This may come as a surprise, but the people who make video games? They play and like them us much as us regular ol' non-developers. As we wave goodbye to 2016, we decided to reach out to developers and find out what their favorite five games of 2016 were. We asked for an ordered list with a sentence or two explaining each choice, with the qualifier that rules are made to be broken. This is why some lists might read more like 'games I played this year,' as opposed to 'games that came out this year,' feature extra honorable mention entries, or be just a list with no explanations. You can find the lists, presented in alphabetical order by last name, below.

You can look out for Game Informer's favorite games of the year lists in the January issue which will be in the wild soon.

Raphael Colantonio (Arkane Studios / Dishonored)

Dungeon Warfare (iPhone) – I played this game more than anything on my iPhone every time I had to take a plane (well, except for Drop7). If you want one Tower defense type of game to play, it is this one. Plus, it has a great meta-game layer. Budget Cuts demo – I know it’s not a full game, but boy, that VR game demo blew my mind. I can’t say how much I am waiting for the full game. I love the '50s spy vibe. I fell on my butt a few times trying to avoid getting caught by the robots. XCOM 2 – XCOM was amazing to me, and I found XCOM 2 to be a worthy successor. Old school awesome. Inside – I loved the animation and art, and the fact that they managed to do an intriguing world and story without any word. Very tight and polished game. Enter the Gungeon – I couldn’t play very far because it’s the hardest game on the planet, but I really enjoyed that indie game. Cool retro art, simple and effective. It reminded me of Binding of Isaac a little, which I was a big fan of, too.

Ian Dallas (Giant Sparrow / The Unfinished Swan)

Clustertruck – This is the strangest game I've played since Katamari Damacy. The premise of jumping along the tops of a series of trucks is wonderfully bizarre but it's also surprisingly intuitive and flexible as a core mechanic. The fact that you're jumping on semis gives the game a weird, surreal energy to it -- in some respects it feels a lot more familiar than games that have you jumping on turtles or clouds or whatever, but then it also makes you wonder about the drivers who steer their convoys straight on no matter what, over cliffs, into swinging blades, etc. Inside – As a game developer, it's intimidating to look at what 6 years of polish can do to a game. The player's movements are somehow both expressive and subtle. So much of what's here is done extremely well -- and particularly the sound design -- but it does so without calling attention to itself. I don't know how they managed to turn 6 years of struggle into something that feels so effortless. Superhot – I've experienced a lot of violence in my virtual life but Superhot is the first time I felt like I had a chance to actually explore it. Superhot takes moments that would be tedious routine in other games -- a man stepping around the corner to fire a shotgun into my face, let's say -- and transforms that encounter into something like a dance. Firewatch – Lots of really smart, elegant design choices. My favorite was having the player character cheerfully swipe his hand past objects to pick them up, which looks great and saves the team from having to hand-animating every single interaction. Darkest Dungeon – Ultimately I found myself really angry with this game and quit after a particularly soul crushing defeat, planning never to return. But before things got to that point I quite liked it. There's a nice, cohesive sense of dread that surrounds everything about the game.

Cory Davis (Tangentlemen / Here They Lie)

Inside – Inside’s unique childlike perspective pushes us through an ever-unfolding traumatic journey into darkness. Successfully making us feel small, and then creeping us out with its minimal sound and narrative design between heart-pounding terror—Inside has teeth and creates the most successful tone piece of the year. Firewatch – The tone of Firewatch is unexpectedly endearing, but with dark, mysterious undertones. By far the strongest voice acting and characterization of 2016; Firewatch keeps luring me back into the lonely, contemplative, and majestic lands within its vast borders. The Witness – The Witness is the most beautiful gaming experience of the year. Absolutely perfectly stylized visuals, along with an evolving “voice” from the core puzzle experience of the game. The Witness is spectacular in its simplicity. Final Fantasy XV – Final Fantasy is quite possibly the strangest mix of extreme AAA production value and over-the-top, no-holds-barred, gonzo creative direction ever to grace us with its twisted, bedazzled maw. I can’t get enough of the quirky boy-band squad, the exhilarating combat system, or the absolutely unpredictable, seemingly cocaine-driven campaign these fellas are on. Tilt Brush – The most mind blowingly innovative experience of the year for me—Tilt Brush reveals the immersive, creative possibilities of virtual reality. I spent days (and I’m sure I will spend more) riffing on sculptures, diagrams, monoliths, and psychedelic mandalas.

Mathijs de Jonge (Guerrilla Games / Horizon Zero Dawn)

Titanfall 2 – Having worked on the Killzone series in the past, it’s great to play the campaign mode of Titanfall 2 just to see how shooters have evolved in the last few years. The pacing of the campaign is great, the twist in mechanics was an unexpected surprise, and the gunplay is simply superb. The Last Guardian – It’s wonderful to return to a world like that of Shadow of the Colossus (one of my all-time favorites) and solve its puzzles. I adore the unique atmosphere, and Trico is brought to life with incredible craftsmanship. Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End – I like the new angle of the story and the childhood flashback sections, but what really stands out for me is the way rollercoaster action sequences are alternated with vistas so stunning that I can’t help staring at them in awe. Severed – I played this on my PlayStation Vita and absolutely loved the touchscreen combat system and the dungeon-crawling, puzzle-solving gameplay. Monster Hunter Generations – This is a game I come back to regularly. It feels very complete in terms of options and content, and it’s good to see that the series was made more accessible without affecting the core Monster Hunter gameplay.

Rex Dickson (EA / Madden)

Oculus Touch – I wish I could pick just one game from the lineup but the truth is, I love almost all of them. The Oculus touch was the best hardware launch in gaming history with too many amazing games to list here. I love playing it with my kids and now find myself spending more time playing VR than I spend on my PS4/Xbox One. Far Cry Primal – This was one of the few console titles I played through from start to finish this year. I love all the Far Cry games, this one was no exception. So many ways to take on encounters and riding a saber-toothed tiger into battle was awesome. Adr1ft – Really struggled to pick a favorite game from the Oculus lineup but Adr1ft really stood out for me. That feeling of floating in space in VR and watching the earth spinning beneath you was pretty transformative for me as a gamer. Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky SC – I am a JRPG fan boy and have been for a long time. The trails series on the PSVita really blew me away with story and character development. The relationship between the two lead characters (Joshua and Estelle) was as powerful and memorable to me as Cloud and Aeris back in FF7. I think I sunk well over 100 hours into this franchise and loved every second. Madden NFL 17 – I play Madden throughout the year now. Between MUT and the online franchises I play in, Madden keeps me coming back all year long. It’s been in my top five since 1991 when I started playing on the Sega Genesis.

Neil Druckmann (Naughty Dog / The Last of Us)

The Last Guardian – My GOTY. Another beautiful tale of a bond created through interaction by Team Ico/genDESIGN. Trico is a masterclass in creating a believable, living creature. By the end of the journey I was wiping away tears – the first time that has ever happened to me in a video game. Inside – Felt like I was inside (no pun intended) a dark Amblin Entertainment movie. The graphic look of the art direction, incredible animation, and fantastic puzzles created and unforgettable experience. And holy crap that final sequence... creepy, tense, and totally unforgettable. Super Mario Run – Nintendo simplified Mario down to one mechanic, jump, while still retaining much of the depth of its 2D predecessors. Once I started I couldn't stop playing until I had all the secret coins on each level. Rez Infinite – The best VR experience. I was immersed and transfixed. Area X was just drop dead gorgeous. I'll be coming back to this one for years to come. Dishonored 2 – Amazing world building combined with some of the best level design. Loved stealthing my way through its dark corridors, discovering its hidden nooks.

For lists from Matt Firor (ZeniMax Online), Nina Freeman and Steve Gaynor (Fullbright), Kazuyuki Hoshino (Sega), and Kazutoki Kono (Project Aces), head to page two.

Matt Firor (ZeniMax Online Studios / The Elder Scrolls Online)

Firewatch – Best story I’ve experienced in a game in a long time, and presented in a really immersive, novel fashion. Anyone who wants to be (or already is!) a game or narrative designer should play this game, dissect, and study it closely. Fallout 4: Far Harbor – While I’m sure there is someone, somewhere more obsessed about the Fallout universe and franchise than me, I haven’t met them yet. The Far Harbor DLC adds an old-school feel to Fallout 4 – choosing sides, radiation everywhere, claustrophobia from the fog, the threat of even more nuclear annihilation – it all adds up to awesome. Dishonored 2 – Everyone raves – as they should – about the gameplay, but I love it as much for its amazing visuals. In fact, I’ve been killed more than once by looking at the scenery and not noticing a guard about to bury a sword into my back. FIFA 17 – While I strongly question the decision to make manager mode unnecessarily complicated by adding in a manager rating that requires you to do busy work instead of just playing the game and having fun, FIFA remains my go-to. It’s just so much fun! Battlefield 1 – Take a great team that makes great shooters, and add in a World War I setting, complete with steam-powered tanks, biplanes, bayonets, and other throw-back weaponry. It’s a lot of fun – even though my competitive online shooter skills have dramatically deteriorated (did I ever have them?), the single player storyline is excellent.

Nina Freeman (Fullbright / Cibele)

Soft Body – In Soft Body, you navigate maps full of geometric obstacles and bullets, painting the walls with the soft bodies that you control. It's almost a cross between Ikaruga's bullet hell and Splatoon's world painting, with a meditative flow that keeps you on your toes as a field of bullets flows around you. Overwatch – I don't think I need to explain Overwatch to anyone, since it's been pretty ubiquitous this year. Of all the things to love about Overwatch, I love the characters the most because this is a game that cares about personality. Not only do the characters shine in their short film segments, but their voice over informs gameplay while also building character, their personalities feel acutely in tune with their skills as fighters, and all of the skins are so damn great... there's a lot to love about Overwatch. Self Love Hotel – After a year full of... emotionally draining events (to put it lightly), a game reminding people about self-care is truly refreshing. Self Love Hotel puts the player in a space where their body and mind are safe and cared for. It's an unassuming, subdued expression of self-care that reminded me to do something nice for myself once in a while, because happiness and comfort are essential. Swap Sword – Swap Sword is a mobile game where you slash your way through puzzle battles set on a match-3 map. Your tiny sword wielding hero is pitted up against adorably ferocious frogs and obstacles, as you swipe to smash eggs and bombs in an effort to get through the next door. It's a super fun game with really tight, strategic levels that feel super satisfying to blast through. Makeup Madness – Makeup Madness is a super funny game about rushing to put your makeup on in the morning. You've got a small palette to apply to your face in under ten seconds--lipstick, blush and mascara among other things. It's a vignette of a morning struggle that is so real, especially to those of us who are prone to sleeping in.

Steve Gaynor (Fullbright / Gone Home)

Quadrilateral Cowboy – Old-school hacking with an '80s sheen. The creator of the visionary 30 Flights of Loving delivers an incredible journey through a low-tech world of tomorrow like you've never experienced. Firewatch – Loneliness, longing, and the beauty of the great outdoors. As evocative an expression of life in isolation as there's ever been. An interactive portrait of two people learning who they are. Fitz Packerton – An incredibly focused, brief, singular work of wordless storytelling through pure stagecraft & interaction. A tiny game, saying all it needs to as efficiently as possible. This is the purity of storytelling through the language of games that we all strive for. Hitman – The expressiveness, creativity, and openness of 2016's Hitman is beyond compare. This new episodic iteration brings to fruition all the promise of the long-running series in its most satisfying, creative form yet. I love Agent 47's antics so much. Killing time with a smile. The Last Guardian – I don't think any of us were sure if we'd ever get to play this game. But it finally arrived, and by god, it was worth the wait. The incredible technical wonder of what has been achieved with Trico – an independent, utterly convincing simulated creature, living there on screen – and his relationship with the player, both interactively and through the events of the game's story, is simply breathtaking. The Last Guardian is one of the grandest, most human, most impressive feats of game-making in many, many years. Thank heaven the work of Fumito Ueda has returned to us after all this time. To call The Last Guardian a masterpiece is an understatement. It is the rare game I feel truly grateful for.

Kazuyuki Hoshino (Sega / Sonic the Hedgehog)

Crash Royale – I am playing the game with my sons. Pokémon Go – I played this SO much in the summer. Titanfall 2 – I love mech. Lego Dimensions – My sons are big fans of building Legos and I love the character design. Final Fantasy XV – The food look yummy.

Kazutoki Kono (Project Aces / Ace Combat)

Dark Souls III – It is funny when this game makes me yell out loud at midnight. I love the core mechanic. Life Is Strange – I was thrilled with the universe, the details in the game speak themselves, I don’t need to say anything further. Rez Infinite – It feels good to go with the rhythm as a human. Pokémon Go – People are searching for Pokemon at all times in all places. This game changed the world. The Last Guardian – I haven’t played this yet, but this game is in a different league, and I know I can count on it.

For lists from Drew McCoy (Respawn), Yoshinori Ono (Capcom), Arthur Parsons (TT Games), Alx Preston (Heart Machine), Tommy Refenes (Team Meat), and Ramone Russell (Sony) head to page three.

Drew McCoy (Respawn Entertainment / Titanfall)

Devil Daggers – Quake and Geometry Wars mashed together? Its like Sorath tapped into the recesses of my inner being to learn my deepest desires and birthed a beautiful, terrifying, baby. Its astounding the levels of unadulterated triumph and utter terror this game creates, totally unmatched. The visuals, audio, and feedback loop combine to create something truly special. Doom – id Software holds an extremely special place in my heart, so to have Doom come out and be everything I needed it to be was a huge weight off my shoulders. For years I was worried they'd screw it up. I couldn't stop grinning while playing Doom, and I was just so happy to see them pull it off with such bravado. Pokémon Go – Not much "game" to play here, per se, but there's tons to love about my time playing it as I look back on the summer and fall walking around with my wife and kids catching Pokémon in as many new and interesting places as possible. I'm still upset they all happily caught Mr. Mime in Switzerland while my phone was dead and could only stand by to watch! Hyper Light Drifter – From its first days on Kickstarter I knew I would love this. Style and substance, this game ticked all the right boxes for me. The story of the development makes it all the more amazing that this game got to see the light of day. Couldn't be more proud to be a backer of such a special project. Well done Alex and the rest of Heart Machine! Ori and The Blind Forest: Definitive Edition – A bit of cheating, since the original Ori came out in '15 - but its so good that I'm using the DE as an excuse to put it here. Absolutely stunning Metroidvania that is pure joy to simply play. I'll play whatever Moon Studios creates from here on out.

VR Honorable Mention – As a lucky owner of PSVR, Rift, and Vive headsets I've done just about everything there is on Steam, PS4, and Home. While no single game or experience are truly "killer app" status yet, as a whole the experience of VR was pretty cool to see come to fruition. Hanging out in Kingspray with a fellow Rifter from Minnesota as we both (pathetically) honed our graffiti craft, listening to 80s Pop from a Boombox between us, was pretty amazing. Watching my 14 year old scream for her life as I pushed her "off" a ledge is a memory I will cherish forever, as will the gash on my desk from trying to hit a ball in RecRoom...

Yoshinori Ono (Capcom / Street Fighter)

Overwatch – This is one of the competitive titles that I like to play as much as Street Fighter. This title had a lot to teach me as it perfectly blends competitive play, sports, and cooperation. Uncharted 4: A Thief's End – I enjoyed this title because I got to see Nate, who now has a family, go out on an adventure. It was also great to see the cinematic-like backgrounds, the stability of the series, and interactions with characters from previous titles. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – This title did not disappoint with its hardcore action on an expansive field, and used up many of my night time hours. Gears of War 4 – The numbered series is back! The studio and staff have changed over the series, but I have loved the universe since the original. Pokémon Sun & Moon – This title is almost mandatory to play. I’m currently playing both Pokemon Go and Sun/Moon in parallel.

Arthur Parsons (TT Games / Lego Dimensions)

Inside – Without a shadow of a doubt my number 1 title for 2016 has to be the amazing Inside. For me Limbo was a truly great experience, so I had been waiting for Inside to grace my PS4, and I was definitely not disappointed. A truly breath-taking game. The simplicity of its mechanics sit perfectly with the wonderful story, and if people haven’t yet played it then it is something they must play over the holidays. Hat’s off to Playdead!” Uncharted 4: A Thief's End – A close second, but not close enough, Uncharted 4 was yet again a masterpiece by those amazing people at Naughty Dog. For me, probably not the best in the series. I like to think that Uncharted 2 is probably the best, however, still a great game, with brilliant performances and storytelling. Pokémon Go – Many people may scoff when I write Pokémon Go, however it was a special game in 2016 for me for different reasons to those that people may think. It is a game that came out and managed to bring my entire family together. All of a sudden the kids were asking if they could take the dogs on a walk, asking if we could all go for a walk out in the forest, asking if we could spend time together, in the outside!!! Unbelievable! So yes bizarrely we spent many an hour trekking around the countryside catching Pokémon, laughing and joking, and having fun. So Pokémon Go has to come on my list purely on the basis that intentionally or not it made us all venture outside together in a shared interest, and even made us take the odd midnight Poke-walk in the forest! Kudos! Ratchet & Clank – Ratchet & Clank, one of my favourite gaming series, developed by Insomniac, one of my favourite developers, and yet again they hit that sweet spot that reminds me exactly why I love gaming. So much fun and variety in a game, and oh so pretty. Loved every second of the series’ first entry on PS4. Doom – It’s not often that I pre-order a title, and even less so that I play it the second it arrives at my door, but Doom really scratched an itch I had. It was great to play the new reimagining of Doom, so fast and frantic, with lots of jump moments in the campaign. I was really impressed with the slick gameplay and great enemies.

Honorable mentions: Rocket League & PSVR/Batman Arkham VR – Rocket League must get an honorary mention, as with the kids we’ve given that game more hours in 2016 than anything else, and on that note, I think we’ve also given the PSVR an awful lot of time, some brilliant stuff to play including the Batman Arkham VR experience, which the kids loved.

Alx Preston (Heart Machine / Hyper Light Drifter)

Overwatch – I love Team Fortress 2, so this was a natural replacement – after a bumpy start. I’ve not been able to stop playing since release, which says a lot for a game that makes me claw at my face and seizure violently during the end of so many frustrating competitive matches. GG. Inside – The atmosphere building and environmental storytelling are ridiculously good. I want to sob. silently in this dreary, jacked up world for a while longer. Doom – Somehow Doom managed to punch through a wall of poor expectations (long dev cycle, multiple delays, full reboot, missing classic id developers, luke-warm beta) and become a top contender this year. It’s so violent and thrilling and FUN. Bloody mist everywhere. Dark Souls III – Yes, it’s more Dark Souls, remixed. It still remains a deeply satisfying and punishing formula that I can’t get enough of. Also, who doesn't like throwing dung pie at other players? Abzû – The most lovely and soothing experience I had with a game this year. Abzû is a stunning artist showcase; congratulations to Matt and his crew on such an achievement.

Tommy Refenes (Team Meat / Super Meat Boy)

Doom – I thought (and I guess this is an unpopular opinion) that the recent Wolfenstein games were pretty lame. When Doom came along I played it expecting to get on Twitter and b*tch about how terrible it was and how the industry has lost its way. Never have I been so happy to be so wrong. They need single player DLC, charge me $60 again...I don't care give me more Doom. Civilization VI – I messed up my first game which I seem to always do in Civ. Started up a second and about 38 hours later I conquered everyone. I really hope Teddy Roosevelt liked the nukes I sent him for the U.S. Bicentennial. The Witness – It's a Jon Blow game, which means it has a neat world, awesome puzzles, and makes you feel terrible about being a game developer because you'll never make anything nearly as cool. Pokémon Go (before they ruined it) – When Pokemon Go first came out my wife and I would walk around and catch Pokemon and it was awesome. Then they changed a bunch of stuff and now it sorta blows because I can't get PokeStops anymore while riding in the car so I can't catch Pokemon. I swear they just need to lawyer up and stop trying to make the game "safe" for everyone in every circumstance. I can snapchat while I drive, why can't I get PokeStops while I'm riding in a car? The Lab – While I still think of VR as gimmicky thing, I'm hopeful that in the future there will be more games that make me actually want to put on that headset and shift the furniture in my living room. That bow and arrow demo is no joke...played it so much I think I tore something in my shoulder.

Ramone Russell (Sony / MLB The Show)

Uncharted 4: A Thief's End - Amazing work from Naughty Dogg as always, but what really did it for me was the technical precision and detail. As someone who works in the industry and knows how hard it is to do anything in a video game. I was constantly blown away by the development team’s skill and level of detail in everything. Overwatch - It's overcrack I remember playing the beta, getting hooked, then the beta went away, and I didn't know what to do with myself. I just wanted to play it more. The game has so much depth without any unnecessary complexity and that's not something that's easily achievable. Titanfall 2 - The single-player campaign, for my money, was the best FPS campaign I've played in at least 4 years. Those time travel missions were beyond awesome and that took some serious game design expertise. I was simply blown away. XCOM 2 - Chess with shotguns 2.0. I thought it was a perfect sequel. Jake Solomon and the XCOM team at Firaxis Games are one of my favorite development teams. They improved literally every part of the game and I'm on my third playthrough now. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Open world done exceptionally well. There were so many side-quests to get lost in, and I did. I'm pretty sure I dumped 30 hours into it before I even had 20% of the main quest completed.

For lists from Harvey Smith (Arkane), Bruce Straley (Naughty Dog), Hajime Tabata (Square Enix), Tim Willits (id), and Naoki Yoshida (Square Enix) head to page four.

Harvey Smith (Arkane Studios / Dishonored)

XCOM 2 – I had so much fun re-making my friends and watching them die. The inverted setting - fighting back in an already conquered world - was a smart, refreshing change. Dark Souls III – I don't want anyone to think I'm a Dark Souls guru, because I'm not. But I love the inventive minds behind that usual setting and the threeway marriage of traditional, wondrous and ghastly fantasy concepts. Boss fights are not my thing; I wish there was an "exploration mode," as heretical as that sounds. Inside – Beautiful for its art direction, audio environment, and disturbing narrative, presented in an understated fashion. Pokémon Go – Despite the problems, both technical and conceptual, I love this little game for its global nature. I've caught Pokemon in L.A. and London, but also in Zatec, Czech Republic. And it really provided us with one of the few non-horrifying cultural moments of 2016. Adr1ft – This game hints at the potential of what's to come for VR, and it's main strength is its lack of concern for video game conventions. Adr1ft is just pleasant.

Bruce Straley (Naughty Dog / The Last of Us)

Inside – It's not often I find myself slack-jawed with giddy little laughs burbling uncontrollably out at the TV while playing a game. Inside, for me, was the perfect concert of all the tools we have at our disposal as developers to make something truly artful and inspired. It's probably in my Top 5 of all time.

Budget Cuts demo

Thumper The Lab Grow Up

Hajime Tabata (Square Enix / Final Fantasy XV)

Overwatch Uncharted 4: A Thief's End Pokémon Go Summer Lesson Civilization VI

Honorable mentions – We mustn’t forget FIFA 17, which captured the J-League as well!

Tim Willits (id Software / Doom)

Overwatch – Simply fun, is the best explanation of this great game. Overwatch is the most refined and polished multiplayer shooter in years. The characters, world, and backstory are surprisingly engaging and interesting which is very rare for a multiplayer only game. I have played more Overwatch this year than any other game. Titanfall 2 – Intense, immersive action; Titanfall 2 takes a great franchise and makes it greater - the game looks amazing and plays incredibly. The online battles are intense and over the top and always a ton of fun. I had so much fun playing this game that I bought another copy so my son and I could play at the same time. Dishonored 2 – This is a Bethesda game so I might have a little prejudice, but still it is a ton of fun to play. I love exploring and immersing myself in the world that Arkane built. From the beautiful city of Karnaca to the intricate level of the Clockwork Mansion, few games are as gripping and intense as this game. Pokémon Go – I admit I don’t have this game on my iPhone, but all three of my kids do. Spending time with my kids driving around looking for Pokemon has been a lot of fun for me and a great father / kid experience. One day we drove around the Texas State Fair grounds with the top down on the car trying to hatch eggs and hunt for Pokemon –great memories. Games that can deliver experiences like that deserve to be on any top 5. Deus Ex Go – On the Android. I travel a lot and I am always looking for an engaging game that I can play for a few minutes or a couple of hours. I like mobile games that allow me to play at my pace, no infinite runners or flying games, and Deus Ex Go is the perfect mobile game for me -part strategy, part puzzle.

Naoki Yoshida (Square Enix / Final Fantasy XIV)