2010 – NantenJex’s Games of the Decade

Christmas 2019 is now over and only a few more days are left in this decade so if I was ever going to do a ‘games of the decade’ article now is the time! But picking a top 100, or even a top 10 across the entire 10 years is tough and personally I was more interested in how many games I actually played that came out this decade. So that’s what I have done.

Using a mix of Steam, what I have in my own cupboards and a Wikipedia list of games that released in each decade I compiled a list of every game I have played and picked out my top five for each year. Just to explain my methodology a little first, only games that first released in this decade. No ports so the likes of Final Fantasy VII releasing on Switch in 2019 would not count. Now remasters like Wind Waker HD and collections like the SNK 40th Anniversary Collection I am counting in my total new games played list (with collections being counted as simply one game) however neither are eligible for my top five of each year. Those have to be new.

I am also going by the western release date unless it doesn’t have one of course, and I am also judging on the year they came out, not the year I played them. For example, I played Hollow Knight in 2019 however the game came out in 2017 so if it does end up on this list it will be under 2017.

So with that out of the way let’s cover my top five games of 2010 with every game I played listed at the bottom. It goes without saying that if I didn’t play a game then it won’t be on this list. Simple.

2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019

5) Super Mario Galaxy 2 – Nintendo Wii – May 23rd 2010

This is the game that makes me truly realise how long a decade is. Until I began doing the research I didn’t even realise that this game came out within the last ten years, especially because of how much we have seen Mario’s 3D platformers change in that time. Super Mario Galaxy 2 was the follow-up to the stellar Super Mario Galaxy and while I personally prefer the original I cannot underplay all of the unique gameplay additions Nintendo made that allows this sequel to stand on its own legs. All new levels and all new power-ups – including the return of Yoshi – and a new approach to progression that harkens back to the classic 2D Mario titles. Some say that Mario fell into a slump during the first half of this decade but don’t let anyone tell you he didn’t start this period of with a big bang.

4) Deadly Premonition – Xbox 360/PS3/PC/Switch – February 23rd 2010

Now I didn’t play this title until it was ported to Nintendo Switch in September of 2019 and yet I have already played through the game twice and reviewed it for Source Gaming. My full thoughts can be found by watching the video but to summarise this is a quirky cult-classic through and through. Created by developer SWERY, Deadly Premonition falls lovingly into the same weird but average category that titles like Earthbound do and provide an experience that I can’t objectively call the best but I loved all the same. At times feeling like a Twin Peaks tie-in game and others a Shenmue styled life-sim, players control Francis York Morgan and need to catch the mysterious raincoat killer before he kills again. While it attempts to be a horror title, the true horror is non-existent audio balancing. But I can’t hate it. Grab a few friends and play through it together with them and you will have a great time.

3) Professor Layton and the Unwound Future – DS – September 12th 2010

Professor Layton is synonymous with the Nintendo DS line and it helped to put Level-5 on the map. The series has always received high praise and the Unwound Future, the third game in the series is easily the peak of the franchise. Ending the original trilogy, the Unwound Future has great puzzle and has a fantastic story with both great emotional moments and twists. It was the first time the devs looked into the character of Hershel Layton himself and gave players insight into the events that shaped him and it was executed incredibly. And while the explanation for the twist is incredibly over the top, that also makes it very memorable and one of the most iconic moments in the series. Really I just like how the big reveal really clicks once Layton points it out. It was something I didn’t question until that moment but all the evidence is there and that is how you do a good story.

2) Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World: The Game – Xbox 360/PS3 – August 10th 2010

The greatest game that no one can play anymore, Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World was a love letter to old-school beat-em-ups like River City Rampage and Double Dragon. The game came with 4-player multiplayer with four unique starting characters, one unlockable and two DLC, and it was really fun to play through the story multiple times with each one to level them up and discover their unique endings. It was a tie-in game done right that took elements from both the movies and the comics while still feeling thematically linked and having the same spirit as its source material. It is a real tragedy that rights reasoning caused this title to get pulled from the digital store and I can only hope that a complete edition sees the light of day in the future so that new gamers can get a chance to experience the fun of this title.

Honorable Mention) Dorito’s Crash Course – Xbox 360/PC – December 8th 2010

Speaking of tie-in games how about one that no one talks about any more but was incredibly fun for those growing up with the Xbox 360. Winner of the second ‘Unlock Xbox’ competition, Dorito’s Crash Course  was a free Xbox Live Arcade title that utilised the player’s avatar in a variety of ways inspired by the Japanese show SASUKE, more commonly known as Ninja Warrior in the west. The game wasn’t very long but offered multiplayer so that friends could compete for the fastest times through the course and it did a good job of bringing the same energy found in the shows that inspired it. There are certainly better games from 2010 but this one was a blast to play with my friends and left a lasting impression in my mind so I felt like I had to mention it at least.

1) Pokémon HeartGold Version – DS – March 14th 2010

So it turns out that the best Pokémon game came out at the start of this decade. Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver capped off generation four and was a remake of Pokémon Gold and Silver, games that were considered the pinnacle of the series. There is always a risk in remaking titles with such prestige yet Game Freak knocked the ball out of the park with this perfect remake. It takes everything that fans loved of the original and just expands on it in every way. More Pokémon, more features, improved presentation, improved gameplay and it doesn’t take anything away. Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver was also Game Freak’s first attempt at gameplay outside of the game with the PokéWalker, one of the most accurate pedometers ever made where players could upload their Pokémon, take them for walks and play with them. It was like a Tamagotchi but offered benefits in the game itself and helped create an even stronger bond between the player and their Pokémon. As far as I’m concerned the series has never reached the same heights as it did with this remake and that’s why it was my game of 2010.

2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019

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Joshua 'NantenJex' Goldie

A historian and avid gamer, NantenJex is the Editor-in-Chief for Source Gaming, overseeing videos and reviews for the site. He has a passion for obscure gaming so any article you see on uncommon titles like Nazo no Murusame Jo, Yuyuki and Marvelous, to name a few, are most likely from him. He also likes game design leading to the creation of Dream Smashers, a series on potential newcomers for Super Smash Bros. He wants you all to know that Yoshi is objectively the best Nintendo character.

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