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The 2012 Boysie Awards

2012 was a year of change in videogames. There were more phone and tablet games than ever before and fewer big consoles games, especially for kids. The PSP and Wii are going the way of the dodo. The good news is that Sony released the featured-filled handheld PS Vita and Nintendo released the adventurous Wii U.

Change may come, but the cream always rises to the top. Here are the Boysie Awards for this year’s best games!

BEST WII U GAME

nintendolandNintendo Land (Nintendo, Rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and Older)

If Nintendo Land wasn’t so important to understanding the ins and outs of the new Wii U, it might not have made the list. But games like Pikmin Adventure and Captain Falcon’s Twister Race are really fun and challenging. Monita the robot is friendly and funny – and a great guide to the Wii U. She’s so cool, you don’t even know you’re learning.

BEST XBOX 360 GAME

skylandersSkylanders: Giants (Activision, E10+)

I really enjoyed this new Skylanders, especially the stomping giants. Giants make you feel big and powerful, and who doesn’t want to have superhero-like strength in a world full of strange monsters that want to get you? I didn’t like the long cut scenes and the game needed online multiplayer, but the RPG elements, secret areas and humor made Giants a game I enjoyed for hours and hours.

BEST PLAYSTATION 3 GAME (TIE)

journeyJourney (Sony)

There’s no dialog in Journey, and yet it’s all about communication. Set in a strange desert world that is as lonely as it is massive, this game deals with many emotions. But the most important thing you’ll discover in Journey is a sense of friendship and camaraderie with your partner. It’s a special game you’ll remember for years to come.

legobatman2LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes (Warner Bros., E10+)

How could the designers of a LEGO game squeeze tons of DC Comics heroes into just one videogame? The story is engaging. The exploration is compelling. The humor is always present. And the graphics shine on the PS3. Plus, it’s rare that kids get an open world to explore, and there’s a fine one here in LEGO Batman 2.

BEST COMPUTER GAME

scribblenautsScribblenauts Unlimited (WBIE, E10+)

Use your words! You’ll not only help Maxwell save his sister, you’ll also use your words creatively to find solutions to tons of puzzles in, say, a haunted house. How about a crystalline lava owl? Yes. That’ll work quite nicely. The game designers allow for the most fascinating use of your imagination, something not enough games let you do.

BEST NINTENDO 3DS GAME

kidicarusKid Icarus: Uprising (Nintendo, E10+)

People tend to forget Kid Icarus because it was released earlier in the year. But there’s no better flying game for the 3DS. And there are tons of strange monsters, an engaging — sometimes weird — story and super excellent graphics in 3D. The whole experience made me want to see a bigger Kid Icarus game for the Wii U.

BEST NINTENDO DS GAME

icekingAdventure Time: Hey Ice King! Why’d You Steal Our Garbage? (D3 Publisher, E10+)

The graphics aren’t that great, but neither are those on TV. The key here is a chuckle-filled, absurd series of stories that captures everything that’s wonderfully strange about the cartoon — and then some. And while finishing quests can take a while, you’ll enjoy the quirky personalities you meet along the way.

BEST VITA GAME

soundshapesSound Shapes (Sony)

This year saw a few very good music-oriented games, like Theatrhythm Fantasy. But there was something about Sound Shapes. First, the music is excellent. Add the fact that you can make the music your own by finding collectible sounds, and you feel like a music master. Finally, add platform gaming to the music, and you have something really eye-opening.

BEST OVERALL SPORTS GAME

ssxSSX (EA)

A snowboarding game as best sports game of the year? Well, this reboot of the SSX series takes you to far-flung places of extreme danger. Can’t get to the Himalayas or Antarctica? This thrilling game will give you the snow-filled taste of the adventure that courageous, fun-seeking boarders go to great lengths to enjoy.

BEST RACING GAME

needforspeedNeed for Speed: Most Wanted (EA, E10+)

Let’s face it. The Need for Speed series really needed an overhaul. Most Wanted is a fantastic retooling of the game, a white-knuckle, high-speed world of chases where you can go anywhere and do just about anything. The world of Fairhaven, full of secret places, is as fascinating as the world of Zelda. Except this world has cars and cops.

BEST DOWNLOADABLE GAME

unfinishedswanThe Unfinished Swan (Sony, E10+)

Not only does The Unfinished Swan make the Move seem new again, its story is a smart riff on the fairy tales you loved as a little kid. The sense of wonder you get in this downloadable game is as powerful as any you’d get with more expensive console games. The Unfinished Swan is a triumph, a great balance of story and game design.

BEST IPAD/IPHONE GAME

angrybirdsAngry Birds Star Wars (Rovio)

Just when you think there’s way too much Angry Birds, they come up with the best mashup of the year. Adding Star Wars scenes to the world of Angry Birds isn’t just fun, it’s a kind of genius. The characters of Star Wars are transformed into Birds personalities, and the worlds and machines of Star Wars are so cool to play with.

GAME OF THE YEAR (TIE)

Skylanders: Giants

The Unfinished Swan

101 Comments on The 2012 Boysie Awards

  1. Isn’t Adventure Time just for 3DS? Or is it on both systems? Just a mistake I think I caught.

  2. Go Angry Birds!

  3. blackout time // January 5, 2013 at 4:59 pm // Reply

    sadly, boys’ life can’t sugest anything over the rating of E10 and i’m mainly into M rated games ); oh well here’s to 2013 with hardcore title like:tomb raider, aliens colonial marines, and bioshock infinite(:

  4. The best games from 2012 to me is:
    1: Pokemon White 2
    2: NFS MW (Need For Speed Most Wanted)
    3: Skylanders Giants
    2 of 3 are on the list; where’s Pokemon?!?!

  5. the__watcher // January 4, 2013 at 9:32 am // Reply

    guys before you post oh why is minecraft not on the list it is because it was made in 2009 not 2012 ok

  6. luckie guy 23 // January 2, 2013 at 12:56 pm // Reply

    the best in my book is…
    1. Pokemon white 2
    2. Halo 4
    3.Skylanders Giants

  7. What about madden or codbo 2 or even mw3

  8. minecraftfan // January 1, 2013 at 4:44 pm // Reply

    hello minecraft why is that not on the list?

  9. MINECRAFT!!! even if it was made in 2010 it is still awsome and had at least 7 updates this year

  10. got skylanders 4 Wii

  11. minecraft, cod, halo, and skyward sword are not going to be on here they are either not from 2012 or rated m!

  12. mezmolover01 // December 27, 2012 at 6:58 pm // Reply

    Wait a second? The best games were revealed, but not the best console of 2012? I wonder who won…..

  13. Clearwater Cubs // December 27, 2012 at 5:35 pm // Reply

    Where is the best Android game of the Year?

  14. ZELDA TWILITE PRINSESS WAS MADE IN 2006 NOT A CHANCE!(I hate saying that because im a zelda fan my-self

  15. lego batman 2 is the best.

  16. I love the 3ds and i think new super mario bros 2 should win cause it is a game that requires brain power to pass levels as it keeps everything fun.

  17. scribblenauts unlimited is the best game in the series…. and the best game I’ve played in 2012

    • Agreed, sort of. I thought Scribblenauts Unlimited was nice, but still, 2012 got me into Pokemon, and S.S.B.B. was awesome whe I played it for the first time in November.

  18. Legend of zelda twilight princess should win

  19. Legend Of Zelda:Twilight Princess

  20. do not read my name // December 20, 2012 at 9:14 pm // Reply

    HALO 4!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  21. luigi is asuom

  22. I picked angry birds star wars because I am crazy for angry birds!!!!!!

  23. Kid Icarus Uprising was amazing! I loved the 3D battle style. It had a great plot and you could even play online with people all over the world. I wouldn’t say it was the best game of 2012 but it was still pretty good. I also agree that Pokemon B/W 2 should be in there…

  24. Why aren’t all the major games like Black ops II, Assasssin’s creed III, Borderlands II, Far cry III, and Halo 4 here?

  25. I LOVE the new Wii U !!!!! Does anyone else?

    • mezmolover01 // December 21, 2012 at 5:40 pm // Reply

      I am a BIG fan of Wii U. It dose many things like watching TV, surfing the internet really well, video chatting with friend with Wii U, and more! Wii U was the best thing to come to my gaming world since the Gamecube!=D

  26. I picked Angry birds Star wars. I love Angry Birds

  27. Skyward sword

  28. Skyward sword!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  29. you people are crazy!!! MINECRAFT WAS MADE IN 2009! AND WHY IS ANGRY BIRDS STAR WARS THE MOST VOTED!!! SCRIBBLENAUTS UNLIMITED, SKYLANDERS GIANTS, AND KID ICARUS 3D WERE OVOIUSLY THE BEST AMES THIS YEAR!!! YOU GUYS GOTTA BE KIDDING ME!!!!

    • Hey, it’s not your choice. It’s the peoples choice. People, (including me) choose Angry Birds Star Wars. It’s their choice. Minecraft XBOX was made 2012! That should be on there.

    • But several updates were released this year, so Minecraft should win the Best “sequel”

  30. what about mario party ds i really love mario party

  31. Seeing as how both of the best titles of the year in my opinion are not in the list, I’ll just post em’ here. My favorite of 2012 is a tie between Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance and Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning. Both are Action-RPGs with great stories, amazing universes, and absolutely stellar combat. I would definitely recommend these games to anyone!

  32. minecraft dude // December 18, 2012 at 9:48 pm // Reply

    DID YOU FORGET ABOUT MINECRAFT!!!!!!!!!!! you know the land of blocks?

  33. Darth Pallas // December 18, 2012 at 7:30 pm // Reply

    You got to be kidding me. How is Pokemon Black and White 2 not on this list? That was the highest quality installment in the series yet, and Pokemon is second in video game sales only to Mario.

  34. minecraftmania // December 17, 2012 at 11:10 pm // Reply

    i think minecraft isnt there beacause it was made in 2010

  35. minecraftmania // December 17, 2012 at 11:03 pm // Reply

    WHERE IS MINECRAFT??????? Minecraft is the best game in the world!!!!

  36. yeah, WHERE IS Minecraft. Minecraft is the best game in the world. [ Skyward Sword is 2nd best]

  37. WHAT ABOUT MINECRAFT!?

  38. What about sonic

  39. what about minecraft!!! even though it was released in 2008 or something.it had like, a bijillion updates and 7 this year.

  40. Harry Potter Fan // December 16, 2012 at 5:22 pm // Reply

    I am a gamer so I love most every video game. This was a really hard choice.

  41. Game Trigger // December 15, 2012 at 8:43 pm // Reply

    They need Black ops 2!

  42. I like LEGO lord of the rings! It’s awesome. Just try it!

  43. mezmolover01 // December 15, 2012 at 4:58 pm // Reply

    Why is everybody saying “WHERE IS MINECRAFT!!!?” when this Boysie awards are for 2012 games?

  44. Ya I pick Minecraft Cause its The Best Building With blocks Game EVER

  45. Kid Icarus: Uprising should be at the top; that game was EPIC!

  46. Where’s pokemon black 2 and white 2!?I however,actually never tried any of these games,but I believe that skylanders giants is pretty good…

  47. Minecraftlover // December 14, 2012 at 11:09 pm // Reply

    What about MINECRAFT??!?

  48. xDiamondSlayerx // December 14, 2012 at 7:52 pm // Reply

    I choose minecraft as 1 even if it isn’t there

  49. Minecraftlova // December 14, 2012 at 4:37 pm // Reply

    What about MINECRAFT??!?

  50. where is skyword sowrd!

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