Joystiq's Top 10 Games of 2008
by Ludwig Kietzmann 
{ Jan 1st 2009 at 12:32PM } 
If anything, 2008 was a year marked by unpredictability, polarization and ... whatever fancy word that adequately encapsulates people yelling at each other on the internet. For every refined sequel we loved, there was an ambitious experiment to be loathed. And for every disappointing been-there-done-that, somebody was taking us to places we'd never been to nor done.
This mix of new and old (Did you know? Our ten picks this year contain 50% new IP!) made our selection process particularly tumultuous, with many a flared temper and obnoxious remark clashing in the echoing realm of the blogosphere. And it's not because we liked a lot of games. It's because we loved a lot of games, whether they were brave, bigger, bold or more badass.
Besides, it's not like we can make it a top seventeen or something. That's just a weird number.
First: Only the reviews made us throw up.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 8)
Vegnagun bwf @ Jan 1st 2009 2:47PM
Well I'm not going to argue with you all day. Their picks were solely a matter of opinion so, like you I'm not in 100% agreement with the list. One thing that I do agree with is that Fable 2 is--to me--a completely average game and doesn't deserve any top 10 accolades. I'm not too e-raged about it though because that was the pick of the Joystiq staffers and I'm not on the staff.
Christopher Grant @ Jan 1st 2009 12:34PM
You can leave comments here after reading through the list. But please, read through the list first! There are links at the top and bottom of each page, to return you here to leave a comment.
Ross Miller @ Jan 1st 2009 12:35PM
Peggle Night?! Again, Joystiq!!! ARGH!
Sheppy (of the Fidlious Clan of Wong) @ Jan 1st 2009 1:09PM
I was mostly disappointed Jelly Car ranked as high as it did. Of course seeing Battle Mahjong Dueling Banjos Edition get game of the year was a great relief to me. I wish more websites would recognize that genuis.
WRE @ Jan 1st 2009 1:21PM
Hey, Chris. What's up?
Haggard @ Jan 1st 2009 2:06PM
Man, you're all wrong. Jamie Oliver's cooking game on the DS was easily GOTY
NoughtSoClever @ Jan 1st 2009 3:00PM
Seriously though, not a bad list. But as for the GOTY choice, while the author does make a surprisingly good argument for it, I wouldn't consider Frogger simply because it wasn't even made this year.
Courtney @ Jan 1st 2009 3:37PM
I'm shocked at the love heaped on PETA's "Cooking Mama" parody. Giving it numbers 1, 2 and 3 is just really absurd.
Jimmy @ Jan 1st 2009 6:05PM
Remove LittleBigPlanet and put GTA4 in there, and I would agree 100% with this list. Pretty good list, regardless.
Noah @ Jan 2nd 2009 1:11AM
That was certainly....unexpected. I might just have to buy Fable II now that I have a 360 and see whether you're right :)
Thranx @ Jan 4th 2009 1:02PM
GTA4?!?! Hello??? Bueler???
Seriously one of the best games of the year if not THE best, certainly the best story (note: havn't played through MGS4)
Bonkers it's not on the list. Far superior to Fable 2 which I found fairly bland, and sadly short.
Chris @ Jan 1st 2009 12:44PM
I'm surprised gta didn't make the list...
Hashbrown Hunter @ Jan 1st 2009 1:30PM
That REALLY shocked me. But I guess Joystiq didn't feel like pissing off the internet today. It is New Year's after all :D
But I still think GTA IV was important to gaming this year. It represented that games could have sophisticated, dark, and adult stories. Something I hope Heavy Rain shows as well next year.
Jerk Face [GT:xJERKFACEx] @ Jan 1st 2009 1:44PM
Totally surprised as well. I'm one of the minority non-GTA haters out there. I thought the game delivered what it set out to do very well. Not that this list is poor, though.
Though I WAS pretty surprised about Fable 2! It didn't really grab me, but I might have to give it another shot.
Shagittarius @ Jan 1st 2009 1:52PM
Remove Braid insert GTAIV.
Megadanxzero @ Jan 1st 2009 1:54PM
Yeah, I'm surprised about the lack of GTA IV. I think it's a fantastic game, and I can't see why anyone would disagree. Probably because it's slightly slower than the previous games, and kids these days all seem to have ADHD...
Fable 2 as number 1 was pretty surprising, but definitely not a decision that I disagree with. Overall I find it to be quite an agreeable list, though I'd probably swap out LBP for GTA IV. Can't really say about MGS4 because I've not played it.
I'd want to put Sonic Unleashed in there too, but I'm not sure what I'd replace... In fact screw it, I'd get rid of Mirror's Edge because I was pretty disappointed...
brickwalker0 @ Jan 1st 2009 2:05PM
thank god GTA IV didnt make the list.
Lavat @ Jan 1st 2009 2:37PM
Finally...though...I am glad that GTA had no position on this list. Das scratch is gone!...And my prediction again for Fable 2...Came true...Although it was not as great as I expected it to be...At least MGS4 came second...Great game.
Vol @ Jan 1st 2009 2:42PM
I call BS on this list. I think they only looked at games they recently remembered and didn't look at the full calendar. GTAIV was forgotten.
Jakka ( The Order of Haters of Balance) @ Jan 1st 2009 3:07PM
Actually, as much as I hate GTA4, it certainly deserved the spot.
Vol @ Jan 1st 2009 3:09PM
My statement is more qualified by looking at the Joystiq impressions and their columns about the game. I can't seem to find their full review. I know it may not be GOTY, but it is definitely in the top 10. Dead Space, Far Cry 2, Mirror's Edge above GTA IV?
D_Average @ Jan 1st 2009 3:29PM
GTA 4 isn't on the list because Joystiq is part of the "mainstream media" and they have an "agenda".
FSK405K @ Jan 1st 2009 4:59PM
no GTA = list is cracked. It's far from my favorite game of 2008 but it's required playing for all real gamers.
Ludwig Kietzmann @ Jan 1st 2009 5:07PM
Yes, Vol, that's why a game from March is in second place. We simply forgot about GTA IV, despite extensively covering it throughout the year.
There's a really obvious reason the game isn't on the list: we didn't like it as much as the games we chose. Does that mean we HATED it? Does that contradict the non-existent 10/10 review we gave it? I hope you can answer those questions yourselves.
Misfit Toy @ Jan 1st 2009 5:49PM
Time 1. the system of those sequential relations that any event has to any other, as past, present, or future; indefinite and continuous duration regarded as that in which events succeed one another.
Yeah, I don't believe in that either. How can I believe in time when I can't see it?!?
So easy to not believe in things isn't it? Lets just bury our heads and pretend its all not real...
Zertoss @ Jan 1st 2009 5:53PM
Just from listening to the podcast I can understand why GTAIV isn't on the list. You people should really pay closer attention to the site. They don't hate the game, there are just 10 games that they like better.
I mean, just look at how many GOTYs Ludwig gave out with none of them going to GTAIV! What does that tell you?
Kevin Ghadyani @ Jan 1st 2009 11:04PM
I'm surprised a game like Super Smash Bros Brawl didn't make the list. Comparing to some of those there, I would've definitely picked it, but Joystiq is primarily made up for 360 games so obviously the list looked as it did. Notice how it's all 360 and one PS3. You could say it's also 1/2 PC games, but most, if not all, the people on Joystiq pick the 360 over the PC from what I've seen and heard. It's definitely skewed. I wish there were some kinda disclaimer at the top at least saying "we play mainly 360 games and thus, that's why we choose them". If you were a Nintendo fanboy, you might be biased toward Nintendo, but that doesn't mean you can't appreciate games like Prince of Persia or Crysis Warhead (both on PC). It's just very 360-centric. I would've replaced Left4Dead for Crysis if you're going that route.
But I do not make up the Joystiq staff, still, I think a disclaimer like that is needed. It would throw off a lot of comments "why wasn't game x there?"
Actually, from what I've heard and played, Wario Land: Shake It! by the time you get past the first area, becomes Nintendo's top game of the fall, maybe even the year. This comes even from 360 gamers who own a Wii and that game. It's just what you're looking at. At least Braid made it up there. Must've been a long hard fight between Braid and World of Goo, but again, 360-centric. No World of Goo lovin' since it's either a Wii/PC game in this case. I'm not complaining, that's Joystiq's opinion, but disclaimers are useful.
Brodo @ Jan 2nd 2009 12:19AM
Ya it is weird that GTA didnt even make it.
I have barely played the game but you would assume that it would be better than an arcade game such as Braid. Considering GTA has already recieved numerous awards.
Go figure, It doesnt even make the list
Vol @ Jan 2nd 2009 1:36AM
Ludwig,
My point is about the editorial content directed at the games. Joystiq has promoted the hell out of GTA IV this year and has had an overall very positive reaction to the game. Much more so than many, if not all, of the other games listed.
I think that some of the Joystiq readers feel duped about it. That's the reason for the reaction to this.
Anyways, it is a subjective list and Rockstar has laughed to the bank already. Keep up the great work you guys do on the site.
A Pissed-off English Gamer @ Jan 2nd 2009 9:05AM
What the fuck is up with the people rating comments? Do people just systematically blast the ones that are remotely dissenting? People can't disagree with a list which is almost entirely subject to opinions? One guy even said "Anyways, it is a subjective list." Of course it fucking is; if you can find an objective list of top ten 10 games (and we all know good sales do not a great game make) then you've stumbled upon arcane impossability.
It was a fine list; sure there are some games I'd like to see higher or lower, but who cares? I'm more concerned with the painful analogies that opened most of the games on the list. Ouch.
Haggard @ Jan 2nd 2009 10:01AM
If you go on GameTrailers, their game of the year, best PS3 and best X360 games were all GTA4. Each of those award videos has an average user rating of below 5/10, whilst the best PC game (which fallout 3 won) is on average user rating of 9/10.
Go figure.
Duke @ Jan 2nd 2009 11:33AM
Kevin, I think you are way off base with that attack on Joystiq. You think Wario Land: Shake It is game of the year? Really? Oh wait, you think Super Smash Bros Brawl would have been a better choice. I see, How dare Joystiq place 360 and PS3 games as the games of the year and not Nintendo. Thats the main point you are making right? Nintendo is the greatest - right?
Honestly, you can not have played these other games and thought that Nintendo's lineup this year was in the same light. It's great to love the games you play, but don't assume that they are the best just because they are Nintendo.
I wouldn't place any game I have played on my Wii against the lineup on the PS3 and 360 this year. None of them came close to the mind blowing visuals, the deep character development, the moral choices, and other newer game developments that Nintendo is not touching as of yet.
LordVesper007 @ Jan 1st 2009 12:46PM
So wait you put Fable 2 as your #1?
I'm so surprised. I was really expecting you guys to give it to GTAIV or some sony exclusive. Of course you put in the disaster that is LBP and gave #2 to MGS4 which doesn't surprise me. However I was definitely expecting MGS4 to #1.
Sheppy (of the Fidlious Clan of Wong) @ Jan 1st 2009 1:05PM
You know the funny think about opinions? If you subtract 3.14 from opinion, you're left with an onion. And onions have layers... and souls... and eyes if you're playing SMB2. But if you were playing SMB2, you wouldn't post in the typical "fuck you... only my soul having onion matters around here" manner.
...funny thing, that.
LordVesper007 @ Jan 1st 2009 1:08PM
R u high or something?
SMB2? What is that?
Sheppy (of the Fidlious Clan of Wong) @ Jan 1st 2009 1:12PM
Kids today...
Super Mario Brothers 2.
Learn your roots. That way once you talk smack about a game or even disagree with someone elses opinions you at least don't come off as the type of person who wears a white helmet for their own protection.
Shmil @ Jan 1st 2009 1:12PM
Vesper, I think he was telling you that you're opinions don't matter.
WRE @ Jan 1st 2009 1:13PM
Alright Lord Vesper, since you couldn't figure out that SMB2 means Super Mario Bros. 2 your opinion as a gamer no longer matters.
rTwelve @ Jan 1st 2009 1:32PM
"SMB2? What is that?"
http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/2594/rage1wv6.jpg
LordVesper007 @ Jan 1st 2009 1:39PM
Everyone's opinion matters. And coming from Sheppy I could care less.
And seriously what does Super Mario Bros 2 have to do with ANYTHING? It's not like it was released this year or something or that anyone even mentioned it. Sorry I don't shorthand for old relic games.
Roto13 @ Jan 1st 2009 1:41PM
Oh, don't be such a Vesper.
Jerk Face [GT:xJERKFACEx] @ Jan 1st 2009 1:46PM
Oh my god. Vesper, you've just caused me to rage-quit Joystiq for at least a day. Thanks.
Abuzar Baloach @ Jan 1st 2009 1:48PM
First you sell your Christmas presents, and now you don't know what SMB2 is. Sigh, you call yourself a gamer?
XenMaster4 @ Jan 1st 2009 1:54PM
Old relic games? Blasphemer!
Sheppy (of the Fidlious Clan of Wong) @ Jan 1st 2009 1:58PM
*sigh* I gave a roundabout and wonderfully elaborate way of berating you and you went directly at the one thing that stood out rather than realizing the point of the point.
The POINT is this. You have opinions. That's good, I have them too. Too many some people may say but regardless, opinions exist within us all. And yet no opinion matches 100% with others. Mathematically, that's impossible... or a very very fucking boring world where it IS possible. So while you may not agree with opinions, you at least have to respect that these are not the oh so typical opinions all over the net. It's just not. So rather than bitch or complain that YOUR games didn't make the list or bitch and complain that games YOU hated made the list, sit back, relax, and enjoy hearing what others thought about the games of the year.
Also, map to the first post...
OPINION - 3.14 = ONION
3.14 is commonly referred to as the shorthand for Pi. Thus removing PI from OPINION ends with ONION
ONIONS have layers = shrek reference
ONIONS have souls = souls are also spirits. Ancient Japan mythos says everything has a spirit. The rocks, the trees, the rivers, etc.
ONIONS have eyes = the bigger vegetables in SMB2 sometimes have eyes.
THUS, if you were playing SMB2 at this moment, you would be too busy to post that everyone here doesn't agree with you.
Vegnagun bwf @ Jan 1st 2009 2:15PM
Sheppy, that's the craziest thread that you've woven there.
NoughtSoClever @ Jan 1st 2009 3:05PM
No one said that your opinion didn't matter. Just like no one said that piles of shit don't matter. We save our breath rather than speak the obvious.
Courtney @ Jan 1st 2009 3:42PM
Sheppy just made the first comment to be considered for Joystiq Best Comments of 2009 List.
Thanks for setting the bar so high.
Spartacus @ Jan 1st 2009 3:52PM
Sheppy,
Not to derail this train any more than it already has, but the word "soul" is not necessarily interchangeable with the word "spirit". It will probably depend upon your worldview and religious perspective as to how you would define each, but even in common English we differentiate the two.
Soul = The mind, will and emotions- what makes you, YOU.
Spirit = An eternal interface, the opposite of your carnal physical interface.
Everyone (atheist, agnostic, Muslim, Christian, Buddhist etc.) would agree that man has a soul. But not all would agree that he also has a spirit, ie an eternal or super-natural dynamic.
Sorry to correct such a minor (and fairly irrelevant) detail ;-)
Zertoss @ Jan 1st 2009 4:24PM
Bahahahaha! This is fantastic. I tip my hat to you, Sheppy. Who knew such a casual remark about SMB2 would open this can of worms?
You have earned a continue, EWJ-style!