It's that time of the year again: a time to look back at 2011 for its gaming prowess; to pay tribute to those elite pieces of electronic interactive entertainment that reside in a league all by themselves.
Just like last year, 2011 treated us to a few new franchises, but, ultimately, the sequels once again hogged the spotlight. While 2010 stumbled towards the end of the year, 2011 went out with an absolute bang, seeing nearly a dozen blockbuster titles hit store shelves within just a few weeks.
Don't see your pick for game of the year on our list? Be sure to yell at us in the comments section. But first, make sure you take a look at our list of very worthy honourable mentions by clicking through.
Honourable mentions
- Dark Souls (Xbox 360, PS3)
- LittleBigPlanet 2 (PS3)
- Bastion (Xbox Live Arcade)
- Outland (Xbox Live Arcade)
- Mortal Kombat (Xbox 360, PS3)
- Catherine (Xbox 360, PS3)
- Minecraft (PC)
- NHL 12 (Xbox 360, PS3)
- Battlefield 3 (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)
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(Credit: Visceral Games)
10. Dead Space 2
Platform: Xbox 360, PS3, PC
While it may not have innovated much on top of what the original provided, Dead Space 2 successfully recreated the sheer horror of being left for dead in deep space. Terrifying, dreary and dark, the game's atmosphere is once again the star of the show.
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(Credit: Rockstar Games/Team Bondi)
9. L.A. Noire
Platform: Xbox 360, PS3, PC
While some critics wrote L.A. Noire off as an overall disappointment, we refuse to overlook the game's jaw-dropping motion-capture technology called MotionScan. It added an entirely new dimension to the game's characters, dwarfing most other game performances in the process.
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(Credit: Grasshopper Manufacture/EA)
8. Shadows of the Damned
Platform: Xbox 360, PS3
Say hello to the best game of the year that you most likely didn't play. Shadows of the Damned was fresh and funny, and combined the talents of some of the heaviest hitters in gaming — but for some reason failed to garner any commercial success. While we still remain shocked over its lack of success, Shadows of the Damned is without a doubt the sleeper hit of 2011.
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(Credit: Eidos)
7. Deus Ex: Human Revolution
Platform: Xbox 360, PS3, PC
We think Human Revolution is this year's biggest pleasant surprise. Of course, the Deus Ex brand has a mostly positive reputation, but Human Revolution really came together in almost every way possible. Mixing equal parts Metal Gear Solid and Mass Effect, and set in a Blade Runner-esque world, Human Revolution is a blast to play, no matter what way you decide to approach it.
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(Credit: Epic Games)
6. Gears of War 3Platform: Xbox 360
Gears of War 3 completely revitalised the franchise for the better, offering a complete package for gamers. A compelling campaign, addictive multiplayer modes and Horde 2.0 made for the best Gears yet. Perhaps the biggest surprise in Gears 3 was the emotional storyline that humanised the characters more so than in games past.
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(Credit: Naughty Dog)
5. Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception
Platform: PS3
Oh, Nathan; the situations you find yourself in. Nathan Drake's third adventure was also the most insane, with our hero narrowly escaping dicey situations within an inch of his life on a regular basis. Of course, the game is totally worth a play through, but at some point the beauty fatigue starts to set in, making us wonder, "how will they top this next time around?"
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(Credit: Nintendo)
4. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
Platform: Wii
If you look at the Wii's entire life cycle like a sandwich, two fantastic Zelda games are the bread. It seems only appropriate to have Skyward Sword unofficially close out the Wii's run, only because it's probably the best game to ever grace the platform. Gorgeous graphics, expert level design and the closest thing we'll ever get to one-to-one sword control all came together in this instant classic.
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(Credit: Bethesda)
3. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Platform: Xbox 360, PS3, PC
It'll be tough to find better value this year in a game, especially considering that Skyrim's developers have said that the game can technically go on "forever". Skyrim offers an enormous map to explore, with countless quests to pursue and dragons to slay. Just don't expect to breeze through this one; Skyrim should keep you busy for months.
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(Credit: Valve)
2. Portal 2
Platform: Xbox 360, PS3, PC, Mac
As funny as it is cerebral, Portal 2 gave gamers exactly what they wanted out of the follow up to what developer Valve originally included as a bonus add-on to 2007's The Orange Box. The cult-classic-turned-mainstream success story presented us with new mind-bending levels, great celebrity voice performances and a fascinating storyline. All of this, combined with an impressive co-op mode and a healthy amount of DLC, makes Portal 2 easily one of the year's best.
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(Credit: Rocksteady Studios)
1. Batman: Arkham City
Platform: Xbox 360, PS3, PC
Possibly one of the most hyped-up games in recent history, Batman: Arkham City had pretty big shoes to fill. Not even scoffing at the pressure, Rocksteady Studios made it look easy by delivering a bigger and badder Batman game with five times the amount of explorable space. Arkham City makes gamers feel like they are, in fact, the Dark Knight themselves, completely nailing the atmosphere, gadgets, top-of-the-line production values and acting performances. On top of that, the game is an absolute shrine for Batman loyalists, creatively incorporating most of the Batman universe into the various modes of play (bar the misogyny). Finally, the replay value here is among the best you'll find in gaming, providing tons of content for players to unlock and discover — and more DLC is still coming down the pike. It's engaging, thrilling, totally satisfying and, without a doubt, our pick for 2011's video game of the year.
Via CNET
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