Game of the Year 2022: JANE, MIKE AND ANDY DECIDE | Day 2

Yesterday we had Luke extolling the virtues of Elden Ring, and Ellen making the case for Stray, and now it’s Jane, Mike and Andy’s turn to tell you what game they loved most this year. Enjoy, and let us know your pick for GOTY in the comments!
If you missed part 1, catch up here: • Game of the Year 2022:...
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#outsidexbox #goty #gameoftheyear

[@richardbrown3055]

All I can assume is that while Jane is delivering her verdict as to why Marvel Snap is her choice for game of the year, Two Point Campus is just outside the door, bouquet in hand, hearing everything….🥺.

[@Storyman09]

Oh… Now I’m sad for Two Point Campus…

[@TheRivieraKid]

Then it sank a bottle of whiskey and quietly hung himself.

[@ComicCrossing]

Yeah I dont get it at all. Marvel Snap sucks

[@burrito4332]

I legitimately believe Mike had a really strong and good faith argument for Gotham Knights in a way that has been almost entirely absent from other professional critics and commenters. Acknowledging imperfection but not dismissing the craft outright and recognizing the significance of what it does well. A true champion of underdogs.

[@franklinnartz1381]

Agreed. I also feel like reviewers and critics often leave out how much fun a game is. Most of the games I really enjoyed were objectively flawed in some way or other but just damn fun nonetheless.

[@bezerkoid]

I probably won't play GK anytime soon, but Mike and others are allowed to enjoy it to their heart's content. Anyone saying they can't needs to take a good, long look at themselves.

[@badbones777]

while I whole heartedly agree with his reasons for liking it (we all like what we like and that's fine) I wouldn't call a game with the budget of Gotham Knights an underdog - It's got no right to be as underwhelming as it is with the amount of money thrown at it and the pedigree of staff working on it. that of course doesn't stop it being fun, far from it. it can and should have been better than it is though.

[@burrito4332]

@@badbones777 really good point. I guess I meant that I'm taken in by his optimism and insistence in enjoying an installment that, while admittedly underwhelming for its budget and potential, is nevertheless trying something new at least a little, or takes the franchise in a different direction. I do agree that it should have been more ambitious and polished though, and it should be held to that standard.

[@spiffymarc]

@@badbones777 it’s a bit of a bad faith argument to call it and others like it “underwhelming.” If you as a consumer saw the game, bought the game, loved it, moved on, you probably don’t consider it underwhelming. Not everything has to be Game of the Year or Best in Genre or 100 hours long.

[@syaoran5476]

If Garfield lasagna party didnt make the list--

[@VelvetTeacake]

A late entry going straight to the top 🎉

[@awmperry]

I think we all know that the only reason it isn’t is because they couldn’t all have it and they couldn’t decide who’d get it.

[@CaitlinRC]

rule 1 of garfield lasagna party, we dont talk about garfield lasagna party

[@MrGhostTheBigRoast]

garfield.wmv

[@markj3169]

Lorenzo Music

[@BigFoodieGeek]

Mike did more to sell me on Gotham Knights than any of their marketing did 😅

[@bustinarant]

Yeah if I can drive the bat-cycle as all 4 of them I'll like it. Somewhat prefer Red Hood or Nightwing but all his footage was Babs, even if she's cooler than Robin lol

[@lucasstevason]

@@bustinarant the bat cycle sucks actually. It feels bad to ride and there's speed lines on the side but it's so insanely slow. If you turn the camera to the side it looks like a running speed

[@FistoftheSnackBar]

Mike described it like a story-driven single-player open-world game, and my understanding is that it's....not that.

[@angelguerrero9769]

@@lucasstevason z

[@nickbrown7990]

Similar to Mike, I basically had the same experience and I've been waiting forever to be able to play as Batgirl. I really enjoyed it and even it's mistakes we're usually charmingly the devs biting off more than they can chew to make the game unique for four playable characters

[@scalliano]

Oxtra: Effortlessly predictable. Oxbox: Curveballs out the wazoo.

[@thewingedporpoise]

well, they couldn't exactly say Elden Ring again

[@SilentKnight234]

The kids always get the good toys 😂

[@ComicCrossing]

IDK Stray isnt a great game so that was surprising. Well at least if you didnt watch Ellens Streams.

[@ilsingr5750]

I don't really think Andy's pick was that surprising. Remember these are their favorite games of the year

[@GeneralNickles]

The only reason I didn't guess Andy's is because I forgot the monkey island game even existed.

[@ANonymous-fq5ky]

I like how they undermined Andys claims of not knowing about Marvel Snap by using game-footage captured on his account.

[@RagisRAG]

Man, when Mike said "Batman is dead" it really hits hard. (R.I.P. kevin Conroy)

[@YorlikDamari]

Horizon: Forbidden West did not deserve to be treated this way.

[@captainsavvy07]

They have the worst luck releasing Horizon games in the same year as other massively anticipated games. I really love the Horizon games and they get routinely forgotten 💔

[@lincolnlu9869]

Yes it did!

[@kitiarian4371]

Also couldn't believe no Horizon! Gotham and Marvel over that!?!

[@YorlikDamari]

@@captainsavvy07 it was such a good game!!

[@kitiarian4371]

@@gsesquire3441 Do you feel clever now kiddo? Trying to insult random people on the internet by telling them you don't like the thing they like lol

[@katfromthekong414]

Andy despairing with Mikes pick was hilarious 🤣

[@rayquazzenron3853]

Jane pretending to be be dead again even though we all know she is immortal

[@neolexiousneolexian6079]

"Immortal", "dead", "undead"... The lines are blurred in Douglas's biolabs.

[@voxgideon.]

This is peak game journalism - discussing the options with sufficient humour and eloquence to be entertaining even if the choices aren't necessarily popular. In that vein, I'd enjoy seeing a redux with Luke having to talk about his 2nd choice.

[@Mockingbirdkiller]

Well said

[@WizzyMcWizzyton]

I keep on imagining Two Point Campus almost ready to stride up onto the stage, acceptance speech at the ready. It even practically put Jane in the game! …and upon hearing her verdict just frowns and trudges sobbing back to its campus, losing to a mobile game.

[@bahumat42]

Big respect for Mike to stand up for a game he likes even given its unpopularity.

[@deathbykonami5487]

That's me about DmC, Mass Effect Andromeda, and Cyberpunk in a nutshell.

[@Aliuro]

@@deathbykonami5487 I've only played ME:A this year, and I loved it. Maybe because I didn't have super high expectations after people sh*tting on it at launch)

[@aegresen]

@@Aliuro I'm with you, I started ME:A earlier this year and it's been fun so far. Ultimately, it's about your own personal enjoyment than the ratings.

[@Mockingbirdkiller]

Damn straight my game even unpopular and difficult to get a game was aliens fire team

[@JamesTM]

None of you chose Garfield Lasagna Party? But you got to provoke the dog from behind a bush!

[@MsCunningLinguistic]

It had sad phalluses! What's not to love??

[@Joe90h]

It had famous Garfield lines such as "Meow"!

[@neolexiousneolexian6079]

@@MsCunningLinguistic ...Was there more than one??

[@gamepassghost]

Somewhere Onikage is crying tears of beautiful joy. Mike - he did it. He engaged with the combat mechanics. 😂

[@simplydavemn]

I like the recent more open Outside XBOX/XTRA integration - the 5 of you (as well as John and James) seem to have such good chemistry and its fun to see the various combinations. "Games are back!"

[@GriffinWolf]

@@GeneCash Game is back, it seems.

[@CaitlinRC]

Oddly enough, Bear and Breakfast is my GOTY. Who knew I'd get such joy from unlocking a pair of pants for a grizzly bear, by running a charming B&B in the woods.

[@azican92]

Honestly same! There's so much charm to the game (and I fully squealed when I unlocked the suspenders!)

[@connortheandroidsentbycybe7740]

Honestly, feels on brand for you, tbh

[@user-hs1xb9tv6e]

Did not expacted Mike's goty but I do respact it. He decided to stick with what he sees as fun no matter how unpopular it is. We should all be able to be like him.

[@alexanderstar1998]

So... honorable mentions so people know that this year has more than Elden Ring and GOW:R : - Horizon - Sifu - 2 of the most fun pokemon games in a decade - Xenoblade 3 - Mario rabbids - Plague Tale - Kirby - Midnight Suns - Bayo 3 - Cult of The Lambs - Pentiment - Neon White

[@HalfpennyTerwilliger]

Yep, it's been a pretty good year even if one couldn't care less about Elden Ring.

[@ellbent]

Definitely Cult of The Lamb would be my pick if not GOW:R. I would count Genshin Impact’s Sumeru chapter ( but the game itself was 2020 )

[@adampeterfong]

"You can get a lot of synergy out of carnage" have we reached peak Jane?

[@MagTheMercenary]

Jane's final line about spending most of the day working on the medium-sized screen so that later in the evening you can watch the big screen while playing games on the little screen is so relatable and wonderfully summarises 2022 perfectly. Couldn't have said it better myself tbh.

[@Zoso14892]

Every reason Mike gave for enjoying Gotham Knights I heard from a friend who loves DC. He loved it too.

[@FrankyBabes]

Andy and Luke interrupting the video to do a lengthy bit about Victorian orphans at the door was an excellent advert for their podcast

[@Mulbert]

Yes! It's called Mom Can't Cook, it's them discussing Disney Channel original movies I've never seen in a hilarious fashion, the episode about a dog psychic was a particular highlight 😅😅

[@ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh1]

imagining andy getting thrown out during Jane's GOTY and standing awkwardly next to all the racing games he an Luke tossed out for Mike

[@ryke_masters]

Mike's just out here boosting Gotham Knights sales by 500%.

[@GregPivo87]

I'm gonna miss Jane. Very sad to hear that Marvel Snap killed her.

[@experimetalfan8851]

Jane is invincible, Jane is immortal.

[@MrMBinder]

You say that like she wouldn't test it on a series of clones with different diets and sleep patterns.

[@teafling]

Not how I’d choose to go but hey, it’s up to Jane how she activates her second form!

[@AlexanderOsias]

Jane cannot be Destroyed. +1 Power for each OxBox or OxTra team member in play at this location.

[@daggern15]

Jane is the anti-hero that keeps coming back. She'll be perfectly fine after a good stiff drink

[@teafling]

It feels like not being able to choose Elden Ring just really messed with everybody 😂 That said, I would happily watch a video of why Elden Ring is *everyone’s* GOTY. I like seeing the different reasons people like the same thing and the different things they take from the same source material.

[@mx2000]

I second this idea.

[@MrGhostTheBigRoast]

I bet my left eyebrow mike hasnt progressed past rennala. I dont think hes finished even one of the from games lmao edit: i was right as of their shooting the year end quiz, mike barely went past margit aka the tutorial boss.

[@bustinarant]

@@MrGhostTheBigRoast I'm glad Andy and Jane liked it. Mostly what I think when they talk about it. Every FromSoftware game is probably easier than playing Resident Evil, mechanically lol

[@dr.krimson1010]

Seeing people struggle not to recommend Elden Ring completely baffles me. Neither the gameplay nor the aesthetics appeal to me.

[@teafling]

@@dr.krimson1010 It was my first From Software game and I really enjoyed it but I have to imagine it’s a real Marmite game.

[@Nate-zb4bk]

Shout out to the games that didn’t make the list but could have: Horizon: Forbidden West, Tunic, Inscryption, and Sifu. Happy new year all. Games are back!

[@merissaj4518]

Thank you!

[@GriffinWolf]

Inscryption was last year...

[@tacitus5665]

Plague Tale Requiem

[@ArkaneStephanie]

I really liked Gotham knights and it managed to make a story thats got four possible characters to play feel like it was made for the character you chose. There was a mission I won't spoil that felt tailor made for Batgirl specifically (The character I chose for the mission). It could be better but it's still very good. They also seemed to understand the characters more than I felt Arkham did. Harley is portrayed as dumb in Arkham but here she is actually clever and her own villain. While it would have been nice playing the first cutscene, it was still really good. I really hope a sequel comes out because it could be really good without the flaws it does have

[@sodasalesman6822]

obviously elden ring is the goty but imo pentiment has been slept on. it's a super interesting choice/dialogue based game set in 16th century Bavaria during the time of the protestant reformation, and it's way more interesting than that description makes it sound lol

[@christinewebb8893]

Andy and Luke's off-camera (or behind-the-camera?) antics during Mike's lecture was priceless! Especially between 15:44 and 16:53. X-D

[@Amaranthyne]

I read the sign at 2:53 as “Museum of pirate legs” and now I feel like that should legitimately feature in a game with a bunch of peg leg exhibits.

[@mcedeias7788]

To be fair: Where would that museum be, other than in a Monkey Island game?

[@Amaranthyne]

@@mcedeias7788 Right?

[@catoninetales]

What about A Plague Tale: Requiem and it's excellent rat physics?

[@lisah-p8474]

The beginning of Jane's intro with its "If you're watching this video..." energy really got me for some reason. 😂 (Maybe I was still in shock from hearing Mike pick Gotham Knights.)

[@frodobaggins7710]

Andy's stream a while ago on Monkey Island basically sold me on the game, I especially liked a lot of the writing

[@socaldayve6684]

Came for the games, stayed for the Baywatch Nights references. 😆😅

[@limegreenelevator]

I keep meaning to replay Return to Monkey Island because there are two things I forgot to do in both my playthroughs and Andy has reminded me. Be back in 8 hours, going to replay Return to Monkey Island.

[@professorphantoms717]

16:00 Luke and Andy in the background had me dying

[@callumdonington2227]

Andy and Luke can riff like nobody's business.

[@gwts1171]

I really enjoyed the Un-Batman game (as I've been calling it). Mike explained it well. It may have helped that I both had zero expectations of liking it and that I got it for free. But I played it quite a lot. All of our crew mentioned games that I like. My personal GOTY was Stray.

[@Borderlines]

I absolutely loved the videos where they played their nominees, even if briefly.

[@CiananKelly]

No Garfield Lasagna Party? cmon people it had such exciting mini games

[@petermcconnell9925]

"Robin has big bicycle energy" feels like a euphonism to me. ;)

[@polkarrty]

Bernard would agree

[@chrisprovince1322]

Yes! My buddy and I have been slowly playing through Gotham Knights and having a blast. We know it's not perfect by any means but they have a bunch of small details and great character interactions.

[@gingergamer3270]

My game of 2022 was just dance 2022, which I know they have been making them every year, but I do really think it was a step up in the series. I did really enjoy 2021 and I think they should be applauded for pulling JD 2020 and 2021 together through the lockdown. But 2022 really felt like a step up. I am gutted I can't afford a switch and can't play 2023 :( I will remember this Ubisoft. Edit: the quarry is also a good runner up for me. I love Supermassive games and I was very excited for this, it didn't disappoint

[@itaftrs6240]

GOTY for me this year was without a doubt Xenoblade Chronicles 3. Even made me cry a couple of times, which is a first when it comes to that series

[@nickburkhardt3229]

Came here to say this not my favorite Xenoblade but best new game this year

[@finchhawthorne1302]

I think the most telling thing about how few good games there were this year is how much of Disney Dreamlight Valley I saw on my feed. Not that it’s a bad game, but… if that’s the thing that was occupying our time. Jokes aside, I had a lot of fun with Bendy and the dark revival, but that’s partly it’s really an aesthetic I’m fond of.

[@jonathandavies1716]

Half expected Jane to declare she didn't care Elden Ring was already taken she was picking it anyway.

[@bloodywolf9317]

Signalis fucking blew me away. Incredible survival horror and brilliant story that still lives rent free in my head

[@jonquill]

I was hoping to see a little more love for Tunic. Still my favorite game of the year. It renewed my hope for good puzzles in games.

[@AngelBeatYunara]

Interesting spread of games for sure, definitely a couple of unexpected ones.

[@chastitymarks2185]

My GOTY was "Cult of the Lamb" the perfect mix of cuteness and bloodshed, whats not to love?

[@Michael_Lindell]

I ate some elk a few days back. It was my Game of the Year.

[@katherinevasper1791]

Boo, boo. Elk is super delicious, though.

[@waffledaddy333]

Vampire Survivor was defined one of the best games I played this year

[@masonr1666]

I have no idea how much production is involved in Outside X Box, but it has the feel of friends sitting around discussing games. I do like it. Thanks for the content.

[@GardinerAlan]

I love how Jane's amazing Marvel Snap mechanic is just the Doubling Cube from Backgammon. You know, the OG board game that's been played for 100s of years

[@TheDiplomancer]

I agree with Mike! Gotham Knights might not have been what fans of the Arkham games wanted, but as someone who REALLY enjoys content that centers around the BatFam, I loved it! And you know what? I had fun, and that's what matters.

[@Remotecontrolledcat]

Honestly, I think 2022 was a year for the indies - Cult of the Lamb was my GOTY

[@thuershen]

Fun fact: A little while ago, I watched this video and skipped Andy's entry because I hadn't yet played/finished RtMI and I had no intention of spoiling myself. No way. Fast-forward to today. Return to Monkey Island is the game of the year. At least, that is what my nostalgia-fueled past self says as it basks in what this game achieved. Oh wait. It is also what my current self said. Don't tell anyone, but tears were shed :P

[@laterkater4213]

I love these lists this year, it really feels like everyone just said "I know what everyone is expecting but here's something I really enjoyed and let me tell you why!"

[@LotusPunk]

"You can get a lot of synergy in carnage, I find." Perfect Jane quote. 😂🖤🤘🏻

[@bellona0544]

I am pretty surprised no one was that interested in Ragnarök. While the story was a little less tight than the first game, and there were a few things that felt rushed, I felt it was overall an improvement in many ways from the first game-a solid 9.5 when the first was a 10 thanks to originality.

[@tonyng5645]

When neither Luke nor Ellen picked it I wondered if ousidexbox would mention Ragnarok or Forbidden West since they are ostensibly an Xbox channel. If they can't really talk about PS5 games here I would have perfered Luke pick one of those two and let Andy talk about Elden Ring.

[@Ceece20]

@@tonyng5645 they can definitely talk about PlayStation games. They just tend not to and leave it for Oxtra. Also while those games are good, they are kind of “just another Sony 3rd person action adventure game”. Just saying.

[@Rusty84CV]

God of war is worst game of the year

[@daggern15]

@@Rusty84CV Apparently you never played Gotham Knights

[@fabianlaibin6956]

Honestly it's probably just because GOW: Ragnarok got released at the tail end of the year that it didn't make their list. This isn't an objective best goty, just their own preference. They probably had solid favorites that didn't get enough time to get nudged by GOW

[@mar_speedman]

My favorite game of 2022 is Garfield Lasagna Party. I mean, it gave us Garfield.wmv, so how can I not love it? :P

[@Mr_J_Ralph]

Anybody else react with "Oh wow, Jane's being serious?"

[@marhawkman303]

This isn't the first time Jane has put a mobile game in a list video. :D A while back her entry was for some Final Fantasy game that's also a mobile character collecting game.

[@tino9718]

As a Batman fan (who couldn't play "Gotham Knights" yet because no PS5), I was very happy with Mike's choice! It looked great in all the trailers and it was time you get to play more as the Bat Family! :D

[@Rumkeez]

Not disputing that Elden Ring is the best, but 2022 has been an INCREDIBLE year for indie games!

[@OJtheLIONKing]

God of War Ragnarok here. I loved Elden Ring too! I'm sure Monkey Island was a great game too. The other games mentioned in these two videos also existed, and everyone can like what they like. Comment over. 😂

[@FebruaryGhost]

This year was amazing for smaller releases! Citizen Sleeper, The Case of the Golden Idol, and I Was a Teenage Exocolonist were all absolute hits for me

[@coaxtl1413]

I have been really enjoying I Was a Teenage Exocolonist! And just started Timberborn (though it is early access, so maybe it doesn’t count)

[@NisansaDdS]

Okay. Mike got me. I did not expect that. Edit: Jane too!

[@spiffymarc]

Yes Mike, thank you! I absolutely loved Gotham Knights and was essentially told off or mocked by everyone I know for it. It was super fun and had an engaging story. I’d literally mark myself offline when playing it. Funny to see even in this everyone couldn’t help but relentlessly mock from off-camera. There’s some games that literally nobody can let slide for some reason even though they’re just a solid 7/10.

[@scottlil01]

My GOTY is Xenoblade Chronicles 3. The first game is my favourite game of all time - 3 is pretty much equal with it, it is that good. The gameplay is incredible, the story hit me really hard at certain points and I just got so invested in its world.

[@Saetanigera]

I definitely preferred XC 1&2. XC 3 is the only game where I started the boss fight and then went to go grab food. The main party was well characterized, but many of the NPCs get old or rant far longer than needed.

[@myselfi678]

Yeah same XC3 was my game of the year but I just love the entire series so that wasn’t very shocking. The music is just great, especially if you love flutes.

[@ThomasPike]

Definitely my GOTY too. The storytelling, the characters, the music, the voice acting. Just amazing.

[@bluewilliams4911]

honestly I loved Gotham knights bc it’s such a sweet vibe of the entire Batman family outside of *just* batman.

[@whosgameisit]

My personal game of the year was tiny kin. Not sure when it released but My wife and I played it a few months ago. I felt like a kid again the entire time, as it stimulated every thing I fell in love with about video games.

[@canveyrossful]

Games are back folks!

[@ashley_sidhe]

I have to say Mike really sold me on that game which I had not planned to play.

[@christinegovas-robert4378]

Triangle Strategy was my surprise game of the year. Terrible name, slow start, shockingly great game with a wild story to boot.

[@patrickj]

I was experiencing the same thing as Mike with Gotham Knights all the time, screen dimming because the story sequences went on for so long :D

[@TransmitHim]

I'm about four hours in Triangle Strategy and I definitely agree about the slow start. The actual game hiding in there is fun, so it's good to hear that it'll actually get going at some point.

[@christinegovas-robert4378]

@Transmit Him Stick with it. The plot is engrossing in a buckwild way but the first few chapters certainly can be a slog.

[@patrickj]

@@christinegovas-robert4378 Some of the decisions towards the end... those were Life Is Strange level hard, from an emotional PoV. I'll definitely go for a new game + playthrough next year.

[@rayquazzenron3853]

You can get a lot of synergy out of carnage is a really cool quote I wasn't expecting from a Marvel snap review

[@danielwall5468]

I haven't heard a good Baywatch Night's reference in a while. Great call back.

[@fpspwny995]

I'm in a similar boat as Mike herd. Because my favourite game of the year that wasn't Elden Ring is Saint's Row. A game that the Internet seems to utterly despise but has also been overly scrutinised to a frankly bizarre degree. Tight combat and driving, tonnes of customisation, plenty of rewards for exploration and just really funny. Genuinely have no idea what everyone hated so much. It was SO good.

[@owtinoz]

Meanwhile God of War is getting ready to have a discussion with everyone in the couch, possibly a violent one

[@Joe90h]

OXBoxtra managed to sell Marvel Snap to me in the one Show Of The Weekend video they did about it and I've played it every day since. Hearing that a lot of the former Hearthstone people worked on it made me think "Hey, I liked Hearthstone before it got bad, maybe it was thanks to those guys!" I've been playing a full "Ongoing" abilities deck. I suck, but I win often enough to want to keep at it and unlock more cards.

[@JervisGermane]

I still can't say I understand how Marvel Snap works at all, but it was nice to hear Jane talk about it.

[@AlexanderOsias]

I see that Farrantula’s vid grabs are being used, so she talks strat with Andy and Luke, I suppose.

[@rootyful]

I know it's too late for this year's GotYs, but you all definitely, DEFINITELY need to check out Signalis.

[@bobbyfernando]

Absolutely, yes. Such a solid, well-crafted game. That, _Tunic,_ _Immortality,_ and _Norco_ are some of my GOTY contenders (if only this wasn't the year _Elden Ring_ was released...), and it just seems to have been a great year for indie hits in general.

[@TTPZeppelin]

Signalis is superb! Andy would love it.

[@psoma_brufd]

Tunic!!! Such a great, innovative indie game!

[@docette2015]

I love how everyone's real favorite is "Elden Ring" and this is basically all their runner's up. Gotta admit, was NOT expecting some of these choices, but if they gave you a lot of fun this year, that's the main thing. :) Though arguably the best part of the video was everyone making Mike explain why he hadn't picked a racing game. XD

[@badbones777]

I mean its not like there were no decent games though. GoW: Ragnarok, theMarvel thingy that's basically X-Com but Marvel, Plague tale, Horizon Forbidden West, and even just on Game Pass I thought Citizen Sleeper, Pentiment, Immortality, Metal: Hellsinger and Weird West were great. Genuinely found 2022 to be a good year for games myself.

[@HalfpennyTerwilliger]

Marvel Midnight Suns is the one made by Firaxis, X-com's devs. Triangle Strategy seems like another good game for people interested in strategic games.

[@mschmalfeldt]

Return to Monkey Island felt like a warm hug from a familiar old friend

[@mschmalfeldt]

@@scottneil1187 I will admit, the switch was an interesting choice for release

[@MulletSensei]

It was way back in January but my GOTY was Pokemon Legends: Arceus. I've never been part of the crowd screaming for the Pokemon formula to get a shake up but I loved the concept of an RPG style game set way before the modern continuity. I think Sinnoh was the perfect region to set it as well. It's a harsh, rugged landscape and the Hokkaido connection let them throw in some neat Ainu influences. Also bold that they didn't just default to Kanto like they usually do (though I'm sure it was to ride the hype wave of gen 4 remakes, even if those games were not so good in comparison). The music did a lot of heavy lifting, the BOTW-esque deft touch made the world feel vast without being featureless, and the motifs from the gen 4 games sprinkled throughout were brilliant nods to fans of the series. It felt like a game with some real love put into it - something that can't be said about many Pokemon games in the last 10 years - and I enjoyed every second of it.

[@dallydaydream]

If there's a game where numbers come out of people and Mike still likes it, it must be doing something right. Such as motorcyce wheelies, for instance ; ) There are a number of games this year I think I would have loved were I ever in the habit of actually playing games in a timely fashion. Technically I have a fews days left to at least make a start on Pokemon Violet, Bear and Breakfast, and Stray, but the game I really got drawn into this year-- and I'm probably showing my whole butt by admitting to it-- is Disney Dreamlight Valley, which is ironic, considering it's not even finished yet. I don't mean to be a Disney shill, I just find it really comforting, and I love the amount of thought that's been put into how the game and characters have been written so far. Plus Stitch is there now! (Or he will be, once I can find him.)

[@Icam_here]

some interesting choices there and totally agree with Mike. you can't tell people what they did or didn't enjoy. also was nice to see Luke and Andy question Mike about why he didn't pick a racing game because we all wanted to know why he picked what he did over other games we know he enjoys

[@MisguidedMandy]

I appreciate the Gotham Knights love...I really loved the game as a huge Batgirl fan. I don't appreciate the marvel snap because I have been trying NOT to play it. But if supreme ruler Jane loves it, I may need to get it.

[@TarnishedHuntsman]

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 was robbed of yet another spot...no, that's fine, I'll just be over here with my banger soundtrack, great cast of characters, and fun combat mechanics. Good picks everyone (except for Jane, you chose a digital Marvel mobile card game over actual games, and this makes me sadder than the ending of Chapter 5 and the ending cutscene of XC3 did).

[@Kurgosh1]

Jane fooled me. I thought she was gonna go for GoW:R after her off-screen comments during yesterday's video.

[@stephengasaway3624]

Monkey Island 3 quote that I always remember, for some reason; "I'm running guns!"

[@CottonCandySharks]

Inscription is my favorite, has a wild story, great music, and is a fun and new game to boot!

[@GriffinWolf]

Agree that Inscryption is awesome, but it was last year, so doesn't exactly qualify...

[@MrUkraider]

I had a feeling that Mike, Andy and Jane would make those choices and they are great choices mind you, totally on brand for all of them, can't fault any of them, very nicely done, you actually smashed it. For me game of the year would have to go to either God Of War Ragnarok for the game as a whole or here me out here, Dying Light 2 or Callisto Protocol for their graphics and art styles.

[@jayflores4360]

It's funny. I've been playing games on the big screen and watching or streaming shows on the tablet as I play for almost 10 years now

[@SevCaswell]

I played mostly indie games this year. I loved a little game called Strange Horticulture and also a city builder called The Wandering Village. Also several Early Access games that I've been following and playing for a while went gold, finally, this year.

[@looler12123]

I thought Luke's perspective on why Elden Ring was his favorite was interesting and obviously passionate, but we already know Luke and Mike and Ellen's views on the FromSoft games. I kinda wish we got to see why Jane and Andy liked Elden Ring so much when, from what I've gathered from the podcast and stuff, I don't think they've played or particularly clicked with Soulsborne games in the past.

[@nickjeffery536]

James (about Andy) - "Shall we take him out?" Me worrying that Agent 47 will show up at OxBox HQ...

[@nightmarethrenody8232]

“I’m a game’s journalist. It’s my first day.”

[@Trufflebear55]

Yes Mike! Completely agree with you I love Gotham Knights I dont understand all the hate.