Image via Complex Original
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2011 has been a good year for gamers. Seriously, it's been a good year. Whether you're into blockbusters or sleeper hits, multiplayer mayhem or epic single player quests, hand-holding tickle-fests or 80 hours of pure punishment, chances are you found something this year that floated your boat.
It was pretty tough for us to narrow it down to just 25 choices, especially when we tried to put our personal biases aside. If you disagree with us, go ahead and let us know in the comments—even though you're probably wrong. Enjoy!
shadows of the damned
25. Shadows of the Damned
Developed by 8-4, Ltd. and Grasshopper Manufacture Inc., Published by EA
The latest game from No More Heroes creator Goichi "Suda 51" Suda and his first collaboration with Shinji Mikami since cult favorite Killer 7, Shadows of the Damned is a horrifying, darkly humorous shooter that you really shouldn't overlook. Suda 51 has described it as "punk rock," and as you guide Garcia "Fucking" Hotspur into the depths of Hell to rescue his girlfriend from Fleming, the Lord of Demons, you'll probably agree.
resistance 3
24. Resistance 3
Developed by Insomniac Games, Published by Sony
Resistance 3 is the closer to a franchise that probably moved more PS3s in its first couple years than any other. The alternate history WWII-era invasion story is campy as hell, but it's presented in a way that makes it totally compelling, as well. The game's weapons are as diverse as those in Ratchet and Clank, and the multiplayer is pretty great too.
dance central 2
23. Dance Central 2
Developed by Harmonix, Published by Microsoft
Now that everybody's sick of Guitar Hero and Rock Band, Harmonix has moved on in a very logical way: Dance Central 2, and it's one of the best party games ever. If you don't see the value here, you should probably lighten up. Your Xbox can be used for more than just shooters. Especially when you're drunk.
dead space 2
22. Dead Space 2
Developed by Visceral Games, Published by EA
While it may not have captured the horror the first Dead Space managed to evoke in players, Dead Space 2 is a whole different beast. More action-oriented, relying less on atmosphere and more on gore and shock value than the last one, we love it nonetheless. Clarke is back (in a speaking role this time!), and the plot doesn't disappoint. To be honest, if we ever get tired of dismembering the monstrous undead with a handheld mining tool, just shoot us.
mortal kombat
21. Mortal Kombat
Developed by NetherRealm Studios, Published by WB Games
This is how to revive a classic franchise, especially one that hasn't had a good game in years. Mortal Kombat manages to appeal to newcomers to the series, and even diehard fans found little to complain about. The important thing is that fatalities came back, in the rip-your-spine-out-and-eat-it kind of way that we remember so fondly. After all, that's all we ever really wanted.
driver sf
20. Driver: San Francisco
Developed by Ubisoft Reflections, Published by Ubisoft
Driver: San Francisco is what would happen if Driv3r and The Twilight Zone had a beautiful, freakishly hairy lovechild. You once again take control of Tanner, though he's gained a few interesting abilities—most importantly, the power to switch from car to car like he's some sort of poltergeist possessing their drivers. You'll have to play it to find out why this makes sense, but suffice to say it makes for some seriously rad gameplay.
madden 12
19. Madden NFL 12
Developed by EA Tiburon, Published by EA Sports
If you like football, you'll probably like Madden 12. And who doesn't like football? With plenty of updates and tweaks for fans, not to mention the best graphics in any Madden game yet, it's the perfect title for the strapping jock in all of us. He needs to get out and breathe every once in a while, after all.
saints row 3
18. Saints Row: The Third
Developed by Volition Incorporated, Published by THQ
And your mom thought Grand Theft Auto was bad. Saints Row 3 is one of the most bat-shit insane games we've ever played, and that's saying something. From stealing an experimental V-TOL from a military base to skydiving in a tank and mowing down wave after wave of prostitutes with a minigun, SR3 has it all—as long as "it all" is everything you didn't know you wanted to do in an open world game. Give it a try and find out what you've been missing.
la noire
17. L.A. Noire
Developed by Rockstar Leeds and Team Bondi, Published by Rockstar
L.A. Noire had a lot going for it; for one thing, any non-GTA game that comes from Rockstar is going to get plenty of attention. In addition, it was the first (and still the only, as far as we know) game to use motion capture technology on actors' faces. Its mid-century noire setting and unique interrogation segments make it one of the most stylistically sophisticated games in recent memories, and definitely worth checking out if you haven't already.
rayman origins
16. Rayman: Origins
Developed by Ubisoft Montpellier, Published by Ubisoft
Rayman has always been one of those franchises that, for whatever reason, is easy to overlook. Yet even if you've never played a Rayman game (and, I'm not ashamed to admit, I haven't), Origins is worth a look. It's one of the finest platformers in years. Let's just hope Ubisoft can reproduce whatever circumstances caused this game to be so awesome for the next one.
ac revelations
15. Assassin's Creed: Revelations
Developed by Ubisoft Montreal, Published by Ubisoft
Revelations continues the story of the war between the Templars and Assassins, this time tying together the separate tales of Desmond, Altair and Ezio. The single player is as engrossing as ever, and assassinating everyone from high-level targets to random civilians has never been more fun. What may come as a surprise is that the online multiplayer may be the best part.
battlefield 3
14. Battlefield 3
Developed by EA Digital Illusions, Published by EA
If for some reason you see Battlefield 3 as the underdog this year, you should probably rethink how you evaluate games. It's got everything Modern Warfare 3 doesn't, especially on PC; vehicles and airborne dogfights, large-scale battles, you name it. On the other hand, MW3 is undeniably more popular, so you just may see it further down the list.
gears 3
13. Gears of War 3
Developed by Epic Games, Published by Microsoft
Gears of War 3 brings the trilogy to a fitting end, as it's the best game in the series by far. Right from the first mission, when the always-macho Marcus Fenix receives a message from someone he believed was long dead, it's clear that Epic learned a lot from Gears 2—unlike that game, Gears 3's pace never lets up. Stop-and-pop shooting has never been so much fun, and unlike in its two predecessors, you can actually find a multiplayer match.
skyward sword
12. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
Developed and Published by Nintendo
Skyward Sword is basically the game that Twilight Princess might have been if it hadn't technically been developed for the Gamecube. It utilizes the MotionPlus controls beautifully, and if you were smart enough to pick up the limited edition with the special gold Wii Remote Plus, you'll really be in for a treat. Even the game's visuals crank it up a notch; the soft focus, pastel style is inspired by French painter Paul Cezanne. Oui.
uncharted 3
11. Uncharted 3
Developed by Naughty Dog, Published by Sony
When it comes to cinematic storytelling in games, Uncharted 3 is top dog, so to speak. Developer Naughty Dog has managed to get it right three times now; high production values, solid action and plots to rival those of any Indiana Jones films. In the third entry, Nate Drake follows in the footsteps of Lawrence of Arabia as he searches for a legendary lost city. It's as cool as it sounds.
super mario 3d land
10. Super Mario 3D Land
Developed and Published by Nintendo
You see, Nintendo? All it really took to prove that the 3DS was worth its weight in money was a true first-party game. SM3DL is the first system-selling title for the little handheld that isn't a straight up remake (see: Ocarina of Time 3D, Star Fox 64 3D), and it's freaking fantastic. Riffing off Mario Galaxy 2, it's got the perfect blend of 3D and 2D gameplay. It even brings back tons of classic Mario elements, the beloved Tanooki suit being of particular note. And thanks in large part to its often-vertical level design and clever use of space, the 3D display actually makes the game more awesome instead of just giving you an eye-ache.
umvc3
9. Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3
Developed and Published by Capcom
UMvC3 is the ultimate version of the original Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds, which came out earlier this year. After the earthquakes in Japan this year disrupted the development of Fate of Two Worlds DLC, Capcom decided to make it a discounted standalone title and included layers of tweaks and polish for diehard fans to drool over. With characters from both the Marvel and Capcom universes and crisp visuals and action, UMvC3 hit the perfect spot for tons of gamers this year.
arkham city
8. Batman: Arkham City
Developed by Rocksteady Studios, Published by Square Enix and WB Games
With the success of Arkham City, the Arkham series has been confirmed as the prime example of how to do a licensed game right. In crafting these puzzle-brawlers with such intense care for the source material, Rocksteady has made two fantastic games while maintaining the integrity of the Batman brand. Arkham City is like Zelda mixed with God of War mixed with the kind of gadget-driven James Bond game that we all wish existed.
child of eden
7. Child of Eden
Developed by Q Entertainment, Published by Ubisoft
Leave it to Tetsuya Mizuguchi, Rez creator and game design visionary, to demonstrate what Kinect is really capable of in the hands of someone with actual, original ideas. Mizuguchi-san's big on "synaesthesia", or, basically, the blending of senses. In the case of Child of Eden, an acid trip of a shooter with music and rhythm elements, those senses are sight, sound and touch—or lack thereof. Mizuguchi told Siliconera, Kinect "peels away a layer of the emotional barrier that a controller provides," and as long as he's the one saying so, we may finally believe it.
mw3
6. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Developed by Infinity Ward and Sledgehammer Games, Published by Activision
Regardless of how you feel about iterative game development on an annual timeline, cranking out a Call of Duty game every single year has certainly benefitted Activision. It's also benefitted the legions of gamers wholly obsessed with this franchise, and the latest entry, Modern Warfare 3, didn't fail to deliver to them everything they're used to: high production value, addictive multiplayer and gameplay tighter than Ghost's skull mask after his mom accidentally put it in the dryer.
bastion
5. Bastion
Developed by Supergiant Games, Published by WB Games
The flagship effort from fledgling studio Supergiant Games tasks you with creating a new world from the rubble of the old, though it's not quite as simple as that. Each chunk of said new world it is collected through arduous isometric action-RPG gameplay. There's always something coming along to knock your efforts back a pace or two, yet each level literally falls into place as you traverse it, as if the next stretch doesn't exist until the echoes of your footfalls reach it. Bastion is about the uncertainness of the future, melancholy longing for the past, and the futility of all that's happening in the present. You really have to play it to understand.
deus ex
4. Deus Ex: Human Revolution
Developed by Eidos Montreal, Published by Square Enix
For a legendary game like Deus Ex to be revived in such a fantastic way is testament to how far our industry has come, especially when you look at the original Deus Ex sequel, Invisible War, which sucked in a big way. Human Revolution is remarkable for so many things; the incredible attention to detail, the well-crafted story, the always-clever level design that allows for a huge variety of play styles. It's a game that knows exactly what it wants to be.
dark souls
3. Dark Souls
Developed by FromSoftware, Published by FromSoftware and Namco Bandai
Dark Souls is the sound of a sword being unsheathed, the discovery of a shortcut in the dark and the sensation of a fireball coming this close to you. It's a great game from Japan at a time when Western developers have overshadowed their Eastern forebears in almost every way. It's one of the most challenging, fair, frustrating, and ultimately rewarding games ever made, and it towers over almost every game that came out this year, not to mention the last decade. It's a no-brainer.
skyrim
2. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Developed and Published by Bethesda Softworks
Skyrim's biggest accomplishment may be simply in living up to the Elder Scrolls name. Its enormous world and basically bottomless abyss of engaging gameplay will keep it in the forefront of gamer culture for years to come, much like Morrowind and Oblivion before it. That much was guaranteed; the game's myriad improvements over Oblivion weren't, though, and that's what makes this entry worthy of a spot in any hall of fame.
portal 2
1. Portal 2
Developed by Valve Corp., Published by Valve Corp. and EA
This wasn't a difficult choice. Portal 2 is both the perfect game and the perfect sequel—it builds on and expands the world and mechanics of the first Portal without forgetting what made that game great to begin with. Its imaginative puzzles present the perfect amount of challenge, its difficulty curve is almost imperceptible, and its writing is hilarious, touching and charming in equal measures. Bottom line: it's impeccable. Now move along, folks; 2012 is almost here!