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Pudge

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GOTY 2015

2015. What a year 2015 has been for games. Last year, we were an industry unsure of itself, filling time with rereleases and other filler, toying around with alternative release platforms, and generally being worried about the future of the console market and our link to the mainstream. This year, all that went out the window, and both AAA and Independent creators exploded back with blockbuster after blockbuster. It was a year of dreams, with releases we thought we'd never see and announcements that were once Duke Nukem Forever style jokes. For me, 2015 was a rush as I dived into a new professional position writing about games and getting paid for it. I've played a lot more games than I probably had time for this year, but it's all been worth it, and I'm not stopping anytime soon.

The new mothership has their own traditions when it comes to Game of the Year, so I figured I'd keep mine up and publish my top 10 once again here on Giant Bomb. If I've published a full review of a game on my list, I'll include a link below so you can see my expanded thoughts. It's a strange list, but I've always had strange tastes. Let's get to it.

Runners Up (My picks for #11-15 in no particular order): Batman: Arkham Knight, Transformers: Devastation, Wolfenstein: The Old Blood, Dropsy, Mortal Kombat X

Links to Full Reviews and Such!

Undertale

The Magic Circle

Broforce

Mad Max

Fallout 4

Evolve

Duck Game

List items

  • In a year filled with games that were created by teams of hundreds, no other game stood out like the one man project that is Undertale. An emotional journey into a real world filled with humor and joy, Undertale moved me deeply both as a player of games and as a human being. I will never forget the time I spent with this game, mining out its secrets, listening to every bit of dialogue, and finally bidding a fond farewell to my new friends, knowing that I could never return. A game that easily ranks on my top ten games of all time, Undertale is best game I played in 2015.

  • Halo 5 marks a return to form for the Halo franchise and a redemption for 343 Industries. Any flaws it may have in microtransaction systems and missing gameplay modes fade away when you consider the game's fine tuned shooting. 343 have combined the intricate pacing of Combat Evolved with the fast paced action that FPS fans crave, and they have produced the best Halo multiplayer experience since the original. I've already spent a hundred hours sprinting, ground pounding, and clambering across Halo 5's Arena and Warzone, and I will most likely spend a hundred more in the coming year. #WeBack

  • I tend to shake my head at most things Nintendo produces in the gaming sphere, especially considering how much their virtual output has been overshadowed by their growing toy business and their mobile dealings. However, Nintendo still has that magic, and every once and a while they remind you of the powerhouse they still are. Mario Maker made me buy a Wii U, and I haven't regretted it one bit despite having no interest in most other games on the system. The promise of infinite Mario levels to play and an easy to use level editor to toy around with was fulfilled, and the fact that kids today will gain an appreciation for Mario Bros. in its classic form is just icing on the cake.

  • The Magic Circle is certainly an art game, and it's a game that requires its audience to know the inside baseball regarding development. It's a game about games, and that will turn off a lot of folks. However, if you're that type of person, The Magic Circle does an amazing job of toying around with the role of the player and speaking to a developer's place in the virtual worlds they create. A short and special game that many will find years later and be pleasantly surprised by.

  • Broforce is a loving tribute to my favorite films of all time, an interactive tour of the stars of The Expendables and all their best roles, and a damn fine action game to boot. Any game of any genre where you can play as The Predator, John Matrix, Indiana Jones, and Ash Williams in the course of five minutes, that's a game I'm interested in.

  • Who would have thought that 2015 would bring us not one, but two great new entries in the Mad Max franchise? Avalanche's open world adventure gives the player full reign to go crazy in a wasteland focused around cars, double barreled shotguns, and crazed raiders. It is a beautiful game, especially as you drive into a furious sandstorm in search of crates of scrap. The story takes a while to get going, but ends on a fantastic note and really serves as a great companion to Fury Road.

  • What a rush of excitement Fallout fans had this year as the often rumored Fallout 4 was announced for a quick release just months later. It's probably a good thing that they did that too, as the hype over a two or three year announcement strategy would most likely have served only to further damage the game. Fallout 4 iterates and improves on a lot from Fallout 3, but has different goals than many Fallout fans were expecting. If you can accept it on its own terms, there is a hell of an experience there, but I don't think anyone will be ranking this as a high point in franchise history.

  • I kind of hate episodic games. Tales From The Borderlands is an amazing story that takes the humor of its IP and ups the sophistication of it a few notches without losing its unique charm. The only problem is that story was told piecemeal across months and months, and I often forgot about it even when a new episode was released. I really enjoyed it, but in hindsight I should probably wait to play the next Telltale game all at once.

  • Oh Evolve. Poor Evolve. Released early on in 2015 with enough progression problems and preorder DLC that many players were immediately turned off, Evolve transformed this year into a deep shooter with great story elements and always fun mechanics. Much like Titanfall last year, anyone who gave this game a shot won't be disappointed, especially if they pick up the Ultimate Edition that bypasses all that DLC nastiness.

  • Quack. Quack quack quack quack quack quack quack quackquackquackquack. Quack Quack QUACK.

    Seriously though, while others praised Rocket League for its amazing multiplayer, I just kept loving Duck Game. One of the best little multiplayer nonsense generators since the days of the N64.
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