Best Games from 2016 We're Still Obsessed With

January 29, 2026 - 03:06

Let's go back a decade and take a moment to remember the absolute best video games from 2016. Feel old yet? This remarkable year gifted players with an unprecedented lineup of titles that didn't just dominate the charts but have firmly embedded themselves in our ongoing play rotations and cultural conversations.

From the sun-drenched, chaotic heists of Grand Theft Auto Online's further expansions to the hauntingly beautiful post-apocalyptic journey of Inside, 2016 offered incredible diversity. It was the year we got utterly lost in the vibrant, cell-shaded open world of Watch Dogs 2's San Francisco and screamed in terror (and delight) navigating the Baker family estate in Resident Evil 7, which masterfully reinvented the iconic franchise in first-person VR.

Competitive landscapes were forever changed with the release of the hero shooter phenomenon Overwatch, whose charismatic characters and vibrant team-based gameplay spawned a massive, enduring community. Meanwhile, Dark Souls III delivered a punishing yet poetic conclusion to a legendary trilogy, satisfying fans with its refined, bleak grandeur. These titles, among others from that stellar year, established new benchmarks in storytelling, gameplay innovation, and online engagement. Their lasting appeal is a testament to their quality, proving that a truly great game isn't just played for a season but cherished for years.