The Worst Trend of 2014

For the crap that we were forced to put up with, but wish would stop.

Shipping Broken Games

The Pure Joy Award

For the game that just made us happy to play, measured in smiles and laughter and gumdrops and rainbows.

South Park: The Stick of Truth

The Gaming Spectacle of 2014

For the game that floored us with its overall production value. The sights! The Sounds! The Gaming Spectacle of 2014.

Infamous: Second Son

The Tale of Tales Award

For the game that gripped us with its narrative, and drew us into its fiction like no other.

Dragon Age: Inquisition

The Sweet Gaming Nostalgia Award

For the game that brought us straight back to the good old days of gaming in the very best way possible.

Shovel Knight

The Best Non-2014 Game Played in 2014

For the best games we may have missed in previous years, that we finally got around to in 2014. No matter how old, these games wowed us first-time players.

TIE: Earthbound & Demon’s Souls

The My Buddy and Me Award

For the game that was great to play alone, but absolutely wonderful to play with a friend. Games are a social event, so which one did multiplayer the best, and which one benefitted most from playing together?

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U

The I Can’t Quit You Award

For the game that kept us coming back like a crack fiend, time after time after time after time after….

Mario Kart 8

The Game of the Year Award

Here it is: the GamerNode Game of the Year for 2014! Our favorite game of the past 31.5 million seconds.

Winner: Dragon Age: Inquisition

Runner-up: Shovel Knight