Game of the Year 2012 – Overall Winner

Peter Chapman 26

Game of the Year 2012

Our Overall Game of the Year 2012 is Mass Effect 3 from BioWare. The epic trilogy is one of this generation’s most compelling narrative arcs and this third instalment seemingly got the mix of dialogue, planning and action just right to make it a big hit with our staff.

Mass Effect 3 brought a thrilling conclusion to the many hours of gameplay that had led up to it. Although there was some discussion around how that final moment played out in the game – and whether that was a fitting conclusion to the story leading up to it – Mass Effect 3 did enough before that moment to leave an indelible mark on the hearts of millions of fans. Mass Effect 3’s early release date may have led to some writing off its chances but it has been a strong favourite with many of our staff for much of the year thanks, in part, to the engaging multiplayer mode it added to the series.

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There was stiff competition for this grand prize, with Journey and The Walking Dead finishing strongly and Far Cry 3 still fresh in the memories of many. Perhaps the most exciting thing to note about the list of games we voted on is the diversity on show. From big-budget epics and billion-earning-blockbusters right down to tiny indie projects and niche titles, the gaming landscape in 2012 was packed with quality.

Here’s the chart to show our top five.
Game of the Year 2012

And here’s the table showing all the games which received at least one vote from us.

  1. Mass Effect 3
  2. Journey
  3. The Walking Dead
  4. Far Cry 3
  5. Halo 4
  6. PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale
  7. XCOM
  8. The Unfinished Swan
  9. Assassin’s Creed III
  10. Velocity
  11. Asura’s Wrath
  12. Dirt Showdown
  13. Spec Ops: The Line
  14. Gravity Rush
  15. Black Ops II
  16. Diablo III
  17. Max Payne 3
  18. Dishonored
  19. Sound Shapes
  20. Borderlands 2
  21. New Star Soccer
  22. Rayman: Origins (Vita)
  23. Transformers: Fall of Cybertron
  24. UFC Undisputed 3
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26 Comments

  1. What a great year for digital downloads, with Journey, Walking Dead, TUS, Velocity…

    • Indeed, 2013 looks set to be a great year for new IPs.

  2. The epic trilogy???
    wasn’t it only two games on ps3?
    admit it was better on Xbox because your character followed on from 2 to 3..
    sadly i didn’t enjoy the third in the series for me it was a game that couldn’t make up its mind what genre it wanted to be in.
    very diverse list of titles in the list

    • TSA is not PS3 only u know…
      and even if u have played the first game on the 360 and then the other games on the PS3 u have still played the entire trilogy! =)

    • All three are on PS3 now

    • got all 3 on PS3.

  3. I didn’t expect that…

    I never really gave ME2 on PS3 much of a chance.

    Bought ME1 and ME2 on Steam though, might be better on PC.

    • Played 1 on 360, 2 on PS3 and then about a third of 3 on PS3.
      Got distracted by other games, but a mate of mine swears they are a million times better on pc, so may have to have a nosey at the Steam store later :P

  4. Wow, didn’t expect that. In fact, I think Mass Effect’s crap! Not sure what I’d go for though, either Journey, TWD or Motorstorm RC.

    • Same, I continue to wonder… like its my kinda game but it never clicked for me.

  5. A great year for downloadable games indeed.; some absolute belters up there, a lot of which are also for the PlayStation Vita.

    Regarding Mass Effect 3, to this day I’m still torn. Mechanically it’s the strongest and best-looking of the trilogy but I can’t get over that shoddy excuse of an ending that still leaves me feeling alienated.

  6. My personal GoTY is Far Cry 3 so i’m happy to see it in a respectable 4th, considering the competition.

  7. Wow. Borderlands 2 at 20. Wow, just wow. Top 5 game for me along with Dishonoured. Kudos for giving ME3 some love though. Every other major journo seems to have forgotten it.

  8. 2012 was a blast, Mass Effect 3 is a deserving winner in my book.

    Now roll on 2013, it’s going to be even better I can just feel it!

  9. I intend to pick up Far Cry 3 soon so that may take the biscuit. So far though WRC3 is my GotY. It’s the Colin McRae game I’ve always wanted…

  10. Well deserved imo. Superb game and currently just started playing ME1 on ps3.

    Although personally Xcom is my top 1, I would never expect it to be top as it’s not as mainstream.

    But my 2nd best game of 2012 will do :D

    • I would love to love Xcom but it keeps locking up on me. Can’t get through the 4th mission.

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