We’re well into our first week of 2017 and we can’t wait to see what lies ahead in this wide magical landscape we call video games. But before we forget the year that is 2016 (celebrity and political issues aside) the year managed to produce some pretty amazing titles. Here are five pics from last year you have to play no matter what.

Final Fantasy XV

After 10 years of waiting, Final Fantasy XV has arrived and delivered. While many argue that it is flawed with missing story set pieces I personally enjoyed this journey of brotherhood and bonding with an ending that left me in tears. Few games have offered me the kind of immersion that XV did with its attention to detail from everything ranging from hair to gigantic cities and of course the beautiful lush landscapes. As a Final Fantasy game it manages to break new ground with an active battle system that sets the foundation for others to follow. Most importantly it brought the franchise back and is till now the best JRPG I played this gen. If you’re looking for an entry into the franchise this should be it.

Uncharted 4

Naughty Dog has constantly raised the bar on its games and Uncharted 4 is no exception. Despite this being a PS4 game it manages to look better than most high-end PC titles (and this is coming from a PC fanboy). Filled with none-stop adventure, Uncharted 4 never has a dull moment. Sure the tacked-on multiplayer is forgettable but its singleplayer is where it truly shines. By far the best game ND has produced, this masterpiece is a must for all PS4 owners.
As a side note: Uncharted 4 and Final Fantasy XV are the only games I’ve given a 10 for which makes them the highest recommended games on this list.

DOOM (4)

There was a moment were I thought DOOM 4’s campaign was going to suck, I mean aside from the stage demo, most of the promo footage I recalled was about the game’s Snap Map and its multiplayer which looked kinda lackluster. Ironically its biggest selling point ended up being its less promoted singleplayer mode with the others feeling tacked on. Everything about it screams personality from its techno metal soundtrack (which brought back memories of Quake 2) to its hyper-demon slaying-violence. And unlike most of today’s shooter where you need to play defensive by hiding to recover health, DOOM flips the table and demands you to be more aggressive to get health packs and drops from enemies to survive. It also manages stay true to its source material while also surprisingly expanding the game’s lore, in short: DOOM is the 90’s shooter brought to modern times done right.

Deus Ex Mankind Divided

Ever since the turn of the century Deus Ex has been that one game that questioned the world I live in. It introduced me to conspiracy theories and how world government operate not to the benefit of society but to shape the world they see fit. Deus Ex Mankind Divided continues that tradition by bridging itself with today’s problems. Escalation in racism and the way it treats biomoded humans as refugees, Mankind Divided manages to be a game that we can all relate to. Added to that is the improved gameplay and traditional freedom to its level design, Deus Ex has never looked or played this good. It’s easily my favorite entry in the franchise and honestly can’t wait to see what happens next.

Inside

Let’s face facts, most of the big pixelated indie games we play tend to bank on nostalgia. Owlboy, Freedom Planet, Axiom Verge while all amazing titles they tend to relay on our history with the games we played and loved. Inside is first indie title in a while that manages to give me a new groundbreaking experience. Everything from its ambient atmosphere to its smart puzzle design helped shape a world without a single piece of dialogue.

Honorable Mentions:

The Last Guardian

The Last Guardian was one of the most frustrating experiences I had this year, but it still managed to warm my heart. If you can look past its issues you’ll find a game that’s certainly worth your while.

Titanfall 2

I was very close to adding this to my list, but decided against it mainly because I found DOOM’s singleplayer to be more memorable. Don’t get me wrong, this is game is a sequel done right with amazing level design that harkins back to the Half-Life days. That being said, I did find its multiplayer feeling stale after a while similar to Titanfall 1.