The year 2014 has been an exciting twelve months for video games. 2015 will see far more in the way of killer exclusives. Meanwhile, thrilling technology like virtual reality headsets have truly come made their presence felt.

As Alien: Isolation turned out to be one of the year’s best horror games, and a lesson in how to adapt a beloved franchise. Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor managed to offer a fun, surprisingly innovative experience that few expected.

This list takes a look at the most exciting gaming moments of 2014. As well as some of the year’s best bits of gameplay. From controversial titles to the most surprising sleeper hits, each of these represent the best moments to be a gamer this year.

1. Ground Zeroes’ Explosive Finale

Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes, while technically impressive and a great experience in itself, was a bit of a muted disappointment for some. The series fans were treated to only a few hours of entertainment, making the whole thing feel like an overpriced starter.

Of course, what was there was very, very good. The objective of the short campaign is to rescue Paz, a major character in Peace Walker. In a shocking twist, it’s revealed during a helicopter flight after the rescue that Paz had a bomb surgically implanted inside of her. More specifically, it’s implied to have been placed within her reproductive organs.

To avoid blowing up Big Boss and the rest of the helicopter crew, she throws herself out of the vehicle. The resulting explosion knocks it into another chopper, triggering the events that will precede the next game. Metal Gear Solid V really can’t come soon enough.

2. Transistor’s Final Moments

The game might be colourful, but the story of Transistor is about as dark as you can get. A real work of beauty, Transistor was one of the gaming year’s great artistic accomplishments. Note that there are some serious spoilers coming up, so stop reading if you haven’t played it through to the end.

By the time Transistor is coming to a close, the main character Red has lost almost everything she ever valued. Most notable, her lover was killed by the Transistor, trapped inside. In a final, desperate act, Red chooses to kill herself with the titular weapon and trap herself within it too. In one of the most touching final scenes of any game, it’s revealed at the end that Red and her lover have been reunited, if only within the Transistor-world.

3) Walking Dead : Hard Decisions

Telltale’s Walking Dead series has offered some of the most impactful moments in the last few years of gaming. Arguably a more effective piece of drama than the popular television series, the first season managed to propel the developers to become one of the most sought after adapters of existing franchises to video games in the industry.

The first season was a tough one to beat, but Telltale Games managed an admirable job when it came to the second. This time putting players in the shoes of Clementine, Season 2 of The Walking Dead dished out even more difficult decisions for players to mull over. None were tougher than that of the game’s final moments though, in which players had to choose between shooting old friend Kenny dead, or letting series newcomer Jane die.

Game statistics showed that the split was almost 50-50, demonstrating just how divisive this shocking ending was.

4) Far Cry 4: Hindi Abuses in Kyrat B*@#$!

Well we know you all loved this in Far Cry 4’s Kyrat 🙂

5) Los Santos in First Person

Grand Theft Auto V may have been one of the undisputed greatest games of 2013, but it was current-gen console owners that ended up with the best version. The PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions of GTA V featured a host of improvements, including greatly enhanced graphics, new content and a lengthier draw distance.

Most notably, the Grand Theft Auto V re-release allowed the game to be played in an entirely first-person view. From intense gunfights to speeding through busy streets, everything could now be seen through the eyes of Trevor, Michael and Franklin. It changes the gameplay experience entirely, and means that immersion in the state of San Andreas is greater than ever before.

6) Shadow of Mordor :: Meeting An Old ‘Friend’

One of the main reasons for Shadow of Mordor’s critical success this year was the brilliant Nemesis system. It meant that any Uruk that manages to get the killing blow on Talion will develop their own unique look and personality, growing stronger in both power and status.

It might have been simple smoke and mirrors, but the seamless implementation of the Nemesis system was nothing short of incredible. It really made you want to kill the sneering Uruks that got off a lucky shot, especially when they begin taunting you and turning up during already tricky fights. Best of all was when an Uruk you thought was dead came back hours later, this time missing a limb or brandishing an eye patch.

7) VR Becoming a Reality

2014 wasn’t the year that virtual reality finally became a staple of gaming. Instead, this year has seen millions of converts to the VR revolution, as the world’s biggest tech companies have embraced the technology and masses have gathered to check it out at industry trade shows.

Just in the last 12 months, we’ve seen the Oculus Rift become one of the most anticipated tech products ever, Facebook’s purchase of the same company for $2 billion, and Sony announcing the Project Morpheus headset for the PS4. Putting on a Rift (or any other headset based on its design) is an astonishing experience, and almost impossible to describe in words. 2014 is the year that proved to the world that VR gaming is viable. With everything that’s been shown so far, VR is the most exciting tech to have hit the games industry since home consoles first arrived.