Year end Wrap up — the Best Video Games of 2016
2016 gave girl gamers a lot to cheer about. The announcement that Amy Henning (Uncharted) and Jade Redmond (Assassin’s Creed, Motive Studios) are helming EA’s new Star Wars game franchise. The formation of IDGA’s Women in Gaming Special Interest Group. More open discussion from game companies and developers about increasing the diversity both in games and producing them. Additionally, 2016 saw a lot of great new game releases. Here are my picks for “best of 2016”
Best Shooter — Overwatch
Blizzard got it SO right this year with a first person shooter that combined interesting classes and team-building with great strides in representation. In addition to a cast of characters that is 43% women, this game also boasts more race, body, and ability diversity then any other A-list game of this year (or arguably years past). From the studio itself…
“I think we’re clear we’re in an age where gaming is for everybody. We build games for everybody. We want everybody to come and play. Increasingly people want to feel represented from all walks of life, everywhere in the world. Boys and girls — everybody. We feel indebted to do our best to honor that.” ~Chris Metzen, Blizzard.
Overwatch captured inclusivity this year in a big way, and we’re looking forward to seeing how it evolves over 2017.
**Honorable mention — Rainbow Six: Siege. Multiple women operators in a variety of roles and nary a metal bikini in sight. Could this be the future of FPSs? We hope so.
Best Sports Game — Fifa 17
Fifa 17 upped their game (ha) a little more this year with the inclusion of the Women’s National League. And props to Fifa as well for being the only major sports game to include more then a handful of female characters. Despite some amazing athletes in the WNBA, Ultimate Fighting, golf, and extreme sports, this genre is still seriously lacking any major inclusiveness.
**No honorable mention here. The long and short is that sports games just don’t include enough women altogether, not even as non player characters (it was listed as a “breakthrough” this year that Madden 16 finally had female fans in the stands…)
Best Sims Game — Overcooked
In addition to a cast of super cute, ethnically and gender diverse characters, Overcooked has one thing I think many games have been missing for ages — co-operative play that matters. No content with the usual “do you best and hopefully everyone else pulls their weight” model of most shooters or action games, its co-operate or game over in this adorable little game from Ghost Town Games. While gaming used to feel more like something you did with friends, increasingly video games focus on solo play or massive online presence with strangers. And while there is a certainly a time for that, sitting side by side with a partner or friend deserves its place as well. Grab a friend or three and cook your way through time in the Onion Kitchen.
**Honorable Mention — Stardew Valley. Its like Farmville meets old-school adventure game, and everyone I know from 12 to 50 is playing.
Best Strategy Game — Civilization VI
Firaxis’ latest installment in the Civilization franchise is the best turn-based strategy game in wide release of the past few years. In addition to a revamped AI system that makes multiplayer viable, and a cool new art style, 6 of the 21 civ leaders are women (up one from initial release with the addition of the Polish expansion.) The female leaders also run the gauntlet personality wise from aggressive to diplomatic. The historical core of this series is important and Fireaxis has slowly been integrating a different historical leaders with each iteration — this time in addition to Catherine de Medici, Victoria, and Cleopatra they’ve introduced to Tomyris of Scythia, Gorgo of Greece, and Jadwiga of Poland.
**Honorable Mention — Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak. The much anticipated prequel to the Homeworld series, the protagonist of this real time strategy game is a woman scientist with a mission. While it sometimes stumbles insofar as gameplay, the graphics are almost painterly and the story (while not long) is compelling.
Best Role-playing Game — Banner Saga 2
Inspired by Viking legend, Banner Saga combines an amazingly well-crafted tale with an art style that matches its origins and music by Austin Wintory (Grammy nominee for the score to Journey). Through the course of the game you play as several characters, and weave a story that will leave you wanting more. I was hooked on the original game after the first conversation with Oddlief, the chieftain's widow, when she wonders “Strong woman. What does that even mean?” Banner Saga 2 adds a few more incredible characters, and (depending on how your first game ended) sees some huge growth for at least one of your former companions. If you’re looking to be engrossed by sound, visuals, and story, this is your saga.
**Honorable Mention — World of Warcraft: Legion. Not just for an exceedingly well done, nostalgia evoking sequel, but a main story questline featuring a gender swapped damsel-in-distress story.
Best Action/Adventure — Uncharted 4
The final installment of Nathan Drake’s tale gives us backstory into Drake’s history as well a solidly crafted, puzzly pirate adventure to follow. But that’s not what made this our number one for this year. The story — Nate and Elena are married and Nate’s retired from adventuring. Except he totally hasn’t and Elena catches him sneaking off on a dangerous adventure. And just as you think this is diving down the road to relationship trope-ville, it doesn’t. As a matter of fact, Elena and Nate are so genuinely equal partners, so completely normal as a couple that its nearly impossible not to be cheering them on through the final cut scene. Naughty Dog nails the messiness, the cooperation, the mistakes, and the understanding that embody genuine relationships. I know the next installment actually features Chloe and Nadine in the first female-helmed adventure of the series (Lost Legacy), but after 4 I hope we get to revisit Nate and Elena sometime in the future.
**Honorable Mention — Dishonored 2. Not only did Dishonored give us a female character this time around, she’s rescuing herself this time with an amazing array of unique abilities. Add to the mix a solid story and a great cast of female characters and this sequel outdoes its predecessor.
With the plethora of great games 2016 gave us you can be sure I’ll ring in the new year with a drink in one hand and the other on my mouse. Happy 2017, and game on!
Legendary Women is hosting our third annual literary contest, deadline January 12th! Details here!
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