Despite never reaching its true potential Xenoblade Chronicles X is still an amazing gaming accomplishment. No other game can provide such a huge world to explore, and one that is filled with variety throughout. If you're willing to embark on the lengthy quest that can easily eat up over 100 hours, and can put up with some technical shortcomings, then Xenoblade Chronicles X is worth picking up. Just be ready to grind.
It may be surprising that a PSP title is a potential Game of the Year contender in 2015, but we all know life is strange. Trails in the Sky SC is an excellent JRPG that has managed to age incredibly well since its Japanese release. Although you'll end up lost more often than you would like to, it's absolutely worth taking a trip into the Liberl Kingdom.
At its core, Darksiders II is a great game. That is what makes Darksiders II: Deahtinitive Edition all the more frustrating. A horrendous frame rate negatively impacts every aspect. Combat feels clunky, and the graphically impressive game ends up looking bad in motion. At least Nordic Games didn't technically call this a definitive edition, as it's really anything but.
A great year for strategy role-playing games continues with Stella Glow, wherein a surprisingly dark story and entertaining battle mechanics combine to keep players hooked.
Call of Duty: Black Ops III is the most content-filled game in the entire series. While that would normally be a good thing, the problem is that none of the content is particularly interesting. From the underwhelming campaign to the disappointing multiplayer, there isn't much to really recommend playing over last year's game. Call of Duty: Black Ops III is just okay, but being just okay isn't enough to keep players entertained when there are so many better offerings available from the same series.
Driveclub Bikes is the rare expansion that manages to eclipse the base game. Not only is the Evolution Studios developed racer the best motorcycle racing game today, but it's one of the best racers, period.
There are glimpses of a fantastic game in The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes, but you'll have to play under specific circumstances in order to experience it.
Ultimately, playing Divinity: Original Sin Enhanced Edition on consoles is a fantastic experience. It may not be the best way to play, as PC still reigns supreme, but it's a fantastic version of an already great game. If you're willing to roll the die, and have luck decide your fate, then you'll have a blast playing through Larian Studios' update of Divinity: Original Sin.
There is definitely some fun to be had in Primal Carnage: Extinction, especially on the dinosaurs' side. There is a nice selection of modes, but when the end result is almost always the same it can get boring. Circle Five Studios has a fantastic premise for a game, it just needed some more time to incubate before it saw the light of day.
If you're a fan of rhythm games, then Guitar Hero: Live is a must buy.
Dragon Quest Heroes might not be the Dragon Quest games that fans wanted, but it has ended up being one of the best surprises of 2015.
Blood Bowl 2 will require patience to learn its ins and outs, but thankfully it has a great way to teach you the ropes throughout its campaign.
There's a really special game inside Elite: Dangerous for those that are willing to put up with the steep learning curve. If you're not though, it's too confusing of an experience.
Ride is a great racing title from veteran studio Milestone S.r.l.. It manages to have depth for veteran players, while also being accessible to new racers. If you're sick of driving cars, and want a new challenge then Ride will offer up a fun one to master.
Grand Ages: Medieval may have lackluster combat, but an interesting trade system manages to keep the gameplay interesting.
Thief Town undoubtedly has a lot of promise, but it hasn't reached its true potential yet. With additional modes, levels, and weapons it could very well be challenging games like Sportsfriends and Nidhogg as definitive hits to pull out during a party. In its current state, Thief Town is still a lot of fun, just a step down from the very best that the PlayStation 4 has to offer.
While there are certainly some stumbling points, NBA 2K16 is another great entry in 2K's series. Livin' Da Dream may feature more cutscenes than Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, but it's an interesting way to present a career mode. Visual Concepts is not afraid to take risks, and most of them have paid off in NBA 2K16.
Overall, Extreme Exorcism doesn't have the pick up and play quality of other games in the genre and fails to captivate audiences.
While there are some rough edges, FIFA 16 stands out as the best football game in recent memory. The new dribbling mechanic adds a ton of depth to the game, and women's soccer is finally represented (even if it isn't the high point it should be). Die-hard fans will be glad to know it is as fun as ever, and there are enough hooks for even casual fans to have a ton of fun.
Disgaea 5: Alliance of Vengeance manages to be the best game in NIS America's beloved series. Not only does it add additional complexity, it's also the most newcomer friendly entry.