Here we are at the end of 2015 and the time has come to select my personal choices for the top 10 games of 2015. This year was a much better year than last year in terms of new games and game quality. We saw a ton of new property hit the market, as well as, a number of old franchises coming back. If you love gaming in any way, something came out this year that made you want to play a game. We had a ton of fun covering all the releases this year and we hope that you look at our list below and let us know what you think!
10. Until Dawn – No one really gave this game any chance against a crowded release schedule, however, this turned out to be one of the best games of the year. The graphics were amazing, the non-linear story telling was great and it gave us just the right amount of cheesiness without letting it take over. The voice over cast was also great so if you were looking for a great game that maybe flew under the radar a little, this is a must own.
9. Splatoon – It seems that Nintendo has a hard time not generating fantastic first party content for their systems. Splatoon is a light take on a third person shooter that gives you the controls of a full shooter without all the violence. In addition, the game keeps a strong user base engaged and the development team supports the game vigorously. Finally, while we are sure that it was tempting to include microtransactions or charge for DLC, the game is self-contained and doesn’t ask for more money than the initial purchase price, well done Nintendo.
8. Life is Strange – On the surface, you could easily overlook this gem as being a dull, coming-of-age story that is more art than game. However, once you dive into the world, you’ll quickly see that this game is so much more than that. It is a great story about love, life and death all in the same package. This was a great surprise from Square Enix and the team at Dontnod Entertainment. Though it was a shame that Remember Me didn’t do very well, this game is certainly the kind of game that will put them back on the map.
7. Ori and the Blind Forest – This is another game that may not have made a ton of waves from the beginning, but once you play it, it grabs you. The game is haunting beautiful with well-crafted environments and a touching story. The game is hard as nails, but it keeps you motivated with the strong story and it makes you bang your head against the wall until you succeed. It is very gratifying and certainly worth your time.
6. Rise of the Tomb Raider – The worst part about this game is the fact that it only premiered on one console. It is a fantastic game that keeps everything that got people excited about the reboot. However, there are lots of new tombs to explore, new items and weapons and even an improved hunting mechanic which is a ton of fun to use. This game is a breathe of fresh air and PlayStation gamers have a gem coming their way next year.
5. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain – What is arguably Konami’s last triple A game, Kojima did a great job in expanding the universe and bringing the long-storied franchise to a close under his watch. Konami promises to keep the universe going, but it surely won’t be the same under a different developer. Either way, this game did a great job and earned a spot on the ever difficult to reach Game of the Year 2015 list.
4. Bloodborne – Bloodborne was one of those games that you knew you’d be popular from the minute you played it. The stunning graphics combined with the popular dark souls engine made for a great gaming experience. While this game is a PlayStation exclusive, it was certainly a great reason to get a PlayStation 4, especially if you want more RPGs. It was definitely the hardest game of the year, but it was just approachable enough to have a ton of fun with.
3. Rocket League – This is the indie game that took the world by storm and found its way to my GOTY list for 2015. The premise was extremely simple, but the controls and gameplay were difficult to master giving gamers a great challenge, but not being too easy to write off. It spawned a new category in e-sports and became an overnight sensation once it was given away for free in the PlayStation Plus program. It was unexpected, but certainly one of the better Cinderella stories out there.
2. Fallout 4 – This game came very late in the year for GOTY discussions and if it came out earlier, it may have been more highly rated, but from what we’ve seen from the game, this is definitely a solid game and worthy of this slot. Sure, there were some technical issues with the game, but we felt that it didn’t necessarily hurt the presentation of the game. There is still a huge world to explore, lots of new options like town building and that Fallout flavor that we all love to play. Love it or hate it, we think this is where this game needs to be.
1. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Role playing games rule the roost this year and The Witcher 3 was a shining example for all of us to indulge in. The game was massive in scale, the visuals were absolutely stunning and it came about as close as you could to a perfect game. It is a rare combination to get length and gameplay so perfectly balanced and that is why this game is deserving of my top spot for Game of the Year 2015.
So what do you think of the list? Keep in mind, this is my personal list. If you feel I missed something or have anything to say at all, leave it in the comments below.