In the past few years, bland first-person shooters and underdeveloped games have taken over the video landscape. However, during 2015, gamers were gifted with some of the most beautiful animation, along with long-awaited sequels and spinoffs from some of the most popular games of all time.

September saw the return and departure of iconic developer Hideo Kojima with the final installment of the magnificent Metal Gear Solid series, “Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain.” The game takes place nine years after the events of “Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zero,” and you, the player, awake from a coma as a soldier called Big Boss. With Big Boss’ past military group destroyed, he forms a new army and heads to Afghanistan during the Afghan-Soviet War, looking for the people that destroyed his previous militia. Bringing back beloved characters and introducing a spectacular open-world gameplay, Kojima leaves fans both happy and sad as he creates a concluding installment that will be cherished for the ages.

Seven years ago, Bethesda Softworks released “Fallout 3,” a game that changed the video game scene, as millions of fans were brought onto its “hype train.” This year, “Fallout 4,” was released, and the game lived up the expectations set by its predecessor. “Fallout 4” takes place in 2287, 210 years after a third World War that left the world in a nuclear holocaust. You, the player, wakes up from cryostasis as a character of your gender preference, who must travel through the Commonwealth, a post-apocalyptic Massachusetts, in search of your son. Traveling in an open-world, “Fallout 4,” continues its tradition as a role playing game, as every decision you make has an impact on your entire world. The game brings back the fan favorite aspects of the previous game, while adding respectable improvements, such as weapon customization and the ability to build towns and homes.

After returning in 2014 with “Mario Kart 8,” and “Super Smash Bros. for Wii U,” Mario is back with the release of “Super Mario Maker.” The game combines the simplicity of the side-scrolling Mario gameplay, with the introduction of allowing players to develop their own custom maps to play on. They are able to create their own levels using features from “Super Mario Bros.,” “Super Mario Bros. 3,” “Super Mario World,” and “New Super Mario Bros. U.” Also, players are able to share their levels online while having the ability to download others. From “Super Mario Maker,” players will be able to reminisce about old games, while creating their own journeys throughout the Mushroom Kingdom.

Although released earlier, “The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt,” went against the mainstream norm of games that witheld content. It gave fans everything they wanted from the final game in “The Witcher” trilogy as it went through multiple updates throughout the year, bringing improvements and volume to the game. “The Witcher 3” concludes the story of Geralt of Rivia, a genetically enhanced and trained human in a medieval fantasy world. With an open gameplay filled with amazing magic and sword combat, and a fantastic plot that the player has the power to shape, “The Witcher 3,” is a game that many fans will enjoy, and one that hardcore fans will love.