Gaming has seen its high and lows in 2010. Whether it’s the fantastic sequel to Mass Effect or the disappointing results within Lost Planet 2, it has been a glorious ride from start to finish. Having said that, we’d like to take the time to honor those games that have met expectations and made gamers rejoice globally.
We will be revealing our winners over the course of December 20-24. For now, we reveal to you our Game of the Year nominations for 2010:
Specialty Awards
Best Story
Mass Effect 2
Darksiders
Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker
Best Weapon
Bayonetta’s Hair – Bayonetta
Chaos Eater – Darksiders
Drill – BioShock 2
Best Use of a License (Non-Sports)
Transformers: War for Cyberton
Disney Epic Mickey
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
Best Remake/Reboot
GoldenEye 007 Wii
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow
Donkey Kong Country Returns
Best DLC
Borderlands: The Secret Armory of General Knoxx
Left 4 Dead 2: The Passing
Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare
Best Cooperative Game
Halo Reach
Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light
Donkey Kong Country Returns
Best Boss Fight
Shadow Broker – Mass Effect 2 DLC
Bayonetta v Jubileus – Bayonetta
Trypticon – Transformers: War for Cybertron
Best New Character
Bayonetta – Bayonetta
War – Darksiders
Meat Boy – Super Meat Boy
Best Original IP
Alan Wake
Darksiders
Bayonetta
Best Use of Atmosphere
Alan Wake
Red Dead Redemption
Limbo
Best Competitive Multiplayer
Halo Reach
Super Street Fighter IV
Starcraft II
Technical Awards
Best Licensed Soundtrack
Rock Band 3
DJ Hero 2
Dance Central
Best Graphics, Technical
Mass Effect 2
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow
Split/Second
Best Graphics, Artistic
Enslaved: Odyssey to the West
Limbo
3D Dot Game Heroes
Best Innovation in Game Design
Dance Central
Rock Band 3 (Pro Mode)
Kinect
Best Presentation
Enslaved: Odyssey to the West
Mass Effect 2
Bayonetta
Best Voice Acting
Mass Effect 2
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow
Darksiders
Best Writing/Dialogue
Mass Effect 2
Enslaved: Odyssey to the West
Red Dead Redemption
Best Peripheral/Accessory
Rock Band 3 – Keyboards
Kinect
Tatsunoko vs. Capcom Arcade Stick
Best Sound Design
Alan Wake
Enslaved: Odyssey to the West
Amnesia: The Dark Descent
Best Original Soundtrack
Mass Effect 2
Enslaved: Odyssey to the West
No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle
Genre Specific Awards
Best MMO
Vindictus
Dungeon Fighter Online
World of Warcraft: Cataclysm
Best Fighter
Super Street Fighter IV
Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2
Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars
Best Racer
Split/Second
Gran Turismo 5
Blur
Best FPS
Call of Duty: Black Ops
Halo Reach
Battlefield: Bad Company 2
Best Sports
NBA 2k10
UFC Undisputed 2010
NHL 10
Best RPG
Mass Effect 2
Persona 3 Portable
Fable III
Best Action/Adventure
Enslaved: Odyssey to the West
Bayonetta
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow
Best Strategy
Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty
Civilization V
Toy Soldiers
Best Rhythm/Music
Rock Band 3
DJ Hero 2
Dance Central
Best Platformer
Super Meat Boy
Super Mario Galaxy 2
Bit.Trip.Runner
Best Puzzler
Professor Layton and the Unwound Future
Puzzle Quest 2
Super Scribblenauts
Best Shoot-em-up / Top-down Shooter
Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light
Deathsmiles
Espgaluda II
Platform Games of the Year
PS3 Game of the Year (Exclusive)
God of War III
Heavy Rain
3D Dot Game Heroes
Xbox 360 Game of the Year (Exclusive)
Halo Reach
Fable III
Dance Central
PC Game of the Year (Exclusive)
Starcraft II
Civilization V
World of Warcarft: Cataclysm
Wii Game of the Year (Exclusive)
Super Mario Galaxy 2
Kirby’s Epic Yarn
No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle
Nintendo DS Game of the Year (Exclusive)
Professor Layton and the Unwound Future
Pokemon HeartGold Version / SoulSilver
Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies
PSP Game of the Year (Exclusive)
Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker
Persona 3 Portable
Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep
Mobile Game of the Year
Plants vs. Zombies
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars
Espgaluda 2
Digital Download (PSN/XBLA/XBLIG/WiiWare/etc.) Game of the Year
Super Meat Boy
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light
Game of the Year
Mass Effect 2
Bayonetta
Super Meat Boy
Red Dead Redemption
