The PlayStation 3 was no slouch when it came to its console exclusives, though its fair to say that many of its digital-only games flew under the radar for many gamers. One of these titles included Sound Shapes, a rhythm-based 2D platformer from 2012. This title was somewhat of a dark horse, with the game winning NAVGTR’s Best Use of Sound for a New IP despite being somewhat of a hidden gem. #SoundShapes

2016 was a truly stacked year for video games, with NAVGTR’s Game of the Year featuring a lengthy list of worthy contenders. While it’s no surprise that Overwatch was the winner, the other nominees – which consisted of Stardew Valley, Uncharted 4, Pokemon GO, and Inside – were also quite worthy of the title, with each leaving their marks on the gaming industry nearly a decade later. #Overwatch #StardewValley #Uncharted4 #PokemonGO #Inside #GOTY

When looking back on Sega’s classic games, one franchise that many gamers love to bring up is Jet Set Radio for the Sega Dreamcast. However, its sequel Jet Set Radio Future is often left out of the conversation. To this day, this cult classic still remains an exclusive for the original Xbox which is a true shame. The title blew players away back in 2002, and was awarded NAVGTR’s award for Outstanding Original Sports Game! #JetSetRadio #JetGrindRadio #JetSetRadioFuture

A gorey hack-and-slash starring a scantily clad high school cheerleader, Lollipop Chainsaw is a one-of-a-kind game. The game offers a healthy mix of over-the-top action set pieces, crude humor, and writing that would make even the most prolific B-movie horror fans blush. Lollipop Chainsaw is so wild and ridiculous that we can’t help but love it – it’s the textbook definition of a Guilty Pleasure video game. The game also features an excellent soundtrack – so much so that it won NAVGTR’s award for Best Song Collection in 2012. #LollipopChainsaw #LollipopChainsawRepop

Encore presentation! #Castlevania series' #BloodyTears gets one of many classic piano covers:

Happy Halloween! Enjoy this classic tune from the #Castlevania series:

Garnering quite a lot of controversy and hate around its release, Rule of Rose received middling reviews and poor sales numbers back in 2006. But over the years, this hidden gem has garnered a massive cult following and is now one of the most expensive games for the PlayStation 2. This horror classic is truly a Cult Classic, with the game featuring an excellent atmosphere, a gripping story, and some of the best visuals for the PS2. Fans of survival horror looking for a new experience outside of the mainstream Resident Evil and Silent Hill games should give Rule of Rose a try. #RuleofRose #survivalhorror #ps2horror #hiddengems

Back in 2006, Okami came out of nowhere and was nominated for 12 different game awards with NAVGTR even awarding it winner of Game of the Year. Faced with stiff competition including The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, Gears of War, and Final Fantasy XII, Okami defied all odds and won. Thanks to its intriguing story, fun gameplay, and watercolor inspired visuals, Okami has aged incredibly well and is still fun to play today. Stay up to date at navgtr.org and test your industry knowledge at navgtrawards.org. #Okami #GOTY #OkamiHD

Performer of the Day: Dave Fennoy! Perhaps most known for voicing Lee Everett in Telltale’s The Walking Dead, Fennoy has voiced tons of video game characters over the years including Lucius Fox in Batman Arkham Knight, Josey in Lollipop Chainsaw, Bluebeard in The Wolf Among Us, and much more. #DaveFennoy #LeeEverett #TheWalkingDead #TelltalesTheWalkingDead

Since its release, The Last of Us has become a household name, with it spawning a widely successful sequel and even a critically acclaimed television series adaption. But even the original game was widely successful upon its initial release way back in 2013 – the game garnered wide praise from both fans and critics alike, and is considered a “Steam Roller” in its award season – with it receiving 15 awards from NAVGTR alone, including Game of the Year! Stay up to date at navgtr.org and test your industry knowledge at navgtrawards.org. #GOTY #TheLastofUs #LastofUs