The 10 best games we’ve played since 2010

Recently, I've been trying to go outside of my comfort zone with video games that I play. As I age, I find myself appreciating a strong story, clever mechanics, and indie efforts, but I can still appreciate a solid AAA title. The most recent example of playing a game I normally wouldn't play is Persona 4 Golden for the PS Vita, and I love it!

With multiple jobs, endless housework, a wife, and two boys, I have to be choosey about the games I devote my time to outside of coverage purposes. So this got me thinking: what are my favorite games that I've played since 2010? So here are my 10 favorite video games (in no particular order) that I've played in the past four-and-a-half years, and the reasons I love them so much. Surprisingly, as much as I love sports and play franchise modes, not a single sports game appears on this list…

Borderlands 2

borderlands 2 brofist

I like being able to play a fun co-op shooter with my friends. It's hard to find a better game for that than Borderlands 2. The humor, quests, customization and gun play create one of the most enjoyable co-op experiences in recent memory.

Diablo III: Reaper of Souls

diablo 3 reaper of souls

Diablo III was a disappointment – before Reaper of Souls. RoS fixed a lot of what was wrong with the game. It changed how loot dropped, gave new types of dungeons to hack 'n' slash your way through, removed the Auction House, and added another Act that was dark and fun. It made Diablo III a game worth playing over and over and over, and reminded me why I loved Diablo II so much.

XCOM: Enemy Unknown

xcom enemy unknown

XCOM: Enemy Unknown is a great sci-fi turn-based tactics game. It's unforgiving with its difficulty, and your decisions and actions will determine everything. Deciding between which country to go help or which project to research next could make or break you. And any mission could be the last for that maxed out sniper you have. It's stressful and I love it.

Persona 4 Golden

persona 4 golden

I already mentioned that I'm playing Persona 4 Golden. In the past, I would have just looked past a game like this and not given it the time of day. That was then, this is now. I've formed social links with the characters in the game, I love the look of the game, the combat is good, and the voice acting has charm to it. I'm so happy I bought Persona 4 Golden and played it on my colleague's recommendations.

Rayman Origins

rayman origins

This game is so good that I bought it for my 3DS, Xbox 360 and PS Vita. Rayman Origins revived my love of platformers with its amazing gameplay, great visuals and addictive music. It seems like such a simple game, but the amazing and varied levels make it a deep gameplay experience. It might be my favorite 2D platformer of all-time.

Disney Infinity

disney infinity gif

There's multiple reasons that Disney Infinity is one of my favorite games since 2010. It helps that I love Disney, and the creation part of Disney Infinity is the biggest draw. But the main reason I love it so much is because my son gets excited when we play it together. Even if we are just running around in Toy Box mode, he gets so much enjoyment from this game that it's impossible for me not to love it. Also, once Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes (2.0 Edition) comes out, it's going to be on constantly, so I better love it.

BioShock Infinite

bioshock infinite gif

I'm a huge fan of Ken Levine and the BioShock series. It was nice to get out of the claustrophobic ocean city of Rapture and into the city in the skies, Columbia. The combat, while fun, isn't the most amazing for an FPS, but the story more than makes up for it. As a fan of Fringe, string theory is very interesting and makes for a woozy of an ending. It's one of my favorite games of all-time, as flawed as it is.

The Last of Us

the last of us

I waited until the PlayStation 4 Remastered version to release before playing The Last of Us, and boy was it worth the wait. The game looks amazing, has some of the most incredible voice acting I've heard, but the gem is the stressful story and relationship of Joel and Ellie. It's powerful and heartbreaking, and there's no way that the movie will be anywhere as good as the video game.

Transistor

Transistor is a beautiful game, and one that I could not put down. The entire game – from the visuals to the soundtrack – is like an aphrodisiac. The story is left open for interpretation, and it's a fine story at that. The combat is incredibly deep and customizable. And the world and the characters that inhabit it are incredible.

Mass Effect 2

mass effect 2

The best entry in the Mass Effect trilogy. I'm a sucker for a sci-fi universe, and BioWare has created one that rivals Star Wars and Star Trek. I think you'll be hard-pressed to find anyone that thinks Mass Effect 2 wasn't one of the best games of a generation.

 


Those are the 10 games I've enjoyed the most since 2010. But I'm not alone in the GameZone team. Here's what the rest of our staff gave as their 10 favorite games they've played since 2010 (in no particular order).

 

Andrew Clouther – Executive PC Editor

Persona 4 Golden

Dark Souls

Mass Effect 2

Tomadachi Life

Civilization V

BioShock Infinite

Mortal Kombat

StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty

XCOM: Enemy Unknown

Bravely Default

 

Mike Splechta – Editor in Chief

Guild Wars 2

Persona 4 Golden

Tomb Raider

Catherine

Forza Horizon

Mass Effect 3

Kid Icarus Uprising

Dark Souls

Far Cry 3

Soul Sacrifice Delta

 

Matt Liebl – News Editor

The Last of Us

Journey

BioShock Infinite

Saints Row: The Third

The Walking Dead: A Telltale Game Series

Saints Row IV

Valiant Hearts: The Great War

Grand Theft Auto V

Injustice: Gods Among Us

Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy

 

What are your favorite 10 games you've played since 2010? Let us know below or on Twitter and Facebook.

You can follow Features Editor Lance Liebl on Twitter @Lance_GZ. Or you can email him at [email protected].