Top 10 Video Games of 2016

2016 was actually a fairly decent year for video games. Unlike the real world I found there was a lot of good stuff on the market, but not enough great stuff to make this a great year for gamers. Sure, there was a ton of stuff in terms of quantity, and that made a lot of competition to make this year's list. Here are those video games that made it:

#10 Pokemon Go (Mobile) (6/10)

Is this allowed? I'd normally shudder at putting a mobile game on any list that concerns the best games of the year, but when a game becomes such a huge cultural phenomenon like this one did then you sort of have to. 'Pokemon Go' was a game that managed to appeal to every gamer out there, and even creating new ones in the process. This game managed to not only unite an often divided world of video games, but also made headlines for positive reasons. 'Pokemon Go' even had some unusual side effects, such as curing obesity, and aiding the suppression of depression and learning difficulties. For once a game wasn't being blamed for every evil in the world by the mass media, and actually society as a whole seemed to enjoy this global fad. Nintendo certainly enjoyed the fad. Their share price rose by 50% after the release of this game, and the sheer number of players caused widespread server issues that still have yet to be fully fixed. Sure, this is probably one of the simplest games ever made, and if I'm honest it's a huge bundle of wasted potential, but it gave gamers that brief joy of being a Pokemon trainer. And let's face it, what kid has never wanted to catch them all?

I guess it's too bad that 'Pokemon Go' will go down as a huge fad, as nobody gives a shit anymore. That may have a lot to do with integral features being removed by the developers for whatever reason, seriously affecting whatever good gameplay there was originally. Aside from the charm of catching Pokemon there were the odd negatives that arose from this game. Actually they're very big negatives. I can never recall any other game getting into trouble for encouraging the catching of Pokemon in minefields or Auschwitz, and Indonesia even claimed the game was a national security threat. Still, however you see this game there's no denying that it's had an unprecedented effect on gamers worldwide that probably won't be seen again on the same scale for decades. Turns out real life is sometimes more exciting than virtual worlds. Not that gamers will care about that conclusion in about a year.


#9 Watch Dogs 2 (PS4, XONE, PC) (7/10)

I was one of many people left majorly disappointed by the original Watch Dogs game after feeling let down by its immense hype. The original should have been a good game in concept, but just didn't deliver on its promises and failed to capitalise on any of its unique selling points. The sequel however actually listened to these concerns, which is a strange occurrence in the gaming business, and thankfully resulted in a game worthy of the strong original concept. The central components of hacking and player navigation have been completely overhauled, which was much needed, and although there are still some irritating technical issues the game actually feels polished, and the gameplay is well integrated.

I thought I would hate the new 'hipster-esque' feel of the plot, but honestly it's so much more exciting than the dreariness of the original. Half the characters now seem to want to irritate you at every opportunity, but main character Marcus Holloway is a solid, if forgettable protagonist that certainly improves on the bland characters the original gave us. Watch Dogs 2 is a game that retains the 'hacking is fun' attitude, but switches setting from the metropolis of Chicago to vibrant San Francisco. This change of setting presents the player with a change of style and narrative, with the environment also becoming a much more enjoyable place to be. Thankfully hacking is still the central concept, which was something the first got right, although there is still the tendency that every encounter can be solved by shooting everyone up. There is still work to do in this series, but this new installment was a huge step in the right direction.


#8 Superhot (PC/XONE) (8/10)

Here's my annual indie game pick. A hard choice actually despite the amount of shit that flooded the indie market this year. This however was the game that came out of nowhere and impressed me no end. The idea is that time only moves when you do; genius I know. It's a mechanic so simple yet completely changes the whole dimensions of the FPS genre. Instead of just mindlessly blowing things up the player requires tactics to succeed, which provides gamers with genuinely intriguing challenges that are fun to calculate. You can tailor your killing spree to the accuracy of a split second, which makes you feel like you deserve to be cast in 'The Matrix' as a result of your heroics. Despite not even playing as some tanked up superhero, rather a character that can be killed by one bullet, you still get a huge adrenaline rush after performing a perfectly timed action sequence.

There is a story going on apparently, not that I really gave a shit as it lasted for about two seconds, but that unlocks the customisation of each individual scenario, which is where this game really starts to get good. In essence you can become the star and director of your very own action flick. Admittedly you do have to become a star in a film with a minimalist art style, which I can't say I'm a huge fan of, but I suppose it's unique despite being totally bizarre. I get it's meant to highlight key areas that the player should be aware of, but honestly I think it just looks ugly. Thankfully Superhot is a game that's minimalistic at its very core, but certainly not in terms of the depth in gameplay. This game is living proof that shooters apparently can be turned into brilliant puzzle games, and not just dumb explosion-fests.


#7 Civilization VI (PC) (8/10)
 

I'm going to be honest and say Civilization VI is nowhere near the best game in the franchise, although that's hardly a criticism. What this game is however is a return to form for a franchise that's been going through a rough patch as of late and needed a release like this one to get its mojo back.
This release will be very familiar to longtime players of the franchise, but this time the developers took risks instead of relying on the same formula for the umpteenth time. That basic formula is still at the forefront of this new installment, but now we have new features such as hand drawn maps and different districts around cities that update the gameplay. These features work too, especially the districts system that's such a simple yet strategic addition that totally revamps the traditional concept of settlements in Civilization. I honestly believe these features have brought new life to a dwindling franchise, which is an extremely tough thing to do. In essence this game gets the right balance by not  abandoning its huge fanbase, but also making changes to appeal to a new market.

I can't say I'm over the moon with these changes as I consider myself something of a Civilization purist, but I can't complain too much when top quality games are still being produced that still feel unique and original despite being the same concept presented in a different style. Recent Civilization titles have felt unbalanced and incomplete at launch, especially the fifth installment of the franchise, but here that's not true. It already feels a complex game worthy of its namesake that doesn't require DLC to give you the standard Civilization experience. I honestly didn't think I was going to like it, but it still has that original charm, as well as being a friendly but complex strategy game. I even ended up loving the new art style, so all in all I have to give credit to the developers for taking the franchise in the right direction. Civilization VI ended up being hugely successful, with 1 million units shipped in two weeks. This the best selling Civilization game ever, and although not the best, is still a worthy addition to the franchise.


#6 XCOM 2 (PC/PS4/XONE) (8/10)

XCOM 2 is a very intelligently made game. The central idea that dominates the whole atmosphere of this game is that humans have lost a fictional war with aliens, and now like any good underdog story they must fight back. Honestly it's a great setting, and one that allows every tactical move you make to feel even more significant. You have a whole race to save with your little minions, and that feels like an absolutely huge task that will easily engross you in this well told story. XCOM 2 is a game that requires you to think. It's a simple turn based strategy game that emphasises the role of teamwork. That sounds incredibly simple in concept, but after making a few tactical sacrifices you'll start to understand just how complex and stressful making just a single movement is. When it all comes together you feel like the Napoleon of tactical video games. That, or feel a huge sense of relief that some of your squad are still alive to tell the tale.

The real highlight of the game for me is that you can customise your whole team. I wouldn't advise putting your own likeness in your dream team, as sure enough you'll end up sacrificing them to the alien horde in an action sequence so dramatic and emotional it makes Hollywood films look pathetic in comparison. You will get attached to each individual soldier on the battlefield, which is a trick team based strategy games rarely pull off, but when it's pulled off as well as this game manages then you have such a fucking great experience. Even more dramatic is that the game seems to have a perverse obsession in trying to make every engagement a difficult one. Even if you do manage to beat the game you'll find if you try again the world is randomly generated to make no two playthroughs ever the same. I'm sure you could try and figure out some tactics to deal with this ever changing world, but I don't think I can handle that level of emotional trauma ever again.


#5 Forza Horizon 3 (PC/XONE) (8/10)

I fucking loved the original Forza Horizon. You could just sense that every inch of potential was being squeezed out of an open world driving game. In my opinion this latest edition of the franchise was just as groundbreaking and awe-inspiring as the original. You get that sense that once again you're playing an epic adventure game as well as a solid racing sim in its own right. In essence it's perfect for any gamer who loves a good racer. Australia was the perfect setting for this new installment. It's a place with such a diverse natural landscape that driving through a virtual version is breathtaking at times. And of course it's Forza, so you just know it's going to look beautiful, and this game is no exception. Seriously, some of the visuals are stunning in this one.

For me Forza Horizon games have always been at their best when you just want to cock around, and this third installment is no exception. Hell, the game will even reward you for coking around in as much style as possible. This game will happily aid you in creating monstrous cars to do the stupidest and craziest things possible, and there's a lot of space and varied terrain for this to happen. Whether it's buy whatever car you want to kit out from a vast selection, or keep repeating a huge number of activities, this game has you covered for hours. The actual storyline is relatively short and underwhelming, but that's not really the main point for a game that's all about you having fun. I still think the original was better at the time of release, but Forza Horizon 3 is damn close to being the perfect open world racer.


#4 Overwatch (PC/PS4/XONE) (8/10)

A lot of the time video game developers forget that games should be primarily about having fun. Overwatch is that type of first person shooter that rewards fun and tries to limit needless frustration. There's bucketloads of charm and exhilarating action to be had in this character driven shooter, and honestly that was such a breath of fresh air in such a miserable year. It was lovely to indulge in this cheerful vision of the near future. Everything is almost too nice about this game, even the community is filled with a large amount of nice people, which is quite ironic when the goal is to eliminate members of the other team. I don't think I've ever played an online shooter where people actually want to work together, but here, unlike many other shooters, teamwork reaps big rewards. But the central idea of Overwatch is becoming an integral part of that team. You have to actually study your chosen character to play well, and there's a huge focus on learning the ins and outs of each vastly different hero that are each hard to master in their own right. That's not to say this isn't an easy game to pick up, but it's one that richly rewards competitive gaming.

The biggest credit however has to got to the art design team. They've crafted some of the most diverse characters in gaming, who despite not having any form of narrative to promote themselves, still gives this game its own charm that you don't get with other conventional shooters. This is such a refreshing attitude when you consider just how over-saturated the multiplayer based shooter market is. Every other shooter is about making everything as macho and self-centered as possible, so I can understand why gamers loved the gamble of making everything bright and colourful. It's just one of those shooters that never gets boring, with every game turning out to be a completely different scenario than the one before. This fun does come at a price however. It's an exclusively online game. I'm sure that doesn't matter to the 25 million people to have bought the game since its release however.


#3 Battlefield 1 (PC/PS4/XONE) (8/10)

Do you remember the days when Battlefield was in a hot rivalry with Call of Duty? well that doesn't really exist anymore considering how badly Battlefield humiliated its biggest rival this year. Ever since the trailer dropped for Battlefield 1 you could instantly tell which was going to be the best selling shooter of the year. Personally I was skeptical to say the least, but my doubts turned out to be sorely unjustified. By rolling back the years to a period even further than most shooters dared to go DICE managed to create an original shooter experience that never diverted from the standard formula. I didn't think it was possible to make an exciting World War One based game, considering a large portion of the war was set in trenches and a complete stalemate, but Battlefield 1 certainly didn't give a shit about that stalemate and sets a game as frantic and action packed as any other shooter on the market. Here you have cavalry, zeppelins, and tanks, all on the same battlefield, replicating the diverse weaponry of the time. This is a shooter experience that actually feels like a genuine global war, and an authentic retelling of such a huge conflict.

Even the story, which Battlefield games have always struggled with, is surprisingly ingenious this time. I would argue it portrays the horrors of historical warfare in excellent detail, with characters that feel genuine and are just a minor part of a huge global conflict. By setting the campaign in multiple settings we get the impression of the sheer scale of this war, and although the campaign is very short in length we find some truly memorable characters that deliver some interesting tales. Of course it's the multiplayer that really stands out. That's expected to be honest, but this time the destruction you cause feels even more vivid in this real world historical setting. If there's a message to conventional shooters here it's that players like it when the action is simple, and when developers are willing to breathe new life into a franchise without going overboard.


#2 Titanfall 2 (PC/PS4/XONE) (9/10)

Titanfall 2 was hands down the best shooter of the year for me by a mile. I had the same amount of fun in this game as I did in the original, with the concept still feeling as fresh and revolutionary, and also that genuine intrigue I felt watching the first ever trailer. If you want to blow things up with giant robots and participate in firefights at a million mile an hour, then this is your perfect game. Honestly, some of the moves I pulled off playing like a complete idiot blew my own mind and made me think I was some MLG YouTuber. The developers also decided to follow an optimal model for making an exiting shooter. Not only did they actually listen to fans but they also optimised the game for free DLC. Gone is the multiplayer only campaign of the original, and instead there's a single player experience that isn't just there to appease whiny gamers. The story isn't anything amazing, but it's fun and the missions are well designed, so there's no complaints from me.

The multiplayer of course is the real focus, and Titanfall 2 nails that aspect. It was such a shame this was a commercial flop, because so many gamers missed out on one of the best multiplayer experiences of all time. EA, in their infinite wisdom, decided a release during a packed schedule and minimal marketing would make them money off this game, and so not surprisingly the game sold at just a quarter of what the original did, despite being four times better. I have an infinite amount of respect for a game that tries to find the art in an explosionfest. I especially have respect for a developer that listened to consumers to iron out the many flaws of the original. The result is an exceptional game that should have been the hallmark of what fast paced shooters should all be about.


#1 Uncharted 4: A Thief's End (PS4) (9/10)

Uncharted 4 seems to be a confused game. On one hand it wants to be the greatest action adventure story of all time, and the next it wants to be the best looking game of all time that tries to distract you with its stupendous mission design. You might think these two traits would counteract each other, but I genuinely think developers 'Naughty Dog' have managed to cover both these features without ruining the overall experience. Sometimes this game will leave you absolutely breathless because of just how well developed and integrated every mechanic and detail is. That's obviously once you've recovered from some of the jaw-dropping set pieces on display, but then that's what we've come to expect from the Uncharted series over the years. The fourth installment in particular is a tribute to this idea of quality game making. Even the multiplayer mode, which I assumed would just be a trivial add on to keep players vaguely interesting, is actually well made.

The rest of the game is the standard Uncharted experience. It's full of guns and over the top sequences, and wants you to go as mental as possible even if you don't particularly want to. Everything about this game is in excess, but for the majority of the time that's a huge plus, and honestly creates one of the most exhilarating experiences I've had in recent years. Uncharted 4 also has the distinction of focusing on a story driven experience that highlights just how great a character Nathan Drake has become. It's a slow builder that resembles the world of the silver screen rather than attitudes often found in video game narratives. I think it's a fitting tribute to Nathan Drake, who's become an iconic part of the Sony franchise, and so thankfully we finally get the adventure this traveler deserves. Yes there is still that sense that the world is far more beautiful than any one person in it, but in this game the narrative sometimes becomes even bigger. I personally think this was a new high from such a polished franchise, albeit unfortunately the last adventure we'll ever get from Nathan Drake.