2014 was an interesting year for gaming filled with amazing, groundbreaking titles but also a number of disappointments. Great games like Forza Horizon 2, Shadow of Mordor and Sunset Overdrive were released alongside titles marred with issues like Assassin’s Creed Unity and Halo: The Masterchief Collection.
In comparison to other critic’s game of the year lists, you’ll likely notice I didn’t include Dragon Age: Inquisition. After spending around eight hours with Dragon Age I concluded that while I enjoyed my time with the Bioware’s latest title, it just isn’t for me. I didn’t find the combat system compelling and I just haven’t been able to lose myself in Inquisition’s massive world like other people.
Also, keep in mind this is my list of top games. These top seven games of the year weren’t chosen by a committee and also don’t take into account genres or platforms.
This is a personal list of the titles I feel are the top games released over the course of 2014.
7. South Park: The Stick of Truth
South Park: The Stick of Truth is an interactive South Park episode full of the same crass, disgusting and insulting jokes the popular television series is known for.
Fans of the TV show love this game but even if you don’t enjoy South Park, buried beneath the fart jokes and smart political commentary is an impressive turn based role-playing game complete with a deep and engaging combat system.
What shocked me most about South Park: The Stick of Truth is just how much the game looks like an episode of South Park. If a recent episode of the show and gameplay footage of South Park: The Stick of Truth were shown side by side, it would be nearly impossible to distinguish the two.
My review of South Park: The Stick of Truth.
Platform: Xbox 360, PS3 and PC.
6. Mario Kart 8
In 2014 Nintendo finally brought the Mario Kart franchise to the high-definition world with Mario Kart 8, one of the best looking games on Nintendo’s struggling Wii U console.
Multiplayer, as long as you ignore the game’s broken battle mode, is just as entertaining as it was on the Super Nintendo back in 1992 with Super Mario Kart, and even online play works great, something that can’t be said about a lot of games released this year.
Nintendo even finally caught on to the concept of downloadable content with Mario Kart 8, releasing new tracks and extra racers like Link and Animal Crossing characters.
If you’re a fan of the Mario Kart franchise or even have had a passing interest in the series at some point over the last few years, you can’t go wrong with Mario Kart 8. It’s the best racing game on the Wii U and one of the top racing titles of the year. Also, the Red Shell still sucks.
My review of Mario Kart 8.
Platform: Wii U
5. Far Cry 4
Far Cry 4 is pretty much the same game as last year’s Far Cry 3, only with more mountains. This is okay though because Far Cry 3 was such a great game that I’m fine with playing through a slightly upgraded version of that title just a year later.
Visually the game’s engine is starting to show its age and thematically Far Cry 4’s plot has significant issues, but thankfully the same crazy open world gameplay that made Far Cry 3 so compelling is still present
Attach a pile of C4 to an elephant, fire one shot at the animal and watch as it destroys an enemy encampment for you. Then if you’re feeling particularly cruel, blow up your remaining foes with your moving angry animal bomb.
Creative situations like this are what Far Cry 4 is all about. With Far Cry 5 I’m hoping Ubisoft shakes things up in an effort to ensure the series remains relevant.
My review of Far Cry 4.
Platform: Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS4, PS3, PC.
4. Towerfall: Ascension
I always describe Vancouver-based developer Matt Thorson’s Towerfall: Ascension as a 2D old school Super Smash Bros. Towerfall’s retro look is endearing and its gameplay is easy to pick up but difficult to master – key elements that need to be part of an arcade-focused title like this.
Who knew slinging arrows at your friends could be so much fun? The game’s cooperative mode is also surprisingly compelling (and also extremely difficult). Trust me, the game’s later levels are beyond punishing. One slip-up results in certain death.
If you’re a fan of retro games and enjoy local multiplayer and co-op titles, two modes of play modern video games rarely include, you’ll enjoy Towerfall a lot.
My review of Towerfall: Ascension.
Platform: PS4 (it’s also coming to the PS Vita soon).
3. Forza Horizon 2
Much like Shadow of Mordor and Sunset Overdrive, Forza Horizon 2 came as a surprise to me. I enjoy arcade racing games, but I’m far from a gearhead. Forza Horzion 2 is the perfect balance between simulation racing and arcade racing action.
Forza Horizon 2 is a great looking game and visually it’s significantly better looking than both Driveclub, Sony’s big glitch plagued open world racing game, and even Ubisoft’s disappointing The Crew, a game that’s arguably one of the biggest let downs of the year.
Even if you just have a passing interest in racing games, you’ll likely have a great time with Forza Horizon 2, especially if you’re a fan of off-road rally style circuits (this is my favourite part of Forza Horizon 2).
My review of Forza Horizon 2.
Platform: Xbox One.
2. Sunset Overdrive
If you told me Sunset Overdrive was going to be on my game of the year list a few months ago I really wouldn’t have believed you, but Insomniac’s first Xbox One title blew me away.
The game’s unique art style, refreshing sense of self-awareness and wacky plot — Sunset Overdrive is about an apocalypse caused by an energy drink — combine to create a game unlike any other title released in the last few years. In an industry full of dark, gritty first-person shooters, Sunset Overdrive is a breath of fresh air.
Sunset Overdrives unique traversal system that’s a combination of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater and Jet Grind Radio also helped propel the title into the second position on my game of the year list.
My review of Sunset Overdrive.
Platform: Xbox One.
1. Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
For me, Shadow of Mordor came out of no where. I didn’t expect to enjoy the game and I’m not even particularly enamored with the Lord of the Rings universe, but my gaming experience with Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is by far my favourite of the year.
Shadow of Mordor’s Nemesis system allows players to create their own story. Do you feel like helping a low-ranking Orc catapult through his societies’ complicated social structure? You can make that happen, and then also use him for intel in the process.
A game that was once made fun of for being an Assassin’s Creed knock-off surpassed the latest Assassin’s Creed title, Assassin’s Creed Unity, in almost every possible way. It also helped that Shadow of Mordor is one of the best looking games on the Xbox One and PlayStation 4.
Stabbing orcs is an immense amount of fun.
My Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor review.
Platform: Xbox One, PS4 and PC (a downgraded version is on the Xbox 360 and PS3).
Honourable mentions
A few titles I really enjoyed didn’t make the cut for this list. Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare successfully revitalized the Call of Duty franchise in impressive fashion when it comes to both multiplayer and singleplayer. The above sentence is something I never thought I’d find myself saying about Call of Duty, ever.
Titanfall did the same thing for first-person shooters with its crazy, off the wall free-running gameplay. Those massive hulking Titans also helped Titanfall remain one of the most memorable experiences of 2014.
Titanfall review.
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare review.
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