These are the ones I've played this year, in order of how I'd rank them:
1. ENDER LILIES: Quietus of the Knights - This is my current GOTY (obviously), and it was just a joy for me. I really like metroidvania games in general and this game does a whole lot right in the areas I care about. The combat is fun and allows for a variety of builds, the world has a really nice amount of secrets and upgrades hidden around, and the art and music are top notch.
2. Paper Mario: The Origami King - This game seriously overshot my expectations. I played Color Splash and I did enjoy it to an extent, but the game's broken economy really got to me. The active detriment of battling was just really unfortunate. Origami King doesn't have great combat either, but it was at least of the variety that you can sorta just turn your brain off and ignore. Doesn't really sound great so far lol, but it's the rest that really won me over. I just adored this game's adventure. There was a wonderful variety of stories, locations, and dungeon types in each chapter that I just looked so forward to seeing what they'd throw at me next. Olivia is a delight, too, and my new favorite character in the series. On top of that it's the best-looking game on the Switch and has a superb soundtrack. If this game nailed the combat then it would be in serious consideration for my favorite game ever. As it is, it will settle for still being an excellent game that has me excited to see what they do next in this series for the first time in years.
3. Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun - This isn't really the type of game I usually play. I tried it on a bit of a whim, though, and I really found myself enjoying it. This is the type of game where you really feel yourself getting better as you progress and it's actually fun to revisit earlier stages to try to better your performances. This not only put the concept of real-time tactics games on my radar but also put the developer on my radar, too. I really need to try Desperados III when I get the chance. Watching gameplay of it reminds me a lot of this game.
4. Fire Emblem Awakening - This is a relay for me. Made me remember why I initially really liked this game a lot. My opinion sorta dropped off over the years for no real reason. This game is good. I love the pair-up mechanic. Story isn't the best, but the rest is strong.
5. Bravely Default II - Some really great gameplay systems carry this game hard. Loved the job system and the changes the battle system made to the series.
6. Suikoden - All I hear is that Suikoden II is so much better and if that's true I really can't wait to try it out because I think this game is quite good. Loved collecting all the characters.
7. Dragon Quest Builders 2 - I love the Dragon Quest "feel". The feel-good presentation and aesthetics in combination with some genuinely good and sometimes emotional writing beats. Could've used more motivation to build up my main island, but I enjoyed this a lot.
8. Majikoi - Started out a bit crude for me but eventually it pulled me in. Funny game with a good cast. Really good character routes.
9. Ape Escape - Another replay. Still holds up well in my opinion, at least once you get used to the unconventional controls. My only real frustration with this game is that some of those apes in the later stages that have guns are real assholes. The wild west themed part of the final stage almost sent my controller through the screen. Fun game! Wonderful OST and weirdly atmospheric game.
Not gonna type out more individually but here's the back half-ish of my list. I actually enjoyed pretty much every game on this list except for Trails in the Sky the 3rd. That game wasn't all bad but I think I'm getting sick of Trails writing and the battle system has never been a strength of this series imo. Put the two together and I just sorta got sick of this game harshly. I liked the other games, though.
10. Blaster Master Zero 2
11. Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana
12. Nanairo Reincarnation
13. Blaster Master Zero 3
14. Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth
15. Murder by Numbers
16. Alwa's Awakening
17. Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin
18. No More Heroes III
19. No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle
20. The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky the 3rd
Also shoutout to Divinity Original Sin 2. I'm currently playing that with a group of friends and it'll probably be #1 on my list by the time I'm done. One of my favorite games ever if the quality holds up in Acts 3 and beyond. Absolute top tier turn-based battle system and I love how intuitive stats, classes, and builds feel in this game compared to how they can feel in other similar games.
