The lights are on
At the end of each year, us Game Informer editors put together our personal top 10 lists for the magazine. As I assembled my favorite games from 2012, I had a feeling that this year wasn't quite as jam-packed with awesome games as 2011. I wasn't sure if it was just my imagination, or if the incoming next-gen systems are leaving us with a withering crop of awesome experiences. To see if this year compared to last year's offerings, I've assembled a list of the more high-profile games of each year. Check it out below.
2011
January
LittleBigPlanet 2
Mass Effect 2
Dead Space 2
February
Marvel vs. Capcom 3
Bulletstorm
Killzone 3
March
Fight Night Champion
Crysis 2
April
Mortal Kombat
Portal 2
May
Fable III
L.A. Noire
June
Infamous 2
Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D
Shadows of the Damned
July
Bastion
August
Deus Ex: Human Revolution
September
Dead Island
Driver: San Francisco
Resistance 3
Gears of War 3
Ico and Shadow Collection
October
Dark Souls
Rage
Batman: Arkham City
Kirby’s Return To Dream Land
Battlefield 3
November
Uncharted 3
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Super Mario 3D Land
Assassin’s Creed: Revelations
Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary
Rayman Origins
Saints Row: The Third
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
December
Mario Kart 7
2012
Soulcalibur V
Jak and Daxter Collection
Kingdom of Amalur: Reckoning
Resident Evil: Revelations
Twisted Metal
Asura’s Wrath
SSX
Mass Effect 3
Street Fighter X Tekken
Journey
Fez
The Witcher 2
Trials Evolution
Prototype 2
Diablo III
Max Payne 3
Dragon’s Dogma
Spec Ops: The Line
Sound Shapes
Darksiders II
Sleeping Dogs
New Super Mario Bros. 2
Transformers: Fall of Cybertron
Ratchet & Clank Collection
Mark of the Ninja
Tekken Tag Tournament 2
Borderlands 2
Dishonored
XCOM: Enemy Unknown
Assassin’s Creed III
Need For Speed: Most Wanted
Halo 4
Paper Mario: Sticker Star
Call of Duty: Black Ops II
New Super Mario Bros. U
Hitman: Absolution
What do you think? Did this year stack up to the excellent 2011, or did it fall short?
Email the author Dan Ryckert, or follow on Twitter, Google+, Facebook, and Game Informer.
I think 2011 had the superior lineup
I still think with halo 4, AC3, Max Payne, and other titles- this year was equal if not better in all actuality.
Oh it falls short by a wide margin, but it's still good in its own right. However last year's November alone kind of beats all of 2012 so far, in my opinion.
Max Payne 3 made 2012 a really great gaming year, but 2011 had a lot of great games coming out during the holiday.
2011 was better. 2013 looks amazing though.
Yes, Halo 4 came out.
I actually think 2011 was better.
2011 was the better year. Actually, 2012 allowed me to play catch up due to the overflow of fantastic that 2011 was.
2012 was by far the worst year of titles since I became a gamer so many years ago. I only purchased 2 titles released this year. But next year. . . even within the first 4 months, is going to be a year to remember.
This year. Better assassin's creed, the wii u, mass effet 3, A actually somewhat inovative cod, amazing halo, and more.
2012 had a few great games tossed in there, but 2011 had a better lineup
Yeah I'm pretty sure 2011 was this discussion. Skyrim, Zelda, Dark Souls and Battlefield.
hmmmmmm i like it but 2013 is going to be the best ever
I think 2011 had the superior lineup. Especially since there's a certain JRPG missing from 2012's January lineup (FFXIII-2)...