It's that time of year again: time to list all of the games you beat this year. Be as creative with it as you wish. I'll be listing the 19 games I beat this year from best to worst, and giving a little detail on my top 5 games.
#1 - Mafia II
Release Date: Aug 23, 2010
Platform: PC
My favorite game this year is without a doubt, Mafia II. I never played the first Mafia, but I picked this up on a Steam sale and decided to give it a try. The atmosphere and story in this game are fantastic, with the ending being especially emotional. The gameplay was also very well done, giving you an open-world experience with focus provided by a chapter like structure. Overall an amazing game.
#2 - Batman: Arkham City
Release Date: Oct 18, 2011
Platform: Xbox 360
What a follow up to the 2009 hit, Arkham Asylum! Although the open-world environment took away some of the structure from the previous game, I still thoroughly enjoyed romping through Batman's world again. The ending was surprising, and the fanservice was never lacking. I look forward to playing through this gem again, possibly on the Wii U.
#3 - Mass Effect 3
Release Date: Mar 6, 2012
Platform: PC
A great finale to one of the best new IPs introduced this gen. While others took offense with the ending, I decided to just enjoy the ride and accept the ending, come what may. The ending wasn't terrible, but it wasn't exceptionally good. However, it did not detract from the rest of the game in my eyes, and I believe it was a fitting conclusion to the trilogy.
#4 - Assassin's Creed II
Release Date: Mar 9, 2010
Platform: PC
I really enjoyed the first Assassin's Creed, despite the complaints about it being repetitive. I really dug into the story line about the Assassins vs the Templars. Assassin's Creed II took everything great from the first game and expanded upon it. Missions were a little more varied, and locales were quite a bit more interesting to explore. AC2 is a solid sequel that improves upon it's predecessor in every conceivable way.
#5 - Portal 2
Release Date: Apr 19, 2011
Platform: PC
While the first Portal was an enjoyable game, it was short and felt more like a proof-of-concept than an actual game. Portal 2 on the other hand was a vast improvement over its predecessor. The story behind Portal 2 was thoroughly entertaining throughout, and the new puzzles introduced in the game were challenging and rewarding.
#6 - Super Mario 3D Land
Release Date: Nov 13, 2011
Platform: 3DS
#7 - Shadow of the Colossus
Release Date: Sep 27, 2011
Platform: PS3
#8 - Final Fantasy
Release Date: June 4, 2012
Platform: Windows Phone 7
#9 - Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary
Release Date: Nov 15, 2011
Platform: Xbox 360
#10 - Rome: Total War
Release Date: Feb 14, 2006
Platform: PC
#11 - Halo 3
Release Date: Sep 25, 2007
Platform: Xbox 360
#12 - Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine
Release Date: Sep 6, 2011
Platform: PC
#13 - LIMBO
Release Date: Aug 2, 2011
Platform: PC
#14 - New Super Mario Bros. 2
Release Date: Aug 19, 2012
Platform: 3DS
#15 - Dead Space 2
Release Date: Jan 25, 2011
Platform: PC
#16 - Half-Life 2: Episode One
Release Date: Jun 1, 2006
Platform: PC
#17 - Alan Wake's American Nightmare
Release Date: May 22, 2012
Platform: PC
#18 - Mirror's Edge
Release Date: Jan 12, 2009
Platform: PC
#19 - Star Wars The Force Unleashed
Release Date: Nov 3, 2009
Platform: PC
#1 - Mafia II
Release Date: Aug 23, 2010
Platform: PC
My favorite game this year is without a doubt, Mafia II. I never played the first Mafia, but I picked this up on a Steam sale and decided to give it a try. The atmosphere and story in this game are fantastic, with the ending being especially emotional. The gameplay was also very well done, giving you an open-world experience with focus provided by a chapter like structure. Overall an amazing game.
#2 - Batman: Arkham City
Release Date: Oct 18, 2011
Platform: Xbox 360
What a follow up to the 2009 hit, Arkham Asylum! Although the open-world environment took away some of the structure from the previous game, I still thoroughly enjoyed romping through Batman's world again. The ending was surprising, and the fanservice was never lacking. I look forward to playing through this gem again, possibly on the Wii U.
#3 - Mass Effect 3
Release Date: Mar 6, 2012
Platform: PC
A great finale to one of the best new IPs introduced this gen. While others took offense with the ending, I decided to just enjoy the ride and accept the ending, come what may. The ending wasn't terrible, but it wasn't exceptionally good. However, it did not detract from the rest of the game in my eyes, and I believe it was a fitting conclusion to the trilogy.
#4 - Assassin's Creed II
Release Date: Mar 9, 2010
Platform: PC
I really enjoyed the first Assassin's Creed, despite the complaints about it being repetitive. I really dug into the story line about the Assassins vs the Templars. Assassin's Creed II took everything great from the first game and expanded upon it. Missions were a little more varied, and locales were quite a bit more interesting to explore. AC2 is a solid sequel that improves upon it's predecessor in every conceivable way.
#5 - Portal 2
Release Date: Apr 19, 2011
Platform: PC
While the first Portal was an enjoyable game, it was short and felt more like a proof-of-concept than an actual game. Portal 2 on the other hand was a vast improvement over its predecessor. The story behind Portal 2 was thoroughly entertaining throughout, and the new puzzles introduced in the game were challenging and rewarding.
#6 - Super Mario 3D Land
Release Date: Nov 13, 2011
Platform: 3DS
#7 - Shadow of the Colossus
Release Date: Sep 27, 2011
Platform: PS3
#8 - Final Fantasy
Release Date: June 4, 2012
Platform: Windows Phone 7
#9 - Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary
Release Date: Nov 15, 2011
Platform: Xbox 360
#10 - Rome: Total War
Release Date: Feb 14, 2006
Platform: PC
#11 - Halo 3
Release Date: Sep 25, 2007
Platform: Xbox 360
#12 - Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine
Release Date: Sep 6, 2011
Platform: PC
#13 - LIMBO
Release Date: Aug 2, 2011
Platform: PC
#14 - New Super Mario Bros. 2
Release Date: Aug 19, 2012
Platform: 3DS
#15 - Dead Space 2
Release Date: Jan 25, 2011
Platform: PC
#16 - Half-Life 2: Episode One
Release Date: Jun 1, 2006
Platform: PC
#17 - Alan Wake's American Nightmare
Release Date: May 22, 2012
Platform: PC
#18 - Mirror's Edge
Release Date: Jan 12, 2009
Platform: PC
#19 - Star Wars The Force Unleashed
Release Date: Nov 3, 2009
Platform: PC
