- Primary Subject: Gaming in 2016 (Retro Review & 10-Year Anniversary)
- Key Update: A decade later, 2016 is celebrated as a landmark year for gaming, defined by the debuts of Pokemon GO, Overwatch, and Stardew Valley.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: January 21, 2026
- Quick Answer: 2016 was a revolutionary year for gaming, launching massive hits like Pokemon GO, Overwatch, and Stardew Valley, while concluding the legendary Uncharted series on PS4.
I’m not going to lie, I loved 2016 and thoroughly enjoy the hype it’s getting one decade later. It was as good as everyone is saying it was. The immaculate vibes were felt in all 366 days of the year (yeah, 2016 was a leap year!)
Though I’m still not sure how I feel when anyone decides to take off our nostalgia goggles and zoom in on what really happened a decade ago in sports, films, TV, and, of course, video games. So, while everyone else shatters my dreams, I wondered: was gaming controversial that year, too?
Hear ye, hear ye, fellow nerds, because this walk down memory lane will make your ankles ache. In my professional opinion, 2016 was a 360-degree year for gamers, but one cannot talk about the year without immediately thinking of the traveling summer of Pokemon GO.
Released in July 2016 by Niantic in partnership with Nintendo, Pokemon GO instantly became a global phenomenon having both small children and grown adults park hopping and bench camping. Generating $200 million in revenue and becoming the fastest app game to reach 50 million downloads, 2016 and Pokemon Go will forever be best friends in a world we must defend.
Console-wise, the Nintendo Wii U’s cycle was coming to an end as the year closed with the Switch’s announcement, and the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 were deep into their third year of generational war. We even got our first look at the Xbox One S, and PlayStation 4 Slim and Pro, while Nintendo was bugging in the corner, talking about the NES Classic Edition. (The Wii U was a tough time for the company; we don’t talk about that.)
This was also the year of astronomical gaming debuts that we still talk about to this day, like Overwatch. Released in May 2016, the Blizzard poster boy immediately shook up the hero-shooter industry with its diversity, accessibility, and revitalizing gameplay. Breaking open beta player records with almost 10 million users and exceeding $1 billion in revenue in its first year after release, Overwatch quickly categorized itself amongst the most critically acclaimed video games of the century.
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Another newcomer that has become a household name in gaming is Stardew Valley. With its charming looks and slice-of-life scenery, the February 2016 title immediately warmed the hearts of the gaming community, something we all thought was impossible. Selling over 41 million copies in its lifetime after being solely developed by Eric Barone for almost five years, this farming indie darling turned an RPG concept beaten to death into a landmark title still recognized by mothers, girlfriends, and coworkers all over the globe.
Other releases like the original Overcooked and the highly anticipated No Man’s Sky made the year all the more memorable for the diehard gamer. 2016, though, would also be a year of follow-ups, and the bar was never raised as high as with these entries and sequels.
Last but not least, Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End brought us to the home stretch of the Sony saga. One of PS4’s crown jewels, Nathan Drake’s last chapter was universally loved, taking home Best Narrative/Performance Game Awards after this last installment hit the shelves in May 2016.
Other titles like Battlefield 1, the revamped Doom, Dark Souls III, Final Fantasy XV, Forza Horizon 3, Titanfall 2, and Watch Dogs 2 – all big-hitters in the franchise department – also got to continue their stories to the great fun and enjoyment of gamers.
All in all, everyone can say what they want about misremembering 2016 in any other field, but not in gaming. We really had it that good and can only hope this year gets the tiniest bit closer to the upcoming 2026 release calendar. Crossing our joystick-crooked fingies!
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