Top 5 Best Games of 2015

(Mirror Daily, United States) – It’s been a good year in terms of new releases. The gaming community has been bombarded with some excellent titles in 2015, ranging from big titles to beautifully crafted indie surprises. There are a few who clearly stood out in terms of both sales and player’s ratings, those that anyone should at least try out.

They have build spectacular worlds, captivating storylines, or just an amazingly fun experiences that kept us hooked to our PC or consoles through the year. We’re moving into the next step of technology next year, virtual reality. It will take a while before it progresses to a gamer-favorite platform. So, until then, there’s still time to celebrate the on-screen games that will likely remains classics for gamers, and favorites of this year’s releases.

THE WITCHER 3: WILD HUNT

‘The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt’ sold more than 6 million copies in six weeks after its release and took the world by a storm. The epic story of Geralt of Rivia was continued in this successful third installment, with more choices, more battles, and more risqué encounters riddled all over the land. The game won the highly sought-after prize of ‘Best Game of the Year’ and has been received with critical acclaim. More importantly, it became a favorite of the gaming community.

The third installment of The Witcher series created a world 30 times bigger than all its prequels, and was boasted as being “20% bigger than Skyrim”. It arrived with well crafted story line, to be individualized by the player’s choices, and massive potential for exploration. It’s easily one of this year’s games where hundreds of hours can be invested, and still have more discover. The spectacular visuals, captivating combat, and diverse world will just tug at anyone to keep on playing.

Release date: May 19^th

GRAND THEFT AUTO V

Another open-world game that became 2015’s favorite, that only this year arrived on PC. Received with critical acclaim, ‘Grand Theft Auto V’, or GTA V, broke records upon initial release. The fifth installment of the action series became the fastest-selling entertainment product in history, pulling in $800 million on its first day. In its first three days, it broke another record by reaching $1 billion, and has so far sold over 54 million copies.

The highly-anticipated title will offer an expansive world to explore, a full city to play around to your heart’s desire. The story may not be the most amazing experience gamers will ever have, but it’s decent for a franchise that focuses on its action, liberty, and tough protagonists. Rockstar has once again managed to keep players engaged, and always wanting more. The game also reached into the hearts of the gaming community with its online multiplayer mode. It’s often updated, it’s fun, and it’s the same GTA action that we’ve all come to know and love. Only bigger, better, and, with the right mods, a display of incredible graphics.

Release date: April 14^th, (on PC)

MORTAL KOMBAT X

Belonging to one of the most beloved fighting franchises, ‘Mortal Kombat X’ defeated them all in terms of sales. It became the fastest-selling game of the series, is considered “one of the best fighting game in years”, and has so far sold 5 million copies worldwide. It has been called “a superb entry in the franchise”, which has definitely been among one of its saving graces. The Mortal Kombat series was dying, but the last installment managed to bring it back to life. ‘Mortal Kombat X’ was the cherry on the cake that brought it firmly back to the minds and hearts of players.

It features a diverse roster of characters, with numerous fighting styles, and a story that is certainly engaging. It keeps players into the world created by NetherRealm and will have you wanting to learn all those awe-inspiring moves, awesome fatalities, and disturbing brutalities.

Release date: April 14^th

LIFE IS STRANGE

The episodic game is proof that there is no need for Hollywood-level action and brooding protagonists to create an entertaining experience. ‘Life is Strange’ is a graphic adventure that released periodically through 2015. It held the banner for this year’s surprise standouts by creating a world that is not so much about a player’s reflexes, coordination, and ability to understand game mechanics. Instead, it’s about life, it’s beauty, struggles, regrets, and decisions that will keep players hooked into the story, forced to make moral decisions that will undoubtedly leave them re-thinking them in the end.

It also contains time-travel.

‘Life is Strange’ is a completely immersing and fantastic game that will linger with you long after you finish it. It will not be a feast of the eyes in terms of action, but it will tug on your heartstrings and force moral dilemmas. By the time you complete it, it’s likely that you’ll still have regrets no matter which path you take

Release date: January 30^th – October 20^th

ROCKET LEAGUE

This year’s indie darling, ‘Rocket League’ managed to come out of the woods and reach 8 million downloads by the end of the year. The incredibly fun sports game will pit toy cars against each other in a fast-paced soccer match that will capture your attention even if you don’t like soccer. It has gained three awards this year, including ‘Best Independent Game’, ‘Best Sports/Racing Game’, and ‘Best Multiplayer’ game of 2015. This is all in spite of the hard competition it had to face in at least two of those categories.

The little engine that definitely could soared this year as one of the community’s favorites. It’s now in talks of developing its own professional competitive league, and keeps on adding to the fun. Be it played in teams or one on one, ‘Rocket League’ is fun, fresh, and can be played by all types of players, be it strictly for entertainment or to develop actual skills.

Release date: July 7^th

This year, gamers have been given numerous beautiful and exciting games that kept our attention, and truly did little in terms of helping us be productive. There are multiple titles that deserve mentioned and will likely remain options for players even heading into 2016.

Fallout 4
Batman: Arkham Knight
Bloodborne
Her Story
Splatoon
Everybody’s Gone To The Rapture
Rise of the Tomb Raider
Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate
Metal Gear Solid V: Phantom Pain
Halo 5: Guardians
Just Cause 3
Rainbow Six: Siege
Star Wars: Battlefront
Dying Light
Cities: Skyline

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John Birks

John holds a diploma in journalism from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. He covers the technology, social media, green business, eco-travel, politics, arts culture.