Open Forum: What Games Have You Played Most In 2016?

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!