1. Mark of the Ninja
A game that for me came out of the shadows from much loved Shank creators Klei Entertainment took my expectations and sliced them apart. I was expecting a so-so side scroller, having been disappointed that Shank 3 wasnt on the horizon; I decided to give it a go and have not regretted it once I started to play. A 2d stealth game that offers more stealth, creative fleeing, expert killings and bum clenching moments than most blockbuster games that attempt the genre, Mark of the Ninja is the stand out Xbox Live Arcade game this year. You control a nameless ninja who sets out on a journey to protect his clan from an onslaught of bad brutes with guns while trying to untangle an underlying motive of his mentor. The gameplay is outstanding and is not the simple hide and move forward style I expected, but is points based, meaning replaying a level for more points to unlock medals is a must for 100% completion. The points are scored by distracting guards, terrifying them and creative kills to name a few with the ability to complete levels or the whole game without killing anyone a welcome challenge, especially using the various abilities on offer. A game that will clock in around the 15 hours or more mark if you want to truly see and do everything, including finishing it in New Game +. The various costumes on offer all come with different abilities, like one that doesnt allow you to carry any weapons, but it will allow you to teleport a small distance balances out the short comings. Mark of the Ninja is a top notch stealth platformer that needs to be experienced to appreciate just how good the execution of stealth in 2D really is, and is easily my Xbox Live Arcade game of 2012. Did I miss anything you think deserves a place on this list (aside from Walking Dead and Minecraft obviously)? Let us know in the comments below.