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Ed Boon's Top 10 Games of 2011

The co-creator of Mortal Kombat takes a break from ripping spines to share with us his favorite games of 2011. Friendship!

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Ed Boon is a video game industry veteran, and though he's best known for his work on the Mortal Kombat series, which he co-created and has retained active creative control of, Ed has also worked on such arcade classics as Smash TV, F-14 Tomcat, and Black Knight 2000.

He's also, straight up, one of the nicest dudes we've ever met in video games. Kind of makes the whole Mortal Kombat ultra-violence thing seem a little weird, right?

Maybe I should start by acknowledging that I purposefully left out Mortal Kombat from this list because I worked on it. Plus, with so many amazing titles this year, I can only imagine the grief I’d get if I included MK over another amazing title that came out this year.

10. Batman: Arkham City

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Do I work for Warner Bros? Did they publish this game? Yes. Will some people think that has influenced this game’s position on my list? Perhaps. But I don’t care. I defy anyone to give me an argument for why this game should not be on every top 10 list of 2011. The game is that good!

9. LittleBigPlanet 2

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Obviously, this game doesn’t quite seem to fit with the other games on my list. But that’s probably one of the reasons it’s on here. Such a bold and inventive game that is so much more than simply a platform game. Just look at all the inventive and professional looking levels that have been made by its community!

8. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

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OK, full disclosure here. I have not played countless hours of Skyrim. To be honest, when I heard people saying they player 60+ hours and still hadn’t finished, I knew the chances of me finishing this game were pretty much zero. But after watching someone play who was 40+ hours into the game, the scope of it became apparent and completely overwhelming.

7. Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception

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You can’t help but admire this game. So many things done so well, it’s just amazing. I have to admit that when I saw the first Uncharted, at first my head thought “they probably wanted, but couldn’t get an Indiana Jones license.” I also can’t help but wish that Sony would take this game engine and MAKE an Indiana Jones game with it. 10 million copies guaranteed!!

6. Gears of War 3

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I still remember the first time I saw Gears of War in action. The cover system, the slightly shifted third-person perspective, the beautiful and gritty look, and the unapologetic Rambo on steroids presentation made this game like nothing else out there. The fact that Epic was able to make 2 more sequels, each better than the previous is just amazing.

5. Bastion

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I remember the first time playing this game at E3. Great combination of “old-school” and new innovative features made this game stand out for me. I still can’t over how effective the team made use of audio in this game. The narrator telling the story as you play it was genius. Thankfully at E3 they were also smart enough to supply headsets for the players to wear while trying the game because the audio is such a big part of its magic.

4. Portal 2

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Like LittleBigPlanet, this game is so unique, clever. and well-executed that you really have to play it to appreciate its depth, humor, and inventiveness.

3. Saints Row: The Third

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This game entertains, dammit!! GTA clone? Hardly. While the game is insanely vulgar and the situations are hilariously random, it’s all part of the craziness that is the identity of this game. The situations are so outrageous that I can see some people overlooking how great this game’s design is.

2. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

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Yea, it’s Call of Duty. How can this not end up on everyone’s top 10 list?

1. Battlefield 3

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Maybe I’m just impressed with the audacity of someone boldly going directly head-to-head with the Call of Duty franchise. It would be like setting out to make a “Windows Killer” operating system. Or making a new phone that was going to make the iPhone obsolete! Seriously? You’re going up against Call of Duty? Did they take down the mightly COD? Maybe not. But if they sold 10 million games I’m guessing they stole (at least) some of COD’s thunder.

94 Comments

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Bestostero

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Edited By Bestostero

I'm shocked arkham city was ranked lasts...the way he raves about it and the fact that his team worked on arkham city lockdown...you would think it would be higher up lol

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Goblin

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Edited By Goblin

There is a larger amount of "mainstream", incremental sequels in there compared to the other developer lists... but I guess it shouldn't be that surprising that the creator of MK is also into shooting dudes in the face:P

@Curufinwe said:

"Yea, it’s Call of Duty. How can this not end up on everyone’s top 10 list?"

Poor Ed still being stuck in 2007.

"Or making a new phone that was going to make the iPhone obsolete!"

Shit, you're right!

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Deathmachine117

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Edited By Deathmachine117

I like the way people are annoyed at Call of Duty being in his personal list. Is nothing sacred anymore.

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Bane122

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Edited By Bane122

@Deathmachine117 said:

I like the way people are annoyed at Call of Duty being in his personal list. Is nothing sacred anymore.

Sure things are sacred, so long as you agree with those people about what is sacred.

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RE_Player1

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Edited By RE_Player1

@Godlyawesomeguy said:

@Bane122 said:

@Godlyawesomeguy: @Godlyawesomeguy said:

Uh......Call of Duty? Alright, I guess this is truly a personal top ten.

What the hell else would a list called Ed Boon's Top 10 games of 2011 be?

All I meant was that his opinion is rather unpopular amoung gaming enthusiasts.

Why does it matter that his opinion is unpopular with "gaming enthusiasts"?

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MiniPato

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Edited By MiniPato

@Cogzwell said:

Aaaaaaand a little bit of respect for Ed Boon was lost that day.

Respect was gained! Ed Boon ain't afraid of no pasty pretentious internet nerds. He'll tell you what he likes and he don't give no fuck!

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Xeirus

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Edited By Xeirus

@MiniPato said:

@Cogzwell said:

Aaaaaaand a little bit of respect for Ed Boon was lost that day.

Respect was gained! Ed Boon ain't afraid of no pasty pretentious internet nerds. He'll tell you what he likes and he don't give no fuck!

Word

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BabyChooChoo

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Edited By BabyChooChoo

@Bucketdeth said:

Hilarious people getting angry over Ed putting COD on his list, I do not like COD but god damn, stop acting like fucking babies.

This is his top 10, not 'what you want his top 10 to be'.

mothafuckin' agreed 100%. It's a damn opinion. Besides, it's Ed Boon. The man is the shit. When he talks, you shut the fuck up and listen.

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alistercat

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Edited By alistercat

@Xeirus said:

@MiniPato said:

@Cogzwell said:

Aaaaaaand a little bit of respect for Ed Boon was lost that day.

Respect was gained! Ed Boon ain't afraid of no pasty pretentious internet nerds. He'll tell you what he likes and he don't give no fuck!

Word

Not even the creators of some of the best games in the world can have fun in their own industry without being judged. Nobody should be afraid or ashamed to play any game, and there is nothing wrong with it.

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evanbower

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Edited By evanbower

@Cogzwell: It wasn't that insane of a thing that you said. Don't worry about it man.

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MrBlueJackle

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Edited By MrBlueJackle

Aw, was hoping Boon would just place MK in all 10 spots.

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CptBedlam

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Edited By CptBedlam

Love these lists from industry people!

Also, MK9 is great (despite the online hiccups).

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superjoe

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Edited By superjoe

Missed opportunity to replace all of Ed's C's with K's. Dammit Ryan!

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Harkat

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Edited By Harkat

CONSPIRACY CONSPIRACY CONSPIRACY

Greg Kasavin is holding Vinny's loved ones hostage, blackmailing him into using his superior muscle power to intimidate game developers into making best of-lists for Giant Bomb where they feature Bastion!

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koobz

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Edited By koobz

@SuperJoe said:

Missed opportunity to replace all of Ed's C's with K's. Dammit Ryan!

This top 10 list wins Missed Opportunity of 2011.

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jakob187

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Edited By jakob187

I'm glad that Ed Boon didn't decide to be "that guy" and put his own game on this list.

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k9

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Edited By k9

What kind of explanation is this for COD being number 2? There is nothing self imperative about COD belonging to a top ten list. And the explanation for number 1 is embarrassing. Hey, it tried to go against COD and sold 10 million copies. So? Why is it number one?

If Ed didn't have enough time to give a bit more detailed explanation for his opinions he shouldn't have accepted to do this list in the first place.

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Brackynews

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Edited By Brackynews

The toastiest!

The single biggest flaw with the "exposure to violent videogames" straw man I see is that if it were true, logically video game developers and QA testers should be the most psychopathic sons of bitches on the streets. But they're not.

Well ok, David Jaffe, but they don't let him loose without an escort. ;)

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MeatSim

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Edited By MeatSim

No fighting games? well I guess if you spent all your time making fighting games you would want a break from them in your personal time.

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BBQBram

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Edited By BBQBram

Nice list, but he lost me at no. 2.

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jkuc316

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Edited By jkuc316

Of course, the make of the most casual-appealing fighting game out there won't put a decent fighting game on his list.

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ocdog45

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Edited By ocdog45

Boon says LBP and Portal 2 are out of cahracter on this list. I would say COD and BF3 are.

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Subjugation

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Edited By Subjugation

Hmm, so I guess some people still like Call of Duty. He can like whatever he wants; it's his list, but I just thought he would be as tired of that series as the rest of us.

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DJJoeJoe

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Edited By DJJoeJoe

@Subjugation: A lot of people still like call of duty, in fact more people still like that game than any other game pretty much. I'd wager even a game like WoW with more actual 'numbers' doesn't have more people that 'like' it than the players that actively play call of duty.

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UltimAXE

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Edited By UltimAXE

Mr. Boon should totally make a Bombcast appearance. Seems like such a great guy.

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shaunk

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Edited By shaunk

Man, first Carrie, Johnny V and now Ed Boon? They need to get Rich on here next.

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ichthy

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Edited By ichthy

@Cogzwell said:

Aaaaaaand a little bit of respect for Ed Boon was lost that day.

I'm sure he is very upset.

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bkbroiler

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Edited By bkbroiler

@Xeirus said:

@MiniPato said:

@Cogzwell said:

Aaaaaaand a little bit of respect for Ed Boon was lost that day.

Respect was gained! Ed Boon ain't afraid of no pasty pretentious internet nerds. He'll tell you what he likes and he don't give no fuck!

Word

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KaneRobot

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Edited By KaneRobot

As much as I have a mad-on for Boon right now due to the crappiness of MK Arcade Kollection (and the patch not doing that much to improve things beyond online play), MK was my #1 game of 2011 and I loved the hell out of Battlefield (despite the garbage singleplayer), so we are friends again.

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NTM

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Edited By NTM

I agree about the Indiana Jones thing.

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GioVANNI

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Edited By GioVANNI

@UltimAXE said:

Mr. Boon should totally make a Bombcast appearance. Seems like such a great guy.

They totally did have him on a bombcast awhile back.

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Jimbo

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Edited By Jimbo

Yo, Ed, I'm real happy for you, Imma let you finish, but Christina Norman had one of the best GOTY lists of all time! Of all time!

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Edited By twillfast

@GioVANNI said:

@UltimAXE said:

Mr. Boon should totally make a Bombcast appearance. Seems like such a great guy.

They totally did have him on a bombcast awhile back.

The bombkast.

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snowflame

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Edited By snowflame

Ha! Ed likes Portal! If you're reading this Anya, take that! Also haven't heard from you in forever--happy new year! -- Andrew

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FunExplosions

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Edited By FunExplosions

Yo I would so play a Raiders of the Lost Ark video game created by Naughty Dog. That could be the best game ever.

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ironscimitar

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Edited By ironscimitar

@Daiphyer: @Daiphyer said:

WHAT THE FUCK BOON!!! WHERE IS MORTAL KOMBAT

"Maybe I should start by acknowledging that I purposefully left out Mortal Kombat from this list because I worked on it."

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daiphyer

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Edited By daiphyer

@IronScimitar: It was a joke duder.

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microshock

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Edited By microshock

No, MW3 shouldn't be on anyone's list for this year. Unless that list is Most Lazy and Uninspired Game of the Year, then yes.

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Diachron

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Edited By Diachron

Keep on Boonin'!

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LOZZAT

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Edited By LOZZAT

Someone who puts first person shooters on their top ten list for this year? Finally.

It seems like just because we have a lot of shooters and they're real popular now, if you want to be cool within the gaming community at large you have to not like them now because they haven't massively changed for a while. Which is absolute rubbish because neither have most other genre games.

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KamikazeCaterpillar

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I don't know why but the fact that Mr. Boon likes shooters is kinda strange.

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buzz_killington

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Edited By buzz_killington

The list is in reverse order, guys. Reverse order. Makes a lot more sense.

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majamaki

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Edited By majamaki

Great list, many of the same games made it onto my Top 10 Games of 2011, however mine was fully based on single player campaigns only. I didn't really dive into the multiplayer games. I will eventually, but those great single player campaigns are too compelling.

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Eyz

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Edited By Eyz

Kinda surprised by this list too.

Nice choices, yup, though I admit I kinda expected some more "original" ideas let's say than just the big names big budget titles :P.