[Editor’s Note: Authors were told to approach their game of the year lists however they wanted, including listing their favorite games they personally played this year regardless of release year.]
1. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Anniversary Edition
My all-time, personal favorite video game just had it’s 1 millionth edition come out, so of course I had to buy it for the 1 millionth time! I can’t believe I’ve been playing this game for over a decade, but there’s so many things about this game that keep me coming back: armors I never wore; skills I never developed; hidden quests I never started. The Anniversary Edition upgrade adds even more of these elements, providing players with several new reasons to take up the mantle of Laat-Dovah-Kiin once again! Some of the additional quests are a bit too easy, and some of the new armor and weapons are too OP, but it’s genuinely fun to experience new parts of Skyrim for the first-time.
2. Dying Light: Platinum Edition
As a huge zombie media fan and survival horror enthusiast, Dying Light is a game I stumbled upon when I got my Switch this year, hoping to find some scary games to keep me up at night. While it’s not the scariest game ever, Dying Light has a very engaging story and adds a fun twist to zombie games—your main character is super good at parkour and has fantastic cardio, allowing you to run, jump, and climb away from zombies. The more stylish and dynamic runs you do, the more your experience points rack up, letting you unlock new parkour maneuvers you can use as you evade zombie hordes. I think the parkour element is a fun way to shake up the zombie genre, and highly encourage anyone who’s into survival horror to pick this up!
3. Dragon Ball FighterZ
As a lifelong Dragon Ball fan, I’ve spent much of my life playing DBZ game after DBZ game. Usually, many Dragon Ball games use similar game engines, retell the same stories, and don’t feel that challenging. I don’t think Dragon Ball FighterZ is that challenging (I mostly just button mash and still win), but it’s a fantastic take on the Dragon Ball franchise! Gameplay-wise, FighterZ is a typical fighting game, reminiscent of Marvel vs. Capcom, where players can have teams of 1-3 DBZ characters and take on an opposing team. Along with beautiful, 2D cell-shaded graphics, this game departs from other DBZ games because it tells it’s own, original story instead of simply retelling the story of Dragon Ball Z. The story also introduces a new villain who is very engaging, and one of the most fun elements of the game is the plethora of unique pre-fight cut scenes you can witness based on which characters you select for your team. This game offers a lot of hardcore Dragon Ball fans!
4. Resident Evil 4 (Nintendo Switch Edition)
Similar to Skyrim, Resident Evil 4 is a game I’ve purchased multiple times on various different systems since I was a child; naturally, once I bought my Switch in 2022, I had to buy Resident Evil 4 once again! The original Resident Evil games were more survival horror, while the newer ones are more action/adventure-esque. This game exists in a liminal space that contains elements from both extremes. I am a lifelong fan of Leon S. Kennedy, so it’s fun to be able to portray him again as you head kick zombies and make your way through a zombie-infested village in Spain. And now that it’s on the Switch, I can relive all the fun while I’m traveling!
5. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
I’m not the biggest fan of Nintendo’s original games; however, I absolutely love this game and it’s my favorite game to play with friends! The main story is kind of weak in my opinion; the real fun comes from battling your friends and unlocking new fighters together. This edition of the game has a fantastic roster, cool arenas, and lots of fun items to use mid-battle. There is also no greater feeling than the excitement you get when your screen suddenly says “A NEW FIGHER APPEARS,” accompanied by the silhouette of the new opponent in question. If you have a friend coming over to play Switch, definitely play this!
