Winner: Fallout Shelter
Strangely, there wasn’t any Nintendo 3DS title that truly stood out from the pack this year, though the remake for Majora’s Mask is fantastic and we thought Etrian Odyssey 2 Untold was stellar too. Instead, Fallout Shelter for iOS and Android surprised us the most, in part because it was announced as a free download on stage at Bethesda’s E3 conference that was available right then and there. It was a non-glorified promotional stunt that worked, and it’s a fine strategy game to boot.
Bethesda has also been continually updating the game since it's launch with deathclaws, survival mode, new characters, the ability to eject settlers, and the latest addition of adorable pets. It’s all for free, though you can purchase lunchboxes with more content if you prefer. Yes, Fallout Shelter can get a bit dull once you reach max capacity of 200 dwellers and I wish there was some substantial connection between this game and Fallout 4, but even so, it’s a memorable experience that doesn’t cost a dime and somehow fits perfectly in the Fallout universe. It’s very S.P.E.C.I.A.L. indeed!
Nominees: Lara Croft GO, Etrian Odyssey 2 Untold: The Fafnir Knight, The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D, Prune
