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1. Pillars of Eternity ; I love isometric RPGs and this scratches that itch perfectly. Sublime RPG in every way!

2. Bloodborne ; It's more of my favorite series and it's fantastic. The combat is in it's own class as usual and combined with the lore and environment it makes for a fantastic action RPG.

3. Rocket League ; Put more hours into this than CSGO, which is a surprise. Came from nowhere and stole 200 hours of my life. Great fun.

4. Witcher 3 ; Great RPG with good exploring and great characters. The combat is my only pet peeve (which is not to say that it's bad, it just leaves a lot to be desired).

5. Undertale ; One of the indies that really took me by surprise. Fantastic adventure.

6. Soma ; A great contribution to the sci-fi/horror genre.

7. The Beginner's Guide ; A game that needs to be experienced. It's tough to describe without giving out too much but it certainly gives you the perspective of a game developer.

8. Ori and the Blind Forest ; Amazing visuals, great platforming and a touching experience in general. No reason not to play this.

9. Shadowrun: Hong Kong ; Another isometric RPG from the guys behind the fantastic Shadowrun-series. Great world and great characters.

10. Her Story ; Really puts you in a detective mode like any other game can't. You're actually doing the detective work and the atmosphere is great

Honorable Mentions

x. Cities: Skylines ; Not much to say, it's a great city builder that puts Sim City to shame. I just wish I put more time into it.

x. Life is Strange ; I have yet to finish it (which is why it's only an honorable mention so far) but they managed to create a great atmosphere with an interesting plot and characters in this one. Can't wait to finish it.

x. Invisible, Inc. ; This is right up my alley but again it's another one I haven't finished. It handles strategy and stealth perfectly and offers a great cyberpunk atmosphere.

 

[lt519]

Might have to edit it in a few latecomers to my list. I've been spening a looot of game time on OlliOlli 2 and Transformers recently and I think they might take up my new 3&4 spots, bump everything else down. So much for a lean top 5 of the year, but these games got it goin on.

More people need to play OlliOlli 2. I don't even know what to classify it but it's almost the most difficult platformer (?) of the year wrapped into a 2D Tony Hawk game. Incredible visuals and music and instant replay-ability. I lost so many hours just finishing all the missions on Normal and could only muster up the courage to get through the PRO levels, nevermind the RAD mode which is just insane. Anyone that got Platinum in that game is unbelievable.

This level took me forever to finish, let a lone get all the missions complete: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWQaM2V_6gg What that video doesn't show you is that you need to consistently land green landings to maintain momentum to make it through grinding sections and over jumps. Pulling off a level long string of perfect moves was so satisfying. Great level design.

And also for shame people saying they should manual tally. That is so much more work and then we wouldn't have recommended game lists and affinity lists which are the best part about all this. Not many actually care what wins GOTY.

 

[Dance Inferno]

For once I'm glad that the voting deadline is the end of January rather than the end of December. I'm still working my way through Life is Strange and am hoping to check off Rise of the Tomb Raider and Tales from the Borderlands over the next few weeks. That still leaves me with only 9 games on my list though. I wonder if I can bang out Lara Croft Go during that time as well.

 

[Dineren]

1. Xenoblade Chronicles X ; I was in the middle of playing Fallout 4 when this came out and one night I decided to take a short break from FO and play this for a bit. 125 hours later I'm still playing and Fallout 4 is still on the backburner. Mira is one of the most beautiful game worlds I have ever explored and it provides plenty of incentive to go out and climb that mountain you see in the distance. The probe system is genius in that it gives you both an immediate (fast travel points) and future incentive (mining resources, credits) to go out to the furthest reaches of the world and explore. After around 35 hours on foot I finally got the Skell that everyone talks about and suddenly whole new areas of this massive world were available to me. This would happen one more time once I got the flight pack, but at that point most of the secrets of Mira had been revealed to me. Backed by a divisive soundtrack that I personally loved, I cannot remember a time I had more fun in a game just taking in the sights. The combat has been described as MMO like, but I enjoyed the fast pace and personally found it engaging. It has its share of issues: poor audio mixing in cutscenes, many complicated systems with few tutorials(RTFM!), no quick way to change party members (you must find them in the city each time), and plenty of other little issues. Regardless, the sum is much greater than the parts and propelled this game to be one of my favorite of this generation and it has certainly become one of my favorite games of all time.

2. Contradiction - Spot The Liar! ; I first heard of this game when I watched the Giantbomb QL. When it was over I saw they had another video up and that they planned to stream more of it so I immediately went out on Steam and bought it. I played through the whole thing in a couple sittings. It ended up being one of the best adventure games I've ever played. It has engaging performances (I seriously can't think of a single one I didn't enjoy) and a great setting. Most of the game is talking to various people to gather information and then pointing out the contradictions they make to try and uncover more evidence. I've seen it compared to the trial sections of Ace Attorney and for the most part I agree. It can be just as satisfying to catch them in a lie as it is in AA. There can be moments of frustration, but a decent hint system that is well integrated into the world helps ease the harder moments. Even if you don't like adventure games, it is worth playing or watching this just to experience the wonderful performances of Rupert Booth(Jenks) and Paul Darrow(Paul Rand). This game more than any other on my list deserves a sequel.

3. The Witcher III: Wild Hunt ; I have a history of not completing Witcher games. I must have finished the first couple acts of the first game at least four times and never completed it. In the second one I completed the tutorial area a couple times, but never got much further. I always looked back fondly at the time I spent with the first Witcher so when the release date of the Witcher III neared I decided I was finally going to go back and finish both of the previous games. I did end up completing and enjoying both games just in time for the launch. When TW3 came out I immediately jumped in and had a blast. It has a vast open world filled with interesting characters and quests. I ended up getting distracted by other games and not finishing this one in my usual tradition for Witcher games, but what I played had a big enough impact that I had to have it near the top of my list. I'm not one of those who hated the combat and gameplay, I just had too many distractions at the time to complete it. I fully intend to go back as it is one of the best games I've played in the last few years.

4. Pillars of Eternity ; I have a bit of nostalgia for the original Baldur's Gate. I made it around 3/4 through the game and ended up getting stuck in a tough encounter I couldn't figure out and quit. Even so I still look back fondly on the early parts of the game and Candlekeep is one of the RPG towns I look back at most fondly. I never came close to beating Baldur's Gate 2 and never played much of any of the other Infinity Engine games either. I say that just to point out that my reason for playing Pillars was not just a simple desire to relive my experiences of those games. I simply wanted to explore a new world in an RPG. Obsidian succeeded in creating a compelling world filled with characters to talk to and books to read. I love lore and this game is filled to the brim with it enabling you to paint a picture of the world you are exploring as well as the world that came before your time. A fanastic game in the genre and better yet, one that Obsidian can fully profit from. I look forward to seeing more of this world in the future.

5. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain ; I finished the first three MGS games for the first time this year in preparation for this. Maybe it is just not my style of story or maybe it was because I didn't experience it when cinematic games were in their infancy, but I was not expecting much of the story here from Kojima and he did not disappoint. While the story wasn't anything special the gameplay was. I enjoyed sneaking into each base to complete objectives and the open world while nothing special did allow me to jump from base to base seamlessly which I appreciated. The first chapter was some of the best gaming I had done this year and it was only when the second chapter started that I felt the game started to drag. As I've gotten further from the game I've cooled a bit on it. While it's true that the game gives you many options for tackling objectives it is also true that the primary reason this works is because the game is so easy. If you get caught you can just turn into Rambo and mow down enemies easily until you can get to cover and hide. It is by far one of the easiest games I've played and the primary reason I think that this one has ended up further down. Even without the negative changes Konami has made post release I have no desire to return to this game.

6. Bloodborne ; I love Lovecraftian horror and I enjoyed Dark Souls so this was a no brainer. I love the stuff it does with insight and the combat is fast paced and fun. I don't really agree with those who try to paint this as a completely separate game from Dark Souls, it shares far too many similarities to the souls series for me to consider it its own thing. This was the first game I platinumed on PS4 and I don't regret a second I spent with it. I did not like the blood vial or quicksilver systems as there were a couple times I had to farm for them (later I farmed souls instead which was faster). I haven't played the DLC yet and probably won't as I've had enough of the game at this point, but I do look forward to whatever From does next.

7. Super Mario Maker ; I watched more of this in streams and on youtube than I played, but I still played a great deal of it. Player made levels can vary greatly, but with a little looking you can find some fantastic levels and of course the simple mario platforming is always fun. The level creation is incredibly easy and they've managed to make it fun at the same time. I love the way the music is synced with you while you add stuff to your levels. Better curation is always needed, but it sounds like they have improved it greatly since launch.

8. SOMA ; I don't like horror games, but this doesn't really feel like a horror game for the most part. Exploring the world of SOMA was a lot of fun and the story was one of the most interesting I've encountered in a game. Though I saw the ending coming a mile away it still left me shook and I was still thinking about it hours later. I felt the game was hindered a bit by some of the later monsters, but there are mods available now to bypass those if you don't like them.

9. Splatoon ; The freshest shooter this year, this game oozes style. It's incredibly easy to pickup and play and one of the greatest arguments in favor of gyroscopic aiming I've encountered in a game. The single player was pretty fun and the last boss was incredibly memorable. The multiplayer is where it's at though. Games are incredibly quick which makes this a great game to play if you only have a short amount of time. Nintendo also made sure the game was well supported with weapons and maps being released long after release for free. Support has ended now I believe, but they ensured that there is plenty of variety for anyone who wants to play. I look forward to seeing where this franchise goes in the future.

10. Hacknet ; It's easy to compare this game to Uplink, but I feel like this game is much better at making you feel like you're a part of that world. Uplink felt just a bit too abstract, almost like I was watching something on CSI. Hacknet does a better job of making it easy enough that anyone can play it, but makes it familiar enough that it still feels grounded in reality. It also has a couple moments that makes it far feel more personal than anything Uplink provided.

x. Fallout 4 ; Fallout 3 with good combat is a decent way to describe this. I enjoy Bethesda open worlds so I played quite a bit of this. The combat was fun and I enjoyed the changes to the v.a.t.s. system. The compaions were greatly improved with fun personalities and backstories that I enjoyed discovering. The side quests were varied and fun, the highlight of the game for me. The main storyline on the other hand was a mess that I did not like much at all (though I have yet to finish it). The dialogue system was garbage and makes me really fear where they plan on taking Elder scrolls which is one of my favorite series. Their forced backstory was also unwelcome. It kind of blows my mind that a Bethesda game I enjoyed for the most part didn't make my top 10, but this has too many parts that I disliked for me to place it any higher. I'm very much hoping this is not the blueprint they will be using for all of their future games.

That was a big wall of text no one will read . It's always nice to look back on what was played though and organize my thoughts a bit.

 

[theapg]

Haven't beaten a game this year, but I have played a substantial amount of the ones below.

1. Fallout 4 ; I'm a little biased on this one. Fallout 3 is my favorite game of all time, and is the main reason I got into gaming. No matter how bad the game was, I was going to play the shit out of this and enjoy it. Unfortunately, so much is wrong with this game, but for two weeks I was glued to the screen. I eventually burnt out and the game has left a sour taste in my mouth, but for those two weeks the game had me in its grasps. The dialogue system is a major step down and the lack of choice really hurts the game, but man, it was the best gaming experience of the year for me, at least for those two weeks.

2. Rocket League ; Addicting gameplay and I like it because it is mindless so I can watch TV on my laptop while I play, so I feel like I am accomplishing two things at once.

3. Metal Gear Solid V ; Only 13 missions in, but I really enjoy the gameplay and story. Unfortunately for some reason I get very stressed during the missions and it feels more like work and less like fun for me. I guess I'm just not that into stealth games.

4. Tell Tale Game of Thrones Season 1 ; Really fun, but the gap between release of episodes really hurts the experience in my opinion. If I could have waited until all the episodes came out and then binged, I believe I would have enjoyed it more.

5. The Witcher 3 ; Probably the most critically acclaimed game I've played, but it just couldn't keep me hooked.

 

[Calabria]

1. Bloodborne ; it's one of the finest game ever made. The game consumed me. I think about it when I work, when I sleep, when I eat, or when I poop
2. Rocket League ; pure riot
3. Until Dawn ; the most underrated game this generation so far
4. Yakuza 5 ;
5. The Order 1886 ; I'm gonna give it points just because it's so undeservingly hated

 

[Gigglepoo]

1. Life Is Strange ; I've never before seen a game deal with adult conflicts in such a mature and emotional way.
2. Bloodborne ; I'm genuinely proud of myself that I finished this game. As terrifying as it is challenging.
3. Axiom Verge ; The best 2D Metroidvania I've ever played. Brilliant level design coupled with ingenious weapons, multi-purpose tools, and the best score of the year.
4. Emily Is Away ; Real, poignant, and all too relatable.
5. Super Mario Maker ; I'm still stunned at how Nintendo made level design fun and effortless.
6. Lara Croft Go ; Novel translation of the acrobatic thrills of the console games boiled down to mobile. Loved the art design and puzzles.
7. Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime ; The best pure co-op game since The Adventures of Cookies & Cream.
8. Until Dawn ; Typical horror tropes made new again through the power of interaction.
9. The Swindle ; My pick for the game that will become more beloved and appreciated over time as more people discover it.
10. Contradiction: Spot the Liar ; It had me at FMV murder mystery.

 

[LonelyGreyWolf]

1. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt ; Simply a masterpiece. I love epic RPG's, but to tell you the truth, they often lose their charm to me after 40 - 50 hours, and after that they become boring, especially since they're all about fetch quests. But not this one. Witcher 3 is insanely well polished. The world is immersive, the story is powerful, the music is fantastic, the gameplay is great, and the side-quests are incredible. It's a game that I never wanted to stop playing. The expansion was also incredibly well made with fantastic quests and story. Simply put: I consider this to be one of the best RPG's ever made.

I also loved a bunch of other games this year, but I can't order them right now, I'm still indecisive. I've also yet to play some big games like Bloodborne, Fallout 4 and Xenoblade Chronicles X, the last of which I own but haven't had time to play yet. Witcher 3 will be the only game I vote for this year. I'll add that Tales from the Borderlands was my biggest surprise this year. One of Telltale's absolute best, imo.

 

[JustinBB7]

1. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt ; Just simply one of the best games ever made.
2. The Witcher 3: Heart Of Stone: Amazing expansion, on par with the main game.
3. Batman: Arkham Knight ; Ran fine for me on PC since release, tank a bit overused but still loved it.
4. Dying Light ; Was looking forward to this for a long time, glad it turned out a big sleeper hit.
5. Huniepop ; Really fun and clever game, don't take it seriously and it's great fun. Great match 3 game too.
6. Fallout 4 ; Fun game, just disappointing it wasn't better, please upgrade to the current gen next time.
7. H1Z1 ; Not fully out yet, but constant updates, responsive dev team, great game.
8. Rocket League ; Don't like football or cars, but love this game.
9. Telltale Game Of Thrones episodes 2-6 ; Great fun, in tone with rest of Telltale's usual stuff.
10. Prison Architect ; Neat little game, will have to go back to it to mess around with it more.

 

[Hot Coldman]

1. Undertale ; As far as I can recall, I've only written a Game of the Year post on this site twice - first in 2012, and most recently in 2014. Both times, I ended up giving the top spot to the games that flat-out made me laugh like a madman - Kid Icarus Uprising, and Jazzpunk. This weakness of mine makes Undertale's worthiness impervious. As well as being packed full of sly nods and pokes at all kinds of video game conventions, from battle menus to random encounters via an extremely thorough dissection of the notion of being able to "save" your game, Undertale is filled to the brim with likeable, goofy, multi-layered characters equally filled to the brim with heart. Resembling a Shu Takumi classic more than the seemingly more obvious inspirations of Itoi, Undertale's world of monsters provides the perfect foundation of a tale of laughter, self-reflection, frustration, determination, hopes, dreams and heartache.

2. Nuclear Throne ; YOU DID NOT REACH THE NUCLEAR THRONE - yeah, but it doesn't really matter when everything feels this tight. The best quick-fix action game in years is a pixel-art rogue-like-lite shooter with randomly generated levels, enemies filling the screen with bullets and explosions, an arsenal of immensely satisfying weapons with names like "LIGHTNING RIFLE", "GRENADE SHOTGUN" and "WRENCH", incredible music that sticks a middle finger up at what games like this "should" sound like, ridiculous mutant heroes ranging from humanoid fish to Yung Motherfucking Venus, secret exits, daily challenges, co-op, a secret dancehall airhorn button... oh, and it plays as smooth as greased butter. Just be prepared to die quickly and shamefully.

3. Rocket League ; GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAL! I'll never get sick of that. I could not care less about football, but I appreciate it from a distance. Meanwhile, I appreciate Rocket League from the edge of my seat, as that's what the thought of hearing that sound again does to me. GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL! Never gets old. This is another game of many of my list that just feels perfect, even though it's also a nightmare to nail down. When you do, though... when you score that bicycle kick goal, it's the best feeling in the world. Goal? Sorry, I meant GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLL!

4. Sunless Sea ; Set in a Victorian London dragged to the seabed by the bat armies of Hell, the game is more about the conventional life of a free sailor (or zailor, as the game refers to you and your motley crew - it's set in the Underzee, you zee), you start out one of your many playthroughs defining yourself in terms of backstory, ambition and title - or not, you can skip that stuff - before setting off with your limited fuel and supplies to navigate uncharted underwaters in search of treasure, tales and general excitement. My most successful attempt to date saw Captain Medusa, madly in love with her chief engineer, encounter an island of rats and guinea pigs locked in civil war, a civil war that saw the rats victorious and an eventual peace brokered all thanks to my assistance. Then she got messed up by a giant fish on the next voyage. The mix of sinister characters, bizarre encounters and the uncertainty of ever returning to London makes Sunless Sea endlessly engrossing and a must-play of 2015.

5. Downwell ; Those first four notes are a hell of an intro. Downwell is just great - you play a little blob man who can fire blasts out of his feet, and that's how you avoid falling into danger as you travel down the tight, narrow vertical passage that bats, bubbles and skeletons call home, and it feels FANTASTIC. The sound effects and the harsh dual colour palette really bore this game into your memory, and it blends together well with the tight controls, fun mode and weapon modifiers, and a delightfully satisfying combo system to make something immediately likeable. Nice work, Moppin.

6. SteamWorld Heist ; 3DS's best game this year is easily The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D, but that's not exactly a /new game/ so FINE, I'll put this forward as the cream of the crop instead. I never checked out SteamWorld Dig, but "2D XCOM" was too juicy to ignore, and sure enough, Heist delivers on that description. Whilst it lacks the permanence of Firaxis' 2012 revival, it has some of the unforgiving difficulty, with the positioning of your units requiring careful consideration, and every scrapped robot teammate feels as crushing and shameful as the last. Some fantastic sound effects, strong mission variety and a good variety of different classes and weapons keep me coming back to blast more Royalist scum.

7. Cibele ; What a surprising thing to come out in the madness of the holidays games rush: for 90 minutes, Nina Freeman PhD. gave us a glimpse into a previous romance of hers via the medium of candid FMV, desktop selfie folders, AIM archives, and a journey to pointlessly click on monsters until they pointlessly die. Cibele isn't about an MMO, of course - it's a cautionary tale of just how messy online romance can be, but it's also an important step forward for video games telling more personal, intimate tales in ways that take proper, satisfying advantage of the medium. More than anything else on this list, Cibele should still be rattling around your head days after you've finished it.

8. Shantae and the Pirate's Curse ; My first experience with the Shantae series is with an entry that, as I gather, isn't the most conventional, with the half-genie hero becoming full human, her powers getting traded out for privater gear, and her gameplay being far more of a nod to Metroid than ever before. Whilst this genre of action-platformer is getting a bit crowded these days, WayForward nonetheless produced another good One Of Those - Jake Kaufman's soundtrack lives up to his usual high standards, the sprite art is absolutely gorgeous, and the powers are utilised for some inventive puzzles and boss showdowns. Well worth the wait for a 3DS release in Europe.

9. Stretchmo ; (Referred to as Fullblox from here on in) The original Pullblox's superior gameplay conceit is merged with Fallblox's wider scope and voila, Intelligent Systems perfects their 3DS puzzle/platformer. Giant 3D structures can be stretched out and push inwards as the ever-adorable protagonist Mallo sees fit, and it's your job to use skill to climb to the top of them, reaching the goal flag and feeling like a damn genius. Fallblox was a little too harsh and tricky, but here everything tastes just right. There's also a LOT of content; the "level pack" structure of the game is a neat payment gimmick, but it means that enthusiasts who buy everything straight away get a lot of game - and the puzzles are consistently increasingly challenging without being frustrating. Those upset about Picross 3D 2 should get this whilst Nintendo figures out how to do the right thing.

10. Just Cause 3 ; I REALLY WISH THIS RAN BETTER ON CONSOLES. You let me down, Avalanche! Thank god you're still so damn good at making believable island paradises I want to go to on holiday right now. Forgetting the whole "blow stuff up, oof these are some nice explosions" angle of JC3 - an important aspect, but expected, and frankly a little neutered by the miserable framerate when things really start blowing up - Medici is a gorgeous place to be, and the genius addition of the wingsuit provides a fantastic excuse to take it all in at high speed. di Ravello can wait, I'm more introduced in swooping Mario World-style through coves and military installations. The plot is still boring pap, David Tennant is wasted, and the load times are horrendous, but this one part of JC3 that, it turns out, I really needed to be strong is STRONG. Eager to see more, and sure I'll blow up some fuel tanks along the way.

x. Aperture Robot Repair ; Oh my god.

 

[CosmicQueso]

LIST

This is a very interesting list of games with excellent comments on them. Thanks for posting, there's 3 games on here I want to check out just because of your list.

 

[Hot Coldman]

This is a very interesting list of games with excellent comments on them. Thanks for posting, there's 3 games on here I want to check out just because of your list.

Glad to be of service.

 

[Soule]

1. The Witcher III: Wild Hunt ; the most I've ever been invested in a single player game. The story and atmosphere are incredible.
2. Galak-Z ; fun little game with great presentation

 

[Lunar15]

Your list is fantastic, but I think it's the use of Burgerpants here to represent all of Undertale that makes your post the most worthwhile one in the thread.

 

[Ostinatto]

1. Bloodborne ; Gameplay > everything else, amazing Boss fights, gorgeus art, awesome OST and extremely fun PVP.
2. Cities: Skylines ;
3. Rocket League ;
4. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain ;
5. Super Mario Maker ;

 

[timetokill]

Cheesemeister and I already do a ton of work on these threads. I did the counting manually before Cheesemeister approached me and offered a parser. I accepted because it afforded me time to do a lot of stuff to make the results even better. We give you a ton of data every year that we wouldn't otherwise. Additionally, we're able to turn the results around in a matter of hours as opposed to days. Counting the ballots manually is tedious and error-prone. It's not that it can't be done, but why?

You can literally copy+paste the sample ballot from the OP. The rules are incredibly simple. Worry about your own ballot and let us worry about the rest.

 

[Lilalaunebaer]

1. The Witcher III: The Wild Hunt ; This game man. I honestly don´t now what to write about this. The characters, and their writing was absolutely fantastic. They felt like people that you interact with. The world is giant, yet doesn´t feel empty and is absolutely gorgeous. The side quests here rival, and more that often surpass main quest in other RPGs. The combat could be a bit better, but after seeing the light (that would be signs) i really don´t have anything to nag about it. The music in this game, THE MUSIC people. It doesn´t happen often that i listen to game music outside of a game, but here, i´ll gladly make an exception. And gwent, i love gwent. Best mini game in a looooong time. On my seoond playthrough and over 150 hours, i cannot vote for anything else as my number 1.

2. The Witcher III: Hearts of Stone ; The game of the year got better. The combat saw slight improvements, the new characters were just as excellent as in the main game and the quest design, as crazy as it is to me, was even better. And more gwent cards.

3. Cities: Skylines ; Oh, how i have been longing for a city builder since SimCity 4. And the EA went stupid and the people at Colossal Order and made what the people at Maxis couldn´t. A more than excellent city builder.

4. Life Is Strange ; Hella good game.

Honorable mentions

x. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain ; Oh, what could have been. The gameplay itself was superb, but the repeating missions, repeating areas, story pacing and of course not actually being finished were dragging the whole thing down.

Didn´t play that many games this year and the rest of what i played, i think, doesn´t deserve to be even considered goty, just to pad out the list.

 

[patapuf]

Sadly, i don't get to play as much stuff as i want. Many good games missing are absent because there's not enough time in the day to play them

1. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt; I've been a fan of the series for a while and CDPR managed to surpass all expectations with the title. The way they managed to bring their world to life was something i thought not really possible without relying heavily on text based description.

2. Shantae and the Pirate's Curse; i usually have a hard time getting into platformers, but i finished (and got all the collectibles) of Shantae in a week. I really liked the metroidvania and puzzle aspects as well as the humor. My biggest surprise of the year.

3. Helldivers; I loved Magicka, and i really like Helldivers as well. Arrowhead made Helldivers a bit more structured and less chaotic, but doing difficulty 11 or 12 levels wouldn't have been possible otherwise.

4. SOMA; A good old science fiction story about the meaning of humanity and technology. It not being a horror game but simply a very atmospheric game works in it's favor.

5. Undertale; On the surface a simple game with a simple premise and yet with a lot of humor and charm it manages to defy expectations again and again.

6. Invisible, Inc.; A turn based strategy rogue like not focused on combat. A lot of depth in it's systems - and you have to take advantage of them to beat the higher difficulties. It's unforgiving but not unfair. One of the more interesting strategy titles of the last years.

7. Shadowrun: Hong Kong; This would be higher if i had finished it before being sidetracked. It has the same strengths as Dragonfall, but it also fails to expand on it.

8. Puzzle & Dragons Z + Super Mario Bros. Edition; A great game for commuting.

9. Crypt of the Necrodancer

10. Pillars of Eternity

 

[Twin Tails]

1. The Witcher III: Wild Hunt ; One of the best games I've ever played.
2. Ori and The Blind Forest ; Fantastic game with amazing presentation.
3. Halo 5: Guardians ; Feels great to play.
4. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain ; Fantastic gameplay.

I should play more games.

 

[PenguinTD]

1. Rocket Leauge ; It came out of no where except gather my interest when someone posted beta videos. But once it was free on PSN Plus, I'm totally hooked. Bought Steam version, and all the subsequent DLCs on both platform just to show my support. After sinking maybe over 400 hours both platform combined, while neglecting MGS V, Witcher 3, etc. I can't put any other game on number 1 spot except Rocket League.

2. Witcher 3 ; Simply really well thought out and well crafted game. It's beautiful and relaxing(to some extend) just to roaming around in its environment.

3. Talos Principle ; A masterly crafted puzzle game with optional(?) story. While the puzzles are not too brain twisting, the story however is pretty engaging. I know the concept of story is not first of its kind, nor did it do anything unusual, but the way of presenting it is well thought out, and you just keep hunting for those terminals for more.(PC was released on Dec 11, 2014. But PS4 released this year.)

4. Yoshi's Woolly World ; It's so fluffy, but also deadly. Under the innocent disguise, hides deadly and thumb destroying level design. Especially those -S levels. The difficulty ramped up nicely even for veterans in platformers.

5. Rebel Galaxy; This game, made by 2 people, is fun. You can't hide the fact that it might get a bit repetitive later in the game(where the mission type starts to lacking), but the general overall mechanism and execution is fun to both watch and play.

6. Super Mario Maker ; Burns a lot of hours trying to clear 100 mario challenges. Nuff said.

7. MGS V; Do I need to say more? It's the last in the series, gets Kojima fired, and stir up a lot controversy because a polygonal character wear skimpy outfit. But the game is fun.

8. Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate; Burns my game hours for the early half of 2015.

9. Just Cause 3 ; New and shiny, the loading time is reduced after patch, but heck, this game is hard to run on full settings. I actually prefer this compare to Mad Max.

10. Mad Max ; Movie adaptation game, plays like Batman one, but the settings and visuals are interesting.

Honorable Mentions
x. Fallout 4 ; I don't intent to burn my time on this game, but it's widely well received.
x. GTA V ; If a game can still make impact migrating to "next gen", this would be the number 1 pick.

 

[McDougles]

1. Bloodborne ; How could you not like the twisted story of the unnamed hunter throughout the adventures of Yharnam, harnessing the echoes of blood as the blood-hungry citizens wander in an aimless daze? That's just Chapter 1 of a dark, engrossing story, one that exists on multiple existential planes of existence. If there's a downside to Bloodborne, is that it is exclusive to the PS4. As such, there is a substantive number of gaming fans who are genuinely missing out on what is a fantastic From Software title, one that is more than worthy of being considered the 2015 Game of the Year.

2. Ori and the Blind Forest ; There is something to be said about creating a particular feel — fitting together gameplay mechanics, gorgeously layered background art, character design, orchestral scoring, ambiance, and pacing — that sets itself as individualistic, and Ori and the Blind Forest beats its own drum in that regard. While you could see the homages to Metroid, Castlevania and other classics in its routes, by the time you're finished traversing the Blind Forest, you can't help but be completely enamored in its machinations. An amazing title worth playing in all demographics.

3. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt ; I became charmed with a series I previously disregarded, becoming big believers in CD Projekt RED and what the future holds. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is a great open world RPG, one that looks from a high tower down towards the pretenders below.

4. Rocket League ; What makes Rocket League work is the game's physics. It plays fast, but contains a boost mechanic that works specifically on the X, Y and Z axis. Top-level play can have teams of three juggle the ball from one side of the arena to the other while the opponents use boost to float into the air to make saves on their net. By throwing out the book of logic to emphasize wacky, replayable and rewarding fun, Rocket League came out of nowhere to get the instant respect and recognition it deserves.

5. Pillars of Eternity ; Pillars of Eternity brought back the CRPG genre in a style similar to that of Baldur’s Gate, with a deeply immersive world that harkens back to a time where storytelling was just as important as gameplay mechanics. Those punishing skill systems, wonderful companions and intriguing storylines added a certain mythos, harkening back to a very specific time in games development back in the late 1990’s.

6. Undertale ; Inspired. If Undertale should be described with only one word, inspired seems most appropriate. There is no other way to describe an RPG that gives you multiple paths and endings to play, insist on playing a certain path and play counter to every expectation you have. It is a rollercoaster of feelings, gameplay styles, storytelling arcs and well-delivered mysteries.

7. Fallout 4 ; The sheer versatility of Fallout 4 lets me play it like a Swiss Army Knife; ready for whatever game task I require of it. Sometimes you feel like protecting settlements, sometimes you want to build some stuff, sometimes, just like in the E3 2015 debut trailer, you just want to fuck some shit up. The freedom of exploration and expression in creation gives Fallout 4 some added legs, built upon a lengthy, solid questing system that goes on for days.

8. Until Dawn ; Every action has a consequence, with subtle clues from the story informing you of what can go wrong. Everybody or nobody can end up dead at the end of the game, giving the player true agency in the adventure’s story. Because of that, Supermassive Games deserve the praise they get, including a Top 10 inclusion.

9. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain ; With the world roughly 200 times bigger than that of Ground Zeroes, the number of options for going in and out of missions, executing the task or how you play your character are unlimited. It’s not perfect, but it’s an excellent game nonetheless.

10. Super Mario Maker ; The hidden magic of Super Mario Maker; it’s a creation engine and entertainment hub primed for dozens of hours of challenges, laughs, special moments and unending hellscapes. Thanks, Nintendo, for loosening the Mario leash!


Honorable Mentions

x. Life Is Strange ; If you told me at the start of last year that the best graphic adventure game in 2015 would come not from Telltale, but from the creators of Remember Me, I would have laughed in your face. Instead, we have a genuinely touching human story involving superhuman powers that will have players second guessing their actions throughout.

x. Dying Light ; If Techland knows how to do one thing right, it’s to make a great first-person zombie action title with RPG elements. Adding parkour, night terrors and an emphasis on going fast just changed things up for the better.

x. Splatoon ; I only got to check out Splatoon once the game released its free maps over the numerous months after its launch. Many people were better than me, but what a Nintendo-ly Nintendo online shooter! Great music, great gameplay, great times.

x. Mortal Kombat X ; The fact that you can play the same character in three different play styles brought versatility to the fighting game genre, creating intense matchups and counter games that are still being explored to this day.

x. Rock Band 4 ; While it doesn’t reinvent the wheel, it did bring the band back together and hit the ground running!

x. Resident Evil: Revelations 2 ; If you didn’t play this game with a friend, you’re horrendously missing out. An excellent side chapter into the Resident Evil mythos, one that has the best version of Barry Burton; extra curmudgeonly!

x. Star Wars: Battlefront ; What a great way to get fans back into Star Wars gaming! I’m always glad when game companies offer up demos ahead of the full game’s release! Wait, that was the full version?

x. Her Story ; An interesting adventure that subverts what I was expected from an FMV game.

 

[Patapwn]

1. Bloodborne ; So there I was, standing in a nightmare. Off in the distance was an enthralling yellow light. It beckoned me from afar like a brilliant gem... sparkly, twinkly. I moved closer hoping for clarity. The more I looked the more something felt wrong, something piercing... It was no matter though, I would not be deterred... Maybe just for a moment... Shelter, sweet shelter... A few more moments, I've regained composure.

*BANG*

What was that?! Rocks... pebbles... a crater?

*BANG*

I see... The bigger they are the harder they fall. Rushing out from my refuge I once again bask in the yellow glow... as well as that familiar pain. One by one I take down obstacles. Mere Obstacles. With skill I rush forward, side step, dodge all that comes my way, except for a moment of weakness... I falter, is this the end? No. My final vial of blood, oh sweet blood! My proclivity instills me with the life I need to overcome. The last enemy falls to my axe, the conflict is over. And the light? Now out of view... If I'm to discover it's source I must go on. The way forward is obvious... I walk into the cathedralesque structure and into the unknown. An empty room lies before me, no... that's not right... somethings inside... my eyes adjust...!!!

SPIDERS?!? HOLY SHIT AND LOOK AT THAT MAMA SPIDER!!! WHO THE FUCK SAID SPIDERS WERE GOING TO BE IN THE GAME!?!? WTF FROM this is a game about killing beasts you ain't got no excuse for spiders up in here this time. I already had problems with Rom but I only count that as half a spider half an alien. That right there is a full blown spider... out of fucking nowhere... and I've had enough, good day sir and goodbye. Still going to give it GOTY on neogaf though

2. The Talos Principle ; My suprise of the year. The game is a mix of Portal, Fez like puzzle progression, some philosophy students PhD thesis and that Croteam love of ancient architecture. Hell there was one moment I damn near shat myself, you know that moment Serious Sam fans. But enough about my dirty drawers, you should play this game. What are you don't reading this? GO AND PLAY THE TALOS PRINCIPLE!!!

3. Dying Light ; I thought I was really going to hate this game but I said "fuck it" and bought it on sale a couple months ago. It destroyed my expectations. Yeah, it's got some of that UbisoftGame(TM) open world thing going on but the gameplay and especially what's done at night was amazing fun to me. Nighttime in openworld games usually sucks ass but this game makes it integral to everything from the story to the gameplay mechanics which had me dying to put in on my list at number 3.

4. Batman: Arkham Knight ; I love batman?

5. Sunless Sea ; Interesting world and writing.

 

[Swuabino]

1. The Witcher III: Wild Hunt ; Consistently great writing made this the rare open world game that continued to feel fresh even after 120+ hours. Amazing characters, world, graphics, DLC, wind, music, everything. Also, gwent probably deserves its own spot in my Top 10.
2. Undertale ; I thought this game was OK when I was playing it, pretty good when I finished it, and amazing when I really finished it. If you haven't played through the pacifist ending, you haven't played this game.
3. Destiny: The Taken King ; I spent 900 hours playing Destiny last year, so this is here.
4. Bloodborne ; The latest masterpiece from a company that won't stop releasing masterpieces.
5. Batman: Arkham Knight ; I even liked the Batmobile.
6. Rise of the Tomb Raider ; Bigger, better, and adventure-ier than the first one.
7. Heroes of the Storm ; The first MOBA that's left my self esteem intact.
8. Ori and the Blind Forest ; Definitely the prettiest Metroidvania game I played this year or any.
9. Fallout 4 ; The most I've ever enjoyed nitpicking a game.
10. Until Dawn ; Cardiac Arrest Simulator 2015.

Honorable Mentions:
x. Metal Gear Solid 5
x. Forza Motorsport 6
x. Pillars of Eternity
x. Xenoblade Chronicles X
x. Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate

 

[Biff]

Well, this was apparently a slow year for me in gaming!

1. Bloodborne ; Without question, the most compelling atmosphere ever presented in a video game. The story was nonsensical (was there even a story?), but that is easily forgiven by the extremely satisfying combat system. The balance between gunplay, swordplay, parrying, and dodging was a master class in game mechanics. My experience of this game was only marred by what is now par for the Souls course: unfair/cheap deaths, and the need to grind to progress (albeit not as prevalant in DS1 or DS2).

2. Rainbow Six: Siege ; When I think about games that have truly innovated in the post-COD4 era of the First Person Shooter, I have to admit, I struggle to name any. This is no longer the case. RB6: Siege is the best FPS since Modern Warfare. The gunplay is tight. The mechanics feel realistic. Communication and teamwork is a requisite. And the map design... Oh lordy, the map design. Easily the best I have ever played (and yes, that statement captures Counterstrike maps). This game would have been my top choice if it wasn't for the Ubisoft tax (read: inconsistent netcode and hilarious underinvestment in server capacity), but now that those issues are (mostly) rectified, I can go ahead and freely recommend this to anyone and everyone in 2016.

3. Metal Gear Solid V ; Butter smooth gameplay (best controls in the series to-date) and photo-realistic graphics smothered over a mess of a story. Never change, Kojima-san. We love you.

4. Star Wars: Battlefront ; What a shame. Flawless sound design and absolutely beautiful graphics transport you into the Star Wars universe. But the gameplay is just so... Shallow. Lifeless. Uninspired. The DICE that made BF2142 is very clearly different than the DICE that made Battlefront. RIP in piece.

5. Rocket League ; My surprise of the year. A true delight and easily my top value-for-the-money pick of 2015. Really looking forward to Psyonix's next game after (finally) earning the industry attention they deserve.

6. Hearthstone ; Okay, I have to admit, I'm cheating a bit here. I first played Hearthstone in 2014. However, my playtime has ramped up considerably through 2015, and along the way I have learned a lot more about the mechanics of the game and just how deep this game can really get. It's a shame the Android app is laughably large -- easily the largest I have ever seen on the entire Google Play store. In fact, it's so large that I had to choose between uninstalling it, or uninstalling a dozen other apps to make room for a system update. So long, Hearthstone on Android. Back to the PC for me.

7. Pokémon Shuffle ; Similarly to Hearthstone, this game was available in 2014, but only just became available on mobile platforms in 2015. I picked this up for Android not having played the DS version. While I enjoy the game as a silly timewaster, the F2P mechanics are a joke. Blatant manipulation of RNG to force players to spend jewels or coins really sours an otherwise fun, cute, Match-3 game.



DISHONORABLE MENTION:

Batman: Arkham Knight -- What a goddamn disaster. The character design is horrendous. The story is the worst in the series. The car-sections drag on, and on, and on, and on.... And then ARE REPEATED AGAIN. Well, at least they maintained the atmosphere of Gotham City that was already present in the other games.

 

[AstroZombie]

1. Witcher 3; My new RPG GOAT
2. Ori and the blind forest; A very beautiful metroidvania.

 

[Gattsu25]

1. The Witcher III: Wild Hunt ; The attention to detail in this game was always impressive. Sports some of the best stories in an open-world RPG and I found the world incredible. Heading out into the city and walking through the city streets was a regular activity. I would lose hours to just exploring every bit of the game. I really loved the music in this game and the excellent sound design of the weather and ambient nature. The music from the Skellige isles remains my favorite piece of gaming music in years. While it seems like there's no hope in this world (many of the side quests are horror vignettes and very few people live comfortable lives) the game has a genuine heart to it that makes the moments of levity that much more impactful. This is a world that has gone wrong. The people that live here are barely surviving and the fantastical elements that humanity are encroaching upon are unknowing and malevolent. It's a rich world, with an amazing sense of wonder and scale. The characters are well voiced, well scripted, and well plotted. The side quests are better than many main storylines. And there is just so damned much of the game. It really is a great experience.
2. Xenoblade Chronicles X ; The game didn't leave a great first impression but I quickly found myself going off in tangents that would lead to other tangents. More than any other game in years, I found myself shocked at the number of hours that have passed. There's a huge amount of complexity to the game but the many different gameplay systems can be compartmentalized enough so that it never seems overbearing. Also very pertinent as it is dealing with a massive refugee crisis and explores it from many angles. The exploration in this game is also fun. The movement reminds me of Crackdown more than anything else.
3. Bloodborne ; The gameplay is great and possibly the best melee combat experience of this year. While the story was somewhat arcane, I found that actually contributed to the shift in narrative focus in the latter half of the game. More than any other lovecraft-inspired game I can think of, this game unsettled me similar to how a good lovecraft tale often does. The hidden symbolism throughout the game all coalesced to make a fantastic experience. I went into the game relatively blind and the hints at some deeper horror were there but I didn't realize how deep the influence went until I found myself heading into the Vicar Amelia fight, seeing the statues inside the church, and thinking to myself "These people worship these." It actually was a fundamentally unnerving experience. Lovely.
4. The Talos Principle ; It's hard to describe this one. It's a first person puzzle game that opens with a booming voice declaring that he is Elohim and beckoning you to complete the challenges in his labyrinth. The puzzles, which are built out of the ruins of great ancient civilizations such as ancient egypt and greece, wouldn't be out of place in a Portal game. There is something odd about the game, though. It has a very sedate and almost sullen tone to it. There are computer terminals that, when used, either have someone asking you questions that probe your philosophical beliefs or contain log entries that tell somber stories. This game is a tone piece and the feeling of this game is second to none. And all of this is not even mentioning how well designed and engaging the actual puzzles are. This game left an impression on me and I love it for that. It's great and deserves to be played.
5. Pillars of Eternity ; Another game that I greatly enjoyed the tone of (huh, that seems to be a recurring theme) and an engaging and tactical real-time-with-pause battle system. Great writing, even if I disliked the naming conventions (e.g. Glanfathans). I really enjoyed the combat in this one even if I found that I was terrible in it.
6. Soma ; A great story in the form of a combat-less horror game. Explores the meaning of humanity and the boundaries of what it means to be human. It actually managed to change my mind on the latter. The ending is sublime. Fuck did I find this game terrifying. Jesus.
7. Until Dawn ; A great little horror experience. Also the best game in the Quantic Dream style. It plays like a living choose your own adventure. Pays full homage to a variety of horror genres. Josh is the best.
8. Undertale ; Endearing game filled with some really great and memorable characters. The game can be very sinister at times and is not afraid to make you feel like the absolute piece of shit that you are if you decide to play it like one. Good music. Also very hard near the end. Very.
9. Axiom Verge ; Wonderful metroid style game. Looks like metroid and the base controls are similar but that's where the two greatly diverge. The type of abilities you get are very unique and your methods for getting past previous barriers are always inventive and never tread old ground.
10. Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate ; One of the best mobile games of the year. The typical squad-based monster dismemberment was greatly improved by the new gameplay editions in this release. Still has an active online community and the multiplayer is amazing.



Honorable mention:
x. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain ; Home to the best stealth gameplay I can think of. Great gameplay and I love taking out outposts. Non-violent for life.
x. Downwell; Fun fast paced action platformer. Has that very blunt and aggressive sense of impact to shooting that you would expect out of a Vlambeer game despite being from a different dev. Hard as hell.
x. You Must Build a Boat ; A sequel to 10000000 that, like its predecessor, is my goto game for when I am on trains or planes. The best fusion of match-3 and RPG elements I've experienced.
x. Squarecells ; From the developer of Hexcells (otherwise known as the best logic puzzle game ever) and plays somewhat similarly. The ambient music and sound effects make playing these games a pleasure. This one is substantially harder than I was expecting.
x. Super Mario Maker ; Unfortunately, I wasn't able to play this as much as I wanted to. What I did play was great, however. Contains the best level editor I've ever seen in a platformer.
x. Tales of Zestiria ; Not my first Tales Of but definitely the first one that I enjoyed. Good enough to have me paying attention to future games from the franchise.
x. Divinity: Original Sin Enhanced Edition ; Loving the changes they made to the EE. Lovely sense of humor, a plethora of options during battles. A great couch multiplayer RPG experience.
x. Grim Dawn ; Still in early access but this is a great game in the vein of Titan Quest by the same developers. Has the least offensive steampunk world that I can remember. Gameplay is great



That's just scratching the surface. This was one of the best years in gaming, maybe even THE best.. So many great games.

 

[Hard]

Are juniors allowed to vote? I've been lurking for awhile but only started posting (very) recently.

 

[benny_a]

Are juniors allowed to vote? I've been lurking for awhile but only started posting (very) recently.

Yeah!

1. Witcher 3
2. Ori and the blind forest

You're missing at least one comment. Check the OP for the formatting rules.

 

[OrbitalBeard]

Are juniors allowed to vote? I've been lurking for awhile but only started posting (very) recently.

Of course. Go for it.

 

[Shadoken]

1. Bloodborne ; Being an avid Souls fan , this one didn't disappoint. The new combat system and setting brought a refreshing change of pace to the series.
2. Yakuza 5 ; The best Taxi simulator since Crazy Taxi.
3. Rocket League ; Biggest surprise of the year for me. Surprisingly addictive.
4. Guilty Gear Xrd ; Return to form for Arc system works , I wasn't a huge fan of Blazblue or Persona and this is refreshing change from Capcom fighters.
5. Until Dawn ; While I am normally not a big fan of Adventure style games ,this was a great horror experience that was pretty engrossing.
6. Jackbox Party Pack ; This game is ridiculous fun with a bunch of friends over. Its been a while since there was a game that anybody could just play.
7. Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate ; The only game in the Hunting genre this year since PSO2 refuses to get to the US. Nonetheless it was worth purchasing a 3DS just for this.
8. Hotline Miami 2 ; More of the same , which is a good thing since Hotline Miami 1 was one of the best gaming experiences.
9. Mortal Kombat X ; A solid entry that could have ranked higher had the Online mode not been so goddamn broken.
10. J-STARS Victory Vs ; While not the best fighter ever , I am glad this came over to the west. Its pretty fun , although I wish the mechanics were closer to the Naruto games.

 

[Meaty]

1. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt ; Amazing how it makes last years GOTY (Inquisition) look like a shit game. Absolutely loved this, it raised the bar in a way that only Uncharted 2 did before for me.

2. Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin ; I dont understand the critics, really loving this game as much as I loved the previous soul titles before it.

3. Life is Strange ; Im a sucker for time travel, and this game hits all the right notes with me

4. Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker ; So charming, I havent played many new games this year, but im glad I picked this one

5. The Order 1886 ; I know, I know. Cinematic bullshit right? Well, I can apreciate this game for what it is, and I really enjoyed it as my first ps4 game.

 

[tearsintherain]

1. Witcher 3 ; still playing but love it so far
2. Rise of the Tomb Raider ; actually appreciating it MORE after i finished UC1 and playing UC2 now, made me realize how awesome ROTR was
3. Bloodborne ; loved it
4. Metal Gear Solid 5 ; stopped at mission 41 but I sunk 100+ hours and loved it
5. Rocket League ; don't play as much but so fun in short sessions

 

[Fess]

Seems like lots of votes will be invalid judging by the rules in the OP, how strict are the rules, will someone count the invalid votes too if the top results are close?
If not then this GOTY winner won't really be GAFs best game of the year but rather GAFs correctly voted game of the year :/

 

[Welfare]

Seems like lots of votes will be invalid judging by the rules in the OP, how strict are the rules, will someone count the invalid votes too if the top results are close?
If not then this GOTY winner won't really be GAFs best game of the year but rather GAFs correctly voted game of the year :/

If people cared they would follow the OP.

 

[Already Torn]

I'm paranoid that I didn't follow the rules in the OP but I have no idea what page I'm on.

 

[silva1991]

I'm paranoid that I didn't follow the rules in the OP but I have no idea what page I'm on.

Click on the posts numbers under the "replies" and then Ctrl+F type your name.

 

[benny_a]

If people cared they would follow the OP.

And if a poster really cares about the correctness of the vote then they go through this thread and inform every single poster by PM with a link their post about the formatting and how to correct it.

Be the change that you want to see, like certain posters have been doing for several years in the past. This sidelines commentary shit is weak.

 

[v0yce]

1. Bloodborne ; combat and atmosphere that's second to none. Simply great. My clear #1 in a year full of really good games.

2. Metal Gear Solid V ; does a lot wrong (especially as a long time MGS fan) but its strengths are so high they easily overshadow its faults. It nails one man army fun.

3. Rocket League ; Simple and focused. Accessible but hard to master. SO MUCH FUN. Love it.

4. Monster Hunter 4 ; bit of MonHun fatigue is the only reason this isn't higher. Great entry into a great series. Additional support has been amazing.

5. Until Dawn ; What fun, unlikeable characters. The game I wished the David Cage games had been. Great presentation and use of camera was terrific.

6. Transformers: Devastation ; solid Platinum action with slick visuals. Would love a sequel with bigger budget.

7. Super Mario Maker ; Initially didn't make a huge impact on me since I don't have as much time to make levels as much as I'd like. But all the additions and support they released keep giving me reason to go back and play and it seems to just keep getting more and more fun.

8. Batman Arkham Knight ; I think this is the most underrated title of the year. Probably leaned a bit heavy on Batmobile stuff, but it was a minor issue for me. The overall plot was throw away, but I thought the Joker visions were great and carried it. Great visuals and solid Gotham sandboxing. Good stuff.

9. Resident Evil: Revelations 2 ; exceeded my mild expectations. Good RE fund with enough of a nod back to more horror based games of franchise's past.

10. Xenoblade Chronicles X ; I've barely scrapped the surface so I don't feel right putting it higher on my list, but the brief bit I've played and having enjoyed every other "Xeno" title I fell confident in putting on my list.

 

[Already Torn]

Click on the posts numbers under the "replies" and then Ctrl+F type your name.

Perfect, thanks!!

 

[Fess]

I'm paranoid that I didn't follow the rules in the OP but I have no idea what page I'm on.

Same here, I did a search on google and find my post that way, there is probably a better way to do it but it worked

If people cared they would follow the OP.

I cared but I had still voted incorrectly, missed that you had to post a comment too and I voted the invalid The Witcher 3 instead of the valid The Witcher III: Wild Hunt, still not sure I got everything right tbh :/

 

[Lostconfused]

The game name is not a big deal, the comments being required has been a rule for years.

 

[patapuf]

Same here, I did a search on google and find my post that way, there is probably a better way to do it but it worked

I cared but I had still voted incorrectly, missed that you had to post a comment too and I voted the invalid The Witcher 3 instead of the valid The Witcher III: Wild Hunt, still not sure I got everything right tbh :/

The name thing isn't strict.

The most important thing is to put the semicolon in and have one comment. That's really not difficult.

 

[bak4fun]

@Fredrik and Titanoboa : I find that the best way to find your post in a thread is to click the advanced search function on the right of the title bar and there you can search by your username.

Also your lists seem ok and a vote for The Witcher 3 is going to count. You can see the alternative writings taken into account in the google doc even if it is better to use the proper title.

Cheesemeister and timetokill are doing a great job and put a lot of thoughts and work in the voting process, I feel.

I suppose the only thing left that someone can do to help the voters is to create an online checker that can say with the number of the post if the ballot is correct or not, but it's more work and I have no idea how easy it is to do.

 

[Cheesemeister]

I suppose the only thing left that someone can do to help the voters is to create an online checker that can say with the number of the post if the ballot is correct or not, but it's more work and I have no idea how easy it is to do.

Easy, but I don't have time for it. Maybe next year.

 

[I speel my dreenk]

Oh man, turns out making lists is still fun (and hard), even in this, The Year Of Our Lord Twenty-Hundred And Sixteen! It was the strongest year for games in recent memory, and I was able to play a whole bunch of 'em. Stealth-action, hacking-action, action-action, programming, bizarre humor, bizarre-r adventures - this year had everything. Here are the ones that resonated the most with me, for various reasons. The platform(s) I played on are in brackets.

10. Bloodborne ; [PS4] A fantastic game, and a fine twist on the rock-solid Souls gameplay and design formulas. Even after beating it twice, it didn't stick with me like I'd expected it to, which I'll chalk up to series fatigue. I'm actually pleasantly surprised at how well it seems to be doing in this thread. I haven't had the chance to dig into The Old Hunters yet, but that's next on my list.

9. Undertale ; [PC] I almost didn't want to give Undertale a chance, as it initially struck me as pandering to… I don't know, internet culture randomness for randomness' sake? Something about it put me off. After the tremendous reception and heaps of praise, however, it was clear that there was something there. But going in, would my expectations now be set too high for me to be able to find my own enjoyment in it? Would I be too influenced by the overwhelming positivity, and tell myself that something was funny or touching, but was actually looking for something I was told was there?

I approached the game as a story to work through and a world to explore, and found my fun by being consistently surprised by strange new things. Indeed, it is random, and funny, and sort of touching, but most importantly it feels strangely cohesive in its outlandishness. It's just that there aren't many games these days that can just sort of let go and allow the world and characters and tone to be what they are. Obviously, what I really mean by that is that it takes someone to create these things and allow them to just be what they are without having to live up to any particularly defined standards. Tobyfox did that with Undertale, and it's gotten a deservedly amazing reaction.

8. Invisible, Inc. ; [PC] The second amazing stealth game this year, but with very different execution. You almost always have all of the information you could possibly need to make any decision, but each of those decisions is still a challenge to make. You're meant to actually outsmart the enemy, despite the ever-growing intelligence of the enemy throughout the course of each mission. The prep-mission-prep-mission game loop is reminiscent of XCOM, as is the moment-to-moment turn-based isometric gameplay (albeit with less killing), with a robust hacking layer, ala Shadowrun Returns. Klei are really on a roll with Mark of the Ninja, Don't Starve, and now Invisible, Inc., as well as publishing Crypt of the Necrodancer.

7. Else Heart.Break() ; [PC] This game is cool as all hell, but also sort of bananas. Not the content of the game itself, but just that it is what it is. I would check out the screens on the Steam page from time to time, wondering if it was really the game it looked like and was advertising itself as: 'a meticulously simulated city, with people that feel truly alive.' That, coupled with 'tons of day-to-day objects and computers that work and can be modified' AND 'A laid-back experience where you can go to the cafe and have a coffee whenever things get too hectic', are the sorts of lines tossed around when there's optimistic talk of what games COULD be. Too presumptuous? Well, things start on a slow yet interesting note, and quickly get out of hand. It's possible to just arrive at your initial destination and proceed to live day after day doing the job you were hired to do - and in fact, you aren't really directed to do otherwise. If, however, you notice any oddities and decide to do some investigating, you'll find that things not only aren't exactly as they seem, but are far deeper than you likely imagined. I haven't come close to any sort of resolution (let alone ending) yet, but I was taken quite by surprise by Else Heart.Break(). I can see how it might not resonate with everyone, or be too expensive for an unknown weird thing, or just be totally off-putting from the start - but I'm totally sold.

6. Crypt of the Necrodancer ; [PC] After finally burning out a little on Spelunky this year after hundreds of hours, I was on the prowl for a new pick-up-and-play game, preferably with a daily mode. The Necrodancer abides, and drops some serious-ass beats - the Danny B soundtrack is a big part of why I like this game so much. I can't wait to move out of my upper-floor apartment so that I can get back to using my dance pad for this.

5. Cities: Skylines ; [PC] This is the city builder I've been waiting for since Sim City 2000. Didn't pick it up until very late in the year, but have already gone through multiple failed cities in pursuit of a clockwork paradise. The emphasis on traffic flow and control is very compelling, and the detail to which the many interconnected systems are modeled allows for a multitude of possibilities. Being gorgeous doesn't hurt, either.

4. The Witcher III: Wild Hunt ; [PC] After playing a fair amount of both previous Witcher games and finding only slight enjoyment, I wasn't completely convinced that this game would be for me. 100 hours and a multitude of engaging, well-written adventures later, and... well, let's just say I've become convinced.

3. Infinifactory ; [PC] As a programmer, gamifying programming or logic puzzles in general is always an interesting proposition - and no one does it better than Zachtronics. Like their Spacechem before it and TIS-100 since, Infinifactory gives you the tools to devise solutions to problems in whatever way you best see fit - or can just brute force. It's immensely satisfying to eke out a solution using fewer blocks or cycles, and finding the final recording of a poor, long-frozen skeleton in a busted spacesuit telling you in Chinese how much they hated the alien overlords forcing them to solve this puzzle is just icing on the cake. (You're damn right that's actually the story.) This could probably just as easily be TIS-100's spot on the list, but Infinifactory did more for me with its premise and overall wonderful art and sound design. Anyone remotely interested in challenging puzzles or logic games should really just grab Zachtronics' games - they're top-tier quality (except maaaybe Ironclad Tactics?). I want more stuff from those guys.

2. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain ; [PC] I've never experienced hype leading up to a game's release like this, it was just incredible. After playing these games for almost twenty years, the finale was upon us. Then, as mixed impressions starting rolling in, I began to wonder if the actual game would even come close to approaching expectations. Once I got my hands on the game, though, and the game time counter rose to 20... 50... 100... 200 hours, it no longer mattered to me. The game that Kojima Productions wanted to make CLEARLY did not get completed, and it certainly isn't the game that everyone (thought that they) wanted, but what it ultimately turned out to be and how it fits in with the franchise is something that I'm very satisfied with. No other game comes close to the deft melding of tight control and open-ended problem solving. It's simultaneously one of the best stealth and open world games ever made. This was my shoo-in for the top spot, until...

1. Life Is Strange ; [PC] It warms my icy heart to see this on so many lists here. Beautiful, frustrating, surprising, endearing, suspenseful, depressing, heartwarming. I was affected by this time-trotting tale of teenage turbulence so much more than I could've guessed. Something told me to give it a chance, and because I'd enjoyed Remember Me, I went with it - even though I almost felt a little embarrassed at first, playing a game so far thematically outside of my wheelhouse. Once I fell into the story and began getting involved with the goings-on in Arcadia Bay and the various mysteries surrounding it and its inhabitants, I was absolutely entranced.

The bar is now set incredibly high for anyone else making an episodic adventure game, or even just developing characters that you're truly meant to connect with and care about. The relative smoothness and polish of Life Is Strange as compared to other games in the genre is impressive - this is how a game of this type and tone should feel. It was my second most watched game of the year, as well - seeing people's reactions as they uncovered the story and experienced the events was just as impactful as having done it myself. My 'Game of the Year' without question... an award that, unfortunately, must be accepted simultaneously with 'Worst/Least Lip-synching of the Year' - sorry, shaka brah. Even so, I love this game.



Now for some housekeeping:

Games I (Basically) Finished That Are Super Good And That I'm Kinda Surprised Aren't On My List
x. The Talos Principle: Road To Gehenna ; [PC] The Talos Principle was my number two of last year (and one of the best games in a decade), and this is just more of that, only harder. Most importantly, it poses the timely question of whether we die because the giraffe is sad, or if the giraffe is sad because we die. Does - nay, CAN any of us really know?
x. Rocket League ; [PS4/PC] Every time I thought I was finally getting good, I'd play another match where I was missing aerials, whiffing hard, and failing defense. Even still, I kept going back for more - getting just a little bit better every time. Scoring a goal and snatching an epic save are both equally amazing feelings.
x. Axiom Verge ; [PS4] Had a lot of fun finding secrets and discovering mechanics while jammin' to the awesome soundtrack, but... it just didn't stick with me.
x. Ori and the Blind Forest ; [PC] Gorgeous visuals and super-solid platforming, but good christ did the escape sequences piss me off.
x. Destiny: The Taken King ; [PS4] Waited until TTK to jump into Destiny, and it's a good game. Looking forward to future stuff to do.
x. Grow Home ; [PS4] Might not have played it if not for PS+, but the scant few hours it took with it were well worth it.
x. Her Story ; [PC] Super interesting idea for a thing, and creative and effective use of FMV.
x. Resident Evil: Revelations 2 ; [PS4] Co-op'd the whole thing, and it was lots of dumb fun. I'd play a RE:R3.

Games Wot I Just Didn't Play Enough Of
x. TIS-100 ; [PC] As explained above, it could've easily been on the list. Really, really enjoying it though.
x. Divinity: Original Sin - Enhanced Edition ; [PC] This would probably be on my list, but I played the original version for 90+ hours and this version for only a few. It's definitely my favorite combat system in years, and the freedom the game allows you is highly addictive.
x. Super Mario Maker ; [WiiU/Twitch/YouTube] The real-for-really-real-true-actual game of the year might be the Ryckert v. Klepek Mario Maker Saga. Easily my most watched game of the year, and would've ranked had I actually played more of and/or made any levels. Obviously an amazing creation, nonetheless.
x. Until Dawn ; [PS4] Much like Life Is Strange came out of nowhere to take the episodic adventure game crown, so too did Until Dawn violently pull the rug out from under whatever genre it is that David Cage's games reside in.
x. Heroes of the Storm ; [PC] Got pretty deep into this for a couple of weeks, and found it to be really fun and less of a chore to play than Dota 2 or League. I'll probably get back to it eventually.
x. Nuclear Throne ; [PS4] I actually had to turn down the screen shake a little bit Damn good fun, though.
x. Downwell ; [PC] Only ever got up to World 3, but the super-addicting and quick gameplay will certainly get me to go back.
x. Pillars of Eternity ; [PC] Really liked what I've played of this so far, will definitely get back on it.
x. Warhammer: End Times - Vermintide ; [PC] Beat it co-op with friends on the easiest difficulty only, and haven't been able to get back to it yet. Shocked at how it just IS Left 4 Dead, but dark fantasy and awesome.
x. Helldivers ; [PS4] Supply Drop Suicide Simulator 2015. Played quite a bit co-op with friends, and always meant to try and get back to it, just never did. Probably the game I most wish I'd gotten to play more of.
x. Project CARS ; [PS4] Not a huge racing game person, but having more fun with this one than the last few Gran Turismo games.

Didn't Get To But Wish I'd Have Made Time For aka Pile O' Shame:
Rebel Galaxy, Dying Light, Neon Struct, SOMA, Kerbal Space Program, Cradle, et cetera.

Honorary This Year's Last Year's Game Of The Year
Puyo Puyo Tetris! First game I've ever imported, thanks to the exposure from Giant Bomb. This game is real goooooooooooooooooood


Thanks for reading, and here's to another great year!

 

[8bit]

2. Yakuza 5 ; Being a good taxi driver is about sensible driving and pleasant chit-chat with the passengers. Always signal before a turn. Never slam on the break. Watch for pedestrians crossing the street. If the passenger is part of an elaborate scam and leads you to a pack of thugs waiting nearby, smash them to the ground using the nearest bicycle. Stomp on their faces; first with one foot, then jump and land firmly on the nose with both feet jutting downward.

3. Yakuza 5 ; Being a good taxi driver is about sensible driving and pleasant chit-chat with the passengers. Always signal before a turn. Never slam on the break. Watch for pedestrians crossing the street. If the passenger is part of an elaborate scam and leads you to a pack of thugs waiting nearby, smash them to the ground using the nearest bicycle. Stomp on their faces; first with one foot, then jump and land firmly on the nose with both feet jutting downward.

?

 

[opticalmace]

?

da fuq.

 

[silva1991]

?

@__@

awkward.

 

[RespectThySole]

1. Witcher 3 still playing but love it so far
2. Rise of the Tomb Raider actually appreciating it MORE after i finished UC1 and playing UC2 now, made me realize how awesome ROTR was
3. Bloodborne
4. Metal Gear Solid 5 stopped at mission 41 but I sunk 100+ hours and loved it
5. Rocket League

Add a semicolon between one of your choices and comments.

 

[JehutyRunner]

Oh dear. Someone's been a naughty naughty.