2015 must have been the first year in gaming I can remember that isn't full of overhyped clutter. This was the year that saw some great game releases, and finally made people realise that this new generation of consoles might have a purpose other than taking money out of wallets; although having said that, all blatant cash scams that identify themselves as games have been removed this list.
#10 Super Mario Maker (Wii U) (7/10)
How the hell has this not been released already? In the twenty years of the Mario franchise I can honestly say that this has been the best idea it's come up with. Nintendo themselves have been full of great ideas this year, and so it's a shame that nobody will ever buy a Wii U, but if you do then this would be the reason to get one. If for some reason you haven't ever felt the need to create your own sidescroller then this might not be the game for you, but if you enjoy ciphering through thousands of creations from passionate gaming fans then this is one of the best experiences you could ever possibly imagine. Some of you may think that Nintendo have gotten lazy in their old age and just got the players to create the game for them, but the customisation is a brilliant selling point to start revolutionising your own Mario series in the style of either modern installations or some of the classics. This is a game perfectly optimised for the current Wii U format, even if the social elements still aren't quite there yet.
However the plus side to a more social orientated game like this one is that you get the benefits from millions of other players, and when delving through the community creations you find there are some hugely talented creators out there, essentially making this a nearly endless Mario experience. When some of the clever creations are compared to your shitty levels it becomes clear that this is far more than just a great tool for that dual screen concept, and actually one of the best customisable games ever released. The efficient use of the second screen really comes into its own here, allowing for easy creation options, and for passionate gamers everywhere to express their inner developer. This release wasn't so much a game, more a tool to unlock limitless levels of Mario.
#9 Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege (PC/PS4/XONE) (7/10)
I love Tom Clancy games. I especially love the 'Rainbow Six' series that for me has become something of a more sophisticated alternative to the barebones approach of many other conventional shooters. This new release provides a lick of paint to an already polished franchise, and the results are still as good as they've always been. 2015 was a good year for multiplayer games, but this was the game that stood out for me despite still keeping the spirit of blowing up a lot of shit to the soundtrack of graphic language and underage gamers. Not exactly classic Tom Clancy style, but there's enough innovation in this game for me to consider this a good idea. Yes, the multiplayer based format does limit the experience, and certainly the life cycle as well, but as a change in direction for the franchise this was a positive release that was still really fun to play over and over again.
Optimising a game solely for multiplayer is always a risk, but thankfully for this title the multiplayer modes were all great fun to play. It's a format that builds on classic FPS features, offering a different and more teamwork based perspective of an often samey genre. The combat mechanics in particular felt polished, and the way each game pans out builds a lot more tension than other similar action orientated games such as Battlefield. I like how this game builds on the Tom Clancy formula and encourages fresh thinking, and integrating this with thoughtful game mechanics to create some exhilarating moments. The destruction mechanic in particular was a real plus point, taking away the constant frustration of your teammates screwing up for the five thousandth time thanks to the rubbish matchmaking system. The only other real downside is the amount of content, which is just eleven maps. That's not exactly what you would call massive, but then I can't think of a better way to play them countless times in one sitting.
#8 Splatoon (Wii U) (8/10)
Proof that multiplayer shooters don't have to be catered for underage bellends that constantly insult your mum whilst simultaneously beheading you in the most gruesome way possible. 'Splatoon' proved that you can now have fifteen million times more fun by shooting ink at people. I know that doesn't sound too amazing, but this is a seriously fun game, and a far bigger adrenaline rush than 'Call of Duty' or 'Battlefield' gave me this year. Maybe that's because 'Splatoon' is such a refreshing take on the multiplayer shooter format, and that includes everything from the concept itself to the art style and lovable music. This is such a unique and fun experience for a multiplayer game that it seems bizarre to me that this came from Nintendo, who never make good multiplayer games. I don't why this is so good to play, but maybe it's something to do with how you don't have to mutilate the whole enemy team for once, and now have the far more charming job of covering the whole map with ink. Strangely the world of death has become quite dull in video games, and now I want to get a kick out of squid simulator meeting a game of paintball; then again who wouldn't want that?
There is unfortunately a few big flaws that show Nintendo's lack of experience when going into multiplayer based games. The lack of voice chat in particular is particularly stupid to exclude, as are the exclusion of private lobbies. Couple these gripes with a woeful matchmaking system and you have a suicidal basis for a social and team based game, but for some reason the innovation and charm end up not making you care about a single one of these downfall. This is one of the most original concepts this year, and I love it when innovative ideas end up playing as well as this one does. This was a risk that payed off beautifully; so well in fact that the result is a game that anyone of any gaming persuasion can enjoy with little effort. The DLC is even free, so at least there's going to be an active community for a little while longer. It's certainly enough to make me reconsider buying that Wii U.
#7 Just Cause 3 (PC/PS4/XONE) (8/10)
This was a game that didn't get as much praise from the critics as I thought it deserved, especially considering that most of the reviews just overlooked the whole concept of this game. That concept is fun by the way, and I'm so glad in such a gritty and expansive world the developers never forgot about the player's experience. Taping rockets to enemies and watching them explode is far more entertaining to me than exploring what is a desolate and huge world, and with this game that's something you're encouraged to do. The whole map itself is absolutely gigantic and dwarfs even the most epic of RPGs in a similar way to which the previous game in the series did. In fact this game is very similar to the previous instalment of the franchise, yet I found this new entry far more refined and easier to enjoy. I was never a fan of the second game, but this is far more accessible and entertaining than its predecessor.
The only major problem is the piss poor narrative, which unfortunately is a big one. The developers still haven't been able to write a story that isn't generic drivel, and like the previous game this failed to intrigue me on any level. The loading times are also shocking, and there isn't a minimap for some stupid reason, but I never said that this game wasn't a little rough around the edges. There are certainly many elements to this game that are lacking in detail, but I find this forgivable in a game so enjoyable and on such an epic scale as well. The destruction in particular is the biggest highlight, and a highlight that has almost endless potential and looks absolutely unbelievable on consoles. The sheer amount of ways to have fun with this game is incredible, and I do love that this game took the elements that worked from the franchise and made them better. There may be some of the old drawbacks still laying around, but this is a much improved outing from one of the most adrenaline filled RPGs out there.
#6 Mortal Kombat X (Mobile/PC/PS4/XONE) (8/10)
When you get to releasing the tenth game in a beloved franchise I suppose the weight of expectation starts to fade, and so yet again the guys at NetherRealm Studios have pulled off another excellent game. I'm still not sure it tops the previous game, which I personally feel is the greatest fighting game of all time, but I would still say that this new game meets expectations. This tenth game still has what everyone wants from a Mortal Kombat game. There's a crisp and balanced fighting experience, a ton of gore, and a vast selection of unique characters. The gore in particular is as per usual done to the extreme, with the new fatalities looking even bloodier with the updated graphics. In fact the new crimson sheen to the franchise was excellent, and aside from a few teething issues with combat the game has nicely placed itself in this generation of consoles.
There were still a few issues that need addressing such as the lacklustre story and the lack of significant changes, but this game is a step forward for the franchise, even if it doesn't reach the heights that the ninth instalment managed. This is less fluid than the ninth game, less accessible, but still full of the same solid material that made the series great in the first place. As a Mortal Kombat game this is all we could have ever expected, and I'm
happy that in an increasingly 'PC' age this is still as exhilarating
and gruesome to play as it always was. All I ever want in a Mortal Kombat game is to spam
the same moves over and over again with Scorpion, which the game still
allows me to do, but thankfully rewards players who use a little more
skill than me. I'm disappointed I can't evolve into being a bigger cunt
as there's no Noob Saibot to play around with, but you can at least get Predator and a Xenomorph as DLC, which is a fantastic inclusion to the already rich roster; so there's no excuse for fighting game lovers like me to give this one a miss. This is still the best way to fuel a gamers innate desire to be casual sadists, and I can't think of a better way to do it.
#5 Cities: Skylines (PC) (8/10)
This was what the latest SimCity should have been. When comparing these two games it becomes instantly clear that this game does everything better than the more famed predecessor. The worst part for SimCity developers Maxis is that Skylines was created by a team of thirteen employees from a small Finnish studio. If that's not a huge 'fuck you' to EA then I don't know what is. But let's face it, this was always destined to be greater than the pioneering SimCity franchise. This game actually pays homage to the classics of the genre, and only expands on the whole experience, giving you the same feeling of a classic city builder only with a few innovative features. In a genre where the products are often more linear in nature, this game decided to break the mould and encourage players to show their creative sides instead of just building things according to the specification. I got the sense with this game that it was developed by gamers and not just by people who programmed a game based on an interview with the city planning office.
To say this was the best city builder of all time would be going a step too far, but I don't think it's too unreasonable to say that this is the most immersive. The mod support as well is also such a welcome addition to a city builder, never letting what is quite a simple formula get dull or tiring. That's not to say a city builder shouldn't be dull, in fact I love a dull city builder, as that just tells you that the micromanagement system is precise and polished. This game was such a success that there have been talks to get this on the Xbox One. I hope that doesn't happen as it just wouldn't work, and would only ruin the whole concept of the entire game with console restrictions. Still, with the PC version of this game we got proof that the city builder genre is back big time, and finally got ourselves a deserving sequel to SimCity 4.
#4 Fallout 4 (PC/PS4/XONE) (8/10)
'Fallout 4' wasn't a game I could exclude from my yearly list. After all this was THE release of the year, and for good reasons too. There may have been well publicised issues with various glitches and bugs, and the conversation system is still nowhere near the levels of other epic RPGs, but as a standalone game this lived up to its high expectations. I have to say I was still disappointed by the lackluster graphics and the tendencies for this to play like dog shit, hinting at a dated engine that you just don't expect from a release this huge. But having said that the real reason why this game is so high on the list is because of the amount of customisation on offer. It's ironic that in a game as vast as this one it's the smaller things that are nailed to perfection. This was by far the most addictive game to be released this year, and one that will keep you grinding away for hours in the hope that you find another trivial object to change your whole gaming experience. I wouldn't say that was keeping with the spirit of the franchise, but I don't really care with a system that turns me on as much as this one did. The brilliant micromanagement required to enjoy this game was almost enough to make me forgive the underwhelming RPG elements and storyline, but even though this game played it safe there is still so much on offer.
The big surprise with this release though was the gunplay. It's a really good system that totally exceeded my expectations for an exploration based RPG. I have nothing against the new focus on weaponry, especially when it comes with that expected 'Bethesda' diversity. I can totally understand why this huge world has absorbed the lives of many gamers, and though I'm not one to worship this game, I can see the appeal even behind all that messy execution. I just love that if you hate the story you can just piss about and build a village, and the whole world just begs to be explored in a way that emulates the greats in this genre. Bethesda have encouraged players to gawp at their surroundings and get excited over finding a single nail, and that's great in a game like this; this is a title that anyone can pick up and enjoy. The final result was a product that confused me considering that the fundamental features are all muddled up, yet the extras are done so brilliantly well that you can't help but support the great reputation that this game has deservedly amassed.
#3 Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (PC/PS3/PS4/X360/XONE) (9/10)
I'll happily admit that I've never been a huge fan of the 'Metal Gear Solid' franchise, only really enjoying 'Snakeater' in the lengthy past of this series. However this new open world experience and possibly the last in the franchise was a result nothing short of brilliant. I say this as a man who doesn't enjoy the stealth aspects of the game, rather the diversity and allowance the player is given to create their own experience. Where many other stealth games fail in execution this one excels due to being a fun adventure for anyone who appreciates the technical aspects of video gaming. As a swansong for legendary creator Hideo Kojima this was the best Konami could have hoped for. The now legendary story of Solid Snake goes out with a huge bang, and as a result this is by far the most memorable game of the franchise. 80 million dollars were spent in the development of this thing, and it shows. This is a mammoth game in perspective with spectacular visuals, an epic score, and an expertly programmed AI that make everything feel so professionally done. At no point did I ever get the impression that this was a game rushed for launch like the rumours suggested it was.
But the thing I love even more than how smoothly this game plays is just how complex the whole experience is. This is a game that's tactical, intelligent, gritty, and epic all at the same time, only pausing to allow the player to get creative or innovative with the tools on offer. The game never punishes you for doing things differently and at your own pace, and as a user driven experience this is in a class of one. Admittedly the story runs out of steam by the end, and in fact is almost at a screeching halt by the underwhelming conclusion. It doesn't help that Snake plays the role of a more passive protagonist, which just doesn't work in any respect when playing a role playing game that should focus on the story of the singular protagonist. I never got the feeling that Snake was the integral character in this game, and that's a shame for the final episode in his epic story. Snake still goes out on a high note with the best game in the franchise by far, deservedly being praised unanimously by the gaming press.
#2 Rocket League (PC/PS4/XONE) (9/10)
Oh what a simple pleasure this was. In terms of nailing a simple design this game was done to almost total perfection. The premise may be bread and butter, but in a similar way to how games such as Tetris became so great, it's all about how that simple idea is implemented that's the key to this game's success. In many ways it wasn't the big name titles of FIFA and NHL that have me the adrenaline rush that I usually get when playing sports games, but instead the adrenaline rush went to this enjoyable little title from the relative minnows compared to the giants at EA. The big boys couldn't make a game that looked and felt as brilliant as this title, with the detail of this taking me completely by surprise. Even the single player aspects of this game, which aren't the focus at all, can easily absorb hours upon hours with exhilarating gameplay. The single player however is nothing in comparison to the online games which are stupidly fun when a large crowd is attracted. All this from a game that solely consists of rocket powered cars playing football. When you say it like that the achievement of creating a brilliant game out of that simple concept becomes even more impressive.
Even if you don't care about football or racing games you can still have a great time playing this fusion of the two. Luckily for me I love both of those genres, so to me this was just something else. I'll admit I only scratched the surface of a very deep fanbase, but even in my short playing time I was mugged off by about every master there is of the game, yet still had a great time playing as a relative beginner. As an E-sport this is one of the biggest revelations for many years and far more exciting to watch than Koreans beating people at overrated MMORPGs. 'Rocket League' is a concept so normal and stupid that you would never imagine this unique title becoming such a hit, but as one of the more original and thoughtful releases of the year I think it deserves that popularity. I could happily watch other players score unbelievable goals for hours upon hours and still not get bored, because that's when developers let people fuck around with their game to their heart's content. If this game isn't a symbol of what modern gaming should be about then I don't know what is. Seriously, if you need an online game to ruin your life then stay away from 'League of Legends' and buy this gem; you'll keep your dignity as well.
#1 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (PC/PS4/XONE) (10/10)
Finally; Finally someone milked not only the great concept that this franchise had, but also milked the latest generation of consoles for that RPG it finally deserved. In a year of some huge releases this game stood out by a mile for me, and even managed to secure a spot in my 'Hall of Fame' as one of the few games in history to get a perfect score. This quite literally made my jaw open wider than it has done since Red Dead Redemption was released a few years back. This is what high performance gaming should be about; beautiful environments and some of the most complex and interesting quests to take part in and reap the benefits of this rich world. The RedEngine 3 is one of the best engines I've ever come across to build worlds that you can so easily get lost in, and is almost a perfect base to build this epic RPG from. The visuals in 'The Witcher' are just orgasmic, and as a step forward from the previous instalment, well this is just mindblowing. Flaws that I banged on about with other RPGs this year are absent from this one. This has a decision making system that rivals the best. This has intense moral and ethical choices for the player to make that actually leads to game changing consequences in a mature storyline that impressed me with its seamlessly endless surprise of missions. This is a game that tries to be sophisticated at every available opportunity, and it pulls that off so well that this should be classed as an overall triumph for video game storytelling.
'The Witcher' may put some gamers off with its long length and epic scale, but for those who are after a truly epic experience that irons out the creases of previous instalments then this is all you could ever ask for. The combat is now far more refined, the difficulty has been tweaked to actually add some balance, and the new UI is even readable and useful to the player. For the first time this year I got the sense that the developers behind this great game were not money grabbing assholes and actually wanted to build a game that players would cherish their time with. In such a commercialised gaming market it was so refreshing to see a developer giving us free DLC to already accompany a vast experience with so many hours of potential gameplay to exploit. Even the most insignificant of side quests will take you on a grand adventure, and some of the main missions have more detail in them than whole entire games. In fact the attention to detail in the whole game is just stunning. The developers even added a mechanic of real time beard growth, which has to be the greatest mechanic in any game ever. But this is just a small addition that doesn't detract from the main emphasis of exploration and adventure which are in abundance here. The game never forces you to explore the lush landscape, but you just want to, as this is one of the most diverse landscapes in gaming history. I absolutely loved every fucking second of it.
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