2015 is done. Actually it has been for a couple of weeks now. But it is far from forgotten. Especially in terms of all the superb games that it brought us. If we were to list every single one of them, there would be scores, if not hundreds, of beautiful, groundbreaking, highly entertaining titles. But this is a best-of list, so that means we have to limit things to only the very best. Therefore, with this being 12/12 Games, we thought it only appropriate to pick what we considered to be the 12 greatest games of 2015.
#12 Pillars of Eternity
Best PC Exclusive
-Developer: Obsidian Entertainment
-Available On: GOG, Steam
Before they worked at Obsidian Entertainment, some of the current staff members worked at Black Isle Studios, helping to create a few semi-famous PC role-playing series. Great classics like the first two Fallout and Icewind Dale games. Those staff members went back to their roots with Pillars of Eternity and, in doing so, managed to create a true modern classic. An epic isometric fantasy title, Pillars of Eternity does bear a somewhat strong resemblance to the aforementioned Icewind Dale games, but it is also a vast improvement over them. The visuals, combat, sound, variety, etc that this game offers puts it head and shoulders above it's predecessors. Pillars of Eternity does a tremendous job of honoring the games that inspired it while greatly improving upon them at the same time.
Best PC Exclusive
-Developer: Obsidian Entertainment
-Available On: GOG, Steam
Before they worked at Obsidian Entertainment, some of the current staff members worked at Black Isle Studios, helping to create a few semi-famous PC role-playing series. Great classics like the first two Fallout and Icewind Dale games. Those staff members went back to their roots with Pillars of Eternity and, in doing so, managed to create a true modern classic. An epic isometric fantasy title, Pillars of Eternity does bear a somewhat strong resemblance to the aforementioned Icewind Dale games, but it is also a vast improvement over them. The visuals, combat, sound, variety, etc that this game offers puts it head and shoulders above it's predecessors. Pillars of Eternity does a tremendous job of honoring the games that inspired it while greatly improving upon them at the same time.
#11 Super Mario Maker
Best Wii U Exclusive
-Developer: Nintendo
-Available On: Wii U
Super Mario Maker is kind of a no-brainer. It seems like the exact specific game that the Wii U console was created for. To cook this up, Nintendo simply took the best thing they have to offer (the Super Mario games), threw them into a mixing bowl with the major selling point of the Wii U (the tablet functionality), and seasoned it with what is arguably the hottest trend in gaming right now (content creation). It's almost mind boggling that an idea could be both an inspired stroke of genius and so painfully obvious at the same time. One thing is clear, however: if you own a Wii U, then Super Mario Maker is the game that you've been waiting to play on it.
Best Wii U Exclusive
-Developer: Nintendo
-Available On: Wii U
Super Mario Maker is kind of a no-brainer. It seems like the exact specific game that the Wii U console was created for. To cook this up, Nintendo simply took the best thing they have to offer (the Super Mario games), threw them into a mixing bowl with the major selling point of the Wii U (the tablet functionality), and seasoned it with what is arguably the hottest trend in gaming right now (content creation). It's almost mind boggling that an idea could be both an inspired stroke of genius and so painfully obvious at the same time. One thing is clear, however: if you own a Wii U, then Super Mario Maker is the game that you've been waiting to play on it.
#10 SteamWorld Heist
Best 3DS Exclusive
-Developer: Image & Form
-Available On: 3DS
As with Yakuza 5 (#4 on this list), SteamWorld Heist barely made the cut for 2015. Both games snuck in right on the last month of the year. It's a good thing it did though, because that enabled it to be a shoo-in for our best 3DS exclusive. SteamWorld Heist is set in the same universe as the equally good SteamWorld Dig. But Heist differs slightly in the gameplay department. Whereas SteamWorld Dig was more of an action platformer, this game is actually a turn-based action strategy game. (With shooting!) How awesome is that?! The gameplay is great fun and the game is very well designed. Bottom line, SteamWorld Heist is a joy to play and 3DS owners are fortunate to be able to add this excellent little title to their digital libraries.
Best 3DS Exclusive
-Developer: Image & Form
-Available On: 3DS
As with Yakuza 5 (#4 on this list), SteamWorld Heist barely made the cut for 2015. Both games snuck in right on the last month of the year. It's a good thing it did though, because that enabled it to be a shoo-in for our best 3DS exclusive. SteamWorld Heist is set in the same universe as the equally good SteamWorld Dig. But Heist differs slightly in the gameplay department. Whereas SteamWorld Dig was more of an action platformer, this game is actually a turn-based action strategy game. (With shooting!) How awesome is that?! The gameplay is great fun and the game is very well designed. Bottom line, SteamWorld Heist is a joy to play and 3DS owners are fortunate to be able to add this excellent little title to their digital libraries.
#09 Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
-Developer: Kojima Productions
-Available On: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Steam
It seems that Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is Hideo Kojima's Metal Gear swan song. It might have been anyway, even if he hadn't recently departed from Konami (he's been talking about transitioning away from the series for years). In either case, there's nothing like leaving on a high note; and this game is definitely that high note. The story is solid (pardon the pun), the graphics are really good, and the gameplay is incredibly flexible and addictive. Konami would be hard-pressed to ever top this game, especially without Kojima's help. It might almost be better if they never even try.
-Developer: Kojima Productions
-Available On: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Steam
It seems that Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is Hideo Kojima's Metal Gear swan song. It might have been anyway, even if he hadn't recently departed from Konami (he's been talking about transitioning away from the series for years). In either case, there's nothing like leaving on a high note; and this game is definitely that high note. The story is solid (pardon the pun), the graphics are really good, and the gameplay is incredibly flexible and addictive. Konami would be hard-pressed to ever top this game, especially without Kojima's help. It might almost be better if they never even try.
#08 Rocket League
-Developer: Psyonix
-Available On: PlayStation 4, Steam
Rocket League was something of a surprise hit for 2015. The sequel to the middlingly received 2008 PlayStation 3 game, Supersonic Acrobatic Rocket-Powered Battle-Cars, developer Psyonix spent two years working to make improvements to their soccer-game-with-cars formula. It seems that their efforts really paid off. With better graphics, addictive gameplay, very competitive multiplayer, and a shorter, easier to remember title, it's easy to see why Rocket League quickly became one of the most popular "sports" games of the year.
-Developer: Psyonix
-Available On: PlayStation 4, Steam
Rocket League was something of a surprise hit for 2015. The sequel to the middlingly received 2008 PlayStation 3 game, Supersonic Acrobatic Rocket-Powered Battle-Cars, developer Psyonix spent two years working to make improvements to their soccer-game-with-cars formula. It seems that their efforts really paid off. With better graphics, addictive gameplay, very competitive multiplayer, and a shorter, easier to remember title, it's easy to see why Rocket League quickly became one of the most popular "sports" games of the year.
#07 Bloodborne
Best PlayStation 4 Exclusive
-Developer: FromSoftware
-Available On: PlayStation 4
FromSoftware's tremendously popular Dark Souls series began as a PlayStation 3 exclusive (when it was called Demon's Souls). It's no real surprise then that Sony would return to that bountiful wellspring to try and generate another great new property. This time around, that dynamic partnership yielded the expertly crafted Bloodborne. While the game does share many similarities with the aforementioned Souls titles, that is by no means a bad thing. Bloodborne manages to take the very best aspects of its predecessors and combine them with enough new elements to really stand on its own. If you have a PlayStation 4 in your possession, then you would do well to add this game to your library.
Best PlayStation 4 Exclusive
-Developer: FromSoftware
-Available On: PlayStation 4
FromSoftware's tremendously popular Dark Souls series began as a PlayStation 3 exclusive (when it was called Demon's Souls). It's no real surprise then that Sony would return to that bountiful wellspring to try and generate another great new property. This time around, that dynamic partnership yielded the expertly crafted Bloodborne. While the game does share many similarities with the aforementioned Souls titles, that is by no means a bad thing. Bloodborne manages to take the very best aspects of its predecessors and combine them with enough new elements to really stand on its own. If you have a PlayStation 4 in your possession, then you would do well to add this game to your library.
#06 Axiom Verge
-Developer: Thomas Happ Games
-Available On: PlayStation 4, Steam
Axiom Verge was on many people's watch lists for quite a while before it was finally released earlier this year. A retro indie labor of love by one-man development team Thomas Happ Games, Axiom Verge bears a striking resemblance to the great 2D Metroid games of old. And with no actual new 2D Metroid games anywhere to be found, Axiom verge does a tremendous job filling that perplexingly vacant void.
-Developer: Thomas Happ Games
-Available On: PlayStation 4, Steam
Axiom Verge was on many people's watch lists for quite a while before it was finally released earlier this year. A retro indie labor of love by one-man development team Thomas Happ Games, Axiom Verge bears a striking resemblance to the great 2D Metroid games of old. And with no actual new 2D Metroid games anywhere to be found, Axiom verge does a tremendous job filling that perplexingly vacant void.
#05 Rise of the Tomb Raider
-Developer: Crystal Dynamics
-Available On: Xbox One
Even though they are overall pretty fun and have been around for quite a while now, the Tomb Raider games were never really what you would consider to be top tier. That all changed with 2013's astoundingly good franchise reboot, the simply-named Tomb Raider. The level of quality of that entry was ridiculously higher than any that had come before it. This year's sequel, Rise of the Tomb Raider, continued that newfound commitment to excellence with another engaging, emotional, crazy awesome adventure. This timed Xbox One exclusive provided another good reason for Xbox owners to gloat in 2015, and it provides PC and PlayStation owners something to anxiously look forward to in 2016.
-Developer: Crystal Dynamics
-Available On: Xbox One
Even though they are overall pretty fun and have been around for quite a while now, the Tomb Raider games were never really what you would consider to be top tier. That all changed with 2013's astoundingly good franchise reboot, the simply-named Tomb Raider. The level of quality of that entry was ridiculously higher than any that had come before it. This year's sequel, Rise of the Tomb Raider, continued that newfound commitment to excellence with another engaging, emotional, crazy awesome adventure. This timed Xbox One exclusive provided another good reason for Xbox owners to gloat in 2015, and it provides PC and PlayStation owners something to anxiously look forward to in 2016.
#04 Yakuza 5
Best PlayStation 3 Exclusive
-Developer: SEGA
-Available On: PlayStation 3
By December of 2015, you probably weren't giving much thought to the previous console generation anymore. After all, the Xbox One and the PS4 had already entered into their third year on the market. Then Sega came over, slapped you across the face and told you to think again! Finally, after three long years, they have brought the hotly anticipated 5th installment to their beloved Yakuza franchise to the west. And boy was it worth the wait! Huge areas, a ton of content, and outstanding gameplay are only a few of the reasons you should check it out. Yakuza 5 represents the very best that the Yakuza series has to offer. It's one of the best games you're liable to find on the PlayStation 3 and it offers an extremely compelling reason to keep the console plugged in for at least a little while longer.
Best PlayStation 3 Exclusive
-Developer: SEGA
-Available On: PlayStation 3
By December of 2015, you probably weren't giving much thought to the previous console generation anymore. After all, the Xbox One and the PS4 had already entered into their third year on the market. Then Sega came over, slapped you across the face and told you to think again! Finally, after three long years, they have brought the hotly anticipated 5th installment to their beloved Yakuza franchise to the west. And boy was it worth the wait! Huge areas, a ton of content, and outstanding gameplay are only a few of the reasons you should check it out. Yakuza 5 represents the very best that the Yakuza series has to offer. It's one of the best games you're liable to find on the PlayStation 3 and it offers an extremely compelling reason to keep the console plugged in for at least a little while longer.
#03 Forza Motorsport 6
Best Xbox One Exclusive
-Developer: Turn 10
-Available On: Xbox One
The Forza Motorsport series has reigned comfortably as the undisputed king of racing for several years now. Though it did see a slight dip in quality with Forza 5, the series was back on track and fully in control with this year's Forza Motorsport 6. The fantastic, unparalleled racing the series is famous for has been polished to perfection here and the game now includes more of everything you have come to expect. More cars, more tracks, new driving conditions... Basically, you would have to try very hard not to fall in love with this game. Not only is Forza Motorsport 6 the best racing game of the year, it may just be the best racing game of all time.
Best Xbox One Exclusive
-Developer: Turn 10
-Available On: Xbox One
The Forza Motorsport series has reigned comfortably as the undisputed king of racing for several years now. Though it did see a slight dip in quality with Forza 5, the series was back on track and fully in control with this year's Forza Motorsport 6. The fantastic, unparalleled racing the series is famous for has been polished to perfection here and the game now includes more of everything you have come to expect. More cars, more tracks, new driving conditions... Basically, you would have to try very hard not to fall in love with this game. Not only is Forza Motorsport 6 the best racing game of the year, it may just be the best racing game of all time.
#02 Fallout 4
-Developer: Bethesda
-Available On: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Steam
For over a decade now, Bethesda has proven themselves more than capable of creating solid, compelling, content-loaded action role-playing games. Despite various thematic and gameplay differences, their games set in both the Fallout and the Elder Scrolls universes have been some of the best around. Once again (and surprisingly to no one), they delivered in spades with this year's smash hit, Fallout 4. Everything that you loved about Fallout 3 has been cranked into overdrive: more colors, a bigger game world, better graphics, and all new gameplay features. Fallout 4 is unquestionably one of the best games of the year, and it should not be missed by anybody, for any reason.
-Developer: Bethesda
-Available On: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Steam
For over a decade now, Bethesda has proven themselves more than capable of creating solid, compelling, content-loaded action role-playing games. Despite various thematic and gameplay differences, their games set in both the Fallout and the Elder Scrolls universes have been some of the best around. Once again (and surprisingly to no one), they delivered in spades with this year's smash hit, Fallout 4. Everything that you loved about Fallout 3 has been cranked into overdrive: more colors, a bigger game world, better graphics, and all new gameplay features. Fallout 4 is unquestionably one of the best games of the year, and it should not be missed by anybody, for any reason.
#01 The Witcher III: Wild Hunt
Best Multi-Platform Game, Game of the Year
-Developer: CD Projekt
-Available On: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, GOG, Steam
As good a title as the original Witcher was, the Witcher 2 was a marked improvement in nearly every way. Not only did CD Projekt repeat that feat with this year's The Witcher III: Wild Hunt, but they took it one step further by completely knocking it out of the park. From the insanely good graphics, to the excellent voice acting, brilliant gameplay, and incredible amount of content, The Witcher III was an easy pick for game of the year. It doesn't matter if you were already a fan of the series or are totally new to it. Either way, you owe it to yourself to play this game.
Best Multi-Platform Game, Game of the Year
-Developer: CD Projekt
-Available On: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, GOG, Steam
As good a title as the original Witcher was, the Witcher 2 was a marked improvement in nearly every way. Not only did CD Projekt repeat that feat with this year's The Witcher III: Wild Hunt, but they took it one step further by completely knocking it out of the park. From the insanely good graphics, to the excellent voice acting, brilliant gameplay, and incredible amount of content, The Witcher III was an easy pick for game of the year. It doesn't matter if you were already a fan of the series or are totally new to it. Either way, you owe it to yourself to play this game.
[Images: Turn 10, Obsidian Entertainment, SEGA, Nintendo, Image & Form, Konami, Psyonix,
FromSoftware, Thomas Happ Games, Crystal Dynamics, Bethesda, CD Projekt]
FromSoftware, Thomas Happ Games, Crystal Dynamics, Bethesda, CD Projekt]