Against all odds, GSC Game World released S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, a stunning and immersive open world.

With Atlus, Studio Zero, Ryu Ga Gotoku, and VanillaWare cranking out non-stop bangers, Sega could do no wrong in its gaming catalog this year.

Balatro's arrival on mobile exacerbated our addiction to this endlessly clever poker roguelike.

Infectiously cute, delightfully varied, and sometimes surprisingly challenging, Astro Bot also made the best use of PS5 hardware this year.

The PC platform is the best place to experience S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2's graphical fidelity, intense gameplay, and passionate modding community.

Shadow of the Erdtree establishes a new level of expectation about what an expansion should be.

In what is already a golden age of fighting games, Tekken 8 still managed to massively innovate and stand at the top of the pack.

The world of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is as gorgeous and stunning as it dangerous and harrowing.

Metaphor: ReFantazio's themes of political oppression and perseverance in the face of insurmountable odds delivered a story we won't soon forget.

Few expected to see The Legend of Zelda again so soon after Tears of the Kingdom, but everyone should be glad they did.