I’ll save you the time, there’s no Elden Ring here. I’m one of the few freaks who never got around to playing it this year, mainly because I was too busy catching up on all the games I was meant to play in 2021. I’m pretty surprised I even played enough games to participate this year, and they still let me make a list! I love my

Overwatch 2 is enjoyable enough that you won’t feel like you’ve wasted a download, but it offers many of the same elements you can now get from better games out there. Although it tries to build on Overwatch by implementing various changes, it never manages to feel like an actual improvement. If you were a fan of the first game, you really have no choice. If you’re new to the series, it’s worth a shot if you’re not bothered about many heroes being practically locked behind a payw

I wish I could put this higher, I really do. Overwatch 2 is the most fun I’ve had in an already fantastic team-based shooter in years. The new characters, 5v5, the fine-tuning – it’s all perfect. But I cannot justify praising the game any more than this when its terrible monetization actively ruins your experience with the gameplay. As it stands, it is mechanically some of the most fun I’ve had this year, it could have just been so much m

The Blood Dragon DLC for Far Cry 3 is a standalone ode to all things ’80s sci-fi action. The story features a gnarly cyborg character named Rex “Power” Colt, who is big on cheesy one-liners and getting down to busin

Sonic, my sweet, misunderstood, bullied blue baby. You did it. You did a video game. And by God, Frontiers is the most video game-y video game in existence. You run around an invisible walled map to collect items, then collect more items to unlock minigames that help you collect the items you actually need. There are also some other items that can make getting the main item a bit easier. There’s no arrogance in Sonic Frontiers, just an understanding that Sonic running fast should be fun. It’s a bold first step into something new for the series, while still feeling uniquely ‘Sonic’ in a way other open worlds can’t man

The subtle pattern along the tips of the petal blades from the base design makes a return as well. As such, Amsonia feels like one of the few Rare skins in Overwatch 2 Lore 2 that’s worth shelling out the Coins or Credits to unlock

Make the queerness of specific heroes and parts of the world unavoidable, an element of the future narrative in ways that provide them with new relationships or developments which act as more than diverse window dressing. Progress like this could well be in the works, and the twisted methods in which Activision seeks to salvage its own image shouldn’t tarnish a piece of media that for years has played a part in LGBTQ+ people feeling seen, heard, and confident that things can get better.

So, if you were dying to find out what the Game of the Year is to someone who avoided all the obvious games of the year, then you’re in luck. Here are my favourite games I played in between trying to complete Outer Wilds and starting my seventh Dragon Age: Origins playthro

There’s something so awesome about a Legendary skin that’s not afraid to make bold new design choices to dramatically change a character’s look. Such is the case with Sovereign, a rather regal-looking alternate that reimagines Lifeweaver as a French aristoc

Nothing pushes the limits of how far you can get by on fun alone than Pokemon Legends: Arceus . With one of the most satisfying game loops of any title on this list, there’s nothing better than booting up Legends: Arceus to mindlessly catch a bunch of ‘mons I’ve already got 20 times before – and still get rewarded for it. Legends: Arceus proves that Game Freak should be brave. The games that stray from the traditional Pokemon formula are the ones winning players over in recent years – look at Unite and New Snap – and Legends: Arceus proves that Pokemon can be up there with other RPG ser

We merely need a critical distance to recognise what this sort of representation actually means for the landscape, how it came about, and where it could go in the years to come. I’m delighted to see Pharah confirmed as a proud lesbian woman, regardless of the context in which it exists.

Scorn is a frustrating, agonizingly slow endurance test of a game, and I am so glad it exists. It’s not fun, it’s not marketable, and it will probably be a huge flop. But goddamn, do I feel better for playing it. The entire world feels alive, vile, but strangely inviting. The invisible direction of the game almost effortlessly guides you around the world without the need for a map or any obvious directions, barring its incredibly weak opening. When Scorn finds its footing though, you’re treated to some of the most interesting and refreshingly unique game design choices out there, and I’d take that over formulaic franchise hits any

New heroes were a major event, and I can still remember the bitter looks of jealousy on their faces as I attended BlizzCon and got to try out all the new things before anyone else. Before the live-service rot began to take effect and a needless sequel reared its head, Overwatch meant something to me. This investment also factored into its queer community at a time when no representation was confirmed in the game itself. It was all fanart, fanfics, and pairings birthed from our own imaginations. But we wouldn’t care so much if the game itself wasn’t brimming with potential.