My favourite games of 2016
And a few others worth mentioning.
Last year I complained that I barely had a top five. This year? I struggled to cut it down to ten.
Before we get to the top ten, a few other games worth mentioning…
Game of the year (that I didn’t play)
The Last Guardian
Yeah, yeah, I know. It’s on my backlog. I’m sure it’s great. But I haven’t gotten to it yet!
Honourable mentions
Doom, Dishonored 2
I played these games. Both games are excellent. I didn’t play them enough, so they miss out on the top 10. I’m gonna blame this one on “planning two weddings”.
Level of the year
Effect and Cause (Titanfall 2)
I can’t talk about this level without spoiling it. And there is much more to Titanfall 2 than just this one level. But this level… the game is worth it for this alone. Seriously.
MORE PLEASE!!!!!!!11111
Star Wars Battlefront: X-Wing VR Mission
You get to fly an X-Wing. In VR! How is there not a whole game like this? I played the whole thing with a big stupid grin on my face. The moment the Star Destroyer appears is jaw-dropping. And finding the button that activates the targeting computer…
Best game I played in 2016 that didn’t come out in 2016
Steins;Gate
It’s so light on interaction that it stretches the definition of “game”, it’s full of anime tropes, and it’s extremely Japanese… it’s safe to say Steins;Gate isn’t for everyone. It starts really slowly, but when the stakes rise, it builds to a very satisfying conclusion. I don’t know how I was convinced to try it, but I’m glad I did, because this is one of the best time travel stories I’ve ever experienced — in any medium.
Ten
Overwatch
Competitive online hero shooters? Not really my thing. Overwatch works because it’s fun for casual players like me to exist alongside the pros. And with a bright, colourful look and distinctive heroes that ooze character, how can you not like this game?
Nine
Steins;Gate 0
Not a prequel or a sequel, but a “midquel”, it’s not nearly as good as the original. But it’s a fun extension of the world, and a chance to see characters in a whole new light. One for fans of the first game only. (So just me, then?)
Eight
Firewatch
Another game relatively light on interaction but heavy on story, Firewatch tells a tale of love and loneliness in the wilderness (with a bit of mystery on top). Incredible performances by Rich Sommer and Cissy Jones give Henry and Delilah’s relationship real weight. And, as a sucker for Olly Moss art, it’s a beautiful game too.
Seven
No Man’s Sky
Yeah, I know people were disappointed with No Man’s Sky. I know it didn’t have as much to do as people expected. But… I still liked it. I enjoyed jumping into uncharted systems, wondering what I’d find. In truth, the answer was usually “a minor variant on something you’ve seen before”, but the pull to discover kept me going longer than I thought possible.
Six
Reigns
I love so much about Reigns. I love that it takes a complex idea — ruling a kingdom — and breaks it down to yes/no decisions. I love that you make these decisions by swiping left or right, like Tinder. I love the unique art. I love the goofy humour. And most of all, I love when you start playing and you just can’t stop.
Five
Super Mario Run
It’s easy to dismiss Mario’s first smartphone game as Mario Lite. But it’s incredible how much depth Nintendo have built into a game where all you can do is tap to jump. Using the pink, purple and black coins to modify the levels to add extra layers of challenge is brilliant. (On the other hand, it’s incredible that I’m surprised by this: Easy-to-play, difficult-to-master is classic Nintendo.)
Four
Uncharted 4
I’ve heard the complaints that Uncharted 4 lacks challenge, but I feel it makes up for it in two ways. Enemy encounters now feel more open, allowing you to experiment and play with the tools at your disposal. And the story is so much fun and the environments so rich that, if you took out all the gunplay, those parts alone would make a fine “walking simulator”. Drake’s last adventure ended up being my favourite of the series.
Three
Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes
One player wears a VR headset and has a bomb to defuse. The other player has a bomb defusal manual on the iPad. The player with the manual can’t see the bomb. The player with the bomb can’t see the manual. Both players must communicate — quickly, and accurately — or the bomb explodes. That description alone should tell you how much fun this game is.
Two
Titanfall 2
I liked the original Titanfall, but expected little from the sequel. But Titanfall 2 has the best single-player shooter campaign I’ve played in almost a decade. It’s inventive and playful, but also confident enough not to overplay its hand; new mechanics are introduced, taught, mastered, and discarded within an hour. “Effect and Cause” is a standout, but there are so many incredible moments.
One
Pokémon GO
Could there be any other choice? There was no game I played more this year than Pokémon GO; indeed, I’m still playing it. It’s hard to separate the game from the social phenomenon, but that’s OK (and not just because the game itself has a few issues).
My happiest memory of gaming in 2016 will always be that first day Pokémon GO came to Hong Kong. Two hours after it went live, hundreds of people swarmed around my office, all with phones out, trying to catch Pokémon. I’ve never seen anything like it. For one day, my city felt united by a video game. It’s hard to top that.
