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 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.
Not the best Smash game mechanically, but Subspace Emissary is incredible.
The start of gaming's largest mascot.
2D platformers don't get much better than this.
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.
Solid and somewhat underappreciated Zelda game with its shrinking mechanic and great dungeon design.
This is how nostalgia is done right.
Best Wii Sports game.
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.
Nearly-perfect balance of speedy platforming and exploration.
The silliest and most badass racing game ever made.
Do I really have to say anything here?
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.
Best atmosphere I've experienced in a platformer.
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.
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.
While far from the first video game, it was the one that arguably elevated the medium into mainstream popularity.
One of the most exhilarating shooters ever made.
A cute version of Joust.
The perfect sequel.
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.
Games don't get much simpler and beautiful than this.
Underrated JRPG from the creator of Final Fantasy, featuring charming characters and a unique battle system.
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.