Even if 2016 were to end tomorrow, you could reasonably say that it was a good year for gaming. We might only be six months in, but it's already been a successful year with more than 10 games having earned a 4.5/5 from our staff.
We're heading into the drought-heavy Summer, so this is a perfect time to look back at our path and appreciate the finest games of the year so far.
Top 10 Games of 2016 (So Far)
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Dark Souls 3 (April 12th)
Genre: RPG
rnPlatforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
rnReview Average: 90
rnOur Review: 4.5/5
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rnSouls games have been received with some of the best reception of any RPG during the past decade. Dark Souls 3 carried the torch to the new generation of consoles in dramatic fashion with inarguably the most well-rounded iteration director Hidetaka Miyazaki has ever put together. It had wonderful areas to explore, rich with diverse creatures, and many ways to enjoy the thrill of combat from beginning to end.
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rnWhat Dark Souls 3 did particularly well is balance Souls' traditionally inconsistent difficulty curve. Enemies and bosses were tough but fair. The game ramped up in challenge at a moderate rate, with the last few hours being a test of even the most hardened Souls fan.
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rnAs usual, the game had remarkable visuals and audio that made spending 40+ hours in its world a delight. All these things came together to make what has become the premier RPG of the new generation of consoles, and a game that thousands of gamers have now been playing every day for more than two months. -
Doom (May 13th)
Genre: Shooter
rnPlatforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
rnReview Average: 85
rnOur Review: 4.5/5
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rnIt's fair to say that few people believed that Doom would reinvigorate the series, particularly after its ill-received multiplayer beta closed its doors. Remember, this is a franchise that is regarded as one of the pioneers of gaming, having been one of the first true first-person shooters, as well as pushing the boundaries of violence and atmosphere.
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rnBut Doom did what it set out to achieve. It reminded gamers what it's like to play a shooter campaign focused on excitement and gore. It had an armada of weapons that were thrilling to use, and capable of multiple modes of use. Perhaps most importantly, it felt like a proper modern iteration of Doom equipped with smart game design that made it feel fresh yet creatively inspired.
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rnIt's crazy to think that the two best shooter campaigns so far this generation are Wolfenstein and Doom. Who would have thought? -
Overwatch (May 24th)
Genre: Shooter rnPlatforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One rnReview Average: 91 rnOur Review: 4.5/5 rn rnTeam Fortress 2's team-based style is something that has surprisingly not been imitated during the past eight years. Now that Valve is very slow to push out new games, many have wondered if we will ever see a Team Fortress 3. While we may or may not, at least we have Overwatch, a game that delivers a similar experience with captivating qualities of its own. rn rnOverwatch is an extremely well composed game. Its gameplay is sharp and on-point. Each of its 21 heroes are distinct with their own set of skills. The maps are colorfully flavored with fantastic layouts. It's polished at a level that only top-tier studios like Blizzard are capable of. Also, it's a joy to play, and arguably this generation's most consistently enjoyable multiplayer shooter. rn rnThis is a game that is highly revisitable, meaning that gamers are sure to pop in to play some matches as the years move forward making it a high value proposition. That's something that has sadly become rare in the modern gaming climate. -
Ratchet & Clank (April 12th)
Genre: Platformer
rnPlatforms: PS4
rnReview Average: 86
rnOur Review: 4.5/5
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rnMany gamers had no idea just how sorely missed platformers have been this generation until Ratchet & Clank debuted in April. Up until that point you needed to buy a Wii U to experience the genre at its best in the modern era. Not anymore. Now the PS4 has something very special.
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rnRatchet & Clank stands out for being so consistent at delivering smiles and laughs. Its storytelling was light-hearted and humorous. Its library of weapons were perhaps even more flavorful than prior games in the franchise, which is saying a lot. It also had great pacing and many styles of entertainment. The end result was something spectacular and recommendable to many audiences. -
Stardew Valley (February 26th)
Genre: Agriculture Simulation rnPlatforms: PC rnReview Average: 88 rnOur Review: 4.5/5 rn rnWhen solo developer Eric Barone noticed that the PC market was thirsting for an agriculture simulator, he knew he had a big opportunity. But nobody could have predicted just how big of an opportunity that really was. rn rnStardew Valley might be a game made by only one developer, and as a result equipped with classic sprite visuals, but it's one of 2016's greatest success stories. Priced at $14.99, it offered dozens if not hundreds of hours of content for the average player. Word quickly spread about how enjoyable it was and since then it has sold over one million units on Steam. rn rnStardew Valley is the kind of game where you look at screenshots and wonder what the fuss is about, and then try it before becoming addicted for a month. It's just good, wholesome fun, and something this era desperately needed. -
Stellaris (May 9th)
Genre: 4X Grand Strategy
rnPlatforms: PC
rnReview Average: 79
rnOur Review: 4.5/5
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rnIt isn't often that a 4X game comes out that is recommended to a wide audience. Typically, only Civilization is able to achieve such a feat on a regular basis. This time around Paradox Development Studios has achieved the near impossible by delivering a captivating grand strategy experience hosted in the vastness of space.
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rnStellaris excels particularly in rewarding strategy mechanics during the early hours of each match. You feel like a true leader as you take on competing galaxies with your skill in trade, colonization, and combat. It takes hard work to be successful, but pays off when you zoom out into the galaxy map and see how you have conquered a massive sum of territory. -
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD (March 4th)
Genre: RPG
rnPlatforms: Wii U
rnReview Average: 86
rnOur Review: 4.5/5
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rnYes, Wii U has made this list and for good reason. While The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD might be a re-release, it's a very substantial one. Regarded as one of the most memorable Zelda titles, it offers a huge adventure that succeeds at storytelling and gameplay. It has reminded gamers of why the franchise has earned such a special place in the hearts of many, and why everyone should be excited for the next Zelda game.
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rnThe Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD is noted as being a more "mature" style of Zelda, which has made this re-release a great fit for gamers who grew up on the franchise, but are older and perhaps not as interested in gaming anymore. With its pretty visuals, it's a treat for everyone whether it be veterans or new players. -
The Witcher 3: Blood and Wine (May 30th)
Genre: RPG
rnPlatforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
rnReview Average: 91
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rnIt's no secret that The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is a special game. It's earned a reputation for having genre-defining storytelling and a massive world that provides ample opportunity for exploration. But many gamers have already spent over 60 hours finishing the experience from beginning to end. Thankfully, expansions have added new content to chew on.
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rnThe Witcher 3: Blood and Wine is a massive expansion pack. It's so big, in-fact, that it's comparable to full $60 releases, with over 20 hours of gameplay, 90 quests, and a beautiful new region to explore. It continues in the footsteps of the base game with brilliant storytelling delivered by compelling characters and well-delivered dialog.
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rnExpansion packs don't typically end up on "best of" lists, but this one deserves it. At $20 it's a value proposition that triumphs just about anything else this generation. -
Uncharted 4: A Thief\'s End (May 10th)
Genre: Action Adventure
rnPlatforms: PS4
rnReview Average: 93
rnOur Review: 4.5/5
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rnNathan Drake's final adventure was a special one. Naughty Dog once again demonstrated why it's one of the most revered development studios in the world with something that was polished beyond belief. Uncharted 4: A Thief's End has some of the most jaw-dropping visuals on the planet, resulting in many gamers wondering how it was achieved on the aging PS4 hardware. Whatever the explanation may be, these gorgeous visuals are an important asset of the game which relies heavily on storytelling and adventure.
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rnThis was the final game in an epic saga, which means that it was emotionally impactful and hit hard with nostalgia. Many gamers were left in tears of happiness, others were in shock at how Naughty Dog has once again delivered, and critics left it with one of the highest review averages in history.
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rnUncharted 4: A Thief's End improved the first half of 2016 in a monumental way, and it deserves praise for it. -
XCOM 2 (February 5th)
Genre: Strategy
rnPlatforms: PC
rnReview Average: 88
rnOur Review: 4.5/5
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rnXCOM 2 kicked off 2016 with a bang. It isn't often that one of the highest reviewed games of the year is a strategy game, but XCOM 2 deserved its praise. It improved upon an award-winning formula with tighter gameplay mechanics and much greater room for deviation in the campaign. Everyone's journey in XCOM 2 was a little different, whether it be in which order they saved settlements, or how they built up their roster of characters.
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rnXCOM 2 was a long and highly replayable game, and it also supported mods from the ground up. Firaxis Games once again demonstrated why it's a master of strategy game design, and this year's PC game line-up has benefited tremendously for it.
