Game of the Year 2009: 20-11

Feature by Philip Morton, published on Monday 4th January 2010

We continue our look back at 2009 with our third of four Game of the Year articles. Agree or disagree with our rankings? Sound off in the comments.

20. Peggle

This was never going to fail. Peggle on PC is arguably the most addictive game ever, and now that it’s on iPhone the added portability means you can get your fix any time you like. The wholly brilliant puzzle gameplay mechanic translates perfectly to the handheld, and the new wheel and touch controls are a masterstroke. With a tonne of levels and challenges to beat, it will keep you entertained till the inevitable Peggle expansions, and then some.

Oliver Banham

19. Borderlands

Trying to mix two vastly different genres is always a risky process but Borderlands passes with flying colours. The RPG elements give it plenty of depth and replayability; the looting is addictive and rewarding, and the shooting is surprisingly intuitive and satisfying, competing with some of the best dedicated first person shooters on the market. And that’s before you even mention the astounding amount of weapons on offer to lay waste to the myriad enemies populating the world of Pandora. With a wicked sense of humour, pop culture references and a fantastic visual style, there’s plenty to love with Borderlands. One of the best and most surprising games of the year.

Richard Wakeling

18=. Forza Motorsport 3

If you haven’t given Forza 3 a chance yet, you better have a good reason. Turn 10’s hard work paid of hugely this year when the game was released to rave reviews. It’s an experience that can take over your life, with vast amounts of tuning, vinyl creating and even the odd race to take part in. PS3 owners beware, Gran Turismo has got a long way to go next year.

Nick Akerman

18=. Dragon Age: Origins

Dragon Age is the closest we’re ever going to get to a Baldur’s Gate sequel, but damn if it isn’t worthy. While the story may be a little generic - in places it feels like the artists and writers were trying to invoke a lawsuit from New Line Cinema - but the game makes up for it with pure, unadulterated roleplaying wizardry. Managing your party of four has endless possibilities, thanks to a great planning system that eliminates the need for intense micro-management, but doesn’t strip away essential RPG mechanics. While it isn’t the prettiest game of the year - 2007’s Mass Effect is a far better looking Bioware title - it’s definitely one of the most rewarding.

Bart Robson

17. inFamous

inFamous is one of those rare games whose story greatly elevates the game as a whole. As an open world action game, inFamous is a solid super hero romp plagued by the sameness of it’s large city and repeating mission types; but as a super hero origin story, it isn’t afraid to get its hands dirty or turn the entire world upside down for the player. Cole’s story is one worth being told and one that any fan of the hero genre shouldn’t miss.

Sean Kelley

16. New Super Mario Bros. Wii

This arrived late, but it made quite the impact. It took all of the great ideas that defined the series and blended them into one of the best games Nintendo has made in recent memory. The basic platforming concepts established by the NES games, the items and special moves from the SNES sequels, and the acrobatic finesse of the 3D titles worked amazing well together. Several levels featured a level of challenge and creativity unseen in years. The best part was the multiplayer, which allowed up to four people to play through the game at once. Thanks to the well-designed system, the multiplayer allows the gameplay to be as cooperative or competitive as you want to make it. The controls may have been a little gimmicky, but the game is easily one of the greatest titles of the year.

Justin Boot

15=. Killzone 2

Ok, so it didn’t have the longest single player, the story was utter tripe and there wasn’t any co-op, but once in a while a guy needs a game with no brains. Granted, I was a huge fan of the first game (which many people loathed), and so my view on Killzone 2 is probably a little misguided. Nevertheless, it was a hell of a ride, with some of the best graphics seen this generation. Screw the haters, Guerilla’s game deserves to be applauded!

Nick Akerman

15=. Trine

Despite being cast off by many for its excessive price tag for a 2D game, Trine has established itself as one of the major cult IPs of 2009. Initially receiving strong positive acclaim almost universally, the £18 RRP put even the most open minded of gamers off making a purchase hastily. As more and more people decided to take the plunge, the cogs set in motion and three months after release, we can’t help but feel Trine is a unique creature in a world so obsessed with the peak of the moment, before being cast aside in favour of this week’s fad. Diverse but familiar, cliche yet fresh, Trine demonstrates how the internet is redefining independent markets.

Stuart Edwards

14. Grand Theft Auto Chinatown Wars

When Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars was first announced for the DS, it sounded awful. The DS sometimes has troubles handling a basic puzzle game, and we were supposed to believe that it could deliver a sprawling, violent crime story on the same handheld device that has games based High School Musical and Hannah Montana?

Well, it did. With a top-down perspective that reinvigorated what the first entries were all about, the tale of Huang Lee’s rise in the criminal underworld was a captivating tale. The gameplay was also stellar, with perfect vehicle handling, plenty of mini-games and an expansive drug-dealing system. The PSP port delivered more of the same, making these unexpectedly good handheld games one of the best GTA games ever. That’s right. I said it.

Anthony Karge

13. Trials HD

Infuriating is rarely a positive feature in a game, but somehow Trials HD capitalises on this emotion and turns it into addicting gameplay. Where a lesser game would have you smashing anything in the local vicinity, Trials merely requires a tap of a button and instantly your back to the last checkpoint, no loading, no fuss. Sure you could get similar games for free on the net but it’s the difference between watching an Uwe Boll film and a Spielberg epic. Throw in the small matter of pride to beat your friends and this is arguably the most rewarding game of the year.

Mark Johnson

12=. The Beatles: Rock Band

Just when the music game genre felt as though it was becoming bloated with acts like Metallica and Aerosmith garnering their own entries, the much-anticipated The Beatles: Rock Band emerged and showed us that there’s still some life left in our plastic guitars. With good number of tracks from the legendary (albeit simplistic) group, it went one step further in its portrayal of the band and consistent level of quality. To say the least, the game looks a lot better than its competition, and raises the bar for any oncoming competition. This is the first band-specific game to feel as fleshed out and well-produced as a traditional Rock Band or Guitar Hero game. This is a perfect compliment to anyone’s The Beatles collection.

Calvin Kemph

12=. Mario and Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story

It’s been a year for handhelds in my household. Unless you were dashing through cities assassinating key political figures in Assassin’s Creed II, you were on your DS or your PSP. It isn’t often you venture across a handheld RPG that is fun to play, accessible to anyone, and maintains a sense of depth and quality storytelling. Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story successfully serves you cake, and lets you eat it too. The game is colorful and eccentric, and makes use of all of the DS’ quirky features. When a game boasts a stylish presentation wrapped in a reflex-based battle system and served with a side of compelling plotline, it certainly makes the prestigious Sullivan top 3 list. Plus, it fits in your pocket.

Benjamin Sullivan

11. Shadow Complex

This year Shadow Complex was a title that clearly set a new bar in terms of quality and value for non-disc titles. Its (mostly) 2D platforming action brought back memories of classics like Metroid and Castlevania while the 3D elements gave it a more modern edge. The tremendous amount of goodies to be found in the complex and implementation of a leveling up system gave the title more replay value than many full-priced retail games. Add the fact that Epic was somehow able to recruit Nathan Drake’s twin brother to star in the leading role and what you have in the end is one of the best downloadable games not only of 2009 but of all time.

Darius Studdard

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