BEST FPS GAMECall of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Love it or loathe it, you cannot deny that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 makes all the right moves. Even though many accused the game of being too similar to the previous title, it still manages to bring exactly what gamers want to the table... including some fresh multiplayer offerings.
Best Fighting GameMortal Kombat
The reboot of Mortal Kombat gave the franchise - and fighting game fans - exactly what they wanted. Tons of action, great characters, awesome special moves and the right mix of simplicity and complexity that makes it challenging and fun all at the same time. Whether as a single player or part of a multiplayer matchup, fighting game fans get exactly what they want from this title.
Best Driving GameForza Motorsport 4
There are few games that can measure up to the Forza franchise. Despite being an Xbox 360 exclusive, Forza 4 manages to show off the skill that developers Turn 10 have at capturing the essence of high speed driving. And thanks to a host of setting tweaks, even more casual racing game players can have a blast with this game. Great tracks, tons of cars and a brilliant customisation tool kit all help this one stand out from the crowd.
Best New IPBulletstorm
It may have got a lot of complaints flying about, but Bulletstorm managed to make a great impression with gamers. It took older ideas and worked with them in original ways, bringing a fresh approach to a genre that is getting increasingly stale. It also served up loads of laughs, great graphics, and a really fun multiplayer offering. We hope to see a sequel soon.
Best Sequel
Infamous 2
There are many sequels in the video game world, but the continuation of Cole McGrath’s adventures gave us exactly what we want in a follow-on. The game is, at a glance, more of the same but improvements to graphics and game dynamics make it well worth experiencing, while the plot continues beautifully from where it left off with the former title. As a continuation of a previous game, inFamous 2 does pretty much everything right.
Best Casual GameLittleBigPlanet 2
LittleBigPlanet 2 builds on ideas created within the first game beautifully, once again giving players a fun, simple platform title combined with powerful editing tools and excellent community support. What makes it such a great casual game is that everything is just so easy to do in this title, making it perfect for everyone who wants to have loads of fun and even an opportunity to try their hand at creating levels.
Best Strategy Game
Shogun 2: Total War
There wasn’t much for strategy fans this year, but Shogun 2: Total War would still have taken this prize if there was. Building on a solid history, this latest in the Total War series manages to combine strategic planning with deep real time battle elements, providing players with a great empire-building experience.
Best Horror GameDead Island
We’ve seen a ton of zombie games before, but the free-roaming, role-playing style of Dead Island makes for a fresh change. And it gets pretty scary, too. A high degree of player involvement, thanks to roleplaying elements, makes this game quite the thriller. Despite a few problems, it shows what a horror game can, and should, be.
Best Action GameBatman: Arkham City
This game was highly anticipated, and with good reason. Building on the successes of its predecessor, Batman: Arkham City is a compelling action title that delivers on the adventure front as well. A simple fighting system still demands a strategic approach, and a variety of action oriented activities combine with a strong plot line to make this title a great action performer.
Best Movie Game007: Goldeneye Reloaded
Let’s face it, as a group movie games are generally not much to write home about. Even though it is based on an old film, and is technically a remake of a previous game, Goldeneye Reloaded manages to provide tons of fun for players, and remains accessible despite being more complex than the average movie game.
Best Adventure GameAlice: Madness Returns
The sequel to Alice took a long time to come out, but when it arrived in 2011, fans and newcomers alike were thrilled by its rich reimagining of the world of Alice in Wonderland. With a good balance of action, movement challenges, puzzling and upgrading, the game offers players a strange, even disturbing, voyage through the imagination.
Best Management GameAnno 2070
The Anno series has always offered an excellent management model, and Anno 2070 is no different. Using a very simple supply and demand system, the game still manages to build up to a complex balancing act, making it a treat for management fans. Even if there was not much competition in this category in 2011, Anno 2070 still shines as an example of the genre.
Best Sports GameFIFA 12
The king of sports games retains its crown this year. Even though it seemed that not much more could be added to the previous version, FIFA 12 still manages to add the kinds of tweaks and improvements to the overall game to make it challenging, compelling and deeper than before. FIFA is not only top of the football pile, but top of the overall sports simulation pile too.
Best RPG GameThe Elder Scrolls V:Skyrim
Choice is a big thing in RPG games and although some came close, none offered the player as much freedom as Skyrim. This counts for character creating and advancement, as well as experiencing the massive, rich world that the title has on offer. With more options and activities than you can shake a stick at, Skyrim is a prime example of how to satisfy the wants of RPG fans.
Best Co-Op GameDead Island
Fighting the undead alone is scary, but fighting them with friends is fun. Featuring four characters with strengths and weaknesses that complement each other, Dead Island is a great game to enjoy co-operatively. The drop-in, drop-out system allows players to assist each other at any time, and the overall scary atmosphere makes having a buddy around even better. It’s not flawless, but it is great fun as a co-op title.
Best Platform GameLittleBigPlanet 2
Platform games are a genre that will likely never die, but taking things further is not something we see often in them. LittleBigPlanet 2 builds on what the previous game offered, allowing players great physics-based platform action in single and multiplayer flavours, but also offers customisation of characters and even level building, all supported by a healthy online community. It’s the kind of evolution the genre needs.
Best Puzzle GamePortal 2
It may not be a puzzle game in thenusual sense of the word, but the brain teasing that the spacial challenges of Portal 2,offers is brilliant. Using a variety of tules and sensible application of physics, the player will find themselves screaming in frustration and facepalming a ot in this title... when they’re not thrilled by it.
Best Fitness GameZumba Fitness
Although there are games that are better in technical terms, Zumba Fitness does everything right in another very important part of the fitness software market: appeal. While other games make you do exercises, Zumba Fitness allows you to enter the exciting and fun world of the fastest growing fitness trend around. And it’s great fun when you get to grips with it, too. It’s a title that makes you want to work out.
Best Party Game
Just Dance 3
There are many party games out there, and some may even be more appealing to those with two left feet, but Just Dance 3 gives players the opportunity to make themselves look silly in front of their friends in so many ways that we just had to go with it. Besides, what’s a party without dancing?
Game of the YearThe Elder Scrolls V:Skyrim
Despite bugs and a few other niggles, you simply cannot deny that The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is quite the gaming spectacle. With great graphics and sound, a smart control scheme and a plot that allows freedom - and will keep the player busy for a very long time - Skyrim offers exactly what we like to see in a game. Even with the stiff competition it faced in 2011, it stands out as the most memorable title of the year, and one that people will keep playing for a long time to come.