Top 10 games of 2011

It seems just last year we proclaimed “this was the best year for games in ages!”

365 days later, we’re inclined to say it again.

Though it started off a bit slow, 2011 ended as loudly as you could want. Critically-acclaimed sequels to nearly every major game franchise hit shelves, creating a glut of blockbusters and absolutely decimating the wallets of those crazy enough to try to play them all. From glorious indie downloads like Bastion to big, brash noisemakers like Modern Warfare 3, we were never at a loss for an exceptional game experience.

Here is my list, counted down in order, of my 10 favorite games of 2011.

10. Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception

A fitting finale for Nathan Drake and his adventures, "Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception" wraps up the historical adventure franchise with possibly his greatest treasure yet. Not only does the story take a look back and reveal how Drake got started on his quests, but it also tied up many loose plot lines very well.


The game feels like an Indiana Jones adventure, and Drake keeps a wry sense of humor throughout the most trying times. The designers did their research to showcase several incredible environments, historical references and lost treasures. Players will come away feeling like they've been on a grand adventure, which they have.

9. Driver: San Fransisco

The once-proud Driver series finally got back on track thanks to the innovative Driver: San Francisco. Boasting the coolest racing game mechanic in years – the ability to warp into any car in San Fran at the blink of an eye – it was exactly the kind of crazy, off the rails design twist we love to see.

8. La Noire

LA Noire puts the story to the forefront in a daring attempt to be different. Action is dictated by the narrative and the characters and not by a ploy to get the plot moving. It looks and feels like a 1940s-style detective thriller with some great voice acting and motion capture animation. It emphasizes storytelling without forcing dialogue or plot. Expect to see more games like this in the future.

7. Deus Ex: Human Revolution


Deus Ex: Human Revolution" allows players to experiment with different augmentations to enhance their human character. Creatively building and upgrading, gamers will discover new ways to complete missions even during replays. The atmosphere of the not-so-far-away future is one of hope and despair. The story is well-crafted and keeps players involved with little downtime or boredom.






6. Saints Row: The Third


Some games create atmospheric worlds that attempt to draw you in with moving stories about characters seeking a second chance, or cast you as troubled superheroes who push themselves to the limit to fight evil. Saints Row: The Third is not like those games. Rather, it's the kind of game that gives you weapons called apocafists with which you can punch people, instantly making them explode in a bloody mess. The Third won't impress you with knockout visuals, move you with an absorbing story, or engage you with challenging combat. What it does, better than just about any game before, is embrace the idea of an open world as a place for play, constantly giving you access to awesome new toys and providing you with no shortage of exciting opportunities to use them.




5. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim


The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim" is an open-world, role-playing game that literally has more than 100 quests to complete. Your character can be trained in any skill at any time, thus assuring that the game is personal to each player. Sure, there are some minor bugs in it, but they are more amusing than frustrating. And any game that lets me stand at the top of a mountain while more than a dozen dragons fill the sky is a big winner in my book. It is enthralling, addictive and satisfying. 








4. Modern Warfare 3

The story takes you on a Modern Day World War, and reveals pieces of information that will blow you away. Remember when you thought how strange and outrageous nuking a city in Modern Warfare was? Well, those moments are back in this game, new and old. Special Ops returns, and now there are two modes - mission, and survival. The mission modes are the same a previous games, letting you play with a friend online, offline, or alone (for most missions, anyway.) The mode features its own leveling/unlock system, and you'll need to play a bit to unlock all the missions to be available. Survival is essentially "Horde Mode," where you have wave after wave of enemies, building up cash to buy sentry guns and other goodies. It's a well done mode, and a nice change of pace between the campaign and multiplayer.




3. NBA 2K12


How do you top Michael Jordan? Grab about 15 of his closest Hall of Fame pals. That’s what 2K Sports did with this excellent follow-up to last year’s hit NBA 2K11, and it paid off big time. The inclusion of more of the NBA's greatest players from the past lets you pit superstars from different eras against each other. And the "My Player" mode lets you get drafted, work your way up the depth chart and learn to face the harsh glow of the media during press conferences.








2. FIFA 12 


Distilling the world's most popular sport into a video game isn't an easy task. Aside from capturing the atmosphere of the game--the satisfying thump of boot on football, the on-pitch dramas created between player and referee, and the ferocious roar of the crowd as the ball sails into the back of the net--there are other considerations too. Some players want to manage their teams. Others want to live out their dreams of football stardom. Still others want to put their skills to the test against the best in the world, all the while clamouring for as realistic an experience as possible. FIFA 12 lets you do all of these things and more. A new tactical defending system, player impact engine, and head-to-head seasons are just some of the excellent new features it offers. But it's the new EA Sports Football Club that's the real draw, bringing with it an addictive levelling system that pits you against the world's players, keeping track of your own progress and that of your favourite team too. Not only is FIFA 12 the best game in the series, it's also one of the most exciting, accurate, and complete sports games around.

1. Batman: Arkham City

Holy Game of the Year, Batman! Despite stiff competition from the massive Skyrim and the brilliant MW3, Arkham City swooped down and snagged the trophy when none of us were looking. And we should have expected as much. A love letter to comic book fans, Arkham City expands on everything that made 2009’s Arkham Asylum such a treat. From its fantastic gameplay to its stellar delivery, this is more than just the best superhero game ever – it’s the best game of 2011.