NEO: The World Ends with You is everything a fan of the series could ever ask for in a sequel. It feels modern and contemporary without losing what made the original unique.
The gameplay is fun, the narrative and its characters are great, and the art direction is absolutely beautiful. The pros here vastly outweigh the cons. Ghost of Tsushima is a breathtaking adventure.
Ghost of Yōtei shows exactly why the PS5 is still king of the consoles. Unless you're tired of ninja and samurai-themed stories, Ghost of Yotei is a must-play. The beautiful open-world game rewards deep exploration and features engaging, cinematic storytelling. Undoubtedly, it's one of the best games of the year.
Xenoblade Chronicles X was already one of the Wii U’s best games, and this Definitive Edition does more than enough to justify another trip to planet Mira.
Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake beautifully concludes this trilogy, recapturing the retro magic of the originals while giving them a modern facelift.
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is an amazing JRPG, with a deep story and fun gameplay that will keep players engaged for many hours.
Tales of Berseria is still one of my favourite entries in the series, thanks to its excellent story and charming cast of characters. The gameplay is as fun as ever, and it's aged well since its debut nearly a decade ago.This remaster offers plenty of new features for those who've already experienced the game, and they're an extra cherry on top for newcomers. Beyond those quality-of-life additions, the port itself doesn't exactly go above and beyond, but if you're looking to play this game on the go, you can't go wrong here.
Persona 3 Reload is a win-win of a remake for old and new Persona fans alike.
Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance makes one of the best open-world RPGs around even better.
Shadow of the Erdtree is so packed with new content that it almost feels like a sequel to Elden Ring.
The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy is a morbidly engrossing tactics RPG that takes the right notes from Danganronpa.
Ys IX: Monstrum Nox is an epic tale with a vibrant world within its walls. With its tried and true gameplay, this latest entry nimbly balances familiarity with the rush of innovation.
Nioh 3 is a triumphant adventure that stands up to the mightiest contemporaries in the Soulslike genre. While the story has you traveling back in time, it feels modern and slick because of the distinguished setting and polished mechanics. The loot situation is still annoying, but this is minor in the grand scope of things. The shift to an open-world is effortlessly handled, feeling like a proper evolution of the series rather than something simply tacked on. It’s impressive how consistently strong the series is, and Nioh 3 does not disappoint.
This neon-soaked mystery game is Kodaka's best work to date.
In any case, 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is absolutely wonderful all around. Each of the 13 protagonists gets relatively equal screen time, and they’re all brought to life by both the great English and Japanese voice tracks. You’re sure to have your favorites, but it’s incredibly satisfying to see how each of their stories intersects through time and space and coalesces into the battle for mankind against the alien invaders. This is one adventure you simply don’t want to miss.
Persona 5 Strikers is a fantastic sequel to the original game. It's fun, stylish, and sleek, a road trip to remember.
Gnosia draws similarities to games like Among Us and Zero Escape, but ultimately crafts a unique story with a crew of memorable characters.
Stray isn't just a game about a cat trying to get home, but one about an even greater adventure. And doing cat things.
Returnal is undoubtedly one of Housemarque’s best games and is a triumph for the PlayStation 5. The premise is interesting right off the bat, and the way the game feeds narrative breadcrumbs throughout the game only made me want to continue on. With the tight gameplay that the studio is known for, along with an intriguing story and blockbuster presentation, Housemarque hits all the right spots. Returnal sits as one of PlayStation’s most unique exclusives.
It may sound reductive, but Elden Ring is a fourth mainline Dark Souls title in all but name. The game’s open-world structure feels very organic - there aren’t lists of activities with checkboxes that players need to cross off. The Lands Between is filled with visually stunning locations and deadly enemies to ensure that the perilous journey to become the Elden Lord is at least pretty to look at. While Elden Ring stumbles a bit in some areas, it still has all the hallmarks of what makes FromSoftware’s games so enticing: it’s fun, challenging, and rewarding.