My 2009 in Games

A good idea of how this year felt as well

So here we are at the tail very beginnings of 2010 and even though I didn’t keep track like I should’ve I managed to compile this list of pretty much every game I played last year. I tell ya, back in August it felt like I hadn’t played anything new but as this list proves I really did get to a lot of 2009’s releases. To be honest, that’s a very personal “a lot” because according to EEDAR GamePulse 1,099 games were released to retail alone in 2009. I played 63 of them. Doing some quick math (read: a Google search) that’s like saying I played 5.6% of all games released last year but I swear it feels like I played a lot of them!

The biggest revelation of 2009? That games rarely “do it” for me anymore. Almost all of the games here definitely entertained and even captivated me but thinking back on them I recall more angst, frustration, and disappointment than adoration and joy. Maybe it’s my failing body; my aching hands or bleary eyes that make playing games a physical challenge. Maybe I’ve just played too many damn games and everything seems samey. Or maybe I’m just a curmudgeonly old man who’s forgotten how to enjoy himself.

Whatever it is I hope I can break through it in 2010 or it may well be one of my last years at the helm of a joystick, and I don’t mean because motion controllers will replace them. Wow, that was depressing but, ya know, it’s how I feel. I’m hoping that looking back on this post in a year I’ll laugh at the old me sitting here right now typing this out and realize how wrong I was to doubt the creative freedom, fiery spirit, and carefree whimsy of gaming. Come on industry, prove me wrong! I suggest you start by flaying Bobby Kotick.

Ok. Before I drive everyone away I’ll shut up and get on with the listing. Many of the 63 games below are linked to significant coverage I wrote either here or at NfamousGamers and if you’re looking for some more insight check out my ridiculously extensive list of what I played in 2005 for comparison and my Top Ten of 2009 list at Giant Bomb. Also, comment your hearts out! Let’s make this some kind of discussion. Wanna know how Excitebike is? Ask me. Why did I play Damnation? Go on, ask me!

Wii and WiiWare
Dead Space Extraction
Deadly Creatures
Excitebike World Rally
Just Dance
Pokemon Rumble
Wii Sports Resort

Nintendo DS and DSiWare
Anno 1404
Art Style Aquia
Atelier Annie: Alchemists of Sera Island
Henry Hatsworth and the Puzzling Adventure
Legacy of Y’s: Books I & II
Moon
Need for Speed: Nitro
Peggle Dual Shot
Touchmaster 3
Treasure World
WireWay

Xbox 360 and Xbox Live Arcade
1 vs 100
50 Cent: Blood on the Sand
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Brutal Legend
Damnation
Dynasty Warriors 6: Empires
FunTown Mahjong
Halo Waypoint
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Kodu Game Lab
Ninja Blade
Puzzle Quest Galactrix
Raiden IV
Red Faction: Guerilla
Shadow Complex
‘Splosion Man
The Beatles: Rock Band
The Dishwasher Dead Samurai
Tower Blox

PlayStation 3, PSP and PlayStation Network
.detuned
Afrika
Assassin’s Creed 2
Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce
Flower
Killzone 2
Noby Noby Boy
PixelJunk Shooter
Trash Panic
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

PC
Battlefield Heroes
Captain Forever
Dragon Age: origins
Tinker

Games I played IN 2009
Advent Rising
Tomb Raider Underworld
Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
Super Metroid
Scene It? Box Office Smash!
Guitar Hero World Tour
Bionic Commando: ReArmed

And here’s what you were probably looking for, my top and bottom games of 2009. These are only games that were released in 2009 although I’m sure there are some that would argue that Super Metroid was still the best game of the year. You old fuddy-duddy you!

Tops of 2009
Assassin’s Creed 2
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars
Afrika
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
Shadow Complex

Bottoms of 2009
Brutal Legend
Trash Panic

You can hear some more detailed thoughts on all of our tops and bottoms of 2009 in our year-end wrap-up podcast right here! Thanks for checking this out and commenting. Here’s to a new year full of pixels and shaders and physics engines!

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