The Outer Worlds

For years, we begged Bethesda to just give us another New Vegas.

Fallout 4 wasn't it. 76 definitely wasn't it. So Obsidian rolled up its sleeves and said "screw it, we'll do it ourselves." It's fitting, too, because Obsidian was ultimately responsible for New Vegas. Look, I have already scientifically proven that New Vegas is the best modern Fallout game. We want more non-linear, weird stories. We have spoken.

The Outer Worlds fits that bill to a tee. As I said in my review, when you kick off your tale with the phrase "not likely, bootlickers," you know the irreverent tone is on the level. From there it never really lets up with a masterfully crafted script and a completely out-there "flaw" system that allows you to truly play a role and purposefully acquire bad perks.

Speaking of, "playing a role" is a concept a lot of studios have completely abandoned in recent years. Far too often RPGs get bogged down with needless number-crunching and linear plotlines that just lead to rote, soulless achievements. Checkboxes, if you will. The Outer World says "forget all that," and unleashes the floodgates for mechanics like "a dimwitted character that has access to unique dumb dialogue trees." There's no real benefit to this system and a lot of studios would see this as illogical: but Obsidian did it anyway.

It's an actual RPG not unlike the Dungeons & Dragons roots so many Obsidian developers are familiar with. It's also a beacon for open world checklist simulators everywhere, and for that reason and more it was chosen as our 2019 Game of the Year.

Destructoid's previous Game of the Year winners:

2018 - God of War

2017 - The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

2016 - Overwatch

2015 - Bloodborne

2014 - Bayonetta 2

2013 - The Last of Us

2012 - Telltale's The Walking Dead

2011 - Portal 2

2010 - Super Mario Galaxy 2

2009 - Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

2008 - Left 4 Dead

2007 - BioShock