5. Traveler (Journey)
Perhaps the most beautiful game of the year, Journey was a delightful hit for Thatgamecompany, following the unnamed robed traveler as he seeks to reach a star that landed on the tip of a mountain. Plowing through arid deserts and frosty cliffs to get to his destination, it becomes even better with another traveler. You grow extremely attached to your character as he chirps back and forth between the others, all of you hoping to make it to the top of the mountain together. The design of the robed figures is superb. No voice or face is visible, nor is there any discernible body structure. The flowing scarf that grows as your trek continues flaps in the wind happily behind you while you fly through the air, or freezes stiff when you are pushing through the mountain. The music was superbly crafted and all of these elements come together to make a breathtaking experience. One that everybody should try to enjoy.
4. Master Chief (Halo 4)
Some of you will argue that he should be higher, probably even number one, and every one of those arguments will be valid, because Master chief is THE video game hero. After years in stasis and with a new developer taking the helm, Chief comes back in a huge way. Of course the covenant will be shaking in their armor, as they should, but it's a new force altogether that the spartan has his targets on. The Forerunners are the new big bad of the haloverse and of course Master Chief will rise up to the challenge like he always has and always will. Maybe I would have put Chief on this list even if his game had been a dud, just out of respect for everything he has done. Luckily that was a non issue and 343 Industries crafted one of the best games of the year. It certainly helped to have possibly the most iconic video game hero of all time on your side.