To round off the lovely nostalgia which is always apparent towards the end of the year, I am going to list the 6 best games that we’ve seen in 2008 – ones you might want to look out for in the sales or just get out and play again because they were so damned awesome.

Grand Theft Auto IV

Since its release in 2008, the new installment of the long running GTA series has sold 4.711 million units (3.6 million of which were on its first day). It’s critical acclaim was nearly flawless. It has a more realistic and detailed style and tone – with the added bonus of transferring to consoles which are capable of HD quality gameplay. It is set in New York – and I don’t really need to give too much away about the game itself as it follows the theme of the other games which preceded it.

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

20 years after the release of the original Metal Gear game, the new installment graced our shelves in June this year. It is also the first of the series to be released onto the new HD gaming consoles. It has sold 4.3 million units since its release – slightly less than GTA but pretty good – and has had all round excellent reviews. There have been improvements in all aspects of the game causing IGN to call it “one of the best games ever made”.

And best of all? Snake’s back. And he’s old.

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Super Smash Bros Brawl

Itsa me! Mario!

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Ahem. The third installment of the ever popular Nintendo game has passed with flying colours. It was released on Wii in June this year, and has sold over 7 million copies worldwide. Yeouch. There were issues relating to the loading times, but these seemed to have been overlooked due to the praise it has received for entertainment value.

It is certainly true that Smash Bro’s has a staying power that few other games can boast of, and this one didn’t disappoint.

Burnout Paradise

Released in January this year, Burnout Paradise or Burnout 5 if you prefer, is any racing game lovers dream. With the new high definition graphics, it has boosted the reality you feel during gameplay (which is a bonus for an otherwise boring genre of games, in my opinion). It has been critised as being “daunting” to newcomers, as it features an open world; but I think that long time lovers of the series will relish it.

Gears of War 2

Well, I couldn’t make a list without mentioning this, could I? The ‘mint making’ game for Xbox 360 has had extreme success this year. In it’s opening weekend it sold over 2 millon units, and over 3 million copies have been sold since it’s November release.

If you need more convincing, it has won several game awards, including IGN’s Overall Best Shooting Game Award and Overall Best Graphics Technology Award.

Call of Duty: World at War

Great googlymoogly. They really do love their Call of Duty games, don’t they? Installment 5 to the series was released late this year, and has been critised for being “merely an expansion pack” to the fourth game which was released back in 07. However, I think if it ain’t broke then don’t fix it. They knew it was going to sell, and sell it did.  If people love Call of Duty then they are going to enjoy a new game – expansion pack-esque or not. It doesn’t disappoint on graphics or gameplay, so if you love ‘em then give it a try.

Related posts:

1. Best Selling Games This Xmas?
2. Looking Back At The Best of 2008!
3. Jack Black’s Brutal Legend Picked Up By EA!
4. BBFC Downgrades 22 Adult Rated Games!
5. God Of War 3 And Uncharted 2 On Spike TV!