GOTY 2016

2016 was by far the busiest year of my life, and as a result, I didn't necessarily get to play every game that I wanted to this year. Most specifically, I'm really bummed out that I never got around to The Last Guardian this year. Team Ico may have only created two other games before this, and they were both PS2 titles, but Ico and Shadow of the Colossus are two of my favorite games of all-time, so I almost feel ashamed of myself for missing out on The Last Guardian this year. All that said, I was still fairly content with the line-up of games I was able to play in 2016; with a few being nothing short of outstanding. Here's hoping 2017's even better, but in the meantime, I highly recommend you dig into any of the following...

List items

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  1. Uncharted 4: A Thief's End

  I've always been a fan of the Uncharted franchise, but for some reason, Uncharted 4 grabbed my attention significantly more than all the other entries combined. Maybe it was the improved mechanics, the more personal and elaborate story, or possibly just the fact that it's a perfect conclusion to such a solid series. Naughty Dog gave the saga of Nathan Drake a definitive ending, and the result is easily the character's most memorable adventure of all. From the use of alternating flashbacks to some of the best written dialogue I've ever seen in a video game, Uncharted 4 had me glued to the screen. It wasn't just the story either that had me hooked, as I was determined to play through the entirety of the game on Crushing (the highest difficulty) and obtain every collectible. I even completed my own separate speed run to unlock the platinum trophy; I can't think of the last game to make me crazy like that over a set of achievements. All that said, it does kind of suck that the multiplayer is still a painfully mediocre addition, but it obviously doesn't hinder the overall product in the end.

  There aren’t many other franchises that have created the mass appeal that the Uncharted series has within its relatively short lifespan. It combines elements of commonplace shooters, platformers, and adventure games, all wrapped around an Indiana Jones-esque story that ultimately provides at least a little bit of something for nearly every player. Uncharted 4 is very clearly the finale for these characters, and the package they're thrown into may just be the most outstanding console exclusive of the generation thus far. Uncharted 4: A Thief's End is my Game of the Year for 2016 - what's yours?

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  2. The Witness

  The more I reflect upon The Witness, the more I like it. I'm reminded of just how ingenious its puzzles were throughout, and how satisfying it was to finally solve something that had stumped me for hours or even days. It may just be the most intellectual game I've ever played, and I applaud The Witness for actually making me feel both incredibly smart and like a complete idiot many times throughout my 20+ hour trek. The Witness, to me, is a near-flawless execution of level design, and I think a title anyone looking into game development should learn from. It may have been a long wait in between the launch of Braid, designer Jonathan Blow's last release, and this, but to say it was worth the wait would be an understatement.

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  3. Hitman

  I've always been a huge fan of stealth games, and that definitely includes the Hitman franchise. So, when I say that Hitman (2016) is the best in the franchise, you know that it's high praise. It's never been more welcoming for newcomers and veterans, allowing for pure Silent Assassin runs as well as goofy shenanigans. I feel like so many skipped over this game for the sheer fact that it was episodic, and I truly think this format was only beneficial. The levels were dense and large enough for you to dig into them multiple times, completing a plethora of challenges at a balanced pace. Not to mention that the episodic format gave us the Elusive Targets, which was nothing but an excellent way to keep player engagement up throughout the year. Plus, what other game allows you kill Gary Busey?...I rest my case.

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  4. Hyper Light Drifter

  Hyper Light Drifter has a certain sincerity going for that I really appreciate. From the melancholy presentation to its extremely well-composed soundtrack, you can tell that this world was crafted with precision, and it all just makes more sense with the autobiographical nature of designer Alex Preston's chronic heart condition. However, there's more than that to the quality of Hyper Light Drifter, as it would be criminal not to also include the exhilarating combat and its Zelda-esque elements. I'm well aware that it's not for every person, but it certainly gets my vote as the best indie game of 2016.

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  5. Final Fantasy XV

  Final Fantasy XV is such a bizarre game; it feels like a jumbled mess of a ton of different ideas thrown into a box with Final Fantasy traditions, but I love it. It looks like Square Enix took the complaints people had with XIII, and ran away with it in the complete opposite direction. That said, this is the only game on this list I haven't "beaten" yet at the time of writing this, so who knows how I'll feel about it afterwards, but I'm truly enjoying it 20 hours in - and this is coming from a huge fan of all eras of Final Fantasy.

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  6. Titanfall 2

  I think Titanfall 2 confirmed that I'm personally just about finished with competitive multiplayer games, at least for the time being. I played a few matches here and there, but the drive is just not there for me, personally. However, what did draw into Titanfall 2 this year over most titles was its surprisingly exceptional campaign. It managed to cram great characters, fun weapons, and unforgettable level design into a single package, completely blowing my expectations away. My only complaint is that I wish there was more to this, but I understand that the multiplayer is the main selling point for most people. Maybe I'm the only one who actually enjoyed the campaign more than the multiplayer package, but I can tell you with certainty that I'm equally as excited to see what Respawn could do with a Titanfall 3.

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  7. Pac-Man: Championship Edition 2

  Pac-Man: Championship Edition 2 will forever live in the shadow of its predecessor, and as a result, I feel it's received a bit of an unfair reception. I'm not going to say it's better than the first game; it's just different, and I applaud them for taking the fundamentals of Pac-Man in yet another cool direction. I love the speed and precision that comes in Championship Edition 2, and it was perfect for any time I wanted to also listen to a podcast or music at my computer. I can't tell you if I'll even ever return to it, but I know that I greatly enjoyed my time with it.

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  8. Dark Souls III

  Dark Souls III was the first game in the franchise that I stuck with long enough to actually finish, for whatever that's worth. I found the environments to be more enjoyable to experience, as the level design brought back the Metroidvania exploration that had been missing in Dark Souls II. Not to mention that FromSoftware crafted some of their most memorable creature designs to date within this game. I may be personally finished with this style of game, as the market is just becoming saturated in my opinion, but I'm glad to see that at least one Dark Souls game captured my attention before the franchise officially concluded.

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  9. Superhot

  Superhot is a three-hour gimmick, but it's an awesome gimmick. It's an odd mix of a first-person shooter and a puzzle game, but Superhot manages to make it work in conjunction with each other. Each time I finished a level, I simultaneously felt accomplished and like an absolute badass. While the actual length of the game may be on the short side, I think any longer may have been overkill, and it seems the developers knew where to draw the line. Throw in a surprisingly interesting narrative, and I may just say it's the most innovative shooter I've played in years!

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  10. Inside

  A strong sense of style really goes a long way in game development, and perhaps no other release this year proved this more than Inside. If you played 2010's Limbo than you can easily grasp what this game is about, because they essentially made another "one of those." It's a side-scrolling puzzle game that relies heavily upon its dark and mature overtones, and it's all backed by an outstanding art direction. While it's by no means a perfect game, I found some puzzles to be tedious and the ending to be more bizarre than profound, it was still an experience I won't be forgetting any time soon.