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1UP COVER STORY
1UP COVER STORY | WEEK OF DECEMBER 24 | 1UP's FAVORITE GAMES OF 2012
1UP's Favorite Games of 2012
This week, we celebrate the experiences that brought us the most enjoyment this year.
Well friends, it's been one hell of a year. 1UP has gone through some pretty big changes by focusing around weekly cover stories, not to mention completing one of the biggest projects in the site's history with the Essential 100. But despite all of that, we're still first and foremost a website about video games. And what better way to end the year than by celebrating the games of 2012 that reaffirmed our love for the medium?
This isn't a countdown hinged on telling you that this game is three spots better than that game. Instead, in the spirit of celebration, we're giving you the games that meant a lot to us in 2012. Games that made us laugh, made us cry, made us think, and made us die. Some of these are huge spectacles, while others are quiet ponderings. Some can be played for hundreds of hours, while others can be completed in about ten minutes. I can't help but be proud of how varied our list of favorites is.
One of the best things about working at 1UP is that between the four of us, there is no genre left unaccounted for. Our interests reach across the entire spectrum of gaming. Though we certainly each have things that we wouldn't touch with a 12 foot pole, there's always another editor here who will defend those games until their dying breath. And trust me -- there have been some arguments this year that I was almost sure were going to end in bloodshed. But honestly, that's what makes discussing games -- and any art -- so much fun.
You may've noticed that we're using the word "favorite" and not "best." That's because we've come to the agreement that comparing one game to another can oftentimes be apples and oranges. How can you size up the difference in quality between a AAA-blockbuster created by a team of hundreds and a downloadable indie title made by a single person? It seems silly to pit Halo 4 and Spelunky against each other -- it'd be like trying to compare The Godfather and Anchorman. Both are amazing at what they set out to accomplish, but also view the medium in entirely different ways. So it's with this frame of mind that we decided to simply tell you about our favorite video game experiences of 2012. Some of them overlapped across the entire team, while others were cherished by just a single editor. Regardless, these are the games that we'll still be thinking about long into 2013, and we have a feeling that you will be too. -- Marty Sliva
MONDAY, DECEMBER 24
Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward
Chunsoft shows off the possibilities of the visual novel with their complex portable thriller.
A portable entry in Capcom's lauded survival horror series managed a stunning upset of its more capable console counterparts.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 25
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 26
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27
Paper Mario on the 3DS is charming and fun, even if it doesn't necessarily stick to traditional RPG mechanics.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28
Whittling Down a List of 2012 iOS Favorites
A look back at some of the best games the App Store had to offer this year.
Comments (7)
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Totally out of scene
Posted: Apr 11, 2014 12:00AM PST by bhupeshmajestic
I feel like I am out of scene, haven't played any of these games.. infact haven't played any game at all..
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The 2013 List
Posted: Jan 20, 2014 12:00AM PST by KENSHERMAN
I still think there should have been a 2013 list. I remember in early 2013 (or late 2012) J. Parish was telling us to prepare for the good stuff in 2013. Unfortunately, you know how that story ended - that summer. Business "politica" anyone? Oh well, hopefully someone will save this museum of gaming treasures.
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Excellent list.
Posted: Jan 27, 2013 12:00AM PST by GunslingerScott
Is it just me or are there a growing number of indie games in the more recent versions of these type of lists?
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Great list!
Posted: Jan 10, 2013 12:00AM PST by GameNTrade
This list is great! Gives a good look at other games that were great that also should have made more headlines. Great work guys!
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If there is something I've learned...
Posted: Jan 09, 2013 12:00AM PST by rand0mZer00
It's that I will never be able to play every game that winds up on anyone's GOTY list because it's just not feasable. But, that's ok. To me, it's about picking and choosing games during the right times (maybe during the slow summer or early in the year) to give a lot of these games the time they deserve instead of forcing myself to finish a game just to get to the other one.
I know at some point I will finish this list of games, and then move onto the next list and so on. It's the circle of gaming I suppose.
Now, if you excuse me, I have to play this game called....Chrono Trigger? Yeah, that's it. Heard it's pretty good...