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Best of 2015

by jensonb

The ten games from 2015 I got the most enjoyment out of

Showing 1-10 of 10 items

Super Mario Maker

1. Super Mario Maker

Virtually unlimited Super Mario, which allows you to make your own levels? Obviously, the Game of the Year.

Life Is Strange

2. Life Is Strange

Compelling narrative, interesting characters, novel and inventive gameplay...This game is hella awesome.

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain

3. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain

For years, as a Metal Gear Solid fan who comes for the gameplay and not the nigh-incomprehensible and mind-numbingly stupid series mega-narrative, I have been frustrated with Kojima ever more significantly downplaying sneaking. Phantom Pain, despite an equally ridiculous and frustratingly stupid plot to that featured in MGS4 or Peace Walker, swings the pendulum fully back the other way, giving the underwhelming story the back seat to the gameplay, which amounts to nothing less than the last word in "sneak in, sneak out" gameplay.

Star Wars Battlefront

4. Star Wars Battlefront

For the first time in far too long, a comprehensive and modern Star Wars game. Slightly lacking in content, but incredibly fun and a visual treat.

Until Dawn

5. Until Dawn

Finally a David Cage game that doesn't fall apart into incomprehensible nonsense. Who'd have thought the best way to make a David Cage game would be to remove him from the equation entirely.

Contradiction: Spot The Liar!

6. Contradiction: Spot The Liar!

Initially cheesy, but ultimately fiendishly compelling, Contradiction serves as a reminder of two things: earnestness can overcome many production constraints and it turns out that there is little more compelling than a good mystery.

Her Story

7. Her Story

Inventive and mysterious, Her Story is a great exercise in alternative storytelling.

Grim Fandango

8. Grim Fandango

The greatest of all the Tim Schafer games came back to us on modern hardware in fine form, just as funny and involving as it had ever been.

Splatoon

9. Splatoon

It turns out spraying paint and ink all over the place like a maniac is a god damn fun way to spend your time. The fact Nintendo tacked on one of the better original 3D platformers in recent memory almost as an afterthought seals the deal.

F1 2015

10. F1 2015

The Formula 1 video game series returns to form with an impressive, if belated, debut on new hardware.