Games of 2010: No.5

Choosing our favourite games of 2010 was no easy task, with arguments, witchcraft and mathematical equations all being used to take hundreds of games and whittle them down to just 10. Read on for our thoughts on why each game deserves its place and head to our Game of the Year 2010 hub for access to video features and loads of other content.

Jamin Smith, Staff Writer

The original Halo had a great campaign, but I've always felt things have declined since then. I mean, Halo 2. What the hell was that all about? If you can succinctly sum up the plot of Halo 2 without having to refer to a wiki, then I salute you. In my eyes, Halo: Reach is a return to form; the best single-player Halo experience since 2001. I'm glad it placed higher than Black Ops, too. As well as preferring the sci-fi set up, I much prefer Bungie's approach to level design. Its expansive environments allow for various approaches and strategies; something I felt was lacking in the very linear Black Ops. I didn't give up on the multiplayer after half an hour, either. I'm very apathetic towards online shooters, and the fact Reach has consumed so much of my online time says a lot. Damn Bungie and those daily challenges...

Tom Orry, Editor

I came to this quite late, but it's certainly one of the best games I've played in my free time this year. For me it's the AI that makes Halo: Reach special. Whereas other shooters in our Games of the Year list are exciting to play and heavy on set pieces, Reach challenges you with constantly evolving combat scenarios and some large, open environments. Bungie's Halo swansong features by far the best campaign the series has seen and the extensive multiplayer mode offers something with a different feel to the Earth-based shooters on the market.

Neon Kelly, Deputy Editor

While I've always respected Halo from afar, I've never been a huge follower of Master Chief and his suited brethren. This year, that changed. Reach marks the first time I've seriously enjoyed a Halo game since the original Combat Evolved. The firefights are as dynamic and engaging as they've always been, but it's the campaign's sense of impending tragedy that really drew me in. To my surprise, I eventually found that I cared about what was going to happen to the big colourful people in the ATV helmets. The fact that I knew what was going to happen didn't make things any easier...

Martin Gaston, Staff Writer

One of the most depressing things about the Web 2.0 generation is how accessible it makes dangerous statistics. I've currently spent 53 hours playing Halo: Reach, which is a piece of information damaging enough (for my psyche, at least) to put it on par with the WikiLeaks scandal. The worst part? I never even really considered myself much of a Halo fan before, and I'm still pitifully bad at the game, but during one marathon session I briefly thought about getting the USMC logo tattooed onto my left bicep.

For more end of year content, head over to our Game of the Year 2010 hub. Amongst other things you'll be able to watch videos in which we talk about each game in the Top 10.