Joystiq

Our very favorite game of the year is a sequel. There's a hideous number appended to its title, a numeric symbol meant to conjure up lukewarm reassurance and a promise of something familiar, proven and agreeable. Odd then, that another number -- 2008 -- evokes something else entirely.

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.