GOTY 2014

Paul's GOTY

This year, I found it very easy to pick a GOTY as there weren't many games in the running. I don't know if the games industry was just unable to come up with good ideas that could fit what we would consider GOTY or that #GamerGate had somehow distracted game developers (especially indie devs) from creating GOTY titles. On the bright side, the one true contender for GOTY ended up being a very good game, making this choice even easier than it should have been. I had a lot of fun playing this game when it was released in April and even at that point I was pretty sure it was going to be the GOTYest game this year. However, just in case there were any pretenders attempting to usurp their throne for GOTY 2014, Coffee Stain Studios did the unthinkable and released an expansion late into the year this GOTY game came out to seal the deal. Or should I say GOAT the deal? No, that doesn't work. Don't use that phrase. In any case, my personal GOTY for 2014 was Goat Simulator and its expansion Goat MMO Simulator. Congratulations to Coffee Stain Studios for their achievement this past year making the definitive Goat Simulator.

GOTY Runner-Up

In a year where there were very few goaty games, it was much harder to pick a GOTY Runner-Up. In the end, my choice was a nostalgic one. After years of ignoring Nintendo and their games, 2014 marked a resurgence of interest in their titles (though not enough to buy a 3DS still). I bought a Wii U for Mario Kart 8 and since then, I have gotten quite a lot of milage out of the system mainly watching Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood on Netflix. However, I have never used my Wii U more since Super Smash Bros. for Wii U released this year. I am by no means competitive, but its robust stage builder (well, more robust than Brawl's) and 8-player fusterclucks have provided tons of hours of entertainment. I never would have imaginged playing with Pac-man, Duck Hunt Dog, Mario, and Sonic in the same game in 2014, but here I am throwing fire hydrants at Ganondorf and calling a 20XX firing squad to take out Shulk (he's really feelin' it now). Here's to getting my butt kicked in 2015 by my roommate's Ness.