From the all-action thrills of Zelda to catching your own sushi, immersive worlds captivated
1. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Nintendo
A miraculous achievement of design and engineering, the greatest wonder of the latest Zelda game is how its dazzling suite of interactive possibilities – from hunting wildlife to engineering motorboats, gliding across mountain ranges to quivering through the depths of its rooty underground domain – remain compelling after hours of play. It’s a feat no competitor has yet matched.
2. Baldur’s Gate 3
Larian Studios
A perfect companion to this year’s vastly enjoyable Dungeons & Dragons film, the latest Baldur’s Gate draws together a ragtag team of flawed, perhaps mentally ill adventurers and shoves them into a world in which the success of every choice hangs on the rattling outcome of a dice roll. Sturdily written and deliciously accommodating.
