As we wrap up the year 2009 there are plenty of places to find out which are to top games of the year, so we decided to let you know the top 10 games of 2009 that you never played. We want to start this feature by saying that these are not bad games, it's just that they were overlooked by most of the gaming media and advertisers. Take that with the fact that there were so many triple-A titles released in 2009 it's easy to figure out why certain games didn't make it onto many gamer's Christmas lists. Most of these titles can be found for under 20 or 30 dollars in the bargain bin (or online) and will offer hours of enjoyment to the player, with that being said here is our list of Top 10 Games of 2009 That You Never Played:
10. The Maw (XBLA) - Appearing on Xbox Live Arcade at the very beginning of this year didn’t do Twisted Pixel many favors. But what it did do was show those who played the game that not only was the game competently made; it was a hell of a great game. Filling the role of Frank, an alien imprisoned on a ship by other, far more insidious aliens, you meet this little purple blob following a crash landing on an unknown planet. Despite releasing it from a cage labeled, “THE DEADLIEST ORGANISM IN THE UNIVERSE”, you become inseparable from the little Maw thanks to a leash that keeps it nearby. As you progress forward and solve various puzzles, The Maw grows in size and becomes ever capable of consuming larger organisms that it may not have previously been able to contend. The utter silliness combined with a sincere appreciation in the way of game design makes this stand out as a spectacularly missed title.
9. Section 8 - SouthPeak Interactive made a relatively good entry into the online shooter genre this year when they offered Section 8 to the gaming community. Section 8 was a title based around the mechanic that you could enter the arena of play from just about anywhere you wanted via the sky. Combined with access to various combat classes that allowed for extreme flexibility in the game, it had a distinct impression of the things that made games like Tribes amazingly fun to play. Multiplayer combat, a succinct single-player that served as training for online and enough science fiction to really draw in the Halo crowd to some degree had the potential to lead into the fall as a very exceptional game. There was just one problem. The game released roughly three weeks shy of ODST, which eventually served to only push Section 8 off the radar when it stormed Xbox Live with Firefight. Ultimately, if you ever have a chance, check this game out as it is a fine reminder of what happens when you release a decent game at the wrong time.
8. Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers - For those of you geeky enough to appreciate games like Culdcept Saga, I’m guessing you’re apart of the crowd that actually bought this game when it released. I understand that there are people who play video games that will never touch a tabletop or collectible card game for as long as they live. But, I am resolute in saying that if you don’t at least try it once, you’re missing out on the chance for a really fun time. Without a doubt, when you play Magic online, you’re essentially getting the same experience that you’d have playing in person, except you have the comfort of lying on your couch. The only real caveat I have for this title, is that it does feel as though there is a denied customization in regards to the deck you play with. For my money, I would rather shuffle my deck and play in-person, but this is the closest, best doppelganger I’ve seen in recent memory and can’t recommend it enough.
This feature list continues on the next page, please click below to reveal our next choices for the Top Games of 2009 You Never Played.
