2016 saw its fair share of gaming news. Sony released the PS4 Pro and PS VR, Microsoft announced Xbox One Scorpio, and Nintendo announced the Nintendo Switch. Final Fantasy XV finally released after 10 years of development, and so did The Last Guardian after an even longer period of bait and switch. Virtual Reality finally started creeping into mainstream, and gaming finally found its next leap of faith in it.
But amidst all that, which games defined 2016? Which one stood out in the horde of releases and which one bucked the trend of disappointment that has been a trademark of this year. Our editors sat down and thought about the games which should make the list (alright chairs were thrown and hair were pulled) and we came up with 10 games which you should definitely play, if you haven’t played any in 2016.
First up are the individual recommendations by every one of our editors. If you are looking to pick just 5 games from the year 2016, then this is your go to list.
DOOM
–Karan(Because its classic DOOM incarnate in modern times, and its beautiful)
Final Fantasy XV
–Ayush(Because its the RPG that I didn’t know I needed) || Review
Overwatch
–Arkadyuti(Because you can’t beat Overwatch’s balance)
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
–Saurabh(Because It’s been wonderfully programmed and perfectly executed) || Review
The Witcher 3 : Blood And Wine
–Pratyush(Because DLCs are a work of art as well) || Review
Oxenfree
–Siddharth(Because horror does not always mean jump scares)
Apart from Editor’s choice, we made a list of 10 games that we thought stood out among the rest. Keeping it limited to 10 was very difficult for us, because there were many games that came out this year, but anyways, enough with the chatter, let’s get on to the list:
10. Aragami
Aragami is one of those few games that manages to do stealth right and is still able to give the genre a new twist. Aragami is about moving about in shadows containing equal parts strategic approach and gameplay pacing. The Japanese backdrop along with the art style and music give the game an authentic feel.
9. Furi
Here is another game that draws inspiration from Japanese culture. Furi is all about boss battles and is definitely not for the faint hearted. A perfect blend of twin stick shooting and close quarter combat that requires twitch reflexes and can be hair pullingly tough, if it is a challenge that ye seek, then this is the game for you. The art style complements the game very well and the bosses are designed impeccably. Another reason this game is worth playing is for the sound tracks, which are from the EDM genre, and this is coming from a person who is not a fan of that sort of music music.
8. Gears of War 4
Gears is a little piece of classic testosterone that we are happy to have back again. It goes back to its root of cover based mechanics, and almost becomes a platformer with shooting becoming secondary at times. It helps that it looks dope too.
7. The Witness
The Witness is probably one of the best puzzle games I have ever played. IIt has simple mechanics and puzzles that would make you want to pull your hair hard enough to make you partly bald. It is not a game for everyone. The game has not much story content and the reward is that a certain part of the explorable area is unlocked after you solve certain puzzles. The art style combined with the in-depth puzzle solving makes this game a must play for the puzzle lovers.
6. Deus Ex: Mankind Divided
After Deus Ex Human Revolution, which was probably the best game last generation, this was my most anticipated game of the 2016. When I actually played it, I realized that Deus Ex Mankind Divided had taken some steps in the right direction, but at the same time had taken many steps backwards. Whilst the gameplay and level design is still built wonderfully on the classic DX/Warren Spector lineage (Especially Spector’s “One block RPG theory”), the plot is TOO small scale and generic, which is baffling compared to the original DX’s barnstorming cyberpunk epic and Human Revolution’s amazing tale of societal collapse and Industrial espionage. Still, we’re glad it exists and want more.
5. Hyper Light Drifter
If you are fan of Zelda and Dark Souls, this game is pretty much an equal balance of both. The gameplay is fairly challenging and most of the story/lore is conveyed through environmental cues. Behind the pretty pixel art work is a dark and gritty story and a super smooth gameplay complementing the visuals, which makes this game, undeniably one of the best games this year,.
4. Superhot
Superhot has to be the most innovative games of this generation. This is the developer’s exact tag line and I dare say that it is the truth. ‘Time stops when you stop’ is the motto here and the game mechanics pretty much live up to that statement. The game really makes you feel like a superhero with bullets just missing you by the breath of a hair. My only gripe with game is that the price is a bit too steep for a game that lasts about 3-4 hours, but the fun to be had in those few hours is immense.
3. Shadow Warrior 2
Shadow Warrior 2 is in the same veins as this year’s Doom, an old school fast paced shooter with great game design and extreme gore. Yes, a comprehensive looting system has been added, but with a diverse selection of guns, swords and all sorts of other weapons, the game does not feel grindy for the most part, except for the cluttered menu system. The addition of co-op in the the game is a way to have even more fun. Apart from that, the crass humor gives the game a character of it’s own and the graphics, while not as good as Doom, are still pretty good for the most part and playing it on 1080p 144 fps is just a blast.
2. Dishonored 2
Another game that is the sequel to a last gen masterpiece. Dishonored stood out amongst the pack last gen and it’s sequel still does now. Whilst, Dishonored 2 could have stood out more, the performance and bugs really hamper the game from being as wasily recommendable as it’s predecessor. It is still a great game to play irrespective, the emergent gameplay and the diversity really make it one of the rare gems of the generation. Had it not been hampered by technical issues, though……(whistle)
1. Dark Souls 3
This is one game that does not need any words to describe how great it is. The gameplay is hands down the best in all action RPG’s, but what makes it an exceptional game is it’s dark, gritty ,cryptic and seemingly stillborn fantasy world along with the fantastically created bosses and enemies as well as the depth of combat. Making it a great end to the obfuscated saga started in the original Dark Souls ,which is one of the greatest games ever made.
With this we would like to say Thank You to all our viewers and a farewell to 2016 which has been a great year for us. Have a happy new year 2017.
————————————————————————————————————————————-
Either 3 hands down