2014 was a strange year for gaming, one that included a bit of everything. Great, genuinely fun titles were released, big-budget launches stumbled disappointingly out of the gate, and exciting indie and mobile titles continued to gain our attention. A drawn out controversy within the industry at times distracted us from the games themselves, but in the end, it's always about what we're all playing.
It's the best of those titles that are worth discussing and highlighting now, at the end of the year. I personally spent a lot of time playing games, but I wasn't able to get to everything. In fact, the need to write about and cover certain titles kept me from playing a handful of common game of the year nominees, some of which are my usual bread and butter (still looking at you, Dragon Age: Inquisition). Of the games I did spend time with in 2014, I believe the following were the best of the bunch--but only one can be my Game of the Year:
10. FIFA 15 (Xbox/PlayStation/PC) - EA's newest football simulation is similar to the previous iteration in many ways, which partially explains its position on this list. The menus and game modes are mostly the same, with small tweaks here and there to improve the UI or add functionality. Those modes will hopefully be revolutionized soon, but the on-field product this year took a huge step forward. FIFA 14 wasn't particularly pleasant to play, but this version is vastly enhanced--it's the best the series has played in years. With more realistic ball control, better player physics, more accurate finishing, and other visual flourishes, the beautiful game has been noticeably improved in a big way.
9. Metro Redux (PS4/Xbox One/PC)
Where to begin? One of the most divisive titles of the year, Bungie's online shooter is both fantastic and disappointing all at once. It looks great and plays even better--Destiny boasts some of the tightest and most enjoyable shooter mechanics in a long time. Marty O'Donnell's award-winning score speaks for itself, and the landscapes really do look like concept art come to life. Unfortunately, it's all marred by half-baked MMO elements, a truly limp and shallow narrative, and confusing (and in some ways anti-player) character progression. At least it worked at launch (unlike other online-only titles this year) and wasn't filled with game-breaking glitches, right?
You can easily spend dozens of hours playing Destiny (I have), but there's somehow also not enough to do or see: planets and areas repeat way too frequently. The Raids may very well be its saving grace, offering much different versions of the normal gameplay that really excel and challenge. Destiny falls well short of the grandeur it sets the player up for, and yet it remains addicting and appealing for many. It's easily the title I've spent the most time with this year and, for better or worse, was one of my top three games of 2014.
1. Super Smash Bros for Wii U
Hands down the most purely fun game of the year, Super Smash Bros just knocks it out of the park on Wii U. It simply works as it should, looks excellent, and plays like a near-perfect mix of Melee and Brawl's combat styles (read more about that and other aspects of what makes the game so good in my review). The new eight-player battles are unexpectedly great--I didn't find it difficult to keep track of my character, and the battles can get joyfully frantic. The selection of fighters and balance of gameplay makes Super Smash Bros for Wii U somehow fitting for both casual and competitive play with just a few settings changes, and there are plenty of extra singleplayer scenarios and challenges to sink your teeth into.
Through my time with the game I played against others and honed my skills with my favorite fighters, aimed for higher scores in the game's many modes, and experimented with everything in between. The most complete and downright fun title of 2014 (its only real problem being that it released on a system not many people own), Super Smash Bros for Wii U is my Game of the Year.
