E3 isn’t only a gaping portal into the future of video games, it’s also a chance to scrawl jagged lines in the sand and choose sides in an everlasting fan war. As we gamers are prone to fits of rage about who’s most desired game or platform is the best, sometimes these battles can be nasty. Fortunately, we have some relatively neutral parties from several outlets that have the privilege of drawing first blood. Yep, these critics have honed their gaming skills and sharpened their reviewing abilities to decide which of the games is the best of the best of the best of show!
Below is a huge list of games (and some hardware) that made the cut. Though, I try to make it a rule about getting caught up in these monkey shines, I sometimes can’t help but pull for my faves as well. Notable entries include sci-fi survival horror game, Alien: Isolation, galaxy-sized indie title, No Man’s Sky, and hyper-amped third person shooter, Sunset Overdrive. I know which ones I’m rooting for but I won’t debase myself by partaking in the shenanigans. OH alright, it’s No Man’s Sky. No Man’s Sky for all the awards!
So did your favorite game shown at E3 2014 make the cut?
Best of Show
– Alien: Isolation (Creative Assembly/Sega)
– Batman: Arkham Knight (Rocksteady/WBIE)
– Evolve (Turtle Rock/2K Games)
– Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor (Monolith/WBIE)
– No Man’s Sky (Hello Games)
– Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege (Ubisoft Montreal/Ubisoft)
Best Original Game
– Destiny (Bungie/Activision)
– Evolve (Turtle Rock/2K Games)
– No Man’s Sky (Hello Games)
– Splatoon (Nintendo EAD/Nintendo)
– Sunset Overdrive (Insomniac/Microsoft Studios)
Best Console Game
– Alien: Isolation (Creative Assembly/Sega)
– Batman: Arkham Knight (Rocksteady/WBIE)
– Destiny (Bungie/Activision)
– Evolve (Turtle Rock/2K Games)
– Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor (Monolith/WBIE)
Best Handheld Game
– Murasaki Baby (Ovosonico/Sony Computer Entertainment)
– Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth (Atlus/Atlus)
– Super Smash Bros. for 3DS (Sora/Namco-Bandai/Nintendo)
– Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call (Square-Enix/Square-Enix)
Best PC Game
– Civilization: Beyond Earth (Firaxis/2K Games)
– Dragon Age: Inquisition (Bioware/EA)
– Evolve (Turtle Rock/2K Games)
– Far Cry 4 (Ubisoft Montreal/Ubisoft)
– Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege (Ubisoft Montreal/Ubisoft)
Best Hardware
– Alienware Alpha (Alienware)
– Oculus Rift (Oculus VR)
– PlayStation TV (Sony Computer Entertainment)
– Project Morpheus (Sony Computer Entertainment)
Best Action Game
– Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (Sledgehammer Games/Activision)
– Destiny (Bungie/Activision)
– Evolve (Turtle Rock/2K Games)
– Far Cry 4 (Ubisoft Montreal/Ubisoft)
– Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege (Ubisoft Montreal/Ubisoft)
Best Action/Adventure Game
– Alien: Isolation (Creative Assembly/Sega)
– Assassin’s Creed Unity (Ubisoft Montreal/Ubisoft)
– Batman: Arkham Knight (Rocksteady/WBIE)
– Sunset Overdrive (Insomniac/Microsoft Studios)
– The Order: 1886 (Ready at Dawn/Sony Computer Entertainment)
Best RPG
– Bloodborne (From Software/Sony Computer Entertainment)
– Dragon Age: Inquisition (Bioware/EA)
– Fable Legends (Lionhead/Microsoft Studios)
– Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor (Monolith/WBIE)
– Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth (Atlus/Atlus)
Best Fighting Game
– Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN- (Arc System Works/Aksys Games)
– Killer Instinct Season 2 (Iron Galaxy Studios/Microsoft Studios)
– Mortal Kombat X (NetherRealm Studios/WBIE)
– Persona 4 Arena Ultimax (Arc System Works/Atlus)
– Super Smash Bros Wii-U (Sora/Namco-Bandai/Nintendo)
Best Racing Game
– Driveclub (Evolution/Sony Computer Entertainment)
– Forza Horizon 2 (Playground Games/Microsoft Studios)
– The Crew (Ivory Tower/Reflections/Ubisoft)
Best Sports Game
– FIFA 15 (EA Canada/EA Sports)
– NHL 15 (EA Canada/EA Sports)
– Madden NFL 15 (Tiburon/EA Sports)
Best Strategy Game
– Civilization: Beyond Earth (Firaxis/2K Games)
– Grey Goo (Petroglyph/Grey Box)
Best Social/Casual
– Disney Infinity 2.0: Marvel Super Heroes (Avalanche/Disney Interactive)
– Fantasia: Music Evolved (Harmonix/Disney Interactive)
– LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham (TT Games/WBIE)
– Mario Maker (Nintendo EAD/Nintendo)
– Yoshi’s Woolly World (Good-Feel/Nintendo)
Best Online Multiplayer
– Battlefield: Hardline (Visceral/EA)
– Destiny (Bungie/Activision)
– Evolve (Turtle Rock/2K Games)
– Splatoon (Nintendo EAD/Nintendo)
– Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege (Ubisoft Montreal/Ubisoft)
Best Indie
– Axiom Verge (Tom Happ)
– CounterSpy (Dynamighty)
– Below (Capy Games)
– No Man’s Sky (Hello Games)
– Ori and the Blind Forest (Moon Game Studio)
So those are the Game Critics Awards for E3 2014! We won’t have the winners until July 1st, but don’t let that stop you from typing up all sorts of swear word filled posts defaming your rivals online!
Also, please note that a few titles weren’t playable and thus have been disqualified from the awards. I mean, we can’t exactly go around giving titles a nod because of hands-off demos and trailers now, can we? Nope. Anyway, the following have been stricken from consideration:
The Division; Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain; The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt