Not every genre featured enough worthwhile games to deserve their own category, but there were still some amazing games worth recognizing. That’s why we’ve set up an ‘Other’ category that contains everything from puzzle games to stealth titles.
Check out the next page to view the best DLC and expansions of the year.
2016 Gift Guide Other
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Dishonored 2
In our review, we said "Dishonored 2 is going to keep stealth game fans busy for quite a while this holiday season. Every level is meticulously crafted, with more emphasis on verticality to enhance some of the new powers introduced. Additional hidden level goals are discovered organically, and while enemies can be hilariously clumsy, they are also adept pathfinders. With a nuanced story, two protagonists to play as, and multiple endings, Dishonored 2 begs, or rather, deserves to be played again and again."
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Firewatch
In our review, we said "Through the combination of a simplistic but phenomenally effective art style and some incredibly fluid dialogue sequences, Firewatch proves itself time and time again as one of the most memorable games we are likely to play in a long while. It’s poignant and very special, albeit disappointingly choppy at times. It may feel a touch short, but its story will feel firmly finished upon reflection, remaining naturally entombed in the Wyoming woods. This is a rare game that tackles strong morals and emotions under the guise of a beautiful walk through the wilderness that always manages to keep you on your toes, a walk you’ll be hard pressed to ever forget."
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Hitman
In our review, we said "Io Interactive has taken a different approach to Hitman‘s release schedule, and if each mission is as fleshed out as what we’ve seen in Paris, then there is much for fans to be happy about. There’s so many ways to take on this single mission, part of the fun will be seeing other players’ creative ways that they assassinate the targets. If you’ve ever wanted to play the part of a super agent in a large sandbox, this is as good as it gets. With a fairly robust content creation engine, and future missions promised throughout the coming year, it looks like Hitman will be the weapon of choice of stealth gamers for the foreseeable future."
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INSIDE
In our review, we said "Don’t expect Inside to deviate much from start to finish, but you’ll find that it doesn’t need to. If you liked Limbo (or even if you didn’t, maybe?), or found yourself piqued just a little by what you’ve seen of Inside, then go snatch it up. It’s a rabbit hole that you’ll find comfort in diving into."
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No Man's Sky
In our review, we said "So No Man’s Sky isn’t flawless. It’s probably not for everyone. Then again, No Man’s Sky is exactly as described by the eccentric Sean Murray. If you’ve ever dreamed of being a cosmonaut, of starting with practically nothing and amassing a fortune, of becoming a notorious space pirate, or had any other of the countless sci-fi fantasies out there, this is probably the game for you. Now, those fantasies might not play out exactly as you’d have hoped in No Man’s Sky, but this is a game that begs those who put in the time to come back just once more and see what lies just over the horizon. If this game is right for you, you won’t be able to put the controller down."
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Skylanders Imaginators
In our review, we said "Imaginators feels like the next logical step in the franchise while still maintaining support for the massive library of characters from all previous games. It gives Skylanders the perfect way to survive as the era of kids using games to craft their own heroes, stories, and experiences is upon us. Skylanders has always managed to delight and surprise, but Imaginators struck me as something particularly special, scratching that creative itch that I always have. Instead of coming up with a gimmick, they put control in the players’ hands, and in interactive entertainment, that’s precisely who should have control."
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The Last Guardian
In our preview, we said "Whatever happens along the way to the game's release date, it looks like players will be in for a treat when that day finally comes. To say this game is “much anticipated” is a laughable understatement, and while I’m not qualified to make a judgment on whether or not this game is worth the hype (sorry folks, a 45-minute demo just doesn’t cut it), there’s enough both new and reminiscent of Ueda’s past works to make me think Sony might have something truly special on their hands."
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The Witness
In our review, we said "I realize that I’ve written a lot about The Witness, seemingly without saying much about it at all. That’s for the best. I can’t say much about it, and I certainly can’t go into detail. It’s a brilliant, beautiful, masterfully crafted work, and the more you discover, the more apparent it is."
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Valley
In our review, we said "I don’t know what I expected with Valley, but this was not it. I was not prepared to find an exploration game with a powerful story, fun exploration mechanics, a unique twist on death, beautiful artwork, and one of the best video game soundtracks in the industry. It’s been a long time since I’ve come away from a game wanting to shout to everyone I know that they need to play it. If it didn’t have problems with texture popping, I would, without a doubt, give Valley a perfect score. Even with this nit-picky flaw, I greatly enjoyed my time in the Valley, and I can’t wait to dive back in to find all the hidden areas I missed. I’m certain most people, if not all, will enjoy their time in the Valley, too."
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Zero Time Dilemma
In our review, we said "Zero Time Dilemma is a masterpiece of storytelling. I could barely put the game down through its intense 20-hour running time, and when I had to — whether for work, social engagements or sleep — puzzling out the plot and the solutions to escape rooms filled my every waking moment and dozing dream. In a matter of days, I’d gotten the Platinum and seen all there was to see, but the haunting images of violence, wonderfully complex characters and heavy themes still lingered with me. Whether you’ve never experienced the Zero Escape series before or you’ve been eagerly awaiting this entry since the end of Virtue’s Last Reward, you owe it to yourself to take this ride. Both on its own and as a piece of the cumulative ZE puzzle, this easily has the best narrative I’ve seen in a game so far this year and should go down as one of the all-time greatest stories told through the medium."
