Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate lives up to its name. The roster of 89 fighters spanning gaming history is a staggering achievement, and seeing characters as disparate as Mario, Solid Snake, Minecraft Steve, and Sephiroth sharing the same stage never stops being surreal and delightful. Masahiro Sakurai's attention to detail in honoring each franchise through moveset design, stage references, and music selection is extraordinary. The fighting system elegantly scales from casual party chaos with items and hazards to the precise, technical competition that drives a thriving esports scene. Local multiplayer for up to eight players delivers some of the most consistently entertaining social gaming available. The World of Light adventure mode is lengthy if somewhat repetitive. Online play, while improved from launch, still suffers from inconsistent netcode that frustrates competitive players. Some DLC characters feel overpowered upon release. But as a celebration of gaming itself, Ultimate is unmatched -- a love letter to the medium that also happens to be an excellent fighting game.