Hey everyone. The year has almost come to a close so that means it's time for me to list my 10 favorite games of 2010. I played and revisited most of these games in the past couple months in anticipation of this list, and what I realized is how great the year was from top to bottom. I honestly could see any one of these games being my personal #1, and ranking them was extremely difficult. I'd have to say the top three were the real standouts but overall there wasn't a whole lot separating one game from the next. Quite a few games that missed the cut were pretty great too. But I'll stop rambling on now; here are my top 10 of 2010.

10 – Donkey Kong Country Returns

Playing the original Donkey Kong Country on the SNES is one of my fondest gaming memories, so when I heard the developers of the Metroid Prime series were making a new one I was extremely excited. The first hour or so of DKC Returns is a little underwhelming, but as I progressed I realized that this was one of the best-designed 2D platformers I'd played in recent memory. There isn't much in the way of innovation but each level brings forth new and devilish challenges that really test your 2-D platforming skills. The forced motion controls were annoying but that was my only real problem with the game. Its most impressive feat was managing to feel modern while evoking those nostalgic memories of past games in the series.

9 – Bayonetta

I bought this game about a week and a half ago for $20 and now I regret not playing it sooner. It looked similar to Devil May Cry and I'm not the biggest fan of that series, but Bayonetta takes that formula and makes it about 1000x crazier. The cutscenes and characters are as ridiculous as the combat, but the game always manages to be incredibly fun. The timing-based combat is satisfying and I'm a sucker for bosses that take up half the screen. Games that push storytelling and gameplay forward are important, but sometimes you just want to sit down with a game and pull off gravity-defying combos against a horde of bloodthirsty angels. Bayonetta satisfies that need and more.

8 – LIMBO

This might sound odd but I feel kind of bad for putting LIMBO so low on my list. The reason I say this is because it's one of the few games that I just couldn't get out of my head after finishing it. In the actual game the story is practically non-existent, but the very premise had me trying to fill in the blanks myself. Who is this kid, where is he, and why the hell is there a giant HOTEL sign? And one can't mention the game without talking about the eye-catching black and white visuals and minimalist sound design, which are perfect. But behind all that is a fantastic puzzle platformer that gave me a good challenge and managed to be a lot of fun. Sure, it's a bit on the short side, but for this kind of game I throw that whole dollar to hour ratio argument out the window. It's hard to put a price on a video game experience, and that's exactly what LIMBO is, an experience.

7 – Heavy Rain

This game is about as divisive as it gets. Some hated it, some loved it. I am absolutely in the latter category. During its most intense moments Heavy Rain had me on the edge of my seat like no other video game has before. This was interactive storytelling at its finest, and every twist and turn had me that much more interested in what would happen next. There were some lingering questions about particular plot points and overall the voice acting left a lot to be desired. But Heavy Rain is truly unique and I love games that push boundaries and try something new. In that regard Heavy Rain is a resounding success.

6 – God of War III

God of War and God of War II were fantastic action/adventure games that I enjoyed immensely so I had no doubt that Kratos' debut on the PlayStation 3 would be just as great. The guys at Santa Monica Studio demonstrated yet again that a rewarding combat system and spot-on controls go a long way. The amazing visuals certainly helped too. There were no radical changes made to the formula but I struggle to think of one moment of boredom while playing God of War III. I admit the "been there, done that" feeling came over me a couple times, but when I look back on the game there's no denying that in terms of scale, pacing, and just overall fun factor, God of War III is the best in the series.

5 – Pac-Man Championship Edition DX

I've played Pac-Man only once or twice in my entire life so I don't have any strong ties to the franchise. But there was something about Pac-Man CE DX that had me instantly hooked. Unlike the clas.sic blueprint the goal of this game is to create a train of ghosts and then eat them. Getting that power-up, turning around, and devouring ghosts by the dozens is one of the most satisfying moments of 2010 for me. On top of that this game is all about the high scores. I didn't grow up with arcades but I find it very exciting seeing my name go up on those leaderboards. Usually I'll sit down with the game planning to play for a short while and then time just flies by. I now find myself ranked in the 500s overall out of 70,000+ people (last I checked). Let's just say it can be quite addictive.

4 – Super Meat Boy

I never knew I was a masochist until playing Super Meat Boy. OK, that's not true, but Super Meat Boy is pretty damn difficult. I'd get frustrated and wonder how completing each particular level was even possible. But that feeling of accomplishment that comes with beating each level is exhilarating. Even though I'd get mad I still found myself enjoying the challenge. It's because I had no one to blame but myself. Both the level design and controls are perfect, so it's up to the player to make it through the hellish obstacles that stand in their way. I have to say I find that very refreshing. And if someone were to now ask me what my greatest video game accomplishment is, I'd say it's beating Super Meat Boy.

3 – Red Dead Redemption

My favorite thing about Red Dead Redemption is how wonderfully it represents the Old West. After playing the Undead Nightmare DLC recently I realized how similar the basic combat and mission structure was to the GTA series and how it was starting to feel a bit stale. But then I went back to the main game, rode my horse through the plains, and forgot all about that. Rockstar created an amazing game world that I truly lost myself in. Sometimes it feels like the world itself is its own character, and that's a remarkable achievement. RDR also presented a clas.sic western story with excellent writing and one of the best video game protagonists I can remember in John Marston. The game certainly has its flaws but Red Dead Redemption is easily one of the most memorable games of 2010.

2 – Super Mario Galaxy 2

Just when I thought Nintendo had lost me they managed to pull me back in. Super Mario Galaxy 2 was quite literally a system seller for me since I bought a Wii earlier this year solely for that game. I always had reservations about the Wii and mine has been collecting dust up until recently, but I don't regret the purchase because of how much I enjoyed SMG 2. This game reminds me that clever and inventive gameplay design can trump pretty much anything. Whether it was eating chili peppers with Yoshi or drilling through the ground SMG 2 seemed to offer a new concept with every single level. The level of variety was truly astounding and though I still prefer Super Mario 64 for nostalgic purposes, SMG 2 is probably the best 3D platformer I've ever played.

1 – Mass Effect 2

I thought the first Mass Effect was a flawed masterpiece. It had inventory issues, a clunky combat system, and uninteresting side missions. But the Mass Effect universe was incredible and I wanted to learn more and more about it. The story and character interactions were equally compelling, making it my favorite game of 2007. Mass Effect 2 managed to maintain those fascinating story elements while addressing most of the problems found in the first game. Combat was completely overhauled making it more like a third-person shooter, and the inventory was rid of altogether. Overall the game was significantly streamlined, and the RPG fan in me was initially bothered by that. But they were sacrifices that resulted in a much better game, and the things that made me love the first game so much are still present. The main plot was lacking but the superb cast of characters more than made up for that. Oh, and the decisions you made in the first game carried over to the sequel...you know what, I could talk about Mass Effect 2 all day but I'm gonna stop now before I feel the urge to go play through it a fourth time. That will have to wait for another day.