SuperPhillip Central Best of 2019 Awards - Top Five Games That Kept On Giving

The second awards category featured on SuperPhillip Central today is a brand-new one in SuperPhillip Central's Best of Awards history. It's for the Games That Kept On Giving, These are the games that provided the most enjoyable new content, either free or paid, in gaming this year. One of the biggest characteristics when thinking about this category and list was value. There's a wide range of games featured on this particular list--everything from violent fighters and epic showdowns featuring Marvel's finest to wacky racing games and lighthearted platforming fare. Let's get to the countdown.

5) Mortal Kombat 11 (PS4, XB1, NSW, PC)

Mortal Kombat 11 is a sales juggernaut, as it's one of the top selling games of the year. Being a Netherrealm fighter, Mortal Kombat 11 was jam-packed with features, characters, and content--or should I spell it "kharacters and kontent"? Regardless, the developer added even more characters and cosmetic goodness to the game, creating even greater value. Of course, the new characters weren't free, requiring individual purchases or buying a season pass, but one cannot deny that the amount of content added to Mortal Kombat 11 in addition to what's already there with the exhaustive Krypt and Kombat Towers modes make it one of the games that continues to give reasons to keep players coming back for more.

4) Tetris 99 (NSW)

Originally a free* game for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers, Tetris 99 is a Tetris-themed battle royale that pits you against 99 other players. Everyone is gunning for everyone else. Nintendo has happily added new content in the form of brand-spanking-new modes, as well as a Grand Prix mode. Here, players compete to aim for the #1 spot. The closer they are, the more points they earn, which can then be used to purchase various Nintendo themes for their Tetris 99 experience. Between the marvelous amount of modes and the collectible themes, Tetris 99 is one gift that keeps on giving.

3) Super Mario Maker 2 (NSW)

Super Mario Maker 2 launched this past June as a fully featured game. However, one notable feature was missing, and that was the ability to play levels online with friends. This feature has since been included into the game, as has a massive update that adds new course elements. One of these new course elements is particularly legendary, the addition of Link as a playable character in the Super Mario Bros. course theme. Furthermore, Link comes alongside new enemies like Spikes and Pokeys, new course elements like frozen coin blocks and dash panels, and a new Ninji mode that gives players Nintendo-made courses to speed run against the world with. Excitingly enough for intrepid creators and players, more free content is on the way, and what's better than free, right?

2) Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order (NSW)

Seldom before has there been such a massive collection of Marvel heroes and villains to play as in one game. Nintendo Switch-exclusive Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order is that game, and it packs over 50 playable characters into one epic roster. That collection of characters only grows as time goes on with the additions of Cyclops and Colossus as free inclusions and characters like Blade, Moon Knight, Morbius, The Punisher, Gambit, Cable, Iceman, and Phoenix as paid DLC. As part of the new content are new modes and costumes, some free and others paid. When you consider the size and scope of the roster, the countless new modes, and the amount of hours one will need to put aside to get through it all, Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order definitely delivers as a game that shows no signs of stopping showering its dedicated players with presents.

1) Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled (PS4, XB1, NSW)

Activision may be quite stingy when it comes to providing content without the use of heavy and dirty monetization practices, but it was relatively hands-off on Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled, apart from purchasing Wumpa Coins, which one can easily obtain simply through playing the game anyhow. CTR's revival brought with it monthly Grand Prix events, each with a brand-new, well-designed track, new characters, new karts, new designs, and so much more--and it was all for free. All one had to do was participate in the events through playing the game. With so much unbelievably free content added to a game already rich with content, what other game could possibly have won SPC's award for the game that kept on giving than Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled?