Top Games of 2016

This was a year where first-person shooter (FPS) games reigned.

With 4K gaming on the cusp, games of today are also starting to become more than just exhilarating bursts of gameplay, but visual spectacles as well.

Here are The New Paper's top five picks for 2016:

1 DOOM

This reboot of the horror-themed 1993 original takes you to hell and back - if you survive the trip.

In this game, you are once again up against relentless swarms of minions from hell, and the fast-paced gameplay will give you little chance of taking cover to recover health - or catch your breath in real life.

What makes this our top pick are the intricate details in every level, and the graphics that are so stunning, you will jolt at every moving shadow you see in the game.

2 POKEMON GO

No other mobile phone game has taken the world by such a storm.

The augmented-reality, monster-hunting app was downloaded more than 600 million times since its launch in July.

Just in case you were living in a cave, Pokemon Go players have to walk to different locations to find more than 100 Pokemon and fulfil the franchise's "catch 'em all" mission.

While the craze has since wound down, who can forget the hordes of Pokemon trainers camping at the Hougang Avenue 10 playground?

3 BATTLEFIELD 1

Set in the heart of World War I in the 1910s, Battlefield 1 is a beautifully crafted FPS that relives the horror of the Great War.

The game has an authentic feel as you are equipped with old-school weapons and take down enemies in the classic bomber planes or even on horseback.

Its single-player campaign is decent, but the multi-player platform is what makes the game take off.

You can go up against other players in the usual skirmishes, which allow you to experience the arsenal on offer, or in history-themed operations that feel like a long-running interconnected multi-player campaign.

4 CIVILIZATION VI

The highly acclaimed turn-based 4X video game series returns with improved graphics and more intense gameplay.

Again, you build an empire over the ages from scratch, but things get slightly more complicated now as you have to properly plan the placement of each city's buildings in various districts and take into account the terrain.

The AI is also more aggressive now, so ready your warriors early on or face complete razing of your cities.

With so many fine details to sort out in each round of Civilization VI, be prepared to be glued to the screen for countless hours on end.

5 OVERWATCH

Blizzard's first original title in almost two decades may look like a medley of cartoon characters locked in a slugfest, but it is more than a mindless, Pixar-like FPS game.

With over 20 characters - each with its own special abilities and weapons - to choose from, the game requires strategy and teamwork, instead of merely sticking with your favourite hero and doing your own thing.

There are also objectives unique to each map to keep things interesting.

But it is the sheer euphoria of winning a match - or thirst for vengeance after losing - at the very last second that will keep you hooked.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Dark Souls III, Final Fantasy XV, Dishonoured 2