Bethesda's reinterpretation of the Fallout franchise turned out to be a fantastic one. Though the series moved into the first-person, the targeting and action point system were modified and incorporated into a part real-time part turn-based system, and much of the world has that distinct Bethesda stamp, the game world still gave off that Fallout vibe so many PC gamers were hoping for through strong writing, a tongue-in-cheek sense of humor, and plenty of quirky quests and personality.

The next franchise entry after 2007's Crysis, Warhead isn't as much of a sequel as it is a parallel story. Crytek took what they learned with Crysis and pared it down, made it more streamlined and action-packed, tweaked and further optimized their stunning graphics engine, and altered a few multiplayer elements to create a blockbuster entertainment product comparable the most explosive summer action extravaganzas Hollywood puts on film every year. It also doesn't hurt that it's more or less the prettiest game out there.

BioWare's epic action role-playing game first released in late 2007 for Microsoft's Xbox 360 console, and those who waited got a few enhancements and improvement with the PC version. Better controls, a more manageable inventory, the ability to individually command your squadmates, and a range of graphical upgrades meant the keyboard-and-mouse faithful got to experience the best version of the game, which offers up a vibrant world, accessible battle system, and a colorful cast of characters.

In late April Rockstar shook the console world with their latest entry in their landmark action franchise, something PC gamers got to check out toward the end of the year. Though the sky high system requirements have proved to be problematic, the game still deliver a powerful narrative, some of the best videogame voice acting around, alterations and tweaks to the on-foot control, a video editor, and all the free-roaming goodness Grand Theft Auto veterans are used to.

Treyarch's follow-up to Infinity Ward's massively successful Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare brings the battle back to World War II, though in a different theatre of war. Though not all that much has changed with the general Call of Duty formula, players can still experience a thrilling single-player outing as well as a fantastically full-featured multiplayer suite with all the modes you know and love from CoD4, as well as a few more. And, of course, the Nazi Zombie co-operative bonus mode.

Oh what a wonderful experience it is. Managing various types of balls of goo to build rickety structures in dangerous environments seems like sort of a strange idea, which it certainly is, but it's also wildly entertaining and unexpectedly endearing. 2D Boy's effort on the PC and Wii captured widespread attention upon release for its successful merging of simple gameplay concepts and a near flawless execution. If you haven't already, play this immediately.

Mythic Entertainment expands upon their MMO realm-versus-realm formula with Age of Reckoning, delivering the best new genre entry since Blizzard's World of Warcraft. The interconnectedness of all the game's disparate parts, from large-scale PvP combat to co-operative public questing to instanced PvP arenas, is one of the game's primary strengths, along with an entertaining selection of classes with some great combat dynamics.

Sure Blizzard has an absolutely enormous player base you'd suspect they might tend to rest on their laurels when it came to delivering new content, but such is not the case with Wrath of the Lich King. WoW's come a long way since its 2004 release, and it stretches into new territory this time around with a more cohesive and consistent narrative delivery as well as a new class, the Death Knight, along with an incredible amount of additional content related to questing, competitive PvP, and PvE dungeon raiding.

Leave it to Valve to once again shake up the world of shooters. With Left 4 Dead, players get a new way to interact online. In squads of four you must battle against waves and waves of "infected," basically zombies, and frequently encounter more powerful versions with special powers who, if you're playing Versus mode, may very well be controlled by other humans. It's a thrilling game and an even better social experience. Just make sure you don't wake up the witch.

Ironclad and Stardock's take on grand-scale real-time strategy gaming was nothing short of breathtaking when it released early this year. Such a cohesive fusion of complex gameplay mechanics and user-friendly interface elements has rarely been seen, allowing players to easily take control of technological research, fleet production, and planetary infrastructure management with ease. It's one of the most unique and strongest games seen in quite some time.