4. Spec Ops: The Line
My personal Game of the Year. In an era where offering the player narrative-altering choices and embracing a non-linear story structure is the norm, Spec Ops sticks out like a sore, bloodied thumb, forcing the gamer to stick to a linear Heart of Darkness inspired storyline that explores the horrors of war and, on a meta-level, critiques Western cultures love of violence. Its the one game from 2012 that my thoughts have
returned to nearly every day since I completed it back in June. Spec Ops should be experienced by anyone who wants to see the storytelling power of this medium. Admittedly, the gameplay takes a backseat the story, but the tradeoff is more than worth it. Do you feel like a hero when you play games like Call of Duty and Gears of War? I can almost guarantee you wont once the credits roll in this flawed masterpiece.