2012 has ended so that means it’s time to share my favorite games of 2011! It was very difficult to narrow this list down to just ten games (as evidenced by the fact that this list isn’t exactly the same as the lists I’ve shared on Twitter earlier) but I think I’m pretty happy with this one. Feel free to share your own Top 10 lists in the comments!
1. Persona 4 Golden (Vita). My favorite JRPG of all time is now even better in its Vita incarnation. There’s a couple major pieces of new content (the new dungeon, new S-Links, and new persona) but even more importantly, they went back and improved the game in many small but intelligent ways with the result that the game as a whole is much stronger now. Plus, portable.
2. Fallen Enchantress (PC). It’s Civilization + Fantasy/Magic + RPG. What’s not to love? Yeah, it’s a little unbalanced but I think it’s a blast to create new civilizations & rulers and to try out new strategies.
3. Gravity Rush (Vita). Amazing art & music styles with unique gravity-based exploration and combat combine to make one of the best action/adventure games I’ve played in a while and a must-have for all Vita owners.
4. New Super Mario Bros. U (Wii U). I haven’t been much of a fan of Nintendo platforms of late so I was surprised at how much I loved NSMBU. Great level designs, tons of secrets, and a hardcore challenge mode full of insane mini-levels are the highlights of this fantastic 2D platformer.
5. Defender’s Quest (PC). I’m a huge tower defense fan and this has become one of my all-time favorites in the genre. It’s tower defense except all of your towers are RPG heroes that can grow in power between stages. The concept itself is solid but the game takes it to the next level with fantastic level design, an entertaining story, and one of the best New Game+ modes I’ve ever seen.
6. Tales of Graces F (PS3). I’m not a huge Tales but I greatly enjoyed Tales of Graces F. The story is a little weak, but the combat & skill systems are both a lot of fun. Now I can’t wait for Tales of Xillia!
7. Sonic and Sega All Stars Racing Transformed (Multiplatform; I played the Wii U ver). This is quite possibly the perfect racing game for me. It’s arcadey but relies more on skill than luck (unlike Mario Kart). I love the constantly transforming vehicles and tracks and got a big kick at the many cool references to some of my favorite old Sega games that they sprinkled in. And on the Wii U, it’s great how you can play 2 player local multiplayer and each person gets their own screen.
8. Borderlands 2 (Multiplatform; I played the PC ver). I thought Borderlands 1 was decent but got bored of it before I hit 10 hours. Borderlands 2 doesn’t really feature any huge improvements to the first game but it features tons of small improvements and that’s been enough to make it into a game that I’ve been finding much more enjoyable than the first.
9. DJ Max Technika Tune (Vita). It’s Elite Beat Agents style musical gameplay with Korean style music & animation. It’s like they made this game just for me!
10. Final Fantasy XIII-2 (Multiplatform; I played the PS3 ver). Final Fantasy XIII could have been a great game but its good elements were ruined by poor decisions and pacing. Final Fantasy XIII-2 gets rid of most (though not all) of Final Fantasy XIII’s problems and adds monster taming. Well worth picking up.
Thanks for repeatedly recommending Defender’s Quest. I picked it up during the holiday sale and it is a blast.
1. Little BIG Planet Vita
The plot was really good forthis kind of game and all the new features makes it better then her PS3 older brother. Also the Creating is joy in this one.
2.Gravity Rush
This one is best suited for vita. Originaly developed for PS3, i think that it wouldnt be such good experience as on the vita. The Story is very very deep and of course i love Kat especialy in her spy costume! 😀 When i finished the game i didnt even understand what just happened i have to play it again 😀
3.Assassins Creed 3
Huge open world, nice graphics… its just fun to run around an kill people, and discovering the story in between.
I can honestly say I haven’t played a single on on your list, although I do have FF13-2. I think my list would look quite different. I was going to write a small list for you, but then realized I’ve barely played any games that actually came out in 2012. Most of the games I played were 2011 or from far back in my backlog.
Of those I did play, I scrounged together a top 3:
1) The Walking Dead. Probably the best story I’ve seen in a game in many many years.
2) Dark Souls (Prepare to Die Edition). I know this was a 2011 game, but I waited for the PC version’s DLC on the 360 that came out this year, so I’m counting it.
3) Xenoblade. Was kinda overhyped, but I played the hell out of it and I can see why it was such a good game.
Honorable mention to Penny Arcade 3, which I just finished now that all the DLC is out. Very good game.
I spent the majority of the year trying to hit my backlog and get rid of it. I have probably a half dozen 2012 games I haven’t really touched at all- Last Story, Mass Effect 3, Kingdoms of Amalur, Game of Thrones, Final Fantasy 13-2, Witcher 2 (360). Just sprinkling them in as I work on the backlog. Still got a long way to go