Sometimes I feel like role-playing games have forgotten about the whole "roleplaying" part of the genre. So it's refreshing to play a game like Skyrim that imbues so much effort into immersing you in its world. Quit your job. Divorce your spouse. Give your children up for adoption. Do whatever you need to do to find the time to play Skyrim.

Overall, multiplayer is light on modes and it may not expand on the core story-driven experience, but it’s still a thoughtful addition to a superbly executed package.

There was a certain magic to the first game that will never be recaptured. That being said, Portal 2 is better in just about every way possible. The puzzles are more intricate, the writing is better than most movies or TV shows I've seen, and the production value is everything you've come to expect from the guys that brought you Half-Life.

Combat is extremely fulfilling due to the fact that you can string together attacks, counters, gadget quick attacks, and special moves completely flawlessly.

Easily the best game currently available on the 3DS. The incredibly story, fun and rewarding gameplay, and astounding soundtrack all make it clear to see why the original game was heralded as one of the greatest games of all time. Improvements like updated graphics, touch screen control for menu navigation, and the added Master Quest and Boss Rush mode make this port the definitive version of the game.

An awesome game, awesome story, and plain awesome experience regardless of what system it's on.

With the release of BioShock Infinite, developer Irrational has delivered a bigger story, more polished experience, and created two similar-yet-separate games that can co-exist and remain equal in quality. When the history of videogames is written, not one, but two BioShocks will be remembered for pushing gameplay, story, and subject matter to new levels.

All told, Super Mario 3D World is a difficult game to pigeonhole. It borrows elements from multiple Mario games and ends up creating something new in the combination. It’s not as profound as Super Mario 64 but it’s still an interesting expansion of the Mario experience. 3D World is full of smart ideas and everything works.

Persona 4 Golden is a fantastic modernized expansion of a brilliant RPG that many will have missed simply because it released out of sync with its original console generation.

What you'll remember when you're done with ME3 is not the glitches, it's the adventure and the characters you shared it with. As a trilogy, it is one of the most well-realized pieces of science fiction ever created. As a videogame, let's just say I hope I'm alive to see a series of this scope again.

Not only one of the best Zelda games, but one of the best games ever made. It will take you places you've never been and show you sights you've never seen, so ignoring it just because it's on the Wii would be a damn shame.

If Uncharted 3 proves anything, it's that Naughty Dog may be the most versatile studio in videogames. Their ability to craft tightly paced cinematic action, lighthearted narratives, endearing characters, and paint it with technical wizardry is unparalleled. Every single aspect of Uncharted 3, including its surprisingly robust multiplayer, is staggeringly well-executed.

There aren't many strategy RPGs as approachable for newcomers and as deep for veterans as Fire Emblem: Awakening. Though the story feels like it's just going through the motions, an expansive cast of characters with a wide array of personalities to match means you'll find plenty to still love about the narrative.

Once in a while a game comes along that makes you proud to be a gamer. It's the kind of game you want to show your parents to prove to them that it's not all explosions and fast cars. It's the kind of game that you want to tell Roger Ebert to go play after he makes inflammatory statements about how video games can never be art. And it's the kind of game that given the right platform and exposure, has the potential to resonate with an audience that doesn't usually care about games. Journey is one of those games.

It's one of the best games on the Wii, it's one of the best RPGs in this generation, and more than that, it's one of the better JRPGs ever made.

The superlative bosses that serve as the lynchpin for Shadow of the Colossus are worth the price of admission alone.

LittleBigPlanet 2 is an excellent game. I wish there was more of it.

It may not have the most cars, but it's certainly the most enjoyable driving simulation experience you'll find this year.

If you missed parts one and two, Gears 3 is still accessible. That in itself is impressive, helped by the "Previously on Gears" video that provides a quick reminder of who did what to whom, where, and why. Second, if you're a veteran, you're likely diving online immediately, and those modes are very impressive, fun, and likely to help keep this turn in the trilogy in your gaming rotation for some time to come.

For as large as Far Cry 3′s setting is, there's an elegant conciseness to the game's story mode. It'll still take tens of hours for completionists to get through, but the fast travel and dense map ensures you always have something meaningful to do within minutes.

Every button on the controller can make a difference to your attack or defense at almost any given time; any direction or weight on the analog stick can affect the outcome of that defense-splitting pass or attack stopping tackle, and that in itself proves how thoroughly engaging this beautiful game can be.

With dozens upon dozens of tracks to complete by yourself or with friends both on the couch and online, skill games to break up the traditional track racing and obstacle coursing, and an insanely in-depth, user friendly track creator that should extend the life of the game and the Trials community immensely, the game is a rock solid purchase for the price.

It’s incredibly telling that all Wind Waker needs is an HD spit-shine to belong in 2013. No game is released in a vacuum, but the greatest games are fun no matter when you play them. This re-release puts Wind Waker in that column, right along classics like Super Mario Bros. and Pac-Man. It’s an incredible game.

The Show has plenty of room for improvement, but that's not necessarily a bad thing for an annual franchise.

Mark of the Ninja is not "the game that they were meant to make" because Klei is a talented enough studio that can do even more with different styles of 2D gameplay. Yet, the studio has not only redeemed itself, it also managed to make one of the best stealth games of this generation and also one of the best ninja games ever made.

Okami HD is a great example of what games can accomplish outside the realm of guns and gore, and I love it for that.

Those looking for a solid platforming experience probably won't find a better one on the 3DS.

With Pushmo, not only do 3DS owners have a solid game that shows off the system's visual capabilities, but we've also got a truly fantastic title that's really at its best on this particular console.

And while all these pieces are solid, reliable, and improve the product, they won't set any soccer fans' pants on fire. So do you upgrade? If you haven't since FIFA 11, then you're due. If you're a new recruit in '12, then maybe you can wait until '14.

If you're a fan of turn-based empire games, you will love Shogun 2 for its deep strategic dilemmas and easy-to-use controls. If you're a fan of military history and tactics, you will adore commanding thousands of troops in realistic battle simulations. If you like samurai, there are literally thousands here for you to play with.

No doubt Rayman Legends is not for everyone. But if you appreciate art and you’re willing to put in the hours for completion, you’ll no doubt be rewarded with a grueling and rewarding platforming experience.

Tweaks to the My Player mode as well as the growth of the Legend concept has led this franchise to even greater heights. A wonderfully tasty mix of presentation and solid gameplay make this game a keeper, even in a year when the actual NBA may never appear.

The wacky world that Gearbox has built really shines in Borderlands 2. It doesn't just work as a means to deliver funny lines of dialogue, though. Here is an established universe providing ample free reign to contrive silly gameplay mechanics that defy both first-person shooter and role-playing game conventions in way that has me convinced we'll be seeing a lot more Borderlands in the future.

It's got a great art style and an interesting enough gameplay hook. But don't let it fool you into thinking it's all about platforming and world turning. It's not. It's a game about taking in information and using it in ways you never would have expected.

Team Bondi did a wonderful job of creating an enjoyable game that takes interactive storytelling to a new level. The production values and graphics are up there with Heavy Rain, but the gameplay is more appealing to longtime gamers.

It's clear that Enemy Unknown was made by people that both really loved the original XCOM and understand how to make games more approachable and enjoyable. Yes, some of those adaptations cause Enemy Unknown to lose some of the bite that the original had, but it's an unquestionably better game for it.

Although Dead Space 2 stumbles in a few minor spots, it makes up for it with its blend of sh.t-your-pants scary atmosphere and non-stop action. It's a game that shoves its Necromorph claws into your eyeballs in the first five minutes and won't pull them out until the end credits roll.

Fan-fu**ing-tastic. It's the sort of game you don't want to stop playing.

Team Bondi did a wonderful job of creating an enjoyable game that takes interactive storytelling to a new level. The production values and graphics are up there with Heavy Rain, but the gameplay is more appealing to longtime gamers.

Dark Souls has hooks, and those hooks are in me deep; I'm already planning my next several playthroughs as different classes, and for a game that is 80+ hours, that's a testament to its gripping quality.

The multiplayer is a cut above the rest, with a ton of options and the ability to customize a huge number of details on any of the maps you set up for Private Matches.

The director’s commentary is completely worth it, especially if you’re a big fan of the original, but you can get that on other platforms for a cheaper price. At the end of the day, Deus Ex: Human Revolution is an amazing game that Director’s Cut only makes better. You should absolutely play it, but weigh your available platforms first.

Dishonored is a good game. It falls flat a bit on the pacing, the AI has a laundry list of quirks that become frustrating real quick, but on the whole the game delivers an experience you won't find anywhere else this year.

The excellent story hooked me in from the opening minutes and I didn't want to let go. With branching paths, multiple endings, and truly mysterious characters to interact with, Virtue's Last Reward will keep you thrilled for hours on end.

A touching account of two young girls struggling to make sense of a world stripped of its humanity, and it is a tale worth exploring. Nevertheless there are moments the gameplay feels disjointed from the narrative, potentially pitting the overlapping stories at odds with one another. Admittedly, it’s wonderful to spend more time with Ellie, especially before her involvement with the Fireflies.

Torchlight 2 might not turn the genre on its head or delve drastically into any unexplored territory, but it is a fantastic action RPG and overall a blast to play, especially with friends.

Small improvements make the game better in ways I didn’t even know I wanted. The ease of online connectivity and interacting with players from around the world makes these games even more immersive and entertaining. Finally bringing the franchise into the third dimension makes the game look and feel like nothing we’ve experienced yet.

If you're digging the dark fantasy of Game of Thrones or the demanding challenge of Dark Souls, buy this game without hesitation.

With Diablo III, Blizzard made one of the most approachable and enjoyable games in the world even better. In fact, aside from the annoying online-only infrastructure, I can't imagine a single thing I would change to make this game better. That's when you know you have a classic on your hands, and that's also when you know you should play this game as much as you can.

LittleBigPlanet PS Vita isn't only one of the best LittleBigPlanet games ever, it's one of the best games to pick up for your Vita. It's got creativity, fun, and challenge – entertainment cornerstones that most people would argue make up a great video game.

New Leaf is a massive game that has broad appeal. No one person in my group of friends was playing the game the same way.

Improves universally over the original, and also manages to be the best looking PC game at the same time. If you're a fan of meaty RPGs or if you've been desperate to stretch your computer's technical legs, you need to play The Witcher 2.

NBA 2K13 improves upon its already solid foundation of basketball gameplay and presentation, and turns it up a notch. Improvements and additions to MyCareer mode as well as the addition of MyTeam mode will provide for great depth this season.

Character drama has rarely been better in the gaming medium, and it most definitely deserves a spot on your hard drive.

The visuals have been massively overhauled to make this the best looking Halo, if not the best looking 360 game to date.

Pokemon X and Pokemon Y are the best, most refined versions of the games to date.

The new definition of how a game should be remade.

Dirt 3 may be the best racing game I've played in the last decade. It's certainly the best one that takes place on surfaces other than tarmac.

Long Road Ahead is still fantastic, and it sets up the conclusion to this series nicely. Buying and playing this episode is a no-brainer (no pun intended).

Reaper of Souls offers a suitably complete, if uninspiring, revisit to this dark, desolate world. It’s darkly beautiful (one day I’d like to walk through these towns as they were originally created and admire the beauty, not the desolation), superbly crafted (as we expect from Blizzard), and fittingly familiar.

At its most basic levels, The Show is fun, playable, and lifelike in a family-friendly way, but it has the depth, intensity, and detail for franchise or career growth that can suck in stat fans and drag them all through this season and beyond.

Overall Pokemon Black/White is still a great RPG that offers up the same addictive gameplay you've come to love, but don't expect anything new to entice you to catch 'em all again.

Inventive, original, whimsical, and fun as shit. Excepting some minor control hiccups, it's nearly the perfect platformer. If you think for one second that time has passed the platformer by, give Rayman: Origins a chance to prove you dead wrong, because it absolutely will.

If you’re a Pikmin fan, pluck the cash from your wallet, hand it to Nintendo, and enjoy the best Pikmin experience around. Just don’t be shocked if you’re left expecting a bit more in the way of story.

If you enjoyed The Stanley Parable or Dear Ester, or you’re a fan of narrative-driven games, you owe it to yourself to play Gone Home. For $20 it can seem quite steep so you have to be willing to pardon the linear gameplay and short length in favor of the journey. But the few tears I shed confirm that I feel the experience is worth it.

While gameplay is overall a great experience, I would like to see more control given to my fighter when it comes to the sway system, and I'm not completely sold on the new submission mini-game.

What matters is what Titanfall is. And that is an expertly formed shooter. It lacks many built-in charms gamers might expect, like obvious eSports functions and game modes that really promote how this experience is truly different. But it’s also clear that this is stage one of an ongoing process.

It’s really hard to be excited about the future of Tomb Raider after this game. It fails where more successful films and games of its kind succeed: in its characters. The way in which Lara goes from inexperienced to full-on action movie hero survivalist is so jarring that it’s near impossible as a player to remain on the same emotional wavelength as the story. Because of this the rest of the game falters.

With a surprisingly long campaign, infinitely replayable multiplayer, improved spectating and community tools, and access to hundreds of user-made game modes, Heart of the Swarm is an absurd value and a complete necessity for anyone that enjoyed any aspect of StarCraft II. Unless you just hate using your mouse in video games, buy Heart of the Swarm.

Crashmo is a really good game, but I didn't like it quite as much as Pushmo. I'm not sure if the reason for that lies within me, or the game itself, but I felt far less compelled to go back to each puzzle this time around...But Crashmo is still a hell of a puzzle game, and if you're more inspired than intimidated by a challenge, I can see no reason why you shouldn't snap this game up now.

Mortal Kombat is not only back, it's ripping off heads. This reboot has an unprecedented amount of kontent (with a k), unlocks, charm, and raw fun. Even if you haven't liked previous Mortal Kombats, believe me, you'll be hooked the first time you triple d.ck punch someone.

Brothers is a touching story that strays from the cookie cutter formulas we’ve come to expect from the industry. The brothers’ journey is full of raw emotion, even if it borders on the line of pretentious at times.

A fantastic downloadable title. Online play makes an already great game even better. Updated visuals, an in-depth training mode, and plenty of challenges to complete give Third Strike Online Edition plenty of replay value.

The familiarity of the controls in combat help in welcoming DmC's distinctive art direction and new look for Dante. The attention paid to the script and narrative manages to make these intermissions worth watching, and not because of over-the-top gunplay or sword work; that's for you to control in-game.

The freshness of Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag puts any concerns of sequel fatigue to rest.

It's once in a blue moon that a game this special comes along.

Mechanically, the series holds up better than expected. But where Rockstar's influence really shines through is in the character of Max. He's one of the most compelling characters in recent memories and following him on this messed up journey of self-discovery is reason enough to play Max Payne 3.

The more time I spent with it, the more the new changes to the formula grew on me. The AI routines are less predictable and scripted, meaning every game feels like anything can happen.

I loved the huge variety of new maps but felt the meld upgrades sapped some of Enemy Unknown’s bite. The other half of that sentiment is that I now feel empowered to pick up my Hard / Ironman run again. The neatest summary I can give is this: if you want an excuse to play more XCOM, you’ve got it.

The presentation is wonderful and the attention to detail creates a game that has a charm and feel all its own. The controls are a little confusing at times but if you can get over them you’ll discover a fun game.

Radiant Historia delivers a compelling story coupled with entertaining gameplay that create a great package.

With a heart-warming protagonist, beautifully illustrated world, and addicting gameplay, Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch is another masterpiece of which Level-5 and Studio Ghibli can be rightly proud.

But if you're a glutton for punishment, itching to play more Trials Evolution and have a spare five bucks in your pocket, there's no reason to avoid experiencing the Origin of Pain.

Enthusiasts will love the throwback gameplay, and the unique spin on battles complements both veterans and newcomers. There are plenty of reasons to keep playing and replaying the game, not the least of which being the variety of jobs available to test.

There are very few games I’d recommend to anyone regardless of gaming experience or preference, but Runner 2 is one of them. It’s a fantastic reminder that sometimes games are most effective when they don’t try to emulate explosion-riddled Hollywood blockbusters and instead embrace solid gameplay mechanics and unfettered creativity.

Hotline Miami is one of the very few games that is a perfect union of gameplay mechanics and production values.

With this shift to an open world style, and storyline-driven progression, Forza has drifted into an area that the franchise probably requires, but isn't expertly realized.

I won't say that the framerate issue is a deal-breaker, but it's definitely keeping me from wholeheartedly recommending Armored Edition.

Dark Souls: Prepare to Die Edition is one of the worst PC ports I've played. It's also one of the best games ever made, so don't let a few trivial issues push you away.

Delivers a fast-paced, accessible game that is both rewarding and beautiful. The problem is that it doesn't offer much variety in its gameplay modes.

I expected some goofy fun from NBA Jam: OFE and got a thoroughly well-developed, competitive game that's both faithful to the Jam legacy and has legs to last.

The deepest, richest, and greatest installment in the already-rock solid franchise, and it's the most compelling reason to go out and buy a 3DS. Now go do it already. I'll see you on the track.

While the Wii U version doesn't do anything that's detrimental to the overall experience it also does little to improve it in any meaningful way.

With so many different gameplay options, and the ability to make your own levels to put your friends through your own custom hell, BattleBlock Theater was worth the wait.

Every addition is more than just a +1 to the feature list. Instead, it ricochets up and down the systems that are already in place, giving you new options and methods of play. Brave New World is the real Civilization V; get it and never look back.

Even with the small problems here and there, Trine 2 offers an old-school gaming experience with a new, unique spin. It's already a great game with its engaging puzzles and addictive gameplay; add cooperative multiplayer to the mix, and Trine 2 is a must-have that can bring friends together for some excellent adventuring.

Story and supporting cast don’t match Lara’s characterization growth.

Crysis 2 really feels like the kitchen sink of recent shooters: compelling single-player, interesting multiplayer modes, vehicles, myriad weapons, and the Nanosuit. Plus 3D, stealth kills, grabbing and throwing enemies, sprinting and sliding, using cover, and facing enemies using highly effective AI routines to keep every encounter fresh: It's all here, every check box of the genre ticked. But this kitchen sink is 24-carat gold plated.