Wondering which video game to play next? Get inspired by the games New York Times journalists enjoy, long and short, new and old. (Unless otherwise noted, these are available on PC and all major consoles.)
baratolo
Balatro looks like a normal poker game at first. But after each round, you'll come across a shop full of new revenue and cards that will enhance your deck and gameplay. One converts any of his three cards into a club. Another “Fibonacci joker” multiplies the value of the ace by 2, 3, 5, or 8. Soon, you stop thinking about the game and start thinking about the ever-changing rules.
If you like it, please play: Inscription or Slay the Spire.
What you need to know: As with any roguelike, no two playthroughs will be the same and your strategies may differ. (I tended to rely on Flash to enhance his suit one by one.)
— ramsey taylorAssistant Editor, Digital News Design
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night pays homage to the Castlevania series with its art style, environments, mechanics, and music. In this game, you step into Miriam's shoes as you fight your way through a fantastical castle filled with magical monsters, dropping shards that can be used to mimic the monster's powers.
If you like it, please play: “Castlevania Symphony of the Night'' and “Hollow Knight.''
What you need to know: My first playthrough took about 12 hours, and the game includes multiple characters and modes.
— lance boothphoto editor
Can you hear the earth crying? Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth's protagonists can take part in this cinematic adventure that folds a story about lost identity into an epic tale of environmental destruction at the hands of a greedy corporation. Along with the lush environments and sophisticated combat, it's the willingness to get weird that elevates this one.
If you like it, please play: Super Mario Odyssey and Kingdom Hearts.
What you need to know: The main story of this PlayStation 5 exclusive can be completed in 40 hours, but completing the side content will take you past the 100 hour mark.
— Zachary Smallreporter, culture
helldiver 2
If Helldivers 2, available on PC and PlayStation 5, is to be taken at all seriously, the jingoist battle cry and allusions to fascism will be alarming. This third-person extraction shooter game sends players across the galaxy to super-deliver “managed democracy” to his earthly enemies. Players battle waves of insect horror and robots straight out of James Cameron's brain.
If you like it, please play: Deep Rock Galactic or Alien: Fireteam Elite.
What you need to know: Helldivers 2 is most fun to play in squads. Oh, and be careful where you shoot. It's called friendly fire.
— Justin PorterSenior Staff Editor, Newsletter
hifi rush
Beats matter in this stylish rhythm-based action game. Attacks during combat are synchronized to the soundtrack, as is smoke rising from distant vents. Don't worry if you find it difficult to play along with the music. Hi-Fi Rush's timing window is quite forgiving and has lots of helpful visual cues. Plug in your headphones and get in the zone.
If you like it, please play: Crypt of Necrodancer or Sunset Overdrive.
What you need to know: The game will no longer be an Xbox exclusive when it releases on PlayStation 5 on March 19th.
— Axel Boadavideo journalist
Inclinati
In Inkulinati, a turn-based strategy game, you face off against enemies on medieval manuscripts with an army of characters drawn to match your surroundings, including a rabbit that stuns with its farts and a holy cat that kills with its squeals. A scribe who creates fighter planes from ink collected on the battlefield also bestows blessings.
If you like it, please play: movie “Monty Python and the Holy Grail”.
What you need to know: Of course, success lies in maneuvering, but in this 10-hour game, victory can also include a well-placed killer snail.
— Daniel DowlingSenior Staff Editor, Print Hub Features
Lies of P is a faithful recreation of the “soul-like” formula, featuring Pinocchio, his creator Geppetto, and a talking cricket named Gemini. The comparisons to Disney's 1940 animated classic end there. The tone is grim, the combat brutally precise, and there are dozens of weapon combinations you can use against mobs of vicious puppets and monsters.
If you like it, please play: Like Elden Ring or Bloodborne.
What you need to know: Lies of P is the most Souls-like of New Game Plus, with difficulty ramping up quickly and surviving simply by mastering dodges and blocks.
— Renan BorelliDeputy Audience Director, New York Times Magazine
persona 3 reload
Long before Persona 5 was hailed as one of the best role-playing games, Persona 3, released in 2006, introduced parts dungeon crawler and part social simulator, making the latter title an extremely addictive game. I made it into something. This ambitious remake revamps the cult classic with Persona 5's eye-popping anime-style graphics.
If you like it, please play: Final Fantasy VII: Reborn, Fire Emblem: Three Houses, etc.
What you need to know: Persona 3 Reload, which I played for 70 hours, is not available on Switch. But you can hire a Shiba Inu and those are the rules.
— Brian X. ChenPersonal Technology Columnist, Business
