2016. The year the Grim Reaper thought he’d chill out on Earth and kill a bunch of awesome celebrities and also kill any hope of getting any game on its scheduled release date. 2016 has generally been an awful year from start to finish, but at least we got some awesome games out of it. Please remember this is my list of personal favourites of this year and if a game you like doesn’t appear on here, it’s probably because I didn’t play it or I wasn’t impressed.
Number 10: Watch Dogs 2.
Starting off at the bottom is Watch Dogs 2, the follow-up to Watch Dogs, the title that wowed people during E3 2013 but then fell short because of the Ubisoft effect… you all know what it is. Watch Dogs 2 was a massive improvement over the previous entry by giving the audience a cast of likeable characters and a bright vibrant world to play with all the gadgets at my disposal. I advise people to check it out even if the previous entry disappointed you.
Number 9: Ratchet and Clank.
The game based on a movie based on a game! I didn’t grow up on Ratchet and Clank, I was too busy playing Blitzball in Final Fantasy X or collecting everything in Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker. I quickly found out that my childhood missed out on a certain Lombax and his mechanical friend. I fell in love with this game from the play style and the humour throughout the game, since then I picked up the HD Trilogy on PS3 to continue my adventures through space with Ratchet and Clank.
Number 8: Attack on Titan: Wings of Freedom.
On that day, mankind received a grim reminder. We lived in fear of the Titans and were disgraced to live in these cages we called walls. Ever since I watched Attack on Titan, I’ve always wanted to join the fight against the titans just like Mikasa or Levi do in the series, the freedom to soar through the streets of the Trost district or take the fight to titans on their own turf and Wings of Freedom gave this feeling of… well freedom! Unlike you, Attack on Titan on 3DS, because you suck! Attack on Titan: Wings of Freedom, recreated the story perfectly in the game and I actually felt like I was Eren enacting his revenge against the Titans!
Number 7: Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2.
Dragon Ball Z, the franchise alongside Pokemon, Digimon and Sailor Moon that introduced myself and a majority of friends to anime, I know the classics like Akira and Ghost in the Shell really brought anime to the west but Dragon Ball Z is the series that made me look into anime. Just like Attack on Titan, I always wanted to be a part of this world and Xenoverse 2 is the perfect fit for that wish (get it? Dragon Ball. Wish. No? M’kay then…) Xenoverse 2 continues on from the first installment even allowing you to transfer your previous character across to add him/her/it into the storyline as the hero of Toki Toki City. If you want more insight into the game check out my review here.
Number 6: Pokémon Sun and Moon.
It’s Pokémon, need I say more. Next! Pokémon Sun and Moon was a welcome edition to the Pokémon formula and gave a different spin on the two versions, usually there is only different creatures to capture in each version but this time, Game Freak decided to add an interesting twelve-hour time gap between the two versions. For example, during the daytime, Pokemon Moon will be set at night, but in Pokémon Sun it’s daytime just like the real world. It adds a little dynamic touch to the game and because I usually play most at night, I don’t really miss the daytime events in-game due to owning Pokémon Moon.
Number 5: I am Setsuna.
I am Setsuna blew my goddamn mind and was the perfect to fill my void of old school JRPGs! Chrono Trigger to this day is still one of my favourite JRPG of all time and when I am Setsuna was officially revealed and I saw how it played exactly like Chrono Trigger, I was sold and couldn’t hit that pre-order button hard enough. I got the chance to have an advanced preview at the Square Enix offices in London and loved every second of what I got to play a week before the release. I am Setsuna is something any JRPG fan should get their hands on, trust me you will love it!
Number 4: Dark Souls 3.
Prepare to die again and again… Dark Souls 3 was an incredible addition to the series and felt more accessible to the more casual players. These games are dark and provide a wealth of challenge and content plus playing the game with a buddy or two makes the game even more enjoyable, especially when three of you can’t take down a boss… I’m looking at you, The Nameless King… although, in the end, we did defeat you.
Number 3: Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End.
Uncharted 4 was so freaking beautiful! I thought this game was incredible and such an amazing way to close the story. Uncharted 4 had a great cast of characters and the voice actor’s performances made the game, from Nolan North and Troy Baker’s quips as Nate and Sam to Laura Bailey’s strong and determined Nadine. Naughty Dog knows how to make incredible games and the stories to go with them, I cannot wait for Uncharted: The Lost Legacy and The Last of Us 2. Ah, what a time to be an owner of a PS4.
Number 2: Final Fantasy XV.
After ten years, ten long and painful years, we finally got the Final Fantasy game I had been yearning for since that trailer for Versus in 2006. Final Fantasy XV was incredible even though the story drifted off a bit during the closing chapters, I still loved the combat, the characters and just cruising around in the Regalia with my four road trip buddies. The world was massive and open, there were plenty of side quests and hunts to keep you occupied for hours. I’m pretty sure I was still on chapter three or four at around fifty hours and I still had plenty to do. I cannot wait for the story DLC and to see how Square implement this upcoming story patch.
Also, I’m secretly excited for the co-op DLC “Comrades,” too.
Number 1: The Last Guardian.
This game made me cry like a little bitch… I haven’t cried at something like that since Mufasa died in the Lion King… when I watched it last month. Seriously, The Last Guardian is a true masterpiece, the story had me hooked and gripping onto the controller at every intense moment. People complain about the controls and for good reason, they do feel a little floaty, to begin with, but eventually, you grasp the,m but every game by Fumito Ueda generally has floaty controls; just look at Shadow of the Colossus.
And there you have it! My top games for 2016 that I actually got to play, below I will add a list of honorable mentions and games I hope to get around to playing from last year along with games I am excited for next year.
Honorable Mentions: Overwatch, Dragon Quest VII: Journey of the Cursed King, Hyper Light Drifter, Tokyo Mirage Sessions, Pokken Tournament and The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD.
Games to play from 2016: Dishonored 2, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, Doom and Batman: The Telltale Series.
Hype for 2017: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Persona 5, Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, Horizon Zero Dawn, Yooka-Laylee, NieR: Automata and Sonic Mania.
