Game of the Year 2015 (2015 Edition)

The final end of year list. Two of the four can be found here and here.

This list is for games that came out first in 2015 that I played in 2015. 2015.

I also made a list comprised of my favorite of the 100+ games I played this year that you can find here and another list that is made up of my favorite games that came out last year that I played this year that you can find here!

Here's also a few games that also came out this year that I considered putting on this list:

Metal Gear Solid V was my #10 originally... but then I played Undertale. As far as gameplay goes, it's the Metal Gear game the people deserve but the same can't really be said for the story. In a year where I played at least 5 other games with the Metal Gear name on them, and for the first time, I can honestly say that TPP just doesn't hang as one of my favorite games among them.

Please, Don’t Touch Anything was another game that I really liked but not quite enough to put it on this list. The same can be said for Grow Home and Massive Chalice.

All the other "talked about" games that came out this year aren't on this list because I either don't own the platform it's exclusive to or I just didn't think very highly of them. Or maybe I just didn't play them!

List items

• 

  1. Hylics

  A game that felt like it crawled out of the depths someone's mind. To the Dali-esque visuals, odd music, mostly randomly generated dialogue and also not-at-all-randomly-generated dialogue all add up to be one of the most surreal and memorable video game experiences I had this year. It's also got some cool gameplay things going on, which is a plus!

• 

  2. Nuclear Throne

  Nuclear Throne's been kicking around for a few years and in 2015 it's finally been "released" and I found it to be a ton of fun! I've played it for nearly 80 hours and I'm still only scratching the surface of what this game has to offer for me. But I'm looking forward to learning how to improve and, if my current experiences are anything to go by, I'll probably have a fun time doing it.

• 

  3. HuniePop

  I didn't think I would like this game at all going into it. I thought this was going to be a bad match-3 games with boobs put in it so it could sell but it's actually a kind of awesome match-3 game with boobs put in it so it could sell? The thing is that there's an odd sense of sincerity to it all because they knew that as they were making the game and they decided to have fun with it. And I had fun with it too! There are certainly elements to this game that could certainly be better. The characters are little more than stereotypes with names and faces and the conversation system (if you'd like to call it that) is so basic it's almost insulting. But the voice acting and the way the conversation feed back into the dating (the puzzle part) more than make up for it. I feel like I like this game in spite of itself. But I still got weirdly attached to it. Also, at some point, a character says "Seduce me with your sexy puzzle skills!" and I think that's great!

• 

  4. Assault Android Cactus

  Assault Android Cactus feels like it came from a different era of games. It's a game based around score with smart options built in to help encourage replaying levels and it's got a bunch of cute robots in it. There is a very arcadey feel to the gameplay and a very SEGA feel to it's style. It's almost nostalgic! I like this game quite a bit, I haven't played nearly as much of it as I'd have liked to though.

• 

  5. Undertale

  I played and finished Undertale in a... less than ideal way. I didn't fight any enemies that weren't forced upon me and I ran away from all the random battles. I didn't speak to any of the NPCs of my own volition. It felt like I was missing out on the things that drew so many people to this game. Even with the rushed way I played through the game I could easily see the elements that make this game so appealing. I think Undertale is really cool and I actually feel bad for not experiencing more of it.

• 

  6. Life Is Strange

  Life is Strange didn't quite resonate with me as strongly as it did with many other people. I can look at it and recognize the things it does well and appreciate them. I found it to be interesting enough to keep my attention for the full 12+ hours it took to finish the game. So you could say I liked it quite a bit! It reminds me of Donnie Darko, which is the last movie I can remember watching and enjoying.

• 

  7. Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin

  SotFS, to me, is more slightly better Dark Souls. Even though I'm really fond of Dark Souls I can't say I'd ever like to play it again. But Dark Souls II? I'd gladly return to it any day of the week.

• 

  8. Evoland 2: A Slight Case of Spacetime Continuum Disorder

  Evoland 2 is the video game for people who love video games. The first was simply just a pastiche of a different games that are easily recognizable but it never felt unique. Evoland 2 finds its own identity and manages to tell a story with some original characters. It's pretty reference heavy but it's kind of charming! The genre-hopping that takes place is done in such a way that it's telegraphed in the mere moments before it occurs. The games being emulated are done just good enough and they are being imitated in a way that is so specific, so unapologetic that every time the gameplay was about to change I almost couldn't believe that it was happening. It was fun. Very gimmicky but a real good time!

• 

  9. Downwell

  I had, and continue to have, a lot of fun playing Downwell. The act of firing the gunboots or stomping on enemies is so satisfying and chaining multiple kills together is a great feeling. Sadly, it's been overshadowed by it's inspirator who released what is arguably their flagship game (which is higher up on my list!). If I didn't know any better I would assume Downwell was actually made by Vlambeer. Which is one of its strengths and as far as its placement on this list is concerned, its only detriment.

• 

  10. Axiom Verge

  I think Axiom Verge is a good game! Immediately after finishing it (on hard!) I remember thinking that I wouldn't mind just playing through it again. 7 or so months later that feeling is no longer with me but at the end of the day, when I think back on my time with Axiom Verge I think "Yes!".