Even as the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One gained a firm foothold in the industry, 2014 lacked the masterpiece titles that gamers have grown accustomed to in previous years. Don't get us wrong – there were plenty of great games to play on our new- and old-gen systems alike, but every title seemed to have its drawbacks and detractors, making this year's Top 50 list harder than ever to put together.

While you can check out our full Top 50 list in the latest issue of Game Informer, we're giving you a peek at the best of the best. Below are our Top 50 award winners, which include platform exclusives, genre standouts, the best multiplayer experiences, and much more, as decided by the Game Informer staff.

Best Xbox One: Sunset OverdriveSunset Overdrive is Insomniac Games' best effort in years, and one of the most unique experiences of the year. Although the focus is squarely on slaying mutants in the face of an apocalypse, the action blends Ratchet & Clank's gonzo weaponry with Tony Hawk's combo-laden city traversal. This odd amalgamation works well for the wacky missions and free-wheeling city exploration.

We already posted a feature highlighting our top ten most anticipated games that we decided on by a staff vote. Now we're letting you know each editor's personal pick. As you'll see, some editors have similar tastes, while others chose titles that might not make 2015. Find out below what each staff member has the highest hopes for.

Bloodborne 

Yesterday we revealed Uncharted 4: A Thief's End as our February cover. We also have a full month of online coverage to complement the main story, so today we're kicking things off with a first look at some exclusive screens.

The images below showcase Nathan Drake's trials, including handling his brother and making death-defying jumps.

Click the screens to enlarge.

As promised, Bungie has delivered a legendary gift to Destiny players. Contrary to our expectations though, it isn’t a cosmetic item.

My package contained a void-powered fusion rifle. I’m pretty pleased with it, as it rounds out my arsenal a bit. You can check it out below.

Unfortunately, some players have forgotten how to say “thank you” or, barring  that, how to not be jerks. 

Double crossing is a common practice in video games. Watching a trusted ally turn its coat and suddenly declare their mission to destroy the hero is a fun cliché that injects drama. Less commonly, some characters who formerly committed dark deeds have a change of heart and join up with the good guys. Here are some of our favorite enemies who had a change of heart.

Spoiler warning: We touch on plot twists in story focused games like Dragon Age: Origins, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Chrono Trigger, and Portal 2.

10. King Dedede - Kirby SeriesThe story of HAL Lab's Kirby series isn't deep. Essentially, Kirby is a pink creampuff thing that frequently battles King Dedede, the dopey faced, self-righteous king of Dreamland. For many of the early Kirby games, Dedede is the big kahuna, either facing off with the little guy in a wrestling ring or racing him to devour treats. Starting with Kirby 64: The Crystal Shard, King Dedede reluctantly offers his pudgy might and powerful hammer in Kirby's quest as a playable character. He's also one of four playable characters in Kirby's Return to Dreamland, swinging and tossing his hammer at the enemies. Unfortunately for this formerly feared nemesis, Dedede has fallen into the realm of comic relief.

In issue 260, we asked readers what their biggest disappointment of 2014 was. Destiny was predictably divisive among players, but other big titles received their share of shame as well. Here are some responses.

What was your biggest disappointment of 2014? Share it in the comments below!

I had big plans over the holidays. And, as you can probably tell from the headline, I dropped the ball on quite a few of them. But let’s start with the successes.

While I was on vacation with my family, I wrapped up one of last year’s best games. Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc was a delightfully demented experience filled with interesting characters and surprising twists throughout the multiple murder mysteries.

When I got home, I expected that I would be diving into Dragon Age: Inquisition. I’ve played through the first hour or so. And that’s where my save game stands now.

After a nice two-week break, we’re all back in the office. After dusting off our keyboards, replacing all the burnt-out lightbulbs, and scaring off the wildlife that had nestled in during our absence, we spent the morning catching up with one another. In an effort to avoid having to recreate the same conversations with ourselves time and time again, we decided to compile our recaps in one handy place. What did we do on our winter vacations? Read on and find out.

Bryan VoreWith all the holidays and family stuff going on over the break, I didn't get a ton of time to chill out. But I did manage to squeeze in a little Destiny, some Kingdom Rush Frontiers (with Origins out, it finally pushed me to get to part two), Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris co-op, and more Far Cry 4 co-op.

As far as non-gaming stuff goes, I read Unbroken (still need to check out the movie), caught the back half of UFC 182, and the front half of Wrestle Kingdom 9 (my first dose of Japanese wrestling). I've still gotta get to The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies. Is there anyone who hasn't seen it yet?

Lords of the Fallen surprised us last year by providing some breathtaking backdrops combined with the combat that's come to define the Souls franchise - what can  we expect to see in the future? Executive producer Tomasz Gop weighs in and answers our questions about the future of the Fallen and the upcoming expansion.

Today, Sony announced the oft-requested subscription program for PlayStation Now. If you've been waiting to check out PlayStation 3 titles streaming to your PS4 because you didn't want to rent individual games, a Netflix-style buffet option might be up your alley.

The plan will launch at $19.99 per month or $44.99 for a three-month bundle. The problem is that PlayStation Now still feels disconnected from the rest of the PlayStation experience. Here are a few things Sony can do to sweeten the deal and woo more people to PlayStation Now.

The subscription can't be limited to PlayStation 4 for long.Right now, the PlayStation Now subscription offering is limited to PlayStation 4, though this will change at an unannounced point in the future. Sony needs to remedy that sooner rather than later.