Let’s kick this last day of November 2016 with a question to the Sirus Gaming editors and contributors, and also the gaming community. Since December is just around the corner, and that there are only handful of games coming out (Steep, The Last Guardian, The Walking Dead: A New Frontier, Yakuza 6). Now, with the question “What’s your Game of the Year in 2016?”, the editors and contributors of Sirus Gaming has given their picks.
Let us also know your answers down in the comment section!
Lexuzze, Editor-in-Chief and Founder | Titanfall 2 (PS4)
I’m actually torn between choosing Uncharted 4 and Titanfall 2, but I fell in love with the latter. I’m sorry Nathan Drake! The intense fast-paced first-person shooter multiplayer experience and the engaging storyline of Titanfall 2 proved how Respawn Entertainment still has it. BT’s classic humor still catches me off guard, and the fluid action that the multiplayer mode provides still makes me come back for a 2-3 hour sessions of Bounty Hunt and Pilots vs. Pilots. Titanfall 2 should have been the Titanfall 1 last 2014 and that it should have deserved the spotlight than Battlefield 1 and Call Of Duty: Infinite Warfare. I scored Titanfall 2 with a 9.5/10, you can read my review here.
JP, Co-founder | DOOM (2016) (PC)
You know we’re at an age where the constant reboots and remakes of classic games would have made people horribly skeptical of them by now. At first I was about to have the same impression of doom. Boy, am I glad to be hella wrong. DOOM managed to do right the one thing I believe most, if not all failed remakes failed to do and that’s capture the essence of what made the original so enjoyable while updating it for the next generation. DOOM captures the sheer adrenaline rush of mowing down demon after demon that the first game had, while integrating modern mechanics such as the glory kill system while keeping it as seamless and smooth with the flow of gameplay as possible. DOOM defies all expectation and once again rekindles my hope for Triple A reboots of classic games.
Leif, Contributor | Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End (PS4)
It would have to be Uncharted 4 for me hands down. It was one of my anticipated games this 2016 and it definitely delivered with its great story and gameplay mechanics that was an upgrade to the previous Uncharted game. I especially loved the fact that they included the Crash Bandicoot mini game which was such a nostalgia factor for me and a great callback to the game that they first created. Uncharted games have always had that cinematic feel and Uncharted 4 was no exception. The fight scenes were totally enjoyable and even though we were spoiled about the brother way ahead of time it actually still got me believing the story. The multiplayer aspect of Uncharted is also great and this is one of the many great aspects of the game. It was a great ending to a series that I followed since the beginning and will always be one of the greatest gaming memories that I will ever have.
Dave, Co-Editor-in-Chief and Co-founder | Monster Hunter Generations (3DS)
I’m just being biased here as an avid fan of the franchise, but Monster Hunter Generations is really gonna be my top pick among all the games I played for this year. It is the main reason why I bought a 3DS in the first place. What I like about MHGen is that it gave a lot of great improvements, like the hunter styles and arts, while still being able to stay faithful to the main goal; hunting monsters. It gave us players a better grip on character customization and that added versatility opened new and exciting ways for use to do quests and hunt monsters. Here’s to hoping that its Japanese sequel, MH Double Cross, would get localized for the 3DS, or even to Switch at some time in the future.
Jan, Contributor | Overwatch (PC)
I know it’s not a surprise, and I know you may think this is biased since it’s coming from someone who really loves everything in the game, but still, hear me out on this one. Overwatch, before its beta-testing and official release, has already been successful. The different short animations that Blizzard teased us have already given us enough hype, and when the game was fully released, it did not fail to appeal. From the properly detailed maps and environments, to the eye candy visual effects, to the undeniably cool “hero-villain” archetypes, up until the expanding background story of the game, there is nothing in Overwatch that’ll make the game feel, or even look bad.
The perfect and unique combination of the elements of an FPS and a MOBA game is what made this game really stand out. Sure the game has some borrowed elements from Team Fortress 2, but what that game lacked, Overwatch provided. There’s still a lot of great games out there (like Witcher 3, MGS V, Rise of the Tomb Raider, and many more to mention), but I just feel like Overwatch took the spot from those already great games because of, well, everything the game has to offer. Also, you know what’s the best thing about Overwatch? The game just began, and so its popularity. There will be countless updates to come, and that is surely a great thing to look forward to.
Carlo Miguel, Reviews Editor | Darkest Dungeon (PC)
While I have been playing this game since 2015, the official release of Darkest Dungeon was technically January 19 on PC so this is still considered a 2016 game. Darkest Dungeon is a rarity in today’s gaming industry. It is an Early Access darling that managed to still maintain its relevance long after its release. This is in no short part to the game’s mechanics and how it makes you care for your characters. It makes you think about the stress of adventuring and the toll it takes on a person’s psyche. It is something rarely explored in the game’s industry and to have it expressed in way that directly affects the player is something I haven’t seen before.
Joecel Cruz, Contributor | Pokemon Sun and Moon (3DS)
Who would have thought that Pokemon is now 20 years old? When I saw the trailers for Pokemon Sun and Moon, my eyes welled up and my heart yearned for the excitement – to once again embark on the journey to be the best that no one ever was. Maybe the nostalgia drive is too strong and I was carried away. Maybe I fell for the gimmick. But when I look at the game and how new everything looks and feels, it’s clear that Pokemon has come a long way. From its new take on evolution with the Alolan forms, to the spectacular (and sometimes silly) Z moves, Pokemon Sun and Moon has a lot to offer. Trainers from all over the world will be stuck with their noses buried deep in theory crafting and Pokemon breeding for months. Or at least until the new Pokemon game will come out on the Nintendo Switch. But until then, good bye social life, and Alola to a new adventure!
