It's crazy to think that 2021 is already coming to a close and that folks will be ringing in the New Year in a matter of days. It's also crazy to realize that a bevy of video games turned 10 this past year, including memorable titles such as Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception and The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. While it may seem like these games hit shelves just yesterday, it is mind-boggling to stop and think of just how quickly that time truly flies, as 2011 is now far in the rearview mirror.
Naturally, as 2022 rears its head around the corner, the same logic can be applied to 2012. In less than a week, 2012 will already be a decade gone by, which in turn, also means that a laundry list of video games can now arguably be seen as retro experiences. From new installments in long-running franchises to brand-new IPs that have since grown into franchises of their own, 2012 had no shortage of iconic releases, and it's time to look back on them before their upcoming tenth birthday.
Journey
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Kicking things off is Journey, the short but sweet indie hit that went on to win multiple Game of the Year awards. The minimalistic approach to both storytelling and gameplay made for an entirely fresh and engaging experience, something which still holds up very well to this day. Although initially launching on the PS3, Journey has become very accessible over the past decade, also becoming available on the PS4, PC as well as iOS devices. For players who want something a little bit different, Journey is as refreshing as it was nearly 10 years ago.
Mass Effect 3
The Mass Effect franchise is set to make a comeback at some point in the future, bringing players back to one of the most beloved sci-fi epics in gaming history. In 2012, hype was through the roof for the concluding chapter in BioWare's original Mass Effect trilogy leading up to Mass Effect 3's release. While the game's ending has been the subject of divided opinions over the years, the rest of the journey is still mostly recognized as a worthwhile playthrough for fans of action RPGs with rich plots and interesting characters. To any gamers that missed it the first time around, Mass Effect 3 as well as the first two installments, can now be enjoyed together in Mass Effect: Legendary Edition.
The Walking Dead
Telltale is set to make its big return to gaming with The Expanse: A Telltale Series based on the popular TV series of the same name. The studio made a name for itself for delivering original stories in established franchises. While Telltale had made prior games leading up to it, 2012's The Walking Dead is without a doubt the game that put the company on the map. The branching narrative was made of fully fleshed-out characters, gorgeous cel-shaded graphics, and a series of choices that had serious consequences on the rest of the experience. It spawned many sequels, but for those who have yet to play it, the original installment is just as riveting as it was all those years ago.
Dishonored
Arkane is a flagship studio of the industry when it comes to developing extremely polished stealth-action games. Deathloop has been universally praised as a masterpiece, but it owes a lot of its success to 2012's Dishonored. The game follows Corvo Attano who after being framed for murder, seeks revenge on those who wronged him. The many approaches to every scenario opened a lot of room for experimentation, letting players be as ruthless or sneaky as they desired.
Spec Ops: The Line
Before The Last of Us broke new ground in video game storytelling the following year, Spec Ops: The Line told a surprising, gripping tale about the harsh consequences of war. To avoid spoilers, specifics will be left out here, but the plot takes some truly shocking turns and challenges players to question what they see onscreen. Fantastic writing aside, Spec Ops: The Line also featured some intense third-person shooting gameplay, as well as some of the most gorgeous graphics from the PS3/360 generation of gaming.
Assassin's Creed 3
In 2012, the Assassin's Creed franchise was still only a few years old and at the peak of its potential. Now, it has ballooned into a massive gaming juggernaut and potentially the biggest in Ubisoft's library of IPs. Assassin's Creed 3 seemed to be a controversial release among fans at the time, as some felt that the prologue dragged on far too long and hurt the overall experience. Over time though, Assassin's Creed 3 has been lauded as something of an underdog for the series, introducing more polished combat mechanics and other side activities to do that have become series mainstays ever since.
Max Payne 3
The original two Max Payne games were developed by Remedy, a studio recognized nowadays for Control and Alan Wake. Hanging off production duties to Rockstar for the third outing, Max Payne 3 is arguably the best of the bunch, purely for its outstanding gunplay mechanics. Effortlessly capturing the high octane thrills of John Woo's action cinema, bullets soar across the screen, as debris crashes and falls all around the player. The story is also a dramatic and intense send-off for this hard-boiled cop, making it a must-play for fans of shooters and dark crime thrillers.
Halo 4
Halo: Infinite just launched a few weeks ago, which makes it all the more unbelievable that it has already been nearly a decade since Halo 4. The first installment of the new trilogy by 343 Industries, Halo 4 was something of a swan song for the Xbox 360, pushing the console well beyond its limits. The graphics on display were absolutely outstanding and still look nice even today. Aside from new improvements to gameplay and multiplayer modes, Halo 4 featured a surprisingly emotional plot with a much stronger emphasis on character than ever before. Fans of the franchise have likely played it by now, but it may be time to revisit Halo 4 ahead of its tenth anniversary.