This year has not only been a great year for music, but some fantastic video games have made their debut as well. While a lot of them have been early access games or alpha/beta games, there have still been some official releases that have caught my attention more than most years. Instead of doing reviews of games that I've probably already talked about in this journal, instead I want to do this as the member awards are done. Giving video games awards are far better and more organized and honestly, I don't really feel like talking about games I've already talked about in this journal just to make a point. So, these will be split up into several categories including the game of the year of course. While some of these categories may have several games, only one will be taking the game of the year spot. So here we go:

Game of the Year 2016: Doom
Most Disappointing Base Game Made Better By DLC: Fallout 4 (Far Harbor)
Most Surprising (Horror): Layers of Fear
Most Terrifying (Horror): Alien Isolation
Didn't Bother Playing Based On Bad Reviews: No Man's Sky
Simple Concept Done Well: Welcome To The Game
Difficult But Fun: Enter The Gungeon
Best Soundtrack: Crypt of the Necrodancer (game released in 2015, but I didn't play it until 2016)
Most Hours Put In (As Of 2016): Rocket League (168 hours)
Best Steam Sale Purchase: Tie between Sid Meier's Civilization V and Doom
Most Anticipated But Haven't Played: Dishonored 2, Sid Meier's Civilization VI, Inside

Did you ever review Alien Isolation? I like to commiserate.

I can't remember. If I didnt, I'll do one tomorrow. I never finished the game so I didn't know if I could review it properly.

Not being able to finish it counts.

Perfect. It's terrifying. I want to finish it because the story seems amazing but god damn hearing them in the ceiling and walls freaks me out.

Walking through a well lit hallway has never been more nerve wracking.

Agreed. And I've beat Outlast and Amnesia but I think Alien:Isolation is up there for giving me some of the most nervous scares. Maybe the most. There's something about the thought that it could jump out at any minute that puts me on edge.

The sound design is also immaculate. Combine that with an enemy that I swear is smarter than I am at times and you get the perfect recipe for soiled undies.

That too. I also really like the overall atmosphere of using the Alien environment in a space ship etc. Horror games in space seem to do really well for whatever reason.

I imagine it's due to the isolation, claustrophobia, and an environment unlike anything most people are used to or comfortable with.