As part of a recent feature by Game Informer, Naughty Dog Directors Neil Druckmann and Bruce Straley (The Last of Us, Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End) revealed their favorite games of 2016.
First up was Druckmann, who gave his #1 pick to The Last Guardian. “My GOTY,” he said. “Another beautiful tale of a bond created through interaction by Team Ico/genDESIGN. Trico is a masterclass in creating a believable, living creature. By the end of the journey I was wiping away tears – the first time that has ever happened to me in a video game.”
Inside was Druckmann’s second favorite game of 2016, with Super Mario Run, Rez Infinite, and Dishonored 2 rounding out his top five.
Straley’s top game of 2016 was Inside, and he went so far as to say it might be in his top five of all time. “It’s not often I find myself slack-jawed with giddy little laughs burbling uncontrollably out at the TV while playing a game,” he said. “Inside, for me, was the perfect concert of all the tools we have at our disposal as developers to make something truly artful and inspired. It’s probably in my Top 5 of all time.”
The other games in Straley’s top five include Budget Cuts, Thumper, The Lab, and Grow Up.
Although both of them directed The Last of Us, only Druckmann is currently working on The Last of Us Part II.
Over on the PlayStation Blog, several developers revealed their most anticipated games of 2017 and beyond. David Cage, Founder of Quantic Dream (Detroit: Become Human), gave the nod to Media Molecule’s Dreams:
I know these guys and they are absolutely crazy (which is a necessary condition to create the game they want to make), as well as very talented, as everyone knows. What they want to achieve seems almost impossible. This is why I hope so much they will make it and deliver once again an amazing game.
Overall, Horizon Zero Dawn and Red Dead Redemption 2 received the most attention by the interviewed developers.
What were your top five games of 2016?
[Source: Game Informer, PlayStation Blog]
