As we approach the last hours of 2014, there are still a few end of year lists to discuss. We've talked about our most played games of the year, our favorite MMOs, and the games that we think flew under the radar; but we've yet to talk about what gamers as a whole preferred to play in 2014. That's a hard list to make, but PlayStation attempted to to get an answer by polling its community of fans.
As expected, the list is Sony-centric, but it does take into account Vita and PS3 games, in addition to the current-gen console releases. There was plenty of crossover with our 'Best of...' lists, but the PlayStation community did manage to surprise us with a few of the picks. You can check out the full reveal at PlayStation.com, but here's a recap of the highlights...
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Destiny
Despite the controversy over Destiny's lack of story and end-game content (and failure to deliver a true MMO experience), it's no surprise to see this polished and gorgeous sci-fi shooter at the top of the list. It may be repetitive, but it's incredibly addicting and the loot grind is strangely rewarding. Destiny needs is an injection of additional end-game content but it's on the right track.
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inFAMOUS Second Son
The latest installment in the inFAMOUS series may not be the game of the year, but it is likely the most exciting PlayStation exclusive of the new console generation. The superhero/villain action game harnesses the power of the PS4 in a way that few other games could in early 2014 and was one the major reasons to pick up a PS4 at launch.
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Grand Theft Auto V
GTA V was a major contender for game of the year in 2013, so it's no surprise that the current-gen remake (with its expanded multiplayer and new features) is a fan-favorite in 2014, as well. The souped-up version offers some of the most impressive graphics updates that we've seen for a current-gen port (and we've seen a lot) and the addition of a first-person mode actually offers a drastically new way to experience the already classic year-old game.
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Dragon Age: Inquisition
Inquisition made our list of most played games in 2014, despite its late arrival, for good reason. The BioWare RPG delivers an immersive experience that satisfies long-time fans of the franchise, but is also accessible enough for newbies...
“Having never played any of the previous DA games, I was a little wary of Inquisition. But after it set things up and let me loose, I was way into it. It’s basically Skyrim mixed with Mass Effect 2; a combination I can fully support. The combat is great, it has a massive world to get lost in, great characters – and one time I stumbled upon a dragon fighting a giant (which never gets old).” – Kyree Leary
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The Evil Within
The Evil Within is one of the few games on the list that took us by surprise. The horror title features some rich, interesting, and disturbing imagery; but overall the derivative and overly-familiar gameplay left us fairly disappointed.
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South Park: The Stick of Truth
We've said a lot about how much we love The Stick of Truth in the last year, so we're not at all surprised to see that the PlayStation community is onboard the South Park train, as well. The game brings the town to life and allows gamers to walk and talk their way through what feels exactly like a real season of South Park.
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Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
Shadow of Mordor shocked just about everyone this year by delivering one of the best Tokien-inspired action games to date and one of the best overall video games of the year. The game took a few steps away from the most recognizable heroes of Middle-earth and went in a new direction that paid off big time. The innovative Nemesis system had gamers hunting down orcs for hours on end and the lore was subtle enough to make fans geek out without confusing gamers who haven't memorized the Silmarillion.
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Far Cry 4
Far Cry 4 doesn't make a lot of mechanical changes from Far Cry 3, but that isn't really a bad thing. The gameplay may feel very familiar, but the new world to explore definitely makes Far Cry 4 a worthy adventure. We would have been shocked if this highly-anticipated sequel didn't make the list.
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Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition
2013's Tomb Raider was one of our favorite games two years ago, but the Definite Edition didn't bring quite enough upgrades to the table to blow us away. It's possible that the original release was still too fresh in our minds, but the new-gen upgrades to Tomb Raider weren't impressive as those made to The Last of Us, GTA V, or some of the other definite editions in 2014.
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The Wolf Among Us: The Complete Season
We've been living in an unexpected renaissance of point and click adventure games for the last two years and Telltale has definitely made some believers out of gamers who may never have experienced the genre until The Walking Dead. The company sticks to a similar formula in the Fables-inspired mystery and manages to capture the look and feel of the iconic comics, while delivering an engaging and intense story.
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MLB 14: The Show
Although MLB 14 wouldn't be our pick for sports game of the year, it isn't surprising that at least one entry from the genre made the list. MLB claims to be the highest rated sports franchise in the last eight years and it looks like the PlayStation community agrees.
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Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes
The Metal Gear Solid 5 prequel left us underwhelmed, but the short game gives stealth lovers a chance to get back in the Metal Gear state of mind. It won't keep players busy for more than 10 or 15 hours, but since the next proper installment in the franchise is less than a year away, that will have to do.
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Freedom Wars
Freedom Wars didn't make our end of the year lists, but if we had put together a best handheld titles compilation, it would definitely have made an appearance. The game takes full advantage of the Vita's unique hardware and reminds players when the PlayStation handheld was so popular in the first place.
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The Walking Dead: The Complete Second Season
The Walking Dead Season 2 delivers another heartbreaking chapter in the post-apocalyptic world that made us all cry in 2013. The game doesn't offer many changes from the first time around, but we're definitely not complaining as we look forward to more.
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Has the PlayStation community left anything crucial off the list when compared to yours? What was your favorite PlayStation exclusive in 2014? Let us know in the comments.
Follow Denny on Twitter @The_DFC.