Every year since 2004
@mcc has done a fantastic Game of the Year poll on this forum, the last couple of years a few of us have taken over the running of this, still using the same scripts MCC wrote (and by and large the same OP!). Well, she's given me a prod this year and asked if it's going ahead again so I've decided to get the nominations thread up now. Thanks to
@infidel yet again for hosting.
There are a lot of Game of the Year polls out there, but this one is special. Where most GOTY polls just give you a list of maybe five of the best-selling games from the last year, and ask you to choose your favorite, THIS poll gives you a list of EVERY game that came out in the last year (more or less) and asks you to vote for [up to] your top 20-- ranked by how much you liked them. Here's last year's poll if you want to see how this works. We actually wind up with a serviceable ranking of the top hundred or so games from the last year, with blockbusters, obscurities and cult hits mixed in side by side, and a pretty color-coded graph.
Here's the plan: We're taking nominations in this thread until the evening of January 15th. This gives people AGES to nominate games.
We'll then run the poll for one week, or a little longer if people need.
So, let's get some nominations. Remember, the point of this is to have the most comprehensive list of games possible! So any game that anyone might POSSIBLY put in their top 20 deserves to go on the list.
The rules for nomination are:
* It must have been legally released IN AMERICA for the first time in 2016
* It must be a new game-- no ports, no expansion packs.
We can try to be flexible about these rules. But here's the underlying point of the rules: Every game gets one shot. Think about it, if this game you like got on one year, and then we snuck its expansion pack on the next year… half the people who liked it will vote one year and half the other and it will get really low scores. You like this game, but it's gonna get stiffed in the poll. Avoid that.
This list has come from Wikipedia, so there's likely an awful lot that doesn't meet 'our rules', so please feel free to point them out and I'll get rid, as well as any potential duplicates.
Working nominations list in next post. Also last year we had some discussions about episodic content, when should something be added to the list. I THINK the consensus was that it should go in the year where the final episode is released. Again, rules are flexible, this is meant to be fun not something to fight over.
Regarding platforms, we have:
3DS
HTCVive
Mobile
OculusRift
PC
PlayStationVR
PS3
PS4
PSVita
WiiU
XBO
Open to debate on the VR platforms.
Posts
PSN: SirGrinchX
Oculus Rift: Sir_Grinch
Anyway, boy have I not played enough 2016 releases that i own yet.
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I would like to nominate
* Ladykiller in a Bind (PC)
* Kindred Spirits on the Roof (PC)
Also, I would like to point this out on your current list
That does not look right
@cooljammer00 SAY HI NEXT TIME
Also note technically the name of this game is
* My Twin Brother Made Me Crossdress As Him And Now I Have To Deal With A Geeky Stalker And A Domme Beauty Who Want Me In A Bind!! or, Ladykiller in a Bind (PC)
But I think it would be better to shorten it to "Ladykiller in a Bind"
Also, the OP says '2015' instead of '2016' for nomination rules.
You are running this poll, not me, and you are not obligated to honor my opinions here.
But, here are some comments:
These appear to be the same game and should probably be consolidated
Should read Adventures of Mana (Mobile, Vita), the Vita version is available in the US
India and Russia are part of the trilogy pack. Could these be consolidated? (The trilogy pack apparently also contains China, which was released in 2015, but I don’t know if that was on last year’s list)
This is a wonderful game but it is a port and not new
Also a port and not a new game
What is this? Is this “Berserk and the Band of the Hawk”? If so, Wikipedia seems to suggest it is not out in North America yet.
I do not know much about this but I suspect this should count as a port and not a new game
Do you really want to list both of these? It looks like “Extend” is an expansion pack and not a new game
Is this a new game? Sincere question. I don’t know.
Not sure if you care about such things but I don’t think this has been released in North America
Is this a new game or a port? Cursory google check suggests port
I suspect this is not a new game
These should be merged
I am not bothering to look into this but I doubt five separate hitman games were released this year
Is this a new game or a port?
These are probably ports and not new games
The PC and XB1 versions of this game were on last year’s list
I suspect these are ports and not new games
How the fuck is this a real game that got released
(Note: I looked it up. It actually is a real game that got released)
What is happening here
Could these be consolidated into one “Minecraft: Story Mode” entry in some way
Okay so
This is awkward but
This game was technically released in 2015 for PS4
BUT
It was missed in the 2015 nomination process
So my recommendation is putting this down as N++ (PS4, PC)
Cuz it’s SO GOOD and i want to vote for it and we didn’t get the chance last year
This one’s even MORE awkward.
This game was:
- Released in 2013 for PC
- Released in 2015 for XB1
- Was not in the PA GOTY poll EITHER of those two years
(Let’s ignore the 2011 flash game, that was not the same game)
So I don’t know what the right thing to do with this is
Nitpicking like mad here but a PS3 version of this was released in 2013. … it… wasn’t on the 2013 poll, if you’re wondering. I'm not totally sure what I’m looking at here
Leaving aside the question of whether these count as new games, (1) this should be merged and (2) New n tasty was released for several platforms in 2015. And it wasn’t on the list last year.
It is my opinion this game is not meaningfully different from Pac-Man 256 for Mobile, which was on last year’s list
(Unless you want to say the coop mode CHANGES EVERYTHING, i guess)
(It’s a good game btw go play it the mobile version is masterful)
Is this a new game or a port
What happened here
Is this a new game
Is this a new game or a port
This is probably a port and not a new game
I don’t have a suggestion for a change here but wow it sucks for this game it’s gonna come out on Dec. 20, idk if I’ll have a chance to play it before i vote *_*
Something is wrong here
Are these two separate games. I’m not looking it up
What happened here. I’m not looking this up either
First off, this game is named “Space Hulk: Deathwing”. Second off wikipedia only seems mostly certain it’s slated for release this year. It says the release date is Dec 14 and the main release is on consoles next year. Are you sure this is coming out this year
Merge this
What is this? There was a version of “Star Trek Online” released for PS4 and XB1 this year. Probably this counts as a new game but fix the name
Merge this
Assuming this is a new game, merge the titles
Merge titles
Is this a new game or a port I bet it’s a port
Port?
Port? It appears this has been released on multiple platforms before. Don’t know if it’s ever been on a PA GOTY poll before
This sounds like a collection of ports and not a new game.
What happened here
This is a port right
I think you should consolidate “The Walking Dead: Michonne” into one game, on Steam it is sold as a “miniseries”
This is a port of a 2014 PS3 game. I strongly suspect it was not on any previous PA GOTY.
Really? …OK
First off merge titles second off these sound like ports?
As with N++ it hurts my soul to point this out but this was released in late 2015 for PC and PS4. It was NOT on the 2015 GOTY poll so I would like to request you keep this but change it to Volume (PSVita, PC, PS4).
Is this a new game or a port and is that even a question that makes sense for whatever “World of Tanks” is
It seems unlikely to me that both of these games were released in 2016
I feel I’m nitpicking again but versions of these games were released in 2013 and 2015, respectively. I suspect neither was on a previous PA GOTY poll.
I suspect this is a port and not a new game
I don’t think either of these have been released in North America. I think they’ve announced US localizations but not until like 2017 or 2018.
EDIT: Fuck I'm so excited for Shantae
PSN: SirGrinchX
Oculus Rift: Sir_Grinch
Pretty sure that's a port / complete edition.
3DS: 0473-8507-2652
Switch: SW-5185-4991-5118
PSN: AbEntropy
IIRC there was the rule about episodic games only being considered when all the episodes are out? But ultimately, it would depend on if it was on last year's vote. (Which yes, is unfair to games like rise of the tomb raider, which got a much wider release on PC and PS4 this year)
Actually, what were the rules for submitting games from last year that missed the list? I remember there was a game that came out mid-december last year, that I missed nominating, but I really wanted to vote for. It was legitimately in my top 10.
Also, would like to nominate:
Also, what were the rules for early access again?
Also also, was factorio on an earlier voting list, back when it was only available on the creator's site?
Also ^3 it might be useful to have links to the previous year(s) threads in the OP
Looks like Sorcery! 3 also had a mobile release in 2015, so both of those should come off the list.
Very much disagree.
Yep. But Sorcery! 4 should be added.
https://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561197970666737/
Hitman Go was a mobile game from 2014 that got ported to PC/console. Dunno if we counted mobile games towards GotY so maybe it's eligible since it's just now on actual consoles?
The other Hitmans are part of the episodic game, the first bit of which came out last year. I don't know if we counted that towards last years GotY, if not, should be on this one.
It's a port, base game came out on PC in 2015.
Confirmed ports.
Confirmed port.
Confirmed port.
What's the stance on Early Access games again? They aren't valid for nomination until they officially release, right?
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Gonna dispute a few of these.
Released in the US in September.
I feel this is an unfair jab at the samyness of Trackmania games. (Originally stated for late 2015 release, was delayed until March)
Not disputing this one, but man. I've never wanted to vote an expansion GOTY so much before. Legion was larger than most other games I played this year and it changed a ton of stuff in WoW for the better.
Crap, I even looked Azure Striker Gunvolt 2 up but somehow forgot to remove it from my list. I'll edit it out now.
My impression of Trackmania Turbo was that it was basically a re-release because TrackMania 2 flopped. So is it a proper sequel then?
Edit: Removed both, at least for now. And I rechecked my list to make sure I didn't miss any others.
One thing I did notice though, is that this should be changed from:
Dreamfall Chapters: Book 5 — Redux (PC)
to:
Dreamfall Chapters
Book 5 was the last episode, so the game is done now.
PSN: SirGrinchX
Oculus Rift: Sir_Grinch
Ah, I only sorta know what you look like via a Twitter thumbnail when you get RT'd by a bunch of people on my feed. I couldn't be sure! Also I am an awkward person.
3DS Friend Code: 2165-6448-8348 www.Twitch.TV/cooljammer00
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And some dupes you can merge together:
Lastly, fixes:
The Huntsman: PCter’s Curse should be The Huntsman: Winter's Curse (I guess you replaced all "Win"s with "PC" haha)
Remove all the 's from any listings
Went through it but missed some.
At least for next year I've got something that should automatically sort out most of the Wikipedia text and problems I've spotted this year.
I'll make those changes later today.
PSN: SirGrinchX
Oculus Rift: Sir_Grinch
3DS Friend Code: 2165-6448-8348 www.Twitch.TV/cooljammer00
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Is a console port of a 2015 PC game.
I just noticed that this didn't show up as intended because of course it did, that's the bold tag. What I meant was remove all the 's from any listings.
Edit: Oh and I found another Japanese game:
Tracky Train (Mobile)
Tap My Katamari (Mobile)
slither.io (Mobile)
Miitomo (Mobile)
Hidden my game by mom (Mobile) <---- Dark horse for GOTY??
Also, I think Banner Saga 2 should be up there, as Banner Saga 1 came out in 2014 according to Wikipedia
Some of these nominations come with caveats! Ambient Mixtape 16, Experiment 26, and Triennale Game Collection are all compilations comprising works by multiple game developers, but I figured it would be simple to list each as its own entity. Also, Deep Freeze is technically a level for a mod of Knytt Stories, a game from 2007... but it's huge, stand-alone, and essentially uses the base game as an engine on which to build totally unique puzzle mechanics, so it would be sad to see it disqualified on "technically".
I'd also like to suggest the following adjustments to existing entries:
Gonner (PC) > GoNNER (PC)
Islands (PC) > ISLANDS: Non-Places (Mobile,PC)
Kathy Rain (PC) > Kathy Rain (Mobile,PC)
Windlands (OculusRift) > Windlands (HTCVive,OculusRift,PC)
Some discussion points:
Great Detective Pikachu[A] - I wonder if this game will ever come out in the US. I guess it doesn't meet the rules for inclusion and probably won't have been widely played here. What's with all the [A]s in the list, anyway?
Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes - this is currently on the list, and while some people have listed the VR version of this as their GOTY already, it seems to me like a port of a game that already had its chance last year.
Pavilion - a second, concluding episode of this is apparently due out in 2017, and PS4 and PSVita ports are still scheduled for release. We could wait until next year to put it on the list, but my gut says it might as well stay.
Second! But make that slither.io (Mobile,PC) as I mostly played this in a web browser!
You've done amazing work finding all those ports and rereleases @Unco-ordinated, but I'd like to suggest this one be restored. We had Kentucky Route Zero Act III on the list back in 2014 after some discussion, and with such a wait this time around it may best be treated more like a sequel.
Thanks for doing this again, everyone!
Really? Weird but I guess it makes sense. Alright, please add it back, @Mr_Grinch.
And thanks for mentioning Chase: Cold Case Investigations, I didn't notice it was missing (though it might not make my list anyway, it was pretty disappointing compared to Hotel Dusk and Last Window).
This year I've kept a ranked list of games and updated it as I complete them, mostly to make voting in this poll easier. Chase is currently at position 40, and will probably drop further as I rush to finish more games... so I doubt it stands a chance on my list either!
N++, Volume and Oddworld missed out on previous years. Should we keep them? Is the HD release of Oddworld actually a new game (I think we discussed this last year actually and we may have decided to remove it).
I'm happy to go with whatever the consensus is. I'll get the rest removed in my lunch break and add the traditionally obscure list that only @sergiocornaga will vote for
PSN: SirGrinchX
Oculus Rift: Sir_Grinch
2. Overwatch
2. Dark Souls 3
3. FFXV
4. Darkest Dungeon
5. The Witness
6. Firewatch
7. Doom
8. Walking Dead Michonne
9. Dead by Daylight
10. Gears 4
11. Owlboy
12. The Division
I'm sure Last Guardian and Inside will work its ways in there when I play them this weekend or next week.
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