When I began to think about all the games I played in 2014, as I begun to formulate my Top 5 of the year, I had a realization.  There were so many good games that came out this year, it would be a shame to see them over-looked. Though they weren’t my favorites, these games were all definitely worth trying.

Infamous: Second Son (PS4)

A fun third person action game in which you play Deslin Rowe, a super powered Native American trying to free Seattle from the grip of a fascist government group.  Good writing, nice new console graphics and creative game play involving multiple powers (Smoke and Neon being two of them) make for a fun PS4 exclusive.

South Park: The Stick of Truth (PS3, Xbox 360, PC)

If you love the show South Park, this game has everything you could possibly want.  With all the shows creatively crude humor and minimalistic animation, combined with great turned-based RPG collectibles and combat, the game proves to be what any fan would come to expect from a good South Park game.

Far Cry 4 (PS4, Xbox One, PS3, Xbox 360, PC)

Though Far Cry developer Ubisoft has had an extremely rough year when it comes to big budget releases, Fry Cry 4 still managed to be a fun sequel to the great Far Cry 3.  With its added co-op gameplay, Far Cry 4 manages to be very fun, though almost identical to its predecessor.

Alien Isolation (PS4, Xbox One, Ps3, Xbox 360, PC)

As a big fan of the horror genre, this new game finally shows that big budget horror titles have the potential to make a huge comeback.  Using the Alien license effectively, the game retains the suspense and fear of the original movie, with scares that make aliens frightening again.

Mario Kart 8 (Wii U)

With this game almost single-handedly solving the Wii U’s sale problems, Mario Kart 8 is an excellent addition to the franchise.  With beautiful HD graphics and 60 fps gameplay,  Mario Kart continues to bring easy to pick-up-and-play racing gameplay with style and improved visual integrity.  A great reason to pick up a Wii U.

Gods Will be Watching (PC)

An indie game few have probably heard of, but an excellent one none the less.  This pixelated game with excellent dialogue and intense moral choices involves different difficult scenarios where the player must succeed at certain tasks.  Hard but fair, the game is excellent at making the player multitask and strategize.  A challenging game for those who love tough choices.  Plus, I met the guys who made the game, and they were very cool, so that helps.

The Walking Dead Game: Season 2 (PS4, Xbox One, PS3, Xbox 360, PC, Mac, iOS, Android)

The first season of the Walking Dead Game was my favorite game of 2012, and this game continues the excellent and heart-wrenching storytelling Telltale is now known for.  The only thing that keeps the game from the level of the original is the lack of a great protagonist.  Clementine is no Lee.

Valiant Hearts: The Great War (PS4, Xbox One, PS3, Xbox 360, PC, iOS)

Ubisoft, along with its two major disasters, actually managed another great game.  Valiant Hearts is a 2D World War I puzzle drama, with brilliant visuals and silent style storytelling.  A game that manages to be as fun as it is educational, Valiant Hearts is surprisingly gripping and real.

Hatoful Boyfriend (PC)

A dating simulator in which you play a human girl dating male pigeons.  It’s as funny as it sounds.