2019 Games-Ranch GOTY - Gears of War 5

Twiztid Elf · Post by **Twiztid Elf** » 29 Dec 2019 03:39 pm

Vote like this:

10 points - favorite game of the year - your personal GOTY
9 points - 2nd favorite game of the year
8 points - 3rd favorite game of the year
...so on and so forth...down to
1 point - 10th favorite game of the year

If you don't have ten, just stop where you stop - see my example below.
If you have Honorable Mentions past 10, fine, list them.
If you want to say stuff about them and why they got your vote, awesome! I like reading that stuff.

Voting closes at 11.59pm on Sunday 12th January.

Example of my personal voting from last year. (I need to play more Death Stranding before I'm ready to vote 2019).
10 points - Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
9 points - Forza Horizon 4
8 points - Just Cause 4
7 points - God of War
6 points - Red Dead Redemption 2
5 points - Tetris Effect

BOOMY · Post by **BOOMY** » 29 Dec 2019 07:15 pm

The majority of my gaming this year consisted of the usual retro pursuits, an epic FIFA rivalry with my housemate and one handed games I played while I had a broken wrist.

10 points - Demons Tilt
9 points - Fifa 19/20

there are other games I could mention as I own them, but it would be more of vote by default. it really was more of a fifa/guitar/broken wristy type year.

Maybe i'll realise there actually were 2019 AAA games I did play enough to mention and I'll return but for now here is my petty non gamer like vote.

Ambrose Burnside · Post by **Ambrose Burnside** » 29 Dec 2019 08:12 pm

This is tentative, but for now:

10: Control

Unless you have a beefy PC or an Xbox One X, I'd probably hold off until you upgrade. At launch it was apparently unplayable on anything other than a beefy PC or an Xbox One X, but patches have improved things. I have it on Xbox, and I only have a One S (the game was a Christmas present), and it does push it hard. Probably too hard. It's a bit like GTA: San Andreas on PS2 or GTA V on Xbox 360, definitely playable, but not ideal. Frame rates do take a hit during large battles.

But it's still awesome. If you like Remedy games (Max Payne, Alan Wake, Quantum Break), you'll love this. I don't want to spoil too much.

9: Jedi: Fallen Order

An EA-era Star Wars game that's good!? And it's single player!? God bless Respawn (Titanfall, Apex Legends). EA's best studio. Don't play this if you're after something innovative, literally every gameplay feature has been done before, but it's been done well, and it's fun. And it's set in-between Episode III and IV during the purge of the Jedi. Awesome.

8: Rage 2

A lot of people seemed to be very "meh" about Rage 2, but I loved it. It's no Doom or Titanfall 2, but it was fun. And better than the original. I'd like to see another collaboration between id and Avalanche (Just Cause) as it seems a match made in heaven.

7: Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition

It's the same game that came out in 1999 (and again in 2013 as the 'HD Edition'), but with a shitload more content, 4k graphics, and a long list of quality of life improvements. It's the third time I've bought AoE2, and it's by far my most played game ever. Zero regrets triple dipping

6: Mortal Kombat 11

I love this rebooted series. So much content to unlock.

5: Destiny 2

I'm not sure what the fuss is about, but I don't think I'm the target audience. Will be the last game as a service I try out.

4: Anthem

Except for this one. But it was $4 ffs

t0mby · Post by **t0mby** » 29 Dec 2019 08:49 pm

10 Blood & Truth PSVR
9 SW Jedi Fallen Order
8 Wreckfest
7 Resident Evil 2

Thats it, hardly buy many new releases now. Currently playing Shenmue 3 so that won't make the cut unless I finish it before the deadline. Really want to play Control but waiting for a fire sale.

Replica · Post by **Replica** » 29 Dec 2019 10:36 pm

Didn't play much new stuff this year. Still have a massive backlog from the last few years.

10. Gears of War 5
9. Sekiro
8. Devil May Cry 5
7. The Outer Worlds
6. Mechwarrior 5
5. Pokemon Sword & Shield

Peppermint Lounge · Post by **Peppermint Lounge** » 30 Dec 2019 08:47 am

10 Gears of War 5
9 Far Cry New Dawn
8 Destiny 2
7 Observation
6 Halo MCC PC
5 Wreckfest

Halo might've scored higher had it not launched with the as yet unresolved worst audio I've ever heard in a game.

I'm sure I'd also have Control in there but have yet to purchase. This subscription & free game economy is tough on old fashioned new release sales.

lestat · Post by **lestat** » 30 Dec 2019 10:05 am

10 Sekiro
9 Control
8 Gears 5
7 Jedi Fallen Order

emptyvessel · Post by **emptyvessel** » 30 Dec 2019 01:24 pm

Yet another year where I didn't play a huge number of games, but better than most years. I mostly stuck to relatively lightweight fare.

Placeholders below, I'm still playing through a few of these so I may change my mind.

10. The Outer Worlds
9. Luigi's Mansion 3
8. Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
7: The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
6: Cadence of Hyrule

Games that I probably would have enjoyed but didn't pick up include Disco Elysium, Control and Jedi Fallen Order.

Ambrose Burnside · Post by **Ambrose Burnside** » 30 Dec 2019 05:45 pm

Control's going to be popping up on a lot of "Why the fuck didn't I play this game earlier?" lists in a few year's time.

The Titanfall 2 of 2019. But even more so, at least Titanfall 2 polled well enough to finish second to Doom.

Madmya · Post by **Madmya** » 31 Dec 2019 08:18 pm

10 Outer Wilds
9 DMC5
8 Ninja Gaiden 2 (4K X Edition)

Games I really need to play:
Control
RE2

Gamma · Post by **Gamma** » 03 Jan 2020 01:23 pm

10. Baba Is You
9. Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
8. Cuphead (Switch)
7. Zelda: Link's Awakening
6. Tetris 99
5. Golf Peaks
4. Timespinner (Switch)
3. Untitled Goose Game
2. Destiny 2: Shadowkeep

May change, I need to play that copy of RE2 I bought and downloaded and updated then left sitting there while various sales came and went.

Edit: Added Timespinner. Seriously doubting RE2 is going to get a look-in any time soon.

If you're into puzzle games and haven't already checked it out, I can't recommend Baba Is You enough.

Spoiler!

The free gamjam version is here (Windows), it's quite stripped back compared to the final product but you'll know if the game's for you after playing the first few levels. Really nice fit on the Switch, brilliant game.

Twiztid Elf · Post by **Twiztid Elf** » 09 Jan 2020 08:29 am

Bump to the top. Get your votes in folks.

Froggy · Post by **Froggy** » 09 Jan 2020 11:30 am

Didn't play that many new releases that were 2019 I don't think so here goes.

10. Forza Horizon 4
9. Gears 5
8. Control - Maze chapter was fantastic and the RTX stuff
7. Blood and Truth - Great just a bit short and no real replayability
6. Shenmue 3 - Fuck off this is a great sequel actually delivering something unique
5. Jurassic Park Evo PC - if this is 2019.

Twiztid Elf · Post by **Twiztid Elf** » 09 Jan 2020 05:58 pm

10 points - Wreckfest
9 points - Days Gone
8 points - Resident Evil 2 Remake
7 points - Tetris 99
6 points - Fire Emblem Three Houses
5 points - Pokemon Sword - REALLY enjoying it so far.
4 points - Ring Fit Adventure

A year that promised so much and delivered so little.

Wreckfest. Easily the best and most fun video game I played this year.
First time I've put a racing game as my personal GOTY since PGR4 in 2007.
A sleeper hit for sure. A love letter back to simpler times when racing games just put the fun first, warts and all. I thoroughly enjoyed it both offline and online, and look forwards to getting back into the online at some point.
I just hope my enthusiasm for it earlier in the year hasn't ended up skewing these GOTY results too much.
If it does become GR Goty, sorry, not sorry. It's a fantastic game.

I'm currently playing ShenMue3, and as much as I enjoy it, there is no way it's challenging my top two.
The only other game I bought this year, that I haven't played, and I'm extremely curious about is another remake, Ni No Kuni. Really looking forwards to trying that.

Gamma · Post by **Gamma** » 10 Jan 2020 02:40 pm

Oh shit, I thought Tetris 99 was late last year. Edited in. Great game.

Lepo5 · Post by **Lepo5** » 10 Jan 2020 04:09 pm

10 points : Jedi Fallen Order
9 points : Apex Legends
8 points : Modern Warfare 2019 - one of the best campaigns I've ever played.

Candy Arse · Post by **Candy Arse** » 10 Jan 2020 09:35 pm

10 points - Total War: 3 Kingdoms
9 points - Resident Evil 2
8 points - Red Dead Redemption 2 PC
7 points - Wreckfest
6 points - Control (I actually prefer Quantum Break somehow)
5 points - Katana Zero

I've bought games like Outer Worlds, Disco Elysium, DMC5 and Astral Chain but haven't put enough time in to have a confident unbiased opinion.

The games I've played the most this year have been Total Warhammer 2, Dead Cells and SF5.

Twiztid Elf · Post by **Twiztid Elf** » 13 Jan 2020 09:50 am

Congratulations to Gears of War 5!
Winner of the coveted Games-Ranch Game of the Year Award for 2019.

Twiztid Elf · Post by **Twiztid Elf** » 13 Jan 2020 09:54 am

Top five with vote totals.

Gears of War 5. 37 votes. 4 voters.
Jedi Fallen Order. 35 votes. 4 voters.
Control. 33 votes. 4 voters.
Wreckfest. 30 votes. 4 voters.
Resident Evil 2. 24 votes. 3 voters.

Twiztid Elf · Post by **Twiztid Elf** » 13 Jan 2020 09:55 am

Full results. Thanks to everyone who voted.
If I've made a mistake, let me know. I had to rush this this year.

Gears of War 5 - 37 (10+10+8+9)
Jedi Fallen Order - 35 (9+9+7+10)
Control - 33 (10+9+8+6)
Wreckfest - 30 (8+5+10+7)
Resident Evil 2 - 24 (7+8+9)
Sekiro - 19 (9+10)
Blood & Truth - 17 (10+7)
Bloodstained Ritual of the Night - 17 (8+9)
Devil May Cry 5 - 17 (8+9)
The Outer Worlds - 17 (7+10)
Destiny 2 - 15 (5+8+2)
Zelda Links Awakening - 14 (7+7)
Tetris99 - 13 (6+7)
Pokemon Sword and Shield - 10 (5+5)

Demons Tilt (10)
Outer Wilds (10)
Baba Is You (10)
Forza Horizon 4 (10)
Total War 3 Kingdoms (10)

Fifa (9)
Far Cry New Dawn (9)
Luigi Mansion 3 (9)
Days Gone (9)
Apex Legends (9)
Rage 2 (8)
Ninja Gaiden 2 (8)
Cuphead (8)
Call Of Duty Modern Warfare (8)
Red Dead Redemption 2 (8)
Age of Empires 2 Definitive Edition (7)
Observation (7)
Mortal Kombat 11 (6)
Mechwarrior 5 (6)
Halo Master Chief Collection (6)
Cadence of Hyrule (6)
Fire Emblem Three Houses (6)
ShenMue 3 (6)
Golf Peaks (5)
Jurassic Park Evolution (5)
Katana Zero (5)
Anthem (4)
Timespinner (4)
Ring Fit Adventure (4)
Untitled Goose Game (3)

t0mby · Post by **t0mby** » 13 Jan 2020 12:58 pm

Blood & Truth > Zelda.

emptyvessel · Post by **emptyvessel** » 15 Jan 2020 10:12 am

Gamma wrote:10. Baba Is You

I saw that this was for sale on the Switch store and having been looking for a good Switch puzzle game I grabbed it.

I love it. I’m finding it infuriatingly hard while I work out the logic of the game, but that’s probably me not regularly playing games where I have to think all that hard.

Would have been pretty high up in my Top 10 if I’d made the cut off!

Ambrose Burnside · Post by **Ambrose Burnside** » 18 Jan 2020 10:38 am

Haven't played Gears 5 but I have played the games that came second and third.

Is Gears 5 really that good or a reflection of the Ranch's Xbox bias? Haven't seen it win any other GOTY awards. PC Gamer gave it 78

Edge gave it 60

Peppermint Lounge · Post by **Peppermint Lounge** » 20 Jan 2020 08:24 am

I have no Gears history. I played 4 going into 5. Gears 5 is a technical powerhouse with visuals and high production that slapped me around from start to finish. My GOTY.

lestat · Post by **lestat** » 31 Jan 2020 11:42 am

Ambrose Burnside wrote:Haven't played Gears 5 but I have played the games that came second and third.

Is Gears 5 really that good or a reflection of the Ranch's Xbox bias? Haven't seen it win any other GOTY awards. PC Gamer gave it 78 Edge gave it 60

I think a lot of people played it here on PC. I did.

I think it's a reflection of how meh this year was in terms of releases. Honestly Sekiro was the best game released imo, especially when you look at critical acclaim, but those games are still kinda niche for most players. Gears5 is a good Hollywood blockbuster style game anyone can get into and I think gamepass really invited people who normally wouldn't play it to play the game and they found themselves having a really good time with it. It sits at 84 meta with a user score that matches that.

The biggest disappointment with Gears 5 for me was the multiplayer, it seems to have died pretty quickly and they didn't have enough maps. I saw recently they added some new content to the multiplayer, yet to check it out.

The Games Ranch