Games
The results are in: These are the very finest titles of the last 12 months, as chosen by you.
We asked you to tell us your favourite game of the last year, and you voted in droves, helping us whittle down the long list from 20 to give us a top-10 shortlist, as well as an overall victor according to players. Scroll down to find out which game won, and let us know what you think of the results in the comments below!
10. Mario Kart 8 5.14% of the vote
Has there ever been a Mario Kart game that didn’t immediately vie for best game of the year? We don’t think so, but there was certainly never any doubt the latest version for Wii U would make the shortlist: it’s mesmerisingly beautiful, with brilliant tracks and anti-gravity sections to spice up the core shell-slinging gameplay, one of the best local multiplayer experiences this year and superbly executed DLC that plays on some of Nintendo’s other classic franchises. If only Nintendo would fix the battle mode.
9. Destiny 5.90% of the vote
Few games have divided opinions this year quite like Destiny. Bungie’s bold new shooter is a grindfest varnished/tarnished with a terrible and irrelevant hologram of Paul McCartney singing over the end credits, and an irritating PlayStation exclusivity deal. And yet, gamers can’t seem to put it down. Maybe it’s the perfect shooting mechanics or the excellent DLC raids, but there’s something in it that keeps drawing players back – and voting for it.
8. Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor 6.00% of the vote
While it may have trickled out on Xbox 360 and PS3 as well, the new Tolkien game is arguably the first truly great example of the potential of the next-generation of consoles. Shadow of Mordor’s Nemesis system, in which orcs with individual traits you attack will remember you as they rise up the ranks of Sauron’s not-very-nice-network, is a truly refreshing idea in the action genre, and something we hope to see other games draw from in the years to come.
7. Dragon Age: Inquisition 6.10% of the vote
Another surprise hit at the tail end of 2014, Bioware’s latest meaty RPG more than atones for the sins of the rushed Dragon Age 2. Think Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic meets Skyrim, and you’ve got some idea of just how much of a timesink this beautiful fantasy epic is – we’re actually surprised readers managed to put their controllers down for long enough to vote for it.
6. Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo Wii U 6.32% of the vote
We thought Masahiro Sakurai’s magnum opus was nothing less than a love letter to Nintendo fans of all ages, and clearly readers agree. The staggering number of characters from gaming history available to duke it out, from Sonic to Mega Man, as well as the copious number of game modes (8 player!) make this one of the greatest fighting games of all time. And come on, that Duck Hunt Final Smash. Genius.
5. Bayonetta 2 6.45% of the vote
A surprise entry in the shortlist, but clearly a deserved one with a big chunk of the vote. The sequel to one of the best action games of the last generation, the kaleidoscopic absurdity of Bayonetta 2 makes its one of the most exciting games on any platform right now, even if it is a Wii U exclusive.
4. Alien: Isolation 8.36% of the vote
Much like Shadow of Mordor, Sega’s terrifying new Alien instalment shows that we deserve so much more from video game bad guy AI in 2014. There’s simply no way to ever predict how a xenomorph is going to react in any situation: you can hide in a cupboard but it might just make a nice little lunchbox for the critter. It’s this, not just the graphics, that’s made such a mark with readers. That, and the petrifying virtual reality mode.
3. Forza Horizon 2 9.91% of the vote
We’ve seen lots of ambitious, open world racing games this year, from Driveclub to The Crew. But only one of them has left the starting grid without any glaring technical faults, and that may be a reason Microsoft’s racer has charted so high in our reader poll. But it’s not the only one: it’s a visual and technical feast with a vast Mediterranean landscape to explore, and lots of tricks to throw.
2. Grand Theft Auto V for PS4 and Xbox One 10.19% of the vote
It comes as no surprise to see Grand Theft Auto V charting so high in our poll: with its next-gen re-release, Rockstar has redefined the remake. Not only does San Andreas look better than ever, there’s so much more to do on PS4 and Xbox One (and PC in a few months’ time): more songs on the radio, more vehicles, more missions, the ability to play as a seagull (yep), not to mention the insane, exhilarating first-person mode. No sign of that jetpack yet though.
1. Far Cry 4 10.84% of the vote
Here it is, Red Bull Games’ readers’ game of the year: Far Cry 4. A surprise? Maybe. A few months ago, players might have worried that the latest in the long-running shooter series might turn out to be a rush job or a quick copy paste of Far Cry 3’s Rook Islands. Instead, it’s a triumph, mixing together open world gameplay with truly inventive enemies (Those eagles) and adrenaline pumping side activites like wingsuit flying and gyrocopter piloting. Clearly, voters agree. We’re sure Ubisoft would like to thank its hard-working developers for creating such a gem, but given that Kyrat’s honey badgers are probably holding them hostage right now just because, we should probably thank them instead. Good work, honey badgers.
Do you agree with the finalists? What was your game of the year? Tell us in the comments below.
