Yameen Talpur

It’s no secret that 2023 is off to a raucous start with multiple high-scoring games hitting within the first few months of the year. This list will be your guide to every gaming experience Game Informer considers a must-play in 2023, encompassing the best games you can play on platforms like PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, and PC, among others. Below you'll find a list of the top-scoring games of 2023, beginning with the top scorer and going down. Any game that scores between a 10 and an 8.5 makes the cut. Each entry also features a small blurb and a link to the full review. We'll update the list with eligible titles as the year progresses, so be sure to bookmark this page if you ever need recommendations on what to play next. Have fun! 9.75 The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom They say you can never go home again, but I adored returning to Hyrule with all new tools. Read review Platforms: Switch Release Date: May 12, 2023 9.5 Baldur's Gate 3 ...

This week on All Things Nintendo, the episode is devoted to celebrating the anniversary of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Not only is it one of the most important and influential video games ever made, but it happens to be in both Brian and Kyle's top two games of all time. It's safe to say there is plenty of love for Ocarina of Time in this episode. We also briefly touch on the release of the game's 3DS remake, as well as the anniversaries of The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds and Super Mario 3D World. If you'd like to follow Brian on social media, you can do so on his Instagram/Threads  @BrianPShea  or Twitter  @BrianPShea . You can follow Kyle on Twitter:  @KyleMHilliard  and BlueSky:  @KyleHilliard . The All Things Nintendo podcast is a weekly show where we celebrate, discuss, and break down all the latest games, news, and announcements from the industry's most recognizable name. Each week, Brian is joined by different guests to ...

It is admittedly unfair of me, but any time a video game reveals itself as free-to-play, my interest immediately dissipates. Free-to-play games are not universally bad; plenty of brilliant design ideas, engaging stories, and fun mechanics can be found in games with no upfront admission fee. But once a game’s goal shifts from singular experience to long-term engagement, any excitement I may have folds in on itself and disappears like Pac-Man. It all stems from my desire for experiences, not obligations. In free-to-play and comparable models, success is marked by player engagement. The more rounds a player queues into and the longer they play, the more likely they are to engage with the monetized elements. And the best way to encourage that engagement is to incentivize players to return. Daily check-in unlocks and numerical goals related to how often you use certain mechanics – those are obligations without a finish line. I’ve fallen into the trap a few times with mobile games and onl...

It’s a story that likely sounds familiar to anyone who works in video games, or even plays a lot of games. Every year around this time, a few friends and family members ask for game-buying advice. That’s great, as I love having the opportunity to help someone find gaming experiences that will lead to a great time. But it can be especially challenging if the giftee in question is a younger child who wants to play games, but is perhaps too young or inexperienced with the hobby to know what they might enjoy. We’re here to help with a brief rundown of some foolproof suggestions for parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, or anyone looking to find the perfect holiday gift for the young game player.  Their First Gaming Console One of the most common questions that comes my way, especially from parents who might not be into gaming themselves, is which gaming console to give as a first way to play games.  There’s no fundamentally wrong answer here. But if you’re looking for the mos...