Balatro — 9
Just when you think you’ve seen every possible combination from the roguelite genre, a game like Balatro comes along to deliver a pleasant surprise. Rapid-fire rounds of poker combined with deep deck-building mechanics and layers of intricacy beneath its deceptively simple facade, Balatro goes all in on its concept and is difficult to put down once it sinks its fangs into your free time.
Read our Balatro review. Available on PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Switch.
Dragon’s Dogma 2 — 9
12 years after the first game came out, Dragon’s Dogma 2 builds on the best parts of that sweeping fantasy tale to deliver a magical open-world RPG. It might not be the most innovative sequel, but those core strengths are enhanced by emergent moments, technological leaps, and varied gameplay to create a thrilling sense of adventure.
Read our Dragon’s Dogma 2 review. Available on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.
Helldivers 2 — 9
Switching from a top-down twin-stick shooter design to a third-person perspective, Helldivers 2 is an action-packed adventure across alien planets. In a crowded live-service environment, developer Arrowhead has delivered a fun romp that’s best enjoyed with friends, enhanced by satisfying gunplay, and feels constantly fresh thanks to some clever design.
Read our Helldivers 2 review. Available on PC and PS5.
Persona 3: Reload — 9
Long considered to be one of the best Persona games of all time, Persona 3: Reload is a complete remake for the modern age. The best way to experience an all-time classic and one of the darkest stories in the franchise, Persona 3: Reload is a comprehensive overhaul of the game that makes it combat more approachable, upgrades it visuals to provide a slick feast for the eyes, and bundles it all up with an unforgettable soundtrack.
Read our Persona 3: Reload review. Available on PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown — 9
After an era of 3D adventures, Prince of Persia’s return to its 2D roots feels like a welcome breath of fresh air for the franchise. Smartly incorporating metroidvania elements into its design, The Lost Crown throws in pitch-perfect combat and a beautifully crafted world for good measure, combining them all into a cohesive whole. The Lost Crown isn’t just a thrilling metroidvania; it’s a finely-tuned entry in the genre that other games will be looking to for inspiration in the years to come.
Available on PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Switch.
Children of the Sun — 8
Just when you think you’ve seen it all in the sniper genre of games, along comes a title like Children of the Sun to surprise you. A short game that perfectly executes its concept of solving puzzles with headshots, this cerebral shooter is a satisfying blast of fun.
Available on PC.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth — 8
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is a blockbuster of a sequel, a bigger and bolder return of Cloud and friends as they continue to defy destiny. While the game makes a few fumbles, they don’t detract from the new chapter’s impressive visuals, finely honed combat, and exciting deviations from the established series lore.
Available on PS5.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth — 8
When it comes to wild action, weird scenarios, and storytelling that’ll leave you emotionally devastated, few games can compare to the Like a Dragon series. The latest chapter in the mainline series builds on the RPG gameplay introduced in its predecessor, further fine-tuning and polishing the experience so that it can offer a more joyful experience. While the main story does meander in places, this swansong for the legendary Dragon of Dojima has its heart in the right place and offers an incredible amount of side content like Dondoko Island, Sujimon battles, and so much more.
Available on PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One.
The Outlast Trials — 8
Red Barrels’ third Outlast game is a major departure from previous entries in the series, successfully evolving from single-player terror to a four-player PvE game of collective horror. A major shift into new territory, The Outlast Trials retains the core dread of its predecessors and reimagines that unique experience as a group immersion therapy session from hell with its spine-tingling story and clever gameplay systems.
Available on PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One.
Pacific Drive — 8
We’ve seen plenty of roguelite spins on familiar genres over the years, but Ironwood Studio’s Pacific Drive is a different beast altogether. Challenging and atmospheric, it has fascinating mysteries to explore inside of a wonderfully weird world, while its upgrade mechanics are satisfyingly deep enough to keep any gearhead invested in this wild ride.
Available on PC and PS5.
