1. Super Meat Boy ; The most fun I've had with a platformer since the original Super Mario World. It takes everything I loved about N+ (tough-as-nails difficulty. bite-sized levels, innumerable stages, perfect learning curve, free DLC, etc.) and adds an amazing soundtrack, a darling aesthetic, a wonderful sense of humor, and -- most of all -- pitch-perfect controls. Unlocking some of my favorite indie characters to play as was just the cherry on top. Getting 100% in this game stands as one my favorite gaming experiences and achievements, and I loved every masochistic minute. It's my No. 1 with a bullet.
2. Red Dead Redemption ; I've soured on this game in recent months, but I attribute this to just PLAYING THE LIVING HELL OUT OF THIS GAME for a solid month or two, which, certainly, can only be a compliment. I consider this to be the perfection of the Rockstar's GTA formula: The rock-solid storytelling we know and love is finally paired with an era and environment that fit the technology and gameplay mechanics. From the moment you unknowingly shoot your first rabbit and begin the hunting challenges, to stopping to pick up your jaw and simply soak in a breathtaking thunderstorm, there was no more immersive experience in 2010.
3. Mass Effect 2 ; Yes, many of the RPG hooks that I loved about the first Mass Effect are missing, but what Bioware added to the formula more than made up for that loss. The squad-based combat was more fluid than ever before, the quests were almost across-the-board epic to the point that even the tertiary ones could stand in as the set pieces for many other games, and the team-building storyline struck a surprising chord. Carrying over your character was done beautifully and thrust you immediately back into the world -- something I've never experienced in a video game. Here's hoping Bioware can carry this momentum into ME3 ...
4. Rock Band 3 ; Music games, run for the hills -- aside from completely reinventing the wheel, Harmonix perfected them with this most recent (and final?) installment. You want improved presentation, navigation, and sorting options? Easy. You want a free-form career mode that doesn't block off content and integrates seamlessly with DLC? Done. In-game achievements and challenges that have real rewards and will keep you coming back for months? BAM. Or (and this is the where Harmonix really overdid it) maybe you're tired of music games and are looking for a bigger challenge or a way to transition to actual instruments? Try Pro mode, biotch. I still haven't even tried the keyboard peripheral yet, but with the continuing (and increasingly awesome) stream of DLC and RBN songs, this is a game that will forever be rotating in and out of my console.
5. Darksiders ; "Boo-hoo, it's just Zelda with a different skin on it!" Maybe so, but how many game companies have ever gotten that formula down correctly -- and on their first try, no less? Hell, if this game HAD the Zelda name attached to it, fanboys everywhere would've been slobbering over themselves to name this The Second Coming. As it stands, it's what I've been waiting for since I played Ocarina of Time: a re-invigoration of the formula and with a theme that doesn't make me wretch from the level of cute involved. Sure, being a big fan of Joe Madeuria's art doesn't hurt, and seeing his artistic vision brought to life certainly helps to explain my adoration of the game, but the interesting story, solid combat and weapon/ability progression, along with a knack for awesome set-piece action seals the deal, as far as I'm concerned. Perhaps the most underrated game of the year and one everyone who's ever enjoyed a Zelda game (and isn't still wearing diapers) should try out.
6. Blur ; Bizarre took a winning formula, made it relevant to a new generation, and dressed it up with an amazing presentation with all the features and gameplay options you could ask for. This was the first game since Geometry Wars 2 that the built-in friend challenges and leaderboards kept me endlessly chasing times and scores. And while I don't typically play multiplayer games online, a CoD-type progression and perk system, solid party system, and a good selection of modes meant I was hooked from the moment I tried the demo. Its financial failings mean we're unlikely to see a continuation of the series, which makes this another strong candidate for underrated game of the year.
7. Assassin's Creed Brotherhood ; I was one of the many who expected this AC entry to be solely a multiplayer addition to the series; what a wonderful surprise to discover how wrong I was (and how horrible of a job Ubisoft marketing did to dispell this misconception). While at first I was worried about the game being limited to "just" Rome, I quickly realized that not only was the environment perfectly crafted, but that they'd actually been able to improve upon everything AC2 did so well -- and in only a year's time. Now, everything Ezio does has a purpose, from collecting flags and treasures to purchasing shops and re-building landmarks. Much has been made, too, of the contracts/assassin's guild additions, and for good reason: Aside from introducing a welcome (if not required) level of micromanaging, you're rewarded with an extra layer of badassery that, while perhaps overpowered, provides you many more options when confronted with a mission. On top of all this, while I don't play multiplayer games much, I look forward to seeing the fresh and original modes created here implemented in other games in the future.
8. Carcassonne ; It's the Carcassonne we all have played to death, but with one critical update: It's now on your iPhone, with you wherever you go, and with the best online multiplayer yet seen on the platform. Without exaggeration, this simple game became not only a crippling addiction for my friends and family, but also our de facto method of communication for months. If GOTY were determined by time spent, this would win, hands-down. If all board games took their cues from Carcassonne when building out their iPhone translations, my productivity would come to a standstill.
9. VVVVVV ; Take old-school graphics, solid platforming, a (unbelievably) new and simple mechanic, forgiving-yet-brutal difficulty, Metroidvania-style exploration and a to-die-for soundtrack and you've got yourself a formula for an amazing game. Pull it off flawlessly and sell it for dirt cheap? You're destined for many a top 10.
10. Limbo ; Beautiful, understated, inventive, haunting, and challenging; Limbo is all of these. Blending storytelling and gameplay, as well as pushing the 2D platformer beyond its simple trappings, Limbo's only real flaw is that it came out after Braid. Many will remember the game for its enthralling aesthetic, but the mental aerobics it requires and the clever mechanics it throws at players are worth an equal mention. An abrupt ending holds Limbo back from being higher on my list, but it will be a game I return to regularly.
Honorable mention:
Alan Wake
Bioshock 2
FIFA 11
Heavy Rain
Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game
Super Scribblenauts
Biggest Disappointment (tie):
Final Fantasy XIII
Crackdown 2
Yet to play, but may eventually make the cut:
Amnesia: The Dark Descent
Bayonetta
Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening
Vanquish
I'll just start sending out PMs about it, probably starting tomorrow.
