It seems like a fairly straightforward question but, when asked, it usually takes time for people to come up with an answer. You see, when chatting games, whether it be with friends, families, or total strangers, we easily fall into the same discussions. Although I’m sure it varies between social groups, “what’re you playing at the moment?” is often what brings people onto the topic. Then there’s the groan-inducing “go on then, what’s the best game of all time?” However, what we’re asking today isn’t quite as clear cut, as we try to discover what games have been played most this year.
When it came to shaking down the TSA crew for answers, they were mostly caught on the back foot too. Although it’s easy to blurt out our favourite game at a specific time, that doesn’t always correlate with the games we’ve spent hours trawling through.
For me, I had to go back through my PlayStation 4 library and have a hard long think. In the end, however, there was a clear winner. Having only made baby steps within the month of its original release, The Witcher III found its way back into my life last December. In the same way that Dragon Age consumed the long Winter the year before, so too did Geralt’s final outing.
As with most roleplaying games, I like to get my money’s worth. What that usually means is banging the difficulty up to max while systematically hunting every trophy I possibly can. Despite regular sessions with The Witcher III, I didn’t receive my platinum until a couple of months ago. It was a great moment of triumph, yet it didn’t last long with two massive expansions to wade through.
A close runner up, it has to be said, was Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End. If the game had been out a month or two earlier, then Geralt would have to settle to second place. Next to the stunning campaign, the redesigned multiplayer has kept me coming back day after day just to complete challenges or mess around with friends.
My third game on the list also happens to be Miguel’s frontrunner. Overwatch is one of those online titles you simply can’t stop thinking about, even if you’re half way across the world from your console. Miguel is currently enjoying a six week trip to Japan though laments the absence of Blizzard’s shooter from his life. Such a refined focus on teamplay crossed with a fantastic cast of characters is enough to make anyone feel homesick.
Dom had a clear-cut winner:
I can easily tell you which game I’ve played most this year – Lego Jurassic World. Despite other Lego games coming and going, Noah simply loves it and so far shows no sign of tiring of it. As time has gone on he can play more and more of it on his own but there’s still sections that are too tough for him. A close runner up will be Fire Emblem Fates in all its forms – despite trying to bury me in a landslide of content I still love it!
Tuffcub’s most-played game of the year so far may surprise you. Although he’s been flitting through a number of different releases, it’s Just Cause 3 that keeps him coming back regularly. Why? Well, for him it’s the perfect way to unwind after a long day. As he explains, Just Cause 3 is one of those rare games where you can kick back and watch everything on screen explode without having to feel intensely sucked in.
There’s another huge RPG which has been dominating Dave’s time this year:
It turns out the game I’ve played the most this year is Bravely Second. From start, to finish, to finishing the bonus content; it took me a whopping 70+ hours with all my characters reaching the maximum level cap. If it was a conventional RPG without the boosting mechanics built into Bravely Second, this would be well over 100 hours, but it certainly made my commute a little more bearable for a few months.
Reviewing games often means we don’t have a choice in what we play. For Teflon, that means days spent with huge strategy hits like Stellaris and Total War: Warhammer. The Division also proved to be a massive time sink during its launch month though his interest for Ubisoft’s grindy shooter and the genre in general has waned somewhat. However, away from his duties, he’s become similarly ensnared down with Fire Emblem: Awakening and his first run of Pokemon Alpha Sapphire.
Now it’s over to you. Which games have had you consistently coming back for more? Were they huge and involving RPGs, pure escapists dreams, or even games that you were obliged to play with your children? Let us know in the comments below!
blast71
I’m still going through my backlog so no new games for me. I’ve finished infamous second son and the single-player of battlefield 4, but the game I keep going back to is Driveclub. Also put loads of hours into Borderlands 2 on the ps3 with Avengerr.
Hero-of-Midgar
Also working through the last gen backlog! So its PS3 Spec Ops the Line, Bioshock 2, Destiny TTK and AC2 which have taken up my time!
beeje13
Star Wars battlefront probably adds up to my greatest playtime. The Division, Shadow of Mordor and Far Cry Primal not too far behind. But my consume and move on playstyle means I haven’t played those in months, they are no longer in my possession.
Next on the list: Life is Strange.
Sitorimon
It’s only been out a few weeks but Project Diva Future Tone has completely sucked up my gaming life outside of my usual F1 2015 binge.
Eldave0
No game has really gripped me this year.
I did play through Uncharted 4, but CS:GO and Fifa have been my go-to games for most of 2016.
Naively I still have hope for The Last Guardian.
Avenger
Probably Forza Motorsport 6 tops the board. 200+ hours clocked in and it’ll probably last for ages more.
Aside from that I’d say Titanfall, Battlefield 4, and Halo 5 as multiplayer games that just kept on giving for hundreds of hours more.
Borderlands 2 with Blast71 was chucking over more content as well so we must have racked quite a bit of time on that too.
Crazy_Del
Borderlands The Pre-Sequel was the most. Took me 4 months for the Platinum of course I went on and off with other games. DiRT was a whole 40 days solid! Due to the monthly event online.
Don’t know of Uncharted Remaster Trilogy count since it was 3 games and a 4th on May so been on that alot with recordings and screenshots.
There was also Resident Evil 0 and I think I completed that 5x in order to get the Platinum.
Bit of Rocket League, TellTale Games and PS Plus freebies. The shortest and most dissapointment was Street Fighter V sold it a week from launch due to lack of content!
Most time on Vita for 2016 was Virtue’s Last Reward.
Also played DOOM and got the Platinum in just 5 days from launch.
hornet1990
This year so far is one where I havent been gaming anywhere near as much as usual, but by a big margin The Division has taken the lions share of hours. Next up would probably be Blops3 multiplayer, followed by Uncharted 4 single player.
The Lone Steven
In terms of hours? Skyrim until life overwhelmed me and i went through a bout of depression.
Dark Souls is probably the game i’ve played the most this year and completed. XCOM, i must have put in 80 hours in total this year. Or 100! I can’t remember.
Dragon’s Dogma:Dark Arisen may be the game that will either the runner up of Steven’s most played game of 2016 or the winner. I do plan on doing Skyrim and that is easily 200+ hours. Hell, the 60 hour save, i hadn’t really scratched the surface. Probably the first half of the main quest done, bits and bobs done.
But for me, it’s not the length of the game, it’s the quantity. Unless said game is god awful and lasts longer then it should. Then I usually am found trying to beat myself to death with said game for wasting cash on it.
bunimomike
“In terms of hours? Skyrim until life overwhelmed me and i went through a bout of depression.”
Bethesda games will do that to a man. :D
The Lone Steven
Could you please not joke about that? I did go through depression back in feb due to life overwhelming me and kinda don’t want people joking about it.
RudeAwakening
The Division is probably the most I have played this year but im starting to lose interest, my gear lvl is 197 and I can’t motivate myself too push on over 200. I also have to continue with the witcher III, that’s been stewing in my backlog so long I completely forget where I am in the game.