This year there was a literal onslaught of high-quality games, especially in the last few months, and it made it extraordinarily hard to pick my favourite games this time around.

There are literally TONS of other games that easily deserve their place on the list: due my job, I try to play all the major releases of the year: but I've always only picked 5, and I had to go with the ones that had the greatest impact on me this year.  Here my list of the best games of 2011!


5 -CATHERINE
"Love is over"
Game about infidelity, puzzles, nightmares, blocks …and sheep. One day lazy layabout called Vincent (who spends his days in his favourite bar to a avoid his fiancee Katherine) runs into a stunning blonde called ...Catherine! After a one-night stand Vincent finds himself trapped in a a recurring nightmare where each night he has to climb a tower of blocks… or die. In addition, he is not alone -in his nightmare, there are others doomed to climb the wall -only they are all Sheep… While during day, he has to balance his relationship with Catherine and Katherine, keeping his infidelity secret.

Adult, thought-provoking, intelligent, and hard-as-nails, this game from the team that brought us Persona games should not be overlooked. There is nothing else like it. Some will hate it, but I loved it.



4 BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY
Batman: You want to know something funny? Even after everything you've done, I would have saved you.
The Joker: [laughs, coughs] Actually that is pretty funny.
You could not ask for a better Batman game. It has everything. Every major villain. Awesome story. Superb action. Coolest gadgets. Incredible depth. Graphics to kill for. Incredible sound. And most of all. I't's got Batman. Nuff said.



3 GEARS OF WAR 3
"And I used to be so pretty"
— Marcus on his scars
When you absolutely, positively, HAVE to kill everything you meet, accept no substitutes. Third-person shooters don't come better than this. Splendid multi-player, surprisingly strong story, great co-op, astounding presentation -and more fun combat that should be legal. Yes, I love combat. Gears of War 3 delivers.



2 - UNCHARTED 3: DRAKE'S DECEPTION
Drake: Shotguns?
Sullivan: Why not?
I love uncharted. I love the cocky attitude of Drake, I love the set pieces, I love the blend of puzzles, shooting, adventure, romance and humor. I LOVE the fact that absolutely everything in Uncharted blows up/collapses/submerges/burns. Uncharted 3 delivers all these things in abundance. And hey, my collector's edition came with Drake's ring and belt buckle. Everything in the world is more exciting if it is collapsing, on fire, and Nathan Drake is hanging over it by his fingertips shouting "NononononoNO!"  Can't wait to see Gerard Butler as Drake in the upcoming Uncharted movie.




1 LEGEND OF ZELDA -THE SKYWARD SWORD
Scrapper: "Hello Mistress Fi. Hello Master Shortpants."
I love legend of Zelda, and not since Ocarina of TIme has there been a game in the series as good as this. It offers us best puzzles in the franchise, awesome motion controls, best story of any Zelda game, and above all, the intangible, thrilling sense of pure adventure. Cracking soundtrack, terrific art style and silky-smooth animation all round up this gemstone as the best game I played in all of year 2011.