PC Game of the Year
Sid Meier's Civilization V
Developer: Firaxis Games
Publisher: 2K Games
Platform: PC
While the PC is certainly undergoing a Renaissance in terms of the number and types of games that it sees these days, it's also true that certain titles and genres will always live primarily (or exclusively) on the PC. One of those, doubtless, is strategy. And when it comes to strategy, the grandaddy of 'em all is Sid Meier's famed Civilization series, of which Civ V is the latest and greatest incarnation. While it suffered on initial release from slightly boneheaded A.I., that's been pretty much fixed in the latest patches, and the game now offers so many improvements -- technical and gameplay-related -- over earlier versions that it's impossible not to rate it the best Civ yet. It's also managed to keep the core of what makes Civilization a great series: addictive gameplay, wide-open worlds, nods to history, and an improved version of its strategic warfare model. It's the pinnacle of a PC-exclusive genre, and the best PC game of 2010.
Honorable Mentions: BioShock 2, Fallout: New Vegas, StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty, World of Warcraft: Cataclysm
Xbox 360 Game of the Year
Mass Effect 2
Developer: BioWare
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Platform: Xbox 360, PC
Fundamentally changing the core elements of a game when creating a sequel is a risky maneuver for a developer, especially if the first game was one of the most acclaimed titles of the generation. Not only did BioWare do just that, the development team behind Mass Effect 2 actually managed to make its sequel better than the original (at least in some fans' eyes). While not everyone liked the increased emphasis on combat, it's hard to find flaws in that area's myriad improvements. Sure, players couldn't micro-manage dozens of types of ammunition and weapon attachments like they could in the first game, but is that really what we want out of a modern RPG? For those gamers that were more interested in being swept away by its epic storyline or in exploring one of the most richly detailed universes in modern gaming, there was a lot to love in Mass Effect 2. And hey, who knows, maybe we'll even see a sequel someday...
Honorable Mentions: Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, Dance Central, Halo: Reach, Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit
PlayStation 3 Game of the Year
Heavy Rain
Developer: Quantic Dream
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Platform: PlayStation 3
An adventure game for people who never got into the point-and-click methodology of adventure games past, Heavy Rain forever changed the way some people view the genre. While there were enough old-school adventure elements in place (static environments, anyone?) to place Heavy Rain squarely in this category for award consideration, the game's impressive presentation and pulse-pounding minigames made it so much more. Its dark - and at times downright disturbing - storyline and fatalistic outlook on death (when a main character dies, he or she stays dead) also helped to set Heavy Rain apart from the pack, proving to many that modern games are far more than just child's play.
Honorable Mentions: 3D Dot Game Heroes, Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, God of War III, Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit
