

#Best app games of 2016 series#
Long-running series Battlefield and Pokémon both recaptured fans' hearts in a big way, Uncharted had a well-received send-off, Blizzard nailed another genre. A moment of silence, if you will, for what you could've been playing this Christmas:ĭespite the many, many delays, 2016 has actually been a pretty great year, at least when it comes to gaming. And I haven't even mentioned Mass Effect. Horizon Zero Dawn? You guessed it.Īt times the delays felt personally tailored to rob me of what little joy was left in this miserable year. Cuphead, the delightful bullet-hell platformer with hand-drawn animations? 2017. Tacoma, FullBright's first game since the excellent Gone Home? 2017.

Three of my most anticipated games at the start of the year - The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Persona V and Hideki Kamiya's new RPG Scalebound - all got pushed into 2017. And, God, the delays have come thick and fast. Perhaps that's why I've been reacting to game delays with all the composure of a YouTube commenter. Whether passing the minutes on a mindless clicker or puzzle game, losing myself for hours in grand strategies and sport sims or taking a long weekend to head out on a fantastic adventure, gaming has helped me. Of course, they're always a form of escapism, but in 2016 they've had to function as a kind of digital cocoon. Natural disasters, mass shootings and political events have left me buffeted by wave after wave of anxiety.īecause of this never-ending cycle of unease, video games have been more important to me this year. The sheer scale of 2016's failings allows for such blanket statements. No matter your political persuasion, social status or country of residence, you'll have felt disquieted by events at some point this year. The year is nearly over, and I don't think I'm alone in saying that I'm ready to leave behind the dark, twisted fantasy that is 2016.
