Welcome to day 5 of the Best of 2012 Awards. We’ve finally arrived to the coveted Game of the Year award. It’s the award that’s given to not only the best game of the year but the one that provides the best experience and shows just how much the gaming medium can offer to the world. So without further ado, here is the PixelJumpers’ site-wide list of the top ten best games of 2012, leading to our number one Game of the Year.

10. XCOM: ENEMY UNKNOWN

Developer: Firaxis Games | Publisher: 2K Games

“XCOM: Enemy Unknown is an important game. Not just for revitalizing the strategy genre was we know it, but by proving to a shooter dominated industry that other genres can succeed in the market. Here is a thoughtful, absorbing game that presents tactical freedom that’s refreshing set against the more linear fair that is usually offered in the holiday season. Effortlessly combining battlefield tactics and base management, Firaxis Games’ reboot of the franchise also creates one of the most emotional experiences of the year, through the attachment you develop to each of your troops, and the allied nations of the planet. In a year that also offered us Spec Ops: The Line, The Walking Dead, Halo 4, and Journey, that’s saying something.” – Jake Weston, Associate Editor

9. SPEC OPS: THE LINE

Developer: Yager Games | Publisher: 2K Games

“Against all odds, Yager Development has effortlessly combined entertainment and social commentary, making Spec Ops: The Line one of the few games to do so. Though it’d be tough to argue that Spec Ops: The Line is entertaining. This series reboot is nothing if not emotionally draining, offering a scathing criticism of not only the military shooter genre, but the gamers who play them as well. It’s subversive message, cerebral story and excellent voice work help to mask its ho-hum gameplay, but this is an experience that will be remembered for years to come, and is an absolute must-play for fans of the medium of video games. Want to a counter-argument about the relationship between video games and violence? This is your prime specimen.” – Jake Weston, Associate Editor.

8. BORDERLANDS 2

“When Gearbox released the original Borderlands back in 2009 no one expected it to be much. For starters, it was a new I.P. with an over-the-top-style and it also was an FPS RPG; something not very common in the gaming world. Of course, we all know what happened next. Borderlands ended up being a massive hit and immediately gained a massive following. It was no surprise that a second game was being made, but the question often arose; what would they do next. Well, I’ll tell you what they did next, Gearbox created a bigger, more dense world, added a ton of new enemies, increased the amount of over-the-top guns, amped up the ridiculous humor to 11, put more focus on the narrative and made the best co-op shooter of this generation. Gearbox Software managed to do what so few developers have been able to do this generation; create a sequel that not only lives up to its predecessor, but also completely blows it away in every way imaginable. It’s no easy task, but they did it and in doing so created one of the most entertaining, laugh inducing shooters of all-time.” – Oren Giladi, Editor-in-Chief  

Developer: Gearbox Software | Publisher: 2K Games

7. MASS EFFECT 3

Developer: BioWare | Publisher: Electronic Arts

“Mass Effect 3 is about the end of an era. It starts with the end of Shepherd’s story, then zooms out to the end of the first real, genuine friendships many have had with digital characters, then to the end of a console generation (I doubt we’ll see another Mass Effect title for a few years at least), and finally to the end of this portion of our respective lives. I first began playing the Mass Effect series when I was in high school. Over three games, so much has changed in my life, and in the same way so much has changed in the Mass Effect universe. This is a series that grew with its audience. It’s a beautiful, emotionally charged goodbye, and it’s one that you need to experience. It’s probably the most entertaining game that I’ve played in the last year, and in many ways is the best game in the series. It’s the end of an era for BioWare, Commander Shepard and us gamers and I’m glad to have been a part of it.” – Reis Mahnic, Contributing Editor

6. DISHONORED

Developer: Arkane Studios | Publisher: Bethesda

“Blending elements of stealth, action, and roleplaying into a first person game is no easy feat, but the talented folks over at Arkane Studios have managed to do just that with Dishonored. Dishonored plays a lot like a game called Deus Ex and that’s no surprise considering the man largely responsible for the acclaim Deus Ex, Harvey Smith, is the lead designer for Dishonored. A simply story of revenge leads the player through the stunning city of Dunwall, which is currently plagued by rates, disease, death and plenty of corruption. Plenty of nooks and crannies are strewn throughout, allowing one to go through the world quickly and quietly or you may simply blast through the front door and use your impressive arsenal to leave a trail of blood in your wake. It’s a game that puts freedom of choice above all else and it succeeds because of it.” – Oren Giladi, Editor-in-Chief

5. ASSASSIN’S CREED III

Developer: Ubisoft Montreal | Publisher: Ubisoft

“Whether or not it reaches the heights of its predecessor that forever changed the series, Assassin’s Creed II, is up to debate, but the third numbered entry in Ubisoft’s historical stealth-action series is a force to be reckoned with. Replacing the sprawling cities with expansive forests, epic naval battles, and a story that sets you in the heart of the American Revolution, Assassin’s Creed III somehow remains a remarkably personal story and features one of the best new protagonists of the year. Will Assassin’s Creed III be the true finale of the franchise, or will Ubisoft keep pumping out sequels? No matter the answer, we still have one kick-ass game.” – Jake Weston, Associate Editor

4. FAR CRY 3

Developer: Ubisoft Montreal | Publisher: Ubisoft

“Many were upset at Assassin’s Creed III’s relative linearity compared to its predecessors, and that criticism is totally justified. Thankfully, Ubisoft more than made up for it by producing one of the most sprawling, non-linear games of the year. Far Cry 3 returns the franchise to its jungle island roots, and successfully perfects everything that the series has ever strived for, even surpassing Crytek’s spiritual successor Crysis series. On top of that, Far Cry 3 contains one of the best narratively written (and ballsy) stories of the year, exploring what the act of killing does to a man and the nature of violence and darkness that resides in all of us. Truly a staggering accomplishment.” – Jake Weston, Associate Editor

3. HALO 4

Developer: 343 Industries | Publisher: Microsoft Studios

“Halo 4 is one of the best games of the year and quite possibly the best game on Xbox 360. Period. Of course, many Halo fans didn’t think this was going to be the case, and you can’t blame them for thinking that. Afterall, Bungie, creator of the Halo franchise was no longer at the helm and in their place was newly founded 343 Industries. Consisting of industry veterans, including some Bungie alums  343 Industries had the enormous task of creating not just another Halo game, but creating a new future for the series. The original Halo trilogy has ended and in its place a brand new one emerges, with deeper, richer story-telling, unbelievable visual prowess, and the series tried and true challenging combat help to make Halo 4 standout as the best shooter this year.” – Oren Giladi, Editor-in-Chief

2. JOURNEY

Developer: thatgamecompany | Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America

“Journey is a game that is not for everyone, that much is probably apparent by now. Those gamers who are interested in a more traditional gaming experience will probably find this game as too much of a slow burn with little to no payoff. Yet a glorious achievement in gaming awaits for those gamers who enjoy something a little different. Journey deserves your attention as it marks a milestone, not only in downloadable gaming (early contender for downloadable game of the year) but in gaming as a whole. Now go forth and experience the journey that awaits.” – Frank Soldato, Senior Editor

AND THE WINNER OF THE 2012 GAME OF THE YEAR IS…

1. THE WALKING DEAD: THE GAME

Developer: TellTale Games | Publisher: TellTale Games

“Few games, if any, have managed to do what The Walking Dead: The Game series has managed to do and that is to evoke an emotional response from its audience. Characters who have depth, a gripping narrative and some truly memorably moments help to make The Walking Dead not just the best adventure game of the year, but the greatest game of the year, period. Nowhere in gaming will you find a more authentic zombie experience, if simply because The Walking Dead: The Game series manages to focus on what really matters during an end of the world scenario; the people. If there is one game you should experience this year, then The Walking Dead: The Game is it. You may be left shaken, in shock and quite possibly in tears, but that’s a good thing.” – Oren Giladi, Editor-in-Chief