2011 Best

Wii and multi-platform awards wrap up our system awards. Check back Monday for our overall Game of the Year. READ MORE

For many, this was a year of high-powered franchises and blockbuster releases. I had fun with a few of those, but most of my time was spent with things a bit off the beaten path.

10. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
This game is truly an accomplishment. It’s enormous, scenic at all times and much easier to get into than previous Elder Scrolls games. It’s not higher on my list because it’s hard to call an experience that is so open like this a “game,” but it’s a marvel of interactive entertainment and sure to provide a distraction to people for months on end. READ MORE

It’s time to award the best of the games exclusive to the HD consoles: the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360. READ MORE

10. Rocketbirds: Hardboiled Chicken
The last surprise on my list. From the title alone, the game sounded absolutely ridiculous. What I ended up getting was an action platformer with a pretty interesting story, a stoic, but likable character, and music that fit the mood well. The puzzle elements thrown made it interesting as well. The answer wasn’t always obvious, but you sure as hell had to work to complete stages. Even now, I still can’t find all those hidden signs. READ MORE

We continue our 2011 awards by looking at the year’s PC titles, the best of the download-only crop and the top iOS game. READ MORE