Welcome to my list of favorite video games of 2015! You’ll notice I used the PS4 covers for the games (were applicable), that’s because that is the console in which I played the game.

1. Fallout 4
Honestly, does this game need any explanation? If you love Fallout, then you know why I love it so much. When Fallout 4 was announced at E3 2015, I just knew – I had a feeling – that we’d get it the same year. You’d better believe I was stoked when it was made official! I got my Pip Boy Edition pre-order in the day it went on sale.

I could list many reasons why I love the Fallout series so much, from its rich story history and its wacky characters to the varied missions (have you played U.S.S. Constitution mission? OMG that was hilarious!) and the little details I find in the huge wide open world. But my biggest reason for loving it so much? The total immersion factor. No game, other than one (keep reading), has the power over me to zap me into its world and not let go until many hours later like Fallout does. Seriously, it’s like being in a casino with no windows or clocks – when I’m wandering the Wastelands, nothing else matters. That escape is why Fallout – and specifically, Fallout 3 – is my favorite game series of ALL TIME. (For the record, The Elder Scrolls series is a close second, and it, too, has that same escape magic hold over me. More on Elder scrolls in a minute.)

And I get that many fans feel like Fallout 4 is just more of the same. Duh! I mean, I’m personally very happy they didn’t stray too far from what we love. Were the side missions as cool and lengthy as they were in Fallout 3? No, but I still feel like we got a full experience. Wandering around and discovering this little nods and references were also fun. Personally? I can’t wait for the DLC! Bring. It. On!

Interesting tidbit – I earned the Platinum trophy in 150+ hours *and* by some miracle published my third book during that time.

Some things I hope we get in the DLC:
1. More of the Glowing Sea. Such a fascinating place and very much reminiscent of the look and feel of Fallout 3. There were several little things to find in the Glowing Sea that just begged for more exploration – the half buried Super Duper Mart, the underground bunker – they just called out to me.

2. Underwater. You’ve seen the pipeline, right? Who knows? Maybe there’s a secret cover up story that goes along with it!

3. Salem area. Meeting Barney Rook and helping him out was nice, but while walking around the little town, I couldn’t help but wish there had been more to do there.

On with the rest!

2. The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D – Absolutely beautiful on the 3DS. I never finished Majora’s Mask on N64 (I know, I am ashamed), but I really dug the heck out of this one.

3. Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture – Not without its issues, but I still really enjoyed wandering around (there’s that phrase again) and learning about these people’s lives.

4. Until Dawn – A surprise that was a blast to play! It felt like I was not just watching a movie, but was right there with the characters. And it was so easy to get immersed in each character and their stories.

5. The Elder Scrolls Online – Oh, Elder Scrolls. I’m torn. I loved being back in Tamriel, with just one caveat. I don’t need other players in my Elder Scrolls game. I am enjoying the familiar world and the missions, but I’m a soloist at heart. Just give me Elder Scrolls 6.

Honorable Mentions (sort of):

You may be wondering why The Witcher III isn’t on my list. And I have an answer. I did play a few hours of it, but it honestly didn’t grab me. I make no apologies for the fact that my love for Fallout, the immersion I feel when playing it and its play mechanics, has me spoiled. Other open-world RPGs just don’t compare. One day I’ll give it another chance. I liked it, I just didn’t love it.

Normally, a Tales game (like Tales of Zestiria) would make my list, but due to it coming out right before Fallout 4, I’m ashamed to admit I haven’t even broken the seal yet. But since I’ve now Platinum’d Fallout 4, I’ll be diving in soon!

Well, I hope you enjoyed my list of favorite games of 2015. I’ll try to report in throughout the new year whenever a new game tickles my fancy. In the meantime, press start…

Val O. Morris

Val O. Morris likes to pretend the monsters aren’t real. She is a filmmaker turned author who writes Urban Fantasy, Horror, and YA. A Monster Kid since birth, she loves all things ghosts, goblins, slashers, demons, monsters, zombies, madmen, werewolves, vampires, and freaky little kids who live in the corn. She invites you to come for the monsters and stay for the story.

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I mostly read non-fiction, whether it’s to gain knowledge about a particular subject (like indie publishing or photography), or just to learn about other geeks out there like me.

Non-Fiction

5000 Words Per Hour – Chris Fox

This book, along with Monica Leonelle’s “The 8 Minute Writing Habit”, has changed my writing routine for the better. I admit, I’m a total pantser, but I wanted to see if this book could still help me. And it does! While I’m no where near writing 5,000 words per hour, this book has been helpful in two ways. 1.) I’m writing every single day again, which is awesome! Some days I may only manage 250 words in my work-in-progress, but my personal goal has been to form a daily habit of writing at least 250 words. The good news leads me to… 2.) Most days I double and triple my daily goal! Again 500-750 words may not be huge numbers, but in time they will add up. I encourage any writer struggling with Butt In Chair Time each day to read this book. Do the sprints. Even short sprints add up.

The 8-Minute Writing Habit – Monica Leonelle

(See above for some of why I LOVE this book! Seriously, just like the title suggests, it helped change my writing habits.) “The 8-Minute Writing Habit” basically inspires you to write – at a minimum – for 8 minutes a day. Who doesn’t have 8 minutes to spare? The great thing about this mini-Pomodoro method is that once you get through those first 8 minutes, you’re usually in the flow of things and don’t want to stop. So, get this book, and learn how to turn an 8 minute habit into productive writing!

Writing Into the Dark – Dean Wesley Smith

I follow Smith’s daily blog (formally called “Writing in Public”) religiously. Really, the man needs no introduction. He writes every day and shares his word totals with with the world. Very inspiring stuff! His career spans four decades and has written both traditionally and self-published, as well as for his own publishing company, WMG Publishing. “Writing Into the Dark” is about learning to follow our Creative Voice whenever we put our Butt in Chair to write and to ignore our Critical Voice. You know, the one that likes to tell us “that story isn’t good”, or “you’ll never amount to anything writing like that.” Following Creative Voice and tuning out Critical Voice is no easy feat, but this book will help any author develop that skill. Personally, I’m a total pantser, and I loved this book even more because it was like talking with an old friend who shared my writing style. Not that I needed the validation. Outlining just isn’t for me, and it’s nice to know I’m not alone.

Prosperity for Writers – Honoree Corder

I loved this book so much I just bought and read her follow-up: the Prosperity For Writers Productivity Journal. This book helped cement the belief that I can succeed as a writer. This will be one of those books that I turn to time and time again.

You’re Never Weird on the Internet – Felicia Day

It’ll make you laugh, cry, and make you fall in love with gaming all over again (not that anyone would fall out of love with gaming). Highly recommended even if you aren’t familiar with Day. If you’re a fellow geek, you’ll enjoy it.
On the iPhone – David Hume Kennerly

This book inspired my first daily photo challenge from April 2015. While I do enjoy shooting with my Canon 70D, my iPhone is my favorite camera. Why? Because I always have it with me. And I’ve captured more memories and beautiful shots than I ever could have planned to do.
Grandma Gatewood’s Walk – Ben Montgomery

Not only is the story of this 67 year old lady’s thru hike on the AT a fascinating one, it’s also a nice history lesson. A lot has happened in our modern world just since the 1950s (interstates were built, cars were manufactured, etc), which really puts things into perspective. If you’re a hiker or enjoy the outdoors (and living off the grid), give this one a read.

Fiction

As you can see, my non-fiction list far outweighs my fiction lists. This is pretty typical. I’d like to up the number of fiction books I read in 2016.
Devoured (The Hunger #1) – Jason Brant

A fast, fun zombie-filled ride. Except that these are no ordinary zombies. I won’t spoil it for ya, you’ll just have to read and enjoy it for yourself.

The Haunted Mask, One Day at Horrorland, and Why I Quit Zombie School – R.L. Stone

Goosebumps are just plain fun. And “The Haunted Mask” is just plain creepy. What more could a Monster Kid like me want? I got on a Goosebumps kick later in the year thanks to my nephew (the same one who inspired my book, “Zombie Boy: Press Start“), and the ones listed above were some of my favorites.

Until next year…. !

Val O. Morris

Val O. Morris likes to pretend the monsters aren’t real. She is a filmmaker turned author who writes Urban Fantasy, Horror, and YA. A Monster Kid since birth, she loves all things ghosts, goblins, slashers, demons, monsters, zombies, madmen, werewolves, vampires, and freaky little kids who live in the corn. She invites you to come for the monsters and stay for the story.

Get Your FREE Book!

I’ve put an insane number of hours into Fallout 4 since its November 10th release date, and I’ve put an equal number into editing, polishing, and publishing “Zombie Boy” in that same amount of time. To say my brain feels like someone used a Mesmetron on it would be an accurate statement. But, boy, does this feel awesome!

I started “Zombie Boy” in September at the request of my nephew. He loves the “Monster Girl” series and is a HUGE zombie fan, the biggest I know (and I know a few). He asked me, “When are you gonna write the ‘Adventures of Zombie Boy’?” Well, I couldn’t get that title out of my head, not to mention, who’s gonna say ‘no’ to such a request?

On November 11th, I finished the first draft of “Zombie Boy”, just one day after Fallout 4‘s release. What timing! (I wish I could say it was all planned, but it was a total accident. Ok, maybe a little planned.) And now, a month later, I’m happy to share “Zombie Boy” to the world!

Join Liam and his friends on an action packed, zombie-bashing adventure! For a limited time, “Zombie Boy” is on sale for $.99 (ebook). It’s available in Paperback and ebook at Amazon today, but I’m not stopping there. “Zombie Boy” will be available for iBooks and Nook very soon!!

Thank you to everyone who helped make this possible! My editors, Jessica and Susan; cover designer, Craig; to all the advanced readers: Rhonda, Viki, Roger, Tori, Lori, and Lori (that last part sounds like a cool all-girl rock band), and to anyone I may have forgotten (my brain is mush – again, see paragraph one, haha), I couldn’t do this without you!

Thank you!!!

Val O. Morris

Val O. Morris likes to pretend the monsters aren’t real. She is a filmmaker turned author who writes Urban Fantasy, Horror, and YA. A Monster Kid since birth, she loves all things ghosts, goblins, slashers, demons, monsters, zombies, madmen, werewolves, vampires, and freaky little kids who live in the corn. She invites you to come for the monsters and stay for the story.

Get Your FREE Book!

Baseball, video games, and… zombies. What could possibly go wrong?

Liam Walker wants is to be an all-star baseball player, but life has other plans. When his best friend, Katie, lends him a video game, his world literally changes. Transformed from a down on his luck boy next door into a zombie bashing video game character, Liam must learn to deal with bullies, new friends, and loss while attempting to learn the rules of the game and save everyone from a zombie apocalypse.

With time running out, can he navigate his way back to the real world before it’s too late? Or will the appeal of being a zombie slaying hero have him staying in the video game world forever?

“Zombie Boy: Press Start” is my third book and the first in the “Adventures of Zombie Boy” trilogy. It will be available very soon! My nephew is the biggest zombie fan I know and, after reading “Monster Girl”, it was only natural that he encourage me to write, as he called it, ‘The Adventures of Zombie Boy’. How could I say no to that? Combining our mutual love for gaming and his infectious enthusiasm for zombies, the story of “Zombie Boy” was born.

Paperback / Kindle

Val O. Morris

Val O. Morris likes to pretend the monsters aren’t real. She is a filmmaker turned author who writes Urban Fantasy, Horror, and YA. A Monster Kid since birth, she loves all things ghosts, goblins, slashers, demons, monsters, zombies, madmen, werewolves, vampires, and freaky little kids who live in the corn. She invites you to come for the monsters and stay for the story.

Get Your FREE Book!