The text is a transcript of a video game critic's (Videogamedunkey) review of his top games for 2016. He starts by expressing his disappointment with the gaming industry, citing the exploitation of optimism. He then moves on to discuss his favorite games of the year, including Hitman, The Witness, The Last Guardian, and Ultimate Chicken Horse.
The critic also talks about other notable games, such as Color Splash, Plague Knight, Stardew Valley, Thumper, and Smashy Brick. He also discusses his love for older games, such as Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Donkey Kong Country, and Ori and the Blind Forest.
The critic's top games for 2016 include Abzu, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Ratchet & Clank, BATTLEBITCH, and Overwatch. He also praises Inside, a game that he considers to be one of the most compelling stories in a video game.
The critic's actual Game of the Year is not revealed until the end, where he jokingly says it's Knack 2, but then reveals that it's actually not his favorite game, and instead jokes that Super Mario Brothers 2 wins again. However, it is implied that Inside is likely his actual Game of the Year, given his glowing praise for it.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The speaker went into 2016 with high hopes and expectations.
2. Optimism has been exploited in the games industry.
3. The speaker mentions that some games, such as Hitman, were disappointing.
4. Hitman's gameplay became restrictive as the game progressed.
5. The speaker enjoyed playing Ultimate Chicken Horse.
6. The Witness made the speaker very angry.
7. The Last Guardian was a game the speaker played in 2016.
8. Yacht Club successfully ran a Kickstarter for Plague Knight, a free update for Shovel Knight.
9. The speaker enjoyed playing Stardew Valley.
10. Thumper is a psychedelic horror rhythm game with a unique concept.
11. Smashy Brick is a game that features the speaker, videogamedunkey, as a playable character.
12. Pokémon GO encouraged the speaker to exercise.
13. The speaker enjoyed playing DOOM.
14. Color Splash recaptured some of the original Paper Mario magic.
15. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is a game that the speaker enjoys.
16. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 has a single-player campaign with an incredible story.
17. Ratchet & Clank is a well-rounded game with a great sense of exploration and spectacle.
18. BATTLEBITCH is a MOBA fighting game with unique gameplay mechanics.
19. XBOX launched with Halo Combat Evolved.
20. Donkey Kong Country is the speaker's favorite Super Nintendo game.
21. Ori and the Blind Forest is a game with a beautifully hand-drawn world and fluid character controls.
22. Winston's Magic Castle is Blizzard's best game since Warcraft 3.
23. Overwatch is a multiplayer game with exciting gameplay.
24. Inside tells a smart and compelling story without a single line of dialogue.
25. The game's narrative is bound together by a central theme of control and conformity.
26. The game's ending is eruptive and subverts the player's expectations.
Note that some of these facts may be subjective or based on the speaker's opinions, but I have tried to extract the most objective information possible.