So far, 2010 has been an amazing year for video games. Top quality releases have been released on a scale never before seen outside a Christmas period, with every system playing host to some incredible titles. This is my personal top 10 so far, listed alphabetically to avoid making the choice any more difficult.

Battlefield: Bad Company 2

Bad Company 2 was definitely a game of two halves. While the single player campaign was enjoyable but not groundbreaking, the multiplayer was where the game really came into its own. Destructable environments and vehicles gave Bad Company 2 a unique feel in the crowded world of modern FPSs, and the team based objectives meant that the lone wolf strategy from games such as Modern Warfare 2 was not an option. Give this a chance and you'll be addicted for months.

Bayonetta

This game was a huge leap forward that Japanese action games desperately needed after Devil May Cry 4 and Ninja Gaiden 2 seemed to play it safe. It's not easy to pinpoint the main strength of Bayonetta when every aspect was so good; the graphics were smooth and detailed (on the 360 at least), the plot was suitably ludicrous and the dialogue was surprisingly well written. However, the brilliant combat system took centre stage, offering almost limitless combos and a fantastic sense of achievement when groups of enemies were flawlessly dispatched.

Bioshock 2

No, it wasn’t as good as the original. Then again, it was never realistically expected to be. Bioshock 2 delivered where it mattered; the combat was a noticeable step up with an improved arsenal of weapons and plasmids, and the story, although not as good as that in Bioshock, was still a cut above most games. Add to that a surprisingly good (although underrated) multiplayer mode and it’s easy to see why Bioshock 2 was so successful.

God of War 3

No games really show off Playstation hardware like God of War, and the third part of the main series is no different. The main difference between this and the previous games is scale; massive set pieces are commonplace in God of War 3, one of the best being the stunning opening sequence in which Kratos and the Titans launch a full assault on Mount Olympus. It doesn’t reinvent the action game, but it refines it to the point where this could well literally be as good as it gets.

Just Cause 2

After the disappointment of Just Cause who would have predicted the sequel being so good? In a nutshell Just Cause 2 offered stunning graphics and insane 3rd person gameplay in a 400 square miles open world. The story missions offered very little beyond “go here and blow stuff up”, but when blowing stuff up is this much fun that’s hardly a bad thing. The cherry on top here though was the sheer amount to do; the main storyline could be finished after less than 30% of the total game was completed and even the “Perfectionist” achievement only required 75% completion.

Limbo

Where would a list like this be without an arty platformer? Last week Limbo came out of nowhere to become one of the highest rated games on the XBLA. In many ways it is similar to the 2008 game Braid, as both are 2D puzzle platformers with striking art styles, however Limbo distinguishes itself with a mysterious story filled with intelligently designed puzzles and disturbingly over the top deaths. 1200 Microsoft Points may seem a lot to spend on a game which only last a few hours, but the sheer quality on offer guarantees you won’t regret the decision.

Mass Effect 2

I have to be honest here; I didn’t really like Mass Effect. Everything about it was great except for the gameplay, which was essentially just unremarkable cover based shooting. Thankfully Bioware fixed this with Mass Effect 2, making the core shooting mechanics much better and the biotic / tech powers more varied and interesting. All while retaining the incredible production values of the original. There were a few minor flaws, such as the relative lack of RPG elements and the infamous planet scanning minigame, but as a cinematic action game Mass Effect 2 is almost perfect.

Monster Hunter Tri

On the surface the Monster Hunter series doesn’t seem very appealing; the games are relentlessly difficult almost to the point of being unfair, large amounts of grind are necessary in order to advance and the controls often seem to work against you. While Tri isn’t a game everyone can enjoy, those who “get it” will quickly realise that all of those elements are integral to the experience. In it’s favour though, Tri offers a huge amount of offline and online content, some of the best boss design in years, classic controller support and some of the best graphics available on Wii.

Red Dead Redemption

Rockstar have been making 3D open world games for nearly a decade now, and while the GTA series is one of the most important in gaming history, the Wild West is just so much more compelling as an epic open world setting than any of their fictional cities have ever been. The story of John Marston was brilliantly told and much more personal than any of Rockstar’s previous efforts, and the setting was just a joy to behold, full of interesting landscapes, activities and people. For me the game was let down slightly by just how overreliant it was on the GTA formula, but this was still one not to be missed.

Super Mario Galaxy 2

Super Mario Galaxy was a revelation when it launched in 2007; a shining example of what the Wii was technically capable of and that Nintendo could still make staggeringly good hardcore games. What makes Galaxy 2 so good is that it manages to do all of that again while feeling like a fresh experience. While the inclusion of Yoshi, the new streamlined level select system and the staggering level of fan service are all great, the real selling point here in the level design. Rather than having large, expansive levels each containing 6+ stars, Galaxy 2 features smaller levels with 2-3 stars each. This allowed Nintendo to pack as many creative ideas as possible into the game, and arguably deliver some of the best level design in gaming history. Simply amazing. Latest Headlines