If you ignore all of the deaths and other events that have occurred this year, and just look at it from a gaming perspective, it was a fantastic year for gamers. Whether you enjoy shooters, puzzle games, or narrative driven experiences, there was a little bit of something for everyone this year. It was hard to just pick 10 for this list, but I have managed to do so after much deliberation and some tough choices. So, without further ado, here we go with my top 10 games of 2016.

#10 - Far Cry: Primal

I was surprised that I ended up liking this game, if we're being completely honest here. I played Far Cry 3 and 4 to lukewarm responses, getting about half way through those before getting bored and moving on to the next game. When Primal was revealed, I gave it zero thought, as the setting didn't amaze me like it did for others, and it was a Far Cry game. However, it was February, and with an open slot on my GameFly queue, I gave it a shot, and I ended up having a lot of fun with the game. You can ride a freaking mammoth. I remember one moment in the game where I just chased an animal for what felt like 10 minutes, only to kill it and then get blindsided by another animal who killed me. Normally, I'd be incredibly frustrated, but in this case, I laughed, because this felt like a new experience. The story wasn't amazing, but I can't complain overall about the execution of it all. Coming out of this game, it has made me care about Far Cry again, a possibility that I would not expect going in.

#9 - Gears of War 4

GEARS IS BACK, BABY! And back it is, as this game was a shit ton of fun. The story was what you'd expect from a Gears game, and it worked for me on every level. On top of that, the gameplay of this was the best of the series yet, the guns feeling oh so good as I mowed down rows of enemies in front of me, some getting the disparate fate of a chainsaw through the face. Horde mode is an enjoyable experience for me, a fun 4 player activity for myself and a few friends to run through on a Friday night. I can't ask for more for a game like this, and The Coalition delivered everything I could have wanted.

#8 - Deus Ex: Mankind Divided

Deus Ex is one of my favorite franchises in video games, and I came into Mankind Divided with high hopes for another Human Revolution-like experience. Whilst this was not that, it was still an enjoyable game nonetheless. The story felt rough in areas, with some of the themes explored being a tad bit questionable, but overall, it wasn't a detraction from the game in hand. Even with those gripes, I can respect this game for trying to hit the bigger picture in some regards, regardless of whether it was executed poorly or not. The gameplay, however, is what makes this game rank as high as it does. Not burdened by the fact that you have to kill anyone or play any shitty boss fights, the gameplay of Mankind Divided steps into a world of its own. Sneaking around and choking enemies feels fantastic, and it made me (a gamer who usually dislikes stealth) want to try it more to conquer the situation at hand. The guns feel fantastic as well, with the game having a shotgun that feels so very good to use. Good shotguns = more fun for me.

#7 - Total Extreme Wrestling 2016

And now we go to the game on my list that I am guessing most who will read this have never heard of. This is one of those games that I'm not entirely sure how I found out about. Heck, it's not even on Steam, making it even more obscure. However, this game is fantastic. What this is is a text-based wrestling game, where players can book their own promotion, controlling their day to day, the signing of talent, and everything else you can imagine when it comes to running a wrestling promotion. The game comes pre-packed with a fictional universe called the CornellVerse, but for those looking to book their own version of, say, the WWE for example, you are not out of luck. This game has a small but quality modding community, with users who create all sorts of real life scenarios and timelines for players to delve into and book. Want to re-book the infamous invasion angle of the early 2000s? You can do so. Want to push Sin Cara as the WWE World Heavyweight champion? Go right ahead, if your ratings won't tank. Needless to say, this is an incredibly entertaining game, one that I have spent many hours in toiling away, trying to take my company to the very top.

#6 - Battlefield 1

A FPS set in World War 1? That'll never work! This was the thought I had when the game was first announced. But, I will admit that at E3, this game won me over. DICE and crew managed to create a shooter that wasn't just a simple trench warfare game like I would have expected to come out of World War 1. You can shoot a variety of old-fashioned guns, drive tanks and planes, and once per match, you can witness the collapse of a giant fucking zeppelin. It's incredible. The campaign this game carries shows incredible respect for the war, respect that the marketing of this game probably should learn. The multiplayer felt fun as well, as players had the ability to go into each match, gun in hand, plane in sky, and have a large amount of fun every time you hit deploy. I've always been a fan of Battlefield, and 1 does nothing but continue my liking of DICE's series of first person shooters.

#5 - Out of the Park Baseball 17

Steam tells me that I've played this game for roughly 270 hours. I can believe it, because this game is just so much damn fun. Out of the Park Baseball is a series of incredibly depth and thorough baseball games, where users have the ability to manage an MLB team as their GM and/or manager, depending on what the player wishes to experience. The farthest I've got in this game is 2100, taking my Milwaukee Brewers to dynasty status, a thing I wish I could witness in real life. What sets this apart from any other text based simulator is its depth and options. This game has so many options that I feel like I am discovering new things every time I play. This year's version of the game brought an enormous improvement in terms of being able to play historical games, as the developers have added fully accurate historical minor leagues, making it possible to get the full experience as if you were in the 1920s. Props to Out of the Park Developments for creating an experience that I always feel like coming back to.

#4 - Hitman

Well, this one surprised me. After the absolute shitshow of Hitman: Absolution, I almost checked out of the Hitman franchise. If it wasn't for Brad and Dan's excellent series of videos, I'm not sure I would have bought this one. But after the release of the second episode, I caved in and bought it, and boy, Hitman is back. The six episodes IO have released have all been fantastic, with each map being a world that is chock full of secrets and fun ways to assassinate your targets. With the escalations and elusive targets also existing in the game, content is chock full in this game. With another season on the horizon, I am absolutely ecstatic for even more maps to fuck around in, as I now have full faith in IO to deliver an authentic Hitman experience that lasts until the final escape. You can also murder people with a battleaxe. Not sure what else you need.

#3 - Watch Dogs 2

I wanted to like Watch Dogs, the original. The concept of it intrigued me so much, but with the blandness of Aiden Pearce, and the repetition of the gameplay, I could not enjoy the game to its fullest. When Watch Dogs 2 was revealed as a game set in the hipster land of San Francisco, with an accompanying trailer that showed vibrance and fun, I was sold. Everything I saw in the lead up to this game made me absolutely ecstatic to jump into the world of Watch Dogs again. And boy, this game was everything that I wanted it to be and more. It was absolutely ridiculous in the best way possible. Ubisoft's creation of San Francisco is a vibrant playground, filled with opportunities for the player to do the craziest of shit in. The game was also gorgeous, it must be said. The story wasn't GREAT, but it was ridiculous enough to make me be able to write it off and just have fun with it. Also, you can drive a mechanical spider drone and destroy a secret lab facility. How fucking awesome is that?

#2 - Uncharted 4: A Thief's End

It should be noted that I am a gigantic fan of the Uncharted series. I, for one, love the gameplay, and feel that the story of each delivers in a convincing fashion. Going into 4, I was incredibly bittersweet as, as the title implies, this is the end of Nathan Drake. Part of me worried that this game wouldn't deliver, even though Naughty Dog gave me no reason to believe such a fact. I am happy to say that, for me, Uncharted 4 was a fantastic game in all marks. I was enthralled as I slowly made my way through each chapter, swinging through and shooting in the gorgeous set pieces created. The story touched me, as I truly bought into the narrative of the two villains and Nathan's newfound brother. And that epilogue. I'm not sure if I've ever been more brought to tears by a sequence in a video game than that. Seeing that Elena and Nathan had a daughter, one who is adventurous just like her parents, one who was curious to explore her home, it just.... hit me right in the heart. I found myself crying tears of joy as I just walked around as his daughter, excited that everything payed off through my long trek through this incredible four game stretch. On second thought, I actually cried more at The Last of Us, but this game did come close. Bravo, Naughty Dog. Bravo.

#1 - Titanfall 2

I can say that, without a doubt, Titanfall 2 is the most enjoyable multiplayer experience I have ever played. The movement feels better than ever. Variety of guns and abilities is abundant, with a number of different playstyles able to be played. The maps are all very well created with room for fun scenarios to play out. Pilot and titan gameplay both feel meaningful, and by the time I earn my titan, I am ready to jump in and destroy some fools. I don't have much more to say but that, as anything else will just sound like raving lunacy for a game I love so very much. Titanfall 2 is the best shooter I have ever played, and that is why it is my 2016 Game of the Year. And one last aside, fuck you EA for sending this game out to die. Fuck you so hard.

Well there we have it, my game of the year. Comment if you wish, feel free to ask questions, whatever floats your boat. I hope everyone enjoyed.