
Kentucky Route Zero is all about the journey, not the destination. Because it’s based on the keywords you choose to search, no two players see clues in the same order – but they all reach a similar, chilling conclusion. The freeform narrative of Her Story is assembled as players sift through video clips of a police interrogation. On the other hand, it’s a bold and illuminating look at how Senua’s mental illness can shape and distort the world around her, calling the nature of reality into question. On one hand, Ninja Theory’s Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice is about a quest to the Norse underworld. You are a lousy and unstable cop trying to solve a murder, and developer ZA/UM surrounds you with fascinating dialogue and deep fiction to make the unique world more than a backdrop.
#Kotaku best games of 2016 series
Giant Sparrow’s What Remains of Edith Finch turns that unusual premise into a compelling series of poetic vignettes.īizarre and captivating, Disco Elysium is unlike anything you have played before. The members of a cursed family keep dying in improbable ways, and you relive their final moments. Of course, systems and mechanics are still important, but these games distinguish themselves with outstanding characters and original narratives. Great gameplay keeps you entertained in the moment, but a great story can lodge itself in your memory for years.
#Kotaku best games of 2016 full
Santa Monica Studio’s narrative strikes a more thoughtful and mature tone than previous entries, but retains the stylish gameplay the adventure is full of intense combat and epic moments, and the star of the show is the Leviathan – a magical axe Kratos can throw and recall at will. Transplanted into the world of Norse mythology, the Ghost of Sparta is now raising his son, Atreus, while also reckoning with his own violent deeds. God of War continues the story of Kratos, but he isn’t the warrior you remember. They encapsulate the current height of the craft, with memorable characters, immersive gameplay, and clever approaches to player agency. That’s what these five games represent if you want a crash course in what was great about this generation, these are what you need to play. They are so groundbreaking and astounding that they rise to the top of the conversation regardless of genre confines.
