While the numbers will still need to be run, initial impressions (both mine and that of the community) of the new Monk are wildly positive. The two primary faults of the previous Monk were damage and resource management, and both of those issues have been addressed in multiple ways.

There is no class that needs more help from its subclasses than Monk, which makes it an even bigger crime that basically all of these fail in that function entirely. This isn’t a ranking of the best of the best, it’s the okay-est of the worst.

Monk gets a lot of crap, and I think it's a bit overblown. No, this class isn’t by any stretch the most powerful martial option available. At most tables, though, that aren’t looking to stretch their characters to their absolute limits and get every ounce of power out of their levels and features, monks will deliver a fun play pattern that embodies the martial artist fantasy it sells.

Way of the Sun Soul exists as a somewhat ranged option you could explore, but I really struggle to see much mechanical benefit in it over most of its competition.

Way of the Kensei exists to fulfill the samurai fantasy monks have wanted for a while. You get the tools to empower special weapons in combat while mixing in unarmed strikes just the way the base monk likes.

Like the original Beast Master Ranger, Way of the Four Elements is infamously terrible. Why it's so terrible comes down to two major issues: ki and actions. 

Way of the Drunken Master aims to deliver the ancient brewmaster fantasy, using tricks and techniques paired aimed at being first and foremost unexpected. I don't really think it sticks the landing that well, but gives you enough where if base monk is fun for you, and you want the base monk features to be slightly better, this can satisfy.

Way of the Astral Self, like many monastic traditions, has some core problems that Wizards of the Coast seems incapable of dealing with, mainly in their ability to give monks something unique and interesting to do that doesn't cost a ton of ki or engage in something beyond just punching better.

Way of the Ascendant Dragon, from Fizban's Treasury of Dragons, lets monks in on the fun when it comes to embodying the second half of the game's namesake monster. You take all of the basic monk abilities and juice them up with some dragon goodness in a flavorful way.

Way of Shadow is how you bring your secret ninja fantasies to life in D&D. You take the silent infiltration of a rogue, mix it with the monastic focus and dedication to martial arts presented by Monk are left with the tactical assassin capable of breaking in and out and dropping bodies without making a sound.

If you’re coming to Monk and want to do all of what Monk says it does, but better, Way of the Open Hand is the Player’s Handbook option you’ll probably default to. It does a fine enough job at enhancing the core monk play pattern, but I think clearly showcases where monks struggle in the way their features sort of fail to meaningfully define their role in and out of fights. 

Monks don't get a lot of “dark” options to play around with. Way of the Long Death is sold just as that; you master death in all its aspects, becoming one with the process of decay and having utmost control over life leaving the body.

Way of the Long Death does not in any way, shape, or form meaningfully deliver on this fantasy.

A supportive, healing monk has some interesting potential. Monks as monastic healers trained in the body and holistic medicine makes sense to me, but implementing that can be tricky.