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GOTY 2014

by dasdude

Didn't play many finished games in 2014, and there weren't many games I wanted to play anyways. Therefore, couldn't find enough games to fill out 10 slots.

Showing 1-9 of 9 items

Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor

1. Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor

An immensely pleasant surprise, Shadow of Mordor was a gorgeous, innovative, and mechanically-sound game that rose above the competition not because of any one thing, but because it did everything well and got nothing horribly wrong.

Luftrausers

2. Luftrausers

An incredibly tight package, Luftrausers does one thing and does it better than any other game I've ever played: dogfighting. The controls are solid, the music is fantastic, and the customization provides enough incentive to come back for more.

Wolfenstein: The New Order

3. Wolfenstein: The New Order

While not perfect, The New Order featured fantastic visuals, satisfying retro combat, great acting, and a multitude of terrific plot points scattered throughout a somewhat disjointed and ridiculous narrative.

Banished

4. Banished

Banished is not ambitious, but that allows it to be focused. While it delivers only what it promises, it promises a very satisfying and challenging management game with nice visuals and emergent gameplay.

Valiant Hearts: The Great War

5. Valiant Hearts: The Great War

While it doesn't innovate as a game, Valiant Hearts sets its sights on telling a touching, identifiable narrative. With a charming art-style, likeable characters, and a heart-breaking conclusion, this game is definitely worth playing.

The Vanishing of Ethan Carter

6. The Vanishing of Ethan Carter

Didn't play much, but sheer immersion this title offers makes even two hours of aimless wandering a delight. Combine that with a mysterious narrative and solid soundtrack, and it gets a spot on my top ten.

The Wolf Among Us

7. The Wolf Among Us

While ultimately disappointing, TWAU started off with a hell of a bang. Even though the plot didn't hold up, the visuals and atmosphere remained appealing throughout.

A Bird Story

8. A Bird Story

A pleasant, wordless trip through a touching little narrative. With an extremely emotional soundtrack and intriguing method of presentation, A Bird Story was worth a little over an hour to play through.

The Walking Dead: Season Two

9. The Walking Dead: Season Two

A good collection of episodes with hard choices and interesting characters, but with a weak overall arch. A nice game on it's own, but a towering disappointment when presented as a successor to TWD Season 1.