Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak is a great companion to even out the base game's experience. It never reaches the mountain highs of Iceborne, but jumping in for just a few hunts or basking in the grind has never been smoother.
Neon White is going to make more than a few people realize they’re speedrunners at heart. Its brand of competition with the self is enthralling, and it's lifted to greater heights by its presentation, music, and mechanics.
Ghostwire: Tokyo is, heartbreakingly, not spooky. It's also not particularly interesting and I certainly didn't find it very fun to play. I'm sure genre-fanatics will find something to latch on to, but nothing ever quite hooked me enough to make the journey feel compelling.
Elden Ring is a marvel with scope and diversity of mind boggling proportions. At the risk of hyperbole, it has dethroned Bloodborne as my favorite game of all time. It's all I've been able to think about since I got my hands on it, and the only thing I want to do now is play it with the rest of you.
Monster Hunter Rise stands toe-to-toe with World, especially on PC. Its end-game grind may not be as robust, but a serious focus on fun and community over story and fidelity pays off.
