There were a lot of really quality games this year. Compared to last year's dismal releases every game I played was a certified knockout (with a few unfortunate exceptions). There have been a lot of controversies in gaming this year and it seems the gaming community will never be able to agree on anything but these are my top picks. I'm going to bend the rules a bit in my honorable mentions section because as I was writing this I picked up a game that should have made it into my top 5. Since I bought and have been playing it this month though it goes right past my cutoff. So this time around we're going to have four honorable mentions instead of the usual two or three.

Let's get into it!

Number 5 (Wolfenstein II)

I'm in love with Wolfenstein II. It's everything I'd want from a first-person shooter. The gunplay pops and the act of killing every Nazi you come across is fun and enjoyable in every way. One particular sequence in a Third Reich Supreme Court highlights everything I love about this game. Great characters, satisfying gameplay, and absolute insanity once you're behind the wheel. Set in an alternate reality where Hitler won World War II, you play as a resistance fighter who aims to take down the new regime one state at a time. One minute you're drinking milkshakes with a general, a nuke strapped firmly on your back. The next you're on Venus auditioning for Adolf’s new film. Every minute is fun with an ending that leaves you wanting more in the best way possible.

Number 4 (Super Mario Odyssey)

Mario is the undisputed king of video games. Even people who don't game at least have some idea of who Mario is and what his game is. Years later and the series has grown stale with each new entry promising the same empty and tried gameplay year in and year out. Then along comes “Odyssey”; a game bursting with creativity, one that anyone can pick up and enjoy. Each level is more perfect than the last with New Donk City being the cherry on top. The entire level bursts with originality and features a segment that made me smile from start to finish. No matter how many times I play it the game sucks me in to its magical and optimistic world. It's pure escapism through and through. There's nearly 1,000 different moons and coins to collect. Unlike other games I find myself drawn to find those moons again and again. It's a game that reminds me why I'm a gamer. And I love it for that.

Number 3 (Cuphead)

Don't let the art style of Cuphead fool you, this game is brutal. It'll kick you up and down the block and will make you a better gamer as a result. It's beyond frustrating but it's refreshing to have a game that challenges you. Every boss fight is unique, every level is hand-drawn and animated in the style of 1940s era cartoons. I'd say it's a joy to play through but it's more of a joy to look at. I recommend it to any gamer looking for a challenge.

Number 2 (Injustice 2)

Imagine a world where Superman is evil. Where he's taken over the world and rules it over with an iron fist. A resistance movement led by Batman and a rag-tag team of lesser known heroes and villains fight to knock the man of steel off his throne. Years later Superman is locked up and the world is returned to semi-normalcy thanks to Batman. Injustice 2 brings us into that world where heroes and villains clash left and right. I played this fighting game pretty much my entire summer. Acquiring new gear and costumes for my best characters, levelling them up, customizing them. Every piece of Injustice feels fun and satisfying to play. It’s an amazing story backed up by satisfying and fun gameplay and character progression. Every match is new and every fight is a blast to play through.

Number 1 (Resident Evil 7):

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard is a near perfect game in every way. From your first steps onto the Baker estate the game hooks you and doesn't let go. Most of the magic of this game lies in its simplicity. With other horror games like Outlast or The Evil Within the plot often takes center stage and subtracts from the game's overall value as a horror game. If it's too complicated it probably won't be scary. RE7 opts for a very simple story and is often terrifying as a result. You're just a guy in a house surrounded by mutant rednecks. Aside from a government conspiracy or two later in the game that's all you're there for. Every moment feels iconic in some way too. Your first encounter with Mia, the dinner scene, Jack's entrance as he punches you to the ground, fighting for your life against a giant spider woman, solving Lucas' traps. It's all pure fun from start to finish and offers something I won't soon forget. Honestly, it's why I've played the game so many times. It's short, it's simple, it's sweet, and it's fun as hell. Even the higher difficulties, no matter how frustrating, feel worthwhile and make you feel more familiar with the game. It's one of the few titles I've completed 100% and it's one I'm very proud to have completed.

Honorable Mentions:

• Prey: I never got around to beating Prey but from what I've played it's satisfying, intriguing and fun. It's as close to a fourth “Bioshock” as we're ever going to get which gives it a glowing recommendation from me.
• Yakuza 0/Kiwami: Both of these games were released in Japan years ago and finally got their US release earlier this year. They're both entirely in Japanese and soaked in Japanese culture. By the time you're done you feel like you've been on a trip to Tokyo and find yourself attached to every single character in the story. It immerses you and doesn't let go. If I had more space this would definitely be on my list.
• Batman The Enemy Within: Telltale's 2016 Batman series was one of my favorites the developer had ever put out. Rocksteady had cemented Batman as a marketable videogame character with the Arkham series but when they wrapped up the series I felt there was more they should have done. Last year's Batman: A Telltale Series was exactly what I had in mind. While it lacked the addictive combat and gameplay of the Arkham series Telltale delivered one of the most compelling and interesting Batman stories ever told. It completely changed the dynamic between Bruce Wayne and the legacy of his dead parents while providing solid origin stories for villains Two Face and The Penguin. Uninteresting characters like Vicki Vale are given a major overhaul and made to be interesting. Rocksteady stuck to the conventions of Batman while Telltale completely shattered them. Batman The Enemy Within is the sequel to Batman and so far it seems to be doing even better than its predecessor. It's developing an interesting dynamic between Bruce Wayne and John Doe (who will eventually become The Joker). I say it's good so far because Telltale Games are released through bi-monthly episodes and as I write this episode four is yet to be released. I highly recommend it if you like Batman, though.
• Horizon Zero Dawn: This was the game I mentioned near the start of the article. It was released in 2017 but I didn't get around to actually playing it until early 2018. From what I've played it's one of the most intriguing titles I've ever played. The artstyle and design of the world is original and beautifully done. Its story is unique and original, taking place in a post-post-apocalyptic future where we lost some ambiguous war against machines of our own making and regressed to prehistoric tribes. It's a nice blend of past and future, one I haven't seen done in any other game if I'm being honest. You'll be walking through a lush and vast forest while a giant robot dinosaur slowly passes you by. I put it on my honorable mentions list for another reason, however. So far I'm yet to find the thing that hooks me into the game. True, I find it interesting and fun but there's nothing about it that makes me want to go back to it yet. Maybe there will be another article down the road where I point out what it was when I find it.

And that concludes my top 15! Five items per category on a list that took me forever to sit down and put together. I hope you enjoyed and if you're interested maybe put down your top 5 lists in the comment section below. I wish you all a happy new year (even if it is super late).