Top ten games of 2011

[Flying Arrow]

Forgot about Shooter 2, it was pretty damn good, especially how they switch it up on you and go all Gradius and then again for Space Invaders/Galaga.

Shooter 2 is awesome. I like how they just pick up where 1 left off mechanically and then design everything on the assumption that the player already knows how the basics work. The only thing that I can complain about with 2 is the hungry suit in the first chapter. What a drag using that thing is.

[Bolivar]

Shooter 2 is awesome. I like how they just pick up where 1 left off mechanically and then design everything on the assumption that the player already knows how the basics work. The only thing that I can complain about with 2 is the hungry suit in the first chapter. What a drag using that thing is.

No doubt, I was worried that it would be more like a "Deluxe" as Q-Games has done with other PixelJunk Games, but they really did a great job iterating on the base, which, while it was a great game, now just looks like a buildup to 2.

Catherine is the only game released this year I have played besides Dissidia Duodecim (I wouldn't put Dissidia on this list anyway), I actually have some games for this year, but I either haven't gotten to them yet (Tactics Ogre and Arkham City) or they haven't been released yet (AC Revelations and Skyward Sword) so I really can't say much on the issue, let alone give a top ten. I'm still playing catch up. I haven't even started Peace Walker for crying out loud.

DUDE WTF HAVE YOU BEEN PLAYING THESE LAST TWO YEARS!!!

[Loony BoB]

Edit: And yeah, I spaced Uncharted as well since I've yet to play 1 and 2.

Yet to play two of the best games if not the best games to be released this console generation? Dang.

[Tigmafuzz]

I vote that Katamari Damacy series be hailed as the greatest gaming revolution in the world.:huffy::rabite:

[Del Murder]

I'm going to rank based on the games I played this year instead of the games that came out this year. Too many potentially great 2011 games I haven't played yet (Uncharted 3, Skyward Sword, Arkham City, etc.). Naming the best games in November is like naming the Oscar winners in November.

10. Uncharted - This is the original Uncharted that I picked up used since Uncharted 2 was so good. Clearly not as polished as the sequel but it was still a fun adventure.

9. Final Fantasy: Four Warriors of Light - I think I said somewhere that this game is like if FF and DQ had a baby. It's a nice little old school RPG that may seem archaic at first, but I found those elements grew on me and added to the challenge.

8. Pokemon: Black Version - Like Bolivar said it's the same game every time but somehow that doesn't make it less fun. I got the itch for Pokemon about a month ago and this has satisfied me nicely. It's still not better than my favorites (Yellow & Silver), though it is better than Pearl.

7. Portal 2 - Improved on the first in every way. Just when you think one set of levels is getting boring it switches to new scenery, which I appreciated a lot (since the environments of the first Portal got pretty stale). I also loved the Cave Johnson clips and the storyline was great with some nice twists. For a game with not a lot of character interaction it has some great characters. I've only played a bit of multiplayer but that's hugely fun too.

6. Batman: Arkham Asylum - Easily the best comic game ever. Handled Batman exactly how you are supposed to: dark with his own confidence and stoicism and of course with plenty of gadgets at his disposal. Really loved the Metroid-like exploration aspect of it too. My only gripe is that the compat and boss fights were repetitive.

5. Golden Sun: Dark Dawn - Hadn't played a Golden Sun game in many years so this was a nice reminder of how fun this series is. It really is a great JRPG series and I'm glad it has so many traditional elements that have been lacking from modern RPGs. Collecting Djinn and rare weapons is always a fun hobby.

4. God of War Collector's Edition - This is really two games in one but no one's going to read this anyway. I have never played the GoW games before this and I was blown away by these HD versions. Such a great blend of action, RPG elements, puzzle-solving, and storytelling in one of the coolest settings you can have: Greek mythology. Can't wait to play GoW III.

3. Red Dead Redemption - I'm not really a fan of open world GTA style games (I get confused when I have too many options ) but John Marston's adventure in the old west has captivated me. I never really thought a game set in what is probably South Texas could be as beautiful as this. The story is also very intriguing and all the old western elements are freaking awesome. The shooting is also easy to get used to which I appreciate because I generally suck at aiming.

2. Mass Effect 2 - This game was simply awesome. I don't think I've ever played a sequel that makes me want to have played the first one more than ME2. But not playing ME1 did not detract from my experience. The characters and setting were great, maybe even the best of any non-Square game I've played. Buidling Shephard into a fighting machine is so much fun, and using your powers as well as your guns to kill everything is also quite enjoyable. I almost want to get an Xbox just to play ME1 now.

1. Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together - If any developer ever needed a blueprint on how to remake a game, they should look at this game. God damn was it awesome. So many branching paths, items to collect, characters to recruit, jobs to level! The story is also pretty kick ass. One of the few games in a long time that I want to go back and play only a couple months after finishing it.

[Wolf Kanno]

Catherine is the only game released this year I have played besides Dissidia Duodecim (I wouldn't put Dissidia on this list anyway), I actually have some games for this year, but I either haven't gotten to them yet (Tactics Ogre and Arkham City) or they haven't been released yet (AC Revelations and Skyward Sword) so I really can't say much on the issue, let alone give a top ten. I'm still playing catch up. I haven't even started Peace Walker for crying out loud.

DUDE WTF HAVE YOU BEEN PLAYING THESE LAST TWO YEARS!!!

Um... THE BAT SIGNAL!!!

[Bolivar]

8. Pokemon: Black Version - Like Bolivar said it's the same game every time but somehow that doesn't make it less fun. I got the itch for Pokemon about a month ago and this has satisfied me nicely. It's still not better than my favorites (Yellow & Silver), though it is better than Pearl.

Yo it's definitely fun, I guess in my case, I got a little pokemon'd out as I was already playing HGold at the time, which I probably liked better because it was a lot more like Red, which was the only other main game I've played, but also it's a really great remake.

I also thought that was interesting of what you said that Arkham City's Metroid-like aspects. It makes you really appreciate the different elements they brought together.

Lol Wolf.

[NeoCracker]

Having beaten Saints Row The Third, I'll confidently put at at number 6 on my list, right behind Disgaea.

In truth though I don't know which one I enjoyed more, so the two spots are practically interchangeable.

[Vincent, Thunder God]

Top 10

10. Dragon Quest 6 DS I haven't played it but I think I'll enjoy it
9. Infamous 2 Again haven't played it yet but if it's anything like the first, should be good
8. Trenched Double Fine's latest XBLA effort, a tower defense game
7. Stacking An excellent puzzle game
6. Costume Quest A great Halloween-themed RPG
5. Final Fantasy IV The Complete Collection Awesome re-release of one of my all-time favourites
4. Deus Ex I've only played the first few missions but I like it so far
3. Mass Effect 2 What can I say? One of Bioware's best and one of the strongest Western RPGs
2. Portal 2 Superb co-op and single player puzzle solving
1. Skyrim Arguably the game of the year

Also Skyward Sword deserves a mention, though I have yet to play it I'm sure I'll love it. Could even be in the top 5.

[chionos]

The year of the sequel,

1. Dead Space 2
2. Portal 2
3. Mass Effect 2 (included because I waited for it to be released on ps3)
4. My number 4 consists of the collection of arcade games that were great this year:

Torchlight
Stacking
Ilomilo
Bastion
Guardian Heroes
From Dust
Outland
Fruit Ninja Kinect

Actually make those 4. through 10. with an honorable mention to Fruit Ninja cause that's all I've played.

[black orb]

>>> I just want to play Disgaea 4..

[Hollycat]

my list;

1. skyrim
2. pokemon black and white (although white is way better in an unfair way, it has an area where you can catch tons of rare pokemon that doesnt exist in black)
3. Inheritance
4. fallout 3
5. the entire katamari series.
6. potato casserole
7. Pong
8. freelancer
9. just cause 2
10. brawl

my bottom 10

10. rengoku the tower of purgatory
9. rengoku the tower of purgatory
8. rengoku the tower of purgatory
7. rengoku the tower of purgatory
6. rengoku the tower of purgatory
5. rengoku the tower of purgatory
4.rengoku the tower of purgatory
3. rengoku the tower of purgatory
2. ET the game
1. rengoku the tower of purgatory

[Flying Arrow]

2. Portal 2 Superb co-op and single player puzzle solving
1. Skyrim Arguably the game of the year

Also Skyward Sword deserves a mention, though I have yet to play it I'm sure I'll love it. Could even be in the top 5.

Thinking back on Portal 2, that co-op was... a lot of fun. Anyone who likes puzzle games should play Portal 2 co-op. This single-player game is good but the co-op actually makes the whole package great, especially considering they relate to each other story-wise.

Skyrim is probably up there for game of the year for me, just on the basis of no one else doing anything remotely on scale with it. Oh yeah, it's also a really good game. Not sure if it beats Dark Souls for me if only because my tastes lean towards more tighter structured games.

[Nice]

Zelda the Skyward Sword
...
DQVI
...
yeah that's all I've got right now. I started Portal 2 but haven't finished it yet.

[Pete for President]

I think I'm going to have to add Deus Ex:HR to the list. Just bought it and it's awesome.