This is part 2 of my list of 20 standout games this generation. Part 1 is here . In no particular order again, here is 11-20 of my list:

11. Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (2006, Bethesda Softworks, 360/PC/PS3)

While I very much loved the sequel: Skyrim, Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (Oblivion for short) made much more of an impact to me. Maybe it was just because it was the first open world game I played this generation, but I was just amazed by this game. In fact so much so that when I first stepped out of the sewers into the wide World I became overwhelmed with options and stopped playing it for a week! While filled with many bugs and glitches, some awful facial models, and very few voice actors, this game provided many many hours of main and side quests, with many items to collect and enchant. And when I completed it, I just went back and modded the game to get many more hours out of it! To me this is a massive stand out this generation, and paved the way for open World games for the rest of the generation, setting the bar high.

12. Bioshock (2007, Irrational Games, 360/PC/PS3)

If you haven't already played this title, then would you kindly do so? Bioshock really set about creating an original and immersive World, one set under the sea, where man eventually became mad from splicing their DNA to gain new abilities. Not only is the World of Bioshock so compelling, the shooting is also spot on, you have a huge arsenal of abilities, plasmids and weapons to fight your foes. This game drew me in with it's concept, but it really kept me engrossed with the story it had to tell as well, and it's a game I have been able to play through multiple times, which is rare for me for a shooter! Bioshock did very well both in scores and sales, and set a standard for single player shooters.

13. Limbo (2010, Playdead, 360/PC/PS3/Vita/etc.)

While this game does not stand out in the same ways as the other games: it doesn't have technically great graphics, it didn't receieve incredible reviews, it doesn't have a massive following. But what it does have is a completely unique art style, that influenced other small companies, and even larger ones, to explore new visual themes not seen so much before in video games. The game itself was a brutal platformer where one mistake could easily be fatal (and usually would be). The game had an incredible atmosphere though too, that made the player feel completely alone in this World, as a defensless boy; with little sound aside from the footsteps, and the black and white visuals.

14. Little Big Planet (2008, Media Molecule, PS3)

Little Big Planet brought about an entirely new genre to gaming, an achievement in itself. This game emphasised Play, Create, Share, and did it well. The game itself is a platformer that was suitable for just about anybody (I mean seriosly, I managed to get my gf at the time to play it and even my parents; all of which NEVER play games!). It had striking visuals, a very catchy soundtrack. and featured Sackboy or sackgirl, a cute little sackthing as the character. Up to 4 players could play co-operatively through the story or on user created levels. This was critically praised and sold many copies, enough for Media Molecule to create the even better Little Big Planet 2 a couple of years later.

15. Crysis (2007, Crytek, PC (main))

Not a lot to be said about this game other than this: it pushed the graphical bar far and above EVERYTHING else for at least the next 3 years, meaning that graphics were playing catch up to this game for a long time, inspiring and pushing developers graphically far more than maybe they would have. If Crysis didn't exist, games might not look so good today than they might have done. And yes, graphics are certainly not everything, but to me, nioce aesthetics go a long long way to engrossing me in a game and enjoying it even more. The gameplay wasn't too bad, it was a solid open World shooter, but to me (and many others) the standout of this game is definitely the bar raising visuals it is famous for!

16. Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories (2005, Rockstar Leeds, PSP (main))

This game really showed what the PSP was capable back at the launch of the PSP. Mot only that, but it pushed the idea of console gaming on a handheld much further than any title on the DS had been able to do before this point, showing that the PSP meant business. Sure the PSP trailed off not too long down the line, but this was a very very strong start for the PSP, and for a full fledged GTA title to be on a portable console was certainly mind boggling at the time! This also led way to the brilliant sequel Vice City Stories, which had an even larger open world, and brought flyable helicopters.

17. Goldeneye 007 (2010, Eurocom, Wii)

The Goldeneye 007 game on the Wii was a standout game to me, as it proved that core shooters could be done well on the system. The game was a reimagining of the Goldeneye story (not a straight up remake of the N64 title), so it felt quite fresh to me. It was a good try at drawing core gamers back to the Wii as well, those like me who were not necasserily a fan of most of Nintendo's first party offerings and so did not find much of interest on the Wii. While the game was fun, and it worked pretty well, I'm not sure how well it sold on the system. (The screenshot here is from the later released Goldeneye Reloaded, which was released on PS3 and 360, with improved visuals, but largely the same game).

18. Assassin's Creed 2 (2009, Ubisoft Montreal, 360/PS3/PC)

After the slightly disappointing Assassin's Creed, which fell short on it's incredible and ambitious premise, Ubisoft had a lot to prove with the next entry into the franchise. And did it deliver. Assassin's Creed II not only improved in every single way over the first AC (Assassin's Creed), it also added a compelling new protagonist, Ezio Auditore di Firenze, a young rebellious nobleman who finds himself mixed up with Assassins and templars, becoming an assassin himself to avenge his family member's deaths. The game was set in renaisance Italy, delivering beautiful environments across locations such as Florence and Venice, among others. The game was brilliant to play through multiple times for me, and is also the best game in the franchise in my opinion.

19. God of War: Chains of Olympus (2008, Ready At Dawn, PSP)

 One of my favourite God of War games, I think Chains of Olympus stands out because it really pushed the PSP hardware, I mean this title looks incredible on the PSP screen, probably the best graphics I had seen at the time on the system. Not only that but gameplay wise it was a full fledged God of War title, nothing felt below the high standard of a normal console GoW (God of War) title, which is why I say it stands out so much. 

20. Amnesia: The Dark Descent (2010, Frictional Games, PC)

Some people may argue with this choice, but to me this game stood out a lot. Simply put, this is the scariest game I have ever played, but I mean that in a good way. Set in 1839, you play as protagonist Daniel, who finds himself waking up in a castle without his memory, and it is up to you to piece back together why you are there, and why there are shadowy creatures everywhere... The game is a first person game, with a lot of physics based puzzles. Some of the puzzles will really make you think, but for the most part the puzzles are generally fairly easy. What is not so easy is the enemies. Not only are they terrifying, but they also cause the protagonist to go insane just to look at them, and Daniel has no weapons but to run away from any enemies! This game stands out to me, not only because it is so scary, but also because it was made by such a small development team, but feels incredible. The suspense and atmosphere get to me every time.

So there you have it, that is my list of the 20 most stand out games this generation in my eyes. What do you think to the  list? What are your standout games this generation? 

Peace