Game of the Year 2016

[Sumez]

I didn't either. Playing it in modern times completely changed my view on it though. The level design is sublime throughout the majority of the game, with very thought out enemy positioning. IMO vastly better that even its immediate sequel.

[Durandal]

probably the closest you'll come to a 3d shmup.

MARATHOOOON

[KennyMan666]

Looks like the only games I've played this year that actually came out (in Europe, at any rate) this year too have been Samorost 3 and Odin Sphere Leifthrasir.

but samorost 3 man... it might not have hit you like it hit me, but it was so charming, with an amazing soundtrack (one of my favorites of 2016), and puzzles that I actually enjoyed. on top of being a beautiful environment and leagues ahead of samorost 1 & 2, I played it co-op during a flight and while winding down at night away from home and loved it.
even more so than their last releases machinarium and botanicula.

Oh, I definitely loved Samorost 3. I'm pretty much in love with everything Amanita Design does, I fell hard for the first Samorost when I first played it. This year I actually played through Botanicula for the first time as well and played Machinarium from start to finish, last time I had ´pretty much just started it and then never continued for whatever reason.

But it's still not much of a Game of the Year list when I only have two things to put on it at all, even if I utterly love both of those things.

[AxelMill]

DooM

I heard good things about this, but I don't like FPS much. But I'm tempted.

Is there a demo up?

There is. I think it's the entire first mission/level.
I liked what I played, but not enough to buy it.

[evil_ash_xero]

DooM

I heard good things about this, but I don't like FPS much. But I'm tempted.

Is there a demo up?

There is. I think it's the entire first mission/level.
I liked what I played, but not enough to buy it.

I checked it out. If I'm going to buy a FPS, it's going to be like this. Frantic, without a lot of yakking.
I can get it for 20 dollars on Amazon, so what the hey?

Also, it reminds me of heavy metal.

[silvergunner]

-DOOM ps4 (Game of the Year)
-Uncharted 4 ps4
-Odin Sphere Leifthrasir ps4
-The Witcher 3 GotY Edition ps4
-Forza Horizon 3 xbone

Indie:

-THUMPER ps4 (Indie-Game of the Year)
-Sky Force Anniversary ps4
-Score Rush Extended ps4

[Zen]

We're strictly talking released in 2016? I guess it would have to be DooM for me. Certainly not my most played game of 2016 but a pleasant and enjoyable surprise.
Also, centered weapons

[Necronopticous]

I just played through DOOM. It doesn't change my GOTY choice, but I did really enjoy it. I have liked all of the DOOM games, so I suppose it is no surprise. I was one of the few who really liked DOOM 3, even.

[evil_ash_xero]

I'm over halfway through DOOM. I would definitely add it to my list of best games of 2016.

Dark Souls III is still my favorite though.


EDIT: I can't believe you fuckers got me to play a FPS. Damn you all!!!!

[Durandal]

I'd have to put it somewhere between Devil Daggers and Steel Rondo. Devil Daggers for having an incredibly strong execution despite a simple concept while managing to stand out from your usual arena shooter. And Mecha Ritz for being so goddamn crazy and energetic. It'd probably be more fair to award it to Mecha Ritz considering smaller games like DD have a smaller room for error.

@all the DOOM mentions, to me it was competent, but unremarkable. And even then it's rather questionable on a lot of fronts. It could have done with less safety cushions and a proper balance of offense and defense rather than 200% offense non-stop. Or at least some enemy types which break the repetitive cycle of being a shotgun on a skateboard. Far from GOTY material, even if it somehow exceeded Flying Wild Hog's attempts at any FPS.

[Mischief Maker]

Thea: The Awakening

[quash]

DOOM, no contest. It rewrote the book on FPS.

Also, Vulkan got a huge boost in visibility because of it. We need to start kicking down doors and demand every developer use this API.

[rapoon]

- Hyper Light Drifter
- Devil Daggers (Squire, this is the closest you'll come to a FPS shmup)
- Thumper
- DOOM
- Dark Souls III

[Illyrian]

Formula 1 2016. An excellent introduction to the series for new players and a great balance between pure simply racer and arcade racer.

[sky-13]

Dragon Quest VII, absolutely loved it. If this doesn't count I'll say Bravely Second. Bravely Second was far more enjoyable than Bravely Default.

[Mrhide]

one more vote for Doom.

it's what brought me to Pc in 1994 .. so I had to get this remake and boy was it fun

[Necronopticous]

Bravely Second was far more enjoyable than Bravely Default.

Both Bravely games were excellent, but the endgame/NG+ concept of Second offended me far less than it did in the original, and my mind was blown by some of the job design (Charioteer solved all of the problems with the classic Throw command and then gave me QUAD WIELD) so I am in full agreement here. How the fuck do we get this sort of mechanical design into a big budget RPG with good writing in 2017+ without a time machine? Someone figure this shit out.

[BrianC]

Bravely Second was far more enjoyable than Bravely Default.

Both Bravely games were excellent, but the endgame/NG+ concept of Second offended me far less than it did in the original, and my mind was blown by some of the job design (Charioteer solved all of the problems with the classic Throw command and then gave me QUAD WIELD) so I am in full agreement here. How the fuck do we get this sort of mechanical design into a big budget RPG with good writing in 2017+ without a time machine? Someone figure this shit out.

I still need to play the second (I have it, but I haven't started playing it yet), but I feel the endgame of the first one should have been streamlined instead of having to repeat the same bosses over and over.

[sky-13]

Bravely Second was far more enjoyable than Bravely Default.

Both Bravely games were excellent, but the endgame/NG+ concept of Second offended me far less than it did in the original, and my mind was blown by some of the job design (Charioteer solved all of the problems with the classic Throw command and then gave me QUAD WIELD) so I am in full agreement here. How the fuck do we get this sort of mechanical design into a big budget RPG with good writing in 2017+ without a time machine? Someone figure this shit out.

I still need to play the second (I have it, but I haven't started playing it yet), but I feel the endgame of the first one should have been streamlined instead of having to repeat the same bosses over and over.

Yeah the looping in the end really felt unnecessary, especially considering my same strategy worked for every boss. Actually the looping felt so strange at first that I accidentally got the bad ending first, before getting the true ending. Luckily the sequel fixes things. Still, both are fantastic games.

[gbaplayer]

Final Fantasy XV:

Besides it´s flaws, i really liked it. The characters were charismatic and the story was okay.
Graphics and music are also on the positive side. On the downside it could have had a better story, more fredom after chapter 9 and not the idiotic chapter 13.

[Sumez]

I don't understand why people disliked chapter 13? Sure, it drags on for longer than it should, but it's nothing terrible, IMO. There are much worse points in the game. The Leviathan "fight" was a disaster.

[Xyga]

I don't understand why people disliked chapter 13? Sure, it drags on for longer than it should, but it's nothing terrible, IMO. There are much worse points in the game. The Leviathan "fight" was a disaster.

Because it was so much a departure from the 90's jrpg formula, even further away than X and XII, that a large crowd of old farts like me wouldn't accept it and settled on "fuck Squix and shit that era is over anyway"

[Sumez]

Actually, chapter 13 felt closer to 90s jrpgs than most of the rest of the game. You know being an actual dungeon and all.

edit: I realise now that you probably thought I was talking about FF13?
I was talking about chapter 13 in FF15, which is what gbaplayer brought up.
Couldn't stomach FF13 myself either.

[Xyga]

Oly shit yes sorry.

[Durandal]

Recently tried out Bastard Bonds, which plays like a very fast-paced (S)RPG (apparently in the vein of Fire Emblem, though I never played FE) with some great exploration and encounter design. Lotsa Choice & Consequence available too, as the crime you're accused of and denying or acknowledging your guilt manage to play a large part in influencing the companions you come across. Combat is very simple, but manages to stay fresh thanks to the RISK mechanic which lets you act more than once per turn, as each additional action you take increases the chance your next RISK action will cause you to Fumble and make you more vulnerable to damage. The enemies make liberal use of RISK, so you want to be risky as well. The character editor is pretty good too:

A must have game for bara fetishists.

Also, Rock Paper Shitgun surprisingly named Devil Daggers their game of the year, so that's at least one decent opinion they published in 2016.

[ZellSF]

Got around to finishing The Last Guardian. Unless Final Fantasy XV really positively surprises me, I'm going to say that was the best new game of 2016.

If we don't demand new stuff for GOTY awards then the best release of 2016 was still Odin Sphere Leifthrasir of course.

one more vote for Doom.

it's what brought me to Pc in 1994 .. so I had to get this remake and boy was it fun

You should replay Doom, because if you think the new Doom is a remake, you obviously forgotten it. Considering what a fantastic game it is you get to re-experience, lucky you.

[Sinful]

Haven't played any games released 2016, but when I do, it will be Dark Souls III & Fallout 4.

[Immryr]

holy shit, i just remembered xcom 2! i haven't actually played it yet, but i'm fairly sure when i do, it will be my favourite game 2016. i absolutely loved the first game and by all accounts this one is even better.

[Obscura]

If you haven't, I recommend playing the original Doom first. Regardless of whether you like fps or not, it's still a must play for all gamers and probably the closest you'll come to a 3d shmup.

Wrack is even more like a 3D shmup. Lives system, a chaining-based scoring system, bosses, and score extends. Play it if you haven't -- it's great.

Anyways, best of 2016:
1. Dark Souls 3
2. Mighty No. 9
3. Dishonored 2
4. Aragami