Yharnam devours you, the night never ends, and the hunt has already driven you a little mad.

The per criterion detail is simply crushing. Bloodborne finishes first, or by a hair, on fun, controller feel, and soundtrack, all ahead of nearly every game. Attachment and the wish to rediscover it follow at the same level, and its art style is not far behind. It is a very high flying profile, of rare consistency. Its raw preference looks more modest, but it rests on still few direct votes, so we will not read much into it: everything else points to a peak.

Next to other demanding action games, it marries FromSoftware difficulty to a unique gothic, organic mood. You die a lot, but you always come back, pulled in by its sick world.

So, who is it for? For you if you like challenge, rewarded aggression, and an art direction that haunts you. Much less if brutal difficulty or grimy horror kills the urge for you.