Because I Said So is the only game of the year awards you should care about...because I said so.
If you missed Part 1, check it out to see my 2018 choice for most disappointing, best shrink wrapped and best old game. If you missed Part 2 and 3, check them out to see my 2018 choices for best games by platform.
Drum roll please ... my 2018 GOTY.
THE WINNER - Detroit: Become Human
Thanks for hanging around and be sure to share your GOTY in the comments :)
Because I Said So is the only game of the year awards you should care about...because I said so.
If you missed Part 1, check it out to see my 2018 choice for most disappointing, best shrink wrapped and best old game. If you missed Part 2, check it out to see my 2018 choice for best mobile and Vita games.
On to Part 3, where I continue to select my favourite game for PC, PS4, and Switch.
The Switch had a bumper year with tons of indie and AAA releases. I sank quite a few hours into Fortnite, Paladins, Senran Kagura Reflexions, and Metropolis Lux Obscura, and while I haven’t spent as many hours on it, the winner is…
GRIS is an indie platform-adventure game with stunning graphics, music, and a weirdly abstract world. I’m guilty of not finishing it yet, but I’m so enamoured that it takes top spot for the Switch this year.
My PS4 shame pile is absolutely shocking. I picked up so many PS4 games that remain shrink-wrapped, including Spider-Man, God of War, and Red Dead Redemption 2. Those were thrown on top of last year’s shame pile too (see “Best Shrink-wrapped”). There’s a good chance one of these could take the crown, but of all the ones I played, the winner is…
Detroit is a game developed by Quantic Dream, the people behind Fahrenheit, Heavy Rain, and Beyond: Two Souls. Like these, Detroit is a masterpiece in interactive storytelling.
While I picked up a ton of new Switch and PS4 games, it’s nothing compared to PC purchases. With Steam sales and Humble Bundle monthlies, I added at least a hundred new games to the PC shame pile. The winner though…
A Way Out is an action-adventure game that is a forced split-screen co-op. Usually, this is an instant kill for me, but I was keen to play a game with a friend and this one stood out. Sure enough, we had a blast. One of the best features was that only one of us needed to own the game!
That's all for Part 3. Keep an eye out for Part 4, coming soon!
Because I Said So is the only game of the year awards you should care about...because I said so. If you missed Part 1, check it out to see my 2018 choice for most disappointing, best shrink wrapped and best old game.
On to Part 2, where I start my selection for a favourite game for each platform. My GOTY will emerge from this list, so be sure to pay close attention!
After years of hiding in the Apple ecosystem, we finally started the transition to the competition - Google. Our house is now full of Google Homes, we got a Nvidia Shield TV, and I swapped the iPhone to a Razer Phone. With a new phone and ecosystem came a bunch of new games to try. Sure, many are probably on iOS, but it’s all about the fun of playing them on a new phone. Favourites include Destiny Child, Icey, and Mysterious Forum. However, the winner…
I’ve tried Sim City on the mobile before, but this one just gets it right. It feels like a polished Sim 2000 clone and it’s pretty awesome.
This is likely the last time the Vita will get a spot on this list. While I picked up a ton of games this year for the Vita (e.g. Senran Kagura Series, Lost Dimension, The Legend of Heroes Series, Gal Gun, and all the Neptunia games) only one was a new release for 2018. So the winner by default…
Bullet Girls Phantasia is an action shooting game. One of the key features in the series is a mode where you can tickle the girls. Instant classic.
That's all for this part. Keep an eye out for Part 3!
Now in its eleventh year, Because I Said So is the only game of the year awards you should care about...because I said so. Each year I select my favourite game, along with a few others in categories such as favourite unwrapped, most disappointing and the best old game I finally got around to. If you're interested in my choices from last year, be sure to check them out!
Games in this category don't necessarily suck. They either didn't live up to my hype or I felt they could have been so much more. Fallout 76 appears to be the darling of this category in the mainstream. I never planned to buy it though. Metal Gear Survive is another thrown around by others, and while I went out of my way to play a bit to add it to this list, I was pleasantly surprised by what I played and honestly can’t say it’s disappointing … yet. My choice?
Honestly, Paladins on With could almost be my GOTY due to the number of hours I’ve sunk in, but there’s a problem…the bugs. The game frequently crashes, kicks me from queues, and contains a myriad of visual bugs. While you’d think with a new patch some of these would be addressed, but instead, it seems to bring new bugs. I keep my fingers crossed for its future, but I’m not gonna place any money on it.
In this category, I select my favourite game that I haven’t played. Yep … that’s correct. The best game I’m yet to play. This game remains shrink-wrapped on my shelf … possibly virtually if a digital download. The first game I purchased this year was Sakura Santa on the 2nd of January. It remains virtually shrink-wrapped. Another that remains shrink-wrapped - Persona 5. My “Best Shrink Wrapped” from 2017. Yep, my BEST UNPLAYED GAME from last year still hasn’t been touched. So what game steals the honour this year?
Valkyria Chronicles 1, 2, and 3 are among my favourite games of all time. In fact, Valk Chronicles 2 in my GOTY for 2010. I’m really disappointed I haven’t got to Valkyria Chronicles 4, but I know it’ll be an awesome game. Fingers crossed I can get to it soon … perhaps after Persona 5.
Perhaps the reason there's so many shrink-wrapped is because I played so many oldies. The Division, my Best Shrink wrapped from 2017, is the perfect example - I continue to play that with friends online today! It’s almost up there as a two-time winner, but the following game took home the cake.
Hellblade is hardly an oldie. It was released last year. However, it was just so awesome that it easily takes this win. It’s from the makers of Heavenly Sword, Enslaved, another fav of mine. Hellblade centres on mental illnesses and the capture actress they used was absolutely stunning in this game. I enjoyed it so much that just tying this makes me want to pull it out and play it again. Sorry shrink-wrapped pile!
That's all for now, but keep an eye out for Part 2 coming up soon!
Because I Said So is the only game of the year awards you should care about...because I said so.
If you missed Part 1, check it out to see my 2017 choice for most disappointing, best shrink wrapped and best old game. If you missed Part 2, 3, and 4, check them out to see my 2017 choices for best games by platform.
Drum roll please ... my 2017 GOTY.
THE WINNER - Nier Automata
In the end, I decided Nier Automata provided me with the most fun over the last year. At first, I was a little frustrated I had to play the game more than once...
When you finish it the first time, you're thrown back in again. Thankfully, you play from a different perspective (I won't spoil), but the image below is a hint.
Thanks for hanging around and be sure to share your GOTY in the comments :)
Because I Said So is the only game of the year awards you should care about...because I said so.
If you missed Part 1, check it out to see my 2017 choice for most disappointing, best shrink wrapped and best old game. If you missed Part 2, check it out to see my 2017 choice for best mobile and 3DS games.
On to Part 3, where I continue to select my favourite game for PS4, Xbox One and Switch.
Once again, the PS4 demanded the most of my attention of the consoles in 2017. There was a stellar line-up of games and if you saw my Part 1, you'll know I didn't manage to get to many of them. Of those that I did, my favourite is:
WINNER - NieR:Automata
The original NieR was a favourite of mine so I was over the moon about this sequel. I'm glad it's picked up some mainstream attention too. That means we may see some more from the franchise in the future!
My Xbox One got very little attention this year. Most of my pickups were older games from last year or my free games as part of my Games with Gold service. The winner is a little unusual in that it's a new release for 2017, but also my top Xbox One game for 2017. How is that possible?
WINNER - ReCore: Definitive Edition
Yep, the winner is a definitive edition update. I hadn't finished Recore in 2016, so I was glad I got the chance to play an improved version in 2017.
I managed to get through a few Switch games, all of them were fantastic. Sonic Mania, Thimbleweed Park, Mario Kartm Mario + Rabbids, Snipperclips, and Wonderboy. However, the top pick:
WINNER - The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Everyone who saw me playing the Switch wanted to play. The game they wanted to play? Zelda. A stellar game for a stellar new console!
That's all for Part 3. Keen an eye out for Part 4, coming soon!
Because I Said So is the only game of the year awards you should care about...because I said so.
If you missed Part 1, check it out to see my 2017 choice for most disappointing, best shrink wrapped and best old game.
On to Part 2, where I start my selection for favourite game for each platform. My GOTY will emerge from this list, so be sure to pay close attention!
Despite sinking many dollars into mobile games over the years, I finally came to the realisation ... I don't play them. One of the very few games I purchased for mobile this year is my mobile game of the year. While that may be winner by default, it's a remake of one of the most awesome games:
WINNER - Full Throttle Remastered
Like all of Tim Schafer's classic point-and-click games, this one can't be missed. It's great to be able to play it again in such vivid detail!
It feels like the release of 3DS games is drying up. Or perhaps I'm moving on because of the Switch? In any case, my selection for this year's 3DS game is just like my mobile choice - winner by default. I haven't been able to play enough to pass true judgement, but it's looking promising:
WINNER - Layton's Mystery Journey: Katrielle and The Millionaires' Conspiracy
A Layton game in my list of GOTY. Things seem right in the world again!
That's all for this part. Keep an eye out for Part 3!
Now in its tenth year, Because I Said So is the only game of the year awards you should care about...because I said so. Each year I select my favourite game, along with a few others in categories such as favourite unwrapped, most disappointing and best old game I finally got around to. If you're interested in my choices from last year, you can check them out here.
Games in this category don't necessarily suck. They either didn't live up to my hype or I felt they could have been so much more.
WINNER - Destiny 2 (PC)
Last year, I made the mistake of of jumping on the hype train of No Man's Sky. Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice... shame on my friends! Why? I blame them for shoving me on the train this time. I didn't mind the first Destiny, so I thought this one might be fun as a co-op game. Unfortunately, the fun didn't last too long and I found myself over the grind.
Coupled with all the controversy (1, 2, 3), I now feel Destiny 2 has been a bigger disappointment than the first.
There's a ton of games I purchased this year that remain shrink wrapped. Horizon Zero Dawn, Yakuza 0, Watch_Dogs 2, but the one I'm most eager to play...
WINNER - Persona 5 (PS4)
Persona 4 Golden was my GOTY for 2013, so Persona 5 is high on my most anticipated. So why didn't I play it? I'm scared I will be sucked into a hole from which I'll never return.
Perhaps the reason there's so many shrink wrapped is because I played so many oldies. Everybody's Gone to the Rapture, my Best Shrink wrapped from 2016, is the perfect example - it's now one of my favourite games of all time. However, my favourite for this year was...
WINNER - The Division (PS4 and PC)
I thoroughly enjoyed my solo play thru of The Division on PS4 and am now enjoying it co-op with a friend on PC. If there were issues at the start, I think they've all been dealt with - quality game!
That's all for now, but keep an eye out for Part 2 coming up soon!
Because I Said So is the only game of the year awards you should care about...because I said so.
If you missed Part 1, check it out to see my 2015 choice for most disappointing, best shrink wrapped and best old game. If you missed Part 2, 3, and 4, check them out to see my 2015 choices for best games by platform.
Now it's time for the pièce de résistance! My 2016 GOTY.
THE WINNER - Overwatch
I know I'm not alone - everyone's playing Overwatch:
I continue to chip away playing against AI. I'm now level 39 and still main D.Va and Mercy.
Thanks for hanging around and be sure to share your GOTY in the comments :)
Because I Said So is the only game of the year awards you should care about...because I said so.
If you missed Part 1, check it out to see my 2016 choice for most disappointing, best shrink wrapped and best old game. If you missed Part 2, check it out to see my 2016 choice for best mobile, Vita and 3DS games. If you missed Part 3, check it out to see my 2016 choice for best PS4, Xbox One and Wii U.
On to Part 4, where I select my favourite game for Mac and PC.
I was eager to play Doom for the Touch Bar (shown below), but I wasn't able find a download link. Instead, here's my winner for best Mac game of 2016.
WINNER - Firewatch
I'm cheating here because I'm yet to finish Firewatch. However, i'm enjoying it heaps and looking forward to the rest of the story. Based purely on the enjoyment I've received so far, it's still deserving of top spot!
RUNNER UP - The Walking Dead: Michonne
This was a decent standalone game from Telltale, but it's only on my list because of the decent story. Unfortunately, Telltale have been slipping and the quality of their games are now very ordinary. I had lots of technical difficulties with this game (e.g. the controller doesn't work!), which has made me hesitant to pick up any new Telltale games on release (i.e. Batman and the new Walking Dead). I plan to wait for patches, etc.
There was no shortage of excellent titles to play on the PC this year. The new Hitman, Quantum Break, and Mirrors Edge Catalyst were all very enjoyable, but the top two spots went to the following:
WINNER - Overwatch
I've ready many stories like the one I'm about to post - I'm not a multiplayer gamer or that into FPS games, but Overwatch won me over. My play sessions are limited to normal and hard difficulty versus AI, but I still get to interact with human players on my team. At times, it's frustrating, but in general I've found it enjoyable. What I like most is the diversity amongst the characters and that each one makes it feel like a new game. I currently "main" D.Va, but I often fall back to Mercy and Sombra. At the time of writing, I'm level 31, which has taken about 30 hours worth of game time. I'm looking forward to the next 30!
RUNNER UP - The Witcher 3: Blood and Wine
More Witcher. The End.
That's all for this part. Keep an eye out for the final part!
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