The best Switch 2 games, plus the Switch Top 200

The Switch 200

Showing 200 of 200 games

• #1E10+★ 9.8

  The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

  Action-Adventure · 2017 · Nintendo

  You wake up in a cave with no memory, step outside, and see an enormous fantasy countryside stretching to the horizon with nobody telling you where to go. If you can see a mountain, you can walk over and climb it, and if it rains the rock gets slippery and you have to wait it out. You hunt, cook meals over campfires, and figure out fights your own way, by sneaking, shoving boulders downhill, or just swinging whatever weapon you picked up last.

• #2E★ 9.8

  Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

  Racing · 2017 · Nintendo

  You pick a cartoon character, hop in a go-kart, and race eleven others through candy kingdoms, city streets, and tracks that twist upside down. Driving through floating item boxes hands you random gadgets, like a banana peel to drop behind you or a turtle shell that chases the car ahead. Even a total beginner can finish races thanks to optional steering help, which is why it comes out whenever friends are over.

• #3E★ 9.8

  Animal Crossing: New Horizons

  Life Sim · 2020 · Nintendo

  You move to an empty island with a tent and a few talking animal neighbors, and the game runs on the real clock, so a rainy evening in October is rainy and dark on your island too. There is no fighting and no way to lose, just fishing, catching bugs, shaking fruit from trees, and slowly turning your tent into a decorated house. Most people play twenty minutes a day, checking the shops, saying hello, and seeing what washed up overnight.

• #4E10+★ 9.8

  Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

  Fighting · 2018 · Nintendo

  Famous characters from Mario to Pac-Man brawl on floating platforms, and instead of health bars you have a damage number that climbs as you get hit. The higher that number, the farther you fly when someone connects, so the goal is to knock everyone else off the edge of the screen before they do it to you. Crates drop laser guns and bombs constantly, which keeps four-player matches loud, funny, and easy for anyone to join.

• #5E10+★ 9.7

  The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

  Action-Adventure · 2023 · Nintendo

  The same huge kingdom as Breath of the Wild, except now there are islands floating in the sky and a pitch-black cavern world the size of the whole map underneath it. Your new trick is gluing things together, so you can stick wheels and a motor onto planks and drive your homemade car across a canyon, or strap a rocket to a shield. Half the fun is that your contraptions often fall apart at the worst moment and you have to improvise something sillier.

• #6E10+★ 9.7

  Super Mario Odyssey

  3D Platformer · 2017 · Nintendo

  You run and jump through bright little worlds, a big city full of taxis, a desert of pink sand, a kingdom made of food, looking for glowing moons hidden in every corner. Your hat is your main tool, and throwing it onto an enemy lets you take over its body, so you can stomp around as a dinosaur or swim as a fish. It is cheerful, easy to pick up, and throws a new surprise at you every couple of minutes.

• #7E★ 9.7

  Pokemon Sword and Shield

  RPG · 2019 · Nintendo

  You travel across a region based on the British countryside catching creatures, training them, and battling gym leaders in packed sports stadiums. Battles are turn-based, so you pick a move from a menu and wait, and for one fight per match your creature grows to skyscraper size. There is a big open field called the Wild Area where you can see Pokemon wandering around and team up with three other players to take down giant ones.

• #8E★ 9.7

  Pokemon Scarlet and Violet

  RPG · 2022 · Nintendo

  This is the first Pokemon game where the whole country is open from the start, so you ride a legendary dragon across deserts and mountains and tackle the challenges in whatever order you feel like. Three separate storylines run at once, one for gyms, one for hunting enormous boss creatures, and one for confronting a gang of students. Friends can drop into your world and explore alongside you, though the game does stutter and look rough in busy areas.

• #9E★ 9.7

  Super Mario Party

  Party · 2018 · Nintendo

  It is a digital board game where up to four people roll dice, move around a board, and compete to buy stars with the coins they collect. After every round everyone drops into a short minigame, like grilling a steak by shaking the controller or racing tricycles by pumping your arms. Note that everyone needs a detached Joy-Con controller to play, so it will not work with a Pro Controller or on a Switch Lite by itself.

• #10E10+★ 9.7

  Splatoon 2

  Shooter · 2017 · Nintendo

  Two teams of four spray colored ink all over an arena, and whoever covers more floor in three minutes wins, so painting matters more than shooting people. Press a button and your character turns into a squid that swims fast through your own ink, hides in it, and refills the tank. Nobody gets hurt in a gory way, the music and style are fantastic, and there is a co-op mode where four players fend off waves of fish monsters.

• #11E10+★ 9.7

  Splatoon 3

  Shooter · 2022 · Nintendo

  The newer version of the ink-spraying team battle, where four-on-four squads race to paint more of the arena than the other side. New moves let you dodge sideways in a burst or leap out of the ink to surprise someone, and there is a full single-player adventure alongside the online matches. This is the one with the active player base, so matches fill up fast at almost any hour.

• #12E★ 9.6

  Pokemon Legends: Arceus

  Action RPG · 2022 · Nintendo

  Instead of standing still and picking menu options, you crouch in tall grass, sneak up behind wild creatures, and physically throw a ball at them in real time. It is set centuries in the past when nobody had catalogued these animals yet, so your job is to study them, and some will charge at you and knock you out if you are careless. Catching finally feels like actual hunting rather than a menu, which makes it the best entry point for people who found older Pokemon games slow.

• #13E★ 9.6

  Luigi's Mansion 3

  Adventure · 2019 · Nintendo

  You play Mario's jumpy brother exploring a haunted hotel at night with a flashlight and a vacuum cleaner strapped to your back. Catching a ghost feels like wrestling a fire hose, you shine the light to stun it, latch on, then yank the stick the other way and slam it around while furniture smashes everywhere. Every floor is a different theme, from an Egyptian tomb to a movie studio, and a second person can join in as a green goo copy of you.

• #14E★ 9.6

  Super Mario Maker 2

  Platformer · 2019 · Nintendo

  You build your own Mario levels by dragging blocks, pipes, and enemies onto a grid with a touchscreen, then jump in and play what you made. If you would rather not build, you can download millions of levels other people uploaded, from gentle strolls to fiendish obstacle courses. There is also a hand-made story mode with over a hundred levels, so it works fine even if you never make anything.

• #15E★ 9.6

  New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe

  Platformer · 2019 · Nintendo

  This is classic flat side-scrolling Mario, running right, stomping enemies, and jumping for the flagpole at the end. Up to four people can play the same level at once, which turns into friendly chaos as you accidentally bounce each other into pits. Beginners can play as a character who floats gently and cannot be hurt, so young kids can tag along without getting stuck.

• #16E★ 9.6

  Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury

  3D Platformer · 2021 · Nintendo

  Two games in one box. The first is a colorful obstacle course you can play with up to three friends, where a cat suit lets you claw enemies and scramble up walls. The second drops you in one big open lake full of islands to explore, and every few minutes a giant Bowser rises out of the water breathing fire while you scramble for cover.

• #17E10+★ 9.6

  Ring Fit Adventure

  Fitness · 2019 · Nintendo

  A workout disguised as an adventure game. You strap one controller to your thigh, hold a flexible plastic ring that comes in the box, and jog in place to move your character down a path. Fights are turn-based, but instead of pressing a button you actually do squats, press the ring, or hold a yoga pose, and the game tracks your heart rate and calories.

• #18T★ 9.6

  Metroid Dread

  Metroidvania · 2021 · Nintendo

  You explore a huge underground alien base as a bounty hunter in a power suit, gradually finding upgrades that let you reach places blocked off earlier. It is a flat side-on view, the controls are quick and precise, and much of the fun is memorizing the map and finding the shortcut back. Certain zones are patrolled by an unkillable robot that hunts you down, and all you can do is run, hide, and hold your breath.

• #19T★ 9.5

  Fire Emblem: Three Houses

  Tactics RPG · 2019 · Nintendo

  Half the game is teaching at a military academy, where you pick classes for your students, eat lunch with them, and get to know their personalities. The other half is turn-based battles on a grid, where you move each unit one square at a time and think carefully, because a character who dies can be gone for good. Which students you choose to teach changes which side of a war you end up fighting on.

• #20T★ 9.5

  Fire Emblem Engage

  Tactics RPG · 2023 · Nintendo

  A grid-based strategy game where you move your soldiers square by square, weighing every attack because the wrong move can cost you a character permanently. The hook is summoning heroes from older games in the series to merge with your units and borrow their signature abilities for a few turns. The story is lighter and the presentation flashier than usual, but the battles themselves are some of the sharpest puzzles the series has made.

• #21T★ 9.5

  Xenoblade Chronicles 3

  JRPG · 2022 · Nintendo

  An enormous story-driven adventure about six young soldiers from two warring nations who are forced to team up. You run around gigantic open landscapes and combat happens in real time, your character auto-attacks while you pick special abilities off a bar and reposition for bonus damage. Budget well over a hundred hours, and expect long cutscenes, since the story is the main reason people love it.

• #22T★ 9.5

  Xenoblade Chronicles 2

  JRPG · 2017 · Nintendo

  A sprawling adventure set on the backs of enormous living creatures drifting through a sea of clouds, each one a whole country you can explore. You fight in real time by chaining timed button presses into bigger combos with the partners you collect along the way. The combat takes a good while to explain itself and the anime tone is strong, but the scale and the soundtrack are unmatched.

• #23T★ 9.5

  Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition

  JRPG · 2020 · Nintendo

  The remastered original, set on two colossal frozen giants locked in battle, with a world so big you can spend hours in the first area. Battles happen in real time and your sword shows you flashes of an ally about to die, giving you a few seconds to change the outcome. Updated visuals and a bonus epilogue chapter make this the best way to play one of the genre's landmark stories.

• #24E10+★ 9.5

  Pikmin 4

  Strategy · 2023 · Nintendo

  You command a swarm of tiny plant creatures around a garden that feels gigantic because you are only a few inches tall. You whistle them into a group and throw them at obstacles, so twenty of them carry a dropped battery home while others knock down a wall. Days are on a timer and any stragglers left outside at sunset get eaten, which makes planning your route genuinely tense in a gentle way.

• #25E10+★ 9.5

  Pikmin 3 Deluxe

  Strategy · 2020 · Nintendo

  You lead three tiny astronauts and command squads of plant-like Pikmin by throwing them at fruit, enemies, and obstacles. Each day is a short countdown where you split your team to carry food back to the ship before time runs out. It plays like a gentle puzzle with a clock attached, and losing Pikmin along the way can sting.

• #26E10+★ 9.4

  Kirby and the Forgotten Land

  3D Platformer · 2022 · Nintendo

  You play Kirby rolling and floating through jungles and overgrown malls that nature has swallowed up. Press a button to inhale enemies and objects, including cars and vending machines, and swallow them to copy their powers for a while. It moves in 3D now but stays easy to pick up, and the whole thing is built to be gentle and forgiving for younger or newer players.

• #27E10+★ 9.4

  Kirby Star Allies

  Platformer · 2018 · Nintendo

  You control Kirby and up to three friends, each inhaling enemies to copy their abilities, then combining two powers together for a stronger version, like turning a fire attack into a bonfire. Sessions are short bursts through cheerful stages with simple platforming and light puzzle solving. It leans very easy and very friendly, so it suits kids or anyone playing alongside less experienced friends more than solo veterans.

• #28E★ 9.4

  Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze

  Platformer · 2018 · Nintendo

  You guide Donkey Kong and a barrel-riding partner through jungle, ice, and factory levels, jumping and rolling past hazards with tight timing. Collecting bananas and hidden puzzle pieces rewards careful exploration, but the platforming demands precise jumps and quick reactions. Expect frequent deaths and retries, since several stages are genuinely difficult even for people used to platformers.

• #29E★ 9.4

  Yoshi's Crafted World

  Platformer · 2019 · Nintendo

  You steer Yoshi through stages built out of cardboard boxes, felt, and yarn, tossing eggs at enemies and eating fruit to fill a meter. Many levels can be replayed on a reverse path to spot items you missed the first time through, which rewards paying attention to the background. It is slow paced and low stakes, closer to a relaxed toy diorama than a tough platformer.

• #30E★ 9.4

  Mario Tennis Aces

  Sports · 2018 · Nintendo

  You play tennis with a stick for shots and buttons for topspin, slice, and flat hits, aiming shots into corners to force your opponent out of position. A special meter builds up as you rally, letting you unleash a Zone Shot that can crack an opponent's racket if they cannot return it cleanly. It rewards timing and reading your opponent over just mashing buttons, so a few practice matches help before playing online.

• #31E★ 9.4

  Mario Golf: Super Rush

  Sports · 2021 · Nintendo

  You control a golfer on foot, sprinting between shots across the course while other players are doing the same at the same time, so you have to plan your route and watch for people running through your swing. Shots use a simple power and accuracy meter, but positioning and speed items matter as much as your swing. It turns a normally slow sport into something closer to a race, which some golf fans may find distracting.

• #32E10+★ 9.4

  Mario Strikers: Battle League

  Sports · 2022 · Nintendo

  You control a small soccer team with a stick for movement and buttons for passing, tackling, and shooting, and there is no foul button, so shoving opponents into electrified fences is part of the plan. Landing a charged Hyper Strike can score multiple goals at once if you pull it off. Matches are short and rough around the edges on purpose, built for quick, chaotic rematches rather than a realistic sports simulation.

• #33E★ 9.3

  Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker

  Puzzle · 2018 · Nintendo

  You guide Captain Toad through small box-shaped levels, and since he cannot jump, you rotate the camera with the right stick to spot hidden paths, enemies, and treasure around every corner. Each stage is a short, self-contained puzzle about finding the right route rather than reflexes. It is calm and bite-sized, good for short sessions, though the fixed lack of jumping might frustrate anyone hoping for typical platforming.

• #34E★ 9.3

  1-2-Switch

  Party · 2017 · Nintendo

  You put the controllers in your hands but keep your eyes off the screen, since most of these minigames are about reacting to your opponent sitting across from you rather than watching a display. Games include things like a quick-draw duel or balancing an invisible object using motion controls alone. It plays best as a party icebreaker with a group in the same room, and it has very little to offer if you are playing alone.

• #35T★ 9.3

  Astral Chain

  Action · 2019 · Nintendo

  You control a police officer and a separate chained creature called a Legion at the same time, sending the Legion ahead to grab or attack enemies while you fight directly, then switching between the two mid-combo. Outside of battles, you walk through a city investigating cases and talking to residents. It asks you to juggle two things happening on screen at once, which takes a few missions to get comfortable with.

• #36M★ 9.3

  Bayonetta 3

  Action · 2022 · Nintendo

  You play as a witch performing hair-based magic attacks against enormous monsters, dodging at the last second to trigger a slow-motion counter window. Later fights let you summon giant demons of your own to trade blows with equally giant threats. The combat rewards precise dodge timing and combo memorization, so it can feel overwhelming if you are not used to fast action games.

• #37M★ 9.3

  Bayonetta 2

  Action · 2018 · Nintendo

  You fight through stylish combat using hair-based weapons and last-second dodges that slow down time when timed well. Combos chain punches, kicks, and gunfire together, and boss fights often scale up to city-sized creatures. It plays fast and demands practice to really click, though the dodge mechanic gives newcomers a forgiving safety net.

• #38M★ 9.3

  No More Heroes 3

  Action · 2021 · Grasshopper

  You control an assassin walking between open city zones, picking up odd side jobs like mowing lawns or delivering pizzas to earn enough money to challenge the next ranked boss. Combat mixes a beam sword with wrestling moves and rewards dodging just before an attack lands. The overworld padding between fights and the deliberately crude humor will not be for everyone, but the boss fights themselves are memorable.

• #39E★ 9.3

  Nintendo Switch Sports

  Sports · 2022 · Nintendo

  You swing the Joy-Con to bowl, swing a racket, or spike a volleyball, with the controller's motion doing most of the work rather than complex button combos. It is built for a room full of people passing controllers around rather than one person playing alone for hours. The motion controls are simple enough that someone who has never held a controller before can join in immediately.

• #40E★ 9.3

  Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain

  Puzzle · 2021 · Nintendo

  You solve quick puzzles about memory, reasoning, and reaction speed, then compare your results directly against another player as the difficulty adjusts to keep things fair between different skill levels. Rounds only take a minute or two each, so it fits into short breaks easily. It is aimed more at friendly competition and mental warm-ups than deep or lasting challenge.

• #41E★ 9.2

  Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics

  Party · 2020 · Nintendo

  You pick from fifty-one classic games like chess, mahjong, and darts, each with a short tutorial that explains the rules before you start. You can play locally with others crowded around the table or hand the controller back and forth between rounds. It works best as a shared coffee-table game rather than something you sit down to master alone.

• #42E★ 9.2

  Game Builder Garage

  Creative · 2021 · Nintendo

  You connect colorful nodon icons on a grid to build your own simple games, where each nodon represents a piece of logic like a button press or a moving object. The lessons walk you through creating things like a tag game or a shooting gallery step by step before letting you experiment freely. It takes real patience to get comfortable with, since you are learning programming concepts even though there is no code to type.

• #43E10+★ 9.2

  WarioWare: Get It Together!

  Party · 2021 · Nintendo

  You play through dozens of five-second microgames, each one just telling you a single verb like jump or catch before throwing you into it. Each of the game's characters controls differently, one might run and jump while another only swims, so you are constantly relearning controls on the fly. It is best played in short chaotic bursts with friends rather than as a long solo session.

• #44E10+★ 9.2

  Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp

  Tactics · 2023 · Nintendo

  You move squads of tanks, infantry, and planes across a grid map, taking turns with an opponent to capture bases and wear down their army. Each commanding officer has a unique power that can turn a losing battle around if used at the right moment. It is a slower, thinkier kind of strategy game, so it suits people patient enough to plan several moves ahead rather than those wanting fast action.

• #45E10+★ 9.2

  Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle

  Tactics · 2017 · Ubisoft

  You move a small squad of heroes across a grid, taking cover behind obstacles and combining movement with team-up jumps to reach places a single unit could not. Turns alternate between careful positioning and firing weapons at exposed enemies. The tone is goofy considering it stars Mario characters with guns, but the actual strategy underneath is more demanding than it looks.

• #46E10+★ 9.2

  Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope

  Tactics · 2022 · Ubisoft

  You freely move your team members around open combat areas rather than sticking to a strict grid, taking cover and lining up attacks before ending your turn. Techno abilities let characters boost or heal each other between fights, and exploring each planet's hub area turns up side quests and collectibles. It softens some of the earlier game's rules to keep things moving, which longtime strategy fans may notice as easier overall.

• #47E★ 9.2

  The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening

  Adventure · 2019 · Nintendo

  You explore a small island as Link, solving dungeon puzzles and fighting familiar enemies while collecting instruments needed to wake a sleeping whale-like being. The remade art style makes everything look like it is built out of toys and clay figures. It is a shorter, more contained adventure than most Zelda games, with a story that gets stranger and more bittersweet the further you get.

• #48E10+★ 9.1

  The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD

  Adventure · 2021 · Nintendo

  You swing the sword using either motion controls or, in this version, a standard control stick, fighting through detailed dungeons on the way to recovering pieces of the Master Sword. Flying between islands on a giant bird handles the overworld travel. It is a slower, more structured Zelda than open-world fans might expect, with dungeons that are dense and puzzle-heavy.

• #49T★ 9.1

  Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity

  Musou · 2020 · Nintendo

  You control a large cast of familiar characters fighting through massive battlefields packed with hundreds of weaker enemies at once, mixing light attacks, heavy attacks, and special moves to clear crowds quickly. The story fills in events before a well-known disaster in the wider series. Combat is more about crowd control and area capture than one-on-one duels, so it can feel repetitive if you were hoping for tighter combat.

• #50E★ 9.1

  Paper Mario: The Origami King

  RPG Adventure · 2020 · Nintendo

  You explore a paper-thin Mushroom Kingdom as Mario, and in battles you rotate rings on a circular grid to line enemies up before attacking. Between fights you explore linear but detail-packed areas full of jokes, secrets, and folded-paper enemies. The turn-based fights are more about solving a quick spatial puzzle each round than building a character over time.

• #51E★ 9.1

  Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

  RPG · 2024 · Nintendo

  You explore a paper-craft town and its surroundings, talking to eccentric folded-paper characters and helping them with small tasks. Battles happen on a stage in front of a cheering audience, and timing your button presses during attacks and blocks affects how much damage you deal or avoid. It keeps its jokes and light tone throughout, making it an easy, story-driven RPG to sit with over a few sittings.

• #52E★ 9.1

  Super Mario RPG

  RPG · 2023 · Nintendo

  You control Mario, Mallow, and Geno through a colorful world, fighting in turn-based battles where pressing a button at the right moment adds extra damage to your attacks or reduces damage taken. Outside of battle you jump around town and dungeon areas solving small platforming puzzles. It plays gently enough for someone who has never touched an RPG before, while the timed hits give it a bit of hands-on skill.

• #53E★ 9.1

  Mario vs. Donkey Kong

  Puzzle · 2024 · Nintendo

  You direct a line of wind-up Mini Mario toys through short puzzle levels, pressing buttons to make them jump, flip, or grab handles in sequence to reach the exit safely. Levels are compact, but figuring out the right order of actions takes real thought, and a second player can jump in to help control extra minis. It is a quiet, brain-teasing game more than an action one, best played in short sittings.

• #54E★ 9.1

  Princess Peach: Showtime!

  Action · 2024 · Nintendo

  You play as Princess Peach taking on different costumed roles, like a swordfighter or a detective, each one changing her moves and the type of stage you are on. Every chapter swaps to a new genre entirely, so you are relearning simple controls often. It stays light and easy throughout, aimed more at charm and variety than difficulty.

• #55E★ 9.0

  Everybody 1-2-Switch!

  Party · 2023 · Nintendo

  You and up to ninety-nine other people use your own phones as controllers while the Switch screen runs the show, playing quizzes, races, and goofy dares as a big group. It works best as party entertainment for a crowded room rather than something to play by yourself. Setup with that many phones can take a bit of fiddling before everyone is ready to start.

• #56E★ 9.0

  Endless Ocean Luminous

  Exploration · 2024 · Nintendo

  You swim freely through an ocean that changes every day, using a simple stick and button to glide and shine a light on curious sea creatures to identify and log them. There is no combat and very little pressure, just slow exploration and the occasional group dive with strangers online. It is built entirely around calm, unhurried discovery, so anyone wanting action or a clear goal may find it too quiet.

• #57T★ 9.0

  Another Code: Recollected Memories

  Adventure · 2024 · Nintendo

  You control a young girl piecing together clues about her missing father across two remade mystery stories, walking through detailed rooms and examining objects with a stylus-like cursor. The puzzles are gentle, closer to picking up on details in conversation than tricky logic tests, and a hint system is there if you get stuck. It reads more like an interactive storybook than a traditional adventure game.

• #58E★ 9.0

  Detective Pikachu Returns

  Adventure · 2023 · Nintendo

  You play a young detective partnered with a talking Pikachu who insists on drinking coffee, walking around crime scenes and talking to Pokemon witnesses to gather clues. Cases are solved by picking the right dialogue and deduction options rather than any real combat or puzzles. It moves at a relaxed pace built for following a story and enjoying the banter rather than any real challenge.

• #59E★ 9.0

  Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl

  RPG · 2021 · Nintendo

  You explore the Sinnoh region battling and catching Pokemon with simple turn-based fights, walking around towns, digging through underground caves for items, and building small secret bases. It follows the classic formula closely, so if you know one Pokemon game you basically know this one. The chibi art style is a matter of taste, since it looks quite different from the series' usual proportions.

• #60E★ 9.0

  Pokemon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Eevee!

  RPG · 2018 · Nintendo

  You walk through the Kanto region with your starter Pokemon riding on your shoulder or nearby, catching wild Pokemon by physically flicking the Joy-Con like tossing a ball rather than battling them first. Regular battles against trainers still use straightforward turn-based menus. It strips out some series mechanics to be as approachable as possible, making it a good starting point for someone who has never played a Pokemon game.

• #61E10+★ 9.0

  Pokken Tournament DX

  Fighting · 2017 · Nintendo

  You control a single Pokemon in one-on-one fights, moving freely in open 3D arenas before duels shift into flatter 2D-style clashes for finishing blows. Every fighter uses different attack strings and specials, so learning a few characters well matters more than skimming the whole roster. Underneath the friendly mascot cast is a fairly technical fighting game that rewards blocking, spacing, and punishing mistakes.

• #62E★ 8.9

  New Pokemon Snap

  Photography · 2021 · Nintendo

  You ride through habitats on a fixed track, and your job is not to catch Pokemon but to photograph them doing interesting things, tossing fruit or playing music to trigger new behavior. After each ride you review your best shots and get them rated. It is calm and repeatable, encouraging you to run the same paths again to catch a better picture, though there is no direct player control over movement.

• #63T★ 8.9

  Monster Hunter Rise

  Action RPG · 2021 · Capcom

  You hunt down giant monsters using one of several weapon types, and a grappling Wirebug lets you dash through the air, dodge sharp attacks, or ride smaller monsters into a fight. Preparing gear and studying a monster's patterns before a hunt matters as much as the fight itself. Hunts can run long and demand real attention, so it suits players willing to learn a weapon's timing rather than jump straight into action.

• #64T★ 8.9

  Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate

  Action RPG · 2018 · Capcom

  You choose from a large roster of past monsters and six different hunting styles, each changing how your weapon's basic moves and dodges work. Preparing potions, traps, and gear before a hunt is as important as the fight itself, and hunts against the toughest monsters can take a long while. It carries over the series' steep learning curve, so expect an adjustment period before fights start to click.

• #65E10+★ 8.9

  Monster Hunter Stories 2

  RPG · 2021 · Capcom

  You explore a colorful world hatching monster eggs and riding your favorites into simple rock-paper-scissors style turn-based battles. Building a team means matching monster types and abilities, and gene-channeling lets you customize a monster's skills using parts from others. The story leans warm and easygoing, with flashy team attacks as a reward for building a good bond with your creatures.

• #66M★ 8.9

  Resident Evil 4

  Survival Horror · 2019 · Capcom

  You control Leon Kennedy fighting through a Spanish village overrun by hostile, infected villagers, aiming and shooting over his shoulder while managing limited ammo and healing items. Combat rewards careful positioning since enemies can surround you quickly. It moves at a tense, deliberate pace rather than a fast shooter's pace, and its old tank-like movement quirks might feel dated compared to newer games.

• #67T★ 8.9

  Dragon Quest XI S

  JRPG · 2019 · Square Enix

  You lead a group of heroes across a wide fantasy world in turn-based battles, walking through towns and dungeons to advance a long, old-fashioned story. Combat lets you build up combo attacks by pairing characters together during a fight. It is a long game that expects patience over many hours, though a bonus retro mode lets you switch to a simpler, old-school look if you prefer.

• #68E10+★ 8.9

  Dragon Quest Builders 2

  Sandbox · 2019 · Square Enix

  You dig up and place blocks to rebuild ruined towns while managing a small home base, and completed rooms attract villagers who then help gather resources for you. A simple story plays out as you visit new islands with different building themes. It blends Minecraft-style building with an actual questline and characters, which gives it more direction than most sandbox games.

• #69T★ 8.8

  Octopath Traveler

  JRPG · 2018 · Square Enix

  You follow one of eight separate characters, each with their own storyline and starting area, in turn-based battles where hitting the right elemental or weapon weakness breaks an enemy's shield and lets you deal extra damage. The detailed pixel art paired with soft lighting effects gives the whole thing a distinct look. Progress across the eight stories is not connected until later, so it can feel disjointed if you try to follow one character's tale straight through.

• #70T★ 8.8

  Octopath Traveler II

  JRPG · 2023 · Square Enix

  You control eight new characters whose paths cross more often than in the first game, exploring towns that shift between day and night with different shops and quests available at each time. Battles use the same break-and-boost system, now paired with special latent powers unique to each character. It builds on a familiar formula, so newcomers can jump in without having played the original.

• #71T★ 8.8

  Triangle Strategy

  Tactics RPG · 2022 · Square Enix

  You lead a small group of soldiers in grid-based battles, using height and terrain to land stronger hits, while story scenes ask you to weigh in on hard choices that your allies then vote on. Conversations and political maneuvering take up as much time as the fighting does. It moves slowly and expects you to read a lot of dialogue, so it fits patient players more than those chasing constant action.

• #72T★ 8.8

  Live A Live

  RPG · 2022 · Square Enix

  You play through seven unconnected stories set in wildly different time periods, from prehistoric times to a science fiction future, and each one has its own distinct art style and way of playing, from stealth to straightforward brawling. All seven eventually connect into one final chapter. Jumping between such different styles keeps things fresh, though it also means you may like some chapters far more than others.

• #73T★ 8.8

  Bravely Default II

  JRPG · 2021 · Square Enix

  You fight in turn-based battles where you can save up a turn to use later or borrow future turns to attack multiple times in a row, gambling that you can survive being defenseless afterward. A flexible job system lets you mix and match combat roles as you level up. It rewards planning ahead and taking risks at the right moment, making random encounters feel more like puzzles than filler.

• #74E★ 8.8

  Final Fantasy VII

  JRPG · 2019 · Square Enix

  You control Cloud Strife and his allies fighting a powerful corporation and a mysterious enemy across a sprawling world, using turn-based menus to attack, cast spells, and use special materia orbs slotted into your gear. Swapping materia between characters lets you reshape how each person fights. It is a long, dense classic RPG, so expect a real time commitment rather than a quick story.

• #75T★ 8.8

  Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster

  JRPG · 2019 · Square Enix

  You get two full RPGs in one package, both using turn-based battles and a web-shaped board called the Sphere Grid to slowly grow your characters' stats and abilities. The first tells a sorrowful story about a pilgrimage across a tropical world, while the sequel is lighter and lets you switch outfits mid-battle for different skills. Between the two games you are looking at a large amount of content, so it rewards patience over quick play sessions.

• #76T★ 8.7

  Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age

  JRPG · 2019 · Square Enix

  You explore a detailed political kingdom while battling using a system where you set rules for your party members so they act automatically in combat, only stepping in yourself when needed. Character growth uses an open board that lets you shape each ally's role freely. The story is dense with political intrigue and lords and treaties, so it asks for attention rather than working as easy background entertainment.

• #77E10+★ 8.7

  Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory

  Rhythm · 2020 · Square Enix

  You tap along to music from across the whole series, timing button presses to iconic songs while short story recaps play out between stages. There is no traditional exploration here, just rhythm stages that get busier and trickier as you progress. It works best if you already know the games being referenced, since newcomers may miss what makes each song or scene meaningful.

• #78M★ 8.7

  NieR: Automata The End of YoRHa Edition

  Action RPG · 2022 · Square Enix

  You control android soldiers fighting through a war-torn world using both close combat and shooting sections, with the story looping back through the same events from different angles as you progress. Combat mixes sword strikes, gunfire, and even overhead shooter segments depending on the moment. It asks for real commitment to see multiple playthroughs through, and its story becomes much stranger and more emotional the further you go.

• #79M★ 8.7

  Diablo III: Eternal Collection

  Action RPG · 2018 · Blizzard

  You fight through waves of demons collecting gear and loot, choosing a class like a barbarian or wizard and mixing skills to suit your playstyle. Up to four people can play together on one screen, making the pace of finding new gear feel constant and social. It leans toward repeated short runs for loot rather than a story you sit with closely.

• #80T★ 8.7

  Overwatch 2

  Shooter · 2022 · Blizzard

  You pick a hero from a large roster, each with distinct abilities like shields, healing, or high mobility, and work with a team to capture points or push a cart across the map. Success depends on picking a hero that counters the enemy team and using your special ability at the right moment. It is a competitive online shooter first, so it plays best with a group of friends or people willing to learn team coordination.

• #81M★ 8.7

  The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Complete Edition

  Action RPG · 2019 · CD Projekt

  You play Geralt, a monster hunter searching for someone important to him across an enormous world filled with side stories that often feel as detailed as the main plot. Combat mixes sword strikes, magic signs, and potions, while conversations often lead to difficult choices with real consequences later. It is a huge time investment, with the included expansions adding many more hours on top of an already long main story.

• #82M★ 8.7

  Skyrim

  Action RPG · 2017 · Bethesda

  You are dropped into a huge fantasy region and can go anywhere immediately, whether that means fighting a dragon, joining a guild, or just wandering into a cave you noticed on a hill. Combat can be melee, magic, sneaking, or a mix of all three depending on how you build your character. There is very little hand-holding once the opening hours are over, so it rewards curiosity but can feel directionless if you want a clear goal.

• #83M★ 8.6

  DOOM

  Shooter · 2017 · Bethesda

  You fight through a base overrun by demons, and staying aggressive is actually the safe choice, since finishing off a weakened enemy in a brutal melee move called a Glory Kill refills your health. Big encounters throw multiple enemy types at you at once, forcing you to keep moving and switch weapons constantly. It moves fast and expects you to commit to that speed, so playing cautiously often gets you killed faster.

• #84M★ 8.6

  DOOM Eternal

  Shooter · 2020 · Bethesda

  You juggle several tools at once in battle, a chainsaw for ammo, a flamethrower for armor, and a grenade launcher for crowd control, treating every demon as a resource you have to manage rather than just a target. Fights take place in large arenas where you are constantly moving between enemies to stay alive. It demands more precise multitasking than most shooters, so it can feel punishing before its systems click into place.

• #85M★ 8.6

  Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus

  Shooter · 2018 · Bethesda

  You fight through an alternate 1960s America under occupation, using loud, over-the-top gunfights alongside a story that spends real time on the main character's family and past. Combat lets you dual-wield weapons and lean into chaos, though stealth is also an option in some areas. The tone swings between dark humor and genuinely heavy moments, which may catch some players off guard.

• #86E10+★ 8.6

  Minecraft

  Sandbox · 2017 · Mojang

  You are dropped into a world made of blocks with basically no instructions, free to dig, build, or fight as you like. Survival mode has you gathering resources and fending off monsters at night, while creative mode gives you unlimited materials to just build. There is no fixed goal, so what you get out of it depends entirely on what you decide to make.

• #87T★ 8.6

  Terraria

  Sandbox · 2019 · Re-Logic

  You dig, build, and fight your way through a 2D world packed with different biomes, each with its own materials, enemies, and bosses to find. Progress comes from crafting better gear and building bigger bases as you explore deeper areas. It has been updated for years, so there is a huge amount of content to work through, which can feel overwhelming to a first-time player without a guide.

• #88E10+★ 8.6

  Stardew Valley

  Farming Sim · 2017 · ConcernedApe

  You inherit a run-down farm and spend your days planting crops, fishing, mining, and chatting with the people in the nearby town, all controlled with simple movement and a few action buttons. Time passes in real seasons, so certain crops, festivals, and even relationships are only available at certain times of year. It moves at a calm, unhurried pace, which is exactly the point, though it can feel slow if you want more direct action.

• #89E10+★ 8.6

  Hollow Knight

  Metroidvania · 2018 · Team Cherry

  You explore a large, connected underground insect kingdom, fighting with a simple nail weapon and slowly gaining new movement abilities that open up areas you could not reach before. Boss fights demand real precision and pattern memorization, and losing sends you back to recover dropped currency from where you died. It looks calm and painterly but is genuinely tough in places, so patience with dying and retrying matters.

• #90E10+★ 8.5

  Celeste

  Platformer · 2018 · Maddy Makes Games

  You control a young woman climbing a mountain, using a simple jump and an eight-directional air dash to navigate tight, tricky platforming rooms. Levels are short but demand precision, and dying resets you instantly so you can try again right away. Built-in assist options can slow the game down or grant extra dashes if the default difficulty feels like too much.

• #91T★ 8.5

  Dead Cells

  Roguelike · 2018 · Motion Twin

  You fight through a castle that rearranges itself each time you play, picking up new weapons and defensive tools along the way and losing most of them if you die. Combat is quick, with dodging and mixing melee weapons against different enemy types. Every run starts you back near the beginning, so it suits people who enjoy replaying short stretches over and over more than a single long story.

• #92T★ 8.5

  Hades

  Roguelike · 2020 · Supergiant

  You fight your way out of the underworld as its rebellious prince, using a chosen weapon and blessings granted by other gods that change how your attacks behave each run. Dying just sends you back home, where new conversations and story details unfold before you head out again. The combat is fast and readable, and the constant story progression even when you lose makes failing feel worthwhile rather than frustrating.

• #93E10+★ 8.5

  Undertale

  RPG · 2018 · Toby Fox

  You fall into a world of monsters and can choose to fight, flee, or simply talk your way through most encounters instead of attacking. The game keeps track of how you treated others and changes later scenes and endings based on those choices. It is short compared to most RPGs, but doing a second playthrough with different choices reveals a surprising amount you would otherwise miss.

• #94E10+★ 8.5

  Cuphead

  Run and Gun · 2019 · Studio MDHR

  You take on a series of tough boss fights drawn in a hand-painted style meant to look like 1930s cartoons, running and jumping around a boss while looking for the right moment to counter or dodge their attacks. There is very little regular exploration, it is mostly boss after boss. Expect to lose many times before winning a single fight, since it is built to be difficult from the start.

• #95E★ 8.5

  Ori and the Blind Forest

  Metroidvania · 2019 · Moon Studios

  You guide a small glowing spirit through a forest that is slowly dying, jumping, climbing, and later gliding through increasingly tricky platforming sections. New movement abilities open up paths you could not reach before, in a familiar structure if you have played this kind of game before. The story leans emotional early on, which may be heavier than expected for what looks like a gentle platformer.

• #96E★ 8.5

  Ori and the Will of the Wisps

  Metroidvania · 2020 · Moon Studios

  You continue the spirit's journey with a wider set of movement and combat abilities, including a proper attack combo system this time around. Optional shard-based upgrades let you tune your abilities to suit your own playstyle before diving into tougher platforming challenges. It runs smoothly and looks striking in motion, building on the original rather than reinventing it.

• #97M★ 8.4

  Katana ZERO

  Action · 2019 · Devolver

  You clear short, violent levels in a single hit, either you kill everyone in the room or you die instantly and restart. A short slow-motion ability helps you plan the order you take enemies down in, and after clearing a level the game replays your run like a movie. Each level demands trial and error, so it suits players who do not mind repeating short sections many times.

• #98T★ 8.4

  Enter the Gungeon

  Roguelike · 2017 · Devolver

  You explore chaotic, ever-changing dungeon rooms shooting your way through with an enormous variety of odd guns, some of which shoot other, smaller guns. Dodge-rolling out of incoming bullet patterns is essential, since taking hits adds up fast. Runs restart from scratch when you die, and playing with a friend in co-op makes the chaos more manageable and more fun.

• #99T★ 8.4

  Cult of the Lamb

  Roguelike Sim · 2022 · Devolver

  You play a small lamb building and managing a cult of followers in a dark forest, giving sermons and assigning chores during the day. At night you head into dungeons to fight rival cult leaders using simple but snappy roguelike combat. Balancing time between managing your base and running dungeons is the whole point, so it suits people who like a bit of both at once.

• #100M★ 8.4

  Inscryption

  Card Roguelike · 2022 · Devolver

  You are trapped in a cabin playing a card game against a strange figure, building a deck and battling creatures on a simple grid board. The game keeps breaking its own rules in unexpected ways as you progress, revealing things well beyond a normal card game. It is best played without looking anything up beforehand, since the surprises are a big part of what makes it work.

• #101E10+★ 8.4

  Slay the Spire

  Card Roguelike · 2019 · Humble

  You climb a spire fight by fight, building a deck of attack and defense cards as you go and choosing new cards or relics after each win. Each of the four playable characters has a very different play style, so runs feel different depending on who you pick. Losing sends you back to the very start with an empty deck, which is frustrating at first but becomes the whole appeal once you get used to it.

• #102E10+★ 8.4

  Into the Breach

  Tactics · 2018 · Subset Games

  You control a small squad of mechs defending city blocks from underground insects, and before you act each turn, the game shows you exactly what every enemy plans to do next. Your job is to use that information to block attacks, push enemies into each other, or sacrifice a building to save more people elsewhere. Matches are short but dense, closer to a puzzle than a typical strategy game, since a single wrong move can end a run.

• #103T★ 8.4

  Void Bastards

  Roguelike Shooter · 2020 · Humble

  You explore ruined spaceships gathering supplies while trying to avoid or fight strange mutated crew members, drawn in a stylish comic-book art style. Careful planning matters since dying loses your character and their gear, and just running away from a fight is often the smarter choice. It rewards patience and caution rather than aggressive shooting, which may surprise players expecting a straightforward shooter.

• #104M★ 8.4

  Blasphemous

  Metroidvania · 2019 · Team17

  You explore a grim, cursed land drawn in extremely detailed pixel art, fighting with slow, heavy sword swings that reward well-timed parries and punishing mistimed ones. Exploration branches often, with hidden paths and secrets tucked into corners of already dense levels. The combat's deliberate pace and dark tone make it a demanding, atmosphere-heavy experience rather than a quick action game.

• #105E10+★ 8.3

  Bastion

  Action RPG · 2018 · Supergiant

  You explore a floating, fractured world where the ground physically builds itself into place just ahead of your character as you walk. A narrator comments on almost everything you do in real time, reacting to your specific choices and mistakes as they happen. Combat and exploration are fairly simple, but the narration and world design make it feel distinct from other action games from the same era.

• #106E10+★ 8.3

  Transistor

  Action RPG · 2018 · Supergiant

  You fight through a city that is dissolving around you, using a sword that can pause time so you can plan out a full sequence of attacks before executing them all at once. Different abilities called functions can be combined in various ways to build your own attack style. The pacing is slower and more thoughtful than most action games, with a melancholy story and soundtrack running underneath the combat.

• #107E10+★ 8.3

  Pyre

  Sports RPG · 2020 · Supergiant

  You lead a group of exiles through three-on-three magical sporting matches, moving pieces around a small field to score points while blocking your opponents. Whether you win or lose a match, the story simply continues in a different direction rather than ending in failure. Choices about who stays with you and who returns home shape a personal, quieter kind of story than most games in this genre.

• #108M★ 8.3

  Disco Elysium: The Final Cut

  RPG · 2021 · ZA/UM

  You play a detective who wakes up with no memory, hearing his own skills and instincts argue with him as separate voices in his head. Nearly everything is solved through conversation and multiple choice dialogue rather than combat, and even failed skill checks can lead somewhere interesting. It is dense with reading and internal monologue, so it suits people who enjoy digging through dialogue over those wanting quick action.

• #109M★ 8.3

  Divinity: Original Sin 2

  RPG · 2019 · Larian

  You control a small group of characters exploring a fantasy island, and fights happen on a grid where fire, oil, water, and poison all react with each other, so stepping in the wrong puddle can set you ablaze. You can talk your way past guards, sneak around, or just charge in, and almost every quest has more than one solution. There is a lot to read and track, so it suits people who like slow, thoughtful planning over fast action.

• #110T★ 8.3

  Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition

  RPG · 2019 · Beamdog

  You lead a small party of adventurers through a fantasy story, clicking to move and attack while the action pauses so you can queue up spells and commands for everyone. It is an older-style game with dense text and a lot of menus, closer to reading a choose your own adventure book than a modern action game. Expect a slow start and a steep learning curve before the systems click.

• #111M★ 8.3

  Pillars of Eternity: Complete Edition

  RPG · 2019 · Versus Evil

  You guide a party of hired adventurers through a story about death and the soul, choosing classes and abilities from long lists of options before every fight. Battles pause so you can give orders to each character, and the world reacts to the choices you make along the way. There is a lot of reading involved, so it rewards patience more than quick reflexes.

• #112M★ 8.2

  Wasteland 2: Director's Cut

  RPG · 2017 · inXile

  You lead a small squad of survivors across a ruined desert, deciding who to help and who to turn away as you roll into wrecked towns. Fights are turn-based on a grid, and how well you do depends on the specific skills you picked for each character. It has a stern, old-fashioned edge to it, so go in expecting a tough, text-heavy survival story rather than a modern polished RPG.

• #113T★ 8.2

  Torchlight II

  Action RPG · 2019 · Perfect World

  You pick a hero, click on monsters to attack them, and watch loot spill out of every chest and enemy you defeat. A pet follows you around and can run back to town to sell your junk so you never have to stop exploring. It is a light, colorful, easygoing dungeon crawler, good for relaxing sessions of collecting gear rather than deep strategy.

• #114T★ 8.2

  Darkest Dungeon

  Roguelike · 2018 · Red Hook

  You send a rotating team of adventurers into dark dungeons rendered in a moody hand-drawn style, fighting monsters on a row-based battlefield. Beyond health, every hero has a stress meter that climbs as things go wrong, and a stressed-out hero can crack, panic, or refuse orders. Characters can die for good, and the game expects you to lose people along the way, so it suits players who like tension more than comfort.

• #115E10+★ 8.2

  Slime Rancher: Plortable Edition

  Sim · 2022 · Monomi Park

  You run a ranch on an alien planet, using a vacuum gun to suck up bouncy, cartoonish slimes and carry them back to pens to feed and sell. Different slimes eat different food, and mixing the wrong two in one pen can cause a mess you have to clean up. It is a cheerful, low-stakes farming game with a jetpack for exploring, good for short relaxed sessions.

• #116T★ 8.2

  Graveyard Keeper

  Sim · 2018 · tinyBuild

  You run a rundown medieval graveyard, digging graves, chopping wood, and deciding what to actually do with the bodies people bring you, which is not always the honest choice. It plays like a farming sim crossed with a factory game, since you build machines and worklines to process resources automatically. The humor is dark and dry, so it fits people who like their cozy games with a mean streak.

• #117T★ 8.2

  Spiritfarer

  Management · 2020 · Thunder Lotus

  You captain a boat, building cabins and workshops on the deck, while ferrying spirits of animals across the sea and doing small favors for them before they leave for good. Cooking meals, hugging characters, and fishing off the side of the boat all feel calm, but the story underneath is about saying goodbye to people you love. It is a gentle game that can catch you off guard emotionally, so go in ready for that.

• #118M★ 8.2

  Coffee Talk

  Visual Novel · 2020 · Toge

  You stand behind a counter in a rainy fantasy city where elves, orcs, and vampires order lattes, and you brew drinks by combining ingredients while listening to their problems. There is no fail state, just conversations that slowly reveal each character's story over the course of a few in-game nights. It plays more like reading a quiet book than a game, so it suits someone who wants something calm before bed.

• #119M★ 8.1

  Doki Doki Literature Club Plus

  Visual Novel · 2021 · Serenity Forge

  It starts out looking like a cheerful club where you write poems and chat with friendly classmates, and it is best to keep it that way in your head before playing. The story takes an unexpected sharp turn partway through that changes what kind of game this actually is. Go in without reading spoilers, since the surprise is the entire point.

• #120T★ 8.1

  Ace Attorney Trilogy

  Visual Novel · 2019 · Capcom

  You play a defense lawyer in court, pointing at pieces of evidence and shouting objection to catch witnesses in their lies during dramatic cross-examinations. Outside the courtroom you walk around crime scenes clicking on details and talking to people to gather what you will need for trial. The writing is funny and the cases twist in unexpected directions, and this collects the first three games in one package.

• #121M★ 8.1

  Danganronpa Trilogy

  Visual Novel · 2021 · Spike Chunsoft

  You are trapped with a group of classmates where a murder happens, and you investigate the crime scene, then argue your case in a chaotic trial where evidence flies at you and you have to shoot down false statements. Every case ends with a punishment scene that is deliberately shocking, so it leans into dark and gruesome content. It is a strange mix of goofy characters and grim stakes that some people love and others find upsetting.

• #122M★ 8.1

  Zero Escape: The Nonary Games

  Visual Novel · 2017 · Spike Chunsoft

  You wake up trapped with strangers in a sealed location where escaping the room requires solving puzzles hidden in the furniture and environment, while a separate story mode fills in who these people are and why they are there. The plot branches depending on choices you make, and different playthroughs reveal different pieces of one larger puzzle. It rewards patience with a story that ties together in ways you will not see coming.

• #123M★ 8.1

  AI: The Somnium Files

  Adventure · 2019 · Spike Chunsoft

  You play a detective investigating a bizarre murder, switching between walking around crime scenes clicking on clues and diving inside a suspect's dream to search their subconscious for hidden objects. Conversations are full of jokes and odd characters, but the mystery underneath gets genuinely dark. It rewards paying close attention, since small details from early scenes matter later.

• #124T★ 8.1

  13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim

  Adventure Tactics · 2022 · Atlus

  You follow thirteen different high school students whose stories you can play in almost any order, each one slowly revealing pieces of a much bigger science fiction mystery. Periodically you switch to a separate mode where those same characters pilot giant robots in real-time battles against an invading army. The two halves feel very different, and figuring out how the stories connect is the main draw.

• #125M★ 8.1

  Persona 5 Royal

  JRPG · 2022 · Atlus

  You live the double life of a high school student by day and a stylish phantom thief by night, sneaking into surreal dungeons that represent people's twisted hearts. Dungeons involve exploring, sneaking past guards, and turn-based battles with monsters that live inside your head, while your calendar outside forces you to choose between studying, hanging out with friends, or resting. It is a long game, often over eighty hours, so it suits someone ready to commit.

• #126M★ 8.0

  Persona 3 Portable

  JRPG · 2023 · Atlus

  By day you go to high school and build friendships that make your abilities stronger, and after midnight your character climbs a towering, ever-changing dungeon fighting monsters in turn-based battles. Managing your energy and choosing who to spend time with each evening becomes as important as the fighting itself. It has a heavier, sadder tone than the rest of the series, so expect a somber story rather than a purely fun one.

• #127M★ 8.0

  Persona 4 Golden

  JRPG · 2023 · Atlus

  You move to a sleepy small town and start investigating a string of murders while juggling school, part-time jobs, and a growing circle of friends. When someone becomes a target, you climb inside a TV set into a dungeon shaped by that person's fears and fight through it turn by turn before a deadline hits. The mystery and the friendships are woven together closely, so paying attention to both matters.

• #128M★ 8.0

  Shin Megami Tensei V

  JRPG · 2021 · Atlus

  You explore a ruined, sand-covered version of Tokyo, recruiting demons through conversation instead of always fighting them, then fusing pairs of demons together to create stronger allies. Battles are turn-based and punish sloppy play hard, since enemies can chain extra turns if you hit their weakness. It is one of the tougher games on this list, aimed at players who want a real challenge.

• #129M★ 8.0

  Catherine: Full Body

  Puzzle · 2019 · Atlus

  Each night your character falls into a nightmare where he has to climb a collapsing tower by pushing and pulling blocks into a rising staircase before the floor drops out from under him. During the day you deal with a very human relationship drama about commitment and choices that shape which ending you get. The puzzle sections move fast and can spike in difficulty, so it demands quick thinking under pressure.

• #130T★ 8.0

  Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes

  Musou · 2022 · Nintendo

  You control a single powerful character on a busy battlefield, mowing down large groups of soldiers while also managing objectives like defending a base or holding a choke point. It retells the story of Fire Emblem: Three Houses from a different angle, with faster, more physical combat than the original's careful grid battles. It works best if you enjoy big, chaotic battlefields more than slow tactical planning.

• #131T★ 8.0

  Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition

  Musou · 2018 · Nintendo

  You take control of Zelda characters cutting through massive crowds of enemy soldiers at once, moving from one point on a battlefield map to another to capture bases and defeat commanders. Combos are simple to pull off and the screen fills with dozens of enemies falling at a time, which makes it satisfying without needing much skill. This edition bundles in every extra character and map from earlier releases.

• #132E★ 8.0

  Sonic Mania

  Platformer · 2017 · Sega

  You run and jump through fast side-scrolling levels built by longtime fans of the original games, full of loops, springs, and secret paths that reward replaying a stage to find shortcuts. The controls are tuned to feel exactly like the earliest Sonic games, right down to the pixel art and music style. It is a good pick for anyone who wants classic Sonic without any of the newer three-dimensional games' problems.

• #133E10+★ 7.9

  Sonic Frontiers

  Action Platformer · 2022 · Sega

  You run across large open islands collecting rings and grinding on rails scattered across the landscape, occasionally diving into tighter linear levels that play more like traditional Sonic stages. Some islands end with a giant boss fight where you climb onto a towering enemy and fight your way up its body. It mixes open exploration with classic speed sections, which is a different shape than earlier Sonic games.

• #134E★ 7.9

  Sonic Superstars

  Platformer · 2023 · Sega

  You run through colorful side-scrolling levels with up to three other players, and collecting Chaos Emeralds gives you special powers like cloning yourself to hit multiple enemies at once or turning into a fish to swim up waterfalls. The levels are built with those powers in mind, so exploring off the main path often reveals a shortcut or a hidden area. It works well as a couch game since everyone can play together on screen at the same time.

• #135E★ 7.9

  Team Sonic Racing

  Racing · 2019 · Sega

  You race go-kart style vehicles in teams of three, and passing an item or a boost pad to a teammate matters more than hoarding it for yourself. Slingshotting off a teammate's trail gives you a speed boost, so the fastest way to win often means cooperating rather than racing alone. It rewards playing with people you can coordinate with rather than going solo.

• #136M★ 7.9

  Yakuza Kiwami

  Action RPG · 2024 · Sega

  You play a former yakuza member walking the streets of a cramped Japanese city district, getting into street brawls that use one of several fighting styles you can switch between mid-fight. Outside of combat there are dozens of odd side activities, from karaoke to batting cages to running a tiny arcade cabinet business. The main story is a serious crime drama, but it constantly interrupts itself with silly optional distractions.

• #137E★ 7.9

  Puyo Puyo Tetris 2

  Puzzle · 2020 · Sega

  Two classic falling-block puzzle games are jammed together, and matches switch which one you are playing mid-fight, so a Tetris expert has to also get comfortable stacking colored blobs in Puyo Puyo. Clearing lines or chains sends garbage blocks to your opponent's side, so you are always managing your own board while trying to bury theirs. It works well for game nights since it is easy to explain and quick to set up.

• #138E10+★ 7.9

  Two Point Hospital

  Management · 2020 · Sega

  You design and run a hospital treating patients with joke ailments like a giant lightbulb stuck on their head, placing rooms, hiring staff, and keeping queues from backing up into the hallway. Balancing your budget against how many patients you can actually treat becomes the real challenge as your hospital grows. The tone is silly throughout, closer to a sitcom than a serious management sim.

• #139E★ 7.9

  Football Manager 2024 Touch

  Management · 2023 · Sega

  You take charge of a football club from the manager's chair, choosing tactics, scouting new signings, and negotiating transfers rather than controlling any player on the pitch yourself. Most of your time is spent in menus and spreadsheets, watching matches play out as simplified simulations rather than full 3D games. It is built for people who enjoy planning and long-term decisions more than direct action.

• #140T★ 7.8

  Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection

  Fighting · 2018 · Capcom

  You get twelve classic Street Fighter games in one package, from the very first arcade release up through the more refined Third Strike, complete with online matches for the games that support it. Extra menus let you look through old artwork and play through practice modes to learn the differences between eras. It works well as a history tour of how one fighting game series changed over three decades.

• #141E★ 7.8

  Mega Man 11

  Platformer · 2018 · Capcom

  You run and shoot your way through themed stages, taking on a boss at the end of each one and stealing their weapon to use afterward. A new gear system lets you slow down time to dodge carefully or push your attack power higher at the cost of draining a meter, adding a bit of risk to tough fights. It keeps the classic run and gun structure but softens some of the old series' punishing edges.

• #142E10+★ 7.8

  Mega Man Legacy Collection

  Platformer · 2018 · Capcom

  This bundles the original run of Mega Man games from the NES era, complete with a rewind feature so a bad jump does not mean starting the whole level over. You run and shoot through short stages, picking off a boss at the end of each to steal their weapon for later use. It is built for people curious about where the series started, with save states to soften the original difficulty.

• #143T★ 7.8

  Okami HD

  Adventure · 2018 · Capcom

  You play a wolf goddess who paints directly onto the world with a magic brush, drawing a circle to create the sun, a line to cut down a tree, or a slash to strike an enemy. The whole game is styled like a moving ink painting, and using the brush feels closer to calligraphy than a normal action game. It is a long, slow-paced adventure, so it suits someone who likes a fairy tale mood over constant action.

• #144T★ 7.8

  Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy

  Visual Novel · 2019 · Capcom

  You play a rookie defense attorney, investigating crime scenes by clicking around for clues and then presenting exact pieces of evidence in court to catch a witness lying. Cases twist multiple times before the end, and shouting objection at the right moment to break a testimony feels satisfying every time. This collects the first three games where the series' style was established.

• #145M★ 7.8

  Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen

  Action RPG · 2019 · Capcom

  You explore a fantasy world with a small group of AI companions called pawns who fight alongside you and shout advice about enemy weaknesses. Fighting large monsters is the highlight, since you can literally climb onto a griffin's back mid-flight and stab at it as it thrashes around. It is a rough-edged game from an earlier era of design, so expect some clunky menus alongside the exciting combat.

• #146M★ 7.8

  Devil May Cry 3 Special Edition

  Action · 2020 · Capcom

  You play a cocky demon hunter juggling enemies in the air, switching between multiple weapons and fighting styles on the fly to keep a combo going and rack up a style rank. It is fast, flashy, and punishing if you play sloppily, since the game grades every fight on how stylish you looked doing it. This version adds the ability to switch styles freely, which was not in the original release.

• #147E10+★ 7.7

  Castlevania Anniversary Collection

  Platformer · 2019 · Konami

  You crack a whip and platform your way through eight classic vampire-hunting games from across the series' history, starting with the original NES entry. Levels are built around tight jumps and enemy placement that demands memorization more than reflexes. It is a good way to see how one long-running series changed over the years, with a digital art book included for extra history.

• #148E★ 7.7

  Super Bomberman R 2

  Party · 2023 · Konami

  You drop bombs on a grid to blow up blocks and other players, trying to be the last one standing while chain explosions ripple across the arena. A newer Castle mode flips the format, with one player defending a fortress against a horde of attackers trying to break through. It works best with a group of friends in the same room, since local multiplayer is where the chaos really shines.

• #149M★ 7.7

  Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol.1

  Stealth · 2023 · Konami

  You sneak through enemy bases avoiding guards' sightlines, using cardboard boxes and shadows to stay hidden rather than shooting your way through. This collects the first three main games in the series, along with extra material like screenplays, so you can see how the stealth style and story developed over time. The controls and camera feel dated compared to modern stealth games, which is worth knowing going in.

• #150T★ 7.7

  Bomb Rush Cyberfunk

  Action · 2023 · Team Reptile

  You skate, bike, and spray graffiti across a colorful cartoon city, grinding rails and chaining tricks together to a funky soundtrack while a police-like force chases you if you get too loud. Tagging over rival crews' graffiti and outrunning enforcers gives the moving around real purpose beyond just looking cool. It has a strong style of its own, closer to a rhythm game with skating than a straight racer.

• #151E★ 7.7

  Rocket League

  Sports · 2017 · Psyonix

  You drive a small rocket-powered car around an arena that is really a giant soccer pitch, ramming a huge ball toward the opponent's goal. You can boost into the air to hit the ball with the roof of your car, and pulling off a clean midair goal is one of the most satisfying feelings in gaming. It takes seconds to understand and years to get good at, since the ceiling for skill is very high.

• #152T★ 7.7

  Fortnite

  Battle Royale · 2018 · Epic

  You parachute onto a shrinking island with dozens of other players, picking up weapons and building materials as you go, trying to be the last person or team standing. Beyond the shooting, it has grown into a hub for building your own arenas, watching virtual concerts, and hanging out with friends in non-combat modes. There is always something new added, so it rarely feels like the same game twice.

• #153T★ 7.7

  Apex Legends

  Battle Royale · 2021 · EA

  You team up with two other players, each picking a character with a unique special ability, and drop into a shrinking map to fight other squads for the last spot standing. Movement is quick, letting you slide down hills and climb up ledges to reposition fast during a firefight. It is free to play and leans more tactical than most shooters in this genre, since coordinating with your team matters a lot.

• #154M★ 7.6

  Warframe

  Action · 2018 · Digital Extremes

  You control a space ninja in armored suits, running and leaping through corridors with fluid parkour moves while shooting and slicing through waves of enemies. There is a huge amount of gear to grind for and unlock, and the story slowly unfolds as you progress through years of added content. It is free to play, but be ready for a slow start while you learn what all the systems actually do.

• #155E★ 7.6

  Fall Guys

  Party · 2022 · Epic

  You control a wobbly jellybean-shaped character racing against dozens of others through goofy obstacle courses full of spinning bars, giant fruit, and slippery platforms. Getting knocked off a ledge by another player or your own clumsy jump is common, and it is usually funnier than frustrating. It is a lighthearted, easy to understand party game good for casual play with a group.

• #156E10+★ 7.6

  Among Us

  Party · 2020 · Innersloth

  You and a group of players work together to complete simple tasks around a spaceship, except one or more of you is secretly an impostor trying to sabotage the ship and eliminate everyone else without getting caught. When a body is found, everyone argues over who they think is lying in a group discussion before voting someone off. It plays best with a full group of friends willing to accuse each other and hold grudges afterward.

• #157E10+★ 7.6

  Brawlhalla

  Fighting · 2018 · Ubisoft

  You fight other players on a floating platform stage, and instead of health bars, hits build up a damage percentage that makes you fly farther, so the real goal is knocking opponents off the edge of the screen. Weapons scattered on the stage change your moves the moment you pick them up, keeping matches from feeling repetitive. It is free to play with cross-play against other platforms, so finding a match is rarely a problem.

• #158E10+★ 7.6

  Rayman Legends Definitive Edition

  Platformer · 2017 · Ubisoft

  You run and jump through hand-drawn levels as Rayman, punching enemies and grabbing collectibles while a friend can drop in and play alongside you. Certain stages have you jumping and dashing in time to music, and getting the timing right on those feels like playing an instrument as much as a platformer. It is colorful, forgiving to beginners, and one of the better pure platformers on the system.

• #159E★ 7.6

  Just Dance 2024 Edition

  Rhythm · 2023 · Ubisoft

  You copy on-screen dance moves to the beat of pop songs while holding a controller or using your phone as a motion sensor, and the game scores how closely you matched the choreography. There is a large catalog of songs available through streaming on top of what ships with the game, so there is usually something you recognize. It works best as a living room party game rather than something to play alone quietly.

• #160T★ 7.6

  Immortals Fenyx Rising

  Action Adventure · 2020 · Ubisoft

  You explore a bright, cartoonish open world based on Greek myth, climbing any surface you can reach and gliding between islands while solving physics puzzles scattered around the map. Zeus and another god narrate your adventure with jokes throughout, keeping the tone light even during boss fights against giant mythical creatures. It borrows a lot of its structure from other open-world climbing games, but wraps it in a friendlier, funnier shell.

• #161M★ 7.5

  Assassin's Creed: The Rebel Collection

  Action Adventure · 2019 · Ubisoft

  You sail a pirate ship across the Caribbean in one game and play a soldier on the other side of an old conflict in the second, both leaning heavily on boarding enemy ships and fighting at sea. On land you can also sneak through forts and cities, picking off guards quietly or fighting your way through if you are spotted. Two full games come packed together here, so there is a lot of content for the price.

• #162E★ 7.5

  FIFA 23 Legacy Edition

  Sports · 2022 · EA

  You control a football team of your choice, passing and shooting your way through matches with the current season's rosters, kits, and stadiums. It is a scaled-back handheld version of the yearly console release, so some modes and visual polish are trimmed compared to other platforms. Still, it is a straightforward way to play a full match of football on the go.

• #163E★ 7.5

  NBA 2K24

  Sports · 2023 · 2K

  You control a basketball team, dribbling, passing, and shooting in matches that try to look and feel like a real broadcast. You can build your own player and grind through a career mode, or take control of a franchise and manage trades and lineups over many seasons. The controls take a bit of practice to feel natural, but the animations make every shot and dunk feel weighty.

• #164T★ 7.5

  WWE 2K18

  Sports · 2018 · 2K

  You control professional wrestlers in the ring, chaining together grapples, strikes, and signature moves while working the crowd toward a big finish. A creation mode lets you build your own wrestler from scratch, and a full career mode lets you climb from nobody to champion over many matches. It leans into the theatrical, over the top side of wrestling rather than a straight fighting game.

• #165M★ 7.5

  Borderlands Legendary Collection

  Shooter · 2020 · 2K

  You shoot your way across cartoonish alien wastelands, picking up an enormous variety of guns that drop from enemies and chests, each with its own quirks and stats. Three full games are packed into this collection, all sharing the same loot-focused shooting and dark, joke-heavy writing. It works well solo but is built with friends dropping in and out in mind.

• #166M★ 7.5

  BioShock: The Collection

  Shooter · 2020 · 2K

  You explore two ruined, once-beautiful cities, an underwater one and a floating one, shooting enemies while using strange powers that let you set things on fire or control machines with your mind. Both games hide their real ideas in the environment as much as in the story you are told directly, so exploring corners of each level pays off. This collection bundles in all the extra content released for both games originally.

• #167M★ 7.5

  XCOM 2 Collection

  Tactics · 2020 · 2K

  You command a small resistance force fighting an alien occupation, moving soldiers one at a time on a grid and deciding whether to take a risky shot or play it safe. Soldiers can die permanently, so losing someone you have leveled up for hours actually stings. Missions and maps generate differently each time, so no two playthroughs go quite the same way.

• #168E10+★ 7.5

  Civilization VI

  Strategy · 2018 · 2K

  You guide a civilization from a single settler on an empty map all the way to space exploration, deciding between building wonders, fighting wars, or focusing on culture and science. Turns take a while to plan out as your empire grows, since every choice affects your cities' production and happiness. It is easy to lose track of time telling yourself you will just take one more turn.

• #169E10+★ 7.4

  Portal: Companion Collection

  Puzzle · 2022 · Valve

  You solve physics puzzles in test chambers using a gun that shoots two connected portals, letting you walk through one wall and pop out of another, or launch yourself across a gap using momentum. The writing from the robotic voice guiding you through the tests is dry and very funny, which makes even a difficult puzzle feel less frustrating. Both games are bundled together here, running smoothly on the go.

• #170M★ 7.4

  L.A. Noire

  Adventure · 2017 · Rockstar

  You play a detective in postwar Los Angeles, walking through crime scenes to collect evidence and then questioning suspects, watching their faces closely to decide whether they are lying. Getting an interrogation wrong can send a case in the wrong direction, so paying attention matters more than fast reflexes. It has a heavy, moody atmosphere closer to a black and white crime film than an action game.

• #171E★ 7.4

  GRID Autosport

  Racing · 2019 · Feral

  You race realistic cars across a variety of disciplines, from touring cars to open-wheel racing, with handling that punishes careless braking into corners. Difficulty settings let you tune how forgiving the physics are, so newcomers and racing fans can both find a setup that suits them. It plays like a proper simulation-style racer rather than an arcade one, so expect a learning curve.

• #172E10+★ 7.4

  Burnout Paradise Remastered

  Racing · 2020 · EA

  You drive fast through an open city where crashing spectacularly is often rewarded as much as winning a race outright. New events pop up at almost every intersection, so you can chain challenge after challenge without returning to a menu. Watching a rival wipe out in slow motion never really stops being satisfying.

• #173E★ 7.4

  Hot Wheels Unleashed

  Racing · 2021 · Milestone

  You race small die-cast style toy cars around orange track pieces set up in oversized environments like kitchens and garages. The handling feels weighty for how small the cars look, and jumps and drifts have a real sense of physics behind them. A track builder lets you design your own courses if you want to go beyond the ones already included.

• #174E10+★ 7.4

  Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy

  Platformer · 2018 · Activision

  You run and jump through tricky obstacle courses as Crash, spinning into enemies and dodging traps while chasing down crates and gems hidden off the main path. The original three games are remade here with updated graphics but the same demanding platforming, which can catch newcomers off guard with sudden difficulty spikes. It rewards careful, repeated attempts more than quick reflexes alone.

• #175E10+★ 7.4

  Spyro Reignited Trilogy

  Platformer · 2019 · Activision

  You fly and glide as a small purple dragon through colorful worlds, breathing fire at enemies and collecting gems and treasure scattered around each level. The three original games have been rebuilt with new graphics that look like a cartoon come to life, though the underlying levels and challenges are the same as decades ago. It is a relaxed, exploration-focused platformer rather than a tough one.

• #176T★ 7.3

  Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2

  Sports · 2021 · Activision

  You skate around remastered versions of classic skate park levels, chaining grinds, jumps, and tricks together into combos before time runs out on each run. The controls feel tight and responsive, so landing a run you have been practicing gives a real sense of progress. The soundtrack and level design both lean hard into a late-nineties skate culture feel.

• #177M★ 7.3

  Diablo II: Resurrected

  Action RPG · 2021 · Blizzard

  You pick a character class and click your way through hordes of demons across dark fantasy landscapes, picking up gear that drops constantly and swapping in better weapons and armor as you go. You can flip instantly between the game's original older graphics and the newer remastered look at any time. It is a long grind toward rare gear, so it suits someone who enjoys repeating levels to find something better.

• #178T★ 7.3

  Hogwarts Legacy

  Action RPG · 2023 · WB

  You play a student at a magical school, attending classes, learning spells, and exploring a large world filled with side quests and hidden secrets outside the castle walls. Combat lets you combine different spells, like freezing an enemy in place and then hitting them with something else for extra damage. It is a long game with a lot to see, so expect plenty of side content beyond the main story.

• #179M★ 7.3

  Mortal Kombat 11

  Fighting · 2019 · WB

  You pick a fighter and trade brutal special moves and combos against another player or the computer, ending particularly rough matches with an over the top finishing move. A lengthy story mode ties the roster together with time travel and dramatic cutscenes between fights. It is graphic and violent by design, so know that going in if that is not your thing.

• #180T★ 7.3

  Injustice 2 Legendary Edition

  Fighting · 2017 · WB

  You pick DC superheroes and villains and fight one on one, unlocking gear pieces from matches that change both how your character looks and their combat stats. The story mode has genuine production value, jumping between characters as a superhero civil war plays out. It combines a fighting game with light loot collecting in a way that keeps matches feeling like they are building toward something.

• #181E10+★ 7.3

  LEGO City Undercover

  Action Adventure · 2017 · WB

  You play an undercover cop investigating crimes in an open LEGO city, switching between disguises like a construction worker or a firefighter to access different areas and solve puzzles. The writing pokes fun at other cop movies and games, and the humor lands regardless of age. It is a lighthearted, low-stakes adventure well suited to playing with kids.

• #182E10+★ 7.3

  Scribblenauts Mega Pack

  Puzzle · 2018 · WB

  You are given a puzzle, like crossing a river or scaring off a bully, and you solve it by typing almost any word you can think of and watching the game summon that object into the world. A rope, a helicopter, or a dinosaur are all valid answers if you can think to type them, which makes solving puzzles feel like a word game as much as an adventure. It rewards creativity more than any single correct answer.

• #183T★ 7.2

  Dragon Ball FighterZ

  Fighting · 2018 · Bandai Namco

  You fight in flashy three on three battles that look like they are pulled straight from the anime, with characters trading combos and screen-filling special attacks. Simplified inputs let newcomers pull off dramatic looking combos, while experienced fighting game players can dig into much deeper combo routes. Matches move fast and look spectacular even if you are still learning what buttons do what.

• #184T★ 7.2

  Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot

  Action RPG · 2023 · Bandai Namco

  You play through the major story arcs of Dragon Ball Z as an open-world action RPG, flying across the landscape between story missions and side activities like fishing or training. Battles let you power up and unleash signature attacks from the show against other iconic characters. It spends a lot of time on quieter side content between fights, which suits fans more than newcomers looking for constant action.

• #185T★ 7.2

  Tales of Vesperia Definitive Edition

  JRPG · 2019 · Bandai Namco

  You lead a small group through a fantasy story dealing with corrupt authorities and old magic, fighting in real time where you dash around a small arena chaining attacks and special moves together. Combat rewards timing and combo strings more than most turn-based RPGs, since you are directly controlling the action. It is a long, dialogue-heavy story with a cast many fans still talk about fondly.

• #186E10+★ 7.2

  Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch

  JRPG · 2019 · Bandai Namco

  You explore a world drawn and animated in collaboration with a famous Japanese animation studio, so nearly every scene looks like a storybook come to life. A young boy searches for a way to save his sick mother, adopting strange creatures along the way that fight for him in battles. The visuals and music carry a lot of the emotional weight, even during the game's slower stretches.

• #187T★ 7.2

  Little Nightmares

  Puzzle Horror · 2018 · Bandai Namco

  You control a small child sneaking through a dark, oversized world full of grotesque adult figures who will chase you down if spotted. There is no dialogue at all, so the unsettling mood is built entirely through sound and the way rooms are lit and shaped. Puzzles mostly involve hiding, timing your movement, and staying quiet rather than fighting back.

• #188E★ 7.2

  Pac-Man 99

  Puzzle · 2021 · Bandai Namco

  You control Pac-Man eating dots in a maze while ninety-eight other players do the same thing at once online, and eating certain pellets lets you send ghosts to slow down your rivals. Managing your own maze while watching for incoming attacks from other boards keeps every round tense even though the core game is simple. It turns a very old arcade formula into something surprisingly competitive.

• #189E★ 7.2

  Tetris 99

  Puzzle · 2019 · Nintendo

  You stack falling blocks to clear lines exactly like classic Tetris, except you are doing it against ninety-eight other players at once, and clearing lines sends garbage blocks onto their boards. You can target specific opponents to focus your attacks, adding a layer of strategy on top of just stacking blocks quickly. Every match moves fast and rarely feels like the one before it.

• #190E★ 7.1

  Puyo Puyo Champions

  Puzzle · 2019 · Sega

  You match colored blobs to clear them from the board, and setting up a large chain reaction sends a wave of garbage onto your opponent's side. The rules are simple to learn in a few minutes, but building big chains under time pressure takes real practice. It is built for quick, replayable matches either locally or online.

• #191E★ 7.1

  Snipperclips

  Puzzle · 2017 · Nintendo

  You and a partner control paper cutout characters that can snip pieces off each other's shapes, and you have to figure out what shape you need to become to solve each puzzle, like turning into scissors or a ramp. Communication matters more than skill, since you are constantly negotiating who cuts what and where. It leads to a lot of laughing at mistakes as much as satisfaction from getting a puzzle right.

• #192E★ 7.1

  Human: Fall Flat

  Physics Puzzle · 2017 · Curve

  You control a wobbly, loosely animated character with clumsy arms, trying to climb, push, and carry your way through open physics-based levels. Nothing about the controls is precise on purpose, so slipping off a ledge or dropping something at the wrong moment is part of the fun rather than a failure. It plays best with friends who can laugh along at the chaos together.

• #193E★ 7.1

  Overcooked! 2

  Party · 2018 · Team17

  You and your friends run a kitchen, chopping vegetables, cooking dishes, and rushing plates to the counter before orders time out, all while the kitchen itself might be on a moving platform or splitting in half. Communication breaks down fast once the orders start piling up, which is usually where the real fun and the real arguing begins. It is built for local co-op chaos rather than solo play.

• #194E★ 7.1

  Overcooked! All You Can Eat

  Party · 2020 · Team17

  This bundles every level and piece of content from the series into one package, with updated visuals and easier assist options for newcomers who find the base game too stressful. You are still chopping, cooking, and rushing dishes out under a ticking clock with a team of friends. It is the most complete way to experience the series' particular brand of kitchen chaos.

• #195E★ 7.1

  Moving Out

  Party · 2020 · Team17

  You and a team of movers have to clear furniture out of increasingly ridiculous locations, tossing couches through windows or squeezing oversized objects down narrow hallways before time runs out. Physics rarely cooperate the way you expect, so plans fall apart in funny ways more often than not. It is a lighthearted co-op game best played with people you do not mind yelling directions at.

• #196E★ 7.1

  Untitled Goose Game

  Puzzle · 2019 · Panic

  You play a goose causing as much trouble as possible in a quiet English village, honking at people, stealing their belongings, and working through a short list of pranks in each area. There is no combat and no real danger, just quiet slapstick as you figure out how to make ordinary villagers' days worse. It is short, funny, and easy to finish in one or two sittings.

• #197E★ 7.0

  A Short Hike

  Exploration · 2020 · Whippoorwill

  You play a small bird climbing a mountain at your own pace, hiking trails, swimming in lakes, and gliding through the air between islands to reach the summit. There is no real pressure to hurry, and most of what you find along the way is optional conversations or small collectibles. It is a short, calm game that takes only a couple of hours from start to finish.

• #198E★ 7.0

  Unpacking

  Puzzle · 2021 · Humble

  You unpack boxes and place someone's belongings into a series of new homes across many years of their life, with no dialogue and no explicit story told directly. Where you choose to put certain items quietly tells you things about the character's relationships and how her life is changing. It is a quiet, slow game more about noticing small details than solving any real puzzle.

• #199E★ 7.0

  Gris

  Platformer · 2019 · Devolver

  You control a girl walking, jumping, and later swimming and flying through a hand-painted world that is missing its colors, and each area you complete restores some hue back into the world. The platforming is gentle and rarely punishing, since the focus is on the visuals and music telling a wordless story about grief. It runs closer to two hours than a full-length game, so treat it more like a short emotional experience.

• #200E10+★ 7.0

  Axiom Verge

  Metroidvania · 2017 · Thomas Happ

  You explore a strange alien world map, uncovering new weapons and tools that let you reach areas that were blocked off before, in the classic style of games built around backtracking with new abilities. One particular tool lets you glitch enemies and terrain to open up unexpected paths. It was built almost entirely by one person, and it wears its love of older exploration games openly.