2012 was quite an interesting year for games. A lot of the highly anticipated AAA games were disappointing while there were many of surprises from smaller developers. A lot of games wanted to incorporate player choice into the story like The Walking Dead and Spec Ops: The Line, even the giant Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 had player choice in the story. There also wasn't a clear GOTY-type game for the year, like last year you could look at Skyrim and know that it was going to be a favorite or the year before with Mass Effect 2 and Red Dead Redemption. But that may not be a bad thing since there were a ton of great games with a lot of variety in them. So here is my top 10 favorite games of 2012!

10. Rock Band Blitz

Although you may not know what is happening the first time you watch this game in action, or the second, or probably have to have someone sit down and break it down for you step by step, this was easily one of the most fun games of this year. It is very satisfying tapping out the rhythm on your controller as you switch between the different instruments. Along with this, the in-game leaderboards make you determined to keep playing a song until you pass your friend's scores. No other game this year could I just jump in for 5 minutes and play one song and be satisfied with my time in the game.

9. Far Cry 3

I was not expecting to like this game as much as I did. A great combination of an interesting story along with great open-world action that absorbs you into the world. With the insane villain Vaas and your dumb, rich kid friends, the games story makes you guess every second about what is real and what isn't along with trying to figure out what is happening around you. It is very interesting to play the role of Jason Brody as he is a very unlikable player trying to save your very unlikable friends while exploring this rich world full of crazy people and savage beasts. One of my surprises of this year.

8. Need For Speed: Most Wanted

Now before you go and say it is just a racing game, it is a very good racing game. Exploring the open world of Most Wanted is fun as you explore to find new cars and beat your friends in jumping through billboards or driving fast past a speed camera. And how could I not talk about how solid the racing is! The controls are super tight and when you mess up you know what happens. Yes, sometimes there is an unlucky turn where a truck slams right into your car and you suffer because of this, but overall it is just plain fun racing. Plus, the multiplayer is absolutely crazy!

7. Persona 4 Arena

Persona 4 is one of my all-time favorite games so I was very happy when I played P4A and reacquainted myself with the awesome class of characters. The story mode is more of a visual novel and the fighting is very simple in the game, but it is worth seeing through this lengthy journey as you play through all of the character's stories and get their side of the story. The fighting too is very fun and the variety of play styles with each character makes it interesting to learn a new character.

6. Trials Evolution

Trials is almost a puzzle game where you have to figure out the best way to get through each level. Whether it is trying to not mess up while moving at a fast pace or passing your friends ghost times, you can always improve upon each section. It just has that Super Meat Boy mentality where the levels are difficult and the music keeps going as you mess up just to push you through to the end of the level. A very addicting game and still plays great in a local competitive setting where the courses are simple, but you have to play fast and clean to be the best.

5. Darksiders 2

I was not a big fan of the first Darksiders. The puzzles were good but the combat was too shallow for me. Darksiders 2 is able to make the combat fun with a better combo system and a really great loot system. It is fun getting the new loot and making your character better with improved armor and weapons. The puzzles become more difficult through the game and the combat stays interesting. It is a huge game but not to huge in the way that it is empty. This feels like the new modern Legend of Zelda with a better combat and a darker tone.

4. Mark of the Ninja

There are very few games which I can say are perfect. Mark of the Ninja is one of these perfect games. It does what it wants to do and does them amazingly. The stealth is very tight but you never feel powerless. You have the control in every situation and you are able to play through each section any way you want. The game just makes sense too. The story gives good context for your powers and makes a very interesting story as you think if you are really going mad with power, or if the ninjas are just changing for the best. Plus, the art style just looks awesome.

3. The Walking Dead

This is the epitome of how games should tell a story. All of the characters are interesting and are unique to themselves. You won't please all of them all of the time, but this just all plays into how the game is about the gray choices. You don't make good decisions, you just make decisions which you will think will turn out the best for your group. This is the game which will lead how choices in games should be made. A lot of scenarios it is under a lot of time constraints where you have to make hard, meaningful choices fast. It also doesn't break the atmosphere and have you go on pointless missions and play through a bad game to get to the meat of the story. It cuts out the fat and makes a huge impression of story telling in games.

2. Halo 4

There is just so much to love about Halo 4. The combat feels new and fresh but it stays true to the Halo formula. The new guns look cool and new but all fit into the mold. The multiplayer feels like Halo but new in the way you can customize your character the way you want but you still are not all powerful and need to pick up the power weapons. The story is the best Halo story making it interesting when you meet the new enemy. Along with this, it tries to make Master Chief more of a human as he learns more about himself and why he feels the way he does. And the interactions between Chief and Cortana where great and the ending was satisfying and leaves me very excited to see where they pick up from here.

1. XCOM: Enemy Unknown

My favorite game of the year, XCOM. This game just does everything so well. The turned based strategy is super stressful where every action you make has to count. You have to plan ahead and many times, you are screwed anyway since the enemy force is a very powerful force which will outnumber you. And one of the greatest parts of the game is the meta-game where you are managing your resources and have to keep the other nations calm during the horrible invasions. These amazing parts along with sticking with your crew and making your own story as you go through each battle. You feel attached to these characters who don't have any significant speaking parts but you feel a connection to them as you go through each battle with them and they go through the hardships. One of the most Earth shattering moments is when you lose one member and realize that there is a hole in your squad and you have to go on without him. One of the most intense games of this year and that is why it is my favorite game of 2012.