Brodie

A fine evolution for the Mario Kart formula and a fun game to have at parties.

The 2017 sequel takes everything great about the first Injustice and takes it to the next level with a new story campaign, a beefed-up roster of playable characters, and a new customization system that lets players add a personal touch to the epic superhero battles. Fans (myself included) are still waiting for the third installment of this dark saga.

Combining the iconic characters of DC Comics and NetherRealm's polished 2D fighting gameplay, Injustice explores a world where Superman falls to the dark side and becomes a brutal dictator. While this isn't the most original concept out there, Injustice's story campaign is well-produced and includes plenty of fun battles. Brutal attacks, interactive environments, and some delightfully over-the-top special moves replicate the feeling of playing through epic superhero battles with your action figures.

Like a top-tier wrestler, the WWE 2K series keeps refining its moveset with each year. This time, Showcase mode follows the esteemed Anoa'i wrestling family, allowing players to take the role of iconic performers like Roman Reigns, The Rock, Rikishi, the Wild Samoans, and more. Each pre-match intro features The Wiseman himself, Paul Heyman, and he really gets you pumped for the fight ahead. Other noteworthy changes include a branching MyRise mode and the new Island mode.

Mass Effect has everything a great sci-fi saga needs: iconic characters, cool worlds and creatures, and a complex universe filled with themes that speak to our world as much as it does its own. Commander Shepard's choices carry over from each game, making the story's themes of war, sacrifice, and tough decisions in the face of a great galactic threat all the more gripping. The ending remains controversial to this day, but the journey to get there is well worth the price of admission.

My first Zelda game, Twilight Princess is truly a marvel. While the first couple of hours are slow, the game picks up from there and becomes a thrill all the way to the end credits. Link must battle to save two realms this time, with the help of the mysterious gremlin Midna and his newfound ability to transform into a wolf to solve certain puzzles. A beautiful and rewarding experience all the way through.

Easily one of the best JRPGs I've ever played. A fun turn-based combat system, stylish visuals, a memorable cast of party members and an engaging plot that sees young heroes stand up to corruption and injustice make Persona 5 a masterpiece of the genre. Well worth the hundred-plus hours you'll put into it.

Sucker Punch trades furry thieves and lighting-powered superheroes for samurai warriors in this beautiful journey into ancient Japan. Ghost of Tsushima follows Jin, a Japanese solider who must fend of an invading army while struggling to balance the honorable teachings of his upbringing with his morally grey mission. Whether you choose stealth or a direct attack, the game plays like a dream and the presentation is top-notch.

Ragnarok builds on what made God of War 2018 so great by providing a larger look at the Nine Realms and an epic tale that sees Kratos and Atreus find their own destinies amid the end of the world. A true step up from its predecessor in every way and a crown jewel of the PS5 library.

This was basically my entry point into the God of War franchise, and it didn't disappoint. Kratos is more thoughtful and reflective on his violent past here, and looks to guide his son Atreus toward a better path in life as they journey across the Realms to honor his wife's final request. Seamless storytelling, weighty combat, and an emotional plot make this reboot a must-play.

I was late getting into Final Fantasy X, having played it via its release on the PS4. Still, it easily stands as one of the best entries I've played, and was a groundbreaking game at the time of its original release. For my money, it has the best iteration of the classic turn-base combat formula, the story and characters are memorable, and the music and artstyle are top-notice. Definitely put this one on your must-play list.

A nice build on the past two WWE 2K games. The Showcase Mode trades following the career of a single Superstar with reliving some of the best matches in WrestleMania history - with a few glaring omissions. Everything else is more polished, there are plenty of great roster additions, and the new match types are fun.

A true masterpiece of an RPG and one of the best Star Wars games ever made.

Sonic Generations was already pretty fun, but the real draw of this remaster is the new Shadow Generations campaign, which sees our favorite hedgehog edgelord trapped in an alternate realm filled with faces from his past. The result is a short and sweet look into Shadow's history filled with fun levels and some heart-wrenching twists.

Sonic Frontiers isn't too shabby for the series's first true open world, even if it feels kinda empty in places. Still, running around as Sonic and using his new combat abilities are a blast, there are plenty of great interactions between the characters, and Sage might be one of the most interesting new additions to the lore in some time.

My only real complaint about Sonic Colors is that it's too short. With this one Sonic Team finally nailed running through 3D levels as Sonic, and the Whisp powers are fun to use. The story is pretty standard "Eggman tries to take over the world by harnessing an ancient/alien power" fare, but there are some truly hilarious jokes sprinkled in - especially in Eggman's intercom messages.

Sonic Adventure 2 took everything from the first game, trimmed things down, and enhanced what was left. The story is a classic, introducing now-iconic characters Shadow and Rogue while letting us play as Eggman in a neat twist. Not to mention the incredible soundtrack, and the best final boss battle in the history of the franchise.

The first 3D Sonic game I played on the GameCube. While the gameplay shows its age in places, everything is still fun to play (except for maybe the Big stages), the story is fun, and there's just a warm charm to everything.

I asked for a Meta Quest headset for Christmas primarily for this game, and it didn't disappoint. Arkham Shadow puts you straight behind the mask of the Dark Knight as he journeys deep undercover behind the walls of Blackgate Penitentiary. The combat really makes you feel powerful as you physically swing your arms to punch criminals (watch out for those walls!) And use Batman's utility belt of gadgets. Just like Arkham Origins, this game is a prequel that sets up some of the stories to come in past games, including a pair of heartbreaking twists.

The final chapter of Rocksteady's Batman saga (or so we thought), Arkham Knight is the ultimate evolution of everything the series had built to this point. The graphics are the best they have ever been, the entire city of Gotham is open to explore, and we finally get a rideable Batmobile - though its execution could have been much better. Still, the traditional Arkhamverse gameplay shines with new takedown moves and even a few team-up fights with an NPC partner. The story digs deep into Batman's psyche for a gripping finale, though if you know anything about the comics you've probably already guessed who the mysterious Arkham Knight is.