Game of the Year 2012: Jeff's Top 10

I'm with ya, Jeff. Far Cry 3 is my favorite game of the year as well.

I just played through the BO2 campaign yesterday, and while I might have ME3 and TWD both higher on my list, I can see the justification for its place on the list. Great list, Jeff.

Hm, the only game on this entire list that I even played was Forza Horizon. I should play more games.

huh... I thought for sure Roller Coaster Rampage would be on this list...

<3 Jeff

@Riboflavin: This largely reflects my feelings as well. Maybe all my time with Just Cause 2 put Far Cry 3 in a weird spot for me, but don't see the appeal. And I do feel smaller games are taking greater riskes and mapping out more new ground for gaming than anything "AAA" did this past year.

I'm about halfway through FC3, and I think I'm with Jeff, though I don't think it'll dethrone Journey on my list. Maybe it's because the crew tore apart the story for the last month, but with lowered expectations it's not terrible. The rich pricks get humbled and I'll muddle through the somewhat nonsense story to enjoy the great set of characters.

And the gameplay and open world are just plain fun. It feels like it takes the best concepts from open world games out there and blends them together, along with fun, varied combat. It reminds of Darksiders in a way. Not perfect, not groundbreaking, but combines the best of games in service of making an incredibly fun game.

Goddamn, agreed on pretty much EVERYTHING in the Top 5. Especially Fez. Waiting for Far Cry 3 though. I don't care how great the open-world stuff is; Ubisoft's abysmal marketing of that game coupled with the story that apparently doesn't surmise to your shithead friends getting their comeuppance is really off-putting.

Also I really want to go back to Syndicate's multiplayer and knock out the last of those challenges

@PimblyCharles: <3 Big Jefferey

Jesus fuck, finally someone mentions Rhythm Heaven Fever.

And yes, @Jeff you're right. Even though you didn't play it that much, Persona 4 Golden can't not be the best game of the year.

@Tesla: Me too, man. Shame it didn't catch on!

So glad that there was some else who went crazy over Syndicate, Sranked that beast and wanted DLC for it so bad. The online part of that game was so rocking, and the aesthetics of it were so boss! The exclusion of Dust, on every ones list but brad so far has me bummed...

Dave in his classic wife-beater!

It's been a long road! Getting from there to here!

No TWD.

While it wouldn't crack my personal top 5, Syndicate would definitely make it into my top 10 so I'm really glad to see it on Jeff's list. Listening to the Bombcast pretty religiously (except for this week for fear of spoilers, sadface) I can't same I'm at all surprised as Jeff seemed really pleased with the game and his recommendation was one of the reasons (as well as the stellar demo) that my friend and I both played Syndicate at launch, and I don't regret it one bit.

I think the only thing that REALLY surprised me about Jeff's list is that Forza Horizon comes in at number 5 while NFS Most Wanted didn't crack the list at all. While he did give Most Wanted a 4/5 and Horizon a 5/5 in the reviews, it was my impression at least that he was more excited by Most Wanted and had much more affinity for it. As a Burnout Paradise evangelist myself, I can certainly understand that feeling, I was pleasantly surprised that in the end we agree that Horizon is the better game. Personally, I had more fun with Horizon than I did with Forza 4, a game I loved so much I sank 60 hours of hardcore play into and another 60 of tedious hired-driver-achievement-seeking on top of that.

Once again, even though I don't necessarily agree with all his choices, Jeff's list is my favorite because it's the most eclectic and weird, and I respect that.

@DexterKid: Man, you really don't get it, do you? It's nothing to do with "disagreeing" with you.

Jeff makes me want to buy Syndicate, not because he likes it, but because when he mentioned the sales number, considering I already want to play it, he just enhanced that want. Starbreeze is a fantastic company that makes fantastic games, Syndicate is my kind of genre, not the shooter aspect (though I do love that), but the sci-fi. Awkwardly, I've done just about everything in Far Cry 3, and once I had finished the story, I said to myself "Well then, as good as that game was, I don't think I'll ever care to play that again." And now, a few days later, I kind of want to play it again.

@Vrikk said:

No TWD.

Yeah I know. Thank god, right? =)

Why was the Forza car just doing doughnuts the whole time?

I can't help but watch the video 'behind' Jeff for Forza. Just doughnut after doughnut after doughnut after doughnut...

This is a really interesting list. Nice job, Jeff.

Dude,comb your hair !

I was promised a top 11 list and was not disappointed. LOVE that he gave props to Persona 4 Golden. Definitely my personal GOTY.

I really like this list. I gotta pick up Far Cry 3 and decide whether I should pick up Golden... It's just that after watching the ER, I feel like I've already played it/experienced it, ya know?

@Sugreev2001_1 said:

Dude,comb your hair !

I don't think Jeff's hair has ever been better.

Syndicate!!! wow, gonna buy it for 20$

Facr Cry 3 was my only 60$ game. I love atmospheric games... Amazing game.

Goddammit I love this top 10. Probably my favorite GOTY list on GB or any site I've read for that matter.

FarCry 3, Forza Horizon and Syndicate I can't complain with that.

This confirms that Jeff is definitely the "Jack of all trades" guy of the staff. He likes it all, as long as it's done right.

@DexterKid:

Can't handle it when other people disagree with you?

Huh. Totally didn't realize Far Cry 3 was Jeff's GOTY till the Far Cry 4 QL