By now you know that we've chosen Mass Effect 2 as our Eurogamer staff Game of the Year, and we've also championed a few individual favourites over the Christmas break. But with so many games released every year and so many passionate gamers reading Eurogamer, we knew it was vital to get your take on the last 12 months - so we did. You replied in your thousands and told us what you thought while you were nominating your top games. The result is the Eurogamer Readers' Top 50 Games of 2010. Check out 50-11 today and come back tomorrow for the Top 10...
50. Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies
Nintendo / DS
Beats 12 says: "I will forever love this game for getting me through the 18-hour bus rides aboard The Dirty Dog (aka Greyhound Buses)! Its size and depth mean that one can all too easily lose hours in its story and gameplay."
49. Nier
Square Enix / PS3, Xbox 360
Agent_Llama says: "The Legend of Zelda meets Final Fantasy meets Team ICO. Beautiful game world, gorgeous soundtrack and an extremely clever endgame."
You're too kind.
48. Monster Hunter Tri
Capcom / Wii
oldschool says: "The reason for purchasing a Wii (my second excuse of the year)." Klayman_k adds: "Challenge as high as ever, multiplayer almost perfect and sleek graphics."
47. Yakuza 3
SEGA / PS3
What we said: "A relentlessly enjoyable action-RPG, which offers a unique insight into Japanese culture despite its exaggerations."
46. Darksiders
Vigil Games, THQ / PC, PS3, Xbox 360
bruno0091 says: "My vote for the game a lot of people ddin't play or forgot came out this year. It took the classic Zelda formula and layered it with a dark and gritty look and story, as well as a nice graphical style and entertaining combat."
Pretty much everyone pictured here needs to calm down and remain calm.
45. Plants vs. Zombies
PopCap / Xbox Live Arcade
lemonfist says: "Why? Why can't real flowers give me money when I water them? Why can't I kill zombies with butter thrown by plants? Why does my garden not play Plants vs. Zombies? Why!"
44. Game Dev Story
Kairosoft / iPhone, Android
bigjimbeef says: "It's the first game I've really enjoyed on the iPhone. For a week or so, I did little else on my commute. Working in the industry, I can say that it's the game we all wish it was like. Bugs? No problem, we'll just work for a few more weeks! If only."
43. Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker
Konami / PSP
dadrester says: "It's the MGS rule that odd numbered MGS games are breathtaking. Peace Walker breaks the mould of what was previously a proper MGS game and reinvents it. The metagame alone makes it worthy of inclusion in this list and the way the game is structured is so well suited to the handheld platform I was in awe. One of the only PSP games I've bothered completing (no mean feat at 40+ hours) and it has so much content that it makes a mockery of some of the proper console games that will no doubt be on this list." pigsworthy adds: "It's Pokemon mixed with Metal Gear. Pokemon and Metal Gear. Awesome."
Long live Bizarre Creations. Please?
42. Blur
Bizarre Creations, Activision / PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Moz says: "So much fun on four-player split-screen. Anyone I know who's played it has then gone out to buy it. Such a shame it never properly sold."
41. Split/Second: Velocity
Black Rock Studios, Disney / PC, PS3, Xbox 360
DarthMartious says: "Probably the best arcade racer of this generation. Blends adrenaline fuelled racing with massive explosions and superb on-line play."
40. Donkey Kong Country Returns
Retro Studios, Nintendo / Wii
higgins78 says: "Retro Studios are like my unofficial Nintendo company, making games which fit with the brand Nintendo. This is another prime example. I don't know if it would have gone better even if Nintendo itself had made it. No such thing as higher praise."
Encore!
39. Dead Rising 2
Capcom / PS3, Xbox 360
BOBBYLUPO says: "Dead Rising 2 embraces the sandbox genre in that its basic focus is to let you dick around a zombie-filled shopping district with a number of creative ways to lay waste to the deceased little tinkers. Its 'Marmite' timed game mechanic may not be to everyone's tastes, but I loved its unforgiving old-school approach."
38. Amnesia: The Dark Descent
Frictional Games / PC
Lunastra78 says: "Because a small indie developed game out-horrored all major horror franchises."
37. Castlevania: Lords of Shadow
MercurySteam, Konami / PS3, Xbox 360
jellyBelly says: "Finally a 3D Castlevania that does justice to the series' past. A rich and densely detaied world with impressive character and level design. Innovative battle mechanics and excellent presentation." kincaide adds: "Sequel please."
Who's this joker?
36. Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light
Crystal Dynamics, Square Enix / PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Dogs>gods says: "Just such a lot of fun and an interesting and successful reinvention of a franchise that really needed an injection of something new."
35. Alpha Protocol
Obsidian, SEGA / PC, PS3, Xbox 360
timur says: "Because it took the RPG into more interesting new directions than any other game this year, with the game reacting meaningfully to your style of play and offering real choices. Because it had a unique setting, great writing and a sly sense of humour."
34. Fable III
Lionhead, Microsoft / Xbox 360
monkfish says: "Yes, it's still buggy, even after a patch. But Albion is also still one of the best places to be in games." ljorg adds: "The third Albion was not so difficult after all. While noticeably shorter, it was immensely fun while it lasted, and Albion truly is a special place that has no equal anywhere."
Put your hands up! If you bought this! Aaaah.
33. Deadly Premonition
Access Games, UTV Ignition / Xbox 360
CloudXIV says: "This was one of the craziest and most interesting stories in video game history. Don't you think Zach?" Curion adds: "What's not to love!! Hey I loved this game before even playing it."
32. Final Fantasy XIII
Square Enix / PS3, Xbox 360
Agent_Llama says: "Dazzling to look at and compelling to play, despite it being too restrictive for an RPG." notorious adds: "The most beautiful CGI I've ever seen and a nice twist in the battle system with the job-changing Paradigm Shifts."
31. Sid Meier's Civilization V
Firaxis, 2K / PC
Dachande says: "New addition to one of my top games ever. Or I may even say, the mother of all games. It didn't fail even in this year's edition. Very, very smooth and easy to use interface, combined with the same old deep replayability. One more turn, please."
30. Super Street Fighter IV
Capcom / PS3, Xbox 360
Bergeron says: "Why? The ability to save replays of online ranked matches."
29. Pac-Man Championship Edition DX
Namco Bandai / PS3, Xbox 360
lemonfist says: "Is Pac-Man a really big cheese eating smaller cheese? I dunno, but I know that the eating mechanics, regardless of what kind of actual eating they allude to (be it cannibalism or something else), are what makes the game so damned good. Even better when you turn around to devour the train of death in the wake of Pac-Man's wonderful eating orgy. That's how cool Pac-Man is: he cheats death by eating it."
28. ArmA II: Operation Arrowhead
Bohemia Interactive / PC
Sany_CZ says: "Realistic simulation, hardcore, open world." ph101 says: "Involving FPS simulator." Myshaak says: "Best developer support, best community support, free mission editor, free model/terrain/weapon editor, unique tactical gameplay, wide range of weapons, vehicles, armour, helicopters and planes, lot of factions to play for, great graphics... I could go on."
Come to Daddy!
27. BioShock 2
2K Marin and friends / PC, PS3, Xbox 360
oldschool says: "Probably the gamiest game of the year for me, lacking the pretentious hype surrounding the first, and giving you free reign as a Big Daddy armed to the teeth, a slew of gadgets with which to play, and such a presence of foreboding power. Now, who honestly couldn't enjoy that? Compared with the six-month hiatus and such-a-chore attitude to the original, this was a surprise treat to say the least."
26. Enslaved: Odyssey to the West
Ninja Theory, Namco Bandai / PS3, Xbox 360
talos666 says: "Matches Mass Effect in the acting and has the facial animation to back it up! Great gameplay too, even if the climbing feels very Uncharted-like." Pajspaz says: "Beautiful acting and characterisation."
25. Minecraft
Mojang Specifications / PC
kdsh7 says: "The multiplayer timelapse videos are like watching a game of Sim City unfold, but where each inhabitant is a real-life person (albeit an OCD-suffering one with loads of time on their hands). That one man managed to build a game of this scale blows my mind. I'd put this at number one, if it wasn't for the fact I spent so much time on Mass Effect 2."
Still the king.
24. World of Warcraft: Cataclysm
Blizzard / PC
Mcstrife says: "It's like meeting your ex-girlfriend after a few years and all the reasons you broke up for are no longer there. She looks better, she is not boring anymore and apparently she learned a few new fancy tricks when you were out of the picture."
23. F1 2010
Codemasters / PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Reaver_v1 says: "Although it lacked slightly in atmosphere, F1 2010 is the closest you will get to driving an F1 car. Shock of the year, but Codemasters delivered."
22. FIFA 11
EA Canada, EA Sports / PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Wedge1985 says: "EA could easily have just reskinned FIFA 10 and still had a top-selling game on their hands - the licence sells itself. Instead, it took the previous incarnation and really drove on the realism. No longer can Titus Bramble skin all the players on the pitch before scoring a wonder goal from 35 yards. The actual individual skills of each player has been taken in to account to provide the most complete football sim seen so far."
Pretty much amazing.
21. Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit
Criterion, EA / PC, PS3, Xbox 360
ezeeryder says: "Balls to the wall fun – that is best way to describe Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit. Whether you choose to step into the shoes of a cop or a racer, driving sexy super cars around gorgeous looking environments at insanely high speeds has never been so fun. To add to that, Autolog is the best feature ever introduced to a racing game. Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit is the quintessential arcade racing of this generation."
20. Rock Band 3
Harmonix, MTV / PS3, Wii, Xbox 360
Brianstorm says: "The best rhythm-action game out there, massively enjoyable. Stunned it didn't sell more."
19. Just Cause 2
Avalanche Studios, Square Enix / PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Bergeron says: "The best third-person open-world action game on the PC to date. Avalanche made an amazing game engine to make all the fun/madness possible." kalinichenko adds: "Who doesn't like blowing s*** up?"
Mmm.
18. Super Meat Boy
Team Meat / Xbox Live Arcade
evild_edd says: "Indie game marvel, with charm, wit, and fantastic 'one more go' gameplay. Wonderfully recalls the hardcore challenges of retro games of old, but with the instant quick start relieving a great deal of the frustration felt at revisiting older titles."
17. Call of Duty: Black Ops
Treyarch, Activision / PC, PS3, Xbox 360
joaomuas says: "Although it's not better than Modern Warfare 2, Black Ops' single-player is epic, full of gorgeous moments and plot twists in the best Call of Duty story. During the Cold War, awesome things happened and the player gets to do some of those things in a variety of places, including caves, mountains and Vietnam. And then there are some of the best moments of the year, including an episode with a helicopter. On the multiplayer, some improvements actually work, like the COD Points and lots of customisation. Getting these things together plus Zombies mode with lots of surprises and the secret Dead Ops, this game is clearly the best shooter of the year."
16. StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty
Blizzard / PC
Cluracarn says: "Finally a real-time strategy game with people to play with online." 5h1nj1 adds: "Probably the best RTS campaign I ever played. Very good and balanced MP."
Lorraine.
15. Vanquish
PlatinumGames, SEGA / PS3, Xbox 360
monkfishjoe says: "Every other third-person shooter seems outdated after this. And slow. Very, very slow." talos666 says: "Yes, this game is insane. Yes, the bosses are insane (many with one-hit kills it seems). Yet it feels so great to play, smooth, speedy action with cool weapons."
14. Alan Wake
Remedy, Microsoft / Xbox 360
evild_edd says: "Flawed. Undeniably samey in places. Unoriginal gameplay. It did, however, present something different from the usual releases, with the quirky characters inhabiting the Lynchian American town providing some real, tangible ambiance. Though Wake himself was a little dull, those around him (his manager Barry a real standout) carried me through to the end of a memorable title."
13. Limbo
Playdead Studios / Xbox 360
Blacktown says: "Engaging in just about every conceivable way. Beautiful, thought provoking, perfectly paced and [whispers] fun." GaidenZero adds: "The style was unique and differentiated it from its peers, but it also had a great deal of substance. The puzzles were clever without being too abstract, the animation was smooth, and the soundtrack was very fitting to the game world and the story being told."
I know it's out, but maybe just delay it again for old time's sake?
12. Gran Turismo 5
Polyphony Digital, Sony / PS3
chub says: "Lots of variety and content makes this the best console sim racer there is, and features keep getting added so it just gets better and better." f00b_inc says: "Kaz only knows why after half a decade of waiting I still have to pass all my driving licences, buy a second-hand Yaris and compete through the tedium of Clubman cups/all beginner events... but I still can't stop playing and it definitely feels like a journey worth taking."
11. Fallout: New Vegas
Obsidian, Bethesda Game Studios / PC, PS3, Xbox 360
RodHull says: "Open-world perfection. Sure there were bugs, but none that took away from a great experience." ChanceSplinter says: "Fallout: New Vegas understands the whole 'RPG' thing much better than its predecessor, while maintaining the fantastic, immersive atmosphere. No matter which quest you're working on, it never feels like you are simply running through a lonely, isolated thread of narrative. Instead, you are running along and vibrating one strand of a very, very large web that stretches across the entire game world. It's pretty incredible."
Woo! Come back tomorrow for your top 10 games of 2010.
