Editor’s Note: So it’s that time of year again, where the team take into consideration all of the games released this year, and select the ones that stood out the most. Unlike a review, our Game of the Year winners will likely be more subjective, so this won’t be a list of our most highly rated games, but instead those that we enjoyed the most.

So, starting several weeks ago, a comprehensive list of over two-hundred games that were released this year was compiled, with each staff member here at MediaKick voting for their top ten in order of preference. Using the same algorithm I devised for our most anticipated games of 2012 list – which takes into account both increased preference and number of votes, we ended up with a clear top five which we will now bring to you in order.

Unlike last year, where we just had an overall Game of the Year, we’re doing a top five this time around as we’ve grown considerably in terms of staff numbers, and can therefore have a more well-rounded and fairer outcome. It also helps to highlight the games that we felt were really fantastic, but not quite the very best.

A few things to note, to be eligible, a game must have seen its first current generation release in the West this year. Therefore if it was out on a previous console before this year clocked in, it is ineligible; likewise, a release in Japan last year does not affect an entry, not does it allow one if it was released this year.

Let’s kick things off with our fifth placed Game of the Year, Deus Ex: Human Revolution.

The Eidos developer title feels like a long time coming. Our first bit of coverage for the game was within a month of our launch, all the way back in June of last year, a boy did it impress. The game burst onto the scene with a trailer that was truly incredible. It set the tone, the mood, the atmosphere of the game superbly, whilst also showing plenty of gameplay and providing ample information. Oh and that music, it still a frequent visitor on my Spotify playlist.

It’s been on our radar for some time though, heck, it was one of our most anticipated games prior to E3 2010. Time moved onto Gamescom which brought forth another fantastic video, as did the month of November. Fast-forward to March this year and everything changed, it somehow stepped up another gear. August 26, 2011 was confirmed as the date; when we could finally get our hands on this superb title. However, it was the reveal of two videos highlighting the game’s “freedom of choice” and it’s multipath gameplay approach.

Rarely is a game marketed so consistently, without becoming an annoyance or feeling oversaturated in the market. Yet somehow, the team at publisher Square Enix managed just that a kudos should go to them as a result. Even the line of clothing for the title was of the highest quality.

The steady drip of quality trailers continued through E3 and the summer, concluded by the launch trailer. It was now time. A game that swiftly shot up my most wanted list was finally here, sat on my desk. Thankfully, it didn’t disappoint.

“Deus Ex: Human Revolution has a few kinks but is a thunderous experience from the off,” read my review. “With thirty or forty hours of playtime in a single playthrough, there’s plenty of content on show but it’s quality is what impresses the most. Metal Gear Solid-esque is certainly high praise, but also perfectly suitable for this effulgent title. The mixture of tactical stealth, enjoyable combat, encouraged exploration and a story and setting to beat most, Human Revolution is not just the sequel we were all hoping for, it made me fall in love with gaming all over again.”

Since release the action role-playing game debuted at the top of the UK charts, pushing out the then unstoppable force of Zumba Fitness and managing to fall just 26,000 units short of outselling the lifetime sales of its predecessor, Invisible War. If that wasn’t impressive enough, the game managed to come second in the sales for the month of August, despite only being on sale for just two days. ‘The Missing Link’ DLC was announced a week later, which released in October, and the game has gone on to sell over 2.18 million copies worldwide.

What about the rest of the team though, why did they vote the threequel highly?

Ryan: “Before Human Revolution, I never properly played a Deus Ex game so I felt that I HAD to buy it to be able to call myself a gamer. Even after being told the original Deus Ex was one of the best RPG shooter made, I still wasn’t expecting much from Eidos Montreal but, in the words of Ray Wilkins, my word was I surprised. The art style, gameplay and freedom of choice were amazing. The only thing that left me disappointed was the poor boss battles. They felt out-of-place and, when sneaking your way through the game, near impossible [Ed - it has been revealed since that they were shipped out and done by a different team, which explains a lot]. Apart from that, there is very little to criticise, making it one of 2011’s best titles.”

Harry: “Eidos produced an excellent game, plain and simple. So what if the boss fights were tacked-on and counter-productive to the stealth emphasis? Deus Ex: Human Revolution was an incredibly immersive experience that told its tale superbly and for most of the game perfectly balanced the freedom of choice and its semi-linear story. The presentation was golden (in more ways than one), the characters wonderfully profiled throughout and the gameplay was always exciting; even when creeping around in one of the many conveniently placed vents dotted around the place, the game hugely entertained.”

Dave: “This was always going to be a difficult rebirth for the cult classic, but we ended up getting one of the most immersive science fiction games I’ve seen in years. It was the ability to choose your own way of tackling obstacles that impressed me the most, and despite being forced to fight occasionally in the form of ill placed boss battles, this game made me giddy once more about a series I thought was doomed for the archives!”

Phil: “Having never played the original Deus Ex – yes. I know how ridiculous that is – I always found myself surprised at how excited I became when I watched a Deus Ex: Human Revolution trailer. Something about it just seemed to click with me. Lo and behold, when launch day came, I couldn’t help myself from nipping to the local shop and picking it up, and thank God I did. Deus Ex: Human Revolution is one of the finest games to be released this year. A game that offers you true choice in how to approach it, without ever getting mindless and always keeping you focused on moving forward. Its visual style was fantastic, the gameplay super fun and the story was really interesting. Without doubt one of the stand-out games of this year.”

Igor: “There’s no doubt in any gamers mind that Deus Ex: Human Revolution had a lot to live up to. Not only did the series have to appease what is a die-hard and cult like following of fans from the original Deus Ex, but it also had to prove to a new generation of gamers, what on earth all the fuss was about. The stealth, action, first-person role-play hybrid, encompassed just about everything that we love from each of these genres and molded them into a terrific gaming experience. Deus Ex: Human Revolution is a terrific example of how to deal with pressure and give the gamers what they wanted – one hell of a good time.”