Rocket League

GWJ Community 2015 Game Of The Year

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Thank you so much to everyone who voted. Here are your results!

10.) Super Mario Maker (Wii U)

"This is the game I have wanted ever since I was a schoolkid first venturing into the Mushroom Kingdom back in the days of the original Super Mario Bros. I vividly remember the many hours I spent drawing my own levels, making up my own Mario power-ups and enemies, and dreaming of a day I might be able to make my own Mario game.

"That day is now, and I am hard-pressed to imagine Nintendo doing a better job with this first offering of a creation toolkit of this pedigree." — Farscry

"Just the act of creating is so satisfying, so intuitive, so egregiously Nintendo that I had to give this game a spot in the top five." — doubtingthomas396

"A childhood dream come true. Nintendo's focus on ease of use really pays off here and they've created the best game making toy thingy ever conceived." — garion333


9.) Dragon Age: Inquisition (Multiplatform) — Special Award: Classic Game of the Year

"I love the characters, the incredible dialogue writing, and the voice acting. I love the graphic design. I love the unorthodox open world exploration-based story telling. I love the crafting system and the variety of items. I love the variety of spells and abilities, the way they work, and the way you can use them to create teams with great synergy." — BadKen


8.) Pillars of Eternity (PC)

"A mature story told with good characters, an initially confusing combat system, and at least one metacontroversy that was handled with the grace of a sedated cow in a trebuchet." — Tanglebones

"Pillars is a strong and engaging start to Obsidian's foray into making games on their own. Competently written throughout, with moments of actual brilliance (Grieving Mother was... something else)." — Hyetal

"It evoked the Infinity Engine games of old, while still feeling fresh and unique. And the lofty thematic goals were built on top of a solid foundation of design decisions." — BNice


7.) Life Is Strange (Multiplatform)

"Truly loved the overall experience. The characters, the soundtrack, the presentation really delivered." — Shadout

"There's just something here, love the entire aesthetic." — Infyrnos

"Life is Strange managed to keep me engaged throughout in a way that few games before have, and certainly none of its particular style. I fully bought into every twist they presented me with and by the end I realized I was going to miss those characters the way I sometimes miss characters after I finish a good book." — nako

"If you buy this, be prepared to go on an emotional roller coaster that may ruin your mood for days afterwards...but it is worth it. It is rare that a game can actually teach someone something about themselves." — Granath


6.) Cities: Skylines (PC) — Special Award: PC Game of the Year

"What a terrific answer to recent city builder games. I got lost in a few cities, and have returned to it many times over the year to tinker. For me, it triggers a very zen state as I work to build a city that is both beautiful and functional, and it does it while looking amazing at the same time. What puts the game over the top, though, is the support after the fact in the form of changes from the dev and the community. It's going to be a staple that I pull out for years when I want my fix." — mateofalcone

"Fun and beautiful successor to the SimCity series." — WolverineJon

"Hey, EA. EA! Yeah, yeah you. Paradox took you to lunch in a category you should have owned. With the way this game is continuing to evolve and be supported, we may just have ourselves the new Kings and Queens of the city management genre." — UMOarsman

"The most relaxing, pleasant game I encountered this year - it was a delight to watch the sun rise over my city, or follow a doughnut van on its rounds. And it was an interesting experience to take what I've picked up about real-life urban design - the importance of infrastructure, amenity, etc - and apply it to the game." — PeterS


5.) Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (Multiplatform)

"What the hell is this?
Really - what the hell is this?
I fultoned a goat." — Aristophan

"This game surprised me. I've never enjoyed the MGSV series - can't get into wacky story-lines like this. But the gameplay, enemy AI, and spectacular combat opportunities and freedom to engage missions any way you want is wonderful." — WyattERP

"The controls, structure, everything was just fantastic, and I loved the hell out of it." — Chaz

"I FULTONED A BEAR." — cube


4.) Bloodborne (PS4) — Special Award: Console Game of the Year

"It got its hooks into me deep and in strange way was a huge creative inspiration for my own personal work. I can't think of any part of it I didn't thoroughly enjoy. This is a gem of a game that was completely off my radar when the year began." — TheHarpoMarxist

"The mix of Castlevania themes with the intense combat and sense of real, skill-based progress mean that I never get too far from this game. One playthrough isn't enough for this one." — Gains

"The mechanics are superb, and the feeling of accomplishment it can give you is something I don't think I've experienced in any other game." — Clusks

"Bloodborne continues the high standard set by the Souls Series, and it returns to the interconnected world design established in Dark Souls. Yharnam is a terrifying world that makes you want to tread cautiously into each new area, especially as the world slowly transitions from gothic horrors to Lovecraftian horrors. The removal of shields, introduction of gun parrying, and modification of the lock-on dodge system makes Bloodborne feel familiar yet entirely new at the same time. Whether I was smashing heads with my Kirkhammer or plucking away with my Saw Cleaver, fighting and exploring my way through Bloodborne was my favorite gaming experience of the year." — Dyni


3.) Fallout 4 (Multiplatform)

"The finest duct-tape hoarding simulator ever created. The other parts are good too I guess." — muttonchop

"Bethesda makes amazing games set in huge, fascinating worlds, and offer unparallaed freedom to their players in just about every respect imaginable. Generally speaking that’s enough to make me go head over heels about a game. And, Fallout 4 did all of that!" — zeroKFE

"Bethesda nail open world exploration, you don't know what's gonna be around the next corner or what secrets the various vaults littered around the wasteland hold within." — Spikeout


2.) The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (Multiplatform) — Special Award: Most #1 Votes

"Easily my Game of All Time. I can’t think of a game that pulled me in more, from the responsive and fun combat to the expansive story(which I adored). This game was an absolute treat and I enjoyed all the hours it took to complete all the sidequests(and achievements, natch)." — SallyNasty

"This is my favourite game. Ever. Geralt is like a family member, I love that guy. He was wooden and one-dimensional in Witcher 1, now he’s compassionate, humorous, sensitive, but still a total badass witcher. The quests are so varied, but great care has been taken with each of them, and the voice acting throughout is mostly outstanding." — kergguz

"It took 15 years, but TW3 finally dethroned Planescape: Torment as my all-time favorite game. I loved everything about it." — conejote

"Witcher 3 was something special, it came out and became my absolute favourite of all time, with no other coming close. The writing, the caharacters and the world building are unlike anything I've ever experienced." — MrDeVil909


1.) Rocket League (Multiplatform) — Special Awards: Most Overall Votes; Indie Game of the Year

"One of the best games ever made. The definition of 'easy to learn, difficult to master'." — _Free_

"I almost feel dirty putting this at number one as it's so simple and the scope is so much narrower than some of the others, it almost feels unfair. But what can I say? Sometimes somebody writes a song that only has 3 chords, and I can recognize the simplicity, but they do it so well, I can't help but love it. That's Rocket League. Three beautiful chords, arranged just so." — Localgod54

"It's a game that can be a blast playing with friends over some drinks, and at the same time it can be an amazing competitive experience when you really know what you're doing. Either way you want to play, this game will fit your need." — CptDomano

"Best Sports game of the decade, I reckon." — rattlehead57

"This game is a joy to play, in large part because of the GWJ community, but also the game itself is a distillation of fun. The developers stripped out all the nonessential elements of a sports game and kept all the things that make sports fun to watch and participate in. You have drama, heroics, mistakes, great saves, awesome plays, the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat - all in five minute chunks. Then you play again. And again. And again." — tboon


In addition, we have two honorable mentions:

[b]Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate[b] (3DS) — Special Award: Mobile/Portable Game of the Year

"There is no better co-op experience in all of gaming than monster hunting with three friends." — Dyni

"Great depth along with great co-op. This game really knows how to keep battle system interesting while also having great loot system. Always something new you want to try." — escher77


Yo-Kai Watch (3DS) — Special Award: Highest Average Vote

This award is a new one this year, and it's awarded to the game with at least three votes that received the highest average score. Yo-Kai Watch only barely qualified: it needed three votes to be counted, and it got only three votes total. However, every vote for Yo-Kai Watch was a #1 vote. If it was listed at all, it was that person's game of the year.

"A good substitute for a new Pokécrack release, with the added bonuses of being from Level-5, and actual references to Japanese culture." — sometimesdee

"Yo-Kai Watch came out of nowhere and sucked me in." — garion333

"This is probably the most realized world I've ever seen in a JRPG." — cube

Comments

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Rocket League pulled it off!

Woo! I voted for none of those!

Congratulations everyone, you got the right answer.

Great Pass!
Nice Shot!
Nice Shot!
Nice Shot!
No Problem.

Also, once again, a HUGE thank you to Panda Eskimo for giving me access to his GOTY tallying tool. It made a big difference and significantly reduced the amount of time and work this all took, so give Panda Eskimo a round of applause.

Elysium wrote:

Congratulations everyone, you got the right answer.

Monster Hunter, right?

I don't think there is anything surprising about that list, well, maybe Dragon Age. I guess that game has legs, or late adopters.

I got one right answer. THE right answer.

I would have loved to see Until Dawn on that list, but that's a lot to ask of a niche game on a single platform.

Thank you for the incredible amount of work you put into this one, Clocky!

Mighty fine list there, community.

As always, many thanks to ClockworkHouse for doing the yeowoman's work of tallying and compiling all of the community's input.

Thanks for putting this together! I was wondering - do you include the podcast crews' votes from what they said on the podcast?

Thanks, Clocky! Glad I get to wear my official Nate Silver prognosticator badge about Rocket League pulling #1

ClockworkHouse wrote:
Elysium wrote:

Congratulations everyone, you got the right answer.

Monster Hunter, right?

It should have been EU4.

Here are the complete results. I apologize in advance for any lingering issues with games appearing twice (i.e., "XCOM: Enemy Within" and "XCOM Enemy Within"). I ironed out most of them, but with over 400 games represented, I'm sure I missed one or two that won't alter the overall outcome. (Side note: you wouldn't believe how many different ways people found to write "Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain".)

With that, here are some platform tallies, by request, with their overall rank in parentheses.

Top PC Exclusives:

  • (#6) Cities: Skylines
  • (#8) Pillars of Eternity
  • (#11) Her Story (also available on mobile)
  • (#12) Undertale
  • (#16) Heroes of the Storm

Top Sony Exclusives

  • (#1) Rocket League (also available on PC)
  • (#4) Bloodborne
  • (#21) SOMA (also available on PC)
  • (#29) The Talos Principle (also available on PC)
  • (#34) Tearaway/Tearaway Unfolded

Top Microsoft Exclusives

  • (#15) Ori and the Blind Forest (also available on PC)
  • (#20) Rise of the Tomb Raider
  • (#32) Elite: Dangerous (also available on PC)
  • (#37) Halo 5: Guardians
  • (#117) Forza Motorsport 6

Top Nintendo Exclusives

  • (#10) Super Mario Maker
  • (#13) Splatoon
  • (#18) Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate
  • (#19) Xenoblade Chronicles X
  • (#45) Yoshi's Wooly World
LeapingGnome wrote:

Thanks for putting this together! I was wondering - do you include the podcast crews' votes from what they said on the podcast?

I included Certis's votes because he posted them in the thread.

Great list and fine work by all of you (who agreed with me)

Only one real surprise (DA: Inquisiton), with everything else being mostly expected. Four of the games on my list are present here, which I think is the most overlap I've had in the 5 years that I've been participating in the GOTY voting.

I'm most satisfied to see Cities: Skylines place so high. It's by far the best modern city-builder since SC4, but I wasn't sure it would even make this list, not mention appearing at #6.

As always, thanks to Clocky for all your time and effort in keeping this tradition going.

ClockworkHouse wrote:

Top PC Exclusives:

  • (#11) Her Story (also available on mobile)
  • (#12) Undertale

Top Nintendo Exclusives

  • (#10) Super Mario Maker
  • (#13) Splatoon

Wow, can't believe Her Story beat out Undertale and almost made the top 10!

And Splatoon almost made top 10. Bummer there.

Good list this year, though I honestly didn't think Dragon Age Inquisition would make the top 10 and really don't think it's a particularly good Bioware game, but clearly YMMV.

Wow! I didn't play a single one of those!

Better get cracking :p

(#11) Her Story

Whoa! So awesome to learn that Her Story (my #1 game) came that close to making the top 10!

Guess I need to play Rocket League, eh?

EverythingsTentative wrote:

I don't think there is anything surprising about that list, well, maybe Dragon Age. I guess that game has legs, or late adopters.

It came out Nov 18, 2014. Unless you pre-ordered or bought day 1, hard to complete a 50+ hour game in 6 weeks to include it on the 2014 list.

Even people who might have got it for Christmas in 2014 didn't play it until 2015. Almost surprised it's not higher on the list.

Great job Clock! Thank you for putting this together!

When Rocket League came out I was giving my weekends up for kids soccer so the last thing I wanted was to play a soccer game after hours. I'm interested in trying it out now but am afraid that boat has sailed. Don't want to be the noob who everyone yells at.

jdzappa wrote:

Great job Clock! Thank you for putting this together!

When Rocket League came out I was giving my weekends up for kids soccer so the last thing I wanted was to play a soccer game after hours. I'm interested in trying it out now but am afraid that boat has sailed. Don't want to be the noob who everyone yells at.

It's never too late and it plays/feels very little like soccer. It's more like hockey mixed with San Francisco Rush.

Is this the first time a game that wasn't technically released that year made the top 10? Stele, above, came up with plenty of good reasons why people didn't play it until 2015, but I'm curious if that's the first.

Taharka wrote:

Is this the first time a game that wasn't technically released that year made the top 10? Stele, above, came up with plenty of good reasons why people didn't play it until 2015, but I'm curious if that's the first.

It is not. In fact, every year we've done the vote this way except for the first has had a game from the previous year in the top ten. I also combine votes for the base game with votes for expansions, DLC, and remasters, because it's devilishly hard to split out, which bolsters some older games with new content.

2012 - Saint's Row IV (#10)
2013 - XCOM: Enemy Unknown (#7)
2014 - Diablo 3 (#5), The Last of Us (#8)
2015 - Dragon Age: Inquisition (#9)

I'd go ahead and put money on one of the top ten from this year making it on to next year's list.

ClockworkHouse wrote:
Taharka wrote:

Is this the first time a game that wasn't technically released that year made the top 10? Stele, above, came up with plenty of good reasons why people didn't play it until 2015, but I'm curious if that's the first.

It is not. In fact, every year we've done the vote this way except for the first has had a game from the previous year in the top ten. I also combine votes for the base game with votes for expansions, DLC, and remasters, because it's devilishly hard to split out.

2012 - Saint's Row IV (#10)
2013 - XCOM: Enemy Unknown (#7)
2014 - Diablo 3 (#5), The Last of Us (#8)
2015 - Dragon Age: Inquisition (#9)

I'd go ahead and put money on one of the top ten from this year making it on to next year's list.

At first I didn't like that old games could make the list, but I've grown to like it. This way is a better reflection for what people actually played and were impacted by in 2015, release date be damned. And it's only one or two games a year; not a big deal.

I have a sneaking suspicion that there simply weren't many of us who have played Yokai Watch enough yet to vote on it; it will absolutely be on my 2016 GOTY list, as will Xenoblade X.

ClockworkHouse wrote:

I'd go ahead and put money on one of the top ten from this year making it on to next year's list.

I'd wager Fallout 4 since it came out so close to the end of the year.

_Free_ wrote:
ClockworkHouse wrote:

2012 - Saint's Row IV (#10)
2013 - XCOM: Enemy Unknown (#7)
2014 - Diablo 3 (#5), The Last of Us (#8)
2015 - Dragon Age: Inquisition (#9)

At first I didn't like that old games could make the list, but I've grown to like it. This way is a better reflection for what people actually played and were impacted by in 2015, release date be damned. And it's only one or two games a year; not a big deal.

2014 was a weird year because Diablo 3 got a boost from Reaper of Souls on PC and a new, refined Ultimate Edition on console. Likewise, The Last of Us had a remaster for the PS4 that Sony pushed pretty aggressively, and for anyone who skipped the PS3, it was their first exposure to the game. XCOM also got a boost in 2013 by Enemy Within, and Dragon Age got a boost this year both from its late release date in 2014 and by the year-long flow of DLC for it in 2015.

So if you ever wonder if remasters and DLC packs give games a longer shelf life, the answer is yes, at least so far as our community goes.

Farscry wrote:

I have a sneaking suspicion that there simply weren't many of us who have played Yokai Watch enough yet to vote on it; it will absolutely be on my 2016 GOTY list, as will Xenoblade X. :)

I just started playing it last week and really enjoy it. I wish the difficulty was adjustable (I want it to be harder), but the charm is undeniable. They really nailed the localization.

Mantid wrote:

Woo! I voted for none of those! :D

I am usually a year or two behind on playing games so I didn't vote for any of these games either but fun to read. Nice work!! I especially like the quotes from everyone's lists--very nice touch.

walterqchocobo wrote:
Mantid wrote:

Woo! I voted for none of those! :D

I am usually a year or two behind on playing games so I didn't vote for any of these games either but fun to read. Nice work!! I especially like the quotes from everyone's lists--very nice touch.

Certainly half of my problem (really, only half of the games I voted for came out in 2015). The other half is my love of niche games and indies.

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