Top PC Games of 2012
Wow, who can forget the 2012 London Olympics? Wasn’t it a great time to be British. Everyone thought it would be a huge disappointment, with congestion on the roads, overcrowding on the streets, and underperformance in the arenas. As things turned out, it wasn’t like that at all. It was brilliant.
We like to think that the success of the 2012 Olympic Games in some way spurred on game developers, inspiring them to create the best work of their lives for the PC and other platforms. It also seemed to encourage console releases, with the Wii U, PS Vita and 3DS XL all hitting the market.
Maybe you’ll remember it as the year Risen 2: Dark Waters was released for PC. It would be an odd way to remember the year, consider many better games hit the platform, including Max Payne 3 and Guild Wars 2. Here are the best PC Games of 2012.
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Torchlight II
Torchlight II is up there with the best examples of the genre, but Runic Games makes very little attempt to advance the genre beyond what we were already comfortable with a decade ago. Torchlight II is a game that plays by the rules, and most of those rules are... more
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28.
NiGHTS into dreams
There's just nothing else quite like NiGHTS. It's called NiGHTS Into Dreams HD but, really, this is a port of a... more
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27.
Dishonored
This is a solid single-player adventure that lasts a good amount of time, but it's just a shame that Arkane Studios can't make more of Dishonored's obvious potential. At first glance Dishono(u)red looks like the perfect single-player game,... more
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26.
The Walking Dead: Episode Four – Around Every Corner
Despite not giving new and interesting characters the screen time they necessarily deserve, the relationship between Lee and Clementine has never been more pronounced. Walking Dead's last episode left you with a colossal question. Who the hell... more
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25.
Borderlands 2: Captain Scarlett and Her Pirate's Booty
Gearbox has shown exactly how DLC is supposed to be done. Captain Scarlett and Her Pirate's Booty is an affirming example of the right time, the right place and, crucially, the right content. Borderlands 2, eh? That's probably a game you're playing. It's a game... more
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24.
Football Manager 2013
It's Football Manager, and chances are if you liked other ones you'll have snapped this up already or are planning to. The Football Manager carnival is back in town, bringing with it hundreds of... more
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23.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 2
Black Ops II clearly wants nothing more than to pucker up and make out with Paul Verhoeven in a filthy nightclub. While Modern Warfare 3 clearly had a big sweetheart crush on Michael Bay,... more
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22.
Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed
Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing Transformed mixes some wonderfully loving nostalgia and ambitious design to create a credible Mario Kart alternative. A worrying and terrifying fact I realised the other day is that those of us... more
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21.
LEGO The Lord of the Rings
Lego Lord of the Rings is still a huge success that's wonderfully adorable and an absolute delight to play. You should never toss a dwarf, not unless you're very brave. Dwarves hate... more
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20.
Stealth Bastard Deluxe
Nasty, smart, and addictive, this is perfect for Vita. This year has seen a bit of a stealth renaissance, with games like... more
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19.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - Dragonborn
1600 MSP isn't cheap, but most of what Dragonborn offers is a new and exciting proposition that any seasoned Skyrimmer will heartily enjoy. Legend says that once you go black, you never go back, but it's quite the... more
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18.
Battlefield 3: Aftermath
Aftermath feels more like an open-armed welcome back to the best online shooter out there. Going back into the Battlefield is as rewarding an experience as I've had online this silly season. Did you forget about Battlefield? No one would blame you if you did - since... more
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17.
Dear Esther
The beauty of Dear Esther is that it raises questions about content rather than mechanics. Your left mouse button is useless. It's not needed, and neither is your... more
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The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings
With a combination of additional content and cutscenes The Witcher 2 on Xbox 360 is one of the most lovingly crafted fan-services you'll find. After I scored the PC version 9/10 last year, CD Projekt RED has taken the... more
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12.
Lone Survivor
Lone Survivor deserves to be massive, because it might just be the most interesting thing I've played all year. When it comes to indie games, there's one word that always makes me cringe,... more
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Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is trying to have its cake and eat it. It's hard for me to write about Counter-Strike because, well, Counter-Strike... more
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9.
Joe Danger 2: The Movie
Joe Danger 2 can be an incredibly tricky game, but it’s one that always puts a smile on my face. You can go a long way with a smile. When determined stuntman Joe Danger... more
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Borderlands 2
Borderlands 2 surpasses the original with sharper focus, better quests and more enjoyable blasting. Borderlands 2 stinks of money from start to finish, cementing the series'... more
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FTL: Faster Than Light
Even on easy mode, FTL is another capital-D Difficult game and its random nature means even the most careful of explorers might find themselves unexpectedly asphyxiated. Have you ever watched Battlestar Galactica and wanted control over the... more
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5.
XCOM: Enemy Unknown
XCOM works best as a panic management simulator. To get the most enjoyment from XCOM: Enemy Unknown, name your squad. Whether... more
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Hotline Miami
A fine port of the original game. I should feel worse about all this. I've sliced throats with broken bottles,... more
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3.
Need For Speed: Most Wanted (2012)
Need for Speed: Most Wanted's greatest achievement is how it sets such a firm focus on racing. Criterion set out to make an open-world arcade racer where competition is king, and succeeded. Like the cold metal girders and sun-glinted glass panels that make up... more
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The Walking Dead: Episode 5 - No Time Left
No Time Left provides an emotional, tear-jerking and ultimately satisfying conclusion to the year's best gaming narrative. Throughout The Walking Dead, Telltale has been crafting and nurturing human... more