As is always the case, there is no shortage of great games to play. That can make picking your favorites–or voting for categories in something like The Game Awards–a challenge. With this year’s awards just about a month away, we’re reflecting on what games we’ve loved this year to offer up some quick suggestions on what you should consider playing before casting your votes.
Below, we’ve rounded up one-sentence recommendations from our staff. Our goal here was twofold: recognize the games we’re individually considering for Game of the Year, whether or not they’re well-known, and also spotlight some of the smaller games we loved that you might have missed or never even heard of.
Mark Delaney
Retro Rewind
- Platforms: PC
My favorite of all job sims is this one about running a video rental store in the ’90s, and it just got a huge update that adds video games to your inventory.
Big Walk
- Platforms: PC, PS5, Switch 2
Bring 1-11 buddies on a hefty hike across a puzzle-filled island primed to make lasting memories.
Control Resonant
- Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S, PS5
What if Remedy took the reins from Sucker Punch and made a new Infamous, complete with the Finnish studio’s unique brand of weird?
Far Far West (early access)
- Platforms: PC
Take the exciting core of Helldivers 2, but put it in a Western with all the cartoonish whimsy you’d expect from the team behind Pumpkin Jack.
Marathon
- Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S, PS5
Bungie’s suspenseful extraction shooter feels so damn good–this is Bungie, after all–but its art direction and worldbuilding ensure it looks even better.
Jessica Cogswell
Fields of Mistria
- Platforms: PC
I’ve argued–repeatedly–that Fields of Mistria is the greatest farming life-sim of all-time, surpassing even Stardew Valley, thanks to its ’80s to ’90s shōjo anime-inspired art direction, blush-inducing romances, and overall gameplay loop.
The Blood of Dawnwalker
- Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S, PS5
Okay so imagine The Witcher but with good combat, a fantastic time management system that prevents the game from feeling overwhelming, way more heart, and vampires.
Paralives
- Platforms: PC
This life-sim is in early access and still has a ways to go, but it’s the closest thing we’ve gotten to a true competitor for the Sims and I’m already so impressed by its gameplay and style, as well as the development team’s commitment to its strange worldbuilding.
Meccha Chameleon
- Platforms: PC, Switch 2
I’m not usually the type to play the “latest viral trend” when it comes to games, but I’m so glad I picked up Meccha Chameleon and got to experience how joyful and creatively rewarding this silly little “friendslop” title is.
007: First Light
- Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S, PS5
Even if you don’t care about James Bond or have little knowledge of his robust history, I highly recommend 007: First Light if you want a perfectly paced, sleuthy action game that makes you feel like a total badass.
Darryn Bonthuys
Denshattack
- Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S, PS5, Switch 2
Kickflip a train, take down an evil corporation, and lock in for a cel-shaded blast of high-energy fun in this colorful and funky on-rails adventure.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword
- Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S, PS5, Switch 2
Onimusha: Way of the Sword shines in combat, and if you want a game where you can creatively flex your combat chops against bosses that’ll test your parrying skills, this samurai showdown is an easy recommendation.
Vampire Crawlers
- Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S, PS5, Switch 2, Switch, Mobile
Proving that it’s not a one-hit wonder, Poncle has delivered a follow-up to Vampire Survivors that’s deliciously entertaining and easy-to-learn–this captivating combo-powered dungeon crawler will hoover up all your free time.
Chris Pereira
Forbidden Solitaire
- Platforms: PC
What if solitaire, but it’s presented with a very authentic-looking ’90s-video-game-style presentation of a creepy game with demonic undertones?
Esoteric Ebb
- Platforms: PC
A genuinely hilarious Disco Elysium-style text-based RPG adventure through a remarkably well-realized fantasy world full of “I can’t believe they thought to account for that decision I might make” moments.
Over the Hill
- Platforms: PC
A deeply chill exploration game that manages to strike just the right balance of engaging driving mechanics and relaxing vibes.
Slay the Spire 2 (early access)
- Platforms: PC
Take the brilliant deckbuilding roguelite formula of the first game, then add more fun new stuff and a full-fledged co-op mode with unique cards and mechanics designed for multiplayer.
Steve Watts
Mina the Hollower
- Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, Switch 2, Switch
The creators of Shovel Knight have returned with a retro-style masterpiece, blending The Legend of Zelda’s classic Game Boy Color style with more modern soulslike hooks in a dark gothic animal world.
Pokemon Pokopia
- Platforms: Switch 2
The lovable creatures from Pokemon are your friends and neighbors in this cozy game with surprisingly rich building mechanics.
Star Wars: Galactic Racer
- Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S, PS5
A top-notch arcade racer with blinding speed and tense turns, especially thanks to its brilliant roguelite structure–oh, and it’s also Star Wars.
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse
- Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S, PS5, Switch
Castlevania makes a triumphant comeback with an injection of stellar combat and an elegantly complex tarot card system.
Blood Dungeon
- Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S, PS5, Switch 2, Switch
This survivorslike breaks through the noise of a quickly overcrowded genre with a satisfying platforming twist.
Gabe Gurwin
Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2
- Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S, PS5
A boomer-shooter sequel that is more varied than its predecessor, but with all the running, gunning, explosions, and gore you expect–plus the return of a face button dedicated entirely to taunting.
Nioh 3
- Platforms: PC, PS5
Take Nioh 2 and make it even better with open-ended environments, a whole bunch of side content, and the deepest combat system of any soulslike.
Saros
- Platforms: PS5
With Saros, Housemarque managed to make Returnal’s bullet-hell third-person combat even better, offering more difficulty choices without watering down the experience.
Star Wars Zero Company
- Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S, PS5
It’s basically XCOM, but with the Force and lightsabers; if that doesn’t sound incredible to you, I don’t know what to tell you.
Ashley Oh
Mouse: P.I. For Hire
- Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S, PS5, Switch 2, Switch
A hard-boiled noir in the form of a ’30s-cartoon-meets-first-person-shooter, this game features inventive animations, a jazzy soundtrack, and Troy Baker growling cheesy mouse puns all over the place.
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