by adzpearson
(This originally appeared on Bluesky towards the end of 2025, but seeing as lists have only just been opened to everyone again, I can finally add it here!)
Showing 1-5 of 5 items
Well, the first game was my GOTY of 2018...and Insomniac have pulled it off again. I was finally able to play it, thanks to the PC release hitting earlier in the year. It was certainly worth the wait! It had everything the original had, and more. A great example of how to do a sequel. The fighting was fun and varied without being too complicated, the side-missions were satisfying, and the characters did a great job of drawing you into the story! Some of the boss fights, while difficult at times, were up there with my favourite boss fights ever. Insomniac really know how to deliver. I'm VERY curious to see how Wolverine turns out. The early signs are good. (Note: I also played Miles Morales this year. I felt much the same about that, but for the interest of variety in the list, I decided to leave it out. Feel free to lump it in with this game.)
It was extremely close between this and Spider-Man 2. There really wasn't much in it. If I had played this another year, it could have easily topped the list. After playing the first game last year, and enjoying it very much, I naturally had to check out the sequel. What I got was a game that took everything that was laid out in the first game, and elaborated on it in an interesting way. It was honestly great to see familiar faces come to terms with the reality of their world. As for the gameplay, combat was a bit more challenging this time around, due to some changes to the ability tree, but it was still enjoyable. There was also a good variety of side-missions, and most had their own story to tell. Given the world was one of the main draws for me, I did quite a bit of them. The Burning Shores DLC campaign delivered, too. Count me in for the next part!
This was a nice start to the year for me. I'm always up for a good narrative game, and I was a fan of Don't Nod's previous work. Given what I knew about the setting, I just had to check it out...and it didn't disappoint. The setting, the characters, the atmosphere, the music...there was just so much for me to like about the overall package! The player character (Swann) was such a relatable nerd, which certainly helped. I felt like the photography aspect was used well, and the game dealt with some very serious topics in a good way. I feel like I can't say much more without spoiling, but if you want to be taken on a ride for about 10 hours or so, give it a try!
Much like Forbidden West, this may have placed higher if it wasn't for other games I've played this year. This game was instantly on my radar when I found out about it. A narrative game about superheroes? Yes, please! In addition to getting to choose dialogue/actions, Dispatch has an aspect which sets it apart – being able to send heroes to deal with situations in a timed environment. I had to think quite a bit about who to send where, as it might impact other emergencies. I enjoyed that part of the game. The heroes you're working with are all people with a history of crime. The comedic tone of the game works well with the fact that the group is certainly a bunch of misfits. There are also some very hard choices to be made, in certain parts (and some that were easy, if you're anything like me :P ). Another hard recommend from me!
Well, I certainly didn't expect a Robocop game to make my list, but here we are. I will point out that, while Rogue City is a bit rough around the edges, it does a great job of being faithful to the source material. For something like Robocop, a sci-fi/action franchise that was extremely 80s in nature, I feel like that's about one of the best things you could deliver. Heck, even Peter Weller (and a few others) reprises his role! Each part of the game provides some extra little missions if you're willing to do a bit of exploring. What's more, you're rewarded with experience points, which eventually grant you points to spend on various upgrades (Armour, Scanning, Psychology etc.). The game world feels very much in line with the world present in the films, from the unusual news clips, to the clear divide created by corporate greed. If you liked the films, it might be worth a shot.
