Best Games of 2011

So Tomass rightly suggested that we run an article on our favorite games, video and otherwise. I like this suggestion a lot. Made me think long and hard about games and such, what I play and I what I don’t.

Admin_Rock

I tend to be a non-standard gamer, I don’t often get in on the “big games” that everyone else does. I blame Civ II. I started playing Civ in university, right around the time Civ II came out. And I still contend that it’s the best video ever made. In fact, the sequels weren’t able to make it better, just more graphic-ky and less fun. Even Civ V is a pale shadow to the immense replayability of Civ II (See Master of Orion II as well.)

So, this year, I spent an inordinate amount of time playing

X-Com Apocolypse – http://store.steampowered.com/app/7660/?snr=1_7_suggest__13

Loved the first 3 X-com games. Great action, lots of tactical battle, that kind of thing.

Minecraft – http://www.minecraft.net/

Sweet Zombie Jesus that’s a time killing brilliant game. I think it might be one of those games that you LOVE or HATE. I love it. I’ve been farming lately. Built a bunch of greenhouses and sheep pens, and then attacked the Nether for some Blaze Rods. You know, normal stuff. My son is also addicted, and thanks to continual viewing of every Minecraft video ever made, he knows way more about the game than I do.

Here’s a bit of an explanation…

http://jasonlefkowitz.net/2011/09/the-unbearable-lightness-of-minecraft/

Football Manager 2012 – http://store.steampowered.com/app/71270/?snr=1_7_suggest__13
Come to think of it, I might still be playing 2011 or 2010. Doesn’t matter. If you don’t follow soccer, you don’t care. If you do, you probably know about it already.

Atom Zombie Smasher – http://store.steampowered.com/app/55040/?snr=1_7_suggest__13
Bought this on sale, pretty fun. Like Tower Defense with a plot.

Still looking to play Skyrim and Arkham City, but I tend to wait until they drop in price. Arkham Asylum was fun, but got a little repetitive towards the end, and I lost interest. So I can wait.

Board:

Time is the big factor here. Finding enough of it to play with two young kids is tricky. My oldest is now 8, and we’ve been able to play a few games together , so this list might reflect that.

Ticket to Ride – http://www.daysofwonder.com/tickettoride/en/
This one I play with my wife and son. It’s fun, easy, and I don’t give a crap who wins (which is unusual for me.)

Smallworld – http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/40692/small-world
The boys and I play this on game night occasionally, when we don’t have a role playing campaign of some kind, or someone is away. Fun, strategic, and lots of little pieces.

Castle Panic – http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/43443/castle-panic
This one might be a little simple for most, but I can play it with my son, and it’s great. It’s a co-operative game, so we can play against the evil trolls.

Sorry Sliders – http://www.hasbro.com/en_CA/shop/details.cfm?R=8E5F14CC-5056-900B-10CE-9BEFA3833CD5:en_CA

I know. Shut up. But, in my defense, it’s a pretty fun “finger flick” game, and my wife and I get pretty competitive about it. My son then acts as an X-factor, changing things up, doing the unexpected.

Other:

Laser Tag: Did this again last weekend, after not playing for a while. Still awesome.

(Here’s Tomass’s list from the comment)

Like video games, indie or not:
From Dust -http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/From_Dust

Bridge builder – http://www.hypegames.com/action/4634/bridge-builder-2.html

Minecraft – http://www.minecraft.net/

Board games:
Ticket to Ride – http://www.daysofwonder.com/tickettoride/en/

Carcassonne – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carcassonne_(board_game)

Misc. other games:
Nic Cage Drinking game – http://www.androgynouskelly.com/comic/game-nic-cage-drinking-game/

8 Responses to “Best Games of 2011”

1. Mikey C says:

   January 23, 2012 at 5:04 pm

   Video Games – I loved Civilization 3, Final Fantasy (anything before X-2), and the Suikoden Series to name some.

   Board Games – Diplomacy, Munchkin, and Scattergories are probably my favorites.

     Mikey C(Quote)  (Reply)

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   • Mikey C says:

     January 23, 2012 at 5:06 pm

     @Mikey C, Oh, and pretty much any Mario game for at least SNES and Gamecube.

       Mikey C(Quote)  (Reply)

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2. Robin S says:

   January 23, 2012 at 5:41 pm

   Video Games: very PS3 heavy – Portal 2, Rayman: Origins, LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean, Assassin’s Creed, plus a little Killzone 3 and MW3

   Board Games: King of the Elves, Parade, Schotten Totten, Balloon Cup, Mystery Rummy: Jeckyll & Hyde (with my sweetie), Rummikub and Apples to Apples (with family) ,a little Killer Bunnies with friends (also just got “Pirates Cove” for Christmas – haven’t played it yet, but it looks very pretty!)

   Other: Cheezy DVD games – Trivial Pursuit, Music trivia, Family Feud, etc. – Goofy party fun!

     Robin S(Quote)  (Reply)

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   • admin_rock says:

     January 24, 2012 at 11:44 am

     @Robin S,

     Me and my son love the Lego video games. We’ve played all of them straight through. Ran into a bug on Pirates, in the last level that freezes the Wii console, so we haven’t completed it. Just started on Harry Potter yrs 5-7, and anxiously awaiting Batman II.

       admin_rock(Quote)  (Reply)

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3. Brianna says:

   January 27, 2012 at 9:43 pm

   Video games- Anything from the Harvest Moon series, and Tales of Symphonia. I also started playing Professor Layton. It’s the only puzzle game I ever liked.

   Computer- Terraria and Reccetear.

   Board games- Apples to Apples and monopoly.

     Brianna(Quote)  (Reply)

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4. 1/4 20 says:

   January 30, 2012 at 8:26 am

   am currently enjoying skyrim, very much like oblivion (incredible, huh?), although it may have to go on the back burner shortly, kingdoms of amalur: reckoning is coming out shortly. so very excited

     1/4 20(Quote)  (Reply)

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5. 1/4 20 says:

   January 30, 2012 at 8:32 am

   board game that kicks arse: Carcassone! part puzzle, part empire building, and if you are creative, part drinking game

     1/4 20(Quote)  (Reply)

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6. Carol says:

   May 29, 2012 at 11:37 am

   Hi, Mr.Iwasaki! I’m Sarah and am a big fan of VitaminX! I played PS2 vesoirn as well as DS.I always had a simple question that I want to ask you. My favourite character, Tsubasa, is a mix of British and Japanese, right? (His mum’s British, isn’t she?) How come his English sounds more like American? (He definitely hasn’t got British accent) I’m just wondering if there’s any side setting for that.Keep your great work! Thank you!!

     Carol(Quote)  (Reply)

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