Best Games of 2016
So long, 2016. It was a pretty great year for gaming and hardware, and while it would be nice to list absolutely everything we loved, time and sanity constraints demand that we pick only five. So here they are – ROG's best games of 2016.
Overwatch
This is the answer to the often-posed question: what happens when you cross Blizzard with an FPS? Overwatch stormed, sliced, shotgunned, and flew its way onto the scene in May 2016, and it was an instant hit. Blizzard's trademark art style and fluid game design were bound to be a winning combination, and all the essentials are there: Mobile robo-turret? Check. Cyborg ninja? Check. Mech? Check!
Titanfall 2
Talking of mechs, it doesn't get much more mech than Titanfall 2. The inclusion of a single player campaign this time round means there's even more bang for your buck, as well as a place to hone your skills a little before getting stuck into the mega-destruction of PVP matches. Titanfall 2 looks stunning and is a great title for tweakers. You'll need a ROG Strix GTX 1060 or RX 480 for recommended settings at least.
Inside
Inside was simply the indie hit of the year. It may not have visuals that require dual 1080s and an orbital link to every other GPU on the planet just to get 30 fps (Witcher 3...) but when it comes to atmosphere and gameplay, Inside delivers by the orbital link load. The stark, stylized visuals, the minimal use of color, and sound (and disarmingly gruesome deaths) create a beautiful, dark world that pulls you in deeper with every puzzle you solve.
Sid Meier's Civilization VI
A must for anyone with megalomaniacal tendencies, the Civ series is already a legend in its own right. Civ 6 had strategy fans across the globe jittering in excitement, and rightly so. The newest incarnation delivered, with many innovations taken from the previous Civ 5 expansions. Terrain is much more important, AI more devious. It's visually striking too, with a slight cartoon style, and ultra settings, along with a silky frame rate, are attainable with something like the ROG Strix GTX 1060/70. Read MajorLee's first impressions here.
Dark Souls III
If you've ever hurled your keyboard/mouse across the room/out the window, chances are a Dark Souls game was involved. Dark Souls III is just as merciless as ever, but thanks to innovations gained from previous titles in the series, as well as the equally brutal spinoff Bloodborne (which really needs to come to PC), this is easily the pinnacle of both genre and series. The combat isn't all that's impressive, though – the world is dark (obviously), immersive, and incredibly pretty. You'll get ultra with a ROG Strix GTX 1060/70 or RX 480 no problem. Just don't get distracted by the lush surroundings for too long.
We're certain to have missed some of your favorites on here (apologies!) so make sure to head over to our community and share your gaming highs and lows of the year, or best titles for tweaking.
By Simon Marshall
