Blake Hester

Parts of Infinite Wealth are the best in the entire series, a new watermark going forward. And some are the worst. It's complicated.

For the most part, Gaiden is an interesting bridge between Yakuza 6 and 7 – even if it doesn't always go as deep as I hoped.

At its core, Bomb Rush Cyberfunk wants to remind you how cool other games were. The problem is, I'd rather play those other games instead.

Despite the age of its skeleton, in some ways, Like a Dragon: Ishin stands out as one of the more impressive games in Ryu Ga Gotoku's portfolio.

Hi-Fi Rush finds a magical sweet spot between rhythm games, stylish action, and lighthearted, character-driven platformers we don't see very often anymore, and by every measure, it comes out on top.

Bayonetta 3 is an absolute blast. It's bombastic, over-the-top, and extravagant for the sake of extravagance, leaving ruins, literally, in its wake.

Stray is, more than anything, a charming game.

Neon White isn't just one of the best games of the year, it also speaks to a highly specific audience many just don't anymore.

An empty world not hampered by its lack of things to do but strengthened by its commitment to being desolate.

OlliOlli World is a fun ride through a goofy world. Even when it caused me actual pain, I enjoyed its many twists and challenges.

Even though I liked the racing in Riders Republic, overall, I can't say I enjoyed my time with it. It's a missed opportunity of a game, focusing on all the wrong things, making for an experience worth skipping.

Resident Evil 4 VR is a must-play if you're a fan of the original. It fundamentally changes the experience in meaningful ways, adding new depth, strategy, and tension to a video game most people know like the back of their hands at this point

When Lost Judgment stumbles, it never recovers. While there's a lot to love in the story and gameplay, at the end of the day, its issues become too much to ignore – especially when those issues are messy and irresponsible.

Deathloop is a bloody, chaotic mess. A mess you will fail at over and over until finally, you succeed. And that success – the result of hours of experimentation, iteration, and knowledge – makes for one of the best games of the year.

Twelve Minutes is a captivating, horrifying journey that left us hooked despite some frustrations.

A fun run through cyberpunk Detroit

A lack of any kind of tutorial is frustrating at first, but once you get the hang of the action, Pac-Man 99 is a fun way to fill lulls in your day