With 2016 drawing to a close it's time to look back and reflect on a year of Nintendo gaming. Part of this is through Game of the Year awards, of course, and last week we opened the voting for the Reader Awards.
Lots of you took part, and now it's time to choose your Overall Game of the Year. Last week you voted in categories for Wii U retail, Wii U eShop, 3DS retail and 3DS eShop, and now we've taken the top 5 from each and put them into the poll below (in alphabetical order) - you can choose up to three games from the list of 20. Voting will close at 9am Pacific / noon Eastern / 5pm UK / 6pm CET on 24th December (or 3am AEST on 25th December).
Have at it, we can't wait to see which game wins the day.
The poll is now closed, keep an out out for the results on 27th December!
Comments (87)
Uh... you need to fix that.
"Twilight Princess 3D"? XD
Damn, that's a lot of good games.
Twilight Princess 3D eh?
The correct answer is Pocket Card Jockey.
Wow, what terrible choices. You guys voted... poorly.
I remember when Twilight Princess made the leap to 3D....It was absolutely mind blowing
Fire Emblem Fates, Tokyo Mirage Sessions and Phoenix Wright Spirit of Justice. To be honest, whilst it wasn't exactly an amazing year in terms of quantity of games, all of the ones up there on that list are great. There was definitely a lot to enjoy this year amidst all the bad stuff!
Fates, Tokyo Mirage Sessions and Sun and moon to me. Man, while I really love these 3 games and enjoy MHGen, what weak year. Let's hope that nintendo "switch" up next year.
@Folkloner It got one of my votes. Such an addictive game, haha.
Twilight Princess 3D? When did that come out?! More importantly, how did that one slip under my radar?!
PK sun and DQ7 by far for me
Bravely Second was number one for me, but unrepresented. Ah well.
This is a pretty sorry looking list to be honest. Been a pretty mediocre year. Although Zero Time Dilemma would make it look sightly better.
Breath of the Wild. Oh wait a sec...
Wait... Where's Hyrule Warriors Legends? Are we really just gonna gloss over the definitive version of Hyrule Warriors?
Ace Attorney: Spirit of Justice got my vote. Paul Atishon is my love.
I can't believe a my Nintendo reward made the list...
I gave my vote reluctantly to Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE. Great game overall but the censorship bothered me. It was a bad year for Wii U owners.
And was Twilight Princess HD left out because it's a remake?
Absolutely criminal that Bravely Second didn't make the cut for the poll. Should be considered one of the best games of any year, let alone this year with the release schedule so quiet. One of the finest RPGs on the system.
Once again Stella Glow gets omitted from any popular poll. Sorely underrated game and best on the 3ds this year.
😠No mario party star rush?! That's my favourite of 2016..along with kirby robobot and paper mario color splash
Twilight Princess 3D was easily the best port Nintendo has ever done.
Those diminished graphics were the best.
Looking for Mario Maker in that list...
In the end, I chose 3 3DS games: Twilight Princess, Pokémon Sun and Moon, and Fire Emblem Fates. If there was an honorable mention, it would go to Kirby.
No wonder my Wii U is so dusty - I never got any of these! Oh well, I have dragged it home for xmas as it's great for local co-op with the family. Roll on 2017...
The lack of Fast Racing Neo here is very disturbing.
In absence of that, I had to vote for Boxboxboy.
Its very disappointing that the highest rated Wii U game is a remaster. I gave my votes to Tokyo Mirage Sessions and Fire Emblem Fates.
Why the heck are My Nintendo Picross: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge, Pocket Card Jockey, and Star Fox Guard on this poll? You left out SMT IV: A , Paper Mario Paper Jam, and Bravely Second for that crap?
I abstain from making a third vote because aside from TP HD and Spirit of Justice, there is nothing I care about and/or consider to be on the same level as said.
I wish the Men in Black would come and delete all my knowledge of this wretched year with one of their neuralyzing pen thingies.
Please add Mario Party Star Rush or I won't/can't vote.
Was that meant to be Azure Striker Gunvolt 2?
Sun and Moon, Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE, Axiom Verge.
More than a little bummed that SMT Apocalypse didn't make the final cut. From that list for me it was #FE, Planet Robobot and Pocket Card Jockey. Steamworld Heist was pretty much tied with PCJ, though.
for me it's Dragon Quest 7, Kirby Planet Robobot and Pokemon Sun & Moon.
Corrected Twilight Princess in the poll, apologies. I have no idea why I wrote Twilight Princess 3D but, fear not, I've called in the men in white coats; they'll arrive shortly to take me away.
I don't know if 5 games from each category is good criteria of selection. Boxed games are, presumably, more recognizable, they are just bigger, more refined titles. Maybe 7+3 (boxed and eShop respectively) would be better choice?
Nevertheless, my favourite games are in. Voted for Pokemon Sun and Moon, Dragon Quest VII and SteamWorld Heist. I would choose Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate, but Generations, though I played this game for something about 200 hours, isn't that good. So, yeah, time spended wasn't most important here
@jwfurness Yeah man, bravely is becoming a must have franchise for me, lets see how good third becomes and if it comes for switch.
My list is axiom verge, pokenT and DQVII.
Sadly there was no bravely second or SMT4:A
Fates, Sun and Moon and Pokkén for me personally. I really hope we see a continuation of Pokkén, having local wireless multiplayer would solve the 30FPS problem during the Wii U's local. (Without a second console plugged in via Ethernet I mean).
Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE (overall GOTY for me), Paper Mario: Color Splash, and Kirby: Planet Robobot for me.
The last would have been the super awesome Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam (though Planet Robobot is still amazing), but for some reason, it's not on there and how that Mini Mario & Friends game could get in (but not Paper Jam) is grade-A 100% prime cut criminal. Paper Jam Shin Akumas all over that game and it's not even funny. Heck, I'd even play Fairune II, Super Meat Boy, and Parascientific Escape over that game and those games aren't even on the list.
I feel like Paper Jam doesn't get enough appreciation, in my opinion
SMT IV: Apocalypse. Its lack of inclusion here is a crime against good taste.
Pokemon Sun & Moon definitely but BoxBoxBoy is an easy 2nd place for me. Simplicity at its finest!
Fire Emblem: Fates, Tokyo Mirage Sessions and Spirit of Justice for me, with Pocket Card Jockey JUST missing out.
@Mahe Yep. I just don't see how a free cheap cash-in amiibo-ridden app could get in over the amazing Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam (and I say this as a man who likes amiibos). I know everybody has different tastes, but come on! It's like saying cardboard sandwiches tastes better than turkey sandwiches!
At least the 3DS had a far better year in 2016 than 2015.
Axiom Verge
Steamworld Heist
Starfox Zero
What a depressing list compared to previous years.
Anyway, Sun & Moon, Fates, Generations.
@kotag Once you get used to that battle system, it's hard to go back. Would love to see Bravely 3rd on the Switch.
@ThomasBW84
Gotta love a good Freudian slip, Thomas. From your lips (well, fingers) to ninty's ears.
Definitely Sun & Moon. I may only be at Lana's trial 77 hours in with 31 Pokemon in active training, almost all on Level 31, but I can already tell it's the best Pokemon game in at least a decade if not all of Pokemon. Spirit of Justice and Planet Robobot share place 2. But my overall GOTY is definitely Overwatch.
Where's AM2R?
Trust you to be talking about Freudian slips, @k8sMum
Urge anyone to get Pocket Card Jockey. Really hoping for a sequal and for it to have multiplayer.
i misread this as nlife READER of the year. was prepared to unashamedly vote for myself...
It's Monster Hunter for me. 300+ hours in and still grinding.
I'm enjoying the hunter arts and styles.
Wow, it's just amazing that I haven't played any of those games at all, in fact I don't even think I played anything this year that would be considered this year on my Wii U or 3DS.
Pokemon Sun & Moon hands down. It's one of the best games in the series for me.
No Picross 3D on the list? Aw man!!
So I only chose Paper Mario and Kirby.
My favourite games are Pokémon Sun & Moon, Shantae: Risky's Revenge - Director's Cut, and The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD.
It's got to be #FE for me. Really fills that Persona filled hole in my heart until we get 5 in April. I also picked FE Fates and Ace Attorney 6. I don't think AA6 is as good as the original trilogy but it was good getting Maya back.
That right there is a sad, sad list.
@ThomasBW84: To the funny farm, where life is beautiful all the time? I love that place!
Why is Shantae Risky's Revenge here instead of Half Genie Hero?
Phoenix wrirgth should be higher!
Tokyo Mirage Sessions for me.
I put in close to one hundred hours and I think I got every weapon, items, and major quest solved.
Censorship never bothered me, and the localization was just fine.
5. Pokkén Tournaments
4. Fire Emblem Fates: Birthright
3. Kirby: Planet Robobot
2. Paper Mario: Colo(no U)r Splash
1. Pokémon Moon-
Pokemon Sun & Moon, and Tokyo Mirage Sessions are my games of the year.
S&M are definitively a step up from X&Y, and TMS is a fantastic game - shame its so niche, it definitively deserved better
Fire Emblem Fates, Pokemon Sun/Moon and #FE are my votes, in that order
I voted Pocket Card Jockey and FE Fates. Haven't gotten around to Kirby Planet Robobot yet, but it is on my Christmas wishlist this year...so we'll see.
Seriously hoping we get Etrian Odyssey V and Untold III for the 3DS...sooner the better. Haven't heard anything about them lately, and I'm starting to worry a little bit. Would love to vote for them next year!
FE: Fates, Kirby, and Pokemon SM where my 3 picks. An honorable mention would be Shantae.
Of this list? Pokémon Sun and Moon. Although I felt that Popolocrois was a more enjoyable experience overall.
Shin Megami Tensei 4 Apocalypse
Stella Glow
Bravely Second
This was an amazing year.
I'm probably the only one here who hasn't played Pokemon Sun/Moon yet. Fingers crossed I might get it for Christmas!
No 7th Dragon? Oh well...
In that case, my votes are for Fates, Spirit of Justice, and Gunvolt 2.
@ThomasBW84
It's also worth noting that the poll lists Gunvolt rather than Gunvolt 2 (though that's arguably not as bad).
I was thinking ugh Pokémon game of the year? Really? The core gameplay has not actually changed from the original GB games. Then I realised Fire Emblem hasn't really changed either. Still sad FE is being pipped at the post by Pokémon.
What, no Super Mario Maker? It didn't come out this year, but it's got tons of new content every few seconds.
Horrible to leave out so many great games, but I eventually plumped for Mirage Sessions, Star Fox Zero and Pokémon Sun and Moon.
Though choices. I voted Pokemon Sun & Paper Mario Color Splash.
@Kingrat YES-THANK YOU!! That game is AMAZING.
The people who voted for Twilight Princess are only asking Nintendo to make more remastered remakes.
Man, slim pickings this year. The only game I played on that list was Pokemon Moon. I did buy Tokyo Mirage Sessions recently, and would like to play Dragon Quest VII, so those three games get my vote. Please, 2017, bring the punish on my wallet! I beg!
My Wii U and 3DS games of the year aren't present on the list. They are Tadpole Treble and Ninja Smasher.
So for the poll, I voted Star Fox Guard since that's the second-best Wii U game of the year in my honest opinion.
....This was not a great Nintendo year.
Ace Attorney 6 was fantastic, it should at least be above Color Splash imo...
Pokemon Sun and Moon or Fire Emblem Fates.

There is nothing good to vote for, for Wii U
The Best Wii U game release all year is missing: Tadpole Treble.
The only games I could afford this year were Pokemon Sun and Twilight Princess, so I can't really vote.
Pokemon Sun is (imo) the best game in the series, though, so I would have voted for that, probably.
Where is SMT IV apocalypse?
Shame on you
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