Game of the Year 2011: 40-31

2011 is gradually becoming a distant memory, but before it’s completely forgotten we’re brining you our Games of 2011 list. We’ve picked the 40 best after a fair bit of arguing. Over the next week or so we’ll count down from 40-6, then deliver our top five in video form complete with thoughts from each of us at VideoGamer.com. If you turn away in disgust at the sight of our faces, there’ll be a text Top Five too.

40. Crimson Alliance

“For better or for worse, Crimson Alliance intends to be an unabashed time-waster of a game” said Emily in her 9/10 Crimson Alliance review. “It could have joined the white noise of dungeon crawlers, but developer Certain Affinity has managed to design a solid and – more impressively – distinctive game, regardless of whether the simple, pick-up-and-play approach turns off a few hardcore fans of the genre.”

39. Football Manager 2012

“Improvements are significant without breaking the fundamentals,” said David Brown in his 9/10 Football Manger 2012 review, “It seems that Sports Interactive has thought long and hard about how it can implement changes that would bring back the disillusioned without enraging the devotees.” Be warned, though, as it’s “painfully addictive, screen-shatteringly frustrating at times but so moreish it’s like the computer game equivalent of Chocolate Fingers.”

38. Mortal Kombat

“Such a thorough piece of fan service that it’s difficult to see how NetherRealm Studios will ever be able to follow it up,” said Neon in his 8/10 Mortal Kombat review. “This feels like the return of an old friend – a thoroughly unhinged friend, but one we’re delighted to have back.”

37. Stacking

“A fully-formed, self-contained world of colour and quaintness, charm, and more importantly an individuality of its own,” said Emily in her 8/10 Stacking review. “Its voice might be weaker than Tim Schafer’s work, but Stacking is one of few games with its own visual identity.”

36. RAGE

“A technical powerhouse,” said Neon in his 8/10 RAGE review, “and if you can overlook the bits that don’t quite work, you’ll find one of the most exciting shooters we’ve had in years.” The graphics also get a special mention: “it’s easily one of the best-looking titles available for the Xbox 360, and while PS3 owners already have Killzone 3 as their graphical heavyweight, this is infinitely more enjoyable.”

35. MotorStorm: Apocalypse

“A relentless assault on the senses,” said Jamin in his 8/10 MotorStorm Apocalypse review, “with grandiose set pieces that would make Michael Bay gush with delight. The racing itself doesn’t offer a tremendous amount of depth, but the destruction unfolding around each event offers an edge-of-your-seat experience that more than makes up for it.”

34. Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds

“A gorgeous fighter with vast depth, but it slightly lacks the tightness and coherence that made Street Fighter 4 such an instant classic,” said Neon in his 8/10 Marvel vs Capcom 3 review. “For all its apparent accessibility, newcomers may find this a harder game to get into once they’ve passed the sugar rush of the initial fireworks. Stick with it, however, and you’ll discover your reward – a hyperactive but deeply rewarding fighter, one that should delight Marvel and Capcom fans alike.”

33. El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron

“It’s a collection of little things that make El Shaddai such a memorable experience,” said Jamin in his 8/10 El Shaddai review. “It can feel a little dated in terms of its approach to combat, but the game is so beautiful, so different, so utterly weird and wonderful that this is of no real consequence.”

32. Rayman Origins

“Rayman Origins has an awful lot to give,” said Neon in his 8/10 Rayman Origins review. Neon says the platformer’s content is “all tricks that we’ve seen a hundred times before, but it’s to the game’s credit that the action feels consistently fresh. You’ll regularly run into chase sequences and interludes that mimic scrolling shooters, but even within the standard platform levels there’s a clear commitment to diversity.”

31. LittleBigPlanet 2

“A fun, more accessible sequel that entertains from start to finish with a flurry of creative new ideas,” said Tom in his 9/10 LittleBigPlanet 2 review. “The real depth comes from the creation utilities, and anyone drawn in by the wealth of features is likely to be investing tens if not hundreds of hours here. These tools aren’t for everyone, but even the artistically challenged will be able to enjoy the best the LBP community has to offer.”