8 Best Video Games of 2019 (So Far)

After a year in which powerful consoles asserted their dominance with sprawling open worlds and seemingly endless attention to detail, we're seeing even more developers push the limits of what this current generation of systems can do. Battle royales are still ruling the roost, and nostalgia levels are high. From Resident Evil to the Mario Brothers, everyone's getting a fresh coat of paint. Here are the best video game releases we're already loving in 2019.

Apex Legends

Platform: Xbox One, PS4, Windows

With Fortnite achieving full technicolor world domination, it seemed there was little left to say when it came to battle royale. That was before Respawn Entertainment, the maker of Titanfall, shocked everyone by announcing and releasing the free-to-play Apex Legends on the same day. Yes, you drop from the sky. Yes, it starts with a mad dash for guns and ammo. And yes, you'll get your ass kicked by kids half your age. But brilliant features like the "ping" system and a diverse cast of playable characters (each with their own special abilities) make this the most fun you can have inside a shrinking ring. Avoid the Mozambique.

READ MORE: Apex Legends Doesn't Know How to Be Boring

Free to play

New Super Mario Bros U. Deluxe

Platform: Switch

Nintendo has done a hell of a job giving older titles a second life on the Switch, and this one's no exception. A remake of the side-scrolling Wii U favorite, New Super Mario Bros. U gives you two games in one–Mario Bros. U and Super Luigi U–as well as a couple of new characters in Nabbit and Toadette to traverse the Mushroom Kingdom in beautiful 2D.

READ MORE: New Super Mario Bros U. Isn't Anything New, But That's the Point

Kingdom Hearts III

Platform: Xbox One, PS4

Over a decade in the making, the colossal crossover project that is the Kingdom Hearts series got a fitting conclusion with III. Gorgeous graphics and clever storytelling make this one a must-play for anyone who's still a kid at heart.

Tetris 99

Platform: Switch

Thought you'd seen everything when it came to battle royale? How about a 99-player Tetris tournament where cleared lines become weapons against your opponents? If it sounds insane, that's because it is. But it works, breathing new life into one of the most classic game franchises of all time.

Free to play

Metro Exodus

Platform: Xbox One, PS4, Windows

For a bleak trip across the post-apocalyptic wilderness, Metro Exodus isn't short on delights. The third installment of the Metro franchise lands somewhere between Fallout, Far Cry, and Mad Max as you fight, run, and try to keep your loved ones alive in this first-person shooter.

Resident Evil 2

Platform: Xbox One, PS4, Windows

Resident Evil 2 is the latest PlayStation classic to get a fresh do-over on a modern console. The game that defined the survival horror genre looks better than ever as Leon and Claire do their best to get the hell out of Raccoon City.

The Division 2

Platform: XBox One, PS4, Windows

"If Washington D.C. falls, humanity falls." That's the idea behind the latest installment in Tom Clancy's Division series, which puts a whole new spin on the post-apocalyptic hellscape we may one day be living in. The enemies are seriously challenging, the details are rich, and the storyline itself is a blast to make your way through. 

Devil May Cry 5

Platform: Xbox One, PS4, Windows

Dante and Nero are back to battle the demons in this return to form for the hack-and-slash franchise. With guns blazing, swords clanging, and a new character, V, Capcom's latest is DMC at its best.

This story originally appeared on Esquire.com. Minor edits have been made by the Esquiremag.ph editors.