A Look Back at Some of the Best of 2016

The summer months used to be a slow time in the video game calendar. As the weather begins to warm, people are content to enjoy the great outdoors rather than spending their summer indoors.

However, with time things began to change. It’s hard to say exactly when, but the late 2000s and early 2010s is when it feels like big games started being released outside of the holiday window and other parts of the year.

Finally, the summer months became less about E3 and new game announcements and more about highly anticipated new games getting into gamers’ hands. 2016, in particular, was a strong year for summer games, as evidenced by these amazing games that are celebrating their tenth anniversary this summer.

9

A star

An Out Of This World Experience

There’s just something satisfyingly cozy about Starbound, even after all these years.

First entering Early Access in 2013 before a full release in the summer of 2016, Starbound tasks players with exploring procedurally generated worlds to repair their damaged ship.

Starbound does a great job of balancing a great comfortable experience with enough engaging content to draw in non-fans of the genre.

8

Monster Hunter Generations

Ten Years of Being on the Trail

It’s hard to imagine a world where Monster Hunter isn’t the mainstream success it is today. Before the release of Monster Hunter World, however, that was the case, at least here in the States.

That’s not to say that the previous Monster Hunter games are bad. Well, actually, and Monster Hunter Generations is one of the many great games behind the franchise.

2016 was a really good summer for monster hunting. If being out hunting for Pokémon wasn’t your thing, Generations was an excellent replacement that did an excellent job of continuing to improve on the franchise’s core gameplay.

7

Forza Horizon 3

Let’s Put Shrimp on Barbie

After the success of Forza Horizon 2 proved that the spin-off series was here to stay, Forza Horizon 3 upped the ante.

Taking place in Australia, Horizon 3 treats us to a variety of landscapes, landscapes, and biomes that are truly amazing. Best of all, the game map is very accessible. Even if you get somewhat lost, there are plenty of surprises waiting to be discovered.

There is so much to see and do in Forza Horizon 3 that, at times, it felt overwhelming. Thankfully, all the content was so inviting that it was worth walking down. Even if you’re considering the next release in the series, Forza Horizon 3 is still one of the best racing games you can play today.

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Episode 4: A Thief’s End

The End of an Era

It’s hard to believe that it’s now been ten years since the end of the Uncharted franchise.

Is Uncharted 4 perfect? No; The introduction of the long lost brother threw plot holes and curveballs through the story of the game. I also wouldn’t blame you if you chose Uncharted 2.

Having said that, there is something about Uncharted 4 that is impressive. Its touching story cannot help but touch your heart. Combined with the same cinematics we already know and love, and there’s no better way for Naughty Dog to say goodbye to Nathan Drake.

5

World of Warcraft: Legion

Somehow, Illidan Came Back

There are those who place Legion, the sixth expansion of World of Warcraft, at the top of the WoW releases.

It’s not hard to see why. Anytime you bring back the Burning Legion, you’re in for a good time. Yes, Legion has a lot of upside in terms of story content, but the game fully supports it. It’s an undeniable fact, as evidenced by the recent success of Legion Remix.

The end of the game introduced Mythic+, a more persistent attack, and a new demon hunter class. More importantly, there has been a steady stream of amazing content updates, including Argus.

4

Overwatch

Dawn of the Shooter Hero

It’s hard to believe that Overwatch launched ten years ago.

Say what you will about the current state of the franchise, but when Blizzard released their long-awaited team-based hero shooter, it was a true game changer. Everything worked so well together, each hero brought their own identity and toolkit to the fight.

Overwatch was a juggernaut for a reason, and even though the first-person shooter landscape has changed, it will always have those magical moments in the 2010s.

3

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Toss a coin

The first two games in The Witcher franchise were great and well received, but they didn’t set the world alight. That all changed with The Witcher 3, however.

Everything comes together beautifully in The Witcher 3. The scope and scale of previous entries are on full display here, so longtime fans will feel right at home. One big reason why The Witcher 3 is so well received is the power of everything the game has to offer. Side quests, characters, writing, the open world itself; everything is in a league of its own.

Taking out the more powerful Xbox One and PS4 hardware helped as well, finally helping the game reach its true potential.

2

Inside

The Indie Darling

It took six years for Playdead to release their long-awaited follow-up to Limbo. It was worth the wait.

Outside, Inside is a stylish 2.5D puzzle platform that excels at delivering the solid gameplay experience we’ve come to expect. What takes things up a notch, however, is its story and themes.

Indie games are often at the forefront of the industry when it comes to emotional storytelling, and Inside is no different. It’s simple and open to interpretation, but the Inner narrative is relatable for many different reasons. It’s a game that everyone needs to play at least once, and it’s one of the best indie games of all time.

1

Pokémon Go

Wait, It’s Been Too Many Years?!

No game has taken the world by storm like Pokémon Go. It managed to do the impossible: get players off the couch and off.

Not only that; it had crossed over and found a mainstream audience. Everyone was out, visiting landmarks, restaurants, tourist attractions, and everything in between to capture Pokémon, engage in gym battles, and hang out with friends.

Pokémon Go is more than just a video game. It was a social experience unlike any other, leading hundreds of people to go out and start their own Pokémon journey.