Best games of 2010

December 30, 2010 12:00 pm

Categories: Top 10s & Lists Extra Tags: 2010, feature, Gaming

Best games of the year? Where do we start? As 2010 gets ready to draw its last breath we’ve cast our mind back to what has been an absolute corker of a year for gaming. On all fronts. From the colourful charms of Mario Galaxy 2 to the explosive military violence of Call of Duty: Black Ops, 2010 offered up something for everyone. Those are just two of the titles that make up the best games of 2010. Read on to discover the rest.

With so many top class titles having released over the year it’s been difficult to single out a select few, so we’ve rounded them all up for you in one place. In no particular order, we give you the best games of 2010. Which is your favourite?

Red Dead Redemption
Red Dead Redemption might look like Grand Theft Auto with horses, but this atmospheric Rockstar title deserves more credit than that. Everything about Red Dead Redemption oozes quality. Its world is its own, populated with a cast just as Oscar worthy, if not more so than any found in the GTA series. And in protagonist John Marston Rockstar has spawned yet another established memorable antihero.

Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood
If you’re a fan of either previous two Assassin’s Creed titles you need this in your gaming collection. Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood is a direct sequel to Assassin’s Creed 2, where Ezio once again gets to assassinate unscrupulous fellows, this time with a merry band of fellow assassins in this stunning third part in the series. Brotherhood introduces for the first time in the series online multiplayer in a mode that has players track down targets to make them meet their predictably grisly end. Unless they get to you first.

Fallout: New Vegas
Given that Fallout 3 turned out to be the game of 2008, Fallout: New Vegas had some sizeable shoes to fill. Fill them it does. It’s vast open gameplay and Nevada world is a joy to explore and as involving as Fallout 3, with all the dark humour and smart gameplay as before. How you dress and react in the ‘post apocalyptic’ world affects almost everything around you in one of the games of the year.

F1 2010
The pole position worthy racer delivers incredibly addictive yet immersive gameplay in spades whilst providing a challenge sure to be keenly felt by F1 fans. F1 2010 might be a tad too complicated for deep for casual racers, but anyone looking for a really serious F1 racer need look no further than this F1 alternative to Gran Turismo 5.

BioShock 2
It might lack the surprise of the series first outing, but BioShock 2, for us, and we’re sure many of you remains head and shoulders above most first-person shooters around. The same production values have been carried over and given a 360-degree wash to churn out a sequel well worth making part of your console collection, as players get to play as one of the first ‘Big Daddies’ to be birthed in the dystopian underwater world of Rapture. It even has online play this time around, so there’s something for all types of BioShock fans.

Super Mario Galaxy 2
Super Mario Galaxy 2 arrived at a time when the Wii was severely bereft of top quality, real must-have titles. Super Mario 2 (at least temporarily) changed that. The first Mario Galaxy was a work of genius. The sequel, out of this world. Quite literally. With more than 200 different stars to collect, even more imaginative game worlds and even the appearance of series favourite Yoshi it was clear that Mario Galaxy 2 was no rushed sequel.

Heavy Rain
Every now and then we hear about the latest video game that promises to deliver a “compelling story”. Of all the games of 2010 murder mystery Heavy Rain for the PS3 was one of the few that truly delivered. If not entirely due to the script itself, then at least to the way it was dramatically told through each of the game’s controllable protagonists. Heavy Rain might play more like an interactive movie than a video game, but what an experience.

Alan Wake
Alan Wake isn’t the only severely delayed game in our best of 2010 list. Thankfully it didn’t disappoint. Developer Remedy Entertainment promised an enthralling storyline and chilling atmosphere. It duly delivered.

Halo: Reach
It’s narrative was hardly original, nor was its gameplay in execution but Halo: Reach, like most of the Halo series remains a fine example of what to deliver in a first-person shooter. Its perfect combination of action, set-pieces involving ground, air, interplanetary vehicles and cinematics make this prequel, set before the events of the Halo trilogy a deserved entry into our best games of 2010 list.

Dance Central
The moment dance games became just that. Dance Central has suddenly become the dancing game unto which all others will be judged as ruthlessly as an overenthusiastic Strictly Come Dancing Judge. Its sheer ease of play and superb motion sensing skills make alternative platform competitors look as sprightly as Anne Widdecombe’s dance routines. If you love dancing, or just want to have a laugh (oh, you will laugh) get this.

Gran Turismo 5
After five years in the making and just about as many delays Gran Turismo finally arrived last month. Despite a few minor scuffs on its paintwork Gran Turismo 5 is arguably the most racing simulator around. The amount of races, cars and tracks alone make it more than worth parking in your PS3. The fact it features some of the best handling around is a bonus.

Call of Duty: Black Ops
The biggest game launch of the year. Longtime fans of the series may not feel its single player campaign never quite reaches the heights of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, but Black Ops, as promised delivers non-stop action throughout. A highly multiplayer mode, complete with new Wager matches and an overhauled levelling up system alone makes Black Ops one of the best games of 2010. You only need to log in to see how many others are playing online right now to see that.

Fable 3
There are many reasons why the Fable series is held in such high regard. Each as highly apparent as ever in this third outing that has you fighting to take over the kingship of Albion. Its campaign might be short at around six hours if you blaze through it, but its thoroughly well crafted, featuring the most entertaining cast you’ll ever come across in a video game. But its biggest achievement by far is the sense of responsibility bestowed upon players. Very few games will make you think about your actions and play on your guilty conscience the way Fable 3 does.

Mass Effect 2
Mass Effect 2 delivers stunning visuals, an even better story, some handy weapons and improved gameplay in this stunning example of how to do gaming science fiction. For many, Mass Effect 2 is the game of the year.

Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker
The world of Solid Snake might have been shrunken down to size in this much-awaited PSP appearance but Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker is no quick port. Not at all. As promised by Hideo Kojima back in July 2009, Peace Walker is a “true” PSP sequel to Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, and it shows in this highly absorbing espionageathon. Yes, we made that word up.

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow
Better than God of War 3. Given the justifiable fanfare of previous titles, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow had a lot to live up to to convince Castlevania fans that a new 3D reboot would do the series justice. But when Metal Gear Solid creator Hideo Kojima announced he was among those at the helm fears were soon allayed. Castlevania: Lords of Shadow is an awe-inspiring spectacle throughout, delivering huge scale levels to embarrass God of War’s level architects and gameplay old school enough in feel to satisfy even the most skeptical Castlevania fan.