Video Games The Best of 2015

With 2015 well and truly over, I wanted to take a quick look back at the top five video games that have kept me company during the year. If you’re a follower of this blog then there shouldn’t really be any surprises, but I feel that they all do deserve special attention.

So which MMO’s, RPG’s, and simulations kept me busy over 2015?

5. Simpsons Tapped Out

A steady favourite at number 5 is Simpsons Tapped Out. The Springfield based city building sim has been on my mobile device now for years and it shows no sign of going anywhere. In truth, the playability has now turned from enjoyment to minor addiction levels. I feel I must tap every bear and zombie, build every building and unlock every character.

Having said all that, EA keep churning out new content for Simpsons Tapped Out, and more storylines and they don’t show any signs of stopping, so unless anything radically different happens I expect this game to be in my top five list for 2016 as well.

4. Batman Arkham Origins

Firstly, I know that Batman Arkham Origins was released in the latter end of 2013, but this list is on when video games were played not released, and Arkham Origins consumed many months of 2015. The heady mix of combat, detection, and street gliding keep my amused long almost as long as Arkham Asylum and Arkham City, plus I love a good origin story.

3. Hearthstone

Hearthstone is without a doubt my most played mobile game of 2015. Nearly every commute to and from work, has featured two to three games of the World of Warcraft based card strategy game and still does even to this day. I’m not sure how many hours have been racked up on this little beauty but with the latest card pack expansion, The League of Explorers not yet completed I’ll be going a while on it.

However good Hearthstone is, I am constantly up against people who are either better than me, or have paid money to have more chance of the better cards, so sometimes it can fel like a pointless slog. Sometimes, a pointless slog is still fun though.

2. Fallout 4

Slotting in to second place and a very strong contender for top video game of 2015 was Fallout 4. Bethesda’s epic wasteland wandering sandbox RPG, has been the cause of many a late night. My anonymously named hero, Jim never gets bored with taking on the radio-active mutants and raiders with his trusty axe, Super-sledge and Ripper.

I’ve found with most games as big as Fallout 4, I can often get so involved with completing every side quest and hidden area. This can cause me to lose sight of the main storyline, and the game can seem a little stale and pointless. Fallout 4 is not without his flaws, but as epic role-playing games go, I’ve not had this much fun since Elder Scrolls V Skyrim.

1. World of Warcraft Warlords of Draenor

I’ll allow everyone the chance to get their breath back after what must have been a massive collective sigh of shock. Yep, World of Warcraft is in the Number one slot, and out of all the video games has been played the most. The latest expansion Warlords of Draenor continues to give me something to do. Even despite the brief forays into other MMO’s such as Elder Scrolls Online and Star Wars Old Republic, I always find myself coming back to wow. I even stopped for a few weeks to play Fallout 4, but even this couldn’t hold me long enough.

World of Warcraft Legion is due out next year, and if history is to repeat I know I’ll lose interest again, cancel my subscription and then re-join several days before the release date. I try to imagine what it would be like if World of Warcraft doesn’t exist, and it’s a bit of s scary concept to be honest. So much time devoted into my own virtual avatar, I think I would like to get a statue of my character for a keepsake, if Wow was to disappear.

Anyway, that’s a completely different topic. For now, World of Warcraft rules my top five video games of 2015 list, and I am excited to know which ones will still be there in 2016.