Here are my best/worst game experiences of 2012 (though not all were first released in 2012), shortened for twitter…

 

5. Skyrim

Never has so much compelled me so little. The Uncanny Valley as place. Not a world.

4. Halo 4 (campaign)

Godawful storytelling, boring new enemy encounters, same old sequel shit.

3. Skyward Sword

I think I’ve covered this one already.

2. New Super Mario Bros. 2

The worst core Mario game of all time.

1. Limbo

The best argument against indie games, and the worst game I’ve played in years.

 

10. Sleeping Dogs

It seems driving & listening to the radio in a believable place is what I really want out of an openworld game.

9. The Walking Dead

Best incitement to self-examination through a game narrative. Also, Clem.

8. Fez

Perception-altering is a perfect videogame subject. The 2D/3D shift cannot be fully grasped, which is wonderful.

7. Dys4ia

The only game last year to make me cry.

6. Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP

Breathtaking, intimate, mesmerizing. Most sincere use of irony.

5. Super Hexagon

Because purity and trance and seconds matter.

4. ZiGGURAT

@number108 (Tim Rogers) knows all the pleasures of the arc. Also, best death screen.

3. Spelunky

Encourages mindfulness over mastery. Forces consequential choices on the fly. As fair as life.

2. The Binding of Isaac

Combines the personal, allegorical, and algorithmic like no other. Made me rethink videogame ‘items’.

1. Minecraft

This is a world and I am going into it.

 

(originally posted to Twitter on January 22, 2013; other years can be found here)