#gameoftheyear

[thatsmytrunks]

Fred's Games of the Year 2023 List

This year I kept a list of every game I played

Games I finished in 2024

Super Mario 64

This was the year I got back into speedrunning Super Mario 64. I went to a local brewery with some friends and saw they had a Nintendo 64 hooked up with a copy of Super Mario 64, so I told my friends I could beat it in under 30 minutes. With some beer in me, it took around 35. I decided to take some time this year to get that under 30, and I succeeded. It was fun to get back to playing on original hardware, and I even set up a whole streaming station using an old PVM.

Super Mario 64 CoOp

sm64ex-coop is a branched modification of the Super Mario 64 decompilation project that allows you to use online netplay to play Super Mario 64 with friends, cooperatively. It’s a blast, and every time I played it with a different group of friends, we’d play until we got to 16 stars, and then I’d inevitably try to beat the game there. Totally worth looking into as it’s real easy to get up and running.

Destiny 2: Lightfall

Lightfall’s campaign is a wild low point for the franchise. After last year’s Witch Queen campaign knocked it completely out of the park, and where Season of the Seraph left the world narratively, hopes and expectations for Lightfall were in the stratsophere.

Lightfall was fun but the narrative was a trash fire. I’ve spent 8 years up to this point playing Destiny, getting invested in the characters and world, and Destiny’s world is coming to a fever pitch in the opening of Lightfall, with the biggest bad knocking on our door. But Lightfall treats this situation, which has earned the severity of its weight and the right to be taken seriously over these last 8 years, as an 80’s action comedy with montages and quips all throughout. Couple this with the introduction of The Veil without any explanation of what it is or why it’s important with the ending that we have failed, and you get a recipe that makes your playerbase so soured that it’s no wonder they missed 45% of their projections.

All of this is sad to see, but at the same time, Destiny’s in the best state it’s ever been. The core loop is still a blast, grinding has been minimized, and they’ve streamlined a little more of the onboarding process for new players by bringing back some of the previously vaulted campaign missions with some slight tweaks to make them fresh.

All told, I’m still excited for The Final Shape next year. The future of Destiny has yet to be written.

Chaos;Head NoaH

Chaos;Head NoaH is another entry in the Science Adventure series, which I have a lot of love for since playing Steins;Gate. I wish I’d played Chaos;Head NoaH before playing Chaos;Child, but that’s not how they released in the west. I think that really soured my time with the game since I knew a lot of what was going on behind the scenes. I don’t have a lot to say about NoaH, but it was pretty alright.

myhouse.wad

I can’t say too much about myhouse.wad without spoiling myhouse.wad. It’s a small experience built off of Doom II that does some really creative things in that engine. If you haven’t heard about it, grab gzDoom and Doom II and go download the game from this forum thread.

There’s so many videos of the game and about the game out there, but I would really encourage you to play it for yourself first. I think the absolute best way to play myhouse.wad is over a Discord call while some friends who have already played it watch you experience it. It’s a really wonderful communal experience.

Vampire Survivors (100%)

Vampire Survivors kicks ass, y’all. I 100%’d it early in the year, and was excited to do so again when it released on Nintendo Switch. Not a lot more to say about the game than what has been said by many before, but it’s a wonderful way to make time disappear while the numbers get bigger.

Mother 3

I’ve talked a lot about Mother 3 this year, but more importantly, I finally finished it. It’s a very difficult game that has a story that is warm and sad, and is absolutely inspirational. Here’s my thoughts from when I finished it:

I finally finished my years-in-the-making playthrough of MOTHER 3 last night. I usually gush about the games that I love and have tons to say, but I don't really have much to talk about after having finished this one.

The game's a masterpiece, tells a great story, has so many wonderful moments, is wildly huge and varied, and has a hell of a surprise at the 11th hour. I'd recommend it to most anyone, though with the caveat that I think the game's incredibly challenging. Maybe throw on a cheat or two for a couple of the very hard encounters.

I started this attempted (and successful!) playthrough in the beginning of 2022, after finally having finished EarthBound. I got to the end of Chapter 3 and set it down. A few months later, I lost my mom to lung cancer. I'm still messed up from it, which I think is pretty normal. When I started up Chapter 4 earlier this month, I got hit like a sack of bricks. The game had a time skip between the chapters, where I'd taken a break. The main character for the chapter, Lucas, is reminded of his mother constantly, with occasional flashbacks to the times when she was alive. It hit me like a ton of bricks, and I almost put the game back down, but ultimately I'm really glad I didn't.

One last, unexpected thing. Finishing MOTHER 3 has given me a different context for other works I've enjoyed, almost like learning a new language for appreciating them. For example, Undertale and Deltarune have some references that completely flew over my head before, and now I fully get them, and get to appreciate them all over again.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Tears of the Kingdom might be the perfect adventure game. I’ve never had a game that has made me want to explore it so thoroughly, creating small quests for myself to go and climb this thing, go map that thing, go craft this ridiculous machine, etc etc. It is without question the best Zelda game ever made, and I loved it in its entirety. That story was so affecting, and the ending was incredibly satisfying. I only wish it ran at a smooth framerate at a higher resolution. Maybe on the next release of Nintendo Hardware.

OFF

Toby Fox asked me, “did you ever play OFF?” 

I said “No, should I?”

He said “Yeah probably.”

So over the course of the week, sketches scribbled across sticky notes and scratch paper, I played the 2008 French RPG Maker horror game, OFF. It was an incredibly satisfying experience to beat the game without guides. I’ve had the horrifying soundtrack on my phone ever since and listen to it any time I want to be put in a very weird mood. I’d recommend playing it, and there’s a free English translation, so grab that.

Final Fantasy XVI

Final Fantasy XVI is the only game in memory that I’ve played a demo, then went to the store and immediately picked up the game. I was so blown away by the game’s bombastic visuals and presentation that I just wanted to see more and more of it. The combat was so much fun, Ben Starr’s voice for Clive was so sonically soothing, and the story had just enough curiosity to it to drive me to buy my first $70 video game at retail price.

The joy of that game continued for the first 2/3rds, then the sheen fell all the way off. The fetch quests became boring, the story became convoluted, and at some point I just wished it would be over. And when it was, I was so throroughly unsatisfied with its conclusion that it soured the previous 60 hours.

I’ll revisit FFXVI some day if they put out some satisfying story DLC with a PC port, but for now I’m going to look at it as the game that almost had something to say.

If you have played the game, I’d really recommend listing to this episode of Abnormal Mapping with Austin Walker, as he put into words all the feelings I had and so much more.

Sonic Origins Plus

For years I’ve asked for Sonic 1/2/3K/CD on modern platforms in the Retro Engine, and finally we have that. After the Plus expansion and the last round of bug fixes, I think Sonic Origins Plus is now the best Official way to play these games. I played through all four games 100% while on my trip to Japan in July this year, halfway through picking up a 6-Button Sega Mega Drive controller from the Nintendo Store (weird times we live in). I’d never gotten all the time stones in Sonic CD, but thanks to the retry function they added and the removal of lives, that game became a delight to wander and explore. It’s a shame they don’t give you an option to disable the timer, which is the only problem left with Sonic CD’s focus on discovery.

If you can pick up Sonic Origins Plus for less than $30, I can’t recommend it enough. If you’re on PC or have modified hardware, maybe check out the decompilation projects of Sonic 1 & 2, and Sonic CD, and download Sonic 3 AIR.

Super Mario RPG

Weirdly enough, I’ve never finished Super Mario RPG. I’ve been trying to take more time to fill out my video game lexicon and play games that I’d never gotten around to, and this was the year for Super Mario RPG for the Super Nintendo. 

I love how much this game did to tell a warm story with such expressive characters with the hardware of the era. It’s amazing just how many sprites they used and the way they made them act. Keeping Mario as a silent protagonist who has to tell stories to people through miming it out is so charming.

The battle system is fun and satisfying, the characters are hilarious, the music is wonderful, and best of all, it’s short. I’m excited to give the Nintendo Switch version a run through next year.

Anonymous;Code

Anonymous;Code is, as the semicolon gives it away, another game in the SciAdv series, this one being the latest at the time of publication. It follows a hacker who discovers they have the ability to literally save and load the world, enabling an incredibly fascinating method of time travel. There’s not a ton I can say about the game without giving too much away, but it’s a real 10/10 and the shortest visual novel I think I’ve ever played, clocking in my 100% playthrough at about 17 hours. It’s also a visual treat with their implementation of Live2D. If you’ve never played a SciAdv game I’d certainly recommend the original Steins;Gate first, but this game stands on its own beautifully.

The Police Mystery

The Police Mystery is a thinly veiled fetish game about giant women. It’s not good but it sure was fun to play with Xalavier Nelson Jr on stream. Wouldn’t recommend playing it or watching it. I probably shouldn’t even bring it up.

Also there’s no mystery.

Muv-Luv Extra, Muv-Luv Unlimited, & Muv-Luv Alternative

I started playing Muv-Luv on a whim and fell down a rabbit hole and I think I want out.

Muv-Luv Extra is a pretty rout Dating Sim about a jerk of a main character who has a bunch of girls fawning over him for some reason. I got multiple endings at the recommendation of various forums before continuing, and at the time I was confused as to why anyone would ever recommend this game.

Muv-Luv Unlimited starts on the same day that Extra starts, but when the player leaves their bedroom, they discover the world has been ravaged by Aliens that invaded the Earth 28 years prior, while retaining all memories of their previous life. Almost all of the same characters are there, but now they’re soldiers at a UN base that was formerly the school Extra took place. It’s a hell of a twist and I liked it. I have to spoil it to talk about Unlimited, so suffice to say that at the end of the game, Humanity loses.

Muv-Luv Alternative starts on the same day in the same war torn world, but the player character remembers most of what took place in both Extra and Unlimited. While events all start the same, things start to go very differently. It’s a pretty good twist with some really great moments but there are two unforgiveable things the game does to characters that make it impossible to recommend to anyone.

I’m now watching the Anime Adaptation of Alternative and I hate this ride and I want off. But also to detox, I’m playing Muv-Luv Photon Melodies, which is a happy ending to all of it. Again, can’t recommend it. Don’t go down this rabbit hole.

Sonic Superstars

Sonic Superstars is the game I’ve wanted forever by the people who I wanted to make it, but half baked. It’s a classic style 2D Sonic game with absolutely phenomenal 3D graphics, treating the original Sonic designs with love and respect, and the gameplay feels almost exactly like the Sega Genesis games I grew up with. Unfortunately, half of the music is atrocious, some of the levels are frustrating and boring, some have mechanics that make them terribly unfun, and some of the bosses are infuriating. The final boss of the main game sapped away almost all good will I had for the game. Some day I’ll finish it and see the true ending, but I might wait for more fan mods to fix some of the odds and ends to make it more enjoyable.

I think that if Naoto Oshima and his team at Arzest got a chance to make another game in this vein, it could be a huge success. This really felt like it was most of the way there.

Risk of Rain Returns 

The Bancast’s game of the year all years returns with a gorgeous coat of new paint, all sorts of lessons learned from Risk of Rain 2, and functional netcode. Risk of Rain is my favorite roguelike in which you defeat enemies, get gold and xp, find chests to get augmenting items, and then loop the game over and over again while it gets more and more challening.

Lethal Company

Lethal Company has become the new favorite game to play with all sorts of friend groups, taking the spot that something like Among Us was in 2020/2021. It’s a simple scavenging and resource management game that you play with friends, but the fun lies in proximity voice chat for communications, and the horrible realization that you’re not alone. The hilarity and fear that comes out of this game every session is some of the most fun I’ve had with video games.

Like a Dragon Gaiden

Like a Dragon Gaiden is Yakuza 7b. While I technically didn’t finish the game until January 3rd of 2024, I’m including it on this list.

Yakuza 6 ended with (spoilers) Kazuma Kiryu sacrificing himself for his loved ones. But of course, he didn’t die, because no one in Yakuza games are ever truly dead. Instead, Kiryu has gone into hiding, working for a big mysterious government organization to keep their secret safe, and to keep his loved ones safer. I initially thought it was time to give Kiryu the rest he deserved and let Ichiban and other new characters carry this series forward, but after finishing Gaiden I am relieved and surprised with how much I agree with the move to bring Kiryu back. Upon finishing the game I very excitedly started trying to figure out where to pre-order Like a Dragon 8: Infinite Wealth.

Games I Played in 2023

Bujingai The Forsaken City

A weird and enjoyable 3D Action game for the PlayStation 2 featuring Gackt. It’s worth emulating.

Crab Champions

It’s risk of rain with crabs and really fast movement. I’ll come back to it sometime.

The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog

I wish I finished this game, but them deciding to make a murder mystery game about Sonic the Hedgehog and giving it to a team with a lot of love and respect for the genre was such a cool move.

Like a Dragon: Ishin

I can’t believe they gave Yakuza Ishin, a 2014 PS3 Yakuza spin-off game about feudal Japan, a full remake in 2023. I have not finished the game solely because other things grabbed my attention, but everything about the game was great and I look forward to going back to it.

Lost Judgment

The Judgment series got PC ports last year, and I finally got around to finishing Judgment and had an unsurprisingly fantastic time with it. Lost Judgment’s story dragged a bit too much, and I put it down for a bit. I’ve heard that it gets to be pretty amazing, so I’ll pick it back up very soon.

Picross E9

Picross E9 is a Picross game for the 3DS that never got released in the west, and thank goodness someone made a fan translation. I love Picross.

Celeste

I only touched Celeste on a live stream for a bit, but it was an incredibly valuable experience. That game has such great fluidity to it, and I learned that it wasn’t just a single screen platformer like I thought it was. I’ll probably go back to it sometime.

Lies of P

Lies of P, or Piss Fibs as one of my friends called it, is too fucking hard and I’m never going back. I’m a fake gamer and I don’t care what anyone says about me.

Titanfall 2 Northstar

I only played a few nights of Titanfall 2 Northstar with some friends, but man, Titanfall 2 is good as hell. They should make another one of those.

Super Mario Wonder

Super Mario Wonder came out the same week as Sonic Superstars, and I seem to have maybe focused on the wrong game that week. Wonder is a hell of a game filled with creativity and originality. I’ll go back to it at some point.

Cocoon

Cocoon is good as hell and is probably a game of the year contender, but I didn’t have the time for it when it droppped. I will go back this year. Jeppe Carlsen made THOTH. Dude doesn’t know how to make a bad video game.

Baldur's Gate 3

Baldur’s Gate 3 is easily one of the most impressive video games ever made. I put about 18 hours into the game and enjoyed getting to know other characters, do some particularly ridiculous Tabletop RPG shenanigans, and had a pretty good time. But the world didn’t grab me and I just wasn’t that into the story. Maybe I’ll try again sometime.

Logiart Grimoire

Logiart Grimoire is an early access Picross game from Jupiter, the folks who have made all of the good Picross games. There’s an overarching storyline that is mostly uninteresting and a little bit of light puzzle work before you get to do a Picross puzzle, but it’s a Steam release of Picross from the folks who made Picross. You can’t go wrong with it.

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2 (Steam)

The kind folks at Activision Blizard King Xbox sent me a review code for Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 on Steam, and I’m delighted to share that 2020’s game of the year is still just as good in 2023 on a platform that everyone uses.

Call of Duty MW3 2023

The kind folks at Activision Blizard King Xbox sent me a review code for 2023’s Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 on PC and it wasn’t very fun. I really liked the part of the game that everyone else hated where you’re in big open area places taken from Warzone where you do a couple of nonsense missions. The game looks as expensive as always.

Street Fighter VI

I excitedly purchased Street Fighter VI the same way I pick up every hot new fighting game: with the knowledge that I’m not gonna spend that much time with it. I really enjoyed creating a character and the World Warrior mode as it was the right amount of silly for me. I never got around to playing any multiplayer, but maybe when a character pack goes on sale I’ll grab that and play with some friends.

Armored Core VI

Armored Core VI sure is good, huh? I had a real good time customizing the hell out of a gorgeous looking mech. I played a bunch of levels, beat a few bosses, and had a blast. Not enough to finish the game, but enough to say “Yeah this game sure is good, huh.” 

Live Service Games of 2023

Halo MCC

2023 was the year that Halo The Master Chief Collection was finally completed. Only took 9 years, but now there’s a masterpiece collection of Halo games available on XBox and PC with a huge collection of improvements and mod tools for a thriving community to build new and exciting experiences to be played over Steam. 

Halo Infinite

I played a lot of Halo Infinite in 2023. Forge really saved this game in a big way, from new levels for matchmaking, new mini games for custom games, and into Forgeable AI allowing for unique Firefight experiences and fully custom campaign style levels. The seasonal model finally works, and the mini seasons they started doing at the end of the year have been super fun too. I find that it’s never hard to get into a game, and I frequently see my friends still playing. Halo’s back, baby.

Fortnite

I’m still so surprised by how much fun I’ve been having with Fortnite. I’ve been buying and completing most of the season passes, buying characters like John Cena and dances like Gangnam Style, and playing both incredibly sweatily and equally ridiculously. Fornite’s become a great space to jump in, find a thing to do for a bit, either alone or with some of my friends, and just have a good time.

Lego Fortnite

Lego Fortnite kinda came out of nowhere, but I’ve really enjoyed this very pretty free to play Valheim knock off. It’s still pretty early days, but I’m having fun with it.

Team Fortress 2

I played Team Fortress 2 with a bunch of friends when Valve put out the surprise update, and I was really struck by how good TF2 still is in 2023. There’s some rough edges, but that game has aged like wine.

Counter-Strike 2

Speaking of surprise Valve updates, Counter-Strike 2 has been a delight. I’ve had a small group of friends who like to play a few matches a week, and having to take my gameplay seriously in CS2 has actually demonstrably made me better at other First Person Shooters. Sure half of the games we play are ruined by an absolute idiot of a rando or devastated by cheaters on the other team, but the half of games that aren’t feel fantastic. It’s wild how good CS2 is.

And now, my ranking of 2024's games:

10.) Sonic Superstars

9.) Final Fantasy XVI

8.) Sonic Origins Plus

7.) Anonymous;Code

6.) Like a Dragon Gaiden

5.) Lethal Company

4.) Counter-Strike 2

3.) myhouse.wad

2.) Risk of Rain Returns

1.) Tears of the Kingdom

#gameoftheyear

[beardiearts]

Game awards was wild

#gameoftheyear #game of the year #mlp #pony #horse #twilight sparkle #celestia #luna

[nobodymayaartist]

It’s Baldur’s Gate 3 for me 👏👏👏

#goty #game of the year #2023 #baldur's gate 3 #bg3 #gameoftheyear

[kingsriren]

He did this all by himself 😭

#tears of the kingdom #link #zelda #legend of zelda #nintendo #ganondorf #gameoftheyear #😭 #totk

[quinnzilla99]

Gonna take a break from drawing for a bit but in the mean time enjoy the game of the year 2023 by yours truly

#chris hansen #doom #doomslayer #doomguy #meme #shitpost #ps4 #playstation4 #gameoftheyear #takeaseat

[visuallsnow]

Lanz sketch/WIP to celebrate Xenoblade Chronicles 3 being nominated for game of the year!! I never thought this series would grow so large, and I firmly believe it's the best rpg series since the golden age of Final Fantasy. The Xeno Series means so much to me <3 l'm so happy

#art #digital art #Xenoblade #XenobladeChronicles #Xenoblade3 #Xenoblade Chronicles 3 #Game #Gameoftheyear #GOTY #sketch #WIP #sketchbook #artist

[ibk93]

Fallout Legacy Collection (Unboxing) [2/2]

Hola amig@s! Vamos con la segunda parte del Unboxing!! :) Hoy os traigo algo diferente a lo que pensaba subir por aquí. Un Unboxing de la edición Legacy Collection de Fallout. Cutre, grabado en vertical y un audio de culo... pero no pasa nada... xD Aquí os cuento algunas peculiaridades de esta edición que habría que tener en cuenta a la hora de adquirirla y podéis ver su contenido. Espero que os guste. Igual me animo y os traigo algún que otro video de algunas ediciones que tengo por casa y que son igual o más curiosas que esta. Este post está compuesto por dos partes debido a la longitud del video. Esta es la parte 2/2.

Así que lo dicho! Un saludo de parte de BigBoss y nos leemos en el siguiente microblog! ;) P.D No os molestéis e intentéis canjear el código... xD... Iríais un poco tarde ya... <3

#Twitter #Twitch

#BigBoss #IBK93 #Fallout #Fallout2 #FalloutTactics #Fallout3 #FalloutNewVegas #Fallout4 #UltimateEdition #GameOfTheYear #FalloutLegacyEdition #Tumblr #Unboxing #Bethesda #ToddHoward

[futuristicmiraclecreator]

Finally something exciting to do with cryptocurrency and earn real money! These games are free to play, but if you want to watch adverts and make money, join the thousands of members already making money from the game.

Sign Up

4 Best Play to Earn Crypto Games LIGHT ️NITE Gala Games PipeFlare Gaming MOBOX Games

Tumblr  Pinterest  Bio Link  Website  Reddit  Telegram  URL Shortener 

Pinterest boardsSites:

You may also like:

take advantage of some free followers

play games earn crypto nft

receive traffic for your website with

make your visitors happy with free

mostplayerswilljoinsquads.wordpress.com

joininthechaos.blogspot.com

news and rates on cryptocurrencies

promote your blog or website

top 10 best free traffic exchange sites

youll get more traffic and drive more

facebook likes twitter followers

download war thunder and play now.blogspot.com

#playtoearn #metaverse #gameoftheyear #cryptoairdrop #gamevideo #gamesforgirls #play2earn #defi #playforfree #games #cryptocurrency #cryptocurrencies #gameplayfootage #gameplay #cryptocurrencytrading #free2play #gameplayvideo #play2earngames #gamerlife

[bobastudios]

Ending 2022 celebrating with friends 🥳 & shouting out those who inspire us! 🥂

Our Game of the Year goes to...

Indie games @ooblets (a ✨️BIG✨️ group fav!) & @finjico Tunic! And @pokemon Legends: Arceus with the formula change we dreamed of! 🤩

#GameOfTheYear #GotY #IndieGame #gamedev #indiedev

[crazyangelgladiator]

Web developers are always looking for ways to make money, and Play to Earn is a great way to do just that. With this platform, you can create games and earn money from ad views and purchases. Plus, you can share your games with your friends and see how much money they're making. It's a great way to stay up - to - date on the latest trends in web development and make some extra cash along the way.

Sign Up

Five Play-to-Earn Crypto Games to Look Out For Gala Games LIGHT ️NITE MOBOX Games PipeFlare Gaming

Pinterest  Website  Reddit  URL Shortener  Telegram  Tumblr  Bio Link 

Pinterest boardsSites:

Related Sites:

exchange likes with other users

download war thunder and play now.blogspot.com

crypto games play games get coins and nfts

full cryptocurrency portfolio now with

earn your very own neurochain nft

warthunder is a thrilling free multiplayer game

is warthunder really free to play

likes dont cost you anything

get coins and nfts with crypto games

#playtoearn #cryptotradinglife #playforfree #gameoftheyear #cryptotrading #gamespotting #playtoearngames #gamevideo #cryptocurrencytrading #play2earngames #girlgamer #cryptolife #free #playgame #gamefi

[thatsmytrunks]

Fred Wood’s Game of the Year 2022 List

Here’s an organized list of my games of the year, 2022. The rules are simple: I must have completed the meat of the game for the first time in 2022. Release date doesn't matter to me. Nothing matters. Time is made up. We’re posting this on Tumblr in 2023. Nothing could possibly matter anymore.

Chaos;Head NOAH

I adore the Steins;Gate series and have picked up and supported every english release of every Science;Adventure visual novel that has released since. Chaos;Head NOAH is the first game that has completely disappointed me, and I’m not totally sure who’s fault that is. From what I understand the localization team on this release did some work to try and make the game more palatable to unfamiliar audiences, trying to make the main character less of a piece of shit than in the original release. Well, they failed. He sucks bad, and I’m not sure I can endure revisiting it again to find the other endings/routes, no matter how much better they make the story.

AI The Somnium Files: Nirvana Initiative

AI The Somnium Files: Nirvana Initiative is a sequel to AI The Somnium files, and is not as good. It tries to do some really wild things with its narrative and mostly succeeds, but they tried to make the game stand alone for folks who didn’t pick up the original, and I think that fear made it much less impactful. The inclusion of an Easy Mode for folks who want to binge the story and not deal as much with the clever puzzles made it much more pleasant for this dummy to enjoy.

13 Sentinels Aegis Rim (Nintendo Switch)

In 2019 13 Sentinels dropped on PS4 and I tried to play it and kept thinking “I wish I could play this on a handheld”, so I never finished it. This year I did, and while I was not as in love with it as all the folks in 2019 who extolled its virtues, I will say this is a very wild game that tells a wild story using a wild structure that seems incomprehensible until it clicks. And I think it clicks really, really well.

AI The Somnium Files

This game was the first new big drop from the creator of The Nonary Games series. I first played it a little on Switch when it first came out thanks to a review code, but the graphics were so bad and the beginning was so slow that I put it down and never picked it back up. When the sequel, Nirvana Initiatve came out, and friends started speaking so highly about it, I gave the original another try, this time on XBox Series X via GamePass. Instead of being a garbled mess, it was a gorgeous video game that held a great series of mysteries with a cast of characters I learned to love. The only mark against the game is it’s a bit hard. The puzzles in the game are based on dream logic, and dream logic is pretty subjective, so I kept failing and getting frustrated. The sequel mitigates this with lots of difficulty options and making it easier to retry. For this one I mitigated the difficulty by using a walkthrough when I got stuck. The game’s a real 9/10, though, highly recommended.

Undertale: No Mercy

Undertale came out in 2015, and here in 2022/2023 I’m working for Toby Fox on Deltarune, so take everything I have to say with a healthy amount of bias.

I played Undertale in 2015 the week it came out for a few minutes and thought it was cool and didn’t pick it back up until Thanksgiving. By that point the game had absolutely changed the internet forever and it was getting real hard not to get spoiled, so I played the game like I think most uninformed players do. I loaded up the game, thought it was neat, killed the really nice goat lady, learned that I did not have to kill goat mom, restarted the game, got a “pacifist ending”, then got a “true pacifist ending”. I had always heard about the other major route, but never really thought it would be my bag.

This year, after having talked to a lot of people and being pretty bad at the Undertale and Deltarune danmaku bullet patterns, I wanted to go and see the rest of what one of my favorite games of all time had to offer. I did it on a couple of Live Streams where I struggeled a lot, but ultimately won the battle against a true hero. I pushed on to give the friendly skeleton fight a few honest tries, before giving up and resorting to cheat engine.

Just like everyone else has said over the last seven years, it’s amazing how Toby was able to tell another very powerful and very memorable story by reusing places, characters, and battles. It’s wild how the most famous track in the game takes place in a battle that most players will never experience on their own. It reminds me of how the best part of Drakengard is hidden away after having to do a bunch of really horrible and actively unfun things, but that wild alternate route resulted in NieR.

I will probably never beat the friendly skeleton battle at the end of the game legitimately. I don’t have the kind of reflexes and memory to learn every single one of the attacks and pull them off, but having gotten there on my own and trying it a few times, I sure as hell understand and appreciate it.

The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe

Many years ago I played a game that told the story of a man named Stanley. While The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe is not quite a sequel (though it also very much is), it was wonderful to revisit one of my favorite indie games of all time with a fresh coat of paint on modern consoles. The new stuff was wonderfully meta and hilarious, and there was enough of it to justify the double dip. The extra nice thing was playing it with my wife this time, so I got to see bits of the game through fresh eyes.

Sonic Frontiers

Who would have thought that Breath of the Wild meets Death Stranding would make for a surprisingly competent open world Sonic the Hedgehog video game. I really liked running around each of the “open zones”, pulling off tricks and goin’ fast. The combat was repetitive, and the bosses weren’t terribly fun, but the moment to moment controlling the blue attitude man felt really great. Also the game has simultaneously some of the best music in the series (the early cyber zones) and the absolute worst (every single boss battle, don’t @ me).

Sonic Origins

I was so excited in 2021 when they announced that the Christian Whitehead ports of Sonic 1 2 and CD were coming to modern platforms, as well as some sort of re-release of Sonic 3 & Knuckles. What we got was a very buggy mess of these games that had some really glaring issues that made it impossible to recommend, especially at its $40-$45 price tag.

Now with a little bit of time and a few sales, the game can be found for around $20 with its most glaring bugs patched out. Now we have a modern version of the mainline Sonic the Hedgehog games I grew up with, they have widescreen, and they have the ability to retry special stages. They also have fully and wonderfully animated sequences between each game connecting them to one another, and a full 4K upscale of each of the Sonic CD animations with tremendous care and attention.

This year I beat Sonic 1,2,CD, and 3K 100% with all chaos emeralds (something I’d never done in CD), and it was an absolute delight. And playing on the Switch OLED in handheld mode is an absolute delight. If you’re playing on PC, there’s wonderful mods that replace all the music in the game with uncompressed versions of all the original music, there’s fixes for small issues with the dropdash, and there’s a nice and quick fix to remove the weird bilinear filter on the games. It’s easy to recommend for me, now.

This would probably have been higher up my list if not for the miserable state it released in and the $40 price tag.

Vampire Survivors

Vampire Survivors is a game that deserves to be game of the year on someone’s list, but isn’t quite on mine. I love incremental power fantasy roguelikes like Risk of Rain, and at first blush, this seemed to be the idle game version of that. Functionally you can move freely around a big open space, your character will attack every couple of seconds, and a horde of enemies comes at you. The first few minutes of the first few games are pretty boring, but as time goes on you kill enemies, gain xp, and start to build up your character with buffs and new weapons, making you an incredibly powerful killing machine by the end of your run, which at the start is capped at 30 minutes. I spent 30 hours with this game in the first two weeks of playing it, and it was a wildly powerful tool for making time disappear. I’d boot it up, unlock a bunch of new characters and perks, and then say “yeah, one more game”. As I sit here writing this on a 13 hour flight on Tokyo, I’m excited to say I’m going to use its magical time erasing capability to make this trip all the faster.

Also the game’s less than five bucks which is insane for how much fun I’ve had with it.

Judgment

Judgment is an open world beat ‘em up RPG in the vein of Yakuza by the creators of Yakuza taking place in the town of Kamurocho from the Yakuza series. You play as a private detective who is disgraced for getting a murderer acquitted who was then quickly re-arrested for the crime of super murdering his girlfriend. The story of Judgment isn’t about that case, but you can sure as hell bet you’re going to be relitigating that case while you solve a rash of cases involving a serial killer referred to as the mole (for some reason I never fully understood). I picked up Judgment when it came out on PS4, again when it came out on Stadia while I was on vacation away from home, and then again on XBox Series X when I decided I wanted to see the graphics much better. Each time I’d start the game, get to the arcade, play some Virtua Fighter and the claw machines, and then forget to pick it back up.

This year they finally released Judgment and Lost Judgment (the sequel I have yet to finish) on PC via Steam. It was a perfect release for me to enjoy on my very nice computer and TV, then pop over to the Steam Deck and play the side missions that Studio Ryu Ga Gotoku is so known for.

Judgment is somewhere firmly planted in my top 3 Yakuza games, and I mean that with the absolute highest possible praise. It’s a great game and a wonderful introduction to this studio’s work. Y’all should play it.

Destiny 2: The Witch Queen

The Witch Queen is the latest expansion in Destiny 2, and is likely the best one we’ve gotten. There are all sorts of incremental improvements to the game’s economy and the loot pool, but the biggest and most exciting change was the addition of a “Legendary” difficulty for the game’s campaign, which made it a challenge for once, like the Halo series Bungie was known for. It felt like a real accomplishment finishing this game’s story, and the legitimate twist at the end of the game is spectacular. 

It’s more Destiny and I like Destiny and they did this Destiny really well so it goes on the list.

Inscryption

I played Inscryption in January of 2022 so I really don’t remember it very well – which is exciting as hell because I’d love to replay it. It starts as a pretty simple and very fun card game with some creepy stuff that expands into a different kind of card game with other kinds of creepy stuff, and eventually tells a really cool and wild story. Telling you much about that story would spoil it, so I’ll shut up here and just say that Inscryption is spectacular.

Neon White

Soundtrack of the Year winner Neon White is a first person platforming shooter where you have cards that are guns but also special abilities. I adored the world of Neon White and most of its characters, though it’s hard to go wrong with a protagonist voiced by Steve Blum doing his best Spike Spiegel recap. Most of the story fails to land, but the gameplay, soundtrack, and replayability made it a hell of a game. I hope they make a silly expansion for it, because I just want more.

Dicey Dungeons

Dicey Dungeons has been on my game of the year list before, but this is its final resting place. This year they ported Dicey Dungeons as well as all its many bonus chapters to iOS and Android, and there’s no better place to play it. Dicey Dungeons is a card-based deck builder where you have skills that requrie different numerical requirements that you meet using dice. It’s got many characters to play as, many tweaked versions of the game, and an incredible soundtrack by Chipzel. It’s a must buy.

Elden Ring

Oh, Elden Ring. The only reasons you're not my Game of the Year is because I'm not good enough to meet your challenges. I was playing the game my way -- offline, single player, with an ultrawide hack and a 120fps patch, without looking up any guides and without watching videos about how to build out my character effectively. This means that before I could get into the dope castle area, I had to defeat the Draconic Sentinel, and no matter how many times I got ‘em down to a sliver of health, they’d ruin me.

The sense of exploration in Elden Ring is unparalleled. I went down an elevator that just kept going and going, then came out to an underground cavern that was so big that it had a sky. I went through a portal in a chest that dumped me into a battle with a dude straight out of Shadow of the Colossus overlooking a massive castle town. I went to hell, I think. Every time I went to some new place, I was blown away. Each place felt unique and compelling, and I just wanted to explore every nook and cranny.

I think I’m going to go back to Elden Ring, but I need time. Hopefully when I do there will be some sort of official PC patch that completely gets rid of the baffling stuttering issues I was having on a 3090. Hopefully they’ve embraced an unlocked framerate and don’t require me to go use tools that would get me banned from playing the multiplayer experience to get the most out of my time with it. And hopefully I’ll have a controller that can withstand the few times I quit the game in furious anger. I really do want to see all that Elden Ring has to offer, because I know that it’s a lot.

Fortnite

Fortnite went from a joke of a game that was never coming out to a game that ripped off a popular new video game to one of the biggest gaming sensations in the world. In 2021 when matchmaking for Halo Infinite broke, the folks I was playing that with pivoted to Fortnite. While Halo Infinite's back and better than ever -- we're still playing Fortnite. Gunplay has gotten better, the sandbox has grown immensely, and they introduced a No Build mode which removes the pesky ability to build fortifications -- something I'm bad at and refuse to get good at. I've had so much unironic fun playing Fortnite with friends, won many, many games (and lost many many more), and I've spent money on cosmetics. There's something incredible about John Cena riding in on a boar with a cape on his back, dropping a dude with a shotgun, and then doing Gangnam Style in front of him while he bleeds out.

Also, as of writing, they just added a bunch of incredible visual tech from Unreal Engine 5.1 which has made the game become a baffling technological showcase.

EarthBound

Have you heard of this one? Way back in 1995 my friend Thomas and I went to the local Blockbuster and rented a game with a huge box for the SNES. It was a weird and wild RPG about a kid who got chosen by a bee to go and save the world from some sort of weird existential threat. I did not understand it back then, but I thought it was fascinating. I didn't have a SNES nor the money to rent the game again, so I didn't play it again.

In 2012 at the Portland Retro Game Expo I was across from a booth selling a complete in box copy of the game in poor condition for $250. Someone wrote the name Shawn Rogers (probably a person named Shawn Rogers) on the front of the box, destroying its value. I spent the money on it, excited to finally have enough money to own this fascinating game I'd tried emulating a couple times since, and called myself a real EarthBound fan. Later that year I brought an SNES with the game to my friend Levi's house and played it for 3 hours. It was rad, and I decided that I should finish Mother before I finally gave EarthBound its due, and so I did in a weekend long live stream. I burned out while playing EarthBound when I got to Fourside for the first time, and decided to call it quits.

In 2021 I picked up a dirt cheap XBox Series S right before a trip to my inlaws in Arkansas, and got RetroArch running on it. I had initially intended to play Halo Infinite (my 2021 game of the year), but the input latency on the TV made it impossible to play the game -- so I tried a fresh playthrough of EarthBound using the "New Controls" hack. I ended up having a lot of free time during that trip, so I divided it up between Destiny 2 via Stadia on my phone and revisiting this aging RPG.

EarthBound is magnificent and deserves all the praise it gets. It has heart, it's earnest, it's weird, it's quirky, and it's not afraid. The story of the young chosen one Ness is simple and unoriginal, but the characters, places, and troubles you get into are unforgettable. The last two hours of that game (The Place and The Final Boss) are filled with some of the most memorable imagery and soundscape in a video game. I don't want to spoil anything for those who really don't know about it, because it's really special.

I'm so glad the game's finally out on Switch as part of Nintendo Switch Online, because the barrier to entry is now just subscribing to a $20 a year plan on a console that most gamers have. There's other ways of playing it that don't cost $250 for a boxed copy (or the $2800 they go for now, sheesh), so I'd really recommend it. It's the second best game I played this year.

Tunic

Tunic's the best game of 2022, and one of the best games I've played in a long time. It's one of those kind of games where if you try to explain what makes it good, you ruin it for someone who hasn't played it. So let me dance around that.

Tunic is a game that looks like a Zelda game, has combat like a Dark Souls game, and has another layer to it. Over the course of the game you learn that if you do one thing it unlocks a whole new ability, or you learn to read a symbol that opens a whole bunch of new opportunities, and culminates in the biggest "I can't believe they did this, that they'd expect someone to figure that out, and I can't believe I figured that out" moment I've ever had with a piece of interactive media. Really just a triumph all around.

The game is hard as nails, sometimes downright unfair, but the game's completely guilt-less accessibility options (infinite stamina, invincibility) make the hardest fights possible and trivial, while letting you get back to the big brain moments. Also it's on XBox Game Pass, which lowers the barrier to entry to an outrageous extent.

Tunic's my game of the year because of how it made my brain feel, and nothing comes close.

Games I didn't finish that deserve to be played:

LIVE A LIVE

When LIVE A LIVE got announced, we had a team meeting where everyone talked about how good and important LIVE A LIVE is, and two people suggested I started on the prehistoric storyline. That was probably a mistake for me, as it was really slow and not very fun, but also had the mega hit Megalomania for the end boss of that chapter. I started up the ninja’s storyline and was much more into it, but I think I might wait for the inevitable PC port. The loading times on switch were attrocious, and that HD2D style would look much better in HD.

Cursed to Golf

The folks at Chuhai Games are new friends to me, and Cursed to Golf is a fantastic golf-based rougelike that they’ve made. It’s incredibly fun and the story is goofy and wonderful and I need to find more time to play it.

Lost Judgment

Lemme be honest, the story in Lost Judgment so far is a snooze fest. All this stuff in the highschool is starting to burn me out, but I’ve been told that it gets much better. So I’m gonna stick with it. Not every game can be as good as Judgment was, anyways.

Picross 3D

Every year or two I delete my Picross 3D save file and start from scratch. I love me some nonograms, and taking them to an extra dimension is a delight. It’s criminal that we’ve only gotten two of these games, and none of them on the Switch. There are some perfectly acceptable clones out there on Steam and Mobile, but none of them match the charm of the Picross 3D series from Nintendo.

#goty #goty2023 #gameoftheyear #game of the year

[freebiehive]

Palworld Sphere PNG https://freebiehive.com/palworld-sphere-png/?feed_id=41496 #FreePNG #GameoftheYear #Palworld #PalworldGame #PalworldSphere #PalworldSpherePNG #PNG #pngdownload #pngfile #pngfree #PNGImages #pokeball #Pokemon #PokemonKiller #SteamGames #TransparentFiles

#PNGImages #FreePNG #GameoftheYear #Palworld #PalworldGame #PalworldSphere #PalworldSpherePNG #PNG #pngdownload #pngfile #pngfree #pokeball #Pokemon #PokemonKiller #SteamGames #TransparentFiles

[flagmanjames]

IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR! WE'RE GONNA WATCH THE GAME AWARDS! WHICH GAME WILL WIN GAME OF THE YEAR? PLACE YOUR BETS AND LET'S FIND OUT!

#nintendo #thegameawards2023 #thegameawards #gameawards #gameoftheyear #gameoftheyear2023

[andronicmusicblog]

The Game Awards 2023: A Celebration of Gaming Excellence

The much-awaited nominations for The Game Awards 2023 have been unveiled, showcasing the year's most remarkable achievements in the gaming industry. Spanning a diverse array of categories, these nominations recognize the exceptional craftsmanship, creativity, and impact of games that have captivated audiences worldwide.

At the heart of the event lies the prestigious Game of the Year award, contested by six extraordinary titles: Alan Wake 2, Baldur's Gate 3, Marvel's Spider-Man 2, Resident Evil 4, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Each of these contenders has garnered critical acclaim and captivated players with their immersive worlds, captivating narratives, and innovative gameplay mechanics.

Beyond the pinnacle of Game of the Year, numerous other categories honor the diverse facets of game development. Best Game Direction recognizes the vision and leadership behind a game's overall execution, while Best Narrative celebrates storytelling that resonates with players on an emotional level. Best Art Direction showcases the visual splendor that brings game worlds to life, and Best Score and Music highlights the compositions that enhance the gaming experience.

The realm of audio design is also celebrated with the Best Audio Design category, which recognizes the intricate sound effects and immersive soundscapes that elevate the player's immersion. Best Performance honors the voice actors who breathe life into characters, while Innovation in Accessibility applauds advancements that make gaming more inclusive for all.

The impact of games beyond entertainment is recognized through the Games for Impact category, which showcases titles that address important social and environmental issues. Best Ongoing Game celebrates games that continue to provide fresh content and engagement long after their release, while Best Community Support acknowledges the dedication of developers and publishers in fostering vibrant communities around their games.

Independent game development is recognized through the Best Independent Game and Best Debut Indie Game categories, highlighting the creativity and passion of smaller studios. Best Mobile Game and Best VR/AR Game honor the standout titles that push the boundaries of mobile and immersive gaming experiences.

The action-packed genres are celebrated with categories for Best Action Game and Best Action/Adventure Game, while Best RPG recognizes the titles that excel in role-playing elements. Best Fighting Game showcases the competitive spirit of fighting games, and Best Family Game highlights titles that cater to all ages.

Strategy enthusiasts will be thrilled by the Best Sim/Strategy Game category, while sports and racing fans can rejoice in the Best Sports/Racing category. Multiplayer experiences are honored through the Best Multiplayer category, and Best Adaptation recognizes the successful translation of established media franchises into engaging games.

Looking to the future, the Most Anticipated Game category generates excitement for titles that are yet to be released, while the Content Creator of the Year award celebrates the individuals who produce compelling gaming-related content.

The world of esports is also recognized with categories for Best Esports Game, Best Esports Athlete, Best Esports Team, Best Esports Coach, and Best Esports Event, showcasing the pinnacle of competitive gaming and the dedicated individuals and organizations that drive it forward.

Voting for The Game Awards is now open, allowing gamers worldwide to voice their opinions on the year's most outstanding gaming achievements. The ceremony itself will take place on December 8, 2023, promising a spectacular celebration of gaming excellence.

#gamedev #gamedeveloper #TGA2023 #GameOfTheYear #GamingExcellence #CelebrateGaming #GamersChoice #EsportsAwards #GameDevelopment #GamingCommunity #FutureOfGaming #VoteTGA #gamecomposer

[ggworldnews]

🌵🔫 Red Dead Redemption 2: A Wild West Epic 🤠🎮

Red Dead Redemption 2, developed by Rockstar Games, is an extraordinary masterpiece that transports players to the untamed landscapes of the Wild West. With its immersive open-world environment, gripping narrative, and meticulous attention to detail, this game stands as a testament to the incredible craftsmanship of its developers. 🎮 A Game of Unparalleled Depth: Step into the boots of Arthur Morgan, a complex and morally conflicted outlaw, as he navigates the fading era of the American frontier. From the sprawling plains to bustling towns, every inch of the vast open world is meticulously crafted, offering players an unparalleled level of immersion. Engage in thrilling gunfights, engage in intense horseback chases, and embark on captivating quests that shape Arthur's fate and the world around him. 👨‍💻 Visionary Developers: Rockstar Games, the visionary developers behind Red Dead Redemption 2, have pushed the boundaries of gaming with their unwavering commitment to excellence. Their dedication to creating an authentic and lived-in world is evident in every aspect of the game, from the stunning visuals to the lifelike character animations. The team's meticulous attention to detail shines through, making the Wild West feel alive and vibrant. 🌟 Critical Acclaim and Reception: Upon its release, Red Dead Redemption 2 garnered widespread critical acclaim, solidifying its place as one of the greatest games of all time. Critics praised its compelling story, complex characters, and the sheer depth of its gameplay mechanics. The game's breathtaking visuals and atmospheric soundtrack further enhanced the immersive experience, captivating players and critics alike. 💥 A Legacy That Endures: Red Dead Redemption 2 has left an indelible mark on the gaming landscape, captivating millions of players with its immersive world and captivating story. Its impact extends beyond the game itself, inspiring discussions on the nature of morality, the passing of an era, and the pursuit of redemption. As the sun sets on Arthur Morgan's journey, the legacy of Red Dead Redemption 2 will forever be etched in the annals of gaming history.

#RedDeadRedemption2 #WildWestAdventure #RockstarGames #ImmersiveOpenWorld #GrippingNarrative #AttentionToDetail #VisionaryDevelopers #GameOfTheYear #CriticalAcclaim #GamingMasterpiece #UnforgettableJourney #LegacyOfExcellence

[ibk93]

Fallout Legacy Collection (Unboxing) [1/2]

Hola amig@s! :) Hoy os traigo algo diferente a lo que pensaba subir por aquí. Un Unboxing de la edición Legacy Collection de Fallout. Cutre, grabado en vertical y un audio de culo... pero no pasa nada... xD Aquí os cuento algunas peculiaridades de esta edición que habría que tener en cuenta a la hora de adquirirla y podéis ver su contenido. Espero que os guste. Igual me animo y os traigo algún que otro video de algunas ediciones que tengo por casa y que son igual o más curiosas que esta. Este post está compuesto por dos partes debido a la longitud del video. Esta es la parte 1/2.

Así que lo dicho! Un saludo de parte de BigBoss y nos leemos en el siguiente microblog! ;) RRSS: #Twitter #Twitch

#BigBoss #IBK93 #Fallout #Fallout2 #FalloutTactics #Fallout3 #FalloutNewVegas #Fallout4 #UltimateEdition #GameOfTheYear #FalloutLegacyEdition #Tumblr #Unboxing #Bethesda #ToddHoward