I'm going to presume I'm not the only one who believes the wealth and quality of games this year has been unbelievable. We're used to have one or two obvious standouts but this year has been absolutely full of top-tier, polished experiences. Even the controversial No Man's Sky has its die hard fans. Out of all those games in 2016 though, which has made the year special for you?
Here's my three faves. Actually narrowing it down to three was a painful experience, but I'm pretty sure this is my final three. The best of best of my gaming in 2016.
Picking a game of the year was tougher than last year because there’s been a heck of a lot of great games but not one true standout. DOOM just about edges it for being just about the most perfect update I could ever have hoped for the aging franchise (multiplayer notwithstanding). From the thumping industrial soundtrack to the brutal, flowing violence, DOOM delivered in spades. There's no better feeling in games this year than ripping off a pinky's tusk and shoving it in its own eye. Id Software’s post-launch support has also been impeccable. The recent addition of Arcade Mode makes an already great game even better, accentuating its fast movement and chaining together of moves to fantastic effect.
I’m a sucker for theme park management games, and after suffering through RollerCoaster Tycoon World and disappointed by Parkitect, I had one last hope for the genre. Planet Coaster may still be a work in progress but that’s what makes it so exciting. Frontier has delivered and iterated on the most in-depth park creation tools I’ve ever seen, delivering a game which is both immediately accessible and frighteningly complex. You can plop down premade rides or you can literally spend five hours making a stunning burger shack, the choice is all yours.
For me, Naughty Dog are the studio that can do no wrong. I know cinematic adventure games aren’t to everyone’s taste, but Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End reminded me just how much better Nathan Drake’s globetrotting jaunts are than the pale imitation that the Tomb Raider reboots are. Somehow Naughty Dog manage to dig deep time and again, upping the ante and delivering spectacle after spectacle to incredible effect. Couple that with some of the finest visuals I’ve ever seen, and Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End is a game which will live long in my memory.
Over to you now then, what was your game/s of the year? Anything in particular that stood head and shoulders above the rest? Let us know!
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Xcom 2: I never played the original, though I might after loving this one so much, but it is such a good strategy game. Love it.
Titanfall 2: Amazing game that replaces the original as my second favorite shooter. (Rainbow Six: Siege being first place.)
Aragami/Stardew Valley: OK so I know this is two different games but I seriously couldn't pick a third place between these two. Both are absolutely great indie games that 2016 just wouldn't be complete without.
On a side note, this year was really the year of the "2's". There were so many sequels this year.
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Oh yeah, and I just got Planet Coaster a few days ago and already have spent 10+ hours just in creating the perfect island scenario. Couldn't include it on my list, despite my love of theme park games, because of a few complaints I have with the game. There are hardly any water rides, there is no scenario editor, and you can't customize the amount of money you start with in challenge mode. To be completely honest though the lack of a scenario editor is the only thing REALLY holding it back. Instead I have to use cheat engine to give myself money they set it back after the scenario is set up.
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Tom Clancys The Division
Battlefield 1
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Overwatch for me, loved pretty much everything about the game and it keeps getting better.
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Pes 16 and deck heroes and frozen throne, I played those 3 the most ^^
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Tie between Shadow Warrior 2 and American Truck Simulator. If we can count Early Access games then I'd also include Jalopy as well.
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Blood and Wine, Uncharted 4, Doom.
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Hyper Light Drifter,
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FFXV, DOOM, and uncharted 4. steep is a close 4th for the being the first good snowbarding game since ssx 3 imo
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The Witcher 3 Blood and Wine, you can call it an expansion/DLC, I call it a full sized game that took me 30+ hours to get 100%. Every second was worth it and I wish I could do it again for the 1st time.
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well said man well said, I couldn't have put it better myself
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Final Fantasy XV
Battlefield 1
Darks Souls III
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The Turing Test
Doom
in that order
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Dark Souls 3
Salt and Sanctuary
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Doom 4
Shadow Warrior 2
Battlefield 1
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I know it's for a handheld but bravely second end layer was pretty much perfect :D
Although I'm still yet to complete them world of final fantasy and final fantasy xv are damn good as well
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For me its defo Rise of the Tomb Raider and its expansions, thats cause im a Huge tomb raider fan :D
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If we exclude The Witcher III GOTY edition, then my GOTY 2016 would be XCOM 2... also Dark Souls 3 and Tyranny were very good.
Honorable mention goes to Stellaris (with mods :P) it simply has so much potential :D
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I initially read that as "If we include..." and was confused and thought you were trolling. :D
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Yes, The Witcher III seems to have that effect on these kind of lists... i bet we will see The Witcher III in 2017 :D
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Battlefield 1,Call of Duty Infinite Warfare,DOOM,Mirror's Edge Catalyst,Rise of The Tomb Raider.
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Tyranny, TW Warhammer, and Rise of the Tomb Raider
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Of the 2016 games I've played.... DOOM without a doubt for the number one spot, and No Mans Sky(lol hopefully no one gets too triggered over that, what can I say, I liked the game!)... some games I know I'd have enjoyed but not played yet. Dark Souls 3, Tyranny, Mafia 3, Grim Dawn, Shadow Warrior 2.
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X-Com 2 was a great start to the year and my overall GOTY. W3:B&W set the bar for expansions the way W3 set the bar for open worlds. Shadow Tactics gets the Surprise GOTY Award. (Kind of fitting if you think about it.) Tyranny is my runner up and shout-outs to Banner Saga 2 and Grim Dawn for also sponging up a bunch of my time. Really a solid year, IMO.