GGLOB

2007 has been one of the best years ever for video gamers. Here’s a quick list of the games I’ve enjoyed the most.

Turn based strategy: Civilization IV Beyond the Sword For the third year in a row CivIV tops my list of turn based strategy games. This year, like last year it is “just” an add-on, but what an add-on!
The Eye of Judgment for the PS3 and Worms Open Warfare 2 for the DS are the runners up.
2008 can turn out (get it?) to be a very good year for console strategy games with the promise of Panzer Tactics and a new darker Advance Wars for the DS and of course Civilization Revolution for all mayor platforms.

Real Time Strategy: Anno 1701 (DS)
This game was the big positive surprise in 2007. Made from scratch to fit my favourite hand-held gadget, both in terms of gameplay, GUI and graphics. Originally, I had my hopes up for it’s older cousin Settlers, but that one was even more disappointing than it’s outing last year on the PC…
World in Conflict (PC) is another strong contender for the position with it’s refreshing approach to real time war-gaming…

Platform: Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)
One of the best games of all time. Period. A game everyone should play. (Even if they don’t like Mario.) Seriously. Playful and varied level design. Fantastic controls. Accessible for the casual gamer, challenging enough for the more experienced. On top of that it is the best looking Wii-game ever.

Adventure: The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (DS) Great story, elegant (albeit not overly complex) puzzles, great use of the hardware of the DS - both in terms of input scheme and the look of the game.

RPG: Super Paper Mario (Wii)
Fan-tas-tic game! Great nerdy humour. Interesting dimension switching concept.
Runner up: Puzzle Quest (DS).

Music: Jam Sessions (DS)
Like my favourite last year in this category, Electroplankton, this is not really a game - more a guitarist’s notepad or a tool to start understanding the ways of the guitar. Or just a very very portable guitar-like instrument for travelling.

Racing: Colin McRae: DiRT (PS3)
Codemaster’s TOCA Race Driver was runner up last year on my lists of driving games. This year around their DiRT has been the PS3 game I’ve played the most. Brilliant game. Not too realistic controls, but very precise, with good level design and it gives a great sense of speed. Reviewers have been bashing it’s lacklustre online mode, but for me this is a very nice honest way to play online - where everyone competes on equal terms.
Honourable mention: Excite Truck (Wii) and MotorStorm (PS3)

Mini-games: Wario Ware Smooth Moves (Wii)
The pinnacle of the Wario Ware series. Two million different uses of the Wii-mote - two million different graphical styles. Pure and utter madness. Brilliant!
Honourable mention: Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii) and Mon Coach Personnel (DS)

Puzzle: Picross (DS)
2007 has been a very good year for puzzle games. And Picross was the best, I’d say. Simple concept. Great implementation.
Other great titles: Puzzle Quest (DS), Mercury Meltdown Revolution (Wii), Puzzle League (DS) and Slither-I-hope-the-European-version-arrives-soon-Link (DS).

First Person Shooter: Portal (PC)
One can argue that this belongs the previous category, but for me this is the most refreshing approach to the good old FPS genre in years.
Honourable mention: Resistance: Fall of Man (PS3), Resident Evil Umbrella Chronicles (Wii) and Team Fortress 2 (PC)

Casual: Peggle Deluxe (PC)
Peggle Extreme was included in my Orange Box from Steam. This did what it was designed to do; it created an appetite for more peggling. And voilà; more cash to Gabe and more peggles for me. To qoute Eurogamer’s Alec Meer: ” Peggle Peggle Peggle, Peggle Peggle Peggle. PEGGLE. I really like Peggle. You should really like Peggle too. If you don’t, then I hate you.”
Honourable mentions: Flow (Flash/PS3) and Super Rub’a'Dub (PS3)

Sports: Mario Strikers Charged (Wii)
Great football game that feels most of all like the Bitmap Brother’s Speedball 2 for the Amiga. The perfect game to introduce online play to the Wii…
Honourable mention: SSX Blur (Wii)

Game of the Year: Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)
Yup! Definitely.

And you? What does your list look like?