Wow, has 2016 come to an end quickly! Compared to other years, I feel like I played less games this year, but the ones that I did play I spent more time with. With that said, I’d like to share with you my five favourite games of 2016. It’s important to note that these are not necessarily the games I felt were the best made games of 2016, rather they are the ones I enjoyed the most for various reasons. Check back tomorrow for my five favourite films of 2016.

Quantum Break (April, 2016)

You could definitely call Quantum Break an experimental game. It attempted to tell a story by mixing a video game with a live-action television series. It largely worked. While the video game segments focused on time-altering protagonist Jack Joyce, the television segments fleshed out the narrative by focusing on the actions of some of the supporting cast.

Despite becoming somewhat convoluted, the story about manipulating time was interesting and the acting performances were engaging. The technology powering Quantum Break’s video game segments was amazing, allowing known actors like Shawn Ashmore (The Following, X-Men) and Aiden Gillen (Game of Thrones) to have their likeness represented in-engine. This created some of the most realistic and smooth animations I’ve seen in a video game.

Gameplay wise, the time-manipulation powers were fun to use and encouraged the player to experiment with their application. This time manipulation also led to one of my favourite set pieces in a game this year. If you’ve got an Xbox One or a powerful PC, I’d recommend it if you want to see the possibilities of a con-current story across two mediums.

Overwatch (May, 2016)

When I said that the games on this list would be the ones I enjoyed the most in 2016, rather than the games I thought were critically the best, Overwatch was the one exception. Not only is Overwatch my favourite game of 2016, I believe it is also the best. As I said in my review on Analog Addiction, Overwatch succeeds because every design decision is simplistic, but also smart and balanced.

It is simple to pick up and play, and there are not too many complicated systems to understand. Every design choice is smart, from the way the maps have been designed, to the playable character’s abilities, to the attacking and defending tug-of-war that takes place on each map. This culminates in a well-balanced game that feels great to play and is a loads of fun.

That has only improved throughout the year as developer Blizzard Entertainment has provided constant updates to the game to introduce new characters, maps and game types, as well as tweak characters to ensure the game stays balanced and every hero is fun to use.

Overwatch is the game in 2016 that I keep going back to, and I expect it will remain that way for quite some time.

Rise of the Tomb Raider (October, 2016 [PS4])

I’m putting this here on a bit of a technicality. Rise of the Tomb Raider was released last year on Xbox One and PC, but this year on PlayStation 4. While I was given the game in 2015, I didn’t start playing it until 2016.

Rise of the Tomb Raider is one of my favourite games of 2016 because it feels great to play. The exploration mechanics add weight to Lara’s movements and unlocking new tools encourages returning to old areas to explore. Combat forces Lara to be resourceful as she evades attackers before putting an arrow or ice pick through their skulls. And the puzzles find the right balance between being too difficult and too easy.

Lara Croft is much more experienced tomb raider compared to the 2013 reboot, and she actually gets to raid tombs this time. The locations are more varied this time around, and the extra power of the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 make Rise of the Tomb Raider look superb. It’s one of the best looking games on the systems.

Battlefield 1 (October, 2016)

The Battlefield franchise does a terrific job at making players feel like they are in the middle of a war zone. The franchise began in World War 2, and up until this year had moved into modern times. However, the newest entry in the long standing franchise went back in time to the rarely explored period of World War I.

As has come to be expected of the franchise, Battlefield 1’s multiplayer is extremely fun. There’s always something happening on the map, with players fighting for control of the skies in planes, rolling up in tanks to capture control points, or overwhelming enemy positions with greater numbers as infantry. Most of the time, all three are happening at once, you just have to choose which part you want to participate in.

Bring a solid sound system or pair of headphones and you’ll hear tank shots going off in the distance or that sniper who just missed your head. Battlefield 1’s multiplayer is a sensory experience unlike any other.

However, it’s the single player ‘war stories’ that won me over. Rather than telling a heroic tale about characters in the Great War, Battlefield 1 depicts the horrors of war that many volunteers experienced. This is demonstrated instantly, as solider after soldier you control meets a gruesome death. It’s effective, and also a fresh take on a genre that loves explosive hero tales.

Titanfall 2 (October, 2016)

Following the multiplayer-only Titanfall, it became evident that Titanfall 2 required a quality single-player campaign to be successful. Coming from the team behind the highly regarding Modern Warfare series, Titanfall 2’s single-player campaign was a thrilling journey that brought us some of the best level design in 2016.

The time-line changing gameplay in the ‘effect and cause’ mission instantly comes to mind, as does the level that sees a house being manufactured around the player before they have to wall run and jump through it to get to safety. Respawn Entertainment uses the wall running and jump jet mechanics in smart ways, making Titanfall 2 feel more dynamic than a typical run and gun shooter campaign.

On the multiplayer side, Titanfall 2 took the wonderful mechanics from the first game and refined them to create a similarly enjoyable experience. Getting a titan is now based on how well you play in a match, rather than on a timer, so better players are rewarded more. Map design also appears to favour titans, with more open areas for titan fights and less places to hide as a pilot.

While I think the maps in Titanfall 1 were better, I prefer the mechanics of Titanfall 2. Respawn Entertainment slowed down the pilot’s movements so that wall running and chaining together several slides, jumps and sprints feels less disorientating while still maintaining the fast-paced nature of the game.

It’s a shame that the appeal for the game isn’t strong, which is evident from the heavy discounts on the game so soon after launch. A Titanfall 3 looks unlikely at this point, but the series is still one of my favourites of this console generation.

Honourable mentions

Enter the Gungeon (April, 2016) – Bullet hell shooter meets rogue-lite dungeon crawler

Doom (May, 2016) – Fight a horde of demons with a huge arsenal

Madden NFL 17 (August, 2016) – The best Madden NFL entry since Madden NFL 16

Destiny: Rise of Iron (September, 2016) – Just when I think I’m out, they pull me back in

Watch_Dogs 2 (November, 2016) – A fun open-world to explore and hack

Lara Croft Go (December, 2016 [PlayStation 4, Vita]) – Turn-based puzzle game with smart mechanics

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What were your favourite games of 2016? Is there something you think I should have played? Let me know in the comments or on Twitter @Nathan_M96.