As cosplay continues to explode in popularity, I feel like rounding up the "best" cosplay in the world for the year is a task that's almost impossible. But whatever, that's not going to stop me from trying.
2014 was a big year for cosplay, at least in terms of this site. We opened up our own cosplay sub-site. Me and Brian wrote a book about cosplay. And we featured more shots (and videos) on Kotaku than ever before, as cons across the world saw ever-increasing numbers of cosplayers in attendance, fuelled by a community that's about as friendly and welcoming as any you'll find on the internet (or, for that matter, in the real world).
Below, then, are my attempts at wrangling together a "best in 2014" collection. If you've found something truly amazing that we've missed or overlooked, drop it in the comments below and I'll take a look, see if it warrants inclusion!
GHOST TRICK - Cosplay by CelticSakura. Photo by Mike Kowalek.
METAL GEAR - Cosplay by Pro Voltage. Photo by Mike Kowalek.
PRINCE/CHAPELLE SHOW - Cosplay by Scumbag Dark Link
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN - Cosplay by Alyson Tabbitha, photo by Stephie Joy Photography.
METROID - Cosplay by Chelsea & Matt Serle
BIOSHOCK INFINITE - Cosplay by Angela Bermudez, photo by Andres Herrera
THE WITCHER - Cosplay by LastSoul and GreatQueenLina. Photo by La-Clover.
FIRE EMBLEM: AWAKENING - Cosplay by Calssara, photo by Midgard1612.
ASSASSINS CREED IV - Cosplay by Leon Chiro. Photo by Marcella Fava
FAMILY GUY - Cosplay by Real Life Peter Griffin
LORD OF THE RINGS - Cosplay by Red-Dragon-Lord, photo by Chris Hull.
CAPTAIN HARLOCK - Cosplay by Nikita. Photo by Nippon Nation.
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY - Cosplay by Shoko and Jérôme Cosplay, photo by Shashin Kaihi.
FINAL FANTASY XIII - Cosplay by Rainer, photo by vaxzone.
DARK SOULS - Cosplay by harvestbuddy, RevebQ and Edgar Mayoral
MASS EFFECT - Cosplay by Sarrah Wilkinson, photo by Sam Mort.
DRAGON AGE - Cosplay by Laura Sánchez. Photo by Jesús Clares.
SUPER FLAMANDS - By photographer Sacha Goldberger & Friends.
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES - Cosplay by guimancreative.
METAL GEAR SOLID - Cosplay by Rick Boer, Photo by Cynthia Veekens
FUTURAMA - By Frank Ippolito and Tested