Maxwell McGee, Editor Follow

Happy holidays, everyone! In the spirit of the end-of-year season, here's a quick rundown of my personal top 10 games of 2012. Now, you may be asking yourself why such fine games as Journey or Far Cry 3 didn't make the cut. That's because I limited this list to games I'd spent a considerable amount of time with. Thanks for reading, and be safe this holiday season.

10. Sid Meier's Civilization V: Gods & Kings

This expansion pack for 2010's turn-based strategy game Civilization V introduced a ton of new content into the game. The ability to build and spread your religion gave you a creative and non-violent way to exert influence over your neighbors, while espionage further complicated the drama of global affairs (in a good way). This expansion allowed me to approach a game I had already poured double-digit hours into in an entirely new way.

9. Silent Hill: Downpour

There are moments of excellence in Downpour that will remain with me for a long time. In my review, I talked extensively about the Hansel and Gretel sequence; another I'd like to mention is the tutorial sequence. While essentially a combat tutorial, this scene's tension, and subsequent brutality, forces you to question the protagonist's motivations within minutes of meeting him. As you learn to fight, you are asked to decide why you fight.

8. Hotline Miami

Hotline Miami is an exhausting game to play. I often catch myself holding my breath, not blinking, and sitting rigid in my seat. My eyes seek out every possible danger, while my brain endlessly prioritizes (and re-prioritizes) each new threat. Harsh colors, trippy music, and a wobbly camera add to the anxiety. And only when the last guy falls, and everything returns to "normal," do I realize the stress I've been under. Rarely does a game elicit such a response.

7. FTL: Faster Than Light

I like how FTL is an ever-changing puzzle. Your goal is always the same, but what you must do to achieve it changes with every warp jump you make. The decision to save money, or spend it; your performance in battle; the acquisition (or death) of a crewmate--each of these can carry a weight great enough to make you rethink your whole strategy. And when you unlock a new ship, or just start a new game, the whole process is randomized and starts again.

6. Mass Effect 3

Embarrassing as it is to admit, I think I may have independently funded Mass Effect 4 through multiplayer pack purchases alone. And I never did get that sweet N7 Destroyer class, but I'm not bitter. I enjoyed Mass Effect 3, and the entire series, for many reasons: the universe it created, the stories it told, and even the gunplay. I just hope that, say 10 years down the line, these games are remembered for all they did well, and not for the controversies and backlash.

5. Tekken Tag Tournament 2

As stated in my review, Tekken Tag Tournament 2 is a difficult game; a mean game, even. Its fighting system has been so refined and expanded upon over the years that it leaves little room for error. The lethality of combos in this game approaches that of Marvel vs. Capcom, in which just one touch can be fatal. The character move lists are exhaustive--meaning there's a long road to proficiency, and near-limitless room for improvement. As with any great fighter, TTT2 has a strong balance between execution and mind games.

4. Dishonored

With so many high-fantasy kingdoms, urban warzones, and faraway galaxies serving as the backdrops for games, I really appreciate the time and effort developer Arkane Studios put into developing the world of Dishonored. The city of Dunwall--with her tins of jellied eels and nautical painting--maintained an impressive level of consistency across the whole of its design. It was a pleasure to explore, and the game felt all the richer for it.

3. Persona 4 Arena

As a new fighting game and not part of an existing series, Persona 4 Arena makes a lot of smart decisions. Its combo system isn't as lethal (unless you have meter to burn) as another entry on this list, allowing for a bit more leeway in battle. The auto-combo system is an easy tool for newcomers to use, and considering this game is based on a successful JRPG series, there might be a few fighting game neophytes drawn to P4A. And the visuals and animation are outstanding. While TTT2 is a great fighter, I've always had a soft spot for Arc System Works' style.

2. Spec Ops: The Line

Spec Ops: The Line posed several interesting questions to me, the player. It held up a mirror to an entire genre and asked if I felt okay with what was happening. Did I feel like a hero? Could anything good really come from such violence? In response, the immense body of critical work produced as a result of this game has been a real pleasure to review. When I think back to the games of 2012, I will remember the time I spent in Spec Ops: The Line.

1. XCOM: Enemy Unknown

Some games you just need to sit down and play for 11 hours straight. And then play for 11 more hours the next day. And a couple more hours the next. The game's feedback loop of fighting aliens, earning currency, and purchasing upgrades is well-made and hard to resist. With every alien bagged and new weapon unlocked you receive not only an immediate benefit, but a peek at what's to come. One more day. One more turn. It's addictive, without feeling manipulative, and I can't get enough.