NieR: Automata

Yoko Taro did it.

While the PlayStation 4 had no shortage of remarkable games this year and trying to sort through them to crown a single standout title was conflicting to say the least, Yoko Taro, Platinum Games, and Square Enix were onto something special with NieR: Automata. It coalesced brilliantly. It just felt right.

Automata is bound to affect different people in different ways. Some will seek it out for that signature Platinum-developed action. Others will become engrossed with the story, putting in all the time and effort needed to uncover its deepest, darkest, most emotional layers across multiple playthroughs.

Then there's the folks who just plain like butts. Automata is fully here for them, too.

What a beautiful, tragic, unforgettable experience. I'll never look at a robot the same way again.