GameSpot

A few issues hold it back, but Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment marks a high point for the spin-off series, iterating on its riotous hack-and-slash combat with depth and variety.

A heroes' journey, twice retold.

Escape The Backrooms is the most encyclopedic Backrooms game of them all

Plants Vs. Zombies: Replanted adds just a few bells and whistles to the classic strategy game, but it's still just as fun as ever.

The Outer Worlds 2 imbues Obsidian's spacefaring RPG series with its own identity, letting you bumble your way through corporate and cultish intrigue in space.

PowerWash Sim was a breakout hit in 2021, and the sequel is a reminder of how that happened, though sometimes it feels like it's just punching in for work.

Ninja Gaiden 4 brings the series back with a bang, building on its intoxicating foundations with smart additions that further elevate its brutally brilliant combat

Although Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 isn't particularly ambitious or polished, it makes up for its faults with enthralling gameplay, gorgeous environments, a good story, and even better characters.

Keeper is Double Fine at its most confident, presenting a visual feast and a heartfelt tale in a detailed, complex natural world.

Battlefield 6 plays it safe but marks a return to form for the long-running series, delivering chaotic, large-scale multiplayer that's as familiar as it is uproariously fun

Pokemon Legends: Z-A successfully translates its iconic battle system to real-time, but its visuals and presentation leave a lot to be desired.

Time Stranger propels Digimon forward as a serious contender in the critter-catching genre.

Infusing a classic beat-'em-up structure with a modern roguelike loop is a match made in heaven.

New developer Supermassive Games takes Little Nightmares in a familiar direction, though co-op does mix things up in a welcome way for the series.

Fire Emblem Shadows is the newest entry in Nintendo and developer Intelligent Systems' fantasy-tactics series, and, unfortunately, it's also probably the worst

EA Sports FC 26 suffers from a few growing pains with its shift to two distinct playstyles, but there are enough improvements throughout to consider it a positive step forward for the long-running series

Ghost of Yotei is shaped by Atsu, its new protagonist, as you're propelled on a gripping tale of revenge amidst the backdrop of Feudal Japan's contrasting beauty and violence

Hades II is an ambitious expansion that balances its captivating narrative with an exceptional combat loop, making it one of the best roguelites you'll ever play.

The Ivalice Chronicles provides the best way to play an all-time classic, even if it lacks some of the archival glow-up it deserves.

Hollow Knight Silksong takes all the best parts of its predecessor and somehow makes them even better.