Can you believe that 2015 is coming to a close? In just a few of days, we’ll abolish that dreaded five for ten more years, and a cool, clean, sexy six will take its place.

2015 has been an incredible year for all forms of media, so as always, we rounded up our ever-growing pool of writers to share their favorite things of 2015. First up, video games!

Take a look at everyone’s top 5, or favourite game altogether below, and be sure to let us know yours in the comment section below!

Derek Kraneveldt

5. ​Splatoon

I truly did not expect to love Splatoon as much as I do.

In fact, I largely ignored the title as our fearless leader, Jonathan London, told me after E3 that is just wasn’t that good.

Want to know how I got the game? My largely non-gamer fiance and I were watching the Nintendo World Championships earlier this year, and after watching a few rounds she told me that ‘We’re going to go and buy that game right now.’ So we did, and its the most fun I’ve had playing a full-on shooter in years.

We’ve talked about it endlessly on Geekscape Games, but with Nintendo regularly releasing new stages, weapons, and costumes for the title, plus the consistent schedule of incredibly addicting Splatfest events (not to mention the always adorable MiiVerse drawings), Splatoon has ascended the ranks of first person shooters to become something that most titles (especially in this genre) can only dream of: a full-fledged, lasting community.

It still feels so odd to start a match and simply point my gun at the ground instead of heading straight for my opponents, but at the same time, it’s (obviously) instantly satisfying. Of course only Nintendo could turn the genre on its head as it has, and it’s amazing to see the company get such positive recognition for the title (including 2 awards at this month’s The Game Awards).

So, hot dogs or pizza?

4. Until Dawn (Review here)

Until Dawn is the best game that Sony didn’t want you to play.

After the heavy marketing (and disappointment), that was The Order: 1886, Sony basically ignored the fact that Until Dawn existed, giving the title barely-there marketing and no recognition leading up to its quiet August release.

Which is truly disappointing, as the game is one of the PS4’s best, and you simply can’t play it anywhere else. In the game, you’ll take control of eight (old looking) teens gathered at a remote (Canadian) mountain lodge over the course of one night (including Heroes Hayden Panettiere and Mr. Robot’s Remi Malek, among others). They’re there on the one-year anniversary of the disappearance of two of their friends (who disappeared from the same remote mountain lodge), to remember them, and to, of course, party. Things turn sour pretty quickly, as the group discovers that they’re not as alone as they thought they were. It’s then up to you to ensure that they survive UNTIL DAWN… Did I mention that the surrounding area also contains an abandoned sanatorium and a partially collapsed mine with a terrible history?

Yeah, it’s cliched as hell, but I firmly believe that it’s entirely deliberate, which just adds to the charm of Until Dawn.
The game is extremely cinematic in its presentation (funky camera angles included), and like this year’s Life Is Strange, often offers Telltale-level difficult choices. A game like this is obviously full of quicktime events, but unlike most titles, one wrong button press in Until Dawn can (and often will) kill your current character, thus ending their storyline (and skyrocketing the game’s replayability).

There’s no rewinding or retrying either. Play well enough, and all eight characters can survive this terrifying night. Or, if you suck at games or horror movies, you might not even make it to the end.

Performances are spectacular, presentation is some of the best in recent memory, and the game’s cheesy-as-hell plot is beyond welcome. I’d imagine you’ll see Until Dawn hit the bargain bin fairly soon, and regardless of the price, I’d implore you to pick it up.

3. Fallout 4

It’s pretty impressive that Fallout 4 was officially a secret for so very long. The first assets for the title were created over seven years ago, and yet Bethesda announced Fallout 4 last June, then essentially went silent, and then released the game this November.

A far cry (ha ha) from the announce too early, then delay cycle that seems to be the standard for most developers today.

Yep, it’s Fallout, and it looks and feels like Fallout… which for some reason is garnering a lot of hate on the internet. Fallout 4 is Bethesda at its best, and the myriads of armchair cowboys who are ridiculing the title for its ‘bad graphics’, and the fact that yes, it’s similar to the previous two iterations of the series are the same people who constantly talk about how little graphics matter, and how plot and gameplay are key (and who buy Call of Duty and Assassin’s Creed ever. single. year).

Then again, it did get an insanely long list of improvements from the last title; graphics, soundtrack, shooting mechanics, cover system, settlement system, dialogue, better companions, really, there are far too many to list.
Plot and gameplay? Fallout 4 has a ton of that, and an incredible amount of variety too. I’ve never become as unfocused in a game as I have playing this one, as each and every time I’m on an important mission I’ll simply become distracted by something interesting off in the distance, a new radio signal, or an unfamiliar icon on my map. It’s crazy.

I’ve put over 30 hours into Fallout 4 thus far (which may not seem like a lot, but that’s a lot of game time for me), and every chance I get I’m jumping right back into the world of the Commonwealth. My map looks full-as-hell, yet I know that I’ve barely scratched the surface of this unbelievably deep title.

Fallout has never been better, and I can’t wait to see this story through! Where are you Shaun!?

2. The Witcher 3

2015 was truly CD Projekt Red’s year.

From physical packaging so memorable that I just had to write about it, to an insane amount of free DLC after launch, to potentially the best after release support of any game ever, The Witcher 3 and its hundreds of hours of content is one of the very best titles available on current generation consoles.

It certainly felt odd jumping straight into the third game in an RPG series after missing out on the first two titles, but I beg you not to let that shy you away from this experience. The Witcher 3 does a great job of catching you up on past events, and you’ll very quickly be so enamored with this world (and its insanely addicting card game, Gwent), that you’ll forget that the other two (excellent) games exist.

It’s an incredible action-RPG, but what impressed me the most about The Witcher 3 was the incredible after-release support that CD Projekt Red provided. Had they not released a single patch, the game would have still made it on a myriad of end-of-year lists, but constant updates provided new content, UI enhancements, control updates (and additional options), and more.

One of the updates even made my life substantially easier, as when the game launched, Geralt’s ‘Witcher Sense’ was completely invisible to me due to color blindness issues. Things like this happen fairly often in today’s games, and typically I just have to suffer, stop playing, or in the case of The Witcher 3, ask someone for help. One day, I was looking through the release notes of the newest patch, and the developers added a freaking colorblind mode that made the previously-invisible elements clear as day.

This is not only the best RPG of the year, but it could be my favourite RPG’s ever.

Go buy this game. You’ve only got about a year to finish it up until Cyberpunk 2077 drops.

1. Life Is Strange

This one will come as no surprise to regular readers of Geekscape or listeners of Geekscape Games, as I stated numerous times throughout 2015 (and the title’s too-sporadic release cycle) that Life Is Strange was the best gaming experience that I’d had (so far) this year.

Now, we’re at the close of 2015, and absolutely nothing has changed. DONTNOD Entertainment took the Telltale formula of intriguing plots, incredible characters, and impossible choices, and turned that formula on its head with Max Caulfield’s time-rewinding powers (not to mention a wonderful new IP to boot).

Surprisingly enough, having the ability to rewind and make an opposite choice, does not make those choices any less impossible. Like, at all.

Life Is Strange offers an incredibly realized world, with one of 2015’s best video game soundtracks (not to mention voice acting), and some truly relate-able characters put into absolutely incredible circumstances. The game will have you guessing to the very end, laughing (and crying… a lot) throughout, and have you strangely interested in reading the lengthy journal of a teenaged girl.

Life Is Strange is my Game of the Year. Thank you DONTNOD for such a memorable experience, and screw you DONTNOD for making me cry so much.

Honorable: Her Story, Guitar Hero Live, Metal Gear Solid V (at least its mechanics), Yo-Kai Watch

Joshua Jackson

As longtime Geekscape readers might know, I usually write a variety of end of year lists, including games of the year and best waifus. Sadly, school has kicked my ass this year and I haven’t played as much as I need to. With that said, I did want to post some of my favorite games of the year so far, then put together the usual lists after I play some catch up!

2015 was an interesting year for games. Between gamers waiting on pins and needles for the next Smash Bros DLC reveal, to the ongoing Konami / Hideo Kojima drama, the first half of the year being dominated by Amiibogeddon and the ongoing censorship debate among many other hot topic issues, it seemed as if much of this served as a distraction from the fact that not a whole lot of impressive software released this year. With that said, there still were some impressive games on the market over the last 12 months, many of which caught me completely off guard. So in no particular order, here are my favorite games of 2015, (so far.)

Guitar Hero Live (Review here)

To echo what Derek said in his review for the game, not only is Guitar Hero Live one of the most addicting gameplay experiences of the year, but it manages to revitalize a franchise that many thought they were far too burned out of to care about again. Serving as more than just a guitar change, the new format that Freestyle Games used for the game makes it feel so fresh. Scrapping the cartoon inspired band mates for real stage footage that changes with your performance was brilliant, but is trumped even still by Guitar Hero Live. By completely rethinking what DLC can be, GHTV lets players select channels that play certain genres during certain blocks of time, shuffling the entire catalouge into one giant score battle against players from around the world. If you want to play on demand, you have to pay, but with a variety of ways to earn free plays, you can pick and choose the songs you want to try without committing to buying one you might not like. If you haven’t tried it, do yourself a favor and step on the stage one more time! You’ll be glad you did!

Skylanders Superchargers

Another year, another Skylanders game. But before you pass this off as another shallow cash grab, know that this vehicle themed sequel to the first Toys To Life game is not only the best in the series to date, but one of the best action platformers of the year. I always feel that the franchise is at its best when Vicarious Visions is at the helm, and they prove it once again with the most imaginative stages in the series. Combined with more interesting additions to the cast, visual presentation that must have taken a small miracle to pull off without framerate drops considering how crowded the screen can get, excellent implementation of vehicles, and a full on racing mode courtesy of Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions developers, Beenox, and you have one of the most content filled entries in the entire series, (despite the core experience still being relatively short.) For Wii U, Wii, and 3DS owners, the extra bonus of playing as a fully realized Donkey Kong and Bowser, each with some really fun abilities that reference the entire history of the characters, make a great game even better. If you’re jaded about the franchise and need an excuse to fall in love with it again, (or for the first time,) Superchargers is your best bet.

Disney Infinity 3.0

You obviously can’t talk about Disney Infinity without comparing it to Skylanders, and while the latter’s biggest problem has been its lack of content to use all your figures with, (which Superchargers alleviated to an extent,) the former’s was developing interesting campaign modes for those who aren’t into spending hours in the title’s deep world building Toy Box mode, (which is even better this time around.) However, Disney employing a variety of developers worked out well for their latest Toys To Life game has payed off big, offering some of the best combat in a Star Wars game to date across any genre. Primarily developed by Ninja Theory, the influences from DmC, Devil May Cry are clear, with juggle combos, delay combos and air combat abound. Each character stands out well, helping gamers travel through the prequels, sequels, and even The Force Awakens in the guise of a well made action game. Throwing in the Inside Out platforming game that again, has some wildly imaginative stages that I would LOVE to see realized in a full fledged game, and the new Toybox Games that add more content for your non Star- Wars characters are icing on an admittedly expensive cake.

https://youtu.be/DWnA-yXUmJI

Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth 2 and 3 (Review here)

We had FOUR new Hyperdimension Neptunia games this year, and while the spinoffs, especially Hyperdimension Neptunia U if our review is anything to go by, nothing beats the core series. Being too similar to split off into their own entries on this list, the real time turn based combat is back with a lighthearted, fourth wall shattering adventure to save Gamindustri is present in both. Re;Birth 2 introduces the CPU Candidates, the little sisters of the main characters of the first game, as they fight to save the elder goddesses from a group of game pirates who are distributing software for free! Led by Nepgear, (a strong candidate for this year’s top waifu,) this more serious story has divided the fanbase, but I found myself being a big fan of the younger girls’ struggle to fight their way out of the shadows of their more powerful siblings. Re;Birth 3 on the other hand, is back to the never serious style of the original, placing Neptune back into the lead role while leading a hilarious new cast to the forefront in an alternate Gamindustri based on the late 80’s through the early 2000’s. Either one is a great RPG to play if you need something to play on your Vita, (which I know you do,) and in a year that was surprisingly heavy on the JRPG front, Neptunia still stands out strong!

Xenoblade Chronicles X

What can I say that hasn’t been said about this incredible title? When the promotion material for this game promised 100’s of hours of game play, they weren’t joking. Taking place on Mira, an uncharted planet that humans are forced to call their new home, this living, breathing world is easily the most stunning environment of the year. Wildlife fills the world and goes about their own business, whether or not they’re hostile. High level monsters mingle with low level ones, forcing you to think twice about how you’re going to travel to the next uncharted point. Side missions reward you with a deeper understanding of the citizens of New Los Angeles and the citizens that inhabit it. And most importantly, the game play is top notch, allowing you to switch between firearms and melee attacks to hit enemies at the right position and keep them from attacking. Oh, and when the mechs, or Skells come into play, then the world really becomes your playground. With all of this said, Xenoblade‘s biggest accomplishment is that despite the acceptance that a large game being glitchy is just a byproduct of a game of this scope, this Nintendo exclusive RPG on the weaker Wii U manages to pull it off without anything nearly as bad as some of the large open worlds released this year. Constant pop in is the worst you’ll come across. A surprisingly well done online mode rounds out what is a strong candidate for game of the year, and shapes one of the definitive Wii U experiences on the market.

Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls (Review here)

What happens when you take a text adventure, (which I named my game of the year last year,) and spin it off into a Resident Evil 4 style third person shooter? You get one of the more innovative takes on the genre in a long time. As Komaru Naegi, the younger sister of the protagonist of the first game, you’re forced to fight your way through an abandoned island that’s being torn apart by an army of the murderous Monokuma bear robots. Led by the Warriors of Hope, a group of children who look to kill every adult, Ultra Despair Girls featured some of the more gruesome, shocking and uncomfortable scenes in a game this year, and it was so much better for it. Naturally, you can’t make a game of the year list on story alone, (on my list at least,) but Ultra Despair Girls has some incredibly lighthearted mechanics for a game so sadistic. Dancing killer robots? Ammo that forces cars to drive? A variety of weapon types to fit multiple situations? This game constantly keeps you on your toes, making a typically bland genre feel fresh again. Like Neptunia, this is one of the better games for the Vita this year, and is absolutely worth dusting off the handheld to check out.

Splatoon

My early candidate for game of the year, Splatoon is everything I look for in a game. Creative? Check! Innovative? Who would’ve thought about making a 3rd person arena shooter where the goal is to shoot the ground instead of your opponent? Single player content? While short, it has plenty of collectibles, fun boss fights and serves as a great tool to learn the game before you jump online. When it launched in May, the game’s biggest flaw was that it lacked a lot of basic features that you’d expect to be standard in an online shooter. For better or worse, all of that content was rolled out over time and made available by August. Fast forward to December, and I’m still playing it, which is much more than I can say about other so-called AAA titles throughout the year. By adding a variety of game modes, monthly Splatfests, which are nationwide competitions where each player picks a team to represent, more new weapons and stages than you can shake a tentacle at, and an insane amount of gear to customize your character with, and its no wonder why this game stands tall as one of the premier games of 2015.

Shane O’Hare

Not only was this a bad year for Shane, this was a bad year in video games for me too! I had to seriously sit and think what games I bought that came out this year that I played and enjoyed! It took me some time, but these are the Top Five Games I played in 2015

5: TIS-100

TIS-100 was a real surprise to me. A new take on the puzzle genre, you take the role of a guy who finds a used computer at a yard sale and attempts to fix it up to get it working again. Instead of replacing parts, you have to reprogram modules and nodes. What follows is you, the player, LITERALLY writing code to create programs. Each level you are faced with a problem, a series of inputs, and a series of outputs. You have to figure out how to get the numbers from the inputs, move them down through the different nodes and to the outputs. The early levels can be done pretty easily, but just a few levels in you will be hitting your head against the keyboard as you have to SERIOUSLY figure out some intense logic puzzles.

4: Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate

I’ll admit, I haven’t put as much time into MH4U as I did 3, but I’m not really sure WHY. MH4U is a GIANT leap forward in the franchise. More monsters, more armor, more DLC, more environments, more everything. Gone are the tedious underwater battles, and in its place are some interesting climbing elements. Monsters will fight you in areas that span multiple levels, and you will have to strategically place yourselves above them to get the literal drop on them.

3: DmC: Definitive Edition

When DmC came out a couple years ago, it made my Top 5 games of the year. It was a fresh take on the Devil May Cry franchise, with a “new” Dante. A Dante that was overtly muscly man god, a Dante with more depth. The gameplay was tight, and the levels were extremely creative and interesting. So when they said they were releasing it on current gen, upscaled to 1080P, 60FPS and all the DLC I freaked out and jumped at the chance to get it. I originally played it on the Xbox 360, but this time around it was on the PS4. I couldn’t be more happier with this HD rerelease.

2: Homeworld: Remastered

Homeworld is one of my all time favorite RTS games. A different take on the genre, Homeworld puts players in space in charge of giant motherships. The most unique thing about this game, is the ability for your ships to traverse space upwards and downwards. No longer are you stuck on a 2D plain, you can travel below your enemies and strike them from their weak spots. OR come in from above. It literally added a whole new dimension to combat.

The Remastered edition features both Homeworld 1 & 2 in their original states, plus fully upgraded HD graphics and sound. The updated UI from Homeworld 2 is in both versions of the game. This is such a wonderful product, but I do not remember it being so damned hard!

1: Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain

Admittedly I had zero interest in this game until Ground Zeroes hit Playstation Plus for free. I snagged that and almost 100%’d it. It got me on the hype train, and with all the surrounding controversy with Kojima and Konami, I figured it was going to be the last Metal Gear Game ever.

This is the game I put the most time into. The graphics are beautiful, the story is compelling and intriguing (exactly the kind of story that I love, the kind where it fucks with the player just as much as the characters in it) and the gameplay is top notch. The side ops were never boring, and even doing the same type of mission over and over again never felt old. The grind was enjoyable because the core mechanics of the game were enjoyable.

The audio tapes really fleshed out the story, and being able to listen to a playlist of them while grinding out some side ops really helped fill in the gaps of the story that main cutscenes left out.

HONORABLE MENTION : Counter Strike: Global Offensive

Yeah CSGO came out in 2012, but besides MGSV I put dozens of hours into this game this year. The constant updates Valve relased this year kept the gameplay fresh and new. The operation packs gave players mini missions to complete to get ingame weapon drops and skins. The skin market BLEW up this year, with some skins becoming contraband and being removed from the cases. So existing skins of certain weapons would go for THOUSANDS of dollars.

The competitive scene always made going into a match fun. Even if you were getting stomped, there was a reason. It is a skilled based game, and there are very little variables that come into effect. You either out shoot your opponent, or get outshot.

Natalie Kipper

Yo-kai Watch (Nintendo 3DS) (Review here)

This title came out late in the year and, while I anticipated liking it, I had no clue that I would love as much as I do. This is one of those games that I will play for hours upon hours on end, all with a smile on my face. Yo-kai Watch delivers an experience that caters to the child in me, filled bug-catching activities and gachapon machines. The yo-kai designs are so likable that I often find myself filled with the desire to give them a hug. A tad sentimental perhaps but 100 percent true.

Xenoblade Chronicles 3DS (Nintendo 3DS)

I missed out on purchasing and playing the original Wii version and regretted it ever since. Thank goodness for this version! I am a fan of portable games in general so adding the ability to finally play title on top of it being on the Nintendo 3DS and I was over the moon. My all-time favorite game is Xenogears and I was happy to visit to a related universe. Xenoblade Chronicles 3DS is huge, as in “how-in-the-heck-did-they-fit-this-into-a-cartrtidge” huge. Voice acting abounds and thankfully, it is actually decent (some characters are even good). The battle system took some getting used to but by hour two or so I was accustomed to it. It keeps you on your toes and, for someone who likes to sit and ponder moves like a chess player, things can get dangerous fast. The storyline was engrossing and one I wouldn’t dare spoil. I will say one thing: I teared up/cried more than twice. Every RPG fan owes it to themselves to give this title a shot.

Yoshi’s Woolly World (Wii U) (Review here)

Another feel-good game on favorites list (ironically developed by the studio, Good-Feel) was Yoshi’s Woolly World. This game appeals to the crafter in me on a level that no other has before. The level and character designs so cleverly incorporate the fiber arts theme that it leaves with a warm, fuzzy feeling, no pun intended. I am one of those fans who waited in line at 4a.m. to buy a Mega Yoshi amiibo and I have no regrets. Now if only Nintendo would make a nice big plush of Poochy …

Skylanders Superchargers (Wii U)

I have been a fan of the Skylanders franchise since Spyro’s Journey but I was honestly a bit skeptical about adding vehicles into the mix. Thankfully, Activision managed to make the inclusion flow seamlessly. And while it is available for pretty much every console (sorry, Vita), I had to buy the Nintendo versions. The ability to play as Donkey Kong and Bowser in Skylands is an experience that should not be missed. Their abilities are true to character (Bowser can summon Koopas to attack enemies, for example) and sometimes cleverly pay homage to Nintendo’s past (DK causes ladders and girders to fall in one of his attacks). The fact that every single previous Skylander is compatible is icing on the cake.

Citizens of Earth (Nintendo 3DS) (Review here)

Citizens of Earth is a RPG that aims to be funny and while it wasn’t enough to make me laugh out loud, it definitely kept me playing. People say this game is reminiscent of Earthbound but having never played that title (blasphemy, I know), I judged the title for what it was: an entertaining and clever old-school RPG. The gameplay, from the battle system to the over-world, drips of old-school charm. A clever script and impressively large cast gave Citizens of Earth more staying power than most of the eShop-only titles I find. Every playable character added something new to your team strategy and finding a combo that worked well for my playing style was a fun challenge. Recruiting all 40 of them was a sort of obsession of mine. For these reasons, this game earns a place on my top games of 2015.

Matthew Rodriguez

1. Xenoblade Chronicles X

It’s been a long time since I last had a game that permeated my every thought, yelling out, “Play me!” throughout the course of the day no matter where I am, whether it’s work, traveling, or otherwise. Xenoblade Chronicles X, with it’s expansive, open, and vibrant world, near-endless customization of character classes, and treasure troves of loot and quests, can leave any gamer with a sense of wonder, and a drive to improve oneself, especially since you can encounter high level enemies in the open world.

The battle system is similar to the ATB (Active Time Battle) systems in Final Fantasys 7/8/9, except each separate command his its own gauge. This results in RPG style battles that still tests your reflexes and strategy in crucial moments. All of these battles happen in real time in the open world, so you never lose your sense of immersion in the game.

I believe this is a title every gamer must own, especially if you enjoy sci-fi genres.

2. Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate

This franchise has always been tested and true, and is gaining great traction in the West. It is a game focused on cooperative play, where the main objective is to beat boss-like baddies to protect the town civilians. The only way to power up your character is by making said baddies into armor and gear, to help you fight new baddies.

It is a game that rewards skill and time, and you can truly feel your character getting more powerful as you progress through the game, and the most hardcore can get into nitty gritty details on how to customize sets and skills. While the learning curve can be difficult, that also is a strength of this game because there’s always something new to learn, and thus there’s always a reason to be playing with friends.

Online is very well implemented, although I still won’t recommend playing with “randoms” online. There are plenty ways for people to troll and very few ways to report them. And it’s a little more difficult to strategize without being able to speak to the person.

It is a game with lots of depth and reward, and is simply easy to recommend to any gamer that loves the satisfaction of taking down boss-style enemies.

3. Splatoon

Also a winner of several awards this year, Nintendo has a great winning formula game. Even people that I know who normally wouldn’t even touch a shooter play this game. With adding the “paint the floor” mechanic for both stealth and mobility purposes, a lot lies underneath the surface than just a kid’s game here. The main characters, Callie and Marie, the squid sisters are great characters that kids can relate to, and are extremely colorful and fun. The weapon sets, whether it is a ranged blaster, or a huge paintbrush, are all varied to provide different levels of expertise from a depth standpoint. And the monthly Splatfest festivals pits all kinds of players at different skills levels against each other in a bid to see which “topic of the month”, whether it is cats vs. dogs, marshmallows vs. hot dogs, etc., is the reigning fandom.

The lengthy single player is also really good and paints the storyline very well. Overall, you’ll find yourself having tons of fun and it’s hard to put down. Nintendo regularly updates the game with free DLC so the metagame can be totally different every few months. It is splatacular!

4. Final Fantasy Type-0 HD

I actually haven’t completed this game yet, but it’s one of the most memorable Final Fantasys I have played. It’s all action oriented, as Kingdom Hearts style, but each of the characters have their own weapon and skill lineup, so there’s plenty to choose from. The characters are very likable, I could easily see the personalities of many anime characters being portrayed here—for example, Jack’s personality is very much like Shikamaru from Naruto, where he cannot be bothered with most assignments.

I do hope to return to it one day, but be warned: this game is not for the faint of heart. At times its difficulty can be daunting and it may take the most grizzled Final Fantasy veteran to get through its trials and tribulations.

5. Nintendo Badge Arcade

This game has soaked up more of my money than I’m willing admit. Although some might argue that it isn’t a game at all, I’ve definitely spent a lot of time on it, generally enjoying the crane games and enjoy the mascot’s (the pink bunny’s) witty sense of humor.

It is a game centered around crane games, and the badges you obtain from this game can be used to decorate your 3DS home screen, allowing a level of customization that is rare for any portable system. You can show off these designs through miiverse or 3DS image share, but the satisfaction of booting up to your own customized screen is a pleasure in itself. I’ve managed to chalk up a few myself, such as an underground mario level, and a collection of Pokemon folders!

Adam Lemuz

Rare Replay

What better way to celebrate the gaming industry then with a celebration of one of the most beloved studios of all time. Rare Replay is a love letter to Rare fans both old and new. Ranging from their humble beginnings making Spectrum games to their Xbox 360 days, there’s a game for everyone here. Top that off with dozens of snapshot challenges behind the scenes videos, and one catchy opening tune, and you have one recipe for pure fun. Not to mention you’re getting 30 games for only $30. There’s absolutely no reason not to buy this if you own an Xbox One. Press A, HOORAY! It’s time for Rare Replay!

Eric Francisco

While I think Rise of the Tomb Raider should be Game of the Year, I think Destiny: The Taken King might be my favorite. I could write all day about the improved content, the story, blah blah. What I love about Taken King is that it’s an appointment for myself and one of my best friends to get together and talk about work and life and just bullshit while shooting aliens. We get a weird sense of accomplishment when we level up, but then we’re back to wondering what’s up with this person we know IRL. Thanks Taken King, for bringing a friend who lives a bit too far a little closer on Sunday afternoons.

https://youtu.be/RpDLxs8z08A

Mary Campos

Lego Dimensions

I just really love this game. I love how they had a grand character to vehicle scheme. Scooby Doo Driving the Batmobile? Huh?

Gimme!

Well, granted Lego isn’t the first “toys to life game” but in a way, by holding out, this game was exciting for me. I do like to mix my universes together, and I like the fact that I have to spend the effort to put my Lego characters together. It’s why Lego Dimensions won me over in our instant gratification life style.

So, what do you think of our lists? What were your favourite games? Be sure to sound out in the comments below!