Game of the Year 2016
We were reacquainted with old friends all the while brand new experiences came into the fold as well. New industry standards have been set as we look forward to 2017 and beyond. Without further adieu, here are my top ten games of 2016 in numerical order.
The Top 10
#10 - The Witcher 3: Blood and Wine
What else left is there to say about The Witcher 3 that hasn't been said before? Well I am pretty sure that in no other Witcher experience do you have Geralt entering a story book, transporting you to another realm, living through the stories of Little Red Riding Hood and Jack and the Beanstock. Not only that but you also get a brand new continent to explore, countless new quests and side activities to complete and so many more things to do in an already massive open world. This may be DLC (downloadable content) but it truly does feel like a whole new game.
#9 - ABZU
What do you get when you mix Journey (the game, not the band) with underwater exploration? You get ABZU, which also means you get pure bliss. Without stating anything about the actual game itself, as that would be giving everything away, I will just say this... ABZU constantly left me with my jaw wide open, staring in awe of my surroundings. Take a couple hours and experience this beautiful gem of a game.
#8 - Gears of War 4
Let me get this out of the way first and foremost; I do not enjoy the Gears multiplayer suite. It simply is not for me. But let me also say this; the fact that Gears of War 4 is number eight on my list should explain everything that needs to be said. This is a return to form for the franchise. The campaign introduces an awesome group of likable characters along with reintroducing some old favorites. I was absolutely blown away throughout the entire single player experience. Gears of War is back and it is better than ever. Even if you have never played a Gears game in the past, this is the perfect starting point for you. The staple Hoard mode is not too bad either, provided you have the teammates to back you up.
#7 - Titanfall 2
While Gears of War 4 had an incredible campaign but the multiplayer wasn't for me; Titanfall 2 is the complete package. The campaign is well thought out, expansive, and varied. The multiplayer takes everything that made the original Titanfall a success and turns all of it up to 11. Did it sell poorly for being a 'Triple A' title? Yes. Is it one of the best shooters of 2016? Absolutely and it deserves all of the praise it has received and then some.
#6 - World of Warcraft: Legion
World of Warcraft (WoW). You all know it and you either love it, hate it, or never played it. I was in the 'never played it' realm up until this year and while I am not addicted by any means necessary, I am enjoying the hell out of it so far. This latest expansion to the still largest MMO expands upon what makes WoW so enthralling along with removing all of the excess of which made the game a slog. I never thought I would play WoW let alone enjoy it. I also never thought that it would make it on a Game of the Year list of mine but here we are.
#5 - Forza Horizon 3
If you know me then you understand that I adore racing games. You also then know that I believe Forza is the best racing franchise that is out there right now.
Forza Horizon 3 and its first expansion of Blizzard Mountain are the best racing game experiences you can get this year, no question about it. Every car I have driven feels and looks incredible, the environments are stunning and varied, the game is just a joy to play. Also, there is coop for the first time on top of the already seamless multiplayer portion.
#4 - Inside
I am not going to say anything about this game other than that you need to play it if you have not already. I'm dead serious, stop reading this right now and go play it. We can talk more when you are finished. Oh, already played it? Alright, moving on down the list...
#3 - Ratchet and Clank
I LOVE this franchise. I PRAISE this franchise. I met Ted Price, shook his hand, looked him dead in the eye and said "Holy shit, you are fucking Ted Price!". Don't know who Ted Price is? Oh no one really. He is just the President and CEO of Insomniac Games. The very same company who created Ratchet and Clank. Yeah, that Ted fucking Price.
Alright, alright, about the game then. The guns are still as goofy and fun as ever. The characters and writing are still as funny and witty as ever. The game still looks as incred... Wait... What? IT LOOKS LIKE A FUCKING PIXAR MOVIE!
It may not be my number one game of this year but if there is any game that you must play on this list, yes even taking into consideration Inside, my number two, and my number one; you must play Ratchet and Clank. If not to at least make a small part of my cold heart melt ever so slightly.
#2 - DOOM
I am sorry Gears of War 4. I am sorry Titanfall 2. I am sorry Battlefield 1. I am sorry Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare. I am sorry to all other shooters to have released this year. DOOM is the best shooter of 2016, hands down.
The campaign moves at a blistering pace. The multiplayer is bombastic. The community creations allow you to play entirely new experiences. DOOM puts all other shooters this year to shame. It is a return to form for the franchise in ways absolutely no one expected. Every single little detail and intricacy of this game feels like it was lovingly hand crafted by those who invented the genre. Because they did.
#1 - Uncharted 4: A Thief's End
Masterpiece. Uncharted 4 is a masterpiece. It is a stunning, captivating, heart-wrenching, climactic, cinematic, astounding, remarkable, and unbelievable achievement in video games.
The team at Naughty Dog understand what it takes to create something with so much painstaking detail that sometimes you forget you are playing a video game. The shooting is by far the best in the franchise and the multiplayer is not some 'tacked on' feature but instead a fully fleshed out addition to the experience overall.
Uncharted 4 is my game of the year. It is the best game of 2016, no question about it.
Ladies and gentlemen, that is my top ten games of 2016. I hope you enjoyed the list and make sure to let me know what your game of the year is! If my explanations seemed far too short then stay on the watch for my full reviews of each and every game on this list, coming soon.