Top 5 Games of 2012 (Game of the Decade Countdown)

By: Ryan Ramakrishnan

Following the stellar year of 2011 and even 2010, I was wondering what games stood out in 2012. Then I looked it up and I was brought back to a year with some of my favorite experiences on the consoles at the time, though perhaps some quiet favorites, differing from most people. So with that, I am very excited to count down with you my favorite games then.

My top 5 games of 2012 are as follows:

5. Assassin’s Creed III

The “Assassin’s Creed” name has gone from cool to amazing to bad to awful to incredible. It seems like Ubisoft’s flagship series has gotten every adjective thrown at it. The device entry of “Assassin’s Creed III” is ironically one of my favorite games of that console generation. The caveat here is that I had never experienced the series prior to it. I did however love the story. I remember feeling incredibly immersed in the American journey. I loved seeing all the figures of my US history class in action. The narrative was interesting and I was blown away at the time by the way Ubisoft modified history to include Assassins and Templars and what have you. Sure, it is flawed. I know the pacing isn’t great and it is a little slow to play, especially now. The thing is however,. It introduced me to games like it, as I was a little late to the party in 2012. I fell in love with it and have rose tinted goggles every time someone mentions “Assassin’s Creed III.”

4. Spec Ops: The Line

“Spec Ops: The Line” is one of the few games ever released that got a huge pass for its average gameplay thanks to other aspects. The gameplay wasn’t terrible though; in fact, I remember finding the shooting to feel pretty good. But what really makes this one of the most special games on the PS3 and Xbox 360 generation was the story. It pushed narrative boundaries. “Spec Ops: The Line” covered the grounds for PTSD, civilian casualties, the purpose of fighting and the terrors of war. It was so frighteningly real and impacting. I really enjoyed playing through the campaign of this game. It never dragged, it was briskly paced, it was interesting through and through and it left an impact for games and storytelling, particularly when it comes to military shooters. And that is why it was one of my favorite 2012 games.

3. Call of Duty: Black Ops II

If you read about my favorite 2010 games, you'll know “Black Ops” is a personal treasure for me. However, that is nothing compared to its follow-up. In 2012, I found my favorite “Call of Duty” in the form of “Black Ops II.” Even almost eight years later and still no “Call of Duty” has bested it for me personally. I enjoyed everything the game offered. The campaign was super fun to play. There are tons of awesome set-pieces, great music, cool characters, important story beats and great gunplay. And the online multiplayer included plenty of maps that still stick with me today. Hijacked and Nuketown 2025 quickly come to mind. Zombies was also really good and thrilling to play in this iteration. And funny enough, I don’;t think I ever played a “Call of Duty” enough to prestige (I am not great at them) but “Black ops II” saw me do so at least twice. So yeah, I really like “Call of Duty: Black Ops II.”

2. Sleeping Dogs

“Sleeping Dogs” is one of the top contenders for games I want a sequel to. This is especially true because sequels to new I.P. usually improve the predecessor’s already good work. I think this will never happen though, so I guess I’ll stick to their remastered version. I played it first that way anyway and it quickly became a favorite of mine. I wanted to keep playing through the story. The tension between the characters and the ways the Triad had a presence everywhere made me so engrossed in what the game had to say. “Sleeping Dogs” is a game that lets you beat people up with a blend on classic beat-em-ups and the “Batman: Arkham” combat but it introduces some very violent things to make it all the more fun. The missions are super fun, whether it is just driving around, killing a subsidiary of the Triad or beating up street thugs, “Sleeping Dogs” is a genuine joy. It is one of my favorite games of this decade and I rarely stop wishing for more of it.

1. Telltale’s The Walking Dead: Season 1

Easily the most iconic game under the name Telltale, the 2012 adventures of Lee and Clementine did the impossible. “Telltale’s The Walking Dead” introduced players to a point and click adventure with little to no raw gameplay. But what we did get to play through was one of the best things to happen to the industry. Telltale produced a story based on the Skybound comics at the prime of the AMC adapted TV show so people were all over it. And I remember how amazing it was. I loved the sequels. I loved other works from Telltale. I loved other games like these but there is nothing as special as “The Walking dead: Season 1.” This was a raw, emotional, uneasy, compelling and intense adventure and story. The characters were written immensely well. The stakes were high five minutes in and only grew higher. The world, despite being drawn in a simplistic manner and not truly explorable, felt very well-thought out. This game was designed to make you emotional. The ending was powerful and created one of gaming’s most admirable female protagonists yet. “The Walking Dead” hit me hard and it was executed in its entirety in a very fresh and feasible manner. It Was a manner that made it all the more impactful once the credits rolled. “The Walking Dead: Season 1” is both Telltale’s most important work and my favorite game of 2012.

I know I didn’t include some of the biggest 2012 games here so please share with me your own list. What games did you play the most in 2012? Which of the games released then do you miss the most these days? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.