But first...
Honorable Mention (My #11):
Dying Light
A zombie killing game that actually scared me. There is something so satisfying about picking up a blunt object and bashing a zombie's skull in. Just the sound of the "THUD" and the screaming afterwards. Dying Light was able to make that satisfying feeling last throughout, and terrified you at night by making sure you knew your life was in severe danger. Great game!
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Now for the ten games that made the cut!
10. Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege
I figured this game would be fun, but I had no idea just how addicting this game can be. It's an amazing experience to have your squad roll up on a building, plant charges, and blow shit up. While the lack of a true single-player campaign keeps this game near the bottom of the list, it can't be overstated just how many cool moments happen through the course of any match. Since every round is a different experience, it really pushes that "One more round, just one more round, one more round" mentality.
9. Yakuza 5
The biggest surprise was that this game came out at all. Only available as a digital download on PS3, Yakuza 5 is just as ridiculous as its predecessors. One minute you're walking down the street, minding your own business, the next, you're being approached by a thug talking shit, to which you take the nearest blunt object and bash his skull in. You then can unwind by doing your day job of driving a taxi. Did I mention there is a Club SEGA arcade where you can play a full version of Virtua Fighter 2 (with online play) as well as Taiko Drum Master? Absolutely belongs here.
8. Batman Arkham Knight
Yes, the PC version was a total bummer, but I played this on Xbox One. I have never had a need to 100% any game the way that I felt I needed to with Arkham Knight. All the side characters and stories made it so compelling to see every thread to its conclusion. While the true ending did leave a little to be desired, I loved every second of being the Bat in Gotham. Traversing the city was a blast, the voice acting was top-notch, the city looked amazing, it made the comic book fan in me happy. I can not wait to see what Rocksteady Studios has planned for their next adventure, even if it's not a Batman one.
7. Halo 5: Guardians
Sure, no splitscreen sucks, and the story was good, if not a little clunky, but this is the best that a Halo game has felt. 60 frames a second, awesome weaponry, beautiful graphics, superb sound, fun maneuverability, and an amazing multiplayer experience all add up to a fantastic Halo experience that sets up the series beautifully for whatever Halo 6 will throw at us.
6. Splatoon
Nintendo went all in on this new franchise, and when that happens, greatness happens. Splatoon struck the right balance of cuteness and on-edge excitement to keep me playing for hours and hours. I loved how fast paced the games were, the constant rewards for playing, the wonderful music, and just how colorful it is. In a world where shooters are all about headshots and killstreaks, it's great to see a "shooter" that's more focused on making the world a more colorful place. I love Splatoon.
5. Fallout 4
When I first booted this game up, I didn't move from my chair for 20 hours. Ok, I did to use the bathroom and not to, you know, die, but you get my point. There is just something about this game that WILL NOT let me put it down. The vast wasteland, the numerous landmarks to explore, the constant loot, the need to see my son again, it's a superb experience that no amount of technical issues or bugs could keep me from enjoying, though they did keep me from putting this game higher on the list. Here's hoping the planned DLC in 2016 adds even more to this wonderful game.
4. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
I mentioned how much time Fallout 4 demanded, well, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt did that even more, and did it better. Geralt is such an amazing character and is totally someone I would want to get a drink with, just to hear his stories, or at least to play a few games of Gwent with. The world in the game is so lush, so beautiful, and packed with things to do and monsters to kill. The backdrop of war just adds to the tension. Oh, and there's The Wild Hunt that goes around murdering people left and right. I did not particularly like the character progressions system, but that's only a minor gripe on this wonderful achievement in gaming.
3. Rocket League
I fucking love Rocket League. Want more? Ok. It was the most addictive experience I had this year, hours upon hours upon hours of fun, the highs, the lows, the blowouts, and the overtime buzzer beaters. The multitude of maps looked amazing, you could play online or offline, the rewards you received were plentiful and cosmetically awesome (as well as stat-tracking) and FREE updates added even more awesome content. You play one game, you will be hooked. I fucking love Rocket League!
2. Super Mario Maker
What a delight! Nintendo handed control of its most storied character to the fans and said "go nuts", and we did. We made levels we could only dream (or have nightmares) about. Nintendo's love and care was poured over this game and we gamers flocked to it and the world was new again. It's amazing this game even exists, and it's amazing how powerful these creation tools are. Super Mario Maker let gamers show their creative side like never before, and share those creations with the world, assuring this title will never get old. Thank you, Nintendo!
1. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
I will say, without a doubt, not only is this my game of the year, it may be one of the greatest games ever made. It made stealth fun, it made every encounter seem fresh and tactical, it is a technical marvel, the characters are well-conceived, the story grabs you and never lets go, and that puppy is so damn cute! Sprinkle in just the right amount of Kojima nonsense and you have a masterpiece. My helicopter flies in to extract me while playing "She Blinded Me With Science" while my horse deploys a chute to be taken away with me to Mother Base. Words can only do so much justice to my best gaming experience of 2015, and one of the best experiences I have EVER had with a video game.
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Thank you all for another year of support and ingesting the content I am putting out there, in the hopes of making it my full-time career. My New Year's Resolution is to bring more content in 2016; more YouTube videos, regular Twitch streaming, more blog entries, more Podcasts, more, more, more. So watch out for what I have in store for 2016. Happy New Year, everyone!
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