While the whole editorial staff contributed to our 2015 awards, we wanted to allow everybody the opportunity to publicly name their personal top 10 games of the year. While many did play the majority of releases in 2015, please remember that unlike our main awards, the editors are not naming the *best* games, but their personal favorites out of the selection they played.
10. The Amber Throne
(PC, Joshua Missile)
Most probably didn’t expect an RPG Maker game to make an appearance on this game of the year list. And yet, here we are, and an RPG Maker game has made an appearance…on this game of the year list. Amber Throne is a beautiful JRPG in looks and substance. Its art style is truly unlike anything you’ve seen this year, utilizing a pastel watercolor aesthetic that looks like a painting come to life at times. In fact, visually speaking, it evokes memories of Legend of Mana. And any game that looks even slightly similar to LoM is a winner in my book. But it’s more than just a pretty face; this is a wonderfully crafted classic JRPG experience. While it undoubtedly won’t be for some — thanks to its decidedly 16-bit approach to, well, just about everything — those who either A. love the SNES/Genesis era of RPGs and/or B. can recognize that there’s so much more happening beneath the 2D surface will find a lot to love here. In fact, The Amber Throne has more heart and personality than most big-budget RPGs; and that’s a testament to Josh Missile’s passion for his project. That’s right, this is a one-man game, yet very well could pass off as a title made by a team of people.
09. Stella Glow
(3DS, Atlus)
Talk about a sleeper hit. Perhaps it was the lack of marketing, or the over-crowded holiday season games lineup, but Stella Glow hasn’t gotten the attention it deserves. It’s a delightful SRPG that takes influence from all the best: Final Fantasy Tactics, Shining Force, and Fire Emblem. Needless to say, it’s a bit of a throwback experience. But that doesn’t mean it can’t go head-to-head with today’s best. With its vibrant aesthetic, genuinely affable characters, and a combat engine that is as rock-solid as they come, it’s easy to recommend Stella Glow to anyone who likes the aforementioned titles, or who is just looking for a JRPG experience of yesteryear. Better still: the game is very lengthy. So, with plenty of meat on the bone, those who take the plunge are going to get their monies worth in spades. If you’re wanting something to hold you over until Fire Emblem: Fates launches, then this is where you want to concentrate your efforts. And trust me, you will enjoy every second of its whimsical tale.
08. Transformers: Devastation
(PC / PS4 / PS3 / Xbox One / Xbox 360, PlatinumGames)
It’s Bayonetta. With Optimus Prime. And the original voice actors from the 80s cartoon. ‘Nuff said.
07. Shadowrun: Hong Kong
(PC , Harebrained Schemes)
I have reviewed every Shadowrun game released in the past few years and have talked extremely highly of each of them. When Shadowrun Returns came out, I didn’t think it could be topped. Then Shadowrun: Dragonfall came out. And when I didn’t think Harebrained Schemes could top their work on Dragonfall, Hong Kong came out. And without a doubt, I’m doing the same thing again: I don’t believe SR: Hong Kong can be topped. It’s too good. Its writing is seriously some of the best in the entire industry, as is its characterization, giving us a cast of heroes (and anti-heroes) that are both relatable and inspiring. Best of all, Hong Kong is a dark, twisted tale, and yet one that manages to dodge tropes and cliches so as to deliver one of the most unique stories of the year. Oh, and its turn-based, tactical combat is expertly crafted. That’s right, this one’s the total package, folks. Want a game to tide you over until XCOM 2? Look no further.
06. Code: Realize ~Guardian of Rebirth~
(Vita, Aksys Games)
The visual novel industry is booming these days. It’s grown so large that there seems to be a new one releasing on Steam every week. We don’t say that with contempt, but rather excitement, as the genre as a whole has not just been underrepresented here in the West for decades, but is an effective medium for fantastic storytelling. But, because they’re so plentiful these days, it’s hard to know which ones are worthy of one’s time, and which one’s aren’t. Code: Realize, from publisher Aksys Games, is one of those titles worth picking up, and worth picking up before most others. Between its gorgeous presentation, beautiful art, imaginative narrative, and satisfyingly lengthy story, it’s one of the Vita’s best games of the year. If you’ve been looking for your next visual novel – be it as a newbie, or veteran of the genre – be sure to check out Code: Realize. You won’t be disappointed.
05. Lost Dimension
(PS3 / Vita, Atlus)
Lost Dimension can best be summed up as Valkyria Chronicles, minus the Valkyria Chronicles name, and with a slightly more anime-usual story than the militaristic one of VC. Lost Dimension – aside from my number one pick – is my favorite Vita game of the year (although it released on PS3 as well). It’s a smart turn-based tactics game that knows how to blend story and gameplay. So many times with an SRPG of sorts, the game’s feel very unbalanced in how much time they spend on story as opposed to actual gameplay. Lengthy cutscenes are aplenty in something like Tears to Tiara II, but here in Lost Dimension the developers have managed to find a nice harmony of doling out compelling story hooks without ever overstaying their welcome.
As a result, this is a battle-heavy game; fortunately though, the combat, while not grid-based like many of its kin, is sleek and fulfilling. Outsmarting enemies via intelligent troop placement as well as lining up team-attacks is what makes it almost disappointing when you win a battle and it ends. Though that disappointment dissipates once you realize that the game also has a bit of a mystery solving component to it, taking cues from Danganronpa. There are a few more JRPGs on this list, but that doesn’t mean Lost Dimension should get pushed to the back-burner. If you’re wanting a Valkyria Chronicles game, then you’ve come to the right place.
04. Etrian Odyssey II Untold: The Fafnir Knight
(3DS, Atlus)
When the remake of the first Etrian Odyssey came out in 2014, we raved about it. Needless to say, in the lead up to Fifnir Knight‘s release in August, we had high expectations for the game. Lo and behold, it delivered and gave us an even more complete experience than Millennium Girl did. Fifnir Knight is how remakes should be handled: with care, love, and smart additions to the formula, while keeping the original game almost entirely in tact. In a time when DRPGs are actually a thing, and a somewhat popular thing at that – though still niche – II Untold is reigns supreme among them. 2015 saw various DRPGs, but none could best this one. If you are wanting the definitive dungeon-crawling JRPG experience, then there’s no other game you should be looking at than this. It’s my favorite 3DS game of the year, and should be yours too.
03. Dragon Quest Heroes: The World Tree’s Woe and the Blight Below
(PC / PS4, Square Enix)
Barring the hilariously long-winded subtitle, Dragon Quest Heroes is Tecmo Koei’s best Musuo/Warriors spin-off to date. Better still, it’s probably their best Warriors game in general, trumping even the mainline series in many ways. World Tree’s Woe manages to tell a great and nostalgic, if simple, story that feels ripped right out of the pages of the 1990s JRPG manual, while delivering on the gameplay front very effectively. Taking more cues from Trinity: Souls of Zill O’ll than a huge-scaled Warriors game, DQH offers loads of content, a slew of smartly implemented fan-service, and really satisfying turn-off-your-brain hack and slash action. With how much there is to do, all the Japanese DLC included in the base game, solid combat mechanics, loads of customization that rivals even that of an MMO, and a magical story that will tug at the heartstrings of any Dragon Quest fan, it’s easy for me to recommend DQH above all other PS4 titles this year.
02. Yakuza 5
(PS3, Sega)
I’ve been a Yakuza fan since the beginning. Part of that is due to the fact that, for a decade, I had made peace that Yakuza was the closest thing we were ever going to get to a Shenmue spiritual successor. But while that’s what drove me to checking out the game, the actual gameplay is what kept me coming back for five mainline games and a spin-off about zombies. Yakuza 5 is the quintessential Sega experience: its combat is a mashup of Streets of Rage and Spikeout, its overworld is inspired by the aforesaid Shenmue, its story is inspired by classic crime epics like Internal Affairs, and its content is inspired by, well, just about every kind of game out there because in Yakuza 5 you can not only beat up dudes, but you can now drive taxis, become a pop idol, play iconic Sega games in arcade parlors, frequent host clubs to indulge in a dating-sim feature, and just generally run around various cities of Japan and get into trouble.
Yakuza 5, though, is the pinnacle of the series from a storytelling standpoint as well as a gameplay one. With five protagonists to play as – each of which plays vastly different from the others – and an interweaving tale chronicling a massive yakuza turf-war, it’s clear that the developers learned a lot from the four previous Yakuza games that came before 5. If you’ve ever wanted to see what Japanese gaming is all about, then Yakuza 5 is the game for you. It epitomizes Eastern games design and stands to show why the Japanese stood at the top of the gaming hierarchy for so long.
01. The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel
(PS3 / Vita, XSEED Games)
What happens when The Legends of Heroes meets Persona? Well Trails of Cold Steel, of course! While Witcher 3, Fallout 4, and Xenoblade will go down in the mainstream as the RPGs of the year, those who know of and have played Trails of Cold Steel will really know that it’s the RPG of the year. Though for me, it’s more than that: it’s my game of the year, by a long shot. I have longed for the type of JRPG experience I grew up with – the types of title that have made the genre what it is today. But for well over a decade, I haven’t felt the way I used to feel about JRPGs…until Cold Steel came along. Sure, there was Bravely Default, and I loved that game for its nostalgic feel; but nothing beats a JRPG on the big screen. Even though I’ve poured over 80 hours into the game, I can’t tell if I’m more satisfied with the wonderful world- and character-building, giving way to the best ensemble cast of characters since Final Fantasy VI, of if it’s the super articulate turn-based combat that deals in reading enemy weaknesses, setting up combo attacks and building up enough points to unleash a devastating special attack… It’s all just so well-realized and even more effectively executed – something that most games can’t get right.
Trails of Cold Steel is also one hell of a huge game, with an absolute ton of dialogue. And yet, despite how enormous its script is, XSEED has done a near flawless job with its localization, really helping bring to life the characters. Its story also offers one hell of a roller coast ride, taking on themes of war, politics, love, and betrayal – there’s something for everyone here. How it all plays out never feels heavy-handed or telegraphed like so many other JRPGs. And that’s what’s so magical here: Trails of Cold Steel approaches its genre in the same way that countless others have before it, and will in the future; and yet, it never stammers and falls into the same traps that those others often do. It could be just another run-of-the-mill JRPG filled with eye-rolling tropes, because what it tackles isn’t terribly different from how other studios do it. But it’s how Falcom goes about it that shines. If you want not just the JRPG of the year, but the JRPG of last generation, stop reading this and go buy the game.
