Best Games of 2016

The best games released in 2016, ranked by Belly Score. The Belly's definitive 2016 game rankings.

The Belly's definitive rankings for games released in 2016. Every title from 2016 that earned a Belly Score appears here, sorted from the highest verdict down. It's a year-by-year snapshot of what The Belly thought of the releases — the standout hits, the disappointments, and everything in between from 2016.

9.8

DARK SOULS III

Action · RPG · Adventure

PlayStation 4 · Xbox One · PC

Dark FantasyPost-ApocalypticMonsters

DarkBleakChallenging+3

9.8

Dishonored 2

Action-Adventure

PlayStation 4 · Windows · Xbox One

SteampunkSupernaturalDark / Grim

AtmosphericImmersiveStrategic+2

9.5

Kirby: Planet Robobot

Platformer · Action

Nintendo 3DS

Sci-FiRobots / MechsCute / Wholesome

AdventurousPlayfulCharming+2

9.5

Hearts of Iron IV

Strategy · Simulation

PC

MilitaryWarModern

StrategicTacticalSerious+3

9.4

No Man's Sky

Action · Adventure · Survival

PlayStation 4 · PlayStation 5 · Windows · macOS · Xbox One · Xbox Series X/S · Nintendo Switch

Sci-FiSpaceAlien+1

AdventurousExploratoryDiscovery-Driven+3

9.4

Furi

Action · Adventure · Shooter

PC · PlayStation 4 · PlayStation 5 · Xbox One · Nintendo Switch · Amazon Luna

Sci-FiCyberpunkDark / Grim

IntenseFast-PacedChallenging+3

9.3

Sid Meier's Civilization VI

Strategy · Simulation

Windows · macOS · Linux · iOS · Android · Nintendo Switch · PlayStation 4 · Xbox One

Ancient / HistoricalMilitaryWar

EpicStrategicSatisfying+3

9.3

Starbound

Action · Sandbox · RPG

Windows · OS X · Linux · Xbox One · Xbox Series X/S

Sci-FiSpaceAlien+1

AdventurousExploratoryDiscovery-Driven+3

9.2

The Last Guardian

Action-Adventure · Puzzle

PlayStation 4

FantasyNature / Wilderness

AdventurousDiscovery-DrivenImmersive+3

9.2

BAD TIME SIMULATOR

Action · RPG

PC

DarkUnsettlingFast-Paced+11

9.2

Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 2

Shooter · Action · Strategy

PC · PlayStation 4 · Xbox One

ZombiesComedySatire

Fast-PacedChaoticFunny+3

9.2

Grim Dawn

Action RPG · RPG

Windows · Xbox One

Post-ApocalypticDark FantasyDark / Grim

DarkGrittyAtmospheric+3

9.2

Fantastic Frontier

Action · Adventure · RPG

PC · Mobile · Tablet · Console · VR

FantasyNature / WildernessSurreal

AdventurousExploratoryDiscovery-Driven+2

NO ART

9.1

Stardew Valley

Simulation · RPG · Adventure

PC · Nintendo Switch · PlayStation · Xbox · Mobile

9.1

Vintage Story

Survival · Sandbox · Simulation

Windows · macOS · Linux

Post-ApocalypticNature / WildernessAncient / Historical+1

AtmosphericChallengingImmersive+3

9.0

Hashihime of the Old Book Town

Visual Novel · Adventure · Horror

PC · Nintendo Switch

ModernDetective / MysteryPsychological+1

MysteriousDarkUnsettling+3

9.0

Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse

RPG · Adventure

Nintendo 3DS

Post-ApocalypticMythologySupernatural+1

DarkIntenseChallenging+2

8.9

Tales from the Valley

Adventure · Fighting

Roblox

FantasyNature / Wilderness

AdventurousExploratoryEpic+3

8.1

Conan the mighty pig

Action · Adventure · Platformer

Windows · macOS · Linux

Nature / WildernessComedy

AdventurousExploratoryCozy+3

6.8

Homefront: The Revolution

FPS · Action · Adventure

PC · PlayStation 4 · Xbox One · Xbox Series X|S

DystopianMilitaryWar

AtmosphericGrittyTense+2