Normally this is where I'd say "in no particular order", but I'm feeling confident for once, this one's actually ordered.

5. Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
I had pretty high hopes for this one ever since I backed the kickstarter for it, and it actually didn't disappoint. Great Castlevania game.

4. AI: The Somnium Files
A murder investigation adventure/visual novel hybrid, this game has a lot of great things. Sharp and witty dialogue, great sense of humor and a story that'll make you sad, happy, shocked and all sorts of other emotions. Quality voice acting too.

3. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
It may not be what most people expected after From Software's Soulsborne streak, but in terms of quality, Sekiro did not falter. A great action game with plenty to explore.

2. Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers
I know it's an expansion, but I'm gonna count it anyway. FFXIV was already solidified as my favorite Final Fantasy game, but Shadowbringers stands out. Great story, great music, great zones and dungeons. Everything about it is just peak FFXIV.

1. Resident Evil 2
Waitaminute, a remake taking the top spot? Yes indeed, because the Resident Evil 2 remake was just that damn amazing. I played the absolute heck out of this game and loved every second of it. I enjoyed it so much I actually started speedrunning it, and that's saying a lot for me, a person who almost never replays games. Top-notch third-person survival horror right here.

Honorable mention: Trails of Cold Steel III
Because this game did come out this year in the west, and it totally would've been number 1 on this list...if I hadn't already played it last year in Japanese. It was my second-favorite game last year (and of the decade, in fact) and putting it in my top five again would've felt a bit like cheating.