Winners: PlayStation.Blog 2014 Game of the Year Awards

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Winners: PlayStation.Blog 2014 Game of the Year Awards

PlayStation.Blog: Game of the Year 2014

First, a thank you. With nearly 400,000 user votes submitted, this year’s PlayStation.Blog Game of the Year Awards was far and away our biggest and most active yet. Thanks for speaking your mind and supporting your favorite games of 2014.

But enough talk. Read on for the full list of winners and runners-up, plus some Editors’ Choice picks from some of your friends here at PlayStation. See you next year!

Best PS4 Game

A tight race, with Dragon Age Inquisition taking an early lead in community voting until Bungie’s sci-fi shooter Destiny surged ahead for the coveted Platinum spot. Honorable mentions go to Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, which both saw muscular support.

Destiny Dragon Age Inquisition inFAMOUS Second Son Far Cry 4

Editors’ Choice Picks

Alien: Isolation

Sid Shuman, US PlayStation.Blog

Creative Assembly clearly did their survival-horror homework, proving they could craft a lean, terrifying machine in the grand tradition of System Shock 2. A 2014 standout… if you’ve got the nerves for it.

Destiny

Justin Massongill, US PlayStation.Blog

The ambition behind Bungie’s space-faring epic is matched only by the dev team’s willingness to tweak and shape their universe based on the feedback of its most passionate players. Four months later, I’m still raiding every Tuesday with pals from around the world.

inFAMOUS Second Son

Ryan Clements, US PlayStation.Blog

The combat in Second Son felt fantastic, but you could have just as much fun traversing the world using Delsin’s abilities and leaping from eye-watering heights. Incredible experience from start to finish.

Hohokum

Nick Suttner, PlayStation Developer Relations

Hohokum hits on the curiosity that lies at the heart of all games, but brilliantly marches it front and center in a technicolor, multi-instrumentalist dream. Hoon around a while, get lost in a labyrinth of child-like discovery and joy, and feel like a grownup all over again with an impossibly cool soundtrack.

Far Cry 4

Fred Dutton, EU PlayStation.Blog

Like going on the most messed-up holiday imaginable, for my money Far Cry 4 was the most fun you could have in a videogame in 2014, and I adored every insane, eagle-punching minute of it. Bring on that yeti DLC.

Don’t Starve: Console Edition

Dan “Shoe” Hsu, PlayStation Developer Relations

You know you’re dealing with excellent game design when you’re as frightened of hunger pangs as you are the mysterious creeps crawling all over the alien landscapes of survival game Don’t Starve. I couldn’t get enough of the unique art style, deep crafting, and constant tension — just writing this makes me want to go back for more.

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Best PS3 Game

RPGs dominated voting in the PS3 category, with Dark Souls II in a close dogfight with South Park: The Stick of Truth for the Platinum. Honorable mentions go to FIFA 15 and The Walking Dead: Season Two.

Dark Souls II South Park: The Stick of Truth Destiny Far Cry 4

Editors’ Choice Picks

South Park: The Stick of Truth

Sid Shuman, US PlayStation.Blog

Fulfilled an impossible mission by faithfully complementing the legendary show while carving out an appealing identity all its own. One of the most enjoyable and subversive games I played this year on any platform.

Dark Souls II

Justin Massongill, US PlayStation.Blog

My entry point to From’s infamously unforgiving Souls series, Dark Souls II instills a persevering sense of dread and anxiety, but somehow refused to let me walk away until I conquered it. Truly one of the most rewarding gaming experiences of the year. Bring on Bloodborne.

Sportsfriends

Nick Suttner, PlayStation Developer Relations

While they’re all wildly different, it’s easy to find commonality in the inspired design and super-polished/hilarious presentation of the four (or is it six?) local multiplayer games included. Sportsfriends is the most fun you can have with four friends and a PS3, this year or any other.

Luftrausers

Dan “Shoe” Hsu, PlayStation Developer Relations

I love the relentless, 360-degree arcade-shooting action that usually ends sooner than I would like. (This game is tough!) But Luftrausers lets you get right back into the fray with new ship parts that dramatically change how you can take down the next round of enemies. Tons of fun for such a small package.

Best PS Vita Game

Heated voting in the PS Vita category ultimate saw Ubisoft Montreal’s platformer-RPG Child of Light score the Platinum, edging out early favorites Freedom Wars and The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth for top honors. Honorable mentions go to Velocity 2X, MLB 14 The Show, and Fez.

Child of Light The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth Freedom Wars Sword Art Online: Hollow Fragment

Editors’ Choice Picks

The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth

Sid Shuman, US PlayStation.Blog

The lure of this addictive dungeon crawler grows stronger and stronger after repeated playthroughs, reminding us that a masterfully crafted game doesn’t need state-of-the-art production values to be a knockout.

Hohokum

Justin Massongill, US PlayStation.Blog

A magical, ethereal experience, Hohokum feels like a well-deserved vacation. Honeyslug’s joyful controls act as the glue (or is that guano?) that marry Ghostly’s sublime soundtrack to Dick Hogg’s bizarre, beautiful world.

Freedom Wars

Ryan Clements, US PlayStation.Blog

Imprisoned and stripped of any semblance of power, players in Freedom Wars face a sense of morbid wonder at every misstep. It makes progressing through this stylized adventure all the more rewarding.

Luftrausers

Nick Suttner, PlayStation Developer Relations

Like the great Spelunky before it, Luftrausers feels like one of the games Vita was built for: teeth-grittingly tense dogfighting through the lens of Vlambeer’s screen-rattling arcade mastery. This is where bullet hell goes when it dies.

OlliOlli

Fred Dutton, EU PlayStation.Blog

This one came out of nowhere last January, heralding the arrival of a major new talent in developer Roll7. Expect their outrageous follow-up, Not a Hero, to be in with a good shot of taking this category next year too.

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Best Digital Release

In the digital category, Sucker Punch scored a decisive victory for the standalone follow-up to inFAMOUS Second Son, though competition raged amongst the other finalists. Honorable mentions go to The Walking Dead: Season Two, The Wolf Among Us, and Transistor.

inFAMOUS First Light The Walking Dead S2 Outlast The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth

Editors’ Choice Picks

Secret Ponchos

Sid Shuman, US PlayStation.Blog

A fresh twist on PvP thanks to tight gunplay, appealing characters, and seductive art direction. 2v2 Domination is one of the most compulsively competitive games I’ve played in years. A clear standout for the competitive crowd.

Transistor

Justin Massongill, US PlayStation.Blog

I can’t think of a more well-rounded, complementary crew than the team at Supergiant. Darren’s melancholy soundtrack pairs perfectly with Jen’s breathtaking art, and it’s held together by drum-tight, play-how-you-want combat — and Logan’s velvety (but sometimes unsettling) narration.

TowerFall Ascension

Ryan Clements, US PlayStation.Blog

TowerFall can build or break relationships. A superb multiplayer experience with supreme confidence in its haunting style. The wide range of options and modifiers keeps matches fresh and crisp.

The Swapper

Nick Suttner, PlayStation Developer Relations

Since I can’t sanely choose between the mighty Sportsfriends/TowerFall/Nidhogg PS4 triumvirate, I’ll take this opportunity to show some love to The Swapper, one of the moodiest, smartest, most subversive puzzle games I’ve ever played. Limbo by way of Moon. Loombo.

Rogue Legacy

Fred Dutton, EU PlayStation.Blog

I played Cellar Door Games’ roguelike platformer more than any other title in 2014 – and it wasn’t even close. Over and over I plummeted its bewitching depths – and New Game+++++++ was every bit as fun as the first playthrough. Sequel please.

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Best PS Plus Game

BioShock Infinite proved to be the definitive favorite for PlayStation Plus members in 2014, though PS4 fighter Injustice mustered a commanding second-place showing. Honorable mentions go to The Binding of Isaac, Outlast, and Dragon’s Crown.

BioShock Infinite Injustice: Gods Among Us Ultimate Batman: Arkham City Tomb Raider

Editors’ Choice Picks

Outlast

Sid Shuman, US PlayStation.Blog

A great year for PS Plus offerings made this my toughest category. Ultimately, I have to hand it to Outlast — it’s the only survival horror game I’ve ever had to stop playing out of sheer heart-stopping fright.

The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth

Justin Massongill, US PlayStation.Blog

“Sure, I’ll give it a shot,” I uttered as I descended into Edmund McMillen’s dark, demented (but confusingly cute) basement for the first time. Weeks later, I’m not quite sure I’m actually back in the real world yet. Send help.

BioShock Infinite

Ryan Clements, US PlayStation.Blog

The breathless jumps between rails, the exquisite attention to detail, the razor-sharp gunplay; it’s impossible to forget the best moments of BioShock Infinite, and it made for one hell of a Plus game.

Velocity 2X

Fred Dutton, EU PlayStation.Blog

It was great to see some big digital titles debut on PS Plus in 2014, and Futurlab’s frantic shmup/speed-run/platformer hybrid was a real high water mark. Few other games in 2014 were quite so elegant, sticky and flab-free.

Don’t Starve: Console Edition

Dan “Shoe” Hsu, PlayStation Developer Relations

You did download this when it was free for PS Plus subscribers, didn’t you? DIDN’T YOU?? If not, don’t fret. It’s cheap and so worth your money and time.

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Most Anticipated 2015

Easily the most active poll in this year’s awards. Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End dominated community voting early. Honorable mentions go to Bloodborne and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, which mustered impressive showings.

Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End Batman: Arkham Knight Persona 5 Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain

Editors’ Choice Picks

Batman: Arkham Knight

Justin Massongill, US PlayStation.Blog

The Dark Knight makes his PS4 debut this year, and he’s never looked better. Featuring seamless transitions between gameplay and cinematics, a new villain created alongside DC Comics, and the freakin’ Batmobile, Arkham Knight promises to be one of 2015’s showcase titles.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Ryan Clements, US PlayStation.Blog

The team at CD Projekt Red has a near-unnatural passion for fantasy. There’s no other explanation for Witcher 3’s massive open world, robust lore, gritty combat, and realism.

N++

Nick Suttner, PlayStation Developer Relations

Such a tough choice, but I have to give it to Metanet – their deviously difficult action-platformer N++ just gets better every time they give me a tease of it, and the multiplayer race mode is the best thing since sliced bread that chases you like a missile controlled by one of your friends.

Bloodborne

Fred Dutton, EU PlayStation.Blog

Hidetaka Miyazaki could release a domestic budgeting app and I’d be first in line.

Evolve

Dan “Shoe” Hsu, PlayStation Developer Relations

Oh man, this was so tough to pick, but based on the few matches I played over E3 2014, I’d say Evolve will end up being my most-played game of 2015. The asymmetric four-on-one-big-monster gameplay is full of fist-pumping thrills. I can’t wait.

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Studio of the Year

Fans turned out in droves to support their favorite studios, with Naughty Dog and Rockstar North duking it out for the Platinum spot. Honorable mentions went to Monolith Productions, From Software, and Ubisoft Montreal.

Naughty Dog Rockstar North Bungie Bioware

Editors’ Choice Picks

Monolith Productions

Sid Shuman, US PlayStation.Blog

The superior Shadow of Mordor sees this veteran Kirkland-based studio reaching into exciting new terrain. The Nemesis system alone is the most satisfying gameplay innovation I’ve experienced this year.

Square Enix

Justin Massongill, US PlayStation.Blog

I could expound on the ways Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn is a triumph in MMO design, but instead I’ll praise the team behind it for continually listening to (and communicating with) their fans, constantly adding new content, and most importantly: visibly loving every moment of it.

Bungie

Ryan Clements, US PlayStation.Blog

Leave it to such a legendary crew to pull together and build an awe-inspiring universe that will undoubtedly be home to many adventures for years to come. Bravo to everyone involved.

BlitWorks

Nick Suttner, PlayStation Developer Relations

Yay, a loophole to work Spelunky into this year’s awards! But seriously, BlitWorks did an incredible job porting it to PS4, as well as Fez, Don’t Starve, and OlliOlli to extra PS platforms. Basically, they’re the reason why many of the raddest digital games play best on PlayStation. Respect!

FromSoftware

Fred Dutton, EU PlayStation.Blog

Much was made of how Dark Souls II was made by the studio’s ‘B team’ while Miyazaki and co readied Bloodborne. If that’s any indicator of the strength and depth of its creative team, I’m chalking them up as game dev’s Pixar equivalent… albeit with added dread, horror and relentless misery.

Comments are closed.

236 Comments

16 Author Replies

  • Fred Dutton needs a raise.

  • @47

    while The Witcher games are great and all. I doubt many PS users even know the franchise.
    It’s not surprising at all. I’m not sure how the game will fair on PS4 sales wise. It’s the 3rd entry.
    Geralt’s character won’t resonate with 98% of the people who are just jumping in. I’m sure CD Project will try their best to fill in the gaps, but it just won’t be the same.

  • I agree Destiny (PS4) best game 2014 .

  • Destiny doesn’t even have a freaking story how in the world could it be a GOTY contender.

  • @50 That’s because this was readers choice not staff picked like other sites. The face that millions continue to play Destiny daily I think speaks to why it won.

  • This goes to show you can buy awards. In no category does destiny beat dragon age in anything. Congrats destiny on buying all your success. This way you can keep screwing people out of their money. yeah!!

  • Destiny is my GOTY as well. I still play daily. Infamous Second Son is right next to it
    It’s my first PS4 platinum. :-)

  • I don’t know why people hate destiny so much. I love it and I’m really happy it got goty.
    Congratulations Bungie!
    I’m very surprised that Witcher 3 didn’t get more votes for most anticipated. Looks incredible.

  • Destiny

    Hahaha…. no !

  • Now give us a Game of The Year Sale!

  • DESTINY!?? ARE YOU KIDDING!?
    How the hell does destiny win GOTY? that game promised so much and delivered so little

  • Yeah I knew bulls*** would be present in these awards but at least
    1st Light won as Best Digital
    Infinite as Best Plus Game…and
    UC4 as Most Anticipated

    Those all deserved.
    Now seeing Destiny as best PS4 game is an awful vision,probably Sony advertising Destiny more and more(as if they hadn’t enough throughout the year) but Studio of the Year was a huge nonsense…I mean what ND has done this year other than release overpriced TLoU DLCs?….absolutely nothing.

    Sucker Punch IS the Studio of the Year by miles away of any contender…since they released 2 amazing games…with best graphics,best animations,best voice-acting,excellent characters,great writing,great physics…well a technical marvel that no other 2014 game comes even close…except Driveclub on graphics.

  • @56 That is funny because neither myself nor any other voter here got paid to vote for Destiny. WE voted for the winners not the staff.

  • You all understand how voting works correct? ppl vote > tally is accumulated = winner reported.
    You vocal few are a constant nuisance.
    Please stop whining. If the game isn’t for you move on. Find something else to worship. If you don’t like the business practices of for games publishers than don’t support them. Don’t even mention them. #VoteWithYourWallet
    /rant

  • I meant past year…”what ND has done past year”.lol

  • @62 Uh they released Left Behind for The Last of Us which many feel is one of the best DLC ever made and they did TLOU Remastered. I’d say that is more than some other studios did.

  • @64 Fully agree with you. Bunch of babies here.

  • I guess I’m the only one who loved Tales of Hearts R on the Vita. It’s ever bit as good as Persona 4G. Took me about 53 hrs. to beat the game which had great characters and a good story. I’ll come back to it later for my second play through to get the plat. Also Soul Sacrifice Delta is a fantastic game not mentioned. As far as my most anticipated game for 2015 it might be The Order 1886. Sure Uncharted 4 is going to be awesome but the unknown of The Order might just get me to buy a PS4.

  • @ 64 chsnavi – Hmm…we’re in 2014 and you still believe voting works like that,get a conscience son.

  • The guy that keeps saying that it’s user picks is right, I should have been more clear when I said I think you guyz are drunk , I was stating that for the people who voted, not the staff, although the fact that sports friends (a game you need a psmove to play) is on the staffs picks, makes them drunk too.

  • @ 66 Mercenary09 – Oh ma bad…totally forgot Left Behind…oh damn how could I?…indeed Left Behind is the best DLC ever made,I’m sorry I really forgot Left Behind.But still Sucker Punch did much more.

  • Also I should add, that I didn’t even know they were doing any voting, and I check this site daily, plus re-releasing 1 game and adding some dlc is not studio of the year worthy.

  • @70 If that was his favorite PS3 game then he is entitled to that. You’re probably just hating because you don’t have any local friends to play it with.

  • After reading the Uncharted 4 article in Game Informer, efuiikgdwefvxgnmuyewafnkiuttddvbjhnmkloysqqrewliysvny!!!

  • For everyone that’s shocked and telling ps that their stupid then they don’t get that the game people are still playing the most of on ps4 is destiny then they should learn that it’s a fun game and they are like 20% of the people on ps4 that doesn’t play destiny still.

  • @71 While the Infamous games were great they were too short and didn’t have the impact on me like TLOU did or Left Behind. I suspect the same can be said for other people. There is a reason both them Infamous games have a 80 or lower metacritic while TLOU and left behind were much much higher.

  • @75 Exactly. I have 200 people on my friends list and every day at least half of them are still playing Destiny. That right there is why it won GOTY. I don’t see anyone playing Middle Earth or Far Cry after they beat it hardly.

  • Really…Destiny? Really?

    How are people even playing that game with its complete and utter lack of content? There is no re playability!

  • @64 – …. spare me your diatribe. If you like all the other ‘whaaa’-burger-french-cries don’t like the game and or the results. Play/read something else.

    btw its officially 2015.

    Also – who visits to a company specific blog and doesn’t EXPECT to find bias.

    Lastly what does my conscience have to do with basic logic. I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt on that one, and just except you probably meant get a clue.

    In which case i rebut with: happy new year!

  • Best PS+ Game:
    “BioShock Infinite proved to be the definitive favorite for PlayStation Plus members in 2014, though PS4 fighter Injustice mustered a commanding second-place showing. Honorable mentions go to The Binding of Isaac, Outlast, and Dragon’s Crown.”

    I think this demonstrates the want for more AAAs, or other non-Indies on PS+. Vita especially has been faring pretty badly with PS+ lately. I really hope this drives you to improve the service, or else many people like me are not going to renew. Injustice and the PS3 games were all good additions this month, but Vita’s selection still sucks hard

  • ^^ @69 :p

  • @73 I have plenty of local friends, actually the only friends I have on my friends list are all people I personally know and hangout with. The complaint was because I go to play it, and they see that you have to use the ps move and they all instantly laugh and say they would rather play playstation all stars or super smash bros. I was trying to say that I agree with your earlier statement of this was vote based so stop complaining, and you stooped down to insulting me, thanks.

  • Dark Souls 2 win on PS3? haha good joke.
    Destiny really deserves that spot on PS4.

  • Alien Isolation was my personal GOTY, I loved almost everything about the game. Destiny has been a lot of fun with friends. Creative Assembly would have to be studio of the year for me, the way they interact with the fan base etc has been amazing.

  • Bad year Sony? Best games? Really :)
    **** off!

  • Mercenary09 and MapleStory nailed it…

    Editors’ Choice are what the actual PS Blog Team picks on, not actual GOTY…which YOU voted…not the PS Blog Team…

    people just doesn’t even know whats a differences of Voting and Editor’s Choice nowadays

  • lol, Destiny as a game of the year.

    How do you say paid off in english? Oh right, BULL****.

  • It’s quite evident these people who are complaining have no reading comprehension (the very first line) and are blissfully ignorant to the public voting.

  • I am very happy to see that The Binding of Isaac got the love that it deserved. I had played the original on PC and when this came out I wasn’t expecting much difference but this game is so smooth that it makes a difference. I am always trying to find new people and new items.

    I am a little disappointed to see that Rockstar didn’t get the Number 1 spot because they have supported their online community to so much free content which is the best kind of add on content.

    Overall it was us, the gamers that won this past year and this coming year looks to be even better.

  • Destiny GOTY? Who the hell are you kidding… sure, it is a decent FPS with a nice online platform (if you can actually remain online that is), but Shadow of Mordor and Dragon Age: Inquisition deserve that award 10 times before Destiny…

  • I have Destiny, and I don’t even think it deserves GOTY…

  • Yea the people complaining here are just showing how childish and immature they are.

  • @72 if you come here daily then your blind if you didn’t know they were doing the voting as it was at the top of the page for the past 3-4 weeks. You have yourself to blame for that. I come here daily and saw it the day they put it up.

  • haha I am loving all this Destiny hate, rain it down cry babies. The honest truth is it didn’t need to have a story. The game was fun as hell and still is. It has razor sharp mechanics, and is really fun to play with others. I can not think of any other game that has ever owned my gaming time quite like this, so I feel far from ripped off, best value I have ever received from a game. I just wish I had Gjallahorn by now. Bring the hate, you complainers just keep bringing more attention to this awesome game.

  • My Game of the Year 2014 was…Minecraft I suppose. It was the only game made in 2014 I bought for my Vita/PS3. I got to try out Fez (completed) and Velocity 2X thanks to PS Plus and out of the 3 games I played I would say Velocity 2X gets my vote. It was the only category I voted in and it’s sad it didn’t even crack the top 4. It will always be #1 in my books for 2014. Now to actually play through all the 2013 and older games I have before Sony cancels the PS3/Vita…

    Let’s just say if the PS4 stays on the route it is currently going now, I’ll never buy it. I’m one of few people who won’t, but that’s just me. I’m just done with what Sony/Microsoft/Nintendo have become. A PC is a much better choice this generation.

    Also, Destiny GOTY is funny to me personally just because I played the beta and still have not bought / have no intention to buy Destiny. But some people I know play it all the time so for them I can see the point. Sometimes you just have to say to yourself “I don’t know why people like this game so much, but hey, whatever floats their boat”.

  • So disappointed to see Transistor get completely ignored. That game was, without question, the best designed game of the year… but because it didn’t have name recognition and big ad dollars behind it, it couldn’t beat out garbage like DA:I and Destiny…

    Oh well.

    • Justin gave it his Editors’ Choice! It did well in the votes too — it’s a great game — but not enough to place

  • @95 Exactly it may not be everyone’s choice but there is something to be said about the face that so many people continue to play Destiny daily. I scratch my head about what people like about Hearthstone but i’m not gonna hate on it just because I don’t agree.

  • @96 Transistor was fantastic and the good news is Supergiant just announced that they have sold 600,000 copies of it so far that is a success!

  • Gratz to ATLAS do Persons 5 making the list!

  • No love for Oddworld?

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