10. Dragon Age: Origins
Platforms: PlayStation 3 / Xbox 360
Release Date: 6 November, 2009 BioWare produced Dragon Age: Origins as a spiritual successor to Baldurs Gate. The combat system from that game is the main inspiration in Origins as it allows you to pause the game to issue commands to all party members in a fight. Rather than innovate and evolve the role-playing genre Origins goes back to a more traditional formula. However everything it sets out to accomplish, it does incredibly well. The world is rich in lore and characters, especially party members, feel like real companions who are following you on an epic adventure. If you like your RPGs big and meaty then Dragon Age: Origins is for you. You can easily sink 50 happy hours into saving the land of fantasy land of Ferelden.
9. Batman: Arkham Asylum
Platforms: PlayStation 3 / Xbox 360
Release Date: 28 August, 2009 Rocksteady Games did something that most developers havent been able to do. They took a licensed property and made it into a very good game. Superhero games, such as Iron Man, Spiderman and Superman have all been nothing other than mediocre. Batman: Arkham Asylum however simply broke the mould. Incorporating Batmans two biggest draws, his unmatched detective skills and mastery of combat, to create a game that stayed true to the franchise but that was also incredibly entertaining. Even the selection of gadgets worked well. We havent even mentioned the voice action, especially from Mark Hamill as The Joker, which was superb all the way through the game. Although the game on its own deserves a place on this list, its so high because it showed how to work with licensed products and how superhero game could be made.
8. Super Meat Boy
Platforms: Xbox 360
Release Date: 20 October, 2010 Meat Boy is a chunk of meat without skin. He literally needs bandage girl to cover him but Dr. Fetus has kidnapped her. Youre going to get her back using all the powers that come with being made of meat. Thats enough of the story, because Super Meat Boy isnt about the story. It is a platformer that prides itself on being hellishly difficult. Each level has been expertly designed. The retro art style contains a very distinct art style while the soundtrack contains a number of exceptional tunes. The game is packed with content, including collectible characters and secret levels leaving plenty of stuff to do after completing the main story. While the game is incredibly tough it never really frustrates. The controls are so responsive and work so well that when you fail it is entirely your fault. You never feel like you died because of bad luck or because of bad design. That is the greatest strength of Super Meat Boy. And that is why its the best 2D platformer of the generation.