The true genius of Skyrim is how it makes you feel like a true adventurer. Since no two play troughs are the same, telling friends your tales of your travels in the gigantic and wonderfully crafted world Bethesda has created always feels fresh and new.

Oh, and then there's the dragons. How incredibly satisfying is it to takeout a flying winged beast breathing fire and destroying cities only to take all of his essence in victory?

When writing a cheat factor in a game review, there are a few things I look at. First off, how useful are the cheats? Second, does it make the game fun, and third, does it cover up any of the game's flaws? The trainer from Cheat Happens for Shogun 2: Total War does all this and more.

The trainer for Shogun 2 gives you easy access to almost everything you need to be successful in Creative Assembly's remarkable RTS. The ability to move without being limited by the game's rules? Check. Speeding up all construction to be finished in one day? It's here. Raising armies in a day, mastering research fields and the ability to destroy an entire enemy army in one move? What else could you want?

This was perhaps the toughest decision, choosing between two great games like Gears of War 3 and Forza 4, but in the end, the finale of Marcus Fenix and Delta Squad won out for its over the top action, and the way that like no other game in the series it made you feel for the story.

There's a moment towards the middle of Gears 3 that is done so pitch perfect, and so emotionally that it's hard to forget. But above all else Gears of War 3 perfects the series long running penchant for awesome action and sturdy mechanics that always feel right.

The folks at Epic Games have done an amazing job adding a ton of new features to a series that gets better with every installment.

There may not have been a ton of games released for the Wii this year, let alone excellent ones, but one easily shined above all else.

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword was a risky move for Nintendo, breaking from an already established and loved franchise for a long running franchise, but it paid off in strides. Skyward Sword is not only a remarkable action/adventure title, it's arguably one of the best Zelda titles yet. It's theatrical, more open, more satisfying; in short, it's everything you didn't even know you needed from a Zelda title.

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Skyward Sword is how it finally delivers on the promise of the Wii and the motion gaming craze in general, as the game's support of motion plus feels so right, it's hard to imagine a game without it.

The Uncharted series is gaming's equivalent of a big budget, popcorn flick, and this year, the third game in the series did not disappoint. It featured everything the series is known for, big budget effects, gorgeous visuals, sweeping vistas and perhaps most importantly, some of the most fun moments you'll have in gaming.

Whether its searching for a lost city, trying to rescue Sully or attempting to escape a sinking cruise ship, Uncharted 3 is full of moments that make your jaw drop and makes you want to play the game all over again.

In a year of amazing releases, Skyrim clearly shined above all others. Taking everything that made Oblivion so special and adding so much more to make a game that few of us will stop playing, and few of us will forget anytime soon.

The true genius of Skyrim is how it makes you feel like a true adventurer. Since no two play troughs are the same, telling friends your tales of your travels in the gigantic and wonderfully crafted world Bethesda has created always feels fresh and new.

Oh, and then there's the dragons. How incredibly satisfying is it to takeout a flying winged beast breathing fire and destroying cities only to take all of his essence in victory?

Double Fine's Russian Nesting Doll adventure game never really caught on as well as it should have, but it's one of this year's most overlooked titles.

Stacking was one of those rare titles that dared to feature different and almost daring mechanics. It made you think, but it also made you laugh. Tim Schaefer and Double Fine have created a game that's right up there with studio classic like Psychonauts, and hopefully the game's re-release on PC will open it up to a brand new audience.

How could it not be?

After more than ten years in development at multiple studios, the gaming community celebrated when Randy Pitchford and Gearbox Studios announced that they would be saving and finally releasing Duke Nukem Forever. It was finally really happening.

Then it was released, and we all wished it wouldn't have been. The finished product of Duke Nukem Forever was a game that seemed to be lost in time. It featured the visuals of 90s shooters, and an even worse frame rate. The most disappointing aspect of Duke's return though was how he borrowed mechanics from modern day shooters, the same games that was lampooned by the game's main character.

The Uncharted series has always been filled with fantastic visuals, but Uncharted 3 sets itself apart with jaw dropping scenes and animations.

Perhaps most impressive is when Uncharted 3 breaks from the series standard and changes big explosions for the nothingness of the desert. It's in the game's third act, where Drake is alone in a marvelously crafted desert where we get our true view of just how a game's visuals can tell a story.

From the cold sounds of machinery to the wonderful voice performances, Portal 2 is easily one of Valve's greatest achievements, especially in its sound design.

Each of the game's voice performances, from Wheatley to the Aperture intercom system and especially Glados is done so pitch perfect and believable that they feel so incredibly real. For being such a terrible monster, Glados sure made us laugh a lot.

2011 was a huge year for gaming, and 2012 looks like it could top it. What else could be 2012's most anticipated game than Blizzard's Diablo III?

Long awaited and demanded by fans, the wait for Diablo III has been so rabid that fans have put up billboards hoping to get access to the beta, now that's dedication.