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10. Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered

Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered

The age of exclusives nears its end as everyone’s favorite neighborhood superhero swings into PC. Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered has all the web-slinging shenanigans Peter Parker has to offer. Its crisp new visuals and improved performance on PC make swinging between buildings oh so satisfying. This is topped by the cast’s strong performances and an impressive roster of villains.

While the story doesn’t deviate much from the original, some players – especially those familiar with the first game – may find Peter’s updated model a bit strange.

Overall, this is one of the best superhero games ever made. It has a playscore of 9.2.

9. The Legend Of Heroes: Trails From Zero

The Legend Of Heroes: Trails From Zero

This is the first of the Trails series’ Crossbell arc. That means we get to see a whole new location to explore, a conspiracy to uncover, and a bunch of fascinating characters to meet.

Much like other great JRPGs, it's praised for its well-written story; one that takes place within the massive Trails universe. Yes, including Cold Steel and Trails in the Sky.

The old-school turn-based mechanics can be daunting. But if you’re seeking a game with a memorable plot and an epic soundtrack, this is the one. A playscore of 9.2

8. Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course

Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course

Despite the challenges and frustration it can cause, we're still willing to give Cuphead a try. The Delicious Last Course, or DLC, is an expansion of Cuphead’s story. With tough bosses and challenging levels, prepare to pull your hair once more. But this hasn’t stopped us from smacking enemies down before. Why should it stop us now?

The addition of Ms. Chalice as a playable character adds new dynamics to the game. She demands more skills but once you master her moves, she’s a force to be reckoned with. A playscore of 9.2

7. NORCO

NORCO

NORCO is a unique game that uses traditional point-and-click mechanics to piece together an emotional story. It stands out from other games for its engaging and thought-provoking narrative. Finding clues, making choices, and solving a few simple puzzles are the three things you only need to worry about.

NORCO is a critique on the dystopian delights that we’ve been playing again and again in other games. And its enchanting soundtrack lures us into a world slowly losing touch of nature. It receives a playscore of 9.2

6. Final Fantasy VI

Final Fantasy VI

You might be surprised how this 28 year old JRPG made it to 6th place. Well, it came out on PC as part of the Pixel Remaster that polished the first six games of Square’s renowned series.

This Remastered version improves the visual quality of their signature sprite characters, as well as the soundtrack, smoother UI, among many things. Apart from that, much of the story remains unchanged.

A hot take: 6 could’ve been the best Final Fantasy if VII didn’t exist. The journey of Terra and her quest to save the planet is not something that we can simply forget. If you ask a Final Fantasy fanboy what their favorite entry is, you might be surprised to find this on their top three. A playscore of 9.3

5. Vampire Survivors

Vampire Survivors

Can you imagine a bullet-hell game where you are the bullet-hell? Vampire Survivors is the most videogame-y videogame of the year. Imagine: you’re a lone hero swarmed by waves after waves of monsters. That shouldn’t worry you. Once you get enough powers, you won’t be pressing buttons for a while.

Its simple and addicting roguelike formula is mixed with the mechanical gameplay of an idle-clicker. This is exactly why Vampire Survivors shines. It’s a game that you can pick-up and play in short bursts…any time. Perfect if you own a Steam Deck!

It has a playscore of 9.3.

4. Rogue Legacy 2

Rogue Legacy 2

The quest to preserve your lineage is just as addicting and will keep you playing for more. The premise is simple: Enter the Castle, slay beasts, die, and respawn as your next of kin. You can be a colorblind warrior or an archer with vertigo on your next run.

Rogue Legacy 2 is better by a mile. The addition of relics, items that will power you up during one of your heir’s journeys, changes the way you will play.

This unique gameplay loop has continued to hook players ever since the first game. It receives a playscore of 9.3.

3. Neon White

Neon White

Neon White’s energetic approach to combat is like watching a Doom speedrunner high on caffeine. This is exactly what makes this indie-shooter great.

Redeem yourself in the gates of heaven as you slay enemies in tightly designed levels. Sacrificing cards for godlike abilities turns you into a one-man army.

It’s a game about beating your own record. There’s always an optimal way to do things and you’re free to experiment with crazy movesets… so long as you don’t suffer from video game nausea.

Even if you don’t care about its cheesy story, Neon White has enough challenges to distract you from its questionable writing choices. Neon White has a playscore of 9.4

2. God Of War

God Of War

In second place is God Of War. It came out this year along with Spider-Man and shows how great these games are when played on more powerful hardware.

The beginning of Kratos and Atreus’ journey isn’t as exhilarating as Ragnarok. But its focus on character development made players connect with these lost demigods.

God of War’s release on PC is praised by both critics and gamers. It may be a simple port, but the enhancements to performance and visual fidelity makes the PC version the best to play.

The Norse realm is dangerous, but that won’t stop this father-son duo from spreading their mother’s ashes on the highest peak of all the Nine Realms. It gets a playscore of 9.5

1. Elden Ring

Elden Ring

Winner of this year’s Game Awards and our top PC game this year is none other than Bill Clinton– I mean, Elden Ring.

We’ll say it again. Elden Ring is a stellar achievement in video games. Pushing the limits to what a game should be. It expands player freedom as they explore the dangerous, yet gorgeous landscapes of The Lands Between.

The open-world formula isn’t borrowing pesky checklists from other AAA studios. Instead, Elden Ring lets players decide where to go and what to do.

The game is focused on creating a rich, immersive world, so be sure to treat the inhabitants and creatures you encounter with respect - you never know what you might find, like a Turtle Pope in a Church.

With a playscore of 9.6, Elden Ring won’t go out of our radar anytime soon.

2022 Games of the Year