Has this been the best year of games ever?

The release of Mario Kart 7 closes out a year in which we've some absolutely superb games to whittle away our time and money on. It all kicked off in January with the release of Dead Space 2, a game which we described as "Polished, sickening, satisfying" and "undoubtedly the best horror adventure on Xbox 360 and PS3".

[Batzi]

Yes it was. Batman, Uncharted, MGS HD collection, MW3 and Mortal Kombat. PS Vita is being released in Japan.

[xPhearR3dx]

MW3? Is that a joke. No mention of Skyrim, Portal 2, L.A. Noire, Gears of War 3, Forza 4, LittleBigPlanet 2, etc?

[Skip_Bayless]

Not even close. The games that came out this year are sequels to similair games. The games this year didn't offer a graphical leap, an innovative leap, or many new experiences.

It was the 5th and 6th year of the two consoles so the timeline doesn't allow it to be the greatest year. Great years typically happen on the third year, or the prime years of the system.

[xPhearR3dx]

@John Madden

So a sequel automatically writes it off as not good enough? What timeline are you going by? The one you made up? There's no "rules" on which year can be considered great. If great games come out, than a great year it is to be a gamer. 2011 was one of the best years to be a gamer in a long time. So many fantastic titles across all platforms came out this year. There's something for everyone. That is a great year.

[NukaCola]

LittleBigPlanet 2
Mass Effect 2 for PS3
The Witcher 2
Dark Souls
inFAMOUS 2
Killzone 3
Resistance 3
Catherine
Mortal Kombat
Portal 2
Gears of War 3
Halo Anny
Forza 4
LA Noire
Bastion
Skyrim
Uncharted 3
SKYRIM
Zelda
Saint's Row III
MGS HD
ICO/SotC HD
Bulletstorm
Deus Ex
DeadSpace 2
Rayman Origins
Batman Arkham Asylum
Battlefield 3
Rage
Assassin's Creed Revelations

Vita releases in Japan
Star Wars The Old Republic DEC 20th

I have to say this year has been chock full of variety, great sequels, good games all around. Not everyone perfect but everyone on this list is still a hell of game. N4G bros, am I missing any?

Oh...Actually... I keep thinking I am missing another shooter released this year? It was good, but had some decent visuals and technical issues. What was it? Oh *Snaps Fingers* DEAD ISLAND which was a pretty cool title too.

[Skip_Bayless]

^
A great year doesn't make it the best year. I should stop debating here.

For it to be the best year just having good and great games doesn't make it enough to be the best year. All I can say is the game I played this year and I've played all the games that have mattered. That's every game that has a 9 or above aggregate score doesn't really offer a new experience.

[LOGICWINS]

Yeah, I'd say for THIS generation, this year was the best by a long shot. I predict that next year won't have tons of great titles like this year, but a select few that revolutionize the industry: GTAV, Bioshock: Infinite, launch titles for the next Xbox and the Wii U etc.

[NukaCola]

You left out anything that has do do with Sony...Why is that Logic?

Sony has a pretty amazing set of titles and a new handheld and we don't even know about a NEW XBOX, there may be a reveal of the PS4 as well.

[kikizoo]

..because his logic is a little biased ,)

by the way, if it's "for this generation", it's for all the generation...pure logic (since we have way more, and better games each years)

[LOGICWINS]

"You left out anything that has do do with Sony...Why is that Logic?"

...your kidding me right?

[Hicken]

Of COURSE, he's kidding. Everyone knows you're a troll and a Sony hater.

[dark-hollow]

I find the lack of skyrim in your comment disturbing.

[BluEx610]

A lot of AAA titles this year. So many different genres also. Had very little sleep and spare time this past month.

Great year indeed, next upcoming years will be pretty sweet also. GTA V, The Last Gaurdian, Maxpayne 3, Mass Effect 3, FF XIII-2, FF XIII VS, FF XIV, Diablo III, Agent, Twisted Metal, MGS Rising, PS Vita, Resident Evil 6, God of War 4, and so much more to come. =)

[LOGICWINS]

"Great year indeed, next upcoming years will be pretty sweet also. GTA V, The Last Gaurdian, Maxpayne 3, Mass Effect 3, FF XIII-2, FF XIII VS, FF XIV, Diablo III, Agent, Twisted Metal, MGS Rising, PS Vita, Resident Evil 6, God of War 4, and so much more to come. =) "

Agent? God of War 4?

[Lord_Sloth]

How can you not mention Dead Space 2 but you remember MW3 and Mortal Kombat!?

[cyborg6971]

Defiantly the most expensive year in gaming.

[ATi_Elite]

NO...........2004 remains undefeated!

1. Half Life 2
2. Halo 2
3. Ninja Gaiden
4. GTA: San Andreas
5. Metal Gear Solid Snake Eater
6. World of Warcraft
7. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II
8. Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
Rome: Total War
Rise of Nations: Thrones & Patriots
Unreal tournament 2004
Metroid Prime 2
Sly 2: Band of Thieves
Doom 3
Battlefield Vietnam
The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures

plus many others

2011 is second place but 2012 may defeat 2004

I say 2004 because the top 8 on my list of 2004 releases can not be beaten by any game today with maybe the only exception of BF3 or Skyrim beating something.

I would love to see someone beat the top 8 from 2004! 5 of those games in the top 8 have been considered the greatest game ever made.

2004 was one hell of a year!

[Batzi]

We may never see 2012. :P

[ninjahunter]

That was a good year but this year had alot of games that were really simular to alot of the ones on your list but vastly superior.
Not counting HL2 of course :)

[Fez]

John Madden above would completely disagree with you, too many sequels for it to be considered a great year lol, also "doesn't really offer a new experience"

[Hufandpuf]

yesh.

[SlickJ]

Not even close..

[lastdual]

Probably my favorite year since 98, but better? That was one heck of an awesome lineup:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wik...

Ocarina of Time, Metal Gear Solid, Half-Life, just to name a few. 1998 might still be the champion.

[gamernova]

Rage, Dead Island, Revelations, FIFA 12, Skyrim, MW3, BF3, Batman AC, Bastion, Limbo, F.E.A.R 3, and I know I have to be missing stuff but...still, enough said lol

[LOGICWINS]

Yakuza 4, Infamous 2, Gears 3, Forza 4, Halo Anniversary, Catherine, Dark Souls etc. This year was EXCELLENT!

[gamernova]

Yeah, sorry for missing those. I was focusing on my system which is a pc gamer but those games you mentioned are great as well :)

[brodychet]

Best gaming year evar. Too many games .. great year to be a gamer.

[Ultraplayerxp]

This was the year I almost robbed a bank lol.

[Relientk77]

It was better than last year

[Lord_Sloth]

Aside from Dead Space 2 I can't think of any STELLAR titles. Sure there were a ton of great games but none actually stood out as amazing this year aside from DS2.

Sorry, folks.

[DaveMan]

Really? I respect your opinion and all that, but really? Have you not played Portal 2, Witcher 2, L.A Noire, Arkahm City, Dark Souls, Uncharted 3, Saints Row 3, Deus Ex Human Revolution, Rayman Origins, Skyward Sword...I mean Christ not even Skyrim?

Do you like just one specific genre? Because honestly to say DS2 was the only STELLAR title is just baffling in a year where we have SO MUCH damn diversity.

[Lord_Sloth]

You fail to grasp that I didn't say it was the only game I enjoyed this year. I have played every title you listed aside from Skyward Sword. Most of them were great titles but none wowed my as much as Dead Space.

I kind of thought Noire sucked though. It had some serious repetition problems and failed to keep me interested. I found myself hating parts of the gameplay which is never good for a game.

A few of the games you listed didn't tickle my fancy and I tend to hate shooters by default.

As for genres I enjoy, action games like DMC and Ninja Gaiden. We didn't get anything like that this year...

I'm currently playing Skyrim and DS and while they're both amazing, the stories aren't as interesting to me.

*shrugs*

[Apotheosize]

Tons of goodies this year, witcher 2, bf3, skyrim, dark souls, zelda, batman, uncharted, infamous,

[n4gisatroll]

I prefer 2009.

[impulse135]

Batman Arkham City, Mortal Kombat 9,Portal 2,uncharted 3

[humbleopinion]

2007 and 2001 were the definite best year for gaming: 2001 revolutionized 3 genres with the introduction of Halo , DMC and GTA III. Many game series climaxed with games like GT3, MGS2, Civilization 3 and Baldurs Gate 2. Tony Hawk 3 and Smash Brothers Melee. New and totally original games like Ico, Max Payne, Burnout and Black & White came out.

2007 perhaps even topped that with new games like Portal, Uncharted, Mass Effect, Assassins Creed and Bioshock: these are probably 5 out of the 6 top franchises established this generation (The sixth is Gears of War which came out a year earlier, but for the PC it came out in 2007 :) ). Add to that some of the best games in their respective franchises making their biggest entry on this console gen: Modern Warfare, Mario Galaxy, Halo 3, The Orange box, Forza 2, Metroid Prime 3, Ratchet & Clank TOD, Virtua Fighter 5, Unreal Tournament 3 etc.

2011 is good, but not that good. But it's mostly a year of amazing sequels, remakes and spiritual successors - in a similar fashion to 2004 (Half Life 2, Halo 2, GTA San Andreas, Burnout 3, Ninja Gaiden, SC Pandora, Metroid Prime 2, MGS 3, Rome: Total War, The Sims 2, KOTOR 2, Pirates etc). Unlike 2001 and 2007, we're seeing here a more "mature" console generation cycle.

There were many good original games this year, but none of them made the impact and critical acclaim as some of the games I mentioned from previous years. The closest thing to reach that is L.A Noire (or perhaps Minecraft if we don't consider the fact that it was actually available for the masses in 2010)

[Ethereal]

Yup most money I have spent in a single year on gaming. Next is looking to be pretty awesome as well.

[Mini Mario]

1991-

Super Mario World
Sonic the Hedgehog
Street Fighter II
Super Castlevania IV
Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts
Ys III: Wanderers From Ys
Final Fantasy IV
Road Rash
SimCity
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: The Manhattan Project
Mega Man II (gameboy)
Metroid II: Return of Samus
Battletoads (NES)
F-Zero
Tecmo Super Bowl
The Simpsons (Arcade)
Another World
Mega Man 4
James Pond 2
Ninja Gaiden 3
Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge
Duke Nukem (original)

[Mini Mario]

1993- Another great year (replying to the ones saying 98 or 2001 etc)

ActRaiser 2
Mortal Kombat 2
X-Wing
Star Fox
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
Super Mario All-Stars
Sonic CD
Doom
Virtua Fighter
Breath of Fire
NBA Jam
Bubsy
Castlevania: Rondo of Blood
Aladdin
Duke Nukem 2
Fatal Fury Special
Final Fight 2
Gunstar Heroes
Jungle Strike
Lemmings 2
Madden '94
Mega Man X
Mega Man 6
Phantasy Star 4
Prince of Persia 2
Road Rash 2
Ridge racer
Sam & Max Hit the Road
Samurai Shodown
Secret of Mana
Sonic Spinball
Super Bomberman
Super Street Fighter 2
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tournament Fighters
WWF Royal Rumble
Super Star Wars - Empire Strikes Back
Shinobi III

^ Some stand-outs for the year from a quick glance

I didnt want to put them all on here because I would've ran out of room on this thread