Another year, another list. We celebrate the end of the year as well as the decade. Both time periods have entailed a very similar pattern of gaming habits that has evolved to fit the climate of ever changing finances and personal life situations. I have ebbed and flowed from AAA blockbuster title buying through indie darlings to games as services. This year's list shows an illustration of my gaming trends, which expresses all of the growths and changes for my favorite pastime. With that said, let's get down to the important stuff.
Those that know me are familiar with my obsession of the Bioshock series and its art deco visuals, so it should come as no surprise that I really appreciated the aesthetic of Obsidian's The Outer Worlds. It blended the gameplay of the Fallout series with the companion system of the Mass Effect trilogy and does it mostly right, but what really brought the whole package together for me is just how good the HUD and menus look! Sure we could talk about the fun of the game's setting and its incredible writing, or how interesting the perk system is, but that wasn’t the main pull for me. No, this game makes my list largely due to my obsession with the look and feel of the game’s interfaces. They're just so good looking! However, this game has a couple of flaws: one, the default difficulty setting is simply too easy; and two, the start of the game was extremely slow, with Edgewater feeling sluggish. Without those issues, it would have been easier to put The Outer Worlds higher on my list!
There isn’t much to say for this game, I mean, it’s Resident Evil 2...but new? The game looks great, plays great, and seems to have added a lot of quality of life improvements. However, due to the time of year that this game was released, I wasn't able to give it the complete playthrough that it deserves. But hey, that’s what the new year is for, right?
I spent a lot of time this year going back and playing old games, and for some reason I found myself booting up a lot of titles from the strategy and simulation genre. The one that I played the most of this year was Frostpunk. The game is absolutely stunning and the management systems are so deep. Sure, having enough resources to survive each day as the temperature gets colder and colder is one thing, but balancing those issues with tougher decisions such as whether to authorize child labor to offset mass illness is hard. Speaking of hard, this game is extremely punishing in about every way imaginable. One choice can potentially be the difference between a successful run of weeks or getting ousted as the leader of your small city in a matter of days. I found myself to be a victim of the latter more often than not...
I’m a huge fan of cooperative experiences in games, but I have a special place in my heart for great cooperative games that have even the slightest bit of charm and derpiness. Enter: Astroneer. It is what I consider to be the scientific, space-faring version of Minecraft that is also full of so many good laughs and stories. I played this with my wife and a friend, and we all had a blast. Tethering our way across each planet, discovering different minerals, and building our space bases were just some of the many fun things we did. The derpy stuff consisted of mostly falling to our death or suffocating each other accidentally (or not so much) by removing key tethers while expanding our base. Explore, suffocate, laugh, repeat.
Stellaris is game that I have greatly enjoyed over the last couple of years, but I have always felt that the early and mid-game was lacking. It always felt like there just wasn’t enough going on short of expanding your empire to new planets and building up your fleet power. The Ancient Relics Story Pack provided much needed content to those parts of the game by creating side objectives that benefit your empire greatly, should you choose to complete them. The DLC also provides more flavor text to the game through those excavating side-objectives, which I greatly appreciate. Keep bringing on the story packs!
Rainbow Six Siege makes its way back onto my list after a year away because it did something no other game did well this year: provided the highest quality updates, all year long. The continuous formula of introducing fun, new operators; reworkings busted maps; and releasing great looking cosmetics, all the while having a dev team that is always transparent and communicative has really blown me away. They’ve even done a lot to improve the quality of matches with the new friendly fire system as well as the pick/ban system in most match-making modes. Also, Wamai is such a godly operator, go play him now!
Let me preface something: I did not have fun with this game at first. But, it was not the game’s fault, it was entirely my own. You see, I’m a big fan of trophies, so I decided to earn the “Surviving is Living” trophy, which entails beating the game on Survival Mode. The mode is punishing in both its difficulty in gameplay and in the way that you can’t use fast travel. This made the game super long and tedious where it otherwise wouldn’t have been. Ignoring my stupid decision, I rather enjoyed Days Gone. The story and world is engaging, even if the characters and their dialogue are atrociously written. But the main sticking point is the gameplay with its roaming hordes being the main attraction, which provides for some scary and exhilarating moments when caught out by one at night. I’m hoping that Bend Studio will build off of the solid foundation that is Days Gone and make a sequel.
At this point we all know what we are getting from a Mortal Kombat game. What makes this game even better than the previous two entries in the current reboot, is that the story goes...places. Sure, the story has gone places before, but when you introduce converging timelines and have characters such as a mature, dad Johnny Cage meeting his younger, douchey self, well, it’s fantastic. I will leave the explanation at just that for those who have yet to play the game. Mortal Kombat 11 also introduces new mechanics such as an offensive and a defensive meter; and the “Krushing Blow”, which is a comeback mechanic that can only be used once during rounds. It is a welcomed addition to an already deep fighting system. The rest of the game is solid, with great daily tower challenges and a stable netcode for online play. Just make sure to forgive the rather lack-luster crypt and its overly grindy currency this time around.
Yes, I’m aware that Assassin’s Creed Odyssey: The Fate of Atlantis is technically DLC, but the quality of this content and how it was released compels me to give it a title of its own. Seriously, The Fate of Atlantis was fantastic. Allowing you to explore the mythological worlds of Elysium, the Underworld, and the titular Atlantis was such a treat! The worlds are full of life (or death, depending on where you are) and are designed with such detail. Each world introduced some new mechanics to liven up the gameplay, which melds with the fantastic and epic boss fights one has come to expect from these more mythologically driven Assassin’s Creeds. The story is fully detailed as well, with so many twists and turns. It even contains some touching moments that act as epilogues to some of the characters from the main game, which is a nice touch. The engaging story is definitely what kept me coming back for each of the three episodes!
Let’s face it, we have had a lot of games in the battle royale genre. So much to the point that I was already well over it by the time that Call of Duty’s Blackout mode had been released last year. So it was with great surprise that the sudden drop of Respawn’s Apex Legends pulled me back in. The game combined so many of my favorite things: characters with unique tool sets, fantastic shooting, a plethora of fun guns, and great maps. It plays a lot like it’s in-universe sister game, Titanfall--without the wall running--meaning that the shooting feels right and the traversal feels smooth. The legends each feel unique enough and equally have situations where they feel godly and others where they leave much to be desired. And considering the fact that your three-man squad will always be missing at least one of the four different legend types (support, recon, offensive, and defensive) means that you have to strategize with how you play and can’t rely on just raw shooting skills to get the job done. Sure, some players take issue with the fact that there isn’t a permanent solo or duo mode, but I feel like it’s a necessary compromise, given the hero-shooter part of the game. Apex Legends managed to do the unthinkable for me, which was to get me to like a genre that I had a fleeting interest in, and for that, it was my best game of 2019.
I hope you enjoyed all of the arbitrary things I had to say about video games! See you in 2020!
The end of the year is near and it’s time for me to once again take up the digital pen and tell you all about the games I loved! As previous years have suggested, my taste in the types of games I play has changed throughout 2018. In the past, the vast majority of my time was taken up by a variety of indies and one very particular MOBA, which I could never seem to shake. Instead, this year saw my tastes return to their roots, where strong AAA titles--both old and new--became my muse. I also rekindled my completionist ways, via trophies on PS4, something that I have not cared about since my high school years, when the introduction of Xbox 360 achievements were all the rage. This year alone I earned four platinum trophies, something that I can say I am proud of!
The following list entails a wide swathe of genres from studios both big and small, all released within this calendar year, and each with their own little award given by me. Before my top 10 list will be an overview of games I wish I would have spent more time with, followed by my favorite old game of 2018. I hope you enjoy!
Artifact is a game that I found myself playing strictly out of curiosity because of its lore-building connections with my favorite MOBA of all time, DOTA 2. Unfortunately, despite its rather deep CCG mechanics, I found myself turned off by the initial lack of features the game had at launch, namely any sort of progression system to obtain more cards outside of the initial purchase or opening unreliable packs for a fixed amount of money. The only other way to get more cards was to turn to the ever volatile Steam marketplace, which often found rarer cards more than doubling the game’s price point. Most of these problems have since been resolved, but it has left a sense of distrust for me and many other players going into the new year. Which is the exact reason behind my low playtime.
From the little amount of time I spent with this game, I sure did enjoy it. The look of the game is everything I could hope for, despite not currently owning a 4K television. But the most striking aspect of this soft-reboot is how somber Kratos has become, and how the dynamic between him and his son is so different from every interaction he has had with any other character in this long-running series. Granted, I have only just unlocked the more open-world aspect of the game, but in any case, the story and characters have me intrigued to go further. The setting and characters all relating to Norse mythology is also exciting. My favorite thing so far though is just how good the gameplay is compared to the older titles, the weight and feel of throwing Kratos’ axe makes you feel like an absolute badass. I hope to be continuing Kratos’ journey in early 2019.
This game is such an odd combination of part dungeon crawler, part store management simulator, and I love it! The whole concept of delving deeper into the mysterious maze-like ruins, only to gather up and sell the various trinkets and artifacts that the monsters who inhabit those depths drop, is fascinating. I only just purchased the game this week, but I am completely enraptured in trying to figure out what the right selling price is for every item in the game. The soundtrack is charming, much like its pixelated graphics, and the story bits that I have seen so far adds to the overall enjoyment for me. I’m just sad that I didn’t find out about this game sooner.
The game that never seems to stop. I spent a lot of my year in a world that me, my wife and a friend made in Minecraft. Whether it was just adding on to our already huge base of operations, exploring underground caverns, or just waxing philosophically about life in party chat as we fished off the docks; everything was so relaxing. Minecraft is one of two games this year that really made me realize just how effective this medium can be at relaxing an individual. There were often nights where we ended up in our Minecraft world purely out of the necessity to de-stress from the day’s hardships. Trophy collecting was a particular obsession for our little group when it came to Minecraft, due to its large amount of post-launch updates that have brought along an abundance of new trophies to unlock. We even managed to “beat the game” by slaying the Ender Dragon!
There is very little I can say about this game without giving too much away, but everyone should play Donut County. Its quirky, simple concept of navigating a small hole in the ground throughout each level, devouring all sorts of items in the process with the ultimate goal of growing your black pit to a size big enough to swallow up houses and mountains, is addicting. The characters and story are charming, and despite it being a relatively short game, it does a great job of distracting the player with its use of clever dialogue and social commentary about gentrification. Also, duck stickers!
Rarely does a piece of DLC have such a positive impact on the base game. Enter: Distant Stars, the third story pack created for Paradox's space-faring 4X game, Stellaris. The entirety of the add-on redefines the way the early game is played by giving the player access to a plethora of randomly generated discoveries. Most of which is found through the revamped anomaly system. No longer is there a risk of you losing your valuable scientists for the sake of research. Instead, you sacrifice time, which varies depending on the experience of your unit. Other changes involve adding a special isolated system that can only be accessed via a space gate, more unique leviathans to fight, as well as various other quality-of-life improvements that came with the DLC's accompanying patch. This new add-on isn't the hottest thing to hit the gaming market this year, but it kept me engaged throughout the summer nevertheless.
Dead Cells is finally out of early access and to the surprise of myself and everyone else in the gaming community, it rocks. A pixel roguelike that impresses with some of the tightest controls you will find, coupled with a world of mystery hidden behind some of the toughest bosses you will find outside of the Souls series, and you have yourself one hell of an indie game. The weapons are engaging, running the gambit between your standard swords and shields, to more creative tools such as boots that allow you to kick your way to victory in an almost fighting game-like manner. The entire loop of pushing forward in the game and collecting cells to unlock more upgrades for your future self, all the while trying to mix and match the weapons and upgrades you find to figure out what will best serve your playstyle, is fun and addicting. The game is brutally hard and can really knock the wind out of you after falling short on what looked to be a masterful run. But the game also has so much going for it that there is always enough reason to pick the controller up once again.
You are reading this correctly. The year is 2018 and I both played a Call of Duty game and enjoyed it enough to put it in my best games list. The series has long since become something that I have enjoyed hating on. Not since Call of Duty: Black Ops (the OG) have I felt the series had something of interest to offer. But this game is vastly different from those times. I'm no longer trying to find out what the numbers mean with Mason--in fact, Treyarch decided to forego the single player experience altogether. Yet, in its place are three strongly designed multiplayer modes that each has its own flavor. For the sake of my list, I will focus on the main attraction for the franchise this year: Blackout. The series’ first attempt at the battle royale genre evokes PUBG, while possessing the polish the pioneer game so sorely lacked. The mode even adds some flavor of its own, such as allowing players to replenish their armor after firefights with the use of armor plates, instead of just permanently destroying your one safeguard from death. I have yet to get my first win in Blackout, but playing duos with my wife or dropping down into the madness with three other friends in squad games has been a blast!
I was originally not too happy with what Forsaken did as an expansion to what I already considered a disappointing sequel, but over time and after much thought I am happy with what the add-on did, despite some flaws. Forsaken is a game that fixes so much of what I disliked about the base game from last year. The weapons system has made logical improvements over what was considered to be an uninspired attempt at doing something new from the original game. My time with the new abilities for the hunter has been enjoyable, I particularly like the Spectral Blades super for the new Way of the Wraith subclass (because who wouldn’t like being an invisible dual-bladed killing machine?). Even the revamping of the drop system feels more rewarding on the occasion that an exotic engram does pop out of a dead enemy, instead of the unending stream of rarities that was associated with the base game. While I do find the story a little on the tripe side, mainly because of Bungie’s killing of its most beloved character for shock value, the gameplay loop is still top notch. Also, Gambit is by far the best addition that they have added to the competitive multiplayer since the inception of the franchise too! I have since fallen off the game, mainly due to the grind that is required to enjoy the vast majority of end-game content, but I have promised myself, as well as my wife that I will eventually jump back in. I do need to beat the Last Wish raid after all.
Odyssey is the first Assassin's Creed game that I have fully completed since the second iteration and it is without a doubt the strongest title from Ubisoft's storied franchise thus far. While the majority of the gameplay and design borrows heavily from the changes developed in last year's Origins, Odyssey's strongest asset lie in the characters that fill its world. Kassandra, one of two main characters that you can choose from, is one of my favorite protagonists, ever. She is a strong character, both physically and mentally, but it is the dialogue and voice actor that really brings her to life. I enjoyed navigating her dialogue trees in this game just as much as I did fighting. Kassandra interacts with historical figures such as the ever-inquisitive Socrates, to the half-political, mostly sex-crazed Alkibiades, all of which bring about entertaining moments. I found myself invested in seeing what came of these characters, helping me slog through to the end of a game that could have benefited from an editor to trim the game time down by twenty hours or so (137 hours to 100% that game, by the way).
You can finally play online with friends! That is the biggest feature added to the already solid foundation of the original Overcooked. The sequel doesn't do much different aside from that. The new story of helping the Onion king to once again defend his kingdom from enemies is a simple, yet whimsical experience. But all the fun is had through playing this game with friends, and the moments that are created due to the intended chaos of the gameplay. I often found myself in tears of laughter, for example, a friend once knocked me off of our water raft kitchen after throwing a piece of chicken at the back of my chef's head. Kitchen fires are still hilarious and extremely detrimental, but it's all in the name of fun. I'm a big fan of cooperative experiences, and despite the fact that Overcooked 2 does not do much to reinvent the wheel, it is still one of the best games I played this year.
Beautiful catharsis; that is the best way to describe this game. An updated take on one of gaming's oldest concepts, Tetris Effect combines a stunning soundtrack with hypnotizing visuals to deliver a sensory experience unlike any other. The object of clearing lines is nothing new to Tetris fans, but the new “Zone” mechanic is a tremendous addition to an excellent foundation. Activating the Zone requires you to fill a meter of sorts. Once the meter is filled, time stops, allowing players the chance to form lines as quickly as possible. All cleared lines go to the bottom of the board until the Zone ends, awarding players with a bulk of points before continuing the action. It's a great feeling, and often can help you get out of a bind on some of the speedier levels. The presentation is what makes this game shine though. The wholly new soundtrack is the best music I have experienced since the mainline Kingdom Hearts games. A wide array of genres from EDM to jazz piano, each stylistically fitting into levels where flashes of color blend seamlessly with the matching background scenes. The music picks up and slows down in tempo with the changes in the speed of dropping tetriminos, providing musical feedback loops when rotating said pieces. All of it is done so perfectly, that it creates cohesive moments of beauty and wonder, all the while giving me a way to unwind after a long day via a simple puzzle game with a cathartic loop. Tetris Effect is an excellent example of how games can help positively impact issues of stress and anxiety. Give it a try, you would be doing yourself a disservice otherwise.
This year I really wanted to play a fighting game, mainly to help fill the gap left by my exit from DOTA 2, but also because I hadn't played a fighter since 2015’s Mortal Kombat X. I spent about a month researching the most popular fighters released this year and ultimately chose BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle. I don't regret my decision at all. The roster boasts over forty characters from BlazBlue, Persona 4 Arena, Under Night In-Birth, and RWBY battling in 2-on-2 fights that are both stylish and fun. Usually tag games feel messy--especially when multiple franchises, with their own unique fighting systems, are involved in one game--but Cross Tag Battle manages to blend the gameplay seamlessly here. My favorite part of the game is the auto-combo system that allows me and my friends to duke it out without feeling bad about any sort of skill gaps between each other. The levels, music, and animation are all expertly crafted, as is standard fare with ArcSys games. It is the one game that I have continued to play throughout the year and I cannot wait for the second season of DLC to drop!
The way that IO Interactive continues to bring the Hitman franchise to new heights fascinates me. This sequel could have been terrible considering that Square Enix decided to drop the studio altogether, forcing IO to not only buy the IP from their former publisher, but to move their entire place of operations too. Despite their obstacles, IO has hit another home run. The gameplay remains as tight and emergent as ever, but it's also managed to craft a much better story this time around. Hitman 2 also excels over its predecessor with the genius of level design. There was not a single mission that felt weak. From the stormy beach of Hawke's Bay, through the packed areas of both Miami and Mumbai, to the quiet suburbs of Whittleton Creek, IO shows their mastery in the art of meticulous detail. IO has also embraced their self-serious, yet bombastic absurdity to the fullest, offering little moments of comedy ranging from the homing briefcase, to the flamingo suit exit. Hell, the best moment in gaming this year involved Agent 47 becoming a realtor and selling a house to his would-be target by describing each room as if an assassin were looking to buy it. All of the comedy is balanced out with the more serious, sleek mission intros that are beautifully rendered and possess some of the best style you'll find in the industry. Overall Hitman 2 is a class act in the stealth genre; no one else even comes close.
So there you have it, another year of gaming is in the books! I hope you enjoyed my list! Maybe I'll get back to writing more in 2019!
There are only two more days until we ring in a brand-new year, and that means it’s time for yet another arbitrary list in which I tell you about the video games that I enjoyed the most since the start of 2017. Wait, that came off wrong, I love making these lists! Sure, they seem pointless in the grand scheme of things, but I really do enjoy writing them, as I am definitely the kind of person obsessed with ranking things, video games included. As for this year though, I didn’t love it so much. 2017 wasn’t exactly an easy year for any of us to say the least. Yes, there was good that happened, both in a general sense and a personal sense, but it was almost entirely outweighed by the bad in both sectors of life. I won’t harp on any of that stuff in this blog post though; rather, I’m here to celebrate one of my favorite past-times: video games. And boy were there a lot of really good games this year!
As has been my tendency over the past couple of years, the way I play games--and conversely--the types of games I play, is constantly changing. This year, I found myself more enthralled with “games as services” and have stayed away from the more “traditional” game releases because of it. Don’t get me wrong--I still took the time to play a few indie darlings here and there, and even had time to play what has become the most popular game of the year. However, you will find that this video game related list for 2017 consists of games old and new, short and long, fantastic, and the somewhat disappointing…
Enough of my babbling though, let’s get to the games!
#10. Destiny 2 (Most Disappointing Game of 2017)
My list starts off with a game that is both good and extremely disappointing in my eyes. How can that be so? Well for one, it was one of the few games that I was actually excited about before its launch. I was the first person to check out new trailers and would scour every article about it that I could find. And when Destiny 2 finally released, the majority of my initial expectations were met. The shooting was solid, yet again. The story actually consisted of a plot, with lovable characters, and cutscenes that tied it all together. But the rest of the game was a bit of a letdown. I found myself swimming in exotic weapons too early in my adventure and grew tired of the tedium that was the revamped public events that had long lost their luster. After devouring the story in what felt like an instant, I found myself with little to do but grind gear for the raid. I was determined to tackle the most difficult task the game had to offer me though, and so I did. The first week did not go well, as we were constantly shuffling rosters and trying to align our schedules. It wasn’t until the second week that we were able to topple the beast that was the Leviathan Raid. I took on the raid with a crew of family, friends and one very friendly Aussie that we met through sheer luck. And even after defeating Calus and his many annoying puzzle rooms, I felt empty. The game was over and the most challenging obstacle the game had to offer was laying at my feet. All of the hype was over in a matter of a few short weeks and I was left with nothing left to do but grind out the last few minuscule numbers of my power level and to “try” and enjoy Bungie’s attempt at keeping me satiated. I wasn’t. So as time has passed, I find that this game left me with very little in a year of games that delivered so much more.
#9. Dota 2 (Most Played Game of 2017)
It has been four and a half years since I started playing Dota 2, and even after all of this time I don’t grow tired of it. There are definitely days that I would rather do anything else but play Dota, yet it remains to be a constant in my life. Still, 2017 had a big impact on Dota 2 for me, not only in terms of tangible changes to the game itself, but also a lot of events revolving around it. I made it a goal this year to find people who wanted to play the game because they enjoyed the complexity of it and not because I had asked them to play. And so, a new, more skilled, more fun stack was born. This year’s International continued to appeal to my esports interests, with Team Liquid making a lower bracket run through a plethora of Chinese teams to keep the East/West championship pattern alive. The community showed that it wasn’t a complete waste of human space by actually rallying in support of Sheever, a host who was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year. And the game continued to shine through Valve’s consistent updates. The game even got two new heroes this year: Dark Willow, the amazing ganking support and Pangolier, a rather annoying tanky hero that packs one hell of a punch. Overall, Dota still continues to be the game that I spent the most time playing, which is a good thing, despite each match running close to an hour long. Also, hats are the greatest thing to ever be created and I love collecting them. Did I mention we won a Battle Cup in January? It was one of the best feelings I had in gaming this year!
#8. Stardew Valley (Best Old Game of 2017)
I wish I would have played this game last year! But alas, I didn’t start my farming adventure until just this last week and I am amazed by this game. Not only is it a hardcore nod to Harvest Moon, one of my favorite game series from the 90’s, but it builds on it in almost every way. The soundtrack is catchy, the townspeople are varied and wholesome, and the gameplay is addictive in the “farming sim” sort of way. The fresher ideas, such as exploring the mine for treasures while fighting monsters, gives the game a more action-adventure feel, which breaks the monotony of farming all day or talking to random townsfolk. The RPG elements are more surfaced in this game too, giving me visual insight to some of my more long-term goals. All I want to do is level my character, Trick McSwag, to the max now. I will admit though that I’m absolutely awful at fishing and my farm is still in shambles, but all that means is that I still have a lot to do and even more to learn about my wondrous little town. Stardew Valley is a quaint little game full of magic and mystery; I can’t get enough of it!
#7. Darkest Dungeon: The Crimson Court + Shieldbreaker DLC (Best DLC of 2017)
My favorite game of 2016 did not disappoint coming into a new year. When it was announced that DLC would be coming to Darkest Dungeon, I was beside myself. Any reason to return to the desolate manor for which I had been destined to purify was enough for me. With the introduction of the Crimson Court expansion, I found the game to be even more difficult than it once was, and I was all too happy for it. The new content added a new dungeon appropriately dubbed “The Courtyard”, which introduced a new campaign that could be played alongside the original content. Which was great for me, since I have yet to overcome the darkest of dungeons. It also brought new foes to slay, new bosses to be slayed by, and a couple of new mechanics. One which is absolutely essential to the game and the other that is more or less a pain to deal with. The “Districts” mechanic adds a slew of new upgrades for your Hamlet in the form of new buildings that provide both active and passive buffs to your economy and heroes. Knowing that my heroes will passively de-stress if I build a Puppet Theater is nice, having my gold increment by 5% each week is even better! It provides more depth to an already deep game. The second mechanic is cool in theory and annoying in practice. The Crimson Curse, a vampiric condition that can really hamper your heroes’ worth in fights, relies on rarely dropped blood vials and makes for an interesting challenge that can escalate into pure madness if left unchecked. The final added feature to the game via the Crimson Court is a new class called the Flagellant, that is awesome and adds to the ever-growing roster of hero types. Couple that with the new Shieldbreaker class from the self-titled DLC, and you have a whole new bag of dreary, murdery goodness. I’ve spent countless hours this year still trying to master the dungeons laid before me and the new expansions help with that in new and exciting ways! I wouldn’t be surprised if this game appears in my list next year too, with the announcement of yet another DLC, Darkest Dungeon: The Color of Madness, slated for this spring.
#6. Final Fantasy XIV (Best MMO of 2017)
I had a hard time picking between this game and another MMO, The Elder Scrolls Online, but considering the amount of time I spent in the wonderful world of Eorzea this year, I had to go with Final Fantasy XIV. The game doesn’t do anything ground breaking in terms of games or even in terms of the MMO genre. But where it doesn’t impress in new ideas, it absolutely floors the competition in terms of nailing the love letter aspect for the Final Fantasy series. The game boasts one of the most beautiful soundtracks of any game, ever. It’s a wholly original composition, but evokes the nostalgia of listening to the litany of OST’s the series has had. The game still holds up graphically and I often find myself in awe of some of the more scenic areas of the game. The amount of content available can be a bit intimidating, but given the time, I found myself intrigued by everything the game had to offer. The various updates are plentiful and frequent, adding various story arcs with each big update, bug fixes, new areas to explore and new creatures to fight. The expansions do this to a higher degree, but even the smaller, free updates make the game worth playing. Sure, the game can be a bit of a grind, but it is an expected attribute that comes with the genre and the traditional roots that the game is planted in. For those who care, my main is a heterochromatic Lalafell named Kyon Koizumi and he is a badass. Well, more-so he’s adorable. But he’s an adorable badass. And to be able to create such a persona in a world brimming with character, is an enthralling experience I hope to return to soon.
#5. PlayerUnknown’s Battle Grounds (Best Multiplayer of 2017)
PUBG, what a great game. I wasn’t even intending to play PUBG, until my friend gifted me a copy via Steam as an attempt to find a game that we could both enjoy. At first, I was put off by the hot mess that was the early access iteration. The game had issues, bugs at every turn, the airplane was obnoxiously loud at the start of each round, mid-match disconnects happened often. Also, I was reminded of just how painfully horrid I was at shooters on a mouse and keyboard. And to shake the rust off was a long process. The grind was tedious, countless matches of being a bullet sponge for my buddy only to watch him mow down enemies left and right for the remainder of the game, before the reality of being outnumbered was too much even for him. But then the magic began to show. The thrill of my first kill, finally being able to handle the recoil with an appropriate amount of control, understanding the bullet drop at specific ranges. I was hooked. Soon one kill turned into two, and with confidence in my ability to take down an enemy early and often, we set our sights on more “spicy” areas, such as school and the military base. What started as duos, quickly evolved into full squad games with friends and coworkers alike, all with one goal in mind: get a Chicken Dinner. The games were intense and the moments of closely fought shootouts, where we overcame insurmountable odds became addicting. I had fallen into the trap, the trap that had caught millions of players around the world. And finally, I got a Chicken Dinner, then another, and yet another. The game became better, improving on the quality with less bugs and more guns. It was no longer a wreck; it was polished, it was a game that was worthy of all of its popularity. I have since fallen off of the game, as has my friend who got me into it in the first place. But the time I spent in the buildings of Pochinki or the hills outside of Rozhok with my old buddy from high school is enough for me to have put it this high on my list.
#4. Domina (Best Short Game of 2017)
I found Domina through the often-unreliable suggestions list that Steam provides. Little did I know that this game was both surprisingly deep and addictive. You take on the role of a Lanistae of a ludus, or gladiator school, who is tasked with rising through the ranks of countless other ludi and Roman figureheads by defeating regional gladiator champions. The mechanic is simple: train slaves and warriors alike to become stronger and faster, all the while balancing your economy to be able to properly feed those gladiators with food and water, and bribe various Roman officials to set up matches in order to gain notoriety and win even more gold to continue the cycle. Matches play out either with the AI controlling both sides of the fight or taking control of the gladiator yourself. I mostly let the AI play out the matches, as I liked the RNG aspects of letting the computer decide the victor. The cycle is addicting, often playing out in a rogue-like manner of perma-death for any gladiators who fall in the arena. There were countless moments where I yelled at my screen in frustration as I watched one of my strongest gladiators fall at the hands of five or six much weaker opponents because I forgot to bribe the Roman official for a fairer match. But each moment of heartbreak was matched with moments of triumph. There were a handful of times when I had a weak fighter with not a sword, shield, or piece of armor to their name, take down a well-equipped fighter because a sword was thrown to my gladiator from the crowd above. The soundtrack is an upbeat assortment that matches the tones of the intense fights happening on screen. Even the art style of the game, in all of its pixelated goodness, fits the tone of the game well; utilizing contrasts of red every time a fighter would fall, to offset the darker color palettes of blacks and browns. The best part of the game was definitely the twist at the very end that entails a hidden mechanic, which I will not spoil here. In short, play this game!
#3. Slime Rancher (Best Surprise of 2017)
How do I even talk about this game? Well, let me try. Slime Rancher is by far the biggest surprise for me this year. An early-access game turned 1.0 release where you play as a slime rancher who has taken over a run-down ranch (sound familiar to another game on this list?) on a far-off planet. The main goal of this game is to collect these little cute balls of various elements called slimes and bring them back to your ranch in order to collect “plorts” to sell on the “plort market”. With me so far? Slime Rancher is the rightful successor for the people who played Viva Piñata. An experience full of cuteness and adventure, all packed into a tightly designed world of wonder. The slimes are absolutely adorable, they make funny sounds, and funny faces and they’re everywhere. The entire game is one huge bundle of cuteness, slimes, plorts, exploration, gadgets, and upgrades. Seriously, this game has so many upgrades! The world referred to as the “Far, Far Range” is brimming with slimes both good and bad, as well as beautiful and interesting landscapes that all lean to a certain type of element, both expected and unexpected. My wife and I eagerly made our way through the game, collecting slimes and fruits, upgrading corrals and gardens, solving puzzles to unlock new areas, learning the mysteries of this world, figuring out what best to feed each of our slimes in order to get the most plorts out of them. All of it was so fun, so…weird. The game even let you craft various gadgets to help make your life on Far, Far Range easier. Need a teleporter to get around to the different zones quicker? Sure. How about building toys for your slimes so they are happier in their corrals? Why not. I could honestly write about this game all day, but for the sake of this list, I won’t. Slime Rancher is too cute for its own good, and a great game at that.
#2. Rainbow Six Siege (Best Game as a Service of 2017)
Sometimes, it takes time for a game to grow. And time was exactly what Rainbow Six Siege needed in order to become what it is now. When I first played this tactical shooter during its release in fall of 2015, I was underwhelmed and was ultimately left disappointed. The game had server issues from the outset, the operators were too few and suffered from being imbalanced. To be honest, the game was very much empty in delivering the promise of great gameplay and fun. That emptiness felt familiar, considering the odd tone of Ubisoft’s stage presentation for Siege at E3 the summer prior. Everything just felt off and I stopped playing after a couple of months.
What brought me back to the game was word of mouth. Reading articles, watching videos of fans and media alike that were stunned by the amount of work Ubisoft had put into their broken mess was unbelievable. I had to give it another chance, and so, I convinced my wife to try the game out with me, picking up a couple of copies via Steam. And it turned out that Siege was a tremendous accomplishment. A true comeback story of a developer turning a poorly launched title with limited features and core balancing issues, into a platform that was setting the standard for how a game as a service should be done. The only issue was that we were not very good with mouse and keyboard, something that would make the gameplay suffer, as we spent most of our time watching teammates, rather than playing ourselves. People were just faster, and much, much better. In the fall, we decided to make the switch back to the PS4, where I had first played the game. I immediately fell in love. The game now boasts a wide variety of operators, with 36 at the time of this article, all balanced to perfection (minus Ela: way too good and Tachanka: way too bad), a major improvement over the measly 20 available at launch. There were now so many different ways to play what was once a stale version of attack and defend. It had nuance. Operators such as Caveira were changing the way attackers approached their target, being careful as to not be snuck up on, despite her ability to mask the sound of her footsteps. Defenders were no longer just waiting to die in the boarded-up room that they were assigned to protect. Players had options. Attackers also got some more flavor. Hibana made the once slow and treacherous job of breaching quicker and less predictable. Her X-KAIROS launcher allowed for attackers to breach from range, giving her team opportunities for longer ranged firefights, which could give the advantage to better protected operators, such as Blackbeard with his rifle-shield.
Operators weren’t the only improvements that Siege provided. Better server stability led to finding matches quicker, without worry of a disconnect. Maps were free upon release, providing tweaks in gameplay from a different perspective. The game even started appeasing to the “hats” side of me, with the various weapon skins you could unlock in the game. There were many other forms of progression, like being able to unlock new operators and attachments without ever spending real money. Sure, the newer operators are far more expensive (25,000 renown/operator) than those from the base game (500-2,000 renown/operator), but even the grind isn’t as egregious as it is in other games. Renown comes quick and steady, and provides a good amount per match regardless of the amount of kills you get. Ubisoft recently announced a third year of content, coming with new operators and maps, ensuring the longevity of the game. Siege makes the idea of a game as a service more appealing, and it hardly feels old, even two years after launch. Plus, the amount of time I have played this game with friends and the awesome moments I’ve captured through video are also good reasons as to why this game is my second favorite title of this year.
#1. Stellaris: Utopia (Best Game of 2017)
A growing trend that I have seen for my personal game preference, is that I really do enjoy complex and strategic genres. Enter: Stellaris. A game that admittedly, I didn’t start playing until it was one of Humble Bundle’s monthly deals during the spring of this year. Regardless, it quickly became the game I lost myself in. Stellaris can be best described as a space-faring 4X game. But it’s so much more than that. It’s an experience that actually made me feel powerful and weak at the same time. I had moments where I was on a tear, ripping apart enemy empires and the fleets that protected them, all the while allying myself with those that I felt would cause more trouble to take by force. I felt unstoppable. Other times, I was the weak empire that was split in two by a war where I was on the losing end, without resources and near the end of my reign. I’ve lost far more matches than I have won to be honest, but that’s why I love this game. It challenges me in ways that oftentimes seem overwhelming, but never impossible. There’s always a way back into the game, usually portrayed in the offering by a stronger empire to make you their vassal, or a trade deal by a long-fallen entity to give you some of their lost technology. Stellaris has a way of being this amazing world that often seems like it’s wrapped up in an endless stream of nonsensical menus, but that’s just not true. Yes, there are a lot of menus, but each and every one of them has vital information that gives you more insight into the universe that you’re a part of. Political strife within your empire, resource management, military power, it all matters. It’s a balance, and understanding every part of Stellaris is instrumental in mastering the game. I even convinced my friend to get the game, so that we could play together. We’re not good online against other players, but we have spent countless hours waging war in massive universes with countless AI-controlled empires in hopes that we would come out on top.
But it didn’t just end with the base game, I soon found myself buying each and every single one of Stellaris’ many DLC’s. The library of content included the lore-building expansions of Leviathans and Synthetic Dawn story packs, species additions such as last year’s Plantoids and the newly arrived Humanoids species packs, to the truer expansions like Utopia, which changed some fundamental mechanics with how the game is played. Stellaris also joins a short list of games where I have become obsessed with their planned and scheduled updates. Currently, Paradox Interactive is mapping out key changes coming in their 2.0 update, which is dubbed “Cherryh", and I can’t get enough of the information they’re sharing. This game was by far the best thing that I experienced this year and it’s only going to get better in 2018.
Here we are, mere hours away from ringing in the New Year. But before we bring in 2017, let’s celebrate 2016 one last time with a look back at my favorite games that were released within the year. There were plenty of great games that came out. There were strong showings for both AAA and indie titles, and I was lucky enough to play a good bit of both. Unfortunately, I couldn’t play them all, but that’s why there is always a top 10 list of “old” games for every year, it gives me an opportunity to praise those games that I couldn’t play in the year of their release. If you haven’t checked that out, you can click here.
But enough of my babbling, let’s begin! Once again, my wife has included a small list of her favorite new releases that will follow mine.
Top 10 Games of 2016:
10. Overwatch
Ah, yes, the darling child of the industry this year is undoubtedly on my list of best new games as well. Blizzard’s newest outing proves their developer mettle once again with a solid competitive shooter that packs in a whole bunch of style. The mechanics are a hybrid of your typical shooter tropes, mixed with a dash of character-specific MOBA-like abilities, including a unique ultimate skill as well. The characters, or heroes, are what make this game shine above the rest of the shooter genre though. They’re varied, with each hero’s personality being on display at all times, and it’s ridiculously charming! It’s also nice that Overwatch was kind enough to purposefully hide players’ kill-death ratios in matches, and instead focuses on the positive things that every player is doing to help their team. It’s a nice change of pace to enjoy a shooter that isn’t all about comparing stats to see who is better. The reason it doesn’t place higher with me, however, is that I find the maps and modes to be a bit on the thin side. But what Blizzard achieved here is still nothing short of amazing.
9. Doom
I’ll be honest, I wasn’t expecting much out of id’s reboot of one of the most iconic franchises in gaming history. But this Hell-diving, demon-exploding, balls-to-the-wall adventure came out of the gate firing (literally), and it never looked back. Doomguy is more loveable than ever, with his “I don’t give a shit about anyone or anything” attitude, and the new glory kill system is not only clever, it’s downright visceral. The game looks gorgeous on both PC and console. The story is engaging, and the small amount of humor sprinkled throughout the levels is welcomed. The game knows exactly the direction in which it wants to go, all the while embracing what made the series a hit in the first place. Sure, the multiplayer is a bit lackluster and the SnapMap creation tool could use some refinement, but overall Doom shocked me, just like it did the rest of the world.
8. Gears of War 4
Speaking of nostalgia, the one game that enticed me to finally pick up an Xbox One just so I could relive my teenage years is also one of my favorite games of the year. I haven’t gotten to play much of the story, which is arguably why I’m attracted to the series in the first place, but I have enjoyed plenty of Horde mode with friends and family. The mode is very similar to previous iterations, with some new additions such as a class system to imply more focus on teamwork and less focus on run-and-gun. The multiplayer is as fast-paced as ever, to my dismay, and the trash-talk feels like it hasn’t changed since I last left. I mean, in my first game I was called a scrub by what sounded like a 10-year-old. Yup. It’s Gears. It’s more of the same awesomeness that I enjoyed during high school and college, and I’m okay with that!
7. Forza Horizon 3
What a strange year for games. I mean, the fact that I played a racing game at all is an oddity in itself, but to have one in my top 10? Craziness. Forza Horizon 3 is the first racing game that I have played since my beloved Burnout Paradise, and for good reason. The racing genre has been rather stale for a while now, but I honestly think that the third installment of the Horizon series highlights what makes racing fun. It’s more about the speed and feel of how the cars drive and the sights you see along the way that make Horizon 3 a hit. Australia is beautifully rendered in what I consider to be the best-looking game I’ve played in recent memory. The way the single-player unfolds, allowing you to go wherever you wish and do whatever race you want, all the while not hampering the experience with a different car requirement at every turn (pun intended) makes it feel more like a love-letter to racing games, and not just another racing game. I haven’t tried the multiplayer yet, and I might not ever, but to be able to drive the best feeling, looking, and sounding cars in the industry is enough reason for me to give this the nod as one of the best games to have come out this year.
6. Turing Test
Without going too far into spoiling this one, I’ll say this: play it. The puzzle-like mechanics of the game, which are similar to Portal, are entertaining and make you think. It was fun to go through the multiple levels, solving puzzle after puzzle in hopes of that next bit of conversation between the A.I. named T.O.M. and newly-awoken space scientist, Ava. The story is enthralling and really touches on some bigger-than-life issues regarding the advancement of A.I. Turing Test also has some great use of lighting effects that I think everyone should see. It’s not the longest game on this list, but it’s definitely worth the playthrough.
5. Titanfall 2
The game with by far the cleanest shooting and movement mechanics this year is Titanfall 2. I loved every moment of this game. The story included in this highly-anticipated sequel delivers in a huge way. For one, there is actually a story this time around. You won’t get any spoilers from me here, but the danger presented in this game is both strange and exciting. This leads to some of the best set-pieces in any game I have ever played. I was often times left sitting there with my mouth agape asking “what just happened?”. BT, your titan companion, is easily the best character in the game, and is full of personality that is unexpected robot humor, but humor nonetheless. The multiplayer takes all of those mechanics and cranks it up to 100, but at the same time never seems too fast or leaves you wondering how you died. So much titan goodness!
4. Killing Floor 2
The wife and I played a fair amount of Killing Floor 2 over the past couple of years and it has finally dropped the “early-access” moniker in exchange for a full release, but it’s still an amazing wave-based survival shooter. The shooting and movement are straight-up Unreal Tournament, minus the low-gravity, and the look is very similar to that of a Doom game, but that’s not a bad thing. I spent hours mowing my way through waves of Zeds, only to get ripped apart by the final boss wave again and again. The class progression system keeps the game from feeling stagnant and the maps are gorgeous vistas with winding paths and hallways that will either be your quickest way of escape or the final resting place for your poor soul. The weapons range from old to new, standard to archaic, and come with various attachments to spice up your murder spree. Also…there are katanas in this game, guys, katanas!
3. Overcooked
Since Towerfall, I haven’t had the excitement of a good couch-coop game. Enter: Overcooked. The game where chaos is just another day at the…kitchen? The world is ending and there’s only one way to save everyone from the apocalypse: be simply one hell of a chef. Seriously though the game is endearing on all levels, the sound design, the look and feel, and even the various unlockable characters are adorable. The wife and I have played this game with a couple of groups of friends and each experience was wholesomely enjoyable and unique in its own way. Rushing around the small kitchen maps trying to gather, chop and cook the ingredients to satisfy your customers has never been so exhilarating. The real challenge lies in how the maps change throughout the middle of a round, with floors rising, counter-tops floating to another side of the stage, or having to cook food while riding on the back of three moving flat-bed trucks. Oftentimes it turns into everyone yelling at each other to take the pot off the stove or else suffer yet another kitchen fire, but it’s all in good fun. I’ve become recently obsessed with trying to get 3 stars on every level, now I just need to find the right cooking crew to do it. I’ll get there!
2. Hitman
The newest Hitman has proven that even the biggest of titles can go episodic if done correctly. Seriously, the way that this game was released is as good as the game itself. Being able to play a new level every couple of months and having the time in between releases to master your hitman craft on each map is a blast! The game does a great job at giving you a laundry list of ways to tackle each level. You can kill your target both traditionally and non-traditionally. Want to casually pop the target in the back of the head with a silenced ICA Silverballer while no one is looking? Done. How about killing the first target by pushing the second target off of the balcony onto them in front of everyone? Sure! I spent hours on the couch with my wife crafting the best hit, only for us to botch it up at the last conceivable moment. There’s still plenty of the game that I haven’t experienced yet, only because my drive for perfection has me trying to get every 'mastery unlock'. The story isn’t anything extraordinary, but it’s enough to keep you engaged from episode to episode with some well-acted cut scenes before and after each level. There are even challenges that require you to kill a certain target in your first try, for fear of never being able to replay the hit again! IO Interactive recently announced that they’re doing a second season, and I’m so ready for it!
1. Darkest Dungeon
The best game for me in 2016 also happened to be the most punishing game I played this year. Darkest Dungeon is a rogue-like dungeon-crawler mixed with several RPG elements and smothered with a heavy dose of depression and angst. The art style is effective in bringing the maddening world’s creatures to life and capturing the despair that the protagonist should feel. The sound design brings all sorts of sludge, blood, and disease to echoing fruition. It’s just so hard to describe how desolate and terrible this game’s presentation makes it seem without actually experiencing it yourself. Add onto this setting with some of the most punishing gameplay and you’ll be in for quite the ride. The rogue-like mechanics of constantly watching your newly hired adventurers die as they explore the ever-foreboding passageways of the dungeons under your inherited mansion is heartbreaking. One moment you can feel on top of the world with your high-leveled mercenary cutting through waves of undead in one hallway, only for it to be dashed away as they are driven insane and struck down with a heart attack in the next room. The key to the game is finding balance in choosing the right quest for your heroes, managing their stress levels, and collecting loot to further achieve your goals. The boss fights are super punishing and drained me of my morale so quickly that I often times had to stop playing for a couple of days just to stave off the madness myself. The best part about the game though is the narrator, who was the patriarch of this once great estate. His insights into the ghastly world that he wrought upon the player is like listening to a poet whose only way of passing time was to memorize every word in the dictionary and subsequently the thesaurus. He is the reason why my favorite word now is ‘antediluvian’. Please do yourself a favor and play this game if you like challenging experiences with a great aesthetic. I’ve still yet to beat the game, but I fully intend to close the darkest of dungeons, even though it will take me well into the next year.
Waifu’s Top 3 Games of 2016:
3. Killing Floor 2
So, the husband and I played this when it was still in early access, but we loved it nonetheless. The level designs were sharp and well-done and I really didn’t get the sense that the game was unfinished. Nothing was bare, nothing seemed lacking. Overall, for an early access game, it was definitely top notch. The absolute cherry on top to me is the speed metal that plays throughout each level. I mean, there really is no other way to murder zombies (or “zeds” in this game) than by listening to the soothing tunes of speed metal. The shop system is quick and easy to use, which is great considering you only have a limited time until it closes up before the next wave. Each different class comes with its own weapons, so one must decide, “How do I want to murder zeds today?” It’s such a hard choice, but I’m a fan of dual-wielding revolvers or the good ol’ fashioned double-barreled shotgun. There are many varieties of zombies to keep the game different and fresh feeling, and the boss fights are nothing to sniff at. My most hated variety? The Sirens. Scrawny, harpy-looking witches that stun you when their scream hits you, and they are wickedly hard to kill. Stupid Sirens. TL;DR? Killing Zeds to speed metal? Don’t threaten me with a good time.
2. Hitman
Just how many ways are there to murder a target? According to our famous Agent 47, quite a lot. Found a Vampire Magician costume in the attic of a Parisian fashion show? Why not put it on and murder someone in it! Found a fire axe that is in no way able to be concealed? Why not run around until you found your target and murder them with it! I’m garbage with being sneaky and even worse with tactics, but this game makes both of those things fun and worth attempting. It’s all about finding the best, easiest, hardest, most extravagant ways to take out your target. It’s like a puzzle game to be honest, with a dash of murder thrown in there. Since the missions are released episodically, it’s a good excuse to go through each mission time and time again to not only find multiple ways to take out your target, but to also complete many of the challenges that are presented to you. The most difficult challenge to date for me is when you have to go through and take out your target without alerting anyone, without using a disguise, and without being recorded by a security camera. We haven’t managed to do it yet with any of the missions, but I imagine we will at some point. This game has amazing replayability, and that is one of the must-haves in a game to make it amazing in my book. TL; DR? Find ALL THE WAYS to murder someone! Especially the stupid ways!
1. Titanfall 2
Okay so I had a LOT of hope for this game. The first one was a complete let down, as it was essentially Call of Duty with mechs. As someone that detests Call of Duty with every fiber of my being, the original Titanfall was a real bummer. However, seeing all of the trailers for Titanfall 2, I was super pumped, as it looked like they had adjusted a lot of game mechanics, and beefed up the titan play. And I was right. My husband and I bought two copies, but I played a good portion of the campaign on his copy to make sure I really did want to open mine and play. Wall running is a blast, and it is an easy thing to catch on to. The shooting is extremely clean, and turn rate is neither too fast nor too slow…it’s just right. I really appreciated that. The choice of guns and grenades was excellent, and I didn’t really feel like there was a bad choice for anything. Sniping was fun, as the hit box for enemies’ bodies/heads actually felt accurate. I never once felt like I was staring at someone’s face down the scope, yet they were still juking the shot based on the hit box being impossibly tiny. But let’s be honest, the real reason I enjoyed this game was the titan combat. Well, and just the titan in general. BT was a joy in all of his literal nonsense. He reminded me very heavily of Drax the Destroyer from Guardians of the Galaxy. It was fun to choose the funny/sarcastic replies to BT, knowing he had a literal response. The titan combat was smooth and the different classes you had access to were excellent. The story was intriguing, which, again, let’s be honest, isn’t always the case with a shooter. I haven’t even ventured into the online portion of this game, but that just tells you how much I love the campaign and the mechanics and feel of the game if I am putting this at #1 on my 2016 games list. To me, a shooter is excellent if an FPS noob such as myself can feel comfortable. You can always ramp up the difficulty to make it harder if you deem it necessary. If an FPS is approachable and doesn’t feel like you have to be part of an elitist club in order to play it successfully, then I classify that game a thumbs-up. TL;DR? Oppa Gundam style!
We hope you enjoyed the lists for our personal favorite games of 2016. We will see you in 2017!
As the final days wind down for 2016 I am left with mixed feelings about how the year went. We lost a lot of great people in the entertainment industry, and we watched the world burn and tear itself apart in various regions. Sure, there were positive things that happened this year, but even I am struggling to think of any at the moment… And that’s why I think I value video games so much. They’re a great way to get away from the world, or at the least, distract you for even the smallest amount of time. So, that’s what we’re here to celebrate from the year of 2016! And to help me present the best games this year, I have included my wife in the discussion. She will add a small list of her favorite games as well.
As many of you who know, I am as big a lover of old games as I am of new games. So, like last year, I have broken down my top games of 2016 into two lists: one for old games and one for new releases. In addition, you will find that I have also expanded my list of old games from 5 to 10. This is largely due to the fact that I have somewhat broken myself of a certain game, one of which you will still find in the list down below, and have made time to play many more games this year from my backlog.
Top 10 Old Games of 2016:
10. Destiny
I had a blast playing this game with my wife and a few friends. The shooting was solid, the missions were fun and the loot system was addicting. I spent countless hours doing strikes and playing Crucible. But the reason that the game didn’t leave a longer lasting impression was the lack of a party-finder system. We struggled to get enough people on to make it through the first two raids. I also had an issue with the amount of grind that was needed in order to obtain the required Light Level for some of the content. And after it was all said and done, I didn’t have the patience to try and get a group together for the final raid of The Taken King, King’s Fall.
9. Fallout 4
I’ll be honest, I couldn’t bring myself to purchase this game last year. It was mostly because I felt that I couldn’t support a product that was going to be broken out of the gate. Sure, I love Bethesda and their open world games, but I have long since been fatigued by their “jank”. So, I waited until this year, when patches and bug fixes a plenty had been added. And I was not disappointed. The world of post-apocalyptic Boston is filled with danger and amazing moments just waiting to be discovered. There’s not much more to say about this game. It’s a Fallout game, nothing more to it. But feeling the rush of excitement as you raise the lift to the outside world for the first time, or retaking the Castle from the mirelurks sticks with you. And the base-building system was way more fun than I had anticipated!
8. Bloodborne
The game that makes me love my masochistic tendencies. This game is brutal. I died, a lot. But the world is enthralling and the crazed characters that you meet along the way make for an immersive world. The enemies are varied and the weapons that you have at your disposal are both absurd and awesome! Played it, died, loved it.
7. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
This past summer, my wife and I decided to play through all of the PS2-era GTAs and it was a blast. I found that CJ’s outing was the best of the bunch through the sheer amount of content available. You can race cars, hit the gym, do the various story missions, and even go out on dates. The game even has Samuel L. Jackson in it! San Andreas is also responsible for my love of 90’s gangster rap. Sorry to those who have ever ridden in a car with me.
6. Minecraft
Okay, confession time: I actually don’t look at Minecraft as much of a video game. For me it’s a way to relax when I’m too tired to want to do anything else. It’s also a great way for me to get most of my OCD tendencies out. My wife and I have a world with another friend of ours and it’s slowly become a monster of a place with many projects scattered throughout its landscape. Some are completed, and some are barely even realized, but that’s where the beauty lies. The only issue that I have is that my wife thought it’d be a great idea to have 900 sheep right outside of our main house. So much baa-ing…
5. Trivial Pursuit Live!
The only game on this list that makes me feel like a genius one moment, only to dash those feelings away in the following minute. It’s my go-to game when we have company over and it’s such a blast. The questions are rarely repeated and the fun had from watching people get an obvious answer wrong is so addicting. It was the one game that I kept coming back to this past year. Also, I’m tired of people skipping the sports category, it angers me…
4. Until Dawn
I’m so upset that I didn’t get around to playing this game last year as it would have easily made my Top 10 list. The scares are fantastic, the characters are well-acted, and the tech behind the motion capture is top-notch! I ended up playing the entirety of it with my wife and a couple of friends. It turned into a mini-game of passing the controller back and forth and trying to make sure we didn’t get anyone killed. Mission accomplished! We have plans to go back through the game at a later date just so we can see the deaths of every character in glorious, gory fashion. I’m really hoping that Supermassive Games does a sequel!
3. Dota 2
Ah, my old friend, my old enemy. For years now I have struggled with accepting the pull this game has over me. Not so much because I think it’s a bad game, but more so that it has interfered with my other gaming habits in the past. I’ve accepted the beast that is this MOBA and through accepting its place, I have learned to control my urges to play it. It’s still by far the most competitive game I’ve ever come across and its complexity makes most other games pale in comparison. Hell, even watching the esports scene is addicting. Valve has also done a great job with updating the game, and has even gone so far as to completely revamp the leveling system to include talent trees similar to that of Heroes of the Storm with introduction of the 7.00 patch. I know that it will remain on my best games lists for years to come, but I’m proud to say that it will no longer hamper my love for other games.
2. Gears of War 3
Another series that I decided to take my wife through after picking up a couple of Xbox Ones was Gears of War. The third game is the best of the series and is arguably the most emotional. Watching the “dude-broness” unfold for it to only turn into the saddest moment when Dom makes the ultimate sacrifice is not only jarring, but also a reminder that this series' characters are actually in real danger. The cover-based fun is ramped up to 10 in an all-out war against the Locust with plenty of chain-sawing goodness to be had by all. It was nice to replay one of my all-time favorite series again and to watch my wife become a fan in the process. Spoiler alert: it still holds up.
1. Age of Empires 2 HD
There is so much to be said about my favorite RTS of all-time. I purchased the HD re-release years ago, but never truly got pulled back into the medieval bloodshed until this year. It’s rare that a game this fun teaches you something. I remember playing this game when I was 10 and learning all sorts of fun facts about some of the most famous heroes in history. Couple all of this nostalgia with some new expansions from Skybox Labs, equipped with all new campaigns and civilizations, and I was hooked for far too many hours. I’ve recently gotten my wife and a friend into it, and there is something to be said about playing a game of all-random Regicide against well-designed bots and watching the back and forth of Skirmishers and Knights for hours. I’m even loving the new aesthetics of buildings when playing as some of the newer civilizations. I haven’t found my new favorite yet though as I am still getting used to their tech trees. Call me old-fashioned, but the Britons' Longbowmen and the Vikings’ Berserks are still amazing, even in 2016.
Waifu’s Top 3 Old Games of 2016:
3. Destiny
Oh Destiny. Right when this game first came out, and I mean vanilla Destiny only. You know…the really short campaign that everyone was really confused about when they finished it and said, “that’s it?”. Yeah, that Destiny. When it first released, the husband and I were like, “Oh man this game looks really cool, but not $60 cool”. And we were right: totally not worth $60 up front. But then the DLC and add-ons started pouring in, the original game dropped to $30, and we were like, “A’ight, we’ll buy it now”. So we did. One copy of Destiny and a Destiny PS4 later, we were playing. And I loved it right away. Granted, I was absolute GARBAGE at first. Really glad it didn’t keep track of my hit percentage, because yikes. I’m garbage with practically all shooters though, so I was really impressed with this game. I was a glowy-eyed Awoken Titan that ran around punching EVERYTHING. We should probably sneak around and attack from behind? NOPE. LEEEEROOOOOOY JENKINS. That was my policy. That guy is three times my size? Gonna punch it. That eyeball thing has a shield? Gonna punch it. Going online into Crucible? Gonna punch everyone. In fact, that’s how I got the Triple Play trophy. I punched one of each class. That was my philosophy in this game: punch everything, with a side of gunfire and a dash of grenades. My husband just told me I could have summarized this with: Punched everything; Great game. Okay, I guess we’ll make that my TL;DR. But seriously, this was a really great game. The classes are fun, the world is beautiful, the combat is easy to catch on to, the online is (amazingly) NOT toxic, and the raids are difficult and require lots of teamwork. The only downfall: no team finding system. We struggled to find a total of 6 for raids, and it hampered us a lot. TL;DR? PUNCHED EVERYTHING; GREAT GAME.
2. Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
When I first heard about this game coming out, I got hit straight in the nostalgia. My all-time favorite Legend of Zelda game, and the first one I beat, was Link to the Past. Well, I gotta say, this is my new favorite Zelda game. If you’re a huge fan of Link to the Past (LttP for short), then Link Between Worlds (LBW for short) is an awesome game for you to play. The LBW world is built exactly the same as LttP; the graphics and colors are just a little sharper. The story, of course, is different, but it still ends up being a good story, especially since that's not the main focus. The dungeons are tough, with puzzles and no hand-holding, but they aren’t ridiculous (like some others can be). I was proud of myself: I found all of the side treasures, and managed to find EVERY. SINGLE. MAIAMAI in the game. There’s 100 of them, spread out between the light and dark worlds. So much running around, so much phasing onto walls and going between worlds to try to get where I needed to go. It was great. Overall, this game is an absolute ball if you are a LoZ fan and need a nostalgia trip. My next task? Getting Ocarina of Time for 3DS and beating that. THAT one has some tough dungeons…TL;DR? Right in the nostalgia!
1. Gears of War 3
All aboard the Feels Express! No, but seriously, this whole series was awesome. In order to play GoW 4, we decided we needed to play the other ones first. Good thing our GoW 4 came with free digital downloads for the first three + Judgment! I picked the third one of the series as my favorite for multiple reasons: the game play was the sharpest, the hit boxes for shooting felt the realest/best, and the story was so well written and executed. This game is a Bro Fest, 100%. When we started playing this series, I never expected to experience some real feelings while playing this chainsaw revving, doo-rag wearing, constant yelling, explosion filled Bro Fest. But I did. In the second game, when Dom had to make the decision to mercifully end his wife’s life, I hurt with him. But here in the third game, when the indestructible Tai Kaliso abruptly ended his own life with a shotgun after being rescued, I was shocked. I mean, my husband had even told me about this a few years ago, not thinking we’d ever have an Xbox to play it. I knew it was going to happen at some point and was still shocked. But you know what ruined me? Dom. Since we had been playing co-op since the beginning of game one, I was the one playing as Dom. I played as him for hours and hours of going through games one, two, and then a good portion of three until he died. I looked at my husband and demanded to know who I was going to be playing as now that Dom was gone. It was sad. He had to kill his wife, and then he made his own sacrifice to save his best friend and their crew. That’s the best bromance ever. It may even be better than JD and Turk, but don’t tell my husband I said that…TL;DR? Gears 3 was amazingly written with the perfect balance of explosions, chain saw guns and headshot pops with the heart-wrenching feelings you were made to experience.
There you have it! The Top Old Games of 2016! Be sure to check back tomorrow as we will reveal our favorite new games of 2016.
2015! Another great year in video games, am I right? There were plenty of things to get excited about from the past year, some expected and some not. We saw great introductions of new IPs, storied franchises see new chapters, and some games that were just down right weird. For me, this year was a strange one. The main reason for that is because I had less time to enjoy games this year, more so than any other year. I moved, twice. My household saw job changes, and with that new financial plans change the landscape of my gaming purchases. It was hard for me to get the time to play the big titles. But that's not a bad thing! Throughout this year I was able to find smaller gems that would have not otherwise caught my eye, and I am grateful for that. The following is my top 10 games of 2015.
10. Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes
Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes is the best cooperative experience I've had in years. That's one way to describe a game that entails people working with others to defuse a bomb with a manual. The catch being that the people with the manuals can't see the bomb, and the person with the bomb can't see the manuals. It brought out a whole new level of teamwork through vocalization that I never thought could be obtained between myself and my family. I took this over to my parent's house and played it with my wife, mother, and sister and quickly lost track of time playing the game. The thrill of describing each module and quickly trying to find the solution to defuse it, all the while seeing the timer quickly burn seconds was enough for me to recommend this game to anyone looking for a good party game. Just be prepared to argue a lot with your teammates!
9. BoxBoy!
Oh BoxBoy, how quirky you are. A game that I found myself downloading out of pure curiosity, coupled with a much needed desire to play a puzzle game. It proved much more fun than anticipated. I spent much of my free time working on how to keep my box count under the limit for each puzzle, just so I could be rewarded with another crown. The characters were simple, yet charming. And the unlockable costumes for your little box boy were addicting to get! Even the game's mechanics of placing boxes in order to move across the stage were easy to grasp, but hard to master. I found BoxBoy to be the perfect game to play in short bursts. And any game that gets me to bust out my 3DS is a good game to me!
8. Mortal Kombat X
Every year I crave a new fighting game, and most of the time I'm left disappointed at the selection of new fighters out each year. That's not to say I'm an elitist in any way, but I am picky with which fighters catch my eye. This year saw a new release from one of the most storied fighting series, and it gave me exactly what I desired! Sure the game is far from the perfection of Mortal Kombat 9, but to say that I didn't thoroughly enjoy the game's story would be a lie. I loved the new fighters that were introduced in the story and I loved the aged look of the old fighters. The mechanics were as smooth as ever, and they truly outdid themselves when it came to the visceral fatalities. I loved the introduction of different styles for each fighter, giving the game a more strategic feel. The game even looked good! I was a little let down with the lack of a proper challenge tower, like that of the last game, but the daily towers were a nice addition. It is still one of the few games that I return to, even months after launch. My friends and I setup a room and spend hours thrashing each other and talking tons of smack on occasion. And for me, that's enough to give this great fighter a spot on my list.
7. Nuclear Throne
So apparently this game has been in early-access for what feels like an eternity? Yeah, I didn't know that. I'm that guy that downloaded it on my PS4 after seeing Jeff and Dan play it in a Quick Look. This game is awesome! I'm rarely into rogue-likes, but I'm sure happy to have gotten my hands on this one. The overall style of the game is fantastic, in that sort of "we know we're making a bad-ass, over-the-top shooter" sort of way, and yet it's more than that. The controls are tight, the unlockable player-characters are funny, the guns feel epic, and the upgrades system feels appropriate for it's post-apocalyptic theme. Sure, the game is frustrating as hell at times, and if you ask my wife, Melting is the worst character ever. But I find this twin-stick shooter to be a great way to waste an afternoon.
6. Prison Architect
Speaking of games that have been in early-access for awhile, Prison Architect. I've played this game since it hit Steam, playing each of the alpha updates, and cringing at the long list of bugs that early-adopters had to go through. But over time this game got it's shine. The bugs were fixed, the features were fleshed out, and the game grew into an intoxicating sim game. I never knew that I wanted to build a prison and see to it's financially stability, but I do! The concept of introducing hundreds of different prisoners, each with their own stories to tell, and throwing them into a prison with guards that usually equal out to about a sixteenth of the populous is both exciting and scary. Even when things go horribly wrong (and they always do), I still had fun with it. Sure, half of the prison is on fire and the other half is rioting into a bloodbath, but at least my prisoner escape percentage is low. Plus I still always have the swat team to rely on to bail me out...right? This game is an easy recommendation for anyone out there that has the slightest interest in sims...or prisons...or both!
5. Wolfenstein: The Old Blood
Last year I ranked Wolfenstein: The New Order in my top 10 games. I don't find it hard to believe that the stand-alone expansion to that game has made it to my top 10 this year. Sure, the game plays a lot like The New Order, but for some reason I can't get enough of that old-school shooter. B.J. Blazkowicz is still the best representation of an action figure ever, and he doesn't let up in this game. Mowing down Nazis is still fun, and the game even changes up the pace a little by introducing some more stealth based areas. The story was also compelling, and helped to fill in some of the blanks left from last year's game. What I liked most about this game is that it offered a large amount of content (around 8 hours) for just $20. For me, you can't go wrong with a deal like that!
4. Super Mario Maker
Yep, I'm one of those people; I have fallen into the hole of endless levels and fun. And you know what? I don't regret a second of it! The concept is simple, and the execution is perfect. Being able to create and edit levels on the fly, then immediately test them out just by hitting the play button is amazing. There is so much to do in this game too. You can create levels with the extensive amount of tools and game pallets that they give you, you can go find and play other peoples' levels, or you can attempt a Mario Challenge or Event Course to unlock special costumes! I found this game to be much more fun than I ever expected from a Nintendo game that relied on an internet connection to fully experience. I'll still probably (definitely) will be playing this game a year from now.
3. Rocket League
I love soccer. So why wouldn't I love cars playing soccer? Another game with such a simple concept, and another perfect execution, Rocket League is the most fun surprise I had this year. The game is easy to grasp, but much harder to master. I stressed over this game on a daily basis about what I needed to do to get better and stay competitive. I discussed strategies with friends and trash-talked others. I scored epic goals and lost heart-breakers in overtime. Rocket League made me experience a plethora of feelings, most of them good. Everything about this game was fanatasic to me. So much that I bought the DLC hats and cars. I even bought the soundtrack (my first video game soundtrack purchase ever) because of how good it was! The game has since lost its appeal to me, but for the few months that I played it, I couldn't stop playing!
2. Dota 2
I'm sorry, I'm going to pull a Brad here. But damn if this game isn't the epitome of multiplayer perfection for me. Sure, this game came out in 2013 technically, but with all of it's constant updates and patches I feel like this game is a new game every year. I've put roughly 1,800 hours into it over the past two years, more so than anything else that I have played, and still I want more. I play it at least three times a week. There is just something to be said about the finely tuned mechanics and small nuances of this game and it's ecosystem. I love the free-to-play model of being able to have access to all of the heroes without ever spending a dime. But I'm also the first person to tell you that I obsess over compendiums and hats! I love this game, and have introduced countless people to it's existence; some loved it, some hated it. But there is something really rewarding about one of the most punishing and stressful multiplayer games out there. Yeah, the community is downright toxic, but I can't pull myself away from it's grasp. And you know what? I'm okay with it.
1. Contradiction: Spot the Liar!
Okay, so this game is downright the best game I played this year. I know that it sounds weird to say, but it's true. I loved every second I played of this game. From the start when Jenks walks into the village of Edenton, to the moment you find out who the killer is and the credits roll, I was enthralled. I loved the characters from top to bottom. The evil Paul Rand? Check. The super creepy James Wilson? Double-check. Despite the fact that the game is full FMV and lacks a real sense of gameplay, I loved it. The lameness was charming, and let's be honest, FMV isn't that awful of a game feature. The game was never terribly hard, except for a couple of key moments when the contradictions in the townsfolks' stories were harder to spot than usual. But even in those moments I relished the opportunity to find the truth. I stared, determined, at every little bit of dialog for the next clue, and beat the game in only 3 sittings. It was all I could talk about for a solid month, and I even convinced my mom to download the game! I'm sincerely hoping that Baggy Cat makes a sequel, because the game ends wtih so many more questions left on the table. Contradiction: Spot the Liar! is truly the best game of the year to me.
2015 was a great year in games! But before we get to my personal Top 10 for 2015, let's take a look back.
For anyone who knows me, I'm big into buying games and not getting around to playing them until later. Often times that means that I own big name games that I won't play until the year after their release, or even later. A good example of that is the Witcher 3, which I own, but have not played this year. So look forward to that appearing on my Best Old Games list next year. But enough about that, let's get to the list! The following are my favorite games that were not released in 2015!
5. The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD
Who could hate this game's visuals?
This year I found myself trying to justify my purchase of a Wii U. One of those justifications was beating some of my backlog for said console. I had never played the original version of this game for the GameCube, but my time with the re-release was a fantastic one. The gameplay was crisp and the visual style was charming. It's true open-world formula was vastly different from other games and for that I was grateful. I've been burned out on the series for awhile, but being able to play this old gem on a modern console was a great experience for me this year.
4. Mass Effect 2
Better gameplay, better game.
I decided to start the Mass Effect series mostly because of it's attention to character development, something both my wife and I are big fans of. While the first game was a great foundation to build upon, it was our time with the sequel that was truly rewarding. The refined combat was a big improvement over the previous iteration. The lack of Mako exploration was also a huge plus. And who doesn't appreciate a race against time with a bunch of aliens as your closest allies? I for one, loved it!
3. The Wolf Among Us
Awesome characters!
I usually shy away from Telltale games, not so much because I don't like their style of games, but mainly because I usually have a hard time swallowing the large amounts of regret from my decisions made in their games. This one was easier to get behind because I didn't feel like my every move was critical to the overall success of the story. In fact, the story was so fun to watch unfold, and the ability to be able to play all the episodes right in a row made the experience more concise and less drawn-out.
2. Town of Salem
A derpy, but fun game.
This game ended up being a simple way of burning time when my wife and I were bored. It became a game that was so addicting that it lead to most of our spring consisting of lying to complete strangers. Its take on Mafia and the overall environment of not having to be in the same room as your opponents made this game a nail-biter every time. Sure there are those moments when a game ended for us in the first night through vicious murder, but those were easily forgotten with rounds that had every bit of drama you could imagine from a game like this. The game wasn't terribly impressive on any level, but for me the fun was tremendous.
1. Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
The nemesis system made this game stand out.
My favorite old game of 2015 was one of last year's best games. Sure, I'm not the biggest Lord of the Rings fan, but this game was just too good in it's execution for me to care. The game was visually stunning, the characters were entertaining (I'm looking at you Ratbag), and the nemesis system was a genius game mechanic. The game never felt stale throughout my playthrough, and ultimately I value that highly in games. I wouldn't mind going back to Middle-earth in a sequel, please make it happen!
So there you have it! A quick list of my favorite old games of 2015. Early this coming week, I will be posting my personal Top 10 games of 2015. Stay tuned!
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