I'm not often pleasantly surprised to the degree that I outwardly claim "Game of the Year!" I usually cobble together a "Best Of" list, but very rarely can I immediately identify the best. Especially this early in the year (it's only May!)
That being said, I was completely blown away by Banishers. It's tender, harsh, and doesn't back away from difficult conversations. It also takes its time telling its story and letting the character breathe. Not enough games do that.
It truly was a marvel exploring the many interacted subplots and watching the main characters go through their grieving process.
A couple of extra notes: the opening is brilliant, letting you play as Antea and then switching gears right before the early twist. Second, I love how its "open world" still has linear pathways, providing a more defined way to explore. I appreciate that more than the Skyrim-y "you can go anywhere!"
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