The 2014 Boysie Videogame Awards
So many incredible videogames came out this year that narrowing them down to the best was tough work. But let the trumpets sound: Here are the Boysies!
BEST WII U GAME
Mario Kart 8
Some might say it’s only another Mario Kart game. But it’s so more than that. For instance, the icy winter wonders of the Mount Wario track bring to mind breathless real-life skiing and snowboarding. This year, Mario Kart 8 is one of Nintendo’s most exciting games, and the replay value is constant because of online matches.
BEST 3DS GAME
Super Smash Bros.
Yes, the Wii U version is great, too. But who knew the game would work so well on a smaller screen? I was skeptical — until I played and played and played. Sure, Little Mac is over-the-top strong. But most of the other characters are so well balanced, Super Smash Bros. 3DS is a nearly perfect game. The little surprises Nintendo throws in as you move forward keep you coming back for more.
BEST GAME BASED ON A MOVIE
The Lego Movie Videogame
Most games based on theatrical films are really thin. But The Lego Movie Videogame is different. Sure, it’s faithful to the story, but it’s got so much more that’s new, too. There are ingenious puzzles and a fully open world experience. In other words, “Everything is awesome!”
BEST PS4 GAME
Hohokum
With a colorful dragon/worm dubbed “The Long Mover,” you get to explore 17 unique worlds. And unique is an understatement as you explore all the wonders within. Sponge Land, for instance, lets you find fish that will happily swim beside you, a full school of them. You’ll love the carnival world, too, with its unusual Ferris Wheel. While playing, I wished Sony, the publisher, could use this game as inspiration to make a full, real-life theme park.
BEST XBOX ONE GAME
Forza Horizon 2
It’s like getting three games in one. It’s the year’s best racing game, with the most realistic graphics and tons of open roads to drive anywhere. It’s an eye-popping road trip that lets you take in the some of the world’s most amazing sights. And it’s a music festival with pulse-pounding tunes. If you can’t take a real-life road trip yourself, Forza Horizon 2 is a fine substitute.
BEST ACTION ADVENTURE GAME
Skylanders Trap Team
One of the most important things a videogame can do is surprise you. When you first trap a villain, he moves into a small flask on your Portal of Power. Then, the flask shimmers and lights up. Then, the villain, who’s turned into your ally, starts talking to you. It’s totally startling and utterly brilliant. Add new things like the Dark Element expansion pack, and the enjoyment almost never stops.
BEST INDIE GAME
Shovel Knight
A knight with a shovel? It sounds unusual, but digging is part of the magic of the ShovelBlade. Using it, you’ll travel to various worlds, defeat the despicable Enchantress and rescue the one you love. Ultimately, this is an affectionate ode to the bygone era of 8-bit games. But it’s relevant today, too, because the gameplay is balanced and challenging. You can even use the ShovelBlade as a pogo stick.
BEST COMPUTER GAME
The Last Tinker: City of Colors
If you mix the best of Epic Mickey with Jak and Daxter, you might come up with The Last Tinker. It’s a thoughtful platformer with lush,tropical colors that reaches for the stars with inventive graphics and creative play. While there’s the occasional glitch along the way, The Last Tinker wins because it has heart. Plus, the story of rising above your circumstances to be someone special is inspiring in itself.
BEST VITA GAME
Velocity 2X
The futuristic platformer is not only exciting to play. It gives homage to the history of games by offering you a character that’s as fast as Sonic. With its speed boosts and cybernetic sprinting, Velocity 2X is one side-scroller that you’ll find irresistible — immediately. Plus, you’ll explore wild, sci-fi locales as you play through a compelling story, full of tough boss battles.
BEST SPORTS GAME
FIFA 15
Even though Madden has gotten better, it’s the FIFA series that still gives gamers the super abundant, must-have features for single player, co-op and online play. Plus, the strikers show 600 kinds of emotional reactions, which are easily viewable since there are no helmets (unlike Madden). Madden is very good, but FIFA is truly great.
BEST MOBILE GAME
Monument Valley
What an uplifting game. If you like puzzles, the brain twisters here are masterpieces. Every move of the game is steeped with pride and passion. Like a great Scout, the lead character never gives up. And the sheer awe you get from the artwork and music can’t be denied. It’s a nearly perfect mobile game, full of palaces and temples and joy.
BEST SUPERHERO GAME
Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham
Beyond Gotham gets better the more you play. Yes, it takes too long before you whisk into space. But once you get there, you’ll marvel as you travel to various planets and fight as Green Lantern, among a host of others. It’s not just a game. It’s an intriguing, sometimes thrilling look at the varied superhero characters from the archives of DC Comics.
GAME OF THE YEAR
Skylanders Trap Team
i think 2015 should have minecraft for ps3 Xbox1 Xbox360 ps4 ps vita pc
for being able to build about any thing
Mario Kart 8 Or SSB for 3DS
I would go for Mario Kart 8 or Super Smash Bros for 3DS (Despite I haven’t played SSB for 3DS)
no madden:(
Skylanders is for little kids. Disney Infininy 2.0 is SOOOO much better because you can create your own worlds. I was going to get it but my dad wouldn’t get it for me becasue i have every single skylander game and all the original skylanders. ORAS should be on this list 100% because it is the best game all year. Hyrule warriors should be rated
E10+ cuse all it has is sugestive themes and fantisy violence. Forza is the best racing game ever 100% and all lego game stink excpet for lego city undercover.
Can someone please give me a tour of Minecraft Pocket Edition(The one for Kindle Fire)?
Disney infinity 2.0 should be nominated.I agree with most people who agree to this.I only played trap team once.
Minecraft is still the best XD
Idk, horror still is my fav. and they don’t make horror games anymore its always these happy-go-lucky games that Nintendo makes.
i picked Skylanders
i love any game without bad stuff
Add more games
Luminous is harder than Kaos
minecraft is the best
Woo! Hoo! go Skylanders Trap Team!
Disney Infinity is not the best game of the year because it’s not on the Wii (I’m just joking but it’s my opinion)
I still think that wii u’s smash bros is the best wii u game. Special orders, 8 player smash, and DLC. Just think the custom stages could be better.
who cares
Skylanders is fun
i dont like skylanders
Mario kart 8 was a decent game, however I feel that it wasn’t best wii u game of the year. If you play battle mode, it looks like it was rushed out the door. The racing is decent, but battle mode… worst battle mode ever. Smash for Wii U is way better.
I agree. As beautiful the graphics and the music may be, I don’t think its the best wii u game of the year. Nor the best Matio Kart ever for that matter.
I’m so angry!!! I’m going to unsiscribe from boys life !!! Why Game Gru! Why why not put ORAS on the top list!!! ORAS is the best game of the year and skylanders is over priced. I beat trap team in only 6 hours and defeated chaos in ALL 4 GAMES without losing a life with drobot. ORAS FTW!!!
MarioKart 8 was definitely not the best game for the wii u.
Not quite sure how Skylanders made game of the year…
this was my game
Speaking of winners and Contests I was going to enter the 2014 say yes to reading contest but I was to late
I wish he had chosen SSBU as the top Wii U game, but I’m not surprised that Horizon got top dog. I got it for Christmas along with an Xbox One, and I’ve only put the controller down long enough to post this!
MJthewolf
i totally agree with the guy who talked about soinc generations near the top of this page.
i got it for my xbox 360, and it is one of the most well-thought games i have ever played,
next to Minecraft.
Cool win
i beat kaos in skylanders trap team
pokemon oras beats them all! Why it not there?
GO SKYLANDERS! i also beat KAOS! SO HARD TO beat him though.
WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!They don’t have a PS3 section?They don’t have SONIC GENERATIONS? That is SOOOOOOOO RUDE!
ssb4 is really the game of the year and the wii u versoin is better and why skylanders? also I have disagree with best 3ds game I think ORAS is better
Skylanders is awesome (But i only have played the first 3) Disney infinity copied skylanders and now nintendo is copying them to.The guy who created the portal of power worked a lot of hours and then he gets plagurized.
well Nintendo is not copying sky landers with amiibo. amiibo is a lot different from skylanders
okay, I know this is a kid focused list, but where’s destiny? multiple times games like arkham city and even half life have made it. destiny is only T for violence and animated blood
*blinks* A HL game made it in? When the whole series is M? WHAAAAT?
MJthewolf
Super smash bros rules! go diddy kong!
Disney infinity is the best game EVER!!!! I’m wondering why its not on the list.
Madden is better 🙁 (And in my new age
Opinion, ie Carolina panthers jerseys being better then let’s say; packers jerseys, skylanders is for little kids,
I mean, even autocorrect dosent recognize it!) TAKE THAT SKYLANDERS!
Madden is better 🙁
Why is Pokemon not on here????
Yeah… This list is pretty bad. I don’t know exactly what to say, but last years was better…
this list is awesome i dont think you play these games or you would know how cool they are
I played Mariokart 8, SSB4 3DS, and I’m going to play Trap Team as soon as I trade in the Wii version for the Wii U version. I know Shovel Knight , The 2 LEGO games mentioned here, and Fifa 15. The list is bad. I mean, seriously. A SUPERHERO GOTY? They just stuffed that in to show love for LEGO Batman 3, which I’m not buying since DLC isn’t supported for Wii U. This list is sooooo ugh…
the new smash on 3DS is pretty darn sweet, but the picture he used for it was from the wii u version… just saying…
I am so happy for shovel knight. Great game!
Skylanders for life
(also lizards)
disney infinity 2.0 is the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think that Shovel Knight, Mario Kart 8, and Super Smash Bros are much better than any of the others on this list. Considering this list is focused on kids, it’s really no surprise that Skylanders was #1. It’s just sad that some games that are a little higher in rating didn’t get any credit on this list such as Professor Layton, Azure Striker Gunvolt, Bayonetta 2, Dragon Age: Inquisition, Binding of Isaac: Rebirth, and many more. Skylanders does not deserve accolades; Disney Infinity is much more fun than Skylanders.
Agreed. Where’s the love for Disney Infinity?
Well, you see. Boy’s life only mentions E-E10 games (sometimes by accident T, but only because they mentioned it before the ESRP gives it a final rating), as this is a site for kids, so they wouldn’t mention any M rated games, sadly. But I do agree they should’ve made a game other than Trap Team GOTY.
I totally agree if you added in madden.
mario kart 8 should have been the best for the year!!! i got it and it is sooo much fun! the new graphics, power ups, and characters are awesome!!! plus the chance to build your own karts and/or bikes is awesome!!! mario kart rules
No pokemon ORAS?
i know right
Pokemon Omega Ruby Alpha Sapphire deserves to be on the list
Infinity 2.0 should be on the list. More than one category too!
No love for Disney Infinity 2.0 or Captain Toad?
Yes. Disney infinity is awesome! Its not on that list. Mostly because SKYLANDERS gets all the fame. Go disney InfINity!
Go Skylanders!!! WHOOOO!!
go infinity 2.0