Games of the Years
My GOTY is based on the North American release date. Also, keep in mind that I'm only choosing games I've played, so this list is prone to change.
45 Games
While far from the first video game, it was the one that arguably elevated the medium into mainstream popularity.
Games don't get much simpler and beautiful than this.
Do I really have to say anything here?
One of the most exhilarating shooters ever made.
The perfect sequel.
Highly underrated maze game that builds on Pac-Man's foundation with vertical platforming.
Gameplay is similar to Mappy, but it adds fluid jumping controls and resource management with having to simultaneously protect the Flickies and rack up the best score in each level.
The start of gaming's largest mascot.
A cute version of Joust.
2D platformers don't get much better than this.
Best atmosphere I've experienced in a platformer.
Nearly-perfect balance of speedy platforming and exploration.
If we're talking about influence, Super Mario 64 undoubtedly deserves the spot, but I don't think it's aged quite as well as DKC3's serene atmosphere and dynamic platforming.
3D rail shooters like Star Fox 64 aren't my kind of game, plus Zero's campaign in X4 is one of the best things to come out of the Mega Man franchise.
The silliest and most badass racing game ever made.
A unique platformer high on charm and great level design. Despite there being no health bar or lives system, it is a tough game to complete, demonstrating that difficulty in platformers can come in different flavors.
Solid and somewhat underappreciated Zelda game with its shrinking mechanic and great dungeon design.
Not the best Smash game mechanically, but Subspace Emissary is incredible.
Best Wii Sports game.
Underrated JRPG from the creator of Final Fantasy, featuring charming characters and a unique battle system.
This is how nostalgia is done right.
While Undertale borrows from EarthBound, it also removes or streamlines that game's annoying elements. On top of that, there are more than enough gameplay and story surprises in Undertale for it to stand on its own and even among the best RPGs of all time.
While it does have very noticeable flaws, Origami King’s emotional beats hit me like no other game from this year. I couldn't get emotionally invested in the stories of Hades and Ori and the Will of the Wisps for reasons highlighted in my reviews for each game. In Origami King, however, I experienced emotions ranging from absolute joy to deep sadness. As someone who typically doesn't get invested in video game stories, this was a breath of fresh air.
Dread isn't the most atmospheric or surprising Metroidvania out there, but it does demonstrate how giving players more abilities at the start can significantly enhance the pacing of these games, especially on repeat playthroughs.
One of the best 3D platformers ever made. Plenty of fun content and some surprisingly difficult challenges cement it as one of the pink puffball’s best outings.
