Top 5 games of 2011

2011 was a great year for gaming. The 3DS came out, sequels were abundant, and for the first time I had a laptop that could play PC games. Thanks to the last fact, I spent almost $100 during the Steam sales this year, but it was well worth it. I've never been much of a PC gamer, but now I love it. Steam is great and I'm excited that I get to play more indie developed games now, some of which will be on my top 5.

Alright so this top five with be in no particular order, but will be 5 games that came out in 2011 that I believe everyone should play. So if you haven't gamed these games, you should!

5. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - Alright so I go to this game first because if you had any desire to play this game, you most likely already have at least 40 hours poured into this epic adventure. Skyrim was my first time to play an Elder Scrolls game and it did not disappoint. I even went back and got both of the previous Elder Scrolls games to see what led up to this game. The world of Skyrim is massive and super detailed. The soundtrack is fantastic from just walking around to the awesome sounds of battling a dragon. The main story it pretty good, but the side quests is where this game really shines. Also, the leveling system is so well designed an interesting. As you progress through the game, you level up different skills, such as archery or lock pick, and as you level those skills you get experience for your overall level. This game is just fantastic and I cannot wait to spend some more time finishing it up.

4. Super Mario 3D Land - One of the few portable games I actually played this year, 3D Land was the game I was waiting for on the 3DS. The game takes a page from the old Mario games and has you going through 5 different levels in 8 worlds, each being very well designed and just the right length for a portable game. The 3D for the game is done very nicely and shows just what the 3DS is capable of. If more 3DS games can be at this level of quality, I will be much happier about my early buy of the system.

3. Rayman Origins - Alright, so last year Donkey Kong Country Returns was released and it quickly became my favorite game of last year. I've always had a special place in my heart for old-school side-scrolling platformers and Rayman Origins is exactly what I needed to fill that place this year. I love the art style that this game has and the music is amazing. As for the gameplay, it is probably one of the tightest games of this year. The controls are fantastic and every time you receive a new power you see how much quality the developers put into it. This is defiantly a must play for any old-school gamers out there.

2. Bastion - Alright so Bastion is one of the indie games that I mentioned earlier. This game was made by just 7 people working out of a house, but if someone wouldn't have told me that I would have thought it had to be made by some big time development team. Bastion is a beautiful game that has such a unique look, soundtrack, and gameplay. The story of the game is kinda hard to follow at first, but as it progresses it starts to come together. The different mechanics that Bastion implements, such as weapon customization and just the kind of weapons you can use, are very interesting and give players a chance to choose how they want to play. Bastion makes me very excited to now be a PC gamer and have the chance to play unique games like it.

1. The Binding of Isaac - And last, but far from least, The Binding of Isaac has to be my favorite game of last year. The game doesn't take long to play, usually one playthrough doesn't go longer than 45 minutes to a hour, but the design of the game is what makes it one of the best of 2011. The game plays like an old Zelda game. You go from room to room defeating the enemies in each to advance and then face a boss on each level as you move down. The story is that you are Isaac and your mom is told by God to kill you, so you run away to the basement and in the end try to kill her, but don't get caught up on that. The main draw of the game is that it is completely random every playthrough. From the bosses, to the tons of many different and fun power ups, to even the room layouts it is all different ever time you boot up a new game. This game has already taken tens of hours away from me and I can't see it stopping anytime soon. If you can get this game, do, because you will not regret it. I love this game!

Alright so there are 5 games of 2011 that I hope have a chance to play. 2011 was a great year for gaming, and 2012 looks to be awesome as well. And as I slowly develop carpal tunnel and ruin my eyesight, I will keep smiling as I do it because I enjoy me some gaming!

P.S. Early pick for Game of the Year 2012: