Best Games of 2008: 30-21

So, 2008 then? What a year. Everyone thought it would struggle following the stupendous year for quality games that was 2007, but it hasn’t. There’s been more 9/10 games than we can remember a year having, and even some perfect 10s. Yeah, 2008’s been great, but that’s not what you’re here to be told. You’re here for our run down of the top 50 games of the year. We’ll be counting down 10 games at a time till Christmas day itself when we’ll unleash the top 10 in a special video feature, and reveal what game’s nailed VideoGamer.com’s coveted best game of 2008 award. Here’s 30 to 21. Oh, and in case you missed them, here’s 50 to 41 and 40 to 31.

30. Burnout Paradise, EA – 360 and PS3

What we said: Burnout Paradise is without doubt a marvellous achievement on both consoles. Going back to the standard menu-driven system of the past will be pretty jarring after spending days cruising from event to event in Paradise. For true next-gen arcade racing thrills Burnout Paradise is most definitely your best option. Criterion has delivered a game that every gamer should have in their collection.

29. Midnight Club: Los Angeles, Rockstar – 360 and PS3

What we said: The open-city racer has some pretty impressive games competing for your cash at the moment. Burnout Paradise is offering a seemingly endless stream of new content to play around with in its action-packed fictional city, whereas Midnight Club L.A. is slicker, better designed and gives a more real sense of being in a crowded city. We’re happy to play both, and we recommend you do the same.

28. World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King, Blizzard – PC

What we said: With the release of Wrath of the Lich King, it’s difficult to see how anyone will loosen World of Warcraft’s stranglehold on the MMO genre. With its spectacular design, dazzling polish and ever-compulsive gameplay, World of Warcraft seems destined to remain the everyman’s pick of PvE-focussed MMO for the foreseeable future, and with the implementation of new PvP mechanics, Blizzard is no doubt looking to tempt back players who jumped ship to Warhammer Online and Age of Conan as well. The competition needs to take note, because the bar just got raised that little bit higher…

27. LocoRoco 2, Sony – PSP

What we said: Some will think the game too short, the gameplay repetitive and the experience too similar to the original to warrant forking out another £20, but those people are heartless grouches who no doubt spend their time scaring children and trampling on daisies. For everyone else, LocoRoco 2 is the most uplifting game available, not only on the title-shy PSP, but on any platform.

26. Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros’ Treasure, Capcom – Wii

What we said: With wonderfully varied levels, colourful, cel-shaded graphics and mind-bending puzzles that’ll have you working those little grey cells into the ground, Zack & Wiki triumphantly makes its debut on Nintendo’s Wii, the only console it could have appeared on. You won’t see it on the PS3 or the Xbox 360 that’s for sure. Dare I say it? Zack & Wiki might just be our favourite game on the console.

25. Pure, Disney Interactive Studios – 360, PS3 and PC

What we said: We defy you not to enjoy Pure. In an age where simulation reigns supreme, Pure’s over the top arcade fun is a refreshing change of pace. Somehow Black Rock has managed to make a game that is infectious, spreading the joy to all who touch it, even to onlookers who gather around the TV in awe at the incredible visuals. If you enjoy a good racer Pure is a no brainer. If you think you don’t like racing gamers, Pure could be the game to change your mind.

24. WipEout HD, Sony – PSN

What we said: At £12 you’ve probably already made your mind up about WipEout HD, but in case you’re on the fence we whole heartedly recommend you download it as soon as it hits the PlayStation Store. This isn’t really WipEout’s PS3 debut, being a collection of things we’ve seen before, but as a teaser to what is surely to come it’s a highly polished and tremendously exciting game. If Sony keeps churning out PSN games like this they’ll put the retail industry out of business.

23. Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts, Microsoft – 360

What we said: To paraphrase (and more or less completely change) one of the game’s many loading screen tips, if you don’t like the sound of vehicle-based gameplay, you’ll be better off downloading the Xbox LIVE Arcade version of the original Banjo-Kazooie. For us, though, Nuts & Bolts offers true next-gen gameplay, with user created content being core to the experience. Simply making vehicles is good fun, and with the ability to instantly test them out you can sink hours into one creation alone. It certainly won’t be for everyone, but with spectacular presentation, highly entertaining Robot Wars style multiplayer and a lot of good hearted humour, the bear and bird are back.

22. Race Driver: GRID, Codemasters – 360, PS3 and PC

What we said: When we played a work-in-progress build of GRID a few months before release the flashback feature seemed like a clever gimmick. After extended time with the game it’s clear that it’s anything but. With a new found freedom to take risks GRID sits up there with the mighty Project Gotham Racing 4 as a leader in the arcade-style racing genre. If you’re bored of Gran Turismo 5 Prologue’s po-faced appearance and rigid driving model, look no further. Race Driver: GRID is tearing up the tarmac this summer without a challenger in site.

21. Mirror’s Edge, EA – 360 and PS3

What we said: There are times in Mirror’s Edge when you’ll be frustrated, replaying a section for the umpteenth time with no solution in sight, but persevere; Faith always has a way out – you just have to find it. Combine a thoroughly entertaining single-player campaign with a stunning and challenging time trial mode and you’ll soon forget that you managed to run through the story in six hours or less. There’s depth here that you’ll only discover hours into time trialling a single stage, and as we said, no other game released this year comes close to being as cool. We can’t wait to see what Faith gets up to next.

Think we’ve got them in the right order? Distraught that your favourite didn’t chart or appeared far lower than you’d have liked? Let us know in the comments section below.