4) Overwatch
With diversity and accessibility becoming ever-greater concerns in the gaming industry, it’s unbelievably refreshing to see a company as big as Blizzard tackling both issues in its next flagship project — and in a first-person multiplayer shooter that’s as addictive and fun as just about any in recent memory.
Possibly the best aspect of Overwatch is that it can be enjoyed by just about anybody, thanks to a simple set of gameplay systems that are easy to learn but very difficult to master. It’s strange to see a game attracting a large amount of casual players as it continues to grow in popularity as a hardcore eSport, but that just speaks to the universal appeal of Blizzard’s design.
Overwatch dominated the headlines of the gaming world in 2016, and for good reason: from its critically-acclaimed diverse cast to the absolutely bonkers Sombra ARG to the recent revelation that beloved character Tracer has a girlfriend, Blizzard’s latest has dared to do things differently in a medium that sees AAA developers and publishers playing it safe all too often.
