While most gamers can’t wait for the month of June to come around so they can see what’s coming at the next E3, there’s no denying that fourth quarter is the best time to be a gamer. The last few months of the year are when some of the biggest (and often best) games release just in time for the holidays. Like all the previous years, huge titles like Halo 5: Guardians, Rise of the Tomb Raider, and Star Wars Battlefront are on their way.
Of course, it’d be a shame to forget all about the amazing games that kept us busy throughout the year. Below is a look at some of the most popular games that have been released so far in 2015, and why players can’t get enough of them….
Splatoon
Splatoon is the surprise hit that no one thought was going to be popular for a number of reasons. First off, it’s a new intellectual property on a Nintendo console. Since it isn’t Mario, Zelda, or Metroid, it was doomed to sell poorly. Secondly, Nintendo consoles have never been the home of competitive online shooters.
Of course, Splatoon proved everyone wrong by doing what Nintendo does best: taking an established genre and giving it a fresh spin.
Players can’t get enough of this third-person shooter for its interesting visuals, fast-paced matches, and unique approach to how you actually win. It’s easy to look past the lack of voice chat and little content upon release with a game as creative as this.
Bloodborne
Two games that were loved for the amount of challenge they offered last console generation were Dark Souls 1 and 2. In a time when people thought gamers wanted lengthy dialogue scenes, complex cut scenes, and moderately difficult gameplay, these two titles by FromSoftware sucked players into worlds where you were expected to die…a lot.
Bloodborne builds upon those two games by providing a gorgeous world to explore. In this world, players will find incredible challenges, captivating mysteries, and an incomparable sense of accomplishment. From addicting combat and excellent level design, to memorable boss battles, Bloodborne is sure to be a contender for Game of the Year in 2015 despite the heavy competition coming soon.
Rocket League
No one could have guessed that a game where you basically play soccer with vehicles would be such a hit. Rocket League is the perfect example of a game that takes a ridiculous idea and turns it into an exciting and captivating experience.
There’s just something about blazing across the field at full speed to block an opponent’s shot, then delivering an awesome pass that leads to the game-winning goal. From easy to learn controls and fast-paced matches, to tons of unlockables and a surprising amount of depth, Rocket League is without a doubt one of the biggest surprise hits of 2015.
Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D
Depending on who you ask, today’s trend of remastering games is either awesome or ridiculous. While some will say it’s silly that we’re getting remakes of games released in the last five years (or just one year like The Last of Us Remastered), others are excited to replay great titles with updated visuals.
Majora’s Mask 3D, however, is a remake that fans have been begging Nintendo to make for years now. Despite being perhaps the most polarizing Zelda title for having a darker world and time limits, it is still regarded as one of the best games ever made, and was certainly welcomed when it released in early 2015.
Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain
Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain was not only one of the most anticipated titles of 2015, but is also now one of the highest rated games of the year. In fact, as of this writing, it sits at the #1 spot on Metacritic’s list of top scoring games.
Why? Simply put, it is a masterpiece that embodies why we love games. It has captivating gameplay, plenty of different gadgets and weapons to use, and offers a near-endless list of options. As a sandbox action game, it is easily one of, if not the, best ever created in the genre. Of course, we expected nothing less from the last Metal Gear Solid designed by the legendary Hideo Kojima.
Super Mario Maker
The more people rave about Super Mario Maker, the more we’re left wondering how different things would have been if the Wii U had been released alongside this amazing title. While Nintendo Land and the other launches weren’t so great, they just didn’t demonstrate what the Gamepad was capable of in the same way Wii Sports showed us with the original Wii remotes.
Super Mario Maker, however, is a game that feels perfect with the Gamepad. More importantly, it offers an intuitive interface and fantastic design tools that have countless players across the globe making their own levels. There was really no better way for Nintendo to celebrate Mario’s 30th birthday.
Honorable Mentions
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
- Batman: Arkham Knight
- Mortal Kombat X
[su_note]Click here to learn more about: The School of Game Design at the New York Film Academy.[/su_note]
