We pick thehe best games for Christmas. This year in gaming has been one of the most content rich in recent years, as massive hit after massive hit helped turn it into one of the best gaming years ever.
From platforming games to sports, first-person shooters to massive open world RPGs, this year has had something for anyone who deems themself even a casual gamer. Ever wanted to slay a dragon? Done. Fight a world war? Easy. Want to make Bird dunk on Magic. No problem (well, at least in theory). There are a plethora of choices to be had in all genres.
Despite being a multi-billion dollar industry, it is still an industry that is just finding its footing. It is like a kid that has so much potential, but keeps getting picked on by the mean older industries. Plus gaming is still not as socially acceptable as the revenue figures might suggest, as evidenced by Roger Ebert’s famous declaration that games could never be art. In a true example of the internet community in action, gamers and others pelted Ebert with game suggestions that contradicted his assessment, and eventually harassed him to the point that he withdrew his criticism. Which is sort of like a win for gamers. Yay?
The point is, slowly the gaming industry is growing up, and this is one of the best years it has ever seen. The early part of the year was a bit slow on sales—which was in keeping with the economic times—but the end of the year has seen an absolute crush of games that have both been critically well-received, as well as commercially. It has been a good year for the industry, and this holiday season should further bolster that thanks to myriad titles for people to buy and gift.
With that in mind, here is a list of our choice for the 15 best games of the year.
Assassin’s Creed: Revelations (PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
From pampered Renaissance nobleman, to master assassin, to a man sick of the conflict, fans of the Assassin’s Creed series have been with Ezio Auditore and watched him grow through two previous games. Now his story comes to an end. As an added bonus, the original assassin, Altair, also has an epilogue through a handful of playable moments that conclude his story as well. The game itself also offers an intriguing look at the Ottoman Empire, as Ezio jumps, climbs and stabs his way through Constantinople. The game mechanics are mostly unchanged, for good and bad, but that probably doesn’t matter. If you have played the previous games, you owe it to yourself to say goodbye to one of the most iconic gaming characters of the last few years.
Read our full Assassin’s Creed Revelations Review.
Batman: Arkham City (PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
Developer Rocksteady did something amazing here, and made a video game based on a superhero that did not suck! And more than that, it is actually one of the best games of the year. A sequel to the surprise 2009 smash, Batman: Arkham Asylum, you once again take the controls of the caped crusader (as well as Catwoman), as you search the sprawling section of Gotham City that was walled off and turned into a prison. Kind of like Detroit. With a wide assortment of some of Batman’s most legendary foes, as well as some enemies that will appeal the hardcore fans, this game has a little something for fans and non-fans alike.
Read our full Batman: Arkham City Review.
Battlefield 3 (PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
While the Call of Duty franchise may still hold the crown, no other shooter has challenged it recently like Battlefield 3 has. Comparing the two games is an inevitable hazard for gaming fans, but it really isn’t a fair measure. Both games feature an incredibly addictive online experience, and both are first-person shooters. Beyond that, they really are very different animals. Battlefield 3 is also a different experience on the PC versus its console counterparts, which further makes a fair comparison difficult. Still, it is hard not to choose a favorite. You can like both, but most gamers have a clear favorite. It is Coke versus Pepsi. Putting aside all MW3 comparisons, BF3 is a great game for online gamers. On the console it is solid and addictive, but on the PC it absolutely shines.
Read our full Battlefield 3 Review.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
When a game reaches a certain level of popularity, it becomes a lightning rod for criticism, both just and unjust. The Call of Duty franchise is the biggest gaming series in the world right now by huge margin, and the latest iteration of this annual series, Modern Warfare 3, has gone on to murder entertainment records. It hit $1 billion faster than any other entertainment property in history, and had a $400 million launch day– also a record. And yet there is a loud contingent of critics that dislike the game. As the kids say, “haterz gonna hate.” This game is made for the fans of the series—and not the casual fan that is already growing tired of the online nature of the series—but the hardcore fan that will appreciate the tweaks and adjustments this title offers. The game doesn’t innovate, but it delivers what it needs to. MW3 isn’t for everyone. It will appeal to the online gamer more than the solo player, and if you weren’t a fan or lost interest along the way, this game won’t win you back over. Judging by the sales though, you will be in the minority.
Read our full Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Review.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
I used to be an RPG fan, until I took an arrow to the knee. If this line doesn’t mean anything to you, it means you have yet to catch onto the phenomenon that is The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. When developers talk about having choices in their games, usually they mean that you can be a bad guy and attack people, or be a good guy and save them. Despite the wide gap between the two sides, the results typically just mean a slightly different ending, maybe a unique mission or two, and possibly people either run away or applaud you, that’s it. Skyrim is different. Say you want to be a vampire. Or a werewolf. Or a vampire werewolf that studies magic and has a lovely little house in the city. Or you want to be a soldier. Maybe you prefer to be a blacksmith, a mercenary, a rebel, or a serial killer. From the amazing to the creepy, Skyrim is so packed full of choices that it will be a different experience for everyone as they explore the massive world. Sacrificing 100+ hours to this game is not just common, but average. It is an important game that will have an influence on titles for years to come.
Read our full The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Review.
FIFA 12 (Mac, PC, PS2, PS3, PSP, Xbox 360, Wii)
Despite the best efforts of Americans, around the world people continue to refer to soccer as “football.” Sure, the rest of the globe can trace the name back at least 400 years, and some say it is closer to 700 years, but that’s beside the point. Regardless, the beautiful game is the most popular sport in the world by a lot, and the digital version of it is one of the most popular sports games around, year after year. But rather than just throwing out another new iteration of the same old game, EA Sports decided to tweak the formula. And in doing so, it made a series that will hit the two decade mark in a couple of years, feel fresh. So if you are one of the several billion footie fans, FIFA 12 is a game you should own.
Read our full FIFA 12 Review.
Forza Motorsport 4 (Xbox 360)
For years and years, when people talked racing simulators there was one name that always came up: Gran Turismo. The Forza series was interesting, but compared to GT, its kung fu was no good. But over the years, the developers at Turn 10 Studios learned both from its own games, and from the GT series. The Forza games were always fun, but they could never shake the impression that they were GT clones. After years, the Forza series has snatched the pebble from the hand of the GT franchise, and the student has become the master. Forza 4 is an exceptional game with more than 500 cars, real world tracks, hundreds of races, a huge online side, and tuning options that will more than satiate hardcore racing simulator fans while still being accessible enough to new players. If you are, or even just know a gamer that is even remotely interested in cars–even if they just like the way a freshly cleaned tire shines–then you won’t go wrong with Forza 4.
Read our full Forza Motorsport 4 Review.
