Can you believe it, we’re in the top half of the list! Have you agreed with us so far? Are you excited about the games we’ve yet to name? Or do you just know we’re going to troll you all anyway? Nah, not really. Just remember that these games are selected because they made us happy this generation of gaming – nothing to do with sales, scores, metrics or other mumbo jumbo.
50 – Brutal Legend (PC, Mac, Linux, Xbox 360, PS3)
I wasn’t always a big fan of Jack Black. That is, until I played Brutal Legend. The goal was simple – create a game that was like old heavy metal album covers brought to life. And oh did they succeed. With the best soundtrack ever featured in a game, Brutal Legend made us all far too happy in our pants.
The bad guys? What other than glam rock heroes, or goth chicks! That’s right, Brutal Legend rips on the music industry while still providing a hilarious and fun game. Ozzy is the rock god who helps you upgrade your vehicle – need I say more? If you still haven’t played this game, shame on you – you need to.
49 – Flower (PS3, Vita)
Who would have thought that a game that’s essentially about herding flower petals in a breeze could be so compelling. A beautiful, almost poetic experience, Flower remains one of the best things on the PlayStation 3 – and it’s now on the PS4 as well.
The digital equivalent of Zen, Flower’s music, visuals, and gameplay all all come together to create a compelling, emotional experience that few other games have been able to replicate.
48 – Mirror’s Edge (PC, Xbox 360, PS3)
While the fast first-person free running proved too unsettling for many gamers’ stomachs,those that could ignore the nausea loved the freshness of it; a game where you played as a strong woman, without having to fire a single gun.
It helped that the actual controls were super tight, making all that running in, around, and over things a delight. Plus, it all just felt real. Faith moved like a person, not a floating head with a camera attached to With vibrant colours and powerful musical score, and the ability flying kick people in the face, Mirror’s Edge is both brave and beautiful.
47 – Borderlands (PC, Mac, Xbox 360, PS3)
Until Borderlands arrived, most modern first-person shooters had done away with the infinite pockets theme of packing more heat than a militant nation and instead decided to ape Call of Duty by allowing players a maximum of two or three firearms. Scrapping that concept entirely, Borderlands threw more guns than humanly possible at players, with the shoot ‘n loot mechanics revealing newer and better weapons all the time.
With four distinct character classes to choose from, Borderlands was already knee-deep in a combination of RPG and FPS mechanics, but it was the addition of co-op and several fantastic DLC packs that really made this game stand out in the Xbox 360 and PlayStation generation.
46 – Skylanders (PC, Mac, Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, Nintendo 3DS)
Such a straight-forward idea – bringing toys to life. Skylanders sought to combine the joy of action figures and collecting with a fun and child-friendly game. In no way dumbed down for kids, Skylanders is a fun game, regardless of your age. Offering plenty of variety, as well as the opportunity to engage in OCD collecting, the Skylanders franchise is a huge success.
Whether you started playing with Spyro, or only picked up the game with Swap Force, there are tons of opportunities for unique and interesting game play. Skylanders ignited the action figure/collectible experience for a new generation while still offering a fun game.
45 – Gran Turismo 5 (PS3)
The staple racing game for PlayStation had more than its fair share of criticisms. People complained about inconsistent car and course modelling, the lack of proper damage model, the recycled engine sounds and the braindead AI among many other complaints.
Despite it’s inconsistencies, GT5 still delivers in the form of a finely tuned and satisfying driving engine that people still come back for time and time again. Plus, it got LANS all worked up.
44 – Pokémon Black and White (Nintendo DS)
Pokémon Diamond and Pearl may have been the first proper foray of the pocket monster franchise onto a more powerful handheld, but it felt tired when it arrived and it packed a “been there, done that” attitude. Black and White on the other hand, brought back the thrill of exploration, expertly balacing new Pokémon species with the old guard of generations past, and with some pretty boss-looking signature monsters to boot as well.
The latest region was hiding secrets that were a mere HM away, but the addition of a proper story that asked players who they were and what they hoped to achieve, is just one of the many hallmarks of this memorable entry into the Pokédex.
43 – Diablo III (PC, Mac, Xbox 360, PS3)
Diablo 3 was a long awaited sequel that finally arrived towards the end of this generation. It initially landed on the PC where it was pretty well received but the real world market place and constant online requirements ruined the game for many people.
Thankfully Blizzard decided to revoke both those features for the console release and tweaked the control scheme to suit the console generation. This resulted in possibly the best experience of Diablo available to date with the co-op dungeon exploration on consoles being pretty much the perfect co-op experience of the generation, either on the couch or across the planet.
42 – Crackdown (Xbox 360)
Very little was expected from Crackdown when it was revealed that the Halo 3 beta would be released as part of the game and that you would require the Crackdown disc to play the beta, We immediately felt this was a move to simply sell a ton of copies of a useless game to Halo fans, how wrong we were.
Crackdown is simply one of the best games ever made, from the fact that you need to evolve your powers to become the incredible super trooper to the huge sprawling maps where you can travel anywhere you like. But probably the most enduring and addictive part of the game was the hunting of orbs which you needed to level up, the sound of those pulsating orbs used to wake me up in the middle of the night, I was addicted.
And then Crackdown 2 arrived which is probably the worst sequel ever released and every copy should be rounded up and buried in the desert.
41 – Batman: Arkham Asylum (PC, Mac, Xbox 360, PS3)
Batman: Arkham Asylum launched a franchise of games, yet this is still our favourite. Sure, it was relatively short, but it was tight and well crafted. Hanging from gargoyles you could terrorize your enemies as you took them out one by one. But you could also show off your fighting skills, flowing through the combat system. Who cares, though – you got to take on the Joker, the Riddler and the Scarecrow in magnificent fashion.
Dark, creepy and lovingly put together, Batman: Arkham Asylum was everything we wanted. Hence the dam and for more. It only takes about a weekend to finish, and is definitely worth your time and attention.
[button link=”https://www.criticalhit.net/xbox-360/the-lazygamer-top-100-games-of-this-generation-31-40/”]Into the 30’s we go[/button]Last Updated: December 19, 2013
Hammersteyn
December 19, 2013 at 12:06
*fixed – 43 – Diablo III (Xbox 360, PS3)
Mark Treloar
December 19, 2013 at 12:09
No
Hammersteyn
December 19, 2013 at 13:06
Hehe even when PC gamers are wrong they are right.
ToshZA
December 19, 2013 at 12:24
from what I’ve heard about the pc version, and the fun I’m still having on the Xbox, yeah I agree.
Lardus-Resident Perve
December 19, 2013 at 14:08
Definitely NOT a top-100 on PC…and MAC does not count at all 😛
Hammersteyn
December 19, 2013 at 14:18
Was surprised to see they still make games for the MAC
Lego Witcher of the Squirrels
December 19, 2013 at 14:55
Thanks… I was going to fix it, but you got there first. I have it on PC and hate it… it totally put me off diablo 3
Hammersteyn
December 19, 2013 at 15:00
Bullshit DRM!
Lego Witcher of the Squirrels
December 19, 2013 at 15:17
I pushed my way to lvl 35 then uninstalled it and haven’t played it since… and refuse to as well
Umar Bravely Default
December 19, 2013 at 12:07
Can agree with this part of the list completely lol
JJ's horrible secret (John)
December 19, 2013 at 12:08
I haven’t played half of these.
Christopher
December 19, 2013 at 12:12
Same here – Mirrors edge was awesome
JJ's horrible secret (John)
December 19, 2013 at 12:12
I still don’t see why games like FarCry3 (amongst other great ones) were ten or twenty down from these games.
With Borderlands sitting here and I really don’t know what to expect higher up.
Christopher
December 19, 2013 at 12:15
Ashes cricket *runs*
SaintsRowNigri
December 19, 2013 at 12:21
Aliens: Colonial Marines
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
December 19, 2013 at 12:26
Star Trek! ::D
Unavengedavo(aka. MadeYouLook)
December 19, 2013 at 14:11
1313… No wait…
SaintsRowNigri
December 19, 2013 at 14:13
Seduce Me! (The game. This is not an invite…)
ToshZA
December 19, 2013 at 12:26
Far Cry 3 was good, but I had no compulsion to finish it (I still haven’t, almost a year later), whereas Borderlands (1) I finished to max level on every character. It was mad fun. Diablo 3 on console? Well hell I’m still playing that and loving it. Pokemon keeps your OCD busy for months, and Skylanders is amazing for kids. Seriously.
Mark Treloar
December 19, 2013 at 12:42
Because Far Cry 3 made no logical sense, where you didn’t need Borderlands to make sense because it was all about shooting and looting.
JJ's horrible secret (John)
December 19, 2013 at 12:44
Yea. Still of another opinion.
And I didn’t compare FC3 with Borderlands.
Mark Treloar
December 19, 2013 at 13:12
Not trying to compare, just for me when i felt I wanted the most control in Far Cry 3, i get sent on some QTE drug trip, where Borderlands its more what you see is what you get, even though it had a retarded ending.
JJ's horrible secret (John)
December 19, 2013 at 13:23
Oh man. That ending was so terrible. Borderlands is by far better than FC3 if I have to compare them, but I just think FC3 deserved to be above some of the other games on this list.
Mark Treloar
December 19, 2013 at 13:50
Agreed it should be higher
ElimiNathan
December 19, 2013 at 14:17
I agree, would have been a completely different list if I had done it, but then again it would have been if anybody else did it.
Gavin Mannion
December 19, 2013 at 15:32
Honestly I don’t think Far Cry 3 brought anything new to the generation that wasn’t done better by other games
SaintsRowNigri
December 19, 2013 at 15:48
The game also felt like it was a huge copy/paste effort: Climb tower, clear camp, find treasure… snore… huh wot?
Matthew Holliday
December 19, 2013 at 18:15
even though ti says “this generation”, Mario, megaman, pacman, tetris and that tank game will still be all over the top positions.
they always find a way to bring in those games.
Christopher
December 19, 2013 at 12:12
Diablo III… I can definitely compare that that to DA2. Arcade style… far removed from the awesomeness of Diablo II.
Mark Treloar
December 19, 2013 at 12:46
Uh…no. The play style of Diablo 2 and 3 are identical. They may have changed some skill mechanics, but it literally is identical in every other way.
Christopher
December 19, 2013 at 12:49
Uh…. Chalk and cheese. Mashing of keys. Very much an arcade game.
Ultimo_Cleric N7
December 19, 2013 at 12:15
Arkham Asylum so low. Wow.
Ok, so I have something to say regarding D3. So originally I hated it. A lot. The server reliance on a Diablo game got to me so much, as well as the launch issues.
BUT…..I have been playing through again now with a more stable internet connection and I have to say, I am loving it. Its actually a great game.
oVg
December 19, 2013 at 12:18
Diabllo 3 lololol
Let the Master Race BETA test it for the Peasants.
ToshZA
December 19, 2013 at 12:23
The peasants got the best experience. Jelly?
Alien Emperor Trevor
December 19, 2013 at 12:25
I’ve spent over 300 hours on Borderlands 1 & 2 each – I love those games.
Batman AA was really good.
I found Mirror’s Edge just… okay. I think it’s over hyped.
Brutal Legend is on the backlog.
I’m so glad I avoided Diablo 3.
ToshZA
December 19, 2013 at 12:27
D3 on console man, you ARE missing out. I promise.
Alien Emperor Trevor
December 19, 2013 at 12:31
I played 1 quite a bit, found 2 boring. That’s why I was never hyped for 3, which is a good thing as I would have bought it for PC.
ToshZA
December 19, 2013 at 12:36
3 is actually a bit different, it’s evolved into something more fast-paced and exciting, while removing some things that made D2 very annoying. D1 was great in its time, D2 was cool but I never finished a nightmare play through because it just got dull and samey. D3 I’m working through inferno quite steadily and still loving it.
I will say this, despite the obvious flame I will receive, Diablo 3 on console is by far the best in the series, and I do mean by far.
Matthew Holliday
December 19, 2013 at 18:20
Mirrors edge was pretty much the business back in 2009/10
felt so fresh.
felt borderlands deserved to be a bit higher, 30s somewhere, probably just lower because the series only really made it mega big with #2, didnt have the same hype as the newer games have.
also sunk a depressing amount into the 2 games, 450ish hours between the two
Weanerdog
December 19, 2013 at 12:33
Enjoyed Mirrors edge it was the first game where it really felt right not to use firearms and then came Borderlands where it felt very right to use weapons. Surprised that Borderlands is so low, as a non FPS fan I loved this game right up to that crap end.
Quentin Huggett
December 19, 2013 at 12:35
Lol OMG!!! Flowers! Now you guys are just trolling!
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
December 19, 2013 at 12:36
Remember; this list isn’t curated. It was generated by staff votes on a huge bunch of games, run through some pretty faulty maths. 😀
Alien Emperor Trevor
December 19, 2013 at 12:44
Fix the maths Geoff, you’re Asian.
Wait, that was lacist of me – I better go spend some time in the Diversity Room. :/
JJ's horrible secret (John)
December 19, 2013 at 12:48
Just don’t let Geoff drive you there.
Alien Emperor Trevor
December 19, 2013 at 12:52
lol!
True story. I was driving up Plattekloof Rd a while back & this guy in front of me was driving like an utter moron. Pulled up next to him because I was turning & I see the guy’s Asian. First thing that went though my mind was, “I see why the Americans always joke about Asian drivers. Damn globalisation.”
matthurstrsa
December 19, 2013 at 14:09
Diablo 3 should’ve been number 37.
Admiral Chief in Vegas
December 19, 2013 at 16:11
LOOOOOOOOOOOOL
Willem Swanepoel
December 20, 2013 at 07:53
it is actually very funny. I never got the Error 37 ever in Diablo 3 on PC. I actually enjoyed the game on PC but I was not a Diablo diehard fan. I enjoyed the story and the game was fun.
I finished Diablo 2 once and stopped playing.
Story was really good and it was fun. I will even buy the expansion because of the story…
I still do not see the point in replying a RPG game that does not have a non-linear story outcome but that is just me 😉