I eat my words from last year. 2014 ended up being an awesome year for games. Lots of lovely small and large-scale titles that impressed me quite a bit — to the point that I had to make some tough calls. Anyway, let's not waste time. Here's the list.
10. Transistor (PC & PS4)
Trumping their previous effort (Bastion) in almost every way — Transistor goes on to pave the way with stronger narrative, more stunning art design, and a more complicated (and intuitive) battle system. If you enjoyed Bastion and want something that extends into a more mature narrative-space, this is the one to get.
9. Kentucky Route Zero (PC + Mac)
What if David Lynch decided to make a game? That question is the best way that I can sell this one to you. Click the video and if you're not swooning within the first minute, then we're at a major impasse my friends. This is the third stunning chapter of Kentucky Route Zero, which released in 2014, so expect to see the next chapter in my best of for next year.
8. Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor (PC)
Take the best gameplay elements of Assassin's Creed and the battle system of the Arkham series and sprinkle brand new lore from the LOTR universe and you're gifted with this gem. I thoroughly loved my time in the world. Note: I'm not an LOTR fan in any way, so that speaks volumes to the quality of this one. It'll lure you in.
7. Broken Age (PC)
Sure, there's another episode (it's a two parter) to come out in early 2015, but trust me, this is as magical as the original Kickstater by Tim Schafer promised it would be. Everything from the art, dialog, acting, and gameplay are intuitive, charming, and highly magical. You'll be saddened when the "to be continued" comes up, but you're going to get the final chapter for free for buying it, so there's no real loss there.
6. Wolf Among Us (PC and Consoles)
My favorite Telltale adventure game yet. Combining the best of their mature storytelling skills with something that mixes both fantasy, grit, and noire elements. A fine adventure game that may or may not get a sequel. Either way, for any fan of adventure games and great characters, this is a must buy — more so than Walking Dead or any other game that Telltale has put out so far.
5. Wolfenstein: The New Order (PC, Mac)
Remember that awesome Riddick game? What about that underrated Darkness game? This is where those folks ended up and it's going to blow your mind. One of the best narrative experiences in a first person shooter (only trumped by Bioshock and Infinite) for me. Uncompromising, quirky, and dark. A single player only experience that knows what you're looking for.
4. Bioshock: Burial At Sea (PC and Consoles)
The second episode came out earlier this year and it killed all doubt I had about the first episode. It's gorgeous, it's sad, it answered a ton of questions left hanging about the Bioshock universe. It's a final goodbye from Ken Levine (the creator and writer) to you. If you loved the original Bioshock and Infinite, this is the expansion that puts most of your questions to rest and lets you rest easy (or not so easy) knowing it's all over.
3. Dreamfall: Chapter (PC)
A pure labor of love. The first episode of Dreamfall Chapters, which is a sequel to Dreamfall, which is a sequel to The Longest Journey is here. It's beautiful, it's personal, and it's exactly the game I wanted. It's a very introductory chapter that sets the tone for the world and introduces some of the players as we get ready to dive deeper into the dreamtime.
2. Alien: Isolation (PC and Consoles)
Putting this to number two was a challenge (I wanted it badly to be my #1). That should speak to just how awesome this game is. Take all the garbage Alien games of the past and omit them from your memories. This is the game you've always wanted. Based on the universe Ridley Scott helped create, you play the daughter of Ripley on a mission to learn more about your missing mother (who was on the Nostromo). Terrifying survival horror with beautiful design and an alien that is unpredictable at all times. One I'll be sure to visit again and again when I want to see what a medium budget game with next to no compromise looks and feels like.
1. Dragon Age: Inquisition (PC and Consoles)
Say goodbye to your social life and say hello to one of the best universe Bioware has created. Taking the mass criticism from gamers with their abysmal Dragon Age 2 release, they went back to the foundation of why I love their games and built out something truly awe-inspiring. The only western RPG to make me feel this invested and impressed has been Witcher 2 and I can tell you this, Witcher 3 was most likely delayed after CD Projekt saw the amount of love Bioware poured into this open-world experience. Every decision and relationship and quest feels meaningful (okay, maybe not the shard-collecting ones). You're left with companions that you want to actively talk to and learn about and you're given a universe and story that you absolutely want to see through to the end...and probably see through to the end again while making drastically different choices.
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