Christmas is over, all of the games have been released and we’re into the new year. 2011 has undoubtedly been a fantastic year for gaming, with many of our favourite franchises seeing new releases, not to mention a tide of new titles. As is tradition at this time of year, Thunderbolt has put together its top 20 games of 2011, of which this is the first part. Disagree? Think we’re idiots? Leave a comment and have your say.

20. Dirt 3

With Dirt 3, Codemasters responded perfectly to what fans were looking for after Dirt 2. This entry in the critically-acclaimed rally series adds more rally events than the previous game and very effectively infuses gymkhana events, a series first. Gymkhana is a perfect fit thanks to the real star of the show, the EGO Engine which handles the game’s physics. I’ve never played a racing game that feels this good, this natural. Dirt 3 offers an unrivaled sense of momentum, immersing players into the racing experience unlike any game before. This is the pinnacle entry in the series and one racing fans should not miss.

Matt Wadleigh

19. Catherine

Videogames don’t have a long history with forms of conflict other than “good guys vs. bad guys” or “get to the finish line first”. While those are perfectly fine frameworks for games, Catherine dared to do something a little different - pushing sex and fidelity as its major themes, and treating several subjects that most games wouldn’t touch (or would use as a cruel punchline) with a surprising amount of respect. I won’t spoil the specifics, though - the game is far too charming and insane for that. While the third act pushes the already batty story off into the deep end (traditional territory for Atlus’ internal studios, to be fair), Catherine packs a lot of smart writing and devilish humor into what is essentially Qbert 2011. While the game mechanics aren’t the star of the show, the puzzles are still a lot of fun - and complex enough to have spawned a subset of competitive Catherine tournament play. If that isn’t enough to get you curious, nothing will.

Bart Robson

18. Battlefield 3

There’s a certain brand of military conflict that only Battlefield gets right. It’s the kind where there’s a feeling of scale and squad involvement, where fleets of tanks and aircraft are every bit as vital to the outcome as the forces on the ground. What ultimately separates Battlefield 3 from the standard FPS fare, however, is the expertly conceived sound design, detailing every effect in context and proving every bit as vital to experience as any other component. It’s without question one of the year’s finest multiplayer shooters but feels a bit divided by the rest of the game.

Calvin Kemph

17. The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings

In a year filled to the brim with sweeping fantasy epics, swords and sorcery, and might and magic, The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings proved itself to be a refreshingly dark entry in the crowded fantasy genre. The world Geralt of Rivia inhabits is shrouded in ominous grey; dominated by moral ambiguity and questionable characters. There is no derivative, mechanical karma system or morality meter to govern the decisions you make. Your choices and their profound effect on the world feel natural, intuitive and wholly satisfying; complemented by fantastic writing, superb voice work and an emotionally engaging narrative – no other game in 2011 gripped me quite like The Witcher 2. And that quality seeps into the gameplay, offering a fluid, action-packed combat system that requires patience over brawn. It had its problems with a poorly implemented tutorial and an overly difficult opening, but developer CD Projekt’s staunch commitment to the product has rendered these issues moot. With steady updates and an overhaul into version 2.0, The Witcher 2’s small list of problems have all but dissipated, making a phenomenal game even better. It’s hard to argue with that.

Richard Wakeling

16. El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron

Its name may not inspire much excitement, but El Shaddai certainly turned heads with its ever-changing artistic vision. Played more as a visual experience and less a game, it charmed many players with its vibrant hues and dreamy landscapes. Its combat was simple but considered, more Swan Lake than Devil May Cry, and the many platforming sections were pure jump-porn. Constantly barraging you with new vistas and raw concoctions of colour, the Tower of Babel - the setting - provided floors of beautiful entertainment, each immensely varied in aesthetic. El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron proved that style over substance can still make for a game worthy of respect.

Oliver Banham

15. Crysis 2

It’s been nearly ten months since Crysis 2 arrived in stores, but it’s still a game I revisit frequently. This is a game that puts the onus of succeeding on you. Far too many first-person shooters are content to lead you down corridor after corridor, serving up artificial set-pieces and dumbed down enemies. But as you slip into the cryosuit and enter besieged New York, you quickly realize that no such concessions are afforded here. This is a true action game; the work of a developer with an established pedigree. And while it lacks the sprawling maps of its forebear, it’s able to carve out its own brand of taut, unmissable action. This is a slimmer, trimmed down sequel, and by and large, its all the better for it.

Edward Love

14. Shadows of the Damned

Suda 51 is a name synonymous with weird. His games are always eccentric and often refuse to cater to modern day gaming conventions, which makes Shadows of the Damned his tamest effort yet - it’s a relatively straightforward third-person shooter. Then again, it stars a wise cracking duo who spend nearly the entire game trading dick jokes, and yeah, one of them is a demonic pistol named Johnson; Suda’s tame is still pretty freaking weird. Since Shadows follows the Resident Evil 4 mold closely, it’s an easily digestible, yet bizarre head trip into the mind of one of Japanese gaming’s biggest rock stars. And, it’s genuinely funny.

Sean Kelley

13. Uncharted 3

In a year filled with refinements, Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception stands out as being the most refined. It comes across as the culmination of everything Naughty Dog’s been striving towards, achieving some balance between the big action set pieces and the meaningful subtle moments, something videogames so often seem incapable of. From the pacing of the writing to the wizardry behind the animations, it’s all handled with a calm confidence. Any of its individualized parts stand out as an accomplishment and they function well as a whole, solidifying Drake’s Deception as one of the year’s best all-around games.

Calvin Kemph

12. Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes

Clash of Heroes is all about the multiplayer. Moving from the DS to the various downloadable platforms, Capybara’s match-three RPG is as addictive a proposition as there is, online or off. Picking characters, selecting units and testing the various artifacts, it’s all part of the surprisingly deep, polished puzzle based combat that Capy has created; and it’s all incredibly fun. Matches can last ten minutes or damn near an hour, but every moment is drenched with anticipation and trepidation. While you’re setting up combos your opponent is doing the same; every second you’re trying to figure out each other’s gameplan. And once it’s over, you can’t hit Rematch fast enough.

Sean Kelley

11. Gears of War 3

The adventures of Marcus, Dom, Baird and co. come to an end in Gears of War 3, and its a tale that packs a surprising emotional punch. Though the series is famed for its cover-centric third-person action, Gears 3 is as much about its characters as the actual gunfights. A touching, sobering look at Dom’s past life as an athlete brings to bear the plight of the city he now roams, and the game makes a concerted effort to make you care about the characters you control on-screen. Ultimately, Gears of War 3 is the finale fans deserve. It packs rambunctious action, diverse sights and sounds and new-fangled enemies that are both taxing and exciting to slay. This is an action game at heart; a no holds barred thrill-fest, but the strides made in the back-story of the characters means Gears of War 3 is more than an incremental addition to a much-loved series – it’s a worthy sequel, and indeed, a worthy member of this list.

Edward Love