This is my list of the ten games I played this year and where I'd rank them. Note that I might have played a game for the first time this year that has been out for several years. I generally bounce from game to game, so many of these I haven't beaten, but I have long since divorced myself from feeling like I NEED to "finish" games and instead just look for entertainment from them.
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No big surprise here. The world building and depth of this game's systems are astounding. The care given to animations creates a feeling of reality that I have never experienced in a game before, and though some of the actual gameplay mechanics can be a bit obtuse and/or uncomfortable, I still find this to be an amazing game well worth the praise. Never have I loved a horse so much.
As I have gotten older, I have realized that one of my favorite genres are tactical turn-based games. This is one of those. Add in giant robots, lasers, spaceships and light management sim spice and you have a recipe for "just one more" gameplay. I fell hard for this game. Played TONS of it....which reminds me...there is DLC...
After barely dipping my toe into Origins Last year (I bounced off of the setting), when they announced Odyssey I knew I'd be into it. I love the setting and the visuals are fantastic. The story doesn't do anything for me, but the combat and surrounding visual feast are enough to put this game in the top of my experiences this year. I picked the dude, which I know is unpopular but I like the meat-head delivery of his lines and the feeling that this is an exceptional athlete who is over his head in weird mystical crap, but because he has the right magical abilities and stubborn strength he succeeds.
This is an amazingly beautiful game. For me, these games are all about getting into the "zone". Cornering, passing, drifting, accelerating out of turns, sticking landings, riding the line as drum and bass radio thumps in your ears. This is one of those series that I come back to again and again when I need a palette cleanser. That's not to say it isn't good enough to hold my attention however, as there is enough variety and scenery changes to keep me coming back again and again. I love these games because there is something strangely cathartic about going super fast, and add in 4k and it is almost a dreamlike state. Love this game, best racing series going right now imo by far.
Ahhhhhh. Awwwwww. Ohhhhhhh. Ewwwwwww. These were all sounds I made playing this delightful game. Dragon Quest 11 is like being wrapped in a warm blanket, while soft classical music plays and enjoying a soft, warm puff-puff. The visuals are bright and vibrant, the gameplay is mostly calm and silly, and the music is a great mix of new and old going back to the roots of Dragon Quest. It isn't revolutionary, nor does it have the most exciting gameplay, but in terms of a pleasant experience, I'd put Dragon Quest 11 up against any other GOTY contender.
I missed out on the first State of Decay, and after Brad's praise of the first one, I decided to bite on this one. I wasn't disappointed. I loved the idea of leading a group of survivors and managing the base with their needs while trying to find a way out for my community. I had almost forgotten that this game came out this year as it was so early on, but I did have a great time with it. I never got to play it with a friend, but I did come across a few people just out in the world that I could assist. There were a few bugs with the companion AI that caused me to stop playing the game when one of my favorite community members glitched out and got killed, but even then I have to own up to the fact that I played it enough to get so invested and I did have a good time with it.
I'm sure this is gonna show up all over the place, but it should. It's a great game. I think sometimes it can be too hard to progress, but overall I had a great time with this game. It is by far the best feeling rogue-like procedurally driven thingy I've played so far so I think it deserves top honors.
Yes, I know I am WAY late on this one...but honestly the game never appealed to me. Finally it was on sale for dirt cheap and I was looking for something light and fast to play so I tried this out and loved it. I was so excited after scoring a goal my wife thought I had won the lottery. Then as I ranked up, I saw how good people were at basically flying their cars around and judging angles in moving space and felt really low when I knew I'd never play enough to get that good. My own hang-ups besides, this is a great game.
I hesitated on including this game, but I've honestly had a blast WHILE playing it with a few friends...mostly (if I am honest) because of my friends. Whether we were hunting down players with bounties or taking stupid selfies in outrageous costumes, or just laughing at the dumb stuff and glitches that can happen, I have had a ton of fun with this game. I am a fan of the fallout series, but I don't feel the same way about this game as others have. I don't mind them not having NPC's or branching dialogue trees, I came to this game in hopes of having a good time with friends and it has delivered. Could it be better? Yes, undoubtedly, but have I had fun? Yes.
I got this game as a freebie from Twitch Prime and after hearing about it on Giant Bomb and Waypoint, decided to give it a try. On first glance, it looks like a weird mashing of action/match three puzzler, and I suppose it is exactly that...but this game carries it off well and you get an interesting story to boot! I had alot of fun with this game, and while I didn't beat it....maybe I will before year's end...I still had a great time with it.
