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[KingSnake]

Oh, I forgot about Affordable Space Adventures, back to edit my list.

 

[Footos22]

1. Bloodborne ; Kept me hooked for the entire 50 hours it took to platinum. Brilliant soundtrack and monster design. Grotesque at times. Utterly fantastic. Still yet to play the dlc but that is only gonna add more brilliance.

2. Axiom verge ; Hard to believe just one guy made this. Pure metroidvania bliss. Again kept me hooked throughout. Would whole recommended everyone to pick it up. Its on sale from today in the EU for PS4.

3. Ori and the blind forest ; Another metroidvania. Been good to me this year. This started the year off on such a high for me. Just a shame Ms had nothing else till September otherwise I'd still have one.

4. Driveclub + bikes and DLC ; The only game this year to keep me going back to it all year. A wealth of content and excellent gameplay which is due to get even better in 2016. Feels like I'll be playing this for years. Excellent stuff from Evolution studios to turn around a disastrous launch.

5. Batman Arkham Knight ; Easily made my top 5. Even the batmobile stuff was fun. My only regret was the lame bosses but that didn't take away from a good batman story and the combat which was even better then cities had fun platinuming this.


My only regret from this year is holding off on the witcher. But who knows. It might make my list next year. If I get timr to play it amongst all the potentially amazing stuff out next year.

 

[Tizoc]

You know now that I think about it, I ain't seen such draconian rules for voting since the Soviet election ;P

Almost done compiling my list for GoTY 2015, just need to get one more game as the 10th one >_>

 

[Magic Mushroom]

1. Bloodborne. Kept me hooked for the entire 50 hours it took to platinum. Brilliant soundtrack and monster design. Grotesque at times. Utterly fantastic. Still yet to play the dlc but that is only gonna add more brilliance.

2. Axiom verge. Hard to believe just one guy made this. Pure metroidvania bliss. Again kept me hooked throughout. Would whole recommended everyone to pick it up. Its on sale from today in the EU for PS4.

3. Ori and the blind forest. Another metroidvania. Been good to me this year. This started the year off on such a high for me. Just a shame Ms had nothing else till September otherwise I'd still have one.

4. Driveclub + bikes and DLC. The only game this year to keep me going back to it all year. A wealth of content and excellent gameplay which is due to get even better in 2016. Feels like I'll be playing this for years. Excellent stuff from Evolution studios to turn around a disastrous launch.

5. Batman Arkham Knight. Easily made my top 5. Even the batmobile stuff was fun. My only regret was the lame bosses but that didn't take away from a good batman story and the combat which was even better then cities had fun platinuming this.


My only regret from this year is holding off on the witcher. But who knows. It might make my list next year. If I get timr to play it amongst all the potentially amazing stuff out next year.

Formating.
Don't forget the ;

 

[Tizoc]

1. Yakuza 5 ; It took a long time but the English release finally allowed many to experience the next chapter in Kiryu's story. Featuring it's trademark arcade beat'em-up combat, slick Heat Actions, myraid of minigames and crazy characters and story, Yakuza 5 deliver an entertaining and moving video game experience.
2. Transformers Devastation ; It may be short and really limited on areas, but the trademark Platinum Action Game formula blends fantastically with the Transformers franchise to offer one of the most entertaining character action games of the year. From Shoryukening Devastator, to flashing kicking Starscream as Grimlock to POWER GEYSER-ing Megatron, the game doesn't outstay it's welcome and in addition features a fantastic metal soundtrack.
3. Contradiction ; This FMV Adventure game won over a lot of people this year thanks to Rupert Booth's fantastic performance as Jenks. Jenks investigates a murder in a rural British town, and by speaking and spotting out contradictions from testimonies delves deeper into the dark background of the town as he seeks the real culprit behind the murder.
4. Tales from the Borderlands ; Telltale games may be light on the gameplay department but the events and characters have really stood out in this one particular game.
5. Ori and the Blind Forest ; Some of the best 2D animations and visuals in years. While I had my gripes with some of the gameplay elements, I overall enjoyed this Action Adventure game.
6. Tearaway Unfolded ; Cute and adorable adventure just like it's original Vita release. Although I have it digital, I continue to hunt for the SE that comes with the plushie :X
7. Brandish: The Dark Revenant ; The PSP remake of Brandish 1 finally gets an English release in 2015. Despite it's slow start this Adventure/Dungeon Crawler was a fantastic immersive journey. Despite it's limited amount of dialog, XSEED did an excellent job with the localization making the cutscenes a joy to read and watch.
8. Adventures of Pip ; While it may not have the best graphics in an Indie game, it more than delivered in its gameplay. The short levels coupled with some nice puzzles and platforming have made this game one of my favourites of the year.
9. Life is Strange ; A surprise hit of an Adventure game with a beautiful setting and charming characters.
10. Paint it back ; This picross-like game recently got a PC release and I've been addicted to it for days! Recommend this for anyone who is a fan of Picross or simple puzzle games, its tutorial is fantastic in teaching you how the game works and can get you ready for Squarecells and Hexcells.

 

[Cheesemeister]

You know now that I think about it, I ain't seen such draconian rules for voting since the Soviet election ;P

Tabulation is automated, so entries have to be machine-readable. I've built in some flexibility to help pick up common mistakes, but there is a limit.

 

[Tizoc]

Tabulation is automated, so entries have to be machine-readable. I've built in some flexibility to help pick up common mistakes, but there is a limit.

I was mainly joking
I understand that the software/method you use to tally requires the votes to be done in the way you mentioned in the first post.

 

[Earthpainting]

I like that it can double as GAF's annual reading comprehension test.

I'm also curious if it's possible to maybe get a short separate ranking of this year's vote stuffers. Maybe a top 5 of posters who voted for 5 games or fewer. It's probably interesting to see how that list would compare to the main one.

 

[Confused Cheeseburger]

I wonder if Undertale can crack the top 5. I see 3&4 being Splatoon and MGSV.

I'm so impressed by Splatoon's surge that I put it on my Christmas wish list.

(too broke to get it myself, bills are a hell of a thing).

 

[Aiustis]

1) Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate; I love this series. I was ambivalent about some of the changes but I've since grown to love them; there is a real sense of "this changes everything" as it's added new methods to how I play. And as always, excellent multiplayer.

2) Wasteland 2: Director's Cut; this may seem out of place on my list of much more bubbly and light games, but I love this game. Takes me back to the days of Fallout that actually had good gameplay.

3) Splatoon; Just so much fun. I don't even care that I...kind of really suck. So colorful. The controls are great.

4) Story of Seasons; I love this series so much. So much of the same, but always refreshing. I spent the first month too broke to do anything but collect and sell sticks, rocks and fish. Now I'm loaded but spend all my day taking care of my farm and I have no time to follow my true passion (fishing). This is my ultimate game for relaxing.

5) Undertale; someone said I needed to play this game. I didn't understand until I played it. Absolutely worth every penny. Truly engaging.

6) Affordable Space Adventures; finally played this game. The co-op feature makes it a great challenge. We would switch controls if someone failed too much. Budget Space travel is a bad idea, but this game is so good.

7) Xenoblade Chronicles X; I like this game; I like skippable cutscenes. The world is fantastic as is the gameplay. The characters manage to be super anime in a good way.

8) Hatsune Miku: Project Mirai DX; I love rhythm games. This game is very challenging, but gives you so many options for how to play that I'm able to do it how I want. One day I'll actually buy it, but currently I play my roommates.

9) Her Story; Guess who has two thumbs and would never play this game? Why is it on this list? I watched my roommate play this game and was hooked. I forbade her from continuing without me and helped her out. I don't think there's a single game I've enjoyed watching and participating in this much.

10) Fatal Frame 5: Maiden of Black Water; Sometimes I think it's a great idea to play a horror game; then I sleep with the lights on. This game was creepy and I had to take frequent, breaks to a less disturbing game.

 

[Cheesemeister]

I like that it can double as GAF's annual reading comprehension test.

I'm also curious if it's possible to maybe get a short separate ranking of this year's vote stuffers. Maybe a top 5 of posters who voted for 5 games or fewer. It's probably interesting to see how that list would compare to the main one.

Not a problem. I've already been thinking about naming and shaming the folks who've been conspicuously stuffing the ballot box with single-title ballots by providing a breakdown of who they are and what they're voting for.

 

[benny_a]

Not a problem. I've already been thinking about naming and shaming the folks who've been conspicuously stuffing the ballot box with single-title ballots by providing a breakdown of who they are and what they're voting for.

Sounds quite juvenile.

I mean you wanting to do the naming and shaming and doing statistics on it.

 

[Earthpainting]

Not a problem. I've already been thinking about naming and shaming the folks who've been conspicuously stuffing the ballot box with single-title ballots by providing a breakdown of who they are and what they're voting for.

Well, maybe I worded it poorly. I'm not so interested in who is doing it, but more about what they're voting for. Naming and shaming would perhaps be a little bit too passive aggressive.

Sounds quite juvenile.

I mean you wanting to do the naming and shaming and doing statistics on it.

Getting stats from it should be fine. No one is getting hurt, and it gives us some insight in the collected data. That's what statistics is all about. Perhaps the findings also may motivate people to do better next year as well.

 

[benny_a]

Getting stats from it should be fine. No one is getting hurt, and it gives us some insight in the collected data. That's what statistics is all about.

There are loads of stats. About how many are only voting for a certain publisher. What the platform breakdown is and such.

But naming and shaming is juvenile as fuck.

 

[Matty77]

Not everyone without ten votes is "ballot stuffing" either. I somewhat mentioned but did not fully explain why I only have a couple. I am on a limited budget being disabled on a fixed income. I couldn't afford ten titles worthy of voting for. Most games I play a year or two later, i.e., what I can afford if I want to play most of the best games is not eligible when I get a chance to play them.

Should I be named and shamed for that?

 

[Ridesh]

Not a problem. I've already been thinking about naming and shaming the folks who've been conspicuously stuffing the ballot box with single-title ballots by providing a breakdown of who they are and what they're voting for.

Bloodborne fans really want that GOTY.

Not everyone without ten votes is "ballot stuffing" either. I somewhat mentioned but did not fully explain why I only have a couple. I am on a limited budget being disabled on a fixed income. I couldn't afford ten titles worthy of voting for. Most games I play a year or two later, i.e., what I can afford if I want to play most of the best games is not eligible when I get a chance to play them.

Should I be named and shamed for that?

I think he is referring to posts like this one

1. Bloodborne ; Fuck everything else. If this game doesnt get GOTY then gaf has their collective heads further up their asses then I realized. Its a fucking masterpiece.

 

[NIGHT-]

Not everyone without ten votes is "ballot stuffing" either. I somewhat mentioned but did not fully explain why I only have a couple. I am on a limited budget being disabled on a fixed income. I couldn't afford ten titles worthy of voting for. Most games I play a year or two later, i.e., what I can afford if I want to play most of the best games is not eligible when I get a chance to play them.

Should I be named and shamed for that?

I just don't think someone is capable of making a "game of the year" vote if they only played 1 or 2 games. That's just my opinion.

 

[benny_a]

I just don't think someone is capable of making a "game of the year" vote if they only played 1 or 2 games. That's just my opinion.

And I think this game of the year voting should be inclusionary, no matter your situation in life.

And this ballot stuffing is dumb math anyway. The last few years the number one spot point value hasn't been affected by the amount of other entries on your list.

It's a popularity contest voted on by people that have a GAF account and choose to participate. It's not more than that. And trying to add in new rules to exclude certain ballots is way more prone to personal biases creeping in than allowing little Gouty to vote for his favorite game of the year.

 

[Cheesemeister]

Perhaps I worded it poorly. Identifying outliers is interesting when looking at statistics.

For what it's worth, right now there are only 28/575 ballots that list only 1 title, or 4.869565%.

 

[Matty77]

I just don't think someone is capable of making a "game of the year" vote if they only played 1 or 2 games. That's just my opinion.

I played more than one or two. A lot of them were not game of the year worthy. Of the games that I could play that were eligible only four were list worthy to me. Budget is part of it some of it is opinon. One guy had ten votes but they were mostly Nintendo games because that's what he plays. Does that invalidate his opinon because he did not play anything on Xbox or PlayStation?

 

[CHC]

1. The Witcher III: Wild Hunt ; there were so many times when I just literally said to myself "I can't believe this game is real" while I was playing it. Everything that CDPR said they were going to do, they did... and then some. It's a massive, sprawling open world packed with details and innumerable little stories that range from humourous to terrifying to downright moving.

2. Bloodborne ; while it was a bit of a foregone conclusion that this would be a Great One (har har har), From really has to be commended on their restraint in the marketing. What appeared to a Victorian horror palette swap on Dark Souls (which would have been fine in the first place) turned into an unimaginably dark and dreadful tale of cosmic horror. I haven't been so surprised by a disconnect like that since playing as Raiden in MGS2. The only real fault of this game is the Chalice Dungeon system - a commendable experiment but a failed one, for they abandon nearly everything that makes these games so great to begin with.

3. Soma ; truly a disturbing game. Although the cat-and-mouse sequences feel like they belong in a different (worse) game, the core narrative is absolutely worth experiencing - haunting and thought provoking sci-fi in the vein of Philip K Dick or Isaac Asimov.

4. Batman: Arkham Knight ; although this is admittedly quite a leap down from Bloodborne and Wild Hunt, I really think this game got lost in a storm of bad publicity. Behind all of that drama is the most complete, fleshed out, open Batman experience in gaming. Gotham is absolutely gorgeous, and the core gameplay is still so fun that I wound up doing all the content without even realizing it.

5. Wolfenstein: The Old Blood ; a great return to the wonderful world of New Order, MachineGames' fresh entry in the classic WWII shooter series. An unbelievably fun, pulpy romp through a classic Nazi castle, rife with horrors of an occult nature. The story doesn't hold a candle to the New Order, but it's nevertheless a worthy DLC in all regards.

6. Life is Stange ; an endearing sleeper hit. It isn't without flaws, but it has heart, and it's a rare thing indeed when you can tell that the developer was able to truly make the game that they wanted to make.

 

[VeryGooster]

1. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt ; The one thing that pleases me about The Witcher 3 is how comfortable I felt playing the protagonist Geralt in a way that suited me. On the surface he appears as a bland badass but a part of me couldn’t help but identify with him as the adventures went on. In spite of the bigger conflict at hand I loved its world for the same reasons I loved Grand Theft Auto 5’s: it feels livable. It felt as if this world didn’t need my input to exist and that everyone had their own problems. I was way more into the political plot than anything Game of Thrones could throw at me. I felt like I was actually role-playing.

2. Life Is Strange ; I keep asking if Life Is Strange was a television show, would I watch it? The dialogue and performances are incredibly corny, but it hella knows it, sista. It’s a coming-of-age drama of sacrifice, belonging, and identity with a fun rewind mechanic to play with. That power is the appeal, the ability to correct our mistakes, have a do-over, and the consequences therein. I was surprised at how engaged I was with the characters after a bumpy start. Its ending is ultimately binary but this was one of the few times I enjoyed the journey without worrying much about the destination.

3. Until Dawn ; What I thought would be an interesting novelty of putting Hayden Panettiere in a horror game turned out to be a very fun subversion of horror movies and tropes. I’ve been a sucker for wintry settings in games for as long as I can remember so naturally I took to the whole log cabin in a snowstorm trope. If you’ve watched a horror movie, Until Dawn pretty much asks you to put your money where your mouth is and see what choices you make in the midst of insanity.

4. Super Mario Maker ; Another novel idea that, like any creative tool, can suck hours from you and test your imaginative limits. Nintendo basically puts it to you to create Mario and take it to the next level. It allows for an almost infinite 2D Mario experience, where no one level is the same. But what makes it work for me especially is how, with a friendly interface, allows you to get in the head of the folks who have been bringing Mario to life for decades.

5. Tales from the Borderlands ; My introduction to the world of Borderlands and through five episodes I met a cast of characters that by the end I wanted to have beers with. I was so fascinated by its world and felt like I understood its "rules," so to speak. Every story beat had its hooks into me. Even when I could tell where the story would go, I didn’t care because I was enjoying the ride.

6. Bloodborne ; Bloodborne is the Souls game made for me. Excellent, fast-paced combat, wonderfully gothic environment design, a lore and story with some great presentation and intrigue. I love that feeling of dread, adrenaline, and determination when I find one of its bosses or enter a new area -- desperate for that gaslamp, and to stay alive.

7. Rise of the Tomb Raider ; What a difference two years make. It’s great playing a more evolved Lara Croft again: confident, determined, but it feels earned. Much of the design hasn’t changed from the 2013 game, which I wasn’t too fond of, and those same tropes are as silly here as they were then, but man is it a gorgeous game. Appeasing players with tombs was smart and easily the best parts of the game. More of that, please.

8. Rocket League ; The game that reminds me that yes, I can be ridiculously competitive in the best and worst ways. There’s a great simplicity to it that’s almost deceptive because there is also a mastery to it. How can you not love the premise? Rocket RC cars bouncing a glowing soccer orb in a “sport of the future!” aesthetic and a hundred ways to customize your ride. Just plain fun and fierce.

9. Lara Croft Go ; Great-looking and quite addicting mobile Tomb Raider. I enjoy the sort of “chess” maneuvering navigating through enemy creatures as well as trademark Tomb Raider traps and obstacles.

x. Dragon Quest Heroes: The World Tree’s Woe and the Blight Below ; Ever since last year’s Hyrule Warriors -- one of my top games of 2014 -- I’d been craving that kind of battlefield action again. Dragon Quest is a franchise I try my best to support so this felt right up my alley. In spite of its friendly design and that satisfaction of walloping enemies by the hundreds, ultimately I didn’t feel that same level of excitement that I did with HW. It’s still a solid musou title regardless.

x. Grow Home ; It took quite a while for the controls and I to be in sync, but I think it has a great look and a fun, arguably creative idea.

 

[Deactivision]

As usual, there are far too many games that I haven't tried. My regrets to Undertale, Nuclear Throne, Fast Racing Neo, Steamworld Heist, Pillars of Eternity, and all the others I just haven't had a chance to play... yet.

1. Xenoblade Chronicles X ; Massive, beautiful, endlessly entertaining. Tweaks its gameplay as you go along, introducing new elements and revealing new levels of complexity and depth. Exploration has rarely been this fun, because game worlds are rarely this compelling and interesting. Finally an open world I can really sink my teeth into.

2. Splatoon ; I thought this was my GOTY for sure but it was surpassed in the end by XCX. Fresh twitchy fun, it honestly never gets old and it's by far the best time I've ever had in a competitive multiplayer game.

3. Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate ; I can never get as deep into these games as I'd like but they are so fun for the many hours that I do play them. This is the best iteration yet and kept me glued to my 3DS for days on end.

4. Super Mario Maker ; While community level creation is an interesting experiment at best, this is certainly the best level editor I've ever used, and creating and playtesting my own levels is more entertaining than I could have guessed. Bonus points for revealing to everyone just how much talent it really takes to make a great Mario level, let alone an entire game.

5. Yoshi's Woolly World ; A surprising delight. Pure platforming bliss with charm up the wazoo.

6. Earthbound Beginnings ; As charming as Earthbound, which is one of my favourite games of all time. Just a little rougher around the edges. Very happy to have a chance to play this this year.

7. Crypt of the Necrodancer ; Rhythm, rougelike, and a great soundtrack. I can't ask for more.

8. Pokemon Shuffle ; Hooked me far harder than I expected.

9. Kirby and the Rainbow Curse ; Worthwhile for the unlockable music library alone. Far from the best Kirby game but it was a fun diversion with a beautiful art style.

10. Kerbal Space Program ; I've been dabbling in this game since it was in Early Access, and I can't say I have sunk enough time into it to really appreciate what it has to offer. But it's really special in what it's trying to accomplish and certainly belongs on this list.

 

[kpaadet]

1. Bloodborne ; Bloodborne just turned out to be pure gaming bliss, it's a game I can see myself coming back years later just like Demon's and Dark Souls 1

2. The Witcher 3 ; In a time with a lot of stale and boring open worlds Witcher 3 stands out with its great side quests and well written characters and interesting lore. Unfortunately the gameplay couldn't quite keep up, but what does that matter when I spent dozens of hours just playing Gwent.

3. Rocket League ; What is there to say about Rocket League? It's simple, fun and addicting.

4. Divinity: Original Sin Enhanced Ed ; Divinity reminds me of a time when RPG makers like BioWare cared more about game mechanics and systems than who you could romance. And I am glad it wasn't only limited to the PC.

5. Until Dawn ; Until Dawn is an amazing experience, and I hope it was successful enough for them to try out something similar in the future.

6. Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain ; Even though it might be my least favorite MGS game (not counting the handheld games) it's still one of the best games of the year. Can't wait to see what Kojima can come up with now that he is free of Konami and have to create something completely new.

7. Dying Light ; Heard lot of good things about it so I picked it up,and they were right. One of the few games that get first person melee combat right.

8. Fallout 4 ; Still haven't played as much as I would like to, but I am liking it so far.

9. Batman Arkham Knight ; Playing as Batman is still so much fun, but I do hope Rocksteady will do something else next time around.

10. Life is Strange ; While the writing is often very cringeworthy, I do like the setting and the time rewind mechanic.

Wished I had time to also play: Soma, Axiom Verge, Ori and the Blind Forest, AC: Syndicate.

 

[lcap]

1. Metal Gear Solid V ; Incredible game, hasn`t been hooked for a game since forever. Of course it has its flaws but they don't detract it from being my GOTY.
2. Bloodborne ; If I could tie my number 1 Bloodborne would be it. Awesome game and was expecting it since Dark Souls and Demons Souls are my favorite games of last generation.
3. Dying Light ; My surprise game of the year.
4. Fallout 4 ; Incredible world building, some awesome side quests.
5. Wolfenstein: The Old Blood ; Another surprise and fun shooter.
6. Batman Arkham Knight ; Never 100% a game before.
7. Super Mario Maker ; The only game I played with my wife.
8. Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin ; Great game on its own rights.
9. Halo 5: Guardians ; Incredible shooter.
10. The Order: 1886 ; Loved it.

Honorable Mentions:
x. Nuclear Throne ;
x. Shovel Knight ;
x. Titan Souls ;
x. Star Wars Battlefront ;

 

[brian!]

1. sonic dreams collection; everything works here

2. mgsv; this game was weirder than sonic for me, the hurried feeling of the game really comes through and permeates the entire vibe of the game. lots of "what the fuck" that was different than the rest of the series, just a really interesting execution of a "conclusion" that fucks with how a video game conclusions have historically played out.

3. undertale; lots of setup + payoff, made me feel warm. reminds me a little bit of the end of super mario world where all the ppl whos heads you've smashed come out for a curtain call

4. downwell; lots of good moments and urgency

5. witcher 3; main takeaway from this game was "i got my money's worth", whatever that means. game kind of felt like I was watching a season of a tv show, so yeah there were some pretty good episodes but also maybe a couple of episodes that the season could have benefited from dropping. lots of moments where "attention to detail" really enhanced things, but also where things like unique dialogue as you track some more blood stains or gaseous smells felt like they were trying to hide the fact that you were once again power walking through this treasure map they gave you. snowball fight is basically the hahaha scene from ffx, which isn't to say it's bad, but that's what it is

6. her story; pretty much a game about google searching

7. pillars of eternity; lots of good ideas but a lot of stuff that gets in the way, excited to see how pillars 2 will fix the problems it has. kind of setting myself up here for a fall tho, my excitement is kind of tied to idea that a bg1->bg2 style upgrade will come through

8. neko atsume; joy simulator where sometimes there will be a orange/black cat called spooky, but also sometimes there is a cat called tubbs who lounges next to the bowl of food you put out for everyone not just him but he eats it all with a really satisfied look on his face. also there was a cat called joe dimeowgio with a baseball cap just standing next to a baseball once.

9. underrail; still going through this, really drags you in. I'm listening to a youtube talking about a build right now while I'm writing this.

10. heroes of the storm; im master league bois, probably played this game the most this year. I like to think about mobas and watch higher level play more than playing them I think, I feel like that is a safe thing to say about myself and mobas. what it does for mobas is really interesting to me and is just a really ambitious thing in general. watching the development process has been really fun, but also a lot of the decision making from the developers is a total enigma to me, not in a fun mystery novel way tho. when I played league I usually would play 2-3 before being like ok that's enough for now, same with heroes but the matches are way shorter so net positive you know?

honor mention:
ori; not really feeling what a lot of ppl are saying about this game, but I like this style of game, I'm glad a game like this is still coming out and people like it

sunless sea; mainly because they call the sea "the zee", but I'd probably want to play a different game w/ this kind of writing

age of decadence; dunno if it is goty for me or an honorable mention, that is basically how I feel about this game.

fallout 4; still janky in a good way, would have been up there if it hadn't been done in several iterations already

the beginner's guide: really devastating name for this game imo. really skillfully done, but one of the examples where the narrator injects themselves so violently into the narrative that it really disturbs everything. another game where everything works and I can appreciate that, but in a way that distances me. not that the player should be the center of attention or anything. uhhh compare the feel of kojima's hand in mgsv vs. davey wreden in the beginners guide I guess, maybe that is a simpler way of putting it

rocket league; have had moments where I was driving and wanted to flip my car to gain speed but not waste gas

 

[Imperfected]

1. Bloodborne ; This game competes for best-in-category in character action gameplay, visual and audio aesthetics, level and encounter design, all while presenting a setting and story that both feel refreshingly new. Better action than most action games, better horror than most horror games, and a better story than most "narrative experiences", and it does it all while not specifically being any of those things.
2. Rocket League ; The number of people I know who previously had no background in competitive multiplayer games (mostly because they did not enjoy shooters/RTS/MOBAs) who have come around to the idea because of Rocket League is staggering. The gampleay is simple but intuitive, and feels fantastic, arguably delivering more of the "feel" of playing actual football than sim-heavy games where ball control just sort of happens as a rote behavior.
3. Undertale ; Though it might very well be the most overrated game of all time, it's still an easy Top 3, so don't let the rabid following dissuade you. The meme-filled writing masks excellent comedic timing and strong characterization, the narrative is rock-solid, and the bullet-hell gameplay is sitting almost perfectly on the line between "approachable" and "overwhelming" for players not familiar with that genre. The game makes better use of the cognitive space in which a "game" exists better than any other, making Kojima's 4th Wall antics look almost juvenile by comparison. The soundtrack is fantastic, and the art aesthetic is charming and appropriate if admittedly unspectacular.
4. The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt ; CDPR over-delivered on basically every expectation. The degree of graphical fidelity a smaller developer could manage in an open-world game (without completely inflating system requirements)? Easily exceeded. The sheer scope of the game, without sacrificing the quality and attention to detail? Brilliantly exceeded. The characters and writing? The best they've ever been in the series. The only reason I wouldn't rate the game higher is that the gameplay can become fairly repetitive (the curse of any open-world RPG, I suppose), and the combat and associated RPG mechanics remain seriously half-baked.
5. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain ; The game is painfully unfinished, and even if it had been complete on release, the narrative is poorly-paced and somewhat weak overall, the cast of characters is sparse and often under-utilized, and the "side-ops" gameplay can be seriously hit-or-miss, particularly with how heavily they lean on it to pad out the game length. That said? The gameplay alone makes it worthy of the fifth spot on my list, because even if this were just released as "Side-Ops: The Game" without any cutscenes or narrative, I think it would still capture this spot. The wide-open mission areas are wonderfully realized, and the feeling of being a legendary covert operative is stronger than it's ever been before, zany Fulton-warts and all.
6. Splatoon ; The arena FPS genre has been inching forward at a snail's pace for years now, basically just barely avoiding stagnation since Modern Warfare and Halo first made the scene. Splatoon makes excellent use of its conceit to incorporate virtually everything that other FPS games struggle to justify (meaningful 3D movement/verticality, strong weapon differentiation, etc.), to the point where it almost feels more like a hybrid of an arena shooter and a class-based shooter. The game has a great aesthetic and a strong sense of identity, something else that most modern shooters are struggling with as everyone seems to be making the transition from "pseudo-realistic modern shooter" to "near-future sci-fi shooter" to "colorful hero shooter" en masse.
7. Until Dawn ; I've always said that most of the problem with David Cage's games wasn't that they "aren't games" (as is often decried), but rather that they aren't very well-written, regardless of what they are. Until Dawn's the proof I've been waiting for: smart writing, strong vocal and mo-cap performances, rock-solid pacing and a real sense of tension deliver everything that Quantic Dream's games have been sorely lacking. That said, it also brings improvements on the simplistic formula: the use of "totems" gives players a sense that they have the tools available to actually understand the ramifications of their choices, a complaint often leveled at similar TellTale games, and while the core narrative still follows an immutable sequence, there's enough variety in the possible outcomes to short-circuit the other most common complaint about competitors in the genre, that choices never really matter. This is the blueprint that "story-telling games" should follow, and might be the death-knell of the assembly-line TellTale narrative experience.
8: Batman: Arkham Knight ; A wonderful return to form by Rocksteady, marred only (if significantly) by the baffling decision to focus so very heavily on the car, and dubious-value DLC, and of course a traumatic PC release. This game really should be higher on the list, but there were a lot of points left on the table, there.
9. Rise of the Tomb Raider ; I'm not a huge Tomb Raider fan, admittedly, but this game is pretty much what I want out of a modern Tomb Raider game: more tombs, more climbing, and more puzzles. I could still do with a bit less ultra-violence/murderporn, but on the whole this really is a solid title that's been the recipient of endless misfortunes at the hands of its publisher. Hopefully it returns with Rise of the Tomb Raider: Revengeance (ie, the PC release).
10. Pillars of Eternty ; I'm biased, because I couldn't be happier to see people still making Baldur's Gate-style isometric party RPGs in this day and age. Objectively, I have to admit this is not the best example of the genre, and the underlying RPG mechanics do not show a particularly strong grasp of evolving game design in the intervening years since BG2 aped AD&D 2nd Edition so ably, but it remains a unique experience in terms of modern releases and a great PC RPG.

Honorable Mention:
x. Fallout 4 ; For releasing a new editor/toolkit that modders will no doubt build a fantastic game out of. Dishonorable mention for the game Bethesda, themselves, made using that editor and toolkit.

 

[More_Badass]

How is SOMA doing vote-wise? Really hope it ranks nicely. My favorite of the year

 

[tattooed_dwarf]

1. Neverwinter ; Even with it's flaws, this Xbox One port has been my most played game this year. Lots to do, bad frame rates but otherwise fun gameplay.
2. Halo 5 ; most entertaining Halo campaign and MP. SP story has it's flaws but it's entertaining and fun ride with good encounters with various ways to tackle them.
3. Fallout 4 ; Too much the same as past Fallouts, but nevertheless enjoyable world to explore.
4. Witcher 3
5. Ori and the Blind Forest
6. Rocket League
7. Rainbow Six: Siege
8. Rise of the Tomb Raider

 

[brian!]

no love for sonic dreams collection in this thread, smh

 

[Acosta]

1. Bloodborne ; This is the "Souls" game that finally clicked for me. I imported Demon's Souls, I bought Dark Souls I and II, and there they are, burning shame in my library, with few hours played. I was too intimidated, the setting made me feel hopeless, I felt lost, I had no idea if I was developing my character right... I'm a bit stubborn about using guides, at least from the beginning, so I got discouraged and left them. But with Bloodborne I could finally made it. The fastest style suited me better and I just love combat mechanics that are about avoiding attacks. The character development made me more focused in a physical character, without getting lost in the melee/magic jack of all trades that I tend to make when given the option. I felt more confident about choosing one or two specific weapons and really learn them. The rush of beating a boss is something I had no experienced in videogames in a long time. The lore, style, music, map design, everything just worked for me. I believe is the most special game for me this year and I believe it deserves the spot.

2. The Age of Decadence ; If you are interested in classic RPGs, if you like Planescape, the original Fallouts or Arcanum, if you are interested in C&C and computer roleplaying beyond swinging a sword, just put this game in your wish list and buy it at some point of the future. Fantastic setting, great lore, interesting combat and tons of interesting options, dialogues and decisions (with equally interesting consequences). A real gem.

3. Pillars of Eternity ; My biggest complain for PoE is that it feels much safer that what I imagined. And I'm still really disappointed about Avellone cut content, specially given that his characters are among the best elements of the game. There are some things about the design I dislike (lack of hard encounters, terrible fortress). But at the end, I feel lucky to play a modern "infinity engine" game and there are lot of things I enjoy from the game, specially about some of the most esoteric aspects of the setting, the dialogues, the quests and elements of the plot. It's not exactly what I expected or wanted, but maybe I set the bar too high.

4. The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt ; I love everything about this game, except the combat and encounters, and it´s a shame given you fight a lot. Even in hard, it felt too easy, too plain. The boss encounters were ridicule, the monsters were boring and the world lacked challenge or emotion. It puzzles me because I feel there are elements to make a great combat here, but for some reason it doesn't happen. The fact that I played it just after Bloodborne probably highlighted this element. Aside of that, I loved every minute, felt true emotion with the characters and stories and loved to explore the world, aisde of being my favorite OST and a real looker.

5. SteinsGate ; I see people are voting it (the console version I guess?). I didn't play this year, but if I can give some extra points to this fantastic story, I'll gladly do it

6. Fallout 4 ; Terrible, hilarious and ridiculous story, but nice world to explore and fun combat. Enjoyable 70 hours.

7. Sunless Sea ; I almost forgot it but I feel it deserves a mention for the fantastic setting and atmosphere. Playing it can be a bore, but never ceases to be interesting or evocative.


There are tons of stuff I have not played this year (I actually feel amazed I managed to complete so many long games, I tend to procrastinate a lot). There is some stuff I have enjoyed a lot but it´s not from this year and/or I have not finished them yet (Like Trails in the Sky), but I just want to vote on stuff I truly finished, so there it is.

 

[RMI]

I have some time to lock in a few games, but seeing as to how voting is going until the 23rd of January, there is still time for some games that I haven't had a chance to play to make it on to this list. These games are Xenoblade Chronicles X and Undertale.

1. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt ; I haven't felt this engrossed in a fictional setting since the original Mass Effect game. There is little that I dislike here. The story is amazing, the characters are interesting and likeable, the game is a feast for the eyes, and the combat is above average for the genre. Mostly what keeps me coming back is the story though. I want to see what these characters are getting up to in this world. I want to see it so badly that I even started reading the goddamned books so that I could have a better frame of reference for what is going on. Fantastic game from a wonderful developer.

2. Super Mario Maker ; Even though there is nothing inherently original or exciting about a level editor, Nintendo deserves some credit for passing the torch to the community on this one. The results have gone beyond what anyone could have expected, with some really inventive, devious, sadistic, and just plain fun levels rising out of the morass of random garbage and auto levels. The editor itself is a joy to use, and they've made it extremely easy to test and iterate on concepts. Nintendo could have hit the mark a little better in terms of curation, but their continued support is promising in this regard.

3. Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 ; I'll be straight up on this one. I have barely touched the campaign. It doesn't seem all that great. The multiplayer, on the other hand, has been the most fun I've had with an online multiplayer game in years. Great maps, great selection of weapons, cool specialist abilities, and an ever-present community have made this my go-to game when I have 15 minutes to 2 hours to kill. Every time I think I have my loadout locked down I start experimenting with a new weapon and find something to love about it.

4. Nuclear Throne ; Just one more game turns into two more games, turns into five more games. You can see where this is going. My only complaint about the otherwise perfect action in this game is that the difficulty spikes like crazy on 5-3 with lil' hunter. The dude is harder than the game's final boss, IMO.

5. Persona 4: Dancing All Night ; This game has the most consistently good song selection of any rhythm game I have ever played. I also love the scratch mechanic, and wish more games in the genre would use an optional input that can raise your score but doesn't lower it. The characters look gorgeous, and it's such a great cast. The story mode mode is a little cumbersome, but what can you expect from a rhythm game, really? Rise is best girl <3. Now I Know is my jam.

6. Splatoon ; This game exceeded my expectations, and I really enjoyed the time I spent with it. I just wish there had been a little more at the outset, because I sort of had my fill and then couldn't be bothered to go back. Still, have to give credit where credit is due on this one. Nintendo nailed the gameplay, and their support (apparently) has been really good.

7. Rocket League ; I had to quit this game cold-turkey because it was way too addictive. It's a beautiful premise, and executed nearly perfectly. Huge respect to the developers for going so deep on such a simple concept.

8. Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate ; I bought a n3DS for this game. Worth every penny. This series is just unmatched in depth when it comes to combat. I wish it weren't so grindy, as fighting the same monster over and over can be a little tiresome when you're waiting for a rare drop, but nothing compares to the excitement of downing a difficult monster for the first time.

9. Littlewitch Romanesque: Editio Regia ; This is an old game that saw release on Steam this year. It's a beautifully drawn VN with some interesting gameplay. The characters are adorable, and the writing cracks me up on a regular basis. there's just something very innocent and charming about the whole thing that occasionally gets tainted with some unfortunate lolicon type stuff. It's rare that a game getting censored for release to the wide audience gets a pass from me, but I can't complain that they removed the really out of place tacked on eroge elements of the original game for the steam release.

10. MGS V ; what can I say about this game. It's the worst metal gear game by a wide margin, which is heartbreaking because it might be my favorite game series of all time. The gameplay was superb, it's just too bad the story and structure of the game were so terrible. I want Kojima to make something new now that he is free from Konami, but at the same time I want him still to make the game that MGS V should have been.

Honorable Mentions

x. Bloodborne ; it's definitely a souls game.

 

[Rooter McGavin]

1. The Witcher III: Wild Hunt; After what I considered to be a mediocre first game and decent second game, The Witcher III: Wild Hunt blew away all expectations I had for it and quickly became one of my favourite games in years, let alone this year.

2. Bloodborne; I was disappointed by Dark Souls 2, so my expectations for Bloodborne weren't as high as they could have been. Lo and behold a beautifully focused and enjoyable game was what I had in store for me when I picked it up alongside a PS4 earlier in the year.

3. Soma; That atmosphere, tho.

I did play more games this year, but those 3 are honestly the only ones I feel like contributing GOTY points towards. MGSV was horribly disappointing, Undertale was good but didn't stick in my mind very much, and I'm not far enough in Yakuza 5 to feel comfortable with an opinion of it yet.

 

[MashKing]

1. Splatoon ; I keep coming back to this game, absolutely love it, like it is just fun to play.

2. Bloodborne ; The cosmic horror setting and the faster combat won me over.

3. Xenoblade Chronicles X ; A big cool game filled with big cool stuff, all ways a fan of that offline mmo style combat.

4. Life Is Strange ; Every choice you make is wrong, just like real life!.

5. Destiny: The Taken King ; Huge all around improvement, bosses that are really bosses and not just bullet sponges.

6. Dragon Ball XenoVerse ; Enjoyed this way more then i expected, the character creation made it a lot more interesting then previous DBZ games to me.

7. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain ; The story may be bananas, but the game play is top notch.

8. Batman: Arkham Knight ; The tank stuff wasn't the most fun, but still love everything else about the Batman games.

9. Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward ; Ishgard is cool, enjoying the expansion for sure.

10. One Piece: Pirate Warriors 3 ; I love the musou games and One Piece, a match made in heaven.

 

[Murkas]

1. Bloodborne ; Really solid entry from From and easily my GOTY, nothing can be said about this game that hasn't been said before.

2. Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate ; Spent hundreds of hours on this, arguably the most content rich MH in the whole series. New jumping and mounting mechanic made fights more intense and were welcome additions. The Apex and Frenzy monsters made monsters that you've destroyed hundreds of times, challenging again, which I loved.

3. Resident Evil HD Remaster ; Solid port of my favourite RE game. Hasn't aged a bit.

4. Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin ; Disappointing, and easily the worst out of the Souls series, so why have I played this game for 100 hours split across the PS4 and PC version? After spending 100 hours split across the PS3 and PC vanilla versions? I honestly don't know, something about this game keeps making me go back.

5. Final Fantasy VII ; Solid port of one of my favourite games again.

6. Devil May Cry 4: Special Edition ; Again a great port.

7. Rocket League ; Great multi player game, very addictive.

8. Wolfenstein: The Old Blood ; Great expansion.

9. Shovel Knight ; Decent enough platformed, wouldn't say I loved it. It's on here because I haven't played many 2015 games.

10. Metal Gear Solid V : The Phantom Pain; This game is here on a technicality, felt it was disappointing, it's only here because I've only played 10 2015 games going by the list in the OP.

 

[semiconscious]

1. Bloodborne ; This game competes for best-in-category in character action gameplay, visual and audio aesthetics, level and encounter design, all while presenting a setting and story that both feel refreshingly new. Better action than most action games, better horror than most horror games, and a better story than most "narrative experiences", and it does it all while not specifically being any of those things...

wish i'd said that. perfect! ...

 

[Jotamide]

2013's GOTY List
2014's GOTY List

2015 GOTY List
1. Under Night In-Birth EXE:Late ; UNIEL is undeniably my 2015 GOTY. I was hyping this game for ages, following it from the UNIB days at the Japanese arcades to the long-awaited console release. Ecole/French Bread with ASW was a match made in heaven, with the former providing a solid game mechanics-wise (with a fantastic soundtrack!) and the latter lending their expertise in solid netcode to guarantee a great netplay experience. I played it until I got the plat and I'm really looking forward to UNIST.
2. Hearthstone ; The first F2P game I've ever played where I haven't spend a single cent and gotten hours of entertainment out of it. I grinded my way through Naxxramas and Blackrock Mountain this year and it was just so pleasant to unwind after work and play a couple matches every day. Blizzard absolutely nailed the gameplay and presentation.
3. Splatoon ; In my opinion, the only worthwhile game to come from Nintendo this year. To be honest I played this in August via a rental, so I did not pay to play it in its original unfinished state. Needless to say, Nintendo has provided great post-launch support and Splatoon is undeniably fun. From the character design to the controls, everything is just fresh.
4. Superbeat: Xonic ; While it's a bit rough around the edges and wthe soundtrack ain't as good as DJMax Technika Tune, Superbeat still feels like a damn solid game on its own and worth the price of admission to any rhtythm game fan. Also, the super LE is probably the nicest limited edition I've ever bought. Mayor props to PM Studios and Acttil for bringing this over, really looking forward to the DLC!
5. Persona 4 Dancing All Night ; While the story was dumb as hell and the gameplay feels off at times, P4DAN has probably my favorite gaming soundtrack of the year. That alone puts it this high on my list, also the game looks simply stunning on the Vita 1000s OLED screen. *_*
6. Devil May Cry 4: Special Edition ; Fantastic enhanced port of one of my favorite character action games of all time. Playing this as Lady/Trish felt innovative enough to, once again, look past its poor level design and just enjoy the ride.
7. The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D ; After looking forward for so long to replay my favorite Zelda of all time, this really should be much higher on my list. Unfortunally, the game, came out at a really bad time for me so I've only made it halfway through. Still from what I played the port performed very well and I will definitely come back to finish it soon.
8. Star Wars: Battlefront ; Fun as hell multiplayer but rather slim on content. Even if I got this for free close to release, I gotta admit that some design choices and controls are odd. Still, it's a soild foundation on which DICE can deliver a great sequel with content from TFA and the new movies (hopefully).
9. Groove Coaster 2 ; In a year filled with great rhythm games, this one still stood out as one of the better ones. Even though it's F2P, it has a very fair unlock progression and Zuntata music is just too good. Also, the cross-save function works just great between Android and iOS. Looking forward to the sequel!
10. DARIUSBURST Chronicle Saviours ; Great shmup that unfortunately I haven't had much time to seek my teeth into. While I sorely lack a 2nd monitor to truly have something close to the arcade experience, the game is so massive that it will probably last me many years. Enough time to get the monitor down the road.


Honorable Mentions
x. Rocket League ; Probably PS+ game of the year. While fun as hell, I played it only for a single weekend non-stop due to me only borrowing the PS4 that I was using at the time, and my friends not being much into soccer. Had my buddies picked this up I think RL would have been closer to the top of the list.
x. Theatrhythm Dragon Quest ; To be fair, I'm not as familiar with DQ music as I am with FF music but its Theatrhythm alright. I don't understand half of what happening on the game but it was a worthwhile pickup from my trip to Japan
x. Xblaze: Lost Memories ; The first half almost killed this game for me as it was mostly a retelling of the previous game with some annoying platformer sections thrown in between. Luckily, the second half was good enough to not make me regret the time spend with this game. I still find the tech ASW uses for these VNs hella impressive, I would like to see this team use it again for some original story.
x. Rhythm Tengoku: The Best Plus ; I had to see what the fuss for Rhythm Heaven was about so I picked this up while in Japan. What I ended with what with a "Simon Says" game with pretty graphics, very disappointing.
x. Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax ; Coming from the outstanding UNIEL I was expecting great things from DBFC. Unfortunately, the game's mecahnics are very shallow and the cast just doesn't appeal to me. Add to that the fact that Sega of America got screwed over big time by the Japanese branch on the release of this localization and you ended up with a ghost town on day 1. While I bought this mostly for support, I don't see me picking up the sequel in the future.

 

[GamerJM]

Does Amplitude count as a 2015 release, since it is one if you backed it on Kickstarter but it's a 2016 release for everyone else? I think I'm going to count it as a 2016 release either way but man this game would definitely make my list otherwise.

 

[YankeeDonB]

1. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt ; loved this game, despite being on the fence about even buying (not crazy about Witcher 2, Dragon Age was just the latest wRPG to sour me on the genre). But the characterization, writing, atmosphere, and the way the game so effectively and engagingly puts you in Geralt's shoes won me over. By the time I did Crookback Bog I was all in. I want all people making big future RPGs to play this game and think about how the writing, characters, and setting come together so masterfully.
2. Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel ; OK, I'm only on Chapter 2, but this game has already got me more engaged than any other game but the Witcher 3 this year, so I'm adding it in the #2 spot and bumping everything else down. Just reminding me again that story and good characterization is what matters most to me in video games. Yeah, gameplay matters, but for me the interest is 75% narrative.
3. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain ; another game I almost didn't buy, I've never been able to get into the gameplay in a MG game before. Too clunky and awkward. This one plays like a dream. I don't like shooters or stealth games but had a ton of fun rolling around in this one, nonsensical story aside.
4. Divinity Original Sin: Enhanced Edition ; this game had all the crunchy and intricate rule set interactions that used to draw me into wRPGs. Story is forgettable, but a real pleasure to travel the world and take down baddies with crazy spell combos.
5. StellaGlow ; somewhat embarrassed to include, but this a really solid and high production value hand held strategy jRPG with some innovative ideas and moderately engaging characters. And when you turn around a tight battle with a well timed and absurdly catchy witch hymn, it really clicks.
6. Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn ; played on PS4, the only mmo I've ever gotten into. Just really fun and easy to learn.
7. Persona Q ; I love P3 and 4, and this is a nice mashup. I'm not crazy about Etrian style dungeons though.
8. Steinsgate ; lots of things about this VN were irritating, but they still did a darn good job of injecting real science into a time travel story
9. Final Fantasy Type 0 ; disappointing story, hobbled by PSP roots, but the battle system was really great, and partially made up for all that.


Played a handful of other games, but nothing I'd award. Over the next month I'll be playing Undertale, Sunless Sea, and Trails of Cold Steel (and probably TitS SC), excited about all of those too.

Edit: added in Trails of Cold Steel.

 

[HORRORSHØW]

I've already been thinking about naming and shaming the folks who've been conspicuously stuffing the ballot box with single-title ballots by providing a breakdown of who they are and what they're voting for.

ridiculous. i only had time to play a few games this year that's worth mentioning. sue me. shame me. what a fucking joke.

 

[Weltall Zero]

Here are mine! Hopefully I didn't mess anything up.

1. Bloodborne ; Not just game of the year, but clearly game of the generation so far. It was virtually impossible to improve on Dark Souls but they managed it, effortlessly. Unmatched gameplay, incredibly fun and unique weapons, perfect atmosphere, it doesn't get any better. The DLC manages to improve on it with even more awesome weapons and terrifying zones and bosses, at the same time solving its main issue (length, compared to previous games).
2. Transformers: Devastation ; Surprise of the year: after the obviously rushed and barebones Korra, I was not expecting this game to have one of the most fully fledged fighting systems by Platinum games, filled with memorable bosses, and fair and milimetrically adjusted harder modes. It's also incredibly faithful to the G1 cartoon look.
3. Undertale ; The most surreal, smart, funny and hearwarming (or heartbreaking) experience this side of Earthbound, with a battle system that's so original yet playable that I fully expect it to be the next "Mario RPG timed hits" thing to be imitated in future RPGs.
4. Crypt of the Necrodancer ; An impossibly fortunate, made in heaven mix of roguelike and rhythm game, addicting as heroin, and blessed with super catchy music.
5. Helldivers ; The hardcore gamer's party game. With friendly fire that will kill a player in a second, the way experienced players will naturally fan out and spread, and hold their fire when friendlies are in the way (even if their own lives are in danger), is just unlike any other game I've played.
6. Xenoblade Chronicles X ; I'm not enjoying the game nearly as much as its predecessor, but it still remains one of the best RPGs out there, with an expansive open world (tm) that's quite unique both in landscape and creature design. It's just unfortunate that story takes such a backseat.
7. Super Time Force ; This is one for the Contra lovers and/or fans of time rewind mechanics. Tons of unique unlockable characters that can rewind time to save each other and team up with time-displaced versions of themselves. Hard to explain, easy to play.
8. Lovers in a Dangerous Space Time ; The one game to play with your significant other or best friend, each player controls one of two pilots of a spaceship where you have to scramble over to each station to man shields, thrusters or guns. Charming and psychedelic.
9. Velocity 2x ; The sequel of the already excellent Velocity adds an entirely new experience with on-foot sections and stages that manage to translate each of the ship sections' mechanics in a very smart way.
10. Oreshika: Tainted Bloodlines ; One of the best JRPGs on the Vita, second only to Persona 4. Take care of a clan of Japanese warriors who are cursed to age and die in two years, as you manage dungeon incursions and uniting with Japanese gods (don't worry, no fanservice involved) to produce new clan members. Looking at your expanding family tree and bittersweetly remembering ancestors long gone whose accomplishments and traits still perdure is a feeling you won't get from other games!

 

[CHC]

How is SOMA doing vote-wise? Really hope it ranks nicely. My favorite of the year

Most everyone who played it loved it, myself included. I ranked it #3 after Bloodborne and Witcher III. I don't think it's going to rank significantly though, too many people missed it sadly.

 

[Prinny]

1. Bloodborne ; Excellent combat, art style, atmosphere, enemy design, soundtrack and level design.
2. Disgaea 5: Alliance of Vengeance ; Easily the best game in the series in almost every way.
3. Xenoblade Chronicles X ;
4. The Witcher III: Wild Hunt ;
5. Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate ;
6. The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel ;
7. Persona 4: Dancing All Night ;
8. Ori and the Blind Forest ;
9. Super Mario Maker ;
10. Undertale ; One of the most creative game I've ever played, memorable characters and great music.

x. Xenoblade Chronicles 3D ;
x. Devil May Cry 4: Special Edition ;
x. IA/VT Colorful ;
x. Axiom Verge ;
x. Atelier Shallie: Alchemists of the Dusk Sea ;
x. Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls ;
x. Dragon Quest Heroes ;
x. The Legend of Legacy ;
x. Story of Seasons ;
x. Starcraft II: Legacy of the Void ;
x. Toukiden: Kiwami ;
x. Yoshi's Woolly World ;

 

[Oreoleo]

I think some of you are taking that "naming and shaming" thing a little too literally. Cheesemeister is not that petulant.

 

[gotstrangepowers]

1. Bloodborne ; I was completely immersed in this macabre, mysterious world after finally trying a Miyazaki game. The DLC really solidified its number one position for me.
2. Until Dawn ; What a great cast.
3. Fallout 4 ;
4. Life is Strange ;
5. The Witcher 3 ;
6. Tales From The Borderlands ;
7. Super Mario Maker ;
8. Dying Light ;
9. Soma ;
10. Hotline Miami 2 ;

 

[Magic Mushroom]

1. Metal Gear Solid V ;
2. Bloodborne ;
3. Dying Light ;
4. Fallout 4 ;
5. Wolfenstein: The Old Blood ;
6. Batman Arkham Knight ;
7. Super Mario Maker ;
8. Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin ;
9. Halo 5: Guardians ;
10. The Order: 1886 ;

Honorable Mentions:
x. Nuclear Throne ;
x. Shovel Knight ;
x. Titan Souls ;
x. Star Wars Battlefront ;

Write at least one comment.

 

[PhantomVash808]

1.Until Dawn ; She's like a sleeper hit kinda of girl you know.

 

[Deleted member 125677]

shots fired

 

[Flame_AC]

1. The Witcher III: Wild Hunt ; Might be my favorite game of all time and I've not even finished it. 130 hours in and I can easily say I've never seen a game this well made or intricately detailed. Truly a masterful game. I even enjoy the combat well-enough, feels fine to me,
2. Tales from the Borderlands ; Such a fun ride from beginning to end. The intros to each episodes, specifically 2, 4, and 5 show how much fun someone can have in the Borderlands universe. (Don't watch the intros until you actually play though, it'll spoil the fun.
3. Star Wars Battlefront ; Fun gameplay and the attention to detail are all I needed to be satisfied. Can't wait for the Clone Wars in the sequel.
4. Borderlands: The Handsome Collection ; My first time playing through the franchise. The games are great and you can have a lot of fun playing them.
5. Rocket League ; A really fun game which can take a lot of time to learn how to play correctly.
6. Batman: Arkham Knight ; I liked the Batmobile... So I really enjoyed the entire game. A fitting conclusion to the games and I look forward to whatever they're doing next.
7. Dragon Ball XenoVerse ; A fun game with a good base for an amazing sequel. I liked how they did the combat in this game, a good fusion of all the previous games.
8. Splatoon ; Fun game, just wish it had more content at launch and the playlists weren't so restrictive.
9. Sword Art Online Re: Hollow Fragment ; I enjoyed the game.
10. Kerbal Space Program ; I like this game, excellent design gameplay.

Honorable Mentions
x. Middle Earth: Shadows of Mordor ; Played it this year, I enjoyed it.

 

[Oxirane]

Hey Cheesemeister, is there a way to add a list of the (likely top 5) games we didn't play (or play enough of) without cluttering up the thread? I think that would be something good to analyse, particularly with the Bloodborne vs Witcher 3 thing that's going on.
It's probably too late now, but maybe in future.