I have noticed over the years that many of the major outlets seem to all give nearly the exact same Top 10 games of the year lists. If you read one, then chances are every other one you’ll read will be nearly identical. Big lists, from big sites, that feature big games. But what about all those other amazing titles that always seem to fall through the cracks, either because they get overshadowed by huge marketing budgets, or the ugly fact that many sites have corporate sponsorship’s from some of these major publishers.
Here at GAMbIT you are going to find a list that is unique to us and to those that just plain love gaming. The rules we went with are simple: we had to have covered the game in a review, played the game to completion in our free time, and how well the game holds up on repeat plays. It’s a list that features some big titles, some indie titles, and a whole lot of fun. Let’s get started and see what the Top 10 games were of 2014!
#10 – P.T.
Strange how something only considered a “playable demo” could grab ahold of the entire gaming community with such impact that it still lingers in our memory months later. With no marketing push and no no explanation, P.T. simply showed up on PSN for the PS4 and thanks in part to the YouTube Let’s Play/Scare Cam scene the game made the game a huge hit. It’s the first game that finally showed the benefit of having a fancy PS4 and is one of the only reasons to own the next-gen (now current gen) console.
Taking cues from some of the most psychologically freighting and disturbing films around, P.T. kept you on edge until the very end. A horror game that was less about jump scares and more about building tension, the demo has showcased what the future holds for the genre. The playable demo was more complete and robust than many full titles released in 2014 and marks a new beginning for the Silent Hill franchise. The image above still gives me nightmares…
#9 – Dark Souls 2
Dark Souls 2 is actually the third game in the series and it does so much that you’ll never even think twice about going back to the previous entries in this new series. It’s a game that refuses to hold the players hand and let’s you know very quickly that this won’t be a walk in the park kind of adventure. Dark Souls 2 is brutal and unforgiving, but the reward for making it just a little bit farther, exploring that next area, or beating that ridiculous boss make it a worthwhile experience.
Whether you are battling online or taking on the adventure solo, Dark Souls 2 offers hours upon hours of quality gameplay. It isn’t often in this day and age of letting everyone win and characters with automatic heath renewal that a game comes along that actually requires players to slow down, plan their next move, and learn from their mistakes. Add in the cool armor and weapons and Dark Souls 2 earns a spot as one of the best od 2014.
#8 – Crimes & Punishments: Sherlock Holmes
When it comes to Sherlock Holmes, he hasn’t fared all to well in the world of video games. Sure, there have been hundreds of games based on the detective (the magic of public domain), but most either ran along the educational route or are just poor knockoffs of better games. 2014 was the year that all that changed with Crimes & Punishments: Sherlock Holmes. The game is broken up over a number of individual cases within a larger world that all ties together. What makes the game great is the openness in how you choose to complete each case.
The developers have flipped things on their head by allowing you to make the choice in how many interrogations and endings will play out. You won’t be punished or rewarded (initially) for your choices and you may have to face repercussions later in the game. When you complete a case you’ll have the opportunity to view your choices against how other players played the same mission. It’s cool to be able to see how you think compared to others and it can really tell you a lot about yourself as a player/person.
#7 – Super Smash Bros Wii U
Smash was one the the most anticipated games of the year and a title that helped boost the sales of the struggling Nintendo Wii U. Not only that, but it turned out that the game was also down right excellent. Getting the chance to see these classic characters in glorious HD is a real treat. While Smash is a stunner it also has the kind of gameplay that will have your friends begging to come over to play. Much improved over the last iteration on the Wii, Smash just adds more of almost everything that you could want in thegame.
More characters, more stages, better graphics, tighter gameplay, and a solid online framework. It makes for one the best, if not the best, all around party game of the year. It’s incredibly easy to pick up and play while still being hard to master. You can also use nearly any controller on the planet. Okay, so that might be an exaggeration, but the game is playable with every Gamecube/Wii/Wii U controller out there. The only reason Smash isn’t higher on the list is that the game just feels unfinished. It’s a blast to play in a group, but the lack on story mode makes single player outings kind of a bore as unlocking characters just requires playing again and again.
#6 – The Vanishing of Ethan Carter
When the first thing you see when starting The Vanishing of Ethan Carter is a title card that reads, “This game is a narrative experience that does not hold your hand,” you know you are in for something special. The Astronauts have crafted a game that will stick with you for a very long time. The game isn’t the longest thing out there, but while it won’t take you days and days to finish it you will enjoy every last second of the experience.
You play the role of a paranormal detective called to investigate a seemingly abandoned town in search of the young, Ethan Carter. While 2014 may have featured a number of detectives (many of the paranormal persuasion), this is an altogether new take. Not only will the game have you questioning everything, but the twist that at the games end will punch you right in the gut, leaving you with some major feels.
#5 – South Park The Stick of Truth
Who would have guessed that a game based on South Park would have been good, let alone be one of the best games of 2014. After so many disappointing titles over the years it’s great to see the series finding its niche. South Park The Stick of Truth shatters the wall between watching a television show and playing a video game. If someone were to come in and watch you play for a while, it could be very difficult for them to differentiate the video game from an episode of the show. Everything in the game looks bloody incredible, and having the shows creators write the script and voice the cast makes The Stick of Truth the ultimate game for any fan of the television series.
Not only does the game look great but the underlying RPG gameplay that the game is based around is simple to get into while still feeling rewarding to RPG veterans. You’ll be laughing along not only with the story, but with the combat as well. The attention to detail really does go above and beyond and the care the developers took can be clearly seen. While the game doesn’t offer a lot in the replay value section, it provides more fun than it has a right to. This is a must have for any South Park fan out there.
#4 – Shovel Knight
Indie games live in a world all of there own. They usually are there to serve very specific segment of the gaming community with the latest ongoing trend being rage inducingly difficult ( aka Super Meat Boy, I Want To Be The Guy). Shovel Knight is the sort of game that caters to every single gamer out there. Young or old, hardcore or casual, Shovel Knight is built to satisfy the needs of nearly every player out there. The 8-bit inspired graphics are a beautiful mixture of the very best of the NES and SNES generations and are silky smooth to boot. For a humble game backed through Kickstarter, Shovel Knight blows away nearly all AAA titles that dropped this year.
Gameplay consists of a mixture of the Ducktales and the Mega Man series from the NES. Considering those games were some of the greatest platformers ever released, the team behind Shovel Knight set their sights quite high. Not only did they knock it out of the park gameplay wise, but the story is also fun and engaging. Being a story of love, loss, and redemption gives this little 2D game more of an impact than a dozen big games designed in a boardroom could ever hope. I waited a long time after Shovel Knight was released to play the game and that’s a shame because the game is one of the best of the year. How good is it? I’ve bought several copies of the game on various platforms just so I could play it wherever I am.
#3 – Grand Theft Auto V
It was almost a given that GTA 5 would make our list. The game is the culmination of all the best things that made each prior entry great. The game features a massive world to explore and enjoy to your heart’s content. You can easily spend countless hours doing absolutely nothing and still have a heck of a good time. GTA 5 has your taking the role of three different characters each of which has their own unique charm and problems. Missions are bigger and better than ever and the graphics are a real treat whether you are playing on the PS4/Xbox One or on the last generation consoles.
The game only keeps getting better as the year progressed with a large and robust online component and the addition of a FPS mode that completely changes the game. While GTA 5 is a pretty incredible game from a technical level the games overall story keeps it from stealing the top spot on out list. Yes, it’s a blast to play and to indiscriminately kill anyone and everyone, but the lack of redeeming qualities in any of the games playable characters makes this iteration of the series just feel a bit over the top for the sake of being over the top.
#2 – Divinity Original Sin
This was the biggest surprise of the year, hands down. When Divinity Original Sin landed in my inbox in beta form I didn’t think all that much about getting to it. We normally don’t do previews here, let alone beta previews, but I decided to give it a go during a long weekend just for fun, and my word did I have a lot of fun! Divinity Original Sin was everything that I never knew I wanted in and RPG, and this was just the beta. Once the final version of the game went live on Steam I was incommunicado for a number of days. Original Sin just offers so much content that it puts Skyrim to shame. I spent nearly twenty hours playing before even completing the first main mission of the game.
Original Sin is like a wonderful melding of the best classic RPG elements of days gone by (Baulders Gate, Planescape Torment) with some modern game engine sensibilities of the Diablo series. If any of those games I just mention make you giddy then Divinity Original Sin is going to satisfy in a big way. Amazing online co-op functionality that will have you bugging your friends to play along make this one robust adventure. Even if you do decide to go solo, your A.I. partner will constantly call you out and will force you to not only deal with the baddies about, but with your interpersonal relationships. The game came out back in July and I am still playing it on a regular basis. Oh, and this is another entry on this list that came from the world of Kickstarter.
Worst Game Of The Year Award – Sonic Boom
Not only is this the worst game to come out in 2014, but it’s the worst Soinc game to ever come out, period. Yes, even when compared to Soinc 06, Sonic Boom is a far worse take on the lovable blue hedgehog. In Sonic Boom Sonic is anything but lovable and only vaguely resembles his previous iterations. While Sonic Boom is nothing more than a cheap tie-in to the television series of the same name that doesn’t excuse the utter lack of polish all over this game. Within minutes of playing you are going to see so many problems that it’s a wonder how this ever got published, let alone as an exclusive on the Nintendo Wii U. Sonic Boom nearly negated all the strides that Nintendo made in 2014 with all it’s great game. It’s a shame when you buy a game at full price only to feel like you’re beta testing the thing.
#1 – Mario Kart 8
While the PS4 and Xbox One were still struggling to prove their worth on the gaming front (only one current gen exclusive made this list) the Nintendo Wii U is finally benefiting from having that extra year out in the marketplace. No other game proved that more than Mario Kart 8 and it’s near perfection in terms of style and execution. Nintendo pulled out all the stops with Mario Kart 8, so much so that it could easily graphically stand against the most impressive looking PS4 and Xbox One titles of the year. We got tons of new racers and tracks among improvements to the racing and online modes. There are enough racing cups here to keep any hardcore Mario Kart fan happy and with Nintendo’s foray into DLC and free content, Mario Kart 8 will continue to impress into 2015.
Mario Kart is is great on all fronts and alongside Smash Bros makes for a killer system lineup on the Wii U. Extremely easy to pick up and play and devilishly fun to master the game will test your skills. Once you master what the game has to offer solo you can take it online (along with a friend locally) and compete online against some of the best racers for an all new experience. Mario Kart 8 is a joy and the game that got me to finally go out and pick up a Wii U in 2014.
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