And it’s here… The final day of the year can only mean one thing. It’s our Game of the Year finale!
Catch up with our “Best of the Rest” in the podcast and video below, for in this piece, it’s our Top Ten, so let’s get right into it!
10 – RING FIT ADVENTURE
Jonny: Nintendo have proven time and again that weird peripherals and hardware are very much their bag *quickly sweeps Wii U under a rug*. I was gripped by the Rig Fit Adventure from the first trailer, a proper game-ifying of the Wii Sports formula that proved so profitable on the Wii. While the new IP on display may not be up to much (a body building dragon called Dragaux is the grim nadir of a forgettable world), the inventive use of two basic pieces of hardware is what’s made this my game of the year. Having clear goals in exercise is key, so having the activity set to a literal adventure with clear progression points is perfect. I never thought I’d be excited about unlocking new exercise techniques to battle enemies in a fantasy realm has provided anticipation unlike any other game this year for me. Also, my bum looks great now. (Editor’s note: This last part is debatable)
9 – SEKIRO: SHADOWS DIE TWICE
Andy: My most anticipated game of last year only hits 4th place! So Sekiro probably wasn’t the game I was expecting, eschewing most of the customisation and social functionality of FromSoftware’s past catalogue, but it presented a rich world of Japanese mythology and such a good story. Sure, it was hard as nails, probably harder than many games of its ilk, but the level of polish and craft on display here is immense.
8 – LUIGI’S MANSION 3
Kieran: Nintendo makes great games, I don’t need to tell you that, but I have because I’m trying to up my word count. But one of Nintendo’s background brothers – Luigi – really shines in his debut game on the Switch. Luigi’s Mansion 3 takes the tried and tested puzzle/platform formula and creates something that’s suitably ‘of its ilk’ but does so incredibly well. Nintendo games reek of charm and Luigi’s Mansion is no exception. In fact, it utterly stinks of it and this is down to the smaller details. Luigi is a meek character and his nervous persona lends to some incredible character animation which ties the games overarching whimsy into a beautiful little parcel. The environments feel alive, quite literally (but not really because ghosts are dead) in some cases, lived-in and perfectly crafted. It’s quintessentially a run of the mill puzzler yet it’s somehow more than that because of the attention to detail paid to it. It’s a simple game done very well and it makes Luigi’s Mansion 3 an essential purchase for Nintendo Switch owners.
Ben: Luigi’s Mansion 3 is a visual treat, wrapped up with familiar yet surprisingly engaging gameplay mechanics. Taking Mario’s scared sibling through a number of levels of a haunted hotel is a real pleasure, with some laugh out loud moments along the way, and some absolutely gorgeous environments to go with it. One of the year’s best Switch games
Gari: The Luigi’s Mansion series has always been one of my favourite series and when it was announced in 2018, my excitement level reached its peak. Straight off the bat, Luigi’s Mansion 3 does not disappoint. It’s charm is something that shines more than any other game I’ve played in 2019 and with tight gameplay, beautiful art style and solid gameplay, Nintendo has done it again with another 1st party software masterpiece. If you own a Switch, Luigi’s Mansion 3 is without doubt a must own.
7 – JUDGMENT
Robin: The SEGA Yakuza series is fantastic, but it can definitely be accused of feeling a little samey, over the course of the 6 mainline series entries and the three or four spin-offs. That is why Judgment was so interesting.
