Mark of the Ninja is the best game I've played in 2012, combining elements of the original NES Ninja Gaiden with Thief. The artwork, level design, controls, animation, audio effects & music, gameplaty mechanics: Everything is absolutely top-notch. If you've ever wanted to step into the shoes of Samurai Jack or Jubei from Ninja Scroll, this game is a requirement for your library.

Portal 2 is one of the best games ever created. From start to finish everything from the voice acting to the suspenseful soundtrack to the detailed environmental design immerses you in the world of Aperture Laboratories.

The puzzles are challenging without being frustrating. The testing environments introduce new mechanics at an interval regular enough to keep the gameplay fresh without becoming overwhelming. The campaign is a perfect length to play through and feel like you've been on a long, satisfying journey.

Playing its predecessor isn't a requirement, but it does add context to the story.

Portal 2 is a game where you go in one side and come out the other changed- and wanting everyone you know to play so they can enjoy it as much as you did.

Team Fortress 2 seems like a good multiplayer FPS on its surface, but the more you play the more you come to realize TF2 is something truly special. You will soon appreciate the depth its unique class-based system brings, and how its structure encourages team-based tactics in a genre hallmarked by lone-wolf heroics. The more you play, the more you gain access to new and unique weapons specific to their class, and your tactics change depending on the map and objectives. Team Fortress 2 is easy to pick up, and easy to put down, but it's difficult to stop playing entirely. It is an amazing game that gets better the more you play, and rewards the player accordingly.