Open World Stab a Motherfucker of the Year -

Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor

Open world games have had some ups and downs as of late. With games like Watch_Dogs not living up to the insurmountable hype and games like Assassin’s Creed: Unity launching in practically nightmarish states, gamers are right to be weary of open world games. However, with Shadow of Mordor, we are shown innovative gameplay and brilliant design in the form of an open world orc murder sim that makes you feel like a god of death while still constantly reminding you that if you fuck up its lights out. With a system that mocks you for failure and continues to berate you as you clash against the walls of uruk and orc but never feels like it is doing so in a mean spirited way, Mordor creates an atmosphere and a world that is simply fun to be in. While the murdering of countless foes can get a bit over the top sometimes, I think the game showcases a proper balance of systems and gameplay that will hopefully be used as inspiration for other developers in the future.

Holy shit where did all that time go of the Year -

Crusader Kings II

Crusader Kings II is a game in which you can lead a dynasty from the start of the middle ages through to its conclusion, backstabbing and plotting your way to a new kingdom, or simply scraping by hoping to marry off your children to people of power in hopes of scheming your way to your own power in future generations. If you want to get started with CK2 I’d highly suggest watching through at least some of a Let’s Play online (Kikoskia has an excellent LP going as we speak) to at least get the basics of the systems before jumping in as it can be quite intimidating. It is worth it, however, and before you know it you’ll be fighting a Holy War for Jerusalem only to have it be stolen by your half-brother on a nonsense claim.

Despite the bugs this is a pretty badass RPG of the Year -

Dead State

Dead State is a game that I’ve been following for quite some time. A game touted as the answer to the boring zombie action games that forget about all the human drama that make things like The Walking Dead and Romero’s films so interesting to so many, Dead State is a game that is designed around the concept that even during the apocalypse, you’re gonna want some deodorant dammit. While some bugs and minor issues still plague the game, it has been patched and the team continues to work on the few minor issues remaining so it is certainly not a broken mess like Unity or other key AAA releases this year. A turn-based strategy game with some base building elements at its core, Dead State’s premise is that you are the leader of a ragtag group of survivors and that you are tasked with dividing up duties such as repairing the fence, building new areas for the school such as gardens for farming or a garage to work on a car in, to tasking survivors with joining you in scavenging trips into the local towns and wilderness in hopes of finding much needed food and supplies. Combat is a standard turn-based affair that has a nice addition in the noise system that prevents you from just blasting away at zombies and humans alike with guns nonstop, as hordes will appear when loud noises happen. This can be used to your advantage in combat with humans sometimes; by calling in a horde you get an easy distraction. Just don’t get bit yourself.

The modded minecraft is pretty good you guys of the Year -

Minecraft w/ Direwolf20 Pack

Minecraft is a game that is often disregarded by many in the gaming community for being a purely kid-friendly affair. While it is true that Minecraft is quite popular with the younger crowd, it is also a platform on the PC that is heavily modifiable and capable of incredible things. With modpacks like the Direwolf20 pack that compile the best mods into a usable and balanced format, Minecraft becomes a very different beast that while not the most amazing graphical showpiece, is certainly a fantastic game that gives new experiences before thought impossible in gaming. Concepts like building and maintaining a nuclear reactor that is controlled by a computer terminal, complete with coding that can be uploaded and downloaded from pastebin, or making magical nexus creations that harness energies from jars to imbue powers into mundane objects, creating fantastical magic staffs and other devices for wreaking havoc or aiding in construction. The amounts of mods available for minecraft are endless and I think that to disregard the creations of not only Mojang but the community is foolish. Some of the most innovative creations in gaming are coming out of the modding scene in Minecraft and we would do well to pay attention.

Console ass Console game of the Year -

Forza Horizon 2

Forza has always been a series made by people who are serious about cars. While less stuffy feeling than Gran Turismo, it is a series that leans towards the sim sides of things for sure. While Forza 5 was a bit of a disappoint for me last year, Horizon 2 is the racing game I’ve been waiting years for and can’t get enough of. From playing through the championships in single player, to racing weekly with friends online, the second entry in the offshoot of the main Forza series is a light hearted affair in which you romp around a vibrant landscape destroying everything in your path as you race to victory in a massive array of cars over 200 strong. One of the best looking and solid running games of the current generation, Horizon 2 creates a silly but cohesive world that grips the player from start to finish and is a defining game for the Xbox One in addition to being the best racing game hands down this year on the current generation of consoles. (Sorry, Driveclub.)

The Real Game of the Year -

Game of the Year 420 Blaze it

Just fucking play this thing, seriously.