The Best of 2012 Awards
There was a noticeable change of direction for the gaming industry in 2012. As many developers shifted their gaze toward the next generation, the big-budget games that would normally fill our time were in much shorter supply. Thankfully, those that did surface often delighted, intrigued, or otherwise compelled us in some way, so there was again no shortage of diverse, memorable games. Don't think for a second that fewer retail releases dampened our enthusiasm during our heated Game of the Year discussions. Downloadable games have grown immeasurably in recent years, and the wealth of quality experience gave us ample opportunity to argue endlessly in favor of those that moved us. If 2012 is the last full year of the current generation, it certainly ended in a rising crescendo worthy of the technology that's finally being put to rest.
Our approach to this year's award ceremony is slightly different than previous ones. We still have an overall Game of the Year, along with platform- and genre-specific awards. But our Special Achievements, where we focus on individual aspects of games, have taken a new life. No longer do we focus on broad categories such as Funniest Game or Best Soundtrack. Instead, we cut to the heart of what our chosen games did that was worthy of commendation, and phrase the award accordingly. That means there are no longer nominees fighting over the crown given that most of these awards are worded in such a way that only one game actually fits the criteria.
Don't think we forget about you, our passionate readers. Last year, our People's Choice award opened the door to every game released in the year, but we've taken a different approach this time. Using our own secret formula, we selected 64 of the best games of the year, and randomly threw them into a bracket where they move through the ranks based on the popular vote from readers just like you. The cutoff for eligibility is December 4th, 2012, and the voting begins on December 7th.
Enjoy the spectacle!
2011 best rpg year ever.....
just be glad there are so many good games.
Gamespot this is the worst awards season you have ever done. You've removed the peoples choice awards almost completely (except for ONE category)
I wonder if they will have a list up for most disapointing or worst games of 2012?
It's December 17th, GS! y u no release platform winnerz?
Nba 2k13 is the best game out this year hands down !
Jay_Foams You have the right to an opinion, but NBA 2K13 has changed almost nothing. While we have revolutionary games such as The Walking Dead and Dishonored going way out of the park creating new genres.
Damn, dishonored and me3 are really close, i think Dishonored deserves it over me3
BlueTurtz but no halo 4 gamespot is now some other videogame page reviews
AND NOT THE VIDEOGAME REVIEW PAGE
PLANETSIDE 2.
eh
Gig ugh ugh GUI sat ash seek lopes moon mayhem,Mann Jon hhh RSFSR
I've never played a Pokemon game before, but I'm so far 100 odd hours into Pokemon Black 2 and I think it's amazing. For me, this and The Walking Dead are game of the year for me.
jsonaut You should try playing the other versions. The Pokemon Series is really amazing and addicting. My personal favorite is HeartGold.
naruto0187 You know, I just might have to do that, thanks for the reply.
Farcry 3 all the way to the end nothing can stop this game best single player shooter since Half life 2 which got game of the decade.
ravenkiller Linear Life 2 was good?
Is Dishonored any good?
XxKing_BlazexX it's THAT good....
@XxKing_BlazexX It's a masterpiece. Play it if you haven't.
Dishonored should clean up this year, but I get the strange feeling Gamespot may make a few controversial choices. However, I'm glad user voting is restricted to Reader's Choice. It means that they wont all get hijacked by over-zealous fan-boys.
tizmond Yeah, they do tend to sometimes go against the trend, but I think the Walking Dead will clean house.
tizmond
Like Tom Mcshea? :P
Good News Final Fantasy XIII-2 never made the charts. It lost badly.
AQWBlaZer91 FFXIII-2 is disappointing for FF fans...
gametradersf I haven't tried FF XIII-2 yet, but I have tried FF XIII and truth be told, it disappointed me. It was too linear, and I'm guessing it might be the same for the 2nd.
naruto0187 gametradersf The second game is more open and resolves most of the flaws of the first game.
Sadly, it still continues the stupid story of FF 13.
MAX PAYNE 3 will get THE AWARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!>...........................................................................................................BUT MASS EFFECT is not unstoppable!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
saikat039 Breathe man.
Haven't bought anything this year that wasn't heavily discounted because it was all cut down console shite.
PinchySkree Okay.
jayhitz450 PinchySkree It's almost like he doesn't think this is a business. If you want to be catered to, be part of the group that spends the most. If you want to do your own thing, don't be surprised when companies don't fall over themselves trying to make something just for you.
PinchySkree
Thanks for the update. I was wondering how much you paid for games and if you thought everything was cut down console shite. Let me know what you purchase next year at this time as well.
explicator2 PinchySkree Be careful what you ask for.
Here's the problem i have with ME3 haters. Either they hate it just because of the ending (GET OVER IT ALREADY!!!) or they havn't even played the whole game themselves and just go based off of what they read off of the media :P Even though all of you don't want to admit it.....IT'S SO TRUE!!!!!
ILuvMe3
Or maybe they played ME1 or 2.
ILuvMe3 I personally have a problem with haters in general.
fefisgbf13 True :)
Mass Effect 3 better freaking win something on this unlike the *cough SPIKE VGAs cough* -_-
ILuvMe3 Most disappointing game ever?
RS13 ILuvMe3 Nah, BEST Game Ever...... until the last 5 minutes.
RS13 Or maybe best freaking game of the year!?!?! It did in GameInformer I'm pretty sure it can win here!!!
Where can i vote for genre awards?
Goriza Guessing it will be up when this one closes.
Goriza Voting is restricted to the Peoples' Choice Game of the Year this year: http://www.gamespot.com/best-of-2012/peoples-choice/index.html
weird no journey for best ps3 games ?
chronocross668 It a PSN game, so well of course it going to be in the PSN list.
is 5pm so where the genre award ? is it delayed again for an hour again ?
Must admit i was very surprised to see the method of pitting games against one another being reduced to a random lottery type draw. This somewhat diminishes the integrity of the whole process. Having said that, the only saving grace is the fact we are voting for the most popular game and not the best game in any specific capacity. Therefore technically, the game of the year should ultimately rise to the top of the pile.
Good games this year? There were any besides a few smaller titles here and there? Mass Effect 3 was cinematic garbage, Boredomlands 2 sucked, Call to Casuals Railway shooter #90000 map pack sucks so hard it shouldn't even be legal to be put on the market
