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[BGBW]

1. Splatoon ; One of the most refreshing games I’ve played in recent times. The swaths of new content for free is just the icing on the cake on what was already a great package.
2. Nintendo presents: New Style Boutique 2 - Fashion Forward ; My that’s a mouthful. I haven’t played the previous titles in this series but after hearing lots of good things on GAF about them I thought I’d give the latest release a butchers. If you’ve ever found yourself trying to dress your character in an RPG just the way you want them this is the game for you.
3. The iDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls: Starlight Stage ; Previously I had enjoyed a similar title, Love Live School Idol Festival, but after a while a few of the niggles in it began to tire me. Cindy Gals takes advantage of coming later and addresses these complaints making it a far neater package with a far superior presentation. And for a f2p game it’s surprisingly fair with the freebies. Not had to spend a penny on it.
4. Super Mario Maker ; A great and simple level maker, but held back by a community that 90% naff levels. Thank goodness for GAF eh.
5. The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D ; Originally didn't have this on my list since it's a remake, but after seeing other remakes/remasters, including Twilight Princess HD, I think MM3D should be regarded highly for just how much it did to improve on the original. OoT3D cleaned the original up, but MM basically sees every environment rebuilt while retaining a sense of familiarity.
x. Mario Kart 8 DLC 2 ; Beautiful. Plus with 200CC being patched in alongside it made Mario Kart 8 once again a favourite of the year.

 

[Grexeno]

1. Bloodborne ; Every single moment of this game you feel like a badass, even when getting your face munched by Lovecraftian nightmares.

2. Undertale

3. Pokemon Super Mystery Dungeon

4. Journey

5. King's Quest

6. Batman: Arkham Knight

7. One Piece: Pirate Warriors 3

8. Call of Duty: Black Ops III

9. Armello

 

[benny_a]

What?

The whole post attributes the wrong developers to the games.

 

[Timeaisis]

That's fine.

Something for you guys to listen to while you work on your ballots: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M94ii6MVilw

So do you guys ever post your votes?

 

[Grexeno]

The whole post attributes the wrong developers to the games.

Someone is clearly having a giggle.

 

[Ultimadrago]

What?

 

[OrbitalBeard]

edited the post, poor FFT0 nobody liked it so its not like it'll matter -_-

Shovel Knight 3DS, yes, it was a November 2015 release.

Shovel Knight was November 2014 on 3DS and Wii U.

Unless you got a boxed copy?

Shovel Knight was a June 2014 release on PC, Wii U, and 3DS (a few months later in Europe on Nintendo platforms). I don't see how the retail edition changes this. It's the same game.

It released in 2015 on PS4, Vita, and XB1.

 

[timetokill]

So do you guys ever post your votes?

I'll do mine sometime today. I think I've done mine on the last day of voting every year.

 

[IrishNinja]

1. Bloodborne ; just an excellent new take on the engine, possibly my favorite since Demons'
2. Yakuza 5; i mean, Kazzy's chapter ending alone, goddamn
3. Earth Defense Force 4.1; EDF! EDF!
4. Hotline Miami 2; A step back from 1 in a few ways, but i still dug it
5. OutRun 3D; ♫Magical Sound Shower♫
6. Shovel Knight; The first retro-style indie game i've played that felt like it just got it right
7. Majora's Mask 3D; GAF adores this one, but it's highly slept on & a great fit here, the OoT 3D engine just works
8. Dark Souls II: Sins; it's more souls
9. Grim Fandango Remastered; so glad more people got to experience this one! we need more noir
10. Rocket League; didnt get to play this one either but ive watched a number of matches, looks fun
11. Cosmic Carnage; Mark knows what's up

honorable mentions:
x Rare Replay; Okay i havent honestly played this or the Mega Man one but i support them!

sadly didn't yet play Undertale, Mario Maker, Witcher 3, Xenoblade, MGS V etc

 

[SaintMadeOfPlaster]

Last year we had the results up within 4 hours of the voting closing. This year we're aiming to significantly improve on that time.

Oh wow, great news! Thanks for all the work you guys put into this. I think I speak for most here when I say this is one of GAF's greater traditions.

 

[nib95]

1. Bloodborne ; A masterpiece that barely puts a single foot wrong. From the gorgeous art direction, the incredibly rich, striking atmosphere, the brilliant character and level design, the subtle but rewarding narrative delivery, through to the precision, reward factor and beautiful balance of the gameplay itself. The world is as engrossing as it is terrifying, and some of the boss battles simply immense.

2. Uncharted Collection ; I suppose this is here by default simply because it includes one of my favourite games of all time, and 1 and 3 whilst not up to the level of 2, are still an absolute tour de force. Bluepoint's work here really does the franchise justice.

3. Ori and the Blind Forest ; Combining a multitude of different ideas, some familiar to the genre and others more unique, together to make something that feels fresh, exciting and surprisingly creative. The gameplay is precise, and Ori simply fantastic to control. The game is immensely fun, emotionally resonant and captivatingly beautiful.

4. The Witcher 3 ;

5. Until Dawn ;

6. Project Cars ;

7. Halo 5 ;

8. Galak-Z ;

 

[DriftingSpirit]

Last year we had the results up within 4 hours of the voting closing. This year we're aiming to significantly improve on that time.

Considering that posting within 4 hours is already great time, being significantly over that this year will be fantastic!

 

[ViewtifulJC]

1. Bloodborne - just an excellent new take on the engine, possibly my favorite since Demons'
2. Yakuza 5 - i mean, Kazzy's chapter ending alone, goddamn
3. Earth Defense Force 4.1 - EDF! EDF!
4. Hotline Miami 2 - A step back from 1 in a few ways, but i still dug it
5. OutRun 3D - ♫Magical Sound Shower♫
6. Shovel Knight - The first retro-style indie game i've played that felt like it just got it right
7. Majora's Mask 3D - GAF adores this one, but it's highly slept on & a great fit here, the OoT 3D engine just works
8. Dark Souls II: Sins - it's more souls
9. Rare Replay - Okay i havent honestly played this or the Mega Man one but i support them!
10. Rocket League - Another i didn't get to play, but ive watched a number of matches, looks fun

sadly didn't yet play Undertale, Mario Maker, Witcher 3, Xenoblade, MGS V etc

this failed voting format smh Irish

 

[?oe?oe]

I hope the first post of the GOTY thread complains about the formatting: That'll be fun.

 

[Cheesemeister]

this failed voting format smh Irish

Just FYI...

ViewtifulJC DISQUALIFIED BALLOT HAS GAP

Comments: 0/6
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=192126926&postcount=2426
1. Pikmin 4, all but confirmed to come out this year - 4 points
2. oh good, I'm not the only one who's concerned about my lists looking too similar, look how varied and excellent my taste in games are - 3 points
3. actually 3D Mario - 3 points
x. Fat City
x. D Mario
x. Brunswick Pro Bowling
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=190882511&postcount=1635 - WIPED BALLOT
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=192123518&postcount=2409 - WIPED BALLOT

 

[SatoAilDarko]

Do I have to specify a version of Rodea (Wii or Wii U) or are both versions counted together?

 

[timetokill]

Do I have to specify a version of Rodea (Wii or Wii U) or are both versions counted together?

Don't specify.

 

[Cheesemeister]

Do I have to specify a version of Rodea (Wii or Wii U) or are both versions counted together?

I was going to count them together, but then AniHawk went and voted for them separately. It's one of the bigger messes I have to sort out today. I'm probably going to count them together.

 

[ViewtifulJC]

Just FYI...

RIP me

 

[timetokill]

I was going to count them together, but then AniHawk went and voted for them separately. It's one of the bigger messes I have to sort out today. I'm probably going to count them together.

That rascal!

 

[BumRush]

1. Bloodborne - just an excellent new take on the engine, possibly my favorite since Demons'
2. Yakuza 5 - i mean, Kazzy's chapter ending alone, goddamn
3. Earth Defense Force 4.1 - EDF! EDF!
4. Hotline Miami 2 - A step back from 1 in a few ways, but i still dug it
5. OutRun 3D - ♫Magical Sound Shower♫
6. Shovel Knight - The first retro-style indie game i've played that felt like it just got it right
7. Majora's Mask 3D - GAF adores this one, but it's highly slept on & a great fit here, the OoT 3D engine just works
8. Dark Souls II: Sins - it's more souls
9. Rare Replay - Okay i havent honestly played this or the Mega Man one but i support them!
10. Rocket League - Another i didn't get to play, but ive watched a number of matches, looks fun

sadly didn't yet play Undertale, Mario Maker, Witcher 3, Xenoblade, MGS V etc

Check your format!

 

[Calabria]

lol procrastinators voting last minutes

 

[IrishNinja]

this failed voting format smh Irish

Just FYI...

Check your format!

man, cheese even bolded the need for the semicolon in the OP...my bad, fixing now!

 

[SatoAilDarko]

Don't specify.

I was going to count them together, but then AniHawk went and voted for them separately. It's one of the bigger messes I have to sort out today. I'm probably going to count them together.

Thanks. Honestly if I didn't feel it was redundant and a waste of a space both versions would probably make my list. I actually did enjoy the Wii U version quite a bit.

There's nothing like the relationship between them. It's essentially one game being made into a different genre, arcade to adventures, with all the changes that entails. Just fascinating.

 

[kierwynn]

1. Undertale ; When my brother first recommended Undertale to me, I was some what intrigued. However, when I looked it up and saw some screenshots, it didn't seem like my kind of game, so I left it alone. Eventually, my friends played it and then my fiancé and I kept hearing more and more good things about it, so I decided to give it a try. Boy, am I glad I did. Undertale had everything I wanted in a game (interesting story, good twists, great characters, amazing music) plus more. There are so many small touches throughout the world and with the game that make it such a great experience. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the game and plan to play it again soon.

2. SteinsGate ; I actually had a really hard time choosing between this and Undertale for the top spot. I ended up going with Undertale because, even though I really loved SteinsGate, it is a very slow start. It takes a few chapters and several hours for the story to get going, but once it does, it really gets going. SteinsGate takes a common plot device like time travel and does it really well. It also explores how time travel can affect a person’s mental health, which I found really interesting. SteinsGate is a great read and it was amazing to see how everything comes together in the end. I plan to read through it again soon and hope we hear something about SteinsGate 0 soon.

3. The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky SC ; I didn’t really enjoy FC as much as a lot of people did, but SC has been a better, more enjoyable game. The character interactions and characterization are better, the music is better, and the story is more interesting. SC really drew me into the world and made me appreciate all of the world building more than the first did. One touch I really liked was how the people you helped in FC remembered you and how you remembered them. It was great to see Estelle remember some of the more annoying clients from the first game and have her express the disdain that I was also thinking. Speaking of Estelle, I also appreciate that this game has such a great female lead character. I'm still not done with the game (I'm in Chp 8), but it was definitely one of the more enjoyable games of 2015 for me.

4. Final Fantasy XIV Heavensward ; While I'm not really actively playing FFXIV at the moment, it's still a very important game to me. I met a lot of great friends through the GAF guild in the game and I also met my fiance in the game. I was very excited for Heavensward when it released, and it did not disappoint. The expansion has big, new areas to explore, fun new classes, an interesting story, and great music. While the state of the current end game may not be in the best shape, the actual expansion itself was worth exploring.

5. Tales of Zestiria ; I've been a big Tales fan since I played Tales of Destiny on the PS1. I thought Zestiria was a a great edition to the series. It's not without its faults- there are definitely major story issues and the upgrade system feels unnecessarily convoluted- but it didn't hinder my overall enjoyment with the game. The characters were fun (idc what anyone says, I thought the cast was great) and the OST is one of the better Tales OSTs in my opinion.

6. The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes ; Tri Force Heroes is a fun little Zelda coop game. I played through the whole game with my fiance and our friend and I probably wouldn't have enjoyed it as much as I did if I hadn't, so I guess I was lucky. Still, it was a fun experience and I enjoyed working through the levels and figuring out how to solve the puzzles and beat the bosses together.

7. Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls ; Game play wise, Another Episode really isn't the best game. The shooting mechanics are clunky and I found myself getting frustrated with them often. However, I found the story and atmosphere of the world enjoyable enough that the game play didn't really hinder it.

8. Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer ; Hey, I'll take a good little interior design game anytime. Even better when it's an Animal Crossing one. How could I not love it?

 

[Calabria]

Hi cheese are u gonna do manual count for those with invalid format? I have a feeling its gonna be tight close between BB and TW3

 

[timetokill]

Hi cheese are u gonna do manual count for those with invalid format? I have a feeling its gonna be tight close between BB and TW3

Why would we do that

The rules are so simple

 

[Stoze]

lol procrastinators voting last minutes

There's still about 13 hours left.

 

[BradleyLove]

1. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain ; As a dad to a 14 month old boy, gaming has not been something I've had much opportunity to do. However I did manage to buy MGS V. Currently 74 hours in and on about mission 34. I don't know why, I think it's probably the complete freedom I have for tackling each mission, but I'm completely absorbed in the gameplay. And for me, that's unusual as previously I've played MGS games for the story/cutscenes due to the clunky controls/gameplay. I don't know what else to say other than I fucking love MGS V.

 

[timetokill]

1. MGS V. As a dad to a 14 month old boy, gaming has not been something I've had much opportunity to do. However I did manage to buy MGS V. Currently 74 hours in and on about mission 34. I don't know why, I think it's probably the complete freedom I have for tackling each mission, but I'm completely absorbed in the gameplay. And for me, that's unusual as previously I've played MGS games for the story/cutscenes due to the clunky controls/gameplay. I don't know what else to say other than I fucking love MGS V.

semicolon after title, not period.

 

[JehutyRunner]

NVM

 

[Cheesemeister]

As it turns out, I didn't play too many new games in 2015. Most of my gaming time was spent on my growing and now almost-complete NES collection. I wanted to get around to Shovel Knight and Ori and the Blind Forest, but didn't.

1. Splatoon ; The first real new IP from Nintendo in 14 years made a big splash. While I was cautiously optimistic as to whether or not Nintendo could pull off an online multiplayer shooter, my expectations were blown away by the varied game modes, voluminous content, tight level design, and constant updates. Splatoon has a strong hook in its ink-splattering system that is imminently fair. You feel strongly responsible for the outcome as a contributing member of your team. Even if you lose, it's got that draw to keep you going back for one more round. Fantastic.

2. Super Mario Maker ; It used to be that we'd have to wait years for new Mario levels to be made. Now there's an endless stream of millions of user-made levels, many being sufficient stand-ins until the next release. The sheer breadth of available levels ensures that there's something for everybody, from automated Rube Goldberg machines to nail-biting challenges of skill. Super Mario Maker is, above all else, a lesson in game design. Crafting the perfect level is something that we players often take for granted while playing, not realizing what actually goes into the worlds we traverse. Can Mario make that jump? No? Better move that platform over a bit. It works as a game in and of itself. Now let's see a Doki-Doki Panic Maker!

3. 3D Picross 2 ; I spent so many hours on this game, and now I've almost cleared every puzzle error-free. Picross has always been my bag, but the demo for 3D Picross 2 sold me on this version. Now I'll have to go back and play the first one on DS.

4. The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D ; Same bizarre game, new 3D imagery.

5. Gravity Rush Remastered ; Kat has never looked better. Bring on the sequel!

6. Yoshi's Woolly World ; Cute, but not that engaging.

x. Emily Is Away ; That college-age awkwardness.

x. Gunman Clive HD Collection ; Mega Man-style action is always welcome.

x. Mario Kart 8: DLC Pack 2 ; This was another solid addition to the already great Mario Kart 8.

 

[tim.mbp]

1. Bloodborne ; just an excellent new take on the engine, possibly my favorite since Demons'
2. Yakuza 5; i mean, Kazzy's chapter ending alone, goddamn
3. Earth Defense Force 4.1; EDF! EDF!
4. Hotline Miami 2; A step back from 1 in a few ways, but i still dug it
5. OutRun 3D; ♫Magical Sound Shower♫
6. Shovel Knight; The first retro-style indie game i've played that felt like it just got it right
7. Majora's Mask 3D; GAF adores this one, but it's highly slept on & a great fit here, the OoT 3D engine just works
8. Dark Souls II: Sins; it's more souls
9. Rare Replay; Okay i havent honestly played this or the Mega Man one but i support them!
10. Rocket League; Another i didn't get to play, but ive watched a number of matches, looks fun

sadly didn't yet play Undertale, Mario Maker, Witcher 3, Xenoblade, MGS V etc

You voted here too:

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=190094285&postcount=767

 

[SatoAilDarko]

1. Xenoblade Chronicles X ; I just love everything about this game including its eclectic soundtrack. The songs are all so unique and make you ready for adventure. The main narrative is a little short but it is made up for with the large amount of side content. There are so many little stories to uncover. I especially appreciated the large amount of optional party members. It felt great to have a variety of different allies fight with me instead of just doing a task for them. I liked how we all ran and fought as one. So many optional party members allowed a lot of different personalities to shine through. The world encourages exploration in a way no other RPG has and the tools you have to traverse this who world (strong dash, huge jump, lots of fast travel and transformable mechs) are superb. Every environment is a joy to run through and feel uniquely alien in a way I haven't felt in a game since Metroid Prime. I love how the enemies animate and attack. I appreciate the ability to switch to a gun at a press of a button m I wish a lot more games did that. Most likely my Game of the Generation I hope Monolith Soft makes a sequel that is just this with a longer narrative. I want to know more about this story and I like my customizable avatar.

2. Splatoon ; The first online multiplayer I've ever really gotten into. The game is simply the most unique shooter I think that has existed in years. This isn't me saying it's something incredible more that it kind of doesn't belong with shooters but as something very different. The combination of the squid traversal system along with the damage from enemy ink make territory control the name of the game. The gameplay is conducive to covering ink which is why the main mode Turf War is so satisfying. The weapon variety is truly inventive and great, fitting perfectly with the theme. I loved the campaign but regretted it's shortness and really not doing all it could with the ink. Still the story was very fun and the lore of the game through the Sunken Scrolls was so great! I love how developed the world is. What I want most in the sequel is a much more developed single-player component. The music is so superb from the singleplayer to the fictional bands in the multiplayer and especially the final boss fight. I really wish the Squid Beats minigames actually kept score.

3. Devil's Third ; This game is definitely not amazing and has one issues but I feel it's a very solid 7 out of 10. There's a lot of heart here and a ton of content. The campaign is long (over 10 hours) and tries to change things up as much as it can. There are seven collectibles throughout the level that have more flavor text and can expand the world. There is also a score attack mode for every level that grades you on actions and time and allows you to upload your scores to see how you rank, weekly, monthly and all time. There are multiplayer currency rewards for finishing the singleplayer, getting all the collectibles and going through Score attack. The story is interesting and there are some unique characters. Ivan feels like Itagaki's ultimate protagonist with his Shades, tattoos and sunglasses. He will also drink and smoke a cigarette if idle. The cigarette will stay in his mouth and smoke will billow. There's also the whole return to WWII weaponry which Itagaki loves. The multiplayer is very extensive with multiple unique and fun modes. There are a variety of weapons and customization options. Some of which are wonderfully ridiculous. There are a lot of weird head pieces. The clan system is extensive with diplomacy and custom bases to attack. With only 3,000 copies produced in North America none of this is really used though. Luckily as a week a new mode has a 5 multiplier for experience you find games in that mode and experience some variety. The core gameplay is very fun but in order for both melee and shooting to be balance both have limitations and issues, especially in multiplayer. It's hard to quickly aim likewise animations can make you whiff or get stun-locked. Though the best players seem to have overcome it's niggles. There's a lot of heart as seen from some easter eggs and even a chicken catching mode or fruit blending one.

4. Rodea the Sky Soldier ; I actually enjoyed the Wii U version quite a bit. I got a hang of the controls pretty quickly. A lot of fun to play through and collect all the medals. Felt like the kind of Adventure game you don't see made anymore. Had a solid little story and a solid soundtrack. Enjoyed unlocking stuff. It's fascinating as it's a transformation of the same game to essentially a different genre. The Wii version is also great for its motion control, arcade feel and multiplayer.

5. Runbow ; A great game with a very near core mechanic and tons of content. Has an extensive adventure mode, versus mode and battle mode. The character customization and guest characters give almost and Indie Smash Brothers vibe.

6. Kirby and the Rainbow Curse ; Short and not much to do, but it's fun and looks amazing.

7. Mario Party 10 ; I like having more female characters and the three different modes. Though all have serious issues. Hope this can be improved in the next one.

8. Box Boy ; Very fun and inventive. I did get stuck a few times on the last area. Extensive amount of content.

9. htoL#NiQ: The Firefly Diary ; Haven't gotten far enough to make a strong declaration. I love the art style and the weird, wordless narrative. It has gotten a bit frustrating to use the touchscreen and avoid all the death traps. It apparently gets much worse later on. Hopefully the recently announced sequel fixes this. I may honestly pay more on the second-hand market for the Collector's Edition.

10. Super Mario Maker ; Not a big 2D Mario guy and bought it mostly because of a Preorder bonus offer. I enjoyed the time I did spend making a few levels and I think the game is superbly put together. I think after I scanned all the Amiibo's I have and then work on unlocking the remaining costumes through 100 Mario challenge I may appreciate the game more.

Two Wii U games that probably could've made this list if I had bought them are Yoshi's Wooly World and Fatal Frame: Curse of the Black Maiden. The former looks like an extremely well-put together side-scroller with a strong collection element. It's the collection element that really appeals to me. Still my preference for full 3D probably would have had this come in at 6. Kind of regret getting Mario Maker over it but in the long-run I feel this will lower in price more. As for Fatal Frame V I really want a physical release so I'll be buying the PAL special edition. Don't want to buy the game twice so I'll wait until the Wii U isn't really supported anymore to play it region-free.

A lot of Eshop games would have also probably made it if I had both them. Including Swords & Soldiers II, Affordable Space Adventures, Freedom Planet and Fast Racing Neo. Hurry up with the new rewards program Nintendo.

I also bought Her Story almost a month ago with the intention to play it and put it on this list. As someone who touches his laptop once a week at most I didn't get around to it in time. Doesn't help I may have had the ending spoiled for me.

 

[Cheesemeister]

I genuinely can't tell if this is a joke post or not considering:

1) Dontnod, not Telltale, made Life is Strange. And Kate never says that at all.
2) Describing SOMA as Everybody's Gone to the Rapture, not actually SOMA. Not to mention Frictional Games made SOMA, not The Chinese Room.
3) Firaxis = Cities Skylines? No.

Yeah this has to be a joke post. Because if not...umm.

You just wiped your ballot.

 

[JehutyRunner]

You just wiped your ballot.

Oh God damn it. Unintentional. Apologies. Can I post what I had before in a new post, edit the last post I made in her to unwipe my ballot or am I, for the lack of a better term, fucked?

 

[Calabria]

Why would we do that

The rules are so simple

Can't the parser detect posts with invalid format and log them in separate file?

 

[Cheesemeister]

Can't the parser detect posts with invalid format and log them in separate file?

I'm handling all of this. Just follow the format in the OP so you don't have to worry.

Oh God damn it. Unintentional. Apologies. Can I post what I had before in a new post, edit the last post I made in her to unwipe my ballot or am I, for the lack of a better term, fucked?

Edit your recent post so you don't have anything resembling rank numbers on the start of new lines.

 

[JehutyRunner]

Edit your recent post so you don't have anything resembling rank numbers on the start of new lines.

Done. Bah. Apologies again, man.

 

[Amirnol]

1. Bloodborne ; Amazing combat, atmosphere, art, music, the whole package, and extremely consistent throughout. The DLC was legit amazing too
2. Witcher 3 ; Love the Witcher series, this is best one by far. Truly an unparalleled open world with incredible quests and compelling characters. Also had an amazing expansion.
3. Metal Gear Solid V ; Huge fan of the series, this game played like a dream. Story fell a bit flat in the end but extremely memorable overall.
4. Xenoblade Chronicles X ; Incredible exploration, some of the best areas I've ever seen. Controlling mechs and flying around is amazing. Wish it had a bit of a stronger narrative and main character. Also wicked OST.
5. Fallout 4 ; Loved exploring, loved how the world was more colorful than Fallout 3. Combat is definitely improved. Story is a bit lacking and quests aren't always compelling.

 

[iz.podpolja]

Can't the parser detect posts with invalid format and log them in separate file?

Dura lex sed lex. Don't fret though, BB will win here almost certainly.

 

[nib95]

1. Bloodborne ;
2. Witcher 3 ;
3. Metal Gear Solid V ;
4. Xenoblade Chronicles X ;
5. Fallout 4 ;

You need at least one followup comment.

 

[SuperBonk]

1. Metal Gear Solid V ; While being one of the most divisive titles this year, MGSV proves that it's all about the gameplay. Although I'm only a casual fan of the series, I can say with certainty that this is the best Metal Gear game in the franchise and the best stealth action game of all time.

2. Mortal Kombat X ; Before release I had expected this game to be my personal GOTY and it would have been had it not been for the excellence of MGSV. Tons of content along with varied and balanced characters clearly demonstrate Netherrealm is one of the best developers out there. An improvement over the already fantastic MK9 in every way with more improvements coming. A shame about the PC version.

3. Halo 5 ; The franchise does not have the clout it used to during the Bungie days but 343i still managed to put out a title worthy of the name. Although the campaign was a little too short and not as memorable as other entries, the change to 60fps makes Halo feel better than ever. A much needed confidence booster for 343i.

4. Ori and the Blind Forest ; The game I found to be the most visually appealing this year also has some of the best platforming of the year. Bash ability alone puts it on my personal list. Not to mention the excellent soundtrack.

5. Fallout 4 ; This game has been through a lot. From the crazy hype before release to the much deserved backlash at its simplified mechanics, it earns it spot here because of the gameplay. It's fair to be disappointed with the lack of substantive quests and poor dialogue system, but the combat is a drastic improvement from its predecessors.

6. Star Wars Battlefront ; The game delivered exactly what it promised and nothing more. Enough for it to earn a spot on the list.

7. NHL 16 ; Drastic improvement over last year's entry.

 

[dancrane212]

1. Ori and the Blind Forest ; I knew I was going to like the game but the interesting mechanics (save points using power used to unlock new areas and) making traversal dangerous but rewarding with levels that gave me the same rush as Super Meat Boy made Ori into something I loved. Soundtrack is outstanding as well.

2. Halo 5: Guardians ; The combat encounters in Halo 5 are the best I've played in the series. The first large encounter in the second mission, once those drums start kicking in, is just as exciting as rolling around in a tank in Halo 3 or darting around Sword Base in Reach. Even with the plot missteps (main story thread going on hold while you play catchup with Locke for the majority of the game) I feel pretty damn excited to see where things go from here.

Multiplayer still missing some very important Halo staples is a disappointment but the new abilities and Warzone are enough to make the wait easier. Just like Ori the game also has a standout OST.

3. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain ; Very fun missions (well, at least for the majority of the game). Best playing Metal Gear ever.

4. Resident Evil: Revelations 2 ; Best Resident Evil since 4. Nailed the combat balance I loved so much in that previous game.

5. Her Story ; Playing narrative-based games like Bioshock Infinite or others that drip feed you hints of the overall story leading into a big twist are ones I often enjoy. What is so great about Her Story is that you are discovering your own path - finding narrative hints in a unique order leading to something that will make everything "click". As opposed to a big scripted cutscene 3/4 through a game.

6. Rare Replay ; A collection of some of my favorite games for $30? What's not to love?

7. Wolfenstein: the Old Blood ; Last year my GOTY list was pretty late coming and had one significant omission. Wolfenstein: The New Order. While the Old Blood does not match the excellent storytelling of that original game it more than makes it up with more interesting designed encounters. That credits song is also worth noting as well.

8. Super Mario Maker ; Did not get into the level creator but playing the creations of others while I have friends over was pretty fun stuff. I sacrificed everything to save my son.

9. Life is Strange ; A telltale adventure game without the technical junk. Game sagged in the middle for me but liked the earlier and later chapters.

10. Evolve ; Hooking up 5 Xboxes with 4 in one room and the remaining system in a dark room with headphones was one of my favorite multiplayer moments this year. Playing as the Monster and knowing that just a couple feet away there were 4 people trying to track you down was just as exciting as teaming up to find the monster.

x. Witcher 3 ; It's on the list but after starting the books I want to work my way through them before seeing a conclusion to Geralt's story.

x. Fallout 4 ; I'm sure that eventually, just like Fallout 3, I'll go back to the game and everything will click with me and I will play FO4 for a long time. Just didn't grab me yet.

x. Gears of War : Ultimate Edition ; Fun remaster even if it was just a constant reminder that I'll never be able to use the Gnasher successfully.

x. Wasteland 2 ; Still not through the game but if it stays consistent to the end I think it it could have squeezed onto my GOTY list. Having fun with it so far.

x. Soma ; Had to put the game on hold until my PS4 arrives due to compression from streaming my roommate's PS4 to my PSTV making the underwater sequences far too blurry to play but the game's tone and story were right up my alley.

x. Rise of the Tomb Raider ; Just started but so far I'm really enjoying it. Looks incredible.

x. Xenoblade X ; A weird game but I still played it to completion. Guess there has to be something there.

 

[Iksenpets]

1. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt ; The Witcher 3 feels like it's what game design has been building to for years now. Everything that developers like Bethesda and Rockstar have been doing to build open-world games and everything RPG developers like BioWare have been doing for years with story choice in games all seems to come together here. The Witcher 3 is still definitely an RPG with all of the character progression and crafting and dialog trees that entails, but the moment-to-moment playing of the game feels much closer to something like Red Dead Redemption then any of the RPGs that The Witcher actually counts as predecessors. Sure, some people will complain that the combat lacks the impact of something like Bloodborne, but it's not trying to be that. What it has is absolutely best in genre. On top of that, it reins in the worst excesses of recent open-world games with their endless copy-and-paste tower climbing objectives and grindy MMO sidequest designs by making sure that every sidequest really feels just like a main mission, only smaller. Combined with quality story and characters and first-rate visuals, it's the most complete package of the year, bar none.

2. Life is Strange ; I think I started playing Life is Strange as a joke. Everything about it screamed bad: a choose-your-own-adventure about teenage drama, featuring dialog written by middle-aged Frenchmen trying to sound like Portland-area teenage girls and stripped-down graphics that look like every character is made out of silly putty. And admittedly, that first episode wasn't great. Most of the enjoyment from it came from laughing about overuse of words like "hella" and "selfie", poor lip sync, and out-of-the-blue references to Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within. But there was just enough there to grab me and bring me back to episode 2, the one where it all clicked. The time travel elements were consistently used in interesting ways that felt like they were the first time I was doing something new in one of theseTelltale-like games since the first Walking Dead. The dialog, once grating, began to seem like maybe not actual current teen lingo, but at least something that felt like it. The graphics began to reveal their own artistic charms. The character models grow on you as the characters endear themselves to you (through what have to be some of the best voice performances of the year) and something about the lighting in that game makes the whole look stick. Then the end of episode 2 cements Life is Strange as an emotional powerhouse, and it never lets up from there (even the ending, which I really liked)

3. Ori and the Blind Forest ; Ori overwhelms you the moment you first lay eyes on it. Everything is colorful and everything is detailed and everything moves and all the while the music is swelling, the most over-the-top Hollywood orchestral score I've heard in years. Games are hyperbolically called "paintings come to life" way too often, but it's the best descriptor I can think of for Ori. Given all of that, I was expecting it to be a pretty game that you mostly just trudged through to look at, but then you start to move around the world and it's all so tight. Ori is often lumped into the Metroidvania genre — and it is to a degree — and I can understand why some people find it disappointing as one of those. The exploration and secrets are there, but they're not anything special. But to me, Ori feels closer to something like an open-world Meat Boy. It's a game where just the feel of moving around the world is part of the value, and it excels at that. I went into Ori expecting a game I played for the sake of the art, but got a game that stands on its own incredibly well.

4. Undertale ; Undertale deserves credit for being one of the few games to really consistently make me laugh. Its characters are consistently delightful and charming. It manages to take an ancient, dare I say somewhat stale genre, and inject so much life into it with a few minor tweaks, while still feeling like a genuine love letter to the games that inspired it. Couple that with the fantastic soundtrack, and knowledge that it was all made by a single person with no game design or programming background, and the series of crazy postmodern twists the story takes and it's hard not to be impressed.

5. Bloodborne ; I never liked the Souls games. People hyped them up and I tried to get into it, but the combat, while precise and challenging, was never any fun, and while there would be a few moments of really inspired visual design, I found the games to be ugly to a degree that I really didn't want to spend any time in that world. Bloodborne fixes both of those problems. The combat feels right now, and more powerful hardware has let FROM's art finally shine through. I still don't like the game as much as the diehard fans do — part of me feels like I would have enjoyed it more if I had allowed myself to just quit sometime after Ebrietas or maybe even Rom — but some other part of me is thrilled just to be able to say I beat the damn thing, which is as good a sign as any that this thing got its sadistic claws into me.

6. Splatoon ; Who ever thought the shooter of the year would be a Nintendo game about squids? Splatoon is maybe the most refreshing games I've ever played. After years of same-old shooter design, Splatoon makes it all feel new again. My only complaint is just that I wish there were more of it. The multiplayer is great, but still fairly limited even after several patches, and the single-player — which is incredibly underrated — is unfortunately short.

7. Tales from the Borderlands ; Telltale's formula has worn a little thin ever since the first Walking Dead blew everyone away, and Tales from the Borderlands seemed like it was going to be the absolute nadir of that trend when it was announced. Who was asking for this? But the result was great. Borderlands' story elements were always sidelined by the Diablo-esque nature of its design, so who knew they could turn out so good when put into a story that actually focused on them? While Telltale's other franchises have wallowed in grittiness and darkness, Tales leaves so much of that behind by refusing to take itself seriously. Comedy suits these games more than I think anyone had realized, and I hope Telltale looks into more games like this going forward.

8. Axiom Verge ; I was never big in Metroid. My first was Prime, which I thought was pretty good, and I never got into the 2D ones, or the Castlevania games for that matter. That said, I knew a Metroid clone when I saw one. The graphics, the music, Axiom Verge was as Metroid as it could be. When am I going to learn to curl up into a ball? But then you don't. Instead, it subverts your every expectation. Instead of a ball, you get this little bug droid to go get things for you. Instead of getting a double jump, you somehow just fuck with the planet's gravity. And it's all done in such a way that adds to the feeling that something is off about this world. The first time you phase through a wall, it feels gross and wrong. That said, for as much fun as I had every time I got a new item dreaming up what weird ways I could use it, the actual playing of the game was sometimes a chore. The delight of realizing where and how you could use a new item to get somewhere new always came crashing down as you realized just how unpleasant the backtracking was going to be.

I'm really bummed out that I wasn't able to play enough Metal Gear, Assassin's Creed, or Fallout to consider them for this list, but it was just that sort of year.

 

[timetokill]

Can't the parser detect posts with invalid format and log them in separate file?

What we do is all the invalid votes are subtracted from the games they attempted to vote for. So for instance, a vote like ONE ~ BLOODYBORNS actually subtracts four points from Bloodborne.

 

[Haly]

RIP Bloodyborns.

 

[Calabria]

Dura lex sed lex. Don't fret though, BB will win here almost certainly.

Not about that. Because there are many with invalid format. In page one alone, there are a few invalids

 

[JerkShep]

Xenoblade Chronicles X was my GOTY, edging out Bloodborne and MGSV. You can see my illustrated writeup in Part 3 here. I'll be quite happy if it makes the Top 20. The odds are certainly stacked against it, since it was a last-minute release in December, after the holiday shopping rush, so most people haven't played it, let alone finish it (to quote The Donald, "It's huuuuuuuuuge").

I read your write up, it was great, it's easy to point out XCX's flaws but you managed to explain very well what is does better than most other games, great insight. My (hopefully incoming) list is similar, even if my short paragraphs are kinda embarassing after all the great write ups in this thread.

 

[Calabria]

What we do is all the invalid votes are subtracted from the games they attempted to vote for. So for instance, a vote like ONE ~ BLOODYBORNS actually subtracts four points from Bloodborne.