Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
This modern take on a classic RPG is like nothing that’s come before. Its painterly world, time-haunted premise and inventive turn-based combat feel both nostalgic and daringly new, marryingFrench surrealism with emotional storytelling, and using mortality as its beating heart. Few games this year balanced mechanical depth and philosophical weight so gracefully, nor left such a lasting impression. Come for the story, stay for the beautifully realized characters.
Ghost of Yotei
A sumptuous, beautifully directed open-world samurai epic. Each scene looks like a classical painting and feels weighty. Protagonist Atsu is unapologetically vengeful and so much fun to play, brought to life by a compelling performance from Erika Ishii. The story is simple, but the combat is brutal and rewarding, remaining challenging deep into the game. “Yotei” is confident, elegant and gives you plenty of bang for your buck.
Mario Kart World
There was no way Nintendo would launch the Switch 2 without a new Mario game, and “Mario Kart World” — which allows up to 24 players to compete at once — proved the perfect choice. Building on everything fans love about the long-running franchise, the latest entry raises the stakes with expansive open-world tracks, off-roading mechanics and an elimination mode that keeps every race unpredictable. More than 30 years after its debut, “Mario Kart” remains the undisputed gold standard for fun.
Dispatch
The latest episodic game from AdHoc Studio delivers is a confident, character-driven superhero story with a twist: it’s a workplace comedy. Ex-superhero Robert Robertson III (voiced by an excellent Aaron Paul) is navigating his new life working at the Superhero Dispatch Network. Strategic decision-making, clever mini-games and sharp writing anchor the experience. While it takes time to fully find its footing, strong performances and witty dialogue make it a satisfying narrative adventure.
Split Fiction
Developer Hazelight Studios took everything they learned from the excellent two-player co-op “It Takes Two” and poured it into the even-more perfect “Split Fiction.” Two writers — one rooted in sci-fi, the other in fantasy — are trapped inside a simulation built from their imagined worlds. The idea is so cleverly executed, giving rise to wildly inventive sequences. Each game mechanic reinforces its themes of authorship, compromise and creative conflict.
Hades II
“Hades II” is that rare sequel that actually improves on the original, going deeper and darker for a compulsively playable experience. The game is still built around pushing as far as you can through a dungeon’s branching paths before death sends you back to the start, but with a new protagonist and two opposing routes: Mount Olympus or Tartarus. With stunning art and a gorgeous soundtrack, this is a game you’ll keep coming back to.
