We're now years into the generation, with many games having been released. Some have disappointed, but many have been a welcome surprise. What games have surprised you the most so far?

Note: This is meant to be about personal experience, but I guess it can also be about sales if you'd like to comment on that as well. As long as there isn't baiting, I don't really care.

Note #2: The image above only shows new IPs, but you can mention games in established IPs also. I just used new IPs because I find that they are usually the most surprising for people, as there isn't an established formula for them.

Personally, the game that surprised me the most is definitely Splatoon. Can't say when the game was revealed that I thought I would play it more than MK8 and Smash combined, but here we are. Shout-out to Until Dawn as well for being much more entertaining than I imagined.

If we count it as eight gen (since it was cross-gen and it released alongside with seventh gen counterparts), then I'd say The Evil Within. It was a nice horror action game with some amazing atmosphere, relatively long without overstaying its welcome and definitively fun. I never thought I'd enjoy it as much as I did, but it just happened. I think I was craving for a good horror game, and after being disappointed in Alien: Isolation, that game ticked all the sweet spots.

Splatoon.

Didn't care for it all at first, and now it's my most played game on Wii U.

The Order: 1886.
Perhaps mostly surprised because I was told by professional critics how terrible it was (many 4/10 and below) but I discovered an awesome experience that offered both satisfying gameplay and compelling storytelling.
It also showed the incredible incompetence of video game critics to properely review cinematic games containing interactive movie elements.

SMTIV.

Bravely Default is def. a gem.

Umm I'd say Pokemon xy.
The transition in graphics really made me more immersed into the gameplay.

The Wonderful 101

Any of those games in the beautiful banner that OP showcases would get my vote! But if I had to choose just one, it would be Splatoon. I always knew it had potential, but not this much!

EDIT: I forgot to mention Rocket League and Life is Strange... such amazing games! Never expected to have so much fun with indie games.

Rocket League.