modern Controls ensure everyone can jump in and start having a good time. World Tour isn’t the strongest part, but it’s still a fun beat ’em up-style campaign with lots of rewards to unlock.

Planet of Lana

Wishfully’s side-scrolling puzzle platformer inspired by the likes of Inside offers a gorgeous sci-fi adventure with stunning vistas and well-designed puzzles. Lana’s quest to find her older sister after aliens attack her planet is presented with confidence, featuring an excellent soundtrack and solid platforming mechanics. If only it wasn’t over so soon.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

Despite severe issues at launch, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor shone through with its incredible gameplay, expanded exploration and abilities, and compelling storyline. The darker narrative explored a more desperate side of Cal Kestis while featuring new opponents to fight, Lightsaber Styles to dispatch them with, and tons of different activities and secrets to find. Though somewhat forgotten, thanks to Tears of the Kingdom launching soon after, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is still a satisfying hack-and-slash adventure.

Dredge

Fishing meets cosmic horror – what more needs to be said? Dredge sees players exploring The Marrows and catching fish while taking on different quests. However, as you unearth mysterious artifacts, horrors of the deep soon emerge, especially after dark. With over 125 fish, unique abilities, more than a few terrifying situations and great fishing mechanics, Dredge is an addictive experience.

Hi-Fi Rush

Tango Gameworks’ breakout Xbox console exclusive is just what Microsoft needed. It’s a great character action game with incredible hack-and-slash mechanics, a rocking soundtrack and perfect rhythmic gameplay. The story is also pretty fun, with protagonist Chai fighting against the evil Vandelay Technologies with over-the-top combos and assistance. With gorgeous animated visuals and incredible boss fights, Hi-Fi Rush is a must-play title for action game fans.

Dead Island 2

How fresh could slaying the undead in 2023 feel? Dambuster Studios’ answered that question very well with Dead Island 2. Taking a linear approach to its level design, it focused on the satisfaction of slaying zombies with plenty of powerful weapons and abilities, unique characters, and incredibly visceral gore. Dead Island 2 could have been a disaster following its development hell, but it rose above expectations to deliver a fun romp through HELL-A.

Hogwarts Legacy

While it probably could have done more with reputation systems and classes, Hogwarts Legacy is still a fun open-world action RPG. With its variety of spells and mechanics, the combat is easy to get into and offers some satisfying effects (especially when Avada Kedavara’ing an enemy into oblivion). The companion quest chains are great, and as a whole, it does a great job immersing you in the world of Hogwarts with everything there is to see and do.

Amnesia: The Bunker

Frictional Games’ Amnesia: The Bunker takes a more sandbox approach to horror as players venture through a sealed World War 1 bunker, hunted by a terrifying creature. The generator and fuel mechanics add to the horror, while the darkness is downright oppressive. Being able to approach things non-linearly with different solutions is also great, even if some of those lead to quicker deaths.

Dead Space Remake

Dead Space Remake leans further into reimagining the original sci-fi horror. It adds several new rooms and puzzles, new mechanics for some random horror, side quests that highlight certain characters more and even reworks major aspects of the story in interesting ways. Combined with the new Peeling system and revamped Zero-G, it’s a stunning display of action and terror worthy of its inspiration.

Metroid Prime Remastered

While remakes dominated the headlines, Nintendo showcased that a remaster can be just as good. Metroid Prime Remastered isn’t as straightforward, with its visuals bordering on remake-esque with their fidelity. However, it retains everything fans know and love about the classic, from the excellent level design and combat to the unique first-person mechanics and stellar bosses. A sequel is long overdue, but Metroid Prime Remastered fills that void in all the best ways.

Dave the Diver

Another top-tier ocean-related game with fishing? You bet, but Dave the Diver goes even further beyond as you venture into the Blue Hole to catch fish and use those gains to run a sushi restaurant. Interesting side quests, great humor, fun mini-games and a great art style to go with the sleek soundtrack make this a smorgasbord of incredible gameplay.

Crucible Knight Ordovis – Elden Ring

The Crucible Knights are some of the most deceptively tough bosses in Elden Ring. They seem like your usual armored enemies and suddenly unleash ground stomps, sprout wings to rush you, and even attack with tails. So how annoying would it be to fight two at the same time? As it turns, very.

Crucible Knight Ordovis is tough enough on his own, and it doesn’t help that there’s a regular Crucible Knight with a spear that can deal immense damage even with basic attacks. It even has a grab that can chunk half your health. It’s hard to find an opening, and even when you defeat the regular Crucible Knight, Ordovis still deals tons of damage and will relentlessly unleash skills as his health dwindles.

First available on the Nintendo GameCube in November 2022, Metroid Prime is the first title in the series to offer a first-person perspective. It received universal acclaim for its gameplay, visuals, sound design, and more. The remaster sticks to the original’s tenets while extensively enhancing the graphics, coming off as a remake in some cases.

Of course, there’s still no update on Metroid Prime 4, the next mainline title in the series. It was first announced in 2017, and development restarted in 2019 with Retro Studios now at the helm. The latter has been hiring for several positions since then, but a release window is still forthcoming. Stay tuned for further updates in the meantime.

30. SSX 3

The SSX series was already a massive success when SSX 3 rolled around, but the team at EA Vancouver didn’t rest on its laurels. It added an open world, connecting its various courses and letting players explore with almost instant loading; super-uber tricks added more depth to the already addictive trick system; and the presentation was simply stunning thanks to the snow effects. Of course, having a soundtrack that was incredible enough to win the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences’ Outstanding Achievement in Licensed Soundtrack awards isn’t too bad either.

29. Far Cry 3

Leaving Far Cry 2’s open-ended narrative and survival-lite mechanics behind, it embraced fast-paced gunplay, challenging enemies and well-designed environments. The narrative surrounding Jason Brody and his descent into madness was a poor inversion of the Hero’s Journey but still offered some memorable sequences like flaming entire fields, escaping sinking ships and whatever the heck that sequence with Vaas was.

28. Burnout 3: Takedown

Racing games at the time weren’t afraid to embrace more violent tendencies, but Burnout 3: Takedown was a different ballgame. Its arcade-style gameplay wasn’t just chaos for the sake of it – the takedowns and high-speed gameplay were skill-based, encouraging players to wreck their opponents, keep the Boost meter going, and not get wrecked in return.

Supporting this stellar gameplay loop is World Tour mode, with 173 events across various worldwide locations and modes and multiplayer, including split-screen support. Whether it’s two teams of six players competing to wreck each other or creating a massive pile-up in Crash Mode before exploding it all, there’s enough to keep you coming back.

27. Perfect Dark (N64)

Though not a direct sequel to GoldenEye 007, the similarities between both shooters were enough to make fans eagerly anticipate Rare’s next hit. It easily exceeded expectations, delivering an incredible futuristic narrative that mixed spy agencies and alien conspiracies with awesome sci-fi weapons and stellar mission design. And as impressive as the visuals were, especially on the Nintendo 64, the soundtrack mixed with synth-wave, techno and futuristic beats with stellar orchestration for a superb experience. Truly one of the best shooters of all time.

26. Forza Horizon 5

It’s hard to replicate a streak like Playground Games, with three back-to-back open-world racing hits that pushed the envelope in photo-realism and sheer breadth of content. Forza Horizon 5 still managed, restructuring its campaign and driving disciplines into unique Festival Sites with their own stories, steps and rewards.

Mexico was an incredible choice for a map, thanks to its sheer range of biomes and weather conditions, including brand-new dust storms. It added to the series’ penchant for open-world tomfoolery, which felt more rewarding thanks to the Accolades. Whether you dipped your toes in for some quick races or went to the Hall of Fame, Forza Horizon 5 excelled every step of the way.

25. Ori and the Will of the Wisps

Coming off an acclaimed title like Ori and the Blind Forest is no easy feat, but Ori and the Will of the Wisps pulled it off and emerged as superior. It revamped the art style into something far more detailed and expanded on the world in unique, imaginative ways. It tells an emotional new story, improving the pacing with autosaves while adding to combat thanks to the new Shard system. While not the most revolutionary sequel, it’s an excellent step forward and extremely well-polished in almost every way.

24. Celeste

Celeste is as well-polished and deftly tuned as a 2D side-scrolling platformer could be. Each level, divided into multiple screens, employs unique mechanics, and as Madeline, your job is to execute them perfectly. It can seem daunting at first, but the difficulty is also well-crafted, and the fact that the controls are so responsive and the soundtrack so endearing makes it all the more enjoyable to try and try again. Beyond all of this, however, Celeste is a beautiful story about mental health, acceptance, and ultimately finding yourself even if the path is scary and fraught with danger.

23. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2

Considered the definitive skating title at the time and arguably by today’s standards, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 is just pure gameplay perfection. The trick variety and mechanics, including the beloved Manual, work well with the controls and the level design, featuring some of the series’ best, encourages replay value while hosting a myriad of secrets. With multiplayer, a park editor, hidden characters and a fantastic soundtrack, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 is a joy to experience and still holds up all these years later, as evidenced in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2, the remake.

22. Gears of War

Following its first showcase, “brutality” seemed to be the unifying theme for Gears of War. Chainsawing Locusts, heads exploding with headshots and other gore dotted the third-person shooter. However, Epic Games’ breakout shooter offered so much more – stellar cover-based shooting, the Active Reload for more involved combat, and a uniquely post-apocalyptic future for humanity which mixed ruin and beauty. The story of Kilo Squad immersed us in each character’s demons while simultaneously introducing a depressing yet rich world rife with conflict and intrigue.

There are more than a few nagging areas, like Dom’s AI, but so much of what makes the series great was executed so well in the original. Whatever the future may hold, the legacy of Marcus Fenix will never die.

21. Monster Hunter World

Does Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate have more content? Yes. Does Rise streamline certain things in appealing ways? Sure. Is Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate amazing? Absolutely. But Monster Hunter World, especially post-Iceborne, stands out for offering perhaps the most well-rounded Monster Hunter experience out there.

It’s accessible for brand-new players and features the smoothest gameplay in the series (arguably even better than Rise). It looks fantastic, whether witnessing a Turf War between Rathalos and Rajang or taking in the sights at Hoarfrost Reach. The selection of activities is fantastic, and it’s simply amazing to team up with friends. It’s not perfect, but for hunting gamers, this is the bar to meet.

20. Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Chaos Theory

Pandora Tomorrow was a worthy follow-up to the first Splinter Cell, but Chaos Theory is where the series peaked. On top of excellently designed missions from top to bottom, it featured important changes to the formula. Missions no longer fail when triggering alarms; an aural monitor indicates Sam’s noise relative to his environments; and enemy AI reacts more naturally to threats.

The choice of different kits to emphasize specific play styles, a combat knife for CQC and improvised interrogation, and multiple new attachments, weapons and grenades have also been added, enhancing the experience further. If that weren’t enough, Chaos Theory even featured multiplayer with a revamped Spy vs Mercenary mode, a co-op campaign and much more that was tons of fun.

19. Horizon Forbidden West

Take the accessible hunting of the first game, building on it with new Machines and weapon types. Add tons of new skills, outfits and weapons for numerous build possibilities. Fill the world with an incredible range of activities, from platforming and puzzle solving to hunts and tabletop games. Now add some gorgeous visuals, some of the generation’s best – that’s Horizon Forbidden West.

Even if you’re not overly invested in the story (which is still pretty good), the improvements made to the presentation – especially the motion capture and facial animations in dialogue exchange – are fantastic. Just exploring the sheer variety of environments feels natural and fun. The accessibility options are the icing on the cake, allowing you to push a build to the limit or relax and farm in peace.

18. Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec

Racing games are known to be at the very cutting edge of technology, and GT3 was a prime example of that achievement for the PlayStation 2. Selling close to 15 million copies, Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec was a game that appealed to both veterans and newcomers of the genre. Although the number of cars saw a drastic reduction compared to its predecessor, it made up for it by dialing up the visual fidelity and level of detail. Although Gran Turismo 7, the latest entry in the series is an absolutely amazing game, it still can’t come close to the beast that was Gran Turismo 3.

17. Super Mario Galaxy 2

It’s insane to think that Nintendo not only released Super Mario Galaxy, one of the best games of all time, but then released its sequel three years later, which is also excellent, and superior in many ways. The same gameplay fundamentals apply, but Super Mario Galaxy 2 takes the established formula and offers more variety with its galaxies and power-ups, better pacing, the addition of Yoshi, and many more challenges to put veterans to the test. Having all this with an incredible orchestral score and gorgeous visuals also didn’t hurt. Some may prefer the first game, but they’re both instant classics in their own right.

16. Journey

Gameplay-wise, Journey is a pretty simple game. You roam some gorgeous levels with linear objectives, exploring and discovering mysterious runes, and fly through the air, attempting to decipher it all. However, along the way, you’ll meet other players who can help charge your cloak when flying.

There’s no voice or text chat – all communication is through singing as you journey together, perhaps to the end if you’re willing. This meditative experience encourages replaying, meeting different people and living in the world, going from a bystander to a tour guide as you usher in new players. It’s simply phenomenal to behold.

15. Metroid Prime Remastered

Whenever there’s a conversation about the greatest Metroid-style games ever made, it’s disheartening that Metroid Prime isn’t mentioned more. Back in the day, a first-person Metroid had to fight for recognition and justifiably earned critical (but not commercial) acclaim for its quality. In this day and age, Metroid Prime Remastered is a reminder of the series’ merits and how good the original game is.

The enhanced visuals and environmental details are almost on the level of a remake, even if the core game is still fundamentally the same. But the bosses, the environment design, the exploration and the haunting atmosphere are all masterfully executed, ensuring a quality experience even now.

14. Dead Space (2023)

Interestingly, another Metroid-style game should receive an enhanced version this year. However, unlike Metroid Prime Remastered, Dead Space isn’t content to deliver incredible visuals, teeming with extensive detail and upgrades to effects, lighting and shadows. It builds on the mythos of the original with side quests and an expanded narrative, incorporates new mechanics like the Intensity Director and Peeling System to enhance the gameplay, and even has a brand new, alternate ending that makes us question what’s next for the franchise.

All of this, on top of the same incredible gameplay, bosses, levels and set-pieces that made the original so great. For as difficult as it can be to balance the new and the old, and still deliver a compelling experience, Dead Space makes it look effortless.

13. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

An upgraded engine enabled many feats seen in Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, but its numerous improvements went beyond the technical. In sequel terms, it went above and beyond the original, as Nathan Drake traversed the globe, following the trail of Marco Polo. The solid platforming returned, made all the more intense with some incredible set pieces, while the shooting was even more responsive. Such well-crafted pacing and production values would have fit right at home with the best of Hollywood – the fact that Naughty Dog was doing all this in 2009 on the PlayStation 3 feels insane.

12. Mass Effect 2

Mass Effect 2 delivered high-octane action and sleek cover-shooting mechanics. Commander Shepard roamed the galaxy, recruiting allies to battle the Collectors, making decisions to resolve their crises before embarking on a suicide mission that could potentially seal their fates. The jump in presentation and the quality of writing places Mass Effect 2 in the upper echelon of gaming.

11. Resident Evil 2 (2019)

The fact that the announcement video for Resident Evil 2 Remake was in 2015 and the title was finally released in 2019 is a testament to the sheer dedication of its team to the fans.

And what a remake it turned out to be, reimagining that one bad night in Raccoon City with an over-the-shoulder camera and aiming, a revamped Mr X, stunning visuals courtesy of RE Engine and improved pacing. While some parts were trimmed or cut, much was faithful to the original, expertly enhanced to highlight how masterfully executed the survival horror formula could be. It changed perceptions around the series and serves as a template for how modern-day remakes should be done.

10. Silent Hill 2

While it received critical acclaim back in the day, some found it to be a rushed sequel. As time passed, however, the journey of James Sutherland in the titular town, as he traversed his purgatory of crime and punishment, has been hailed as one of the greatest horror games. In terms of presentation, the game’s atmosphere and use of fog are unmatched, lending well to the pacing without bogging down the fidelity.

The creature designs remain iconic, whether it’s Pyramid Head representing James’ guilty and sexual frustration or Angela’s trauma manifesting as the Abstract Daddy. The remake looks good, but considering how high the bar is, it has a lot to live up to when capturing that mix of greyish moral tones and the undulating terror lurking within each person.

9. Batman: Arkham City

It can’t be overstated just how influential Batman: Arkham Asylum was on the superhero video game genre. Not only did it adapt one of the most memorable Batman stories of all time in superb fashion, but it did so in a way in keeping with being Batman. Batman: Arkham City expanded on this with a huge world, but didn’t skimp on the story-telling or attention to detail.

It was a venerable playground of activities, AR trials, Riddler Trophies and secrets, backed by some compelling villain side stories and high stakes. Furthermore, the Freeflow combat felt even smoother and more responsive and remains a rollicking good time even by today’s standards.

8. God of War Ragnarok

After all the years of hype, speculation and sheer excitement, God of War Ragnarok couldn’t possibly live up to it all. And yet, Sony Santa Monica delivered, expanding on the exploration and characterization that defined the first game in incredible ways. Whether it’s Atreus trying to discover himself or Kratos defining family in the face of annihilation, the story is an outstanding character study.

You also can’t say enough about the combat and how it’s expanded to include more options for combos and builds, whether it’s relying on weapons or your fists. The world is also incredibly designed, with familiar areas housing new secrets and new regions offering astonishing art design and challenges. Having all of this and an extensive post-game that doesn’t feel tacked on is a testament to the love and care that Santa Monica Studio has for the franchise.

7. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

When most open-world games felt akin to clearing checklists, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt arrived and injected soul into its world. Many side quests felt like standalone stories in their own right, with stellar writing and characterization. The world also encouraged exploration and discovery, with several activities to eat up all your time.

Even if you weren’t an aficionado of open-world games, it felt fun to look for Witcher gear and learn the fate of different Witchers, hang out with Lambert on a quest, or take down various horrors in contracts. The sheer amount of extraordinary content, to say nothing of the stellar main quest was enough to excuse some of the combat hiccups and bugs.

6. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty

Hype can be a killer for many a sequel, especially when it’s the follow-up to Metal Gear Solid. How do you craft a new tale to ensnare fans of Solid Snake? How do you expand on its stealth mechanics? How do you top the boss fights and plot of the original?

It seemed impossible, but Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of the Liberty was more concerned about upending expectations and standing firm. A shocking new protagonist in Raiden, a story focused on privacy, AI and virtual reality in a post-modern age, and bizarre new bosses all took players by surprise. It was all expertly delivered, and buoyed by incredible music, visuals, enemy AI and stealth mechanics that rival today’s best. From a misunderstood masterpiece to a timeless classic that remains relevant today, Metal Gear Solid 2 is simply in a class of its own.

5. Grand Theft Auto 5

Rockstar Games had a perfect formula for its Grand Theft Auto franchise for years. It attempted to revamp some things in Grand Theft Auto 4, but for the most part, its open world made sense. With Grand Theft Auto 5, it seemingly pulled off the impossible, evolving its formula in numerous ways while advancing the genre.

It’s not just that GTA 5 was a triumph narratively with its three playable characters (all switchable at pretty much anytime). Or that the new heists were enjoyable, the gunplay amazing, or the sheer amount of quality content was overwhelming. It’s the detail of the world, the attention to each NPC, the faithfulness to which Los Santos resembled Los Angeles, and the scale it was all achieved, especially on the Xbox 360 and PS3. Let’s not even start with GTA Online, which is still insanely popular.

4. The Last of Us Part 1

Say what you will about the remake and how it’s a giant cash grab, especially without Factions. However, the fact remains – it’s a better version of The Last of Us, which is one of the greatest games ever made. The story was already incredible, with Joel and Ellie traversing the United States, initially hostile to one another and becoming like family, but the improved animations, environmental details and fidelity make it that much more immersive.

The AI has also been changed to provide more variety in encounters, and new options added to make the game easier or as challenging as one would like. Say what you will about the business practices, but the remake is a masterpiece in its own right.

3. Half-Life 2

To claim that Half-Life 2 was super hyped would be an understatement of the century. Not only it managed to deliver an exceptional experience but it surpassed player expectations. Half-Life 2 is easily one of the greatest first-person shooters of all time, which revolutionized enemy AI, story-telling and physics, with two exceptionally crafted DLC Episodes that masterfully build on the story.

2. Elden Ring

If FromSoftware created open-world Dark Souls, it might have taken less time. That would have been the safer approach. However, Elden Ring is so much more. It’s an odyssey into a sundered land, one teeming with horror and beauty alike while expanding on the beloved Souls-like combat with Ashes of War, Sorceries, Incantations, Spirit Ashes, and more. While taking inspiration from Breath of the Wild, it offers stunning environments, dozens of unique weapons with unique moves, dozens of unique bosses and unique paths to take.

That feeling of exploring almost everywhere is also present, but with an ever-constant feeling of danger and excitement. It can be tough and unforgiving, filled with secrets and extensive NPC questlines that require guides to figure out, but that only adds to the appeal.

1. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Yes, Nintendo’s interpretation of Zelda in an open-world setting wins out again, six years after its initial release and before its hotly anticipated sequel. Explaining why the entire experience is incredible is difficult, but it’s the dozens of little things – the feeling of wonder around every corner. The organic gameplay encourages experimentation in the sandbox.

The quiet, peaceful music and gentle breeze that flows through the world as you explore. Just being able to climb almost anything and explore to your heart’s content. The sheer breadth of content and mystery. The gorgeous aesthetic. Even the weapon durability, which still gets mixed reactions, makes each item matter and encourages adapting on the fly.

But more importantly, it all comes together, resulting in a unique journey every time you start anew, cementing Breath of the Wild as the best of all time.