The most interesting games released in 2009
All the best and most popular games of the year, upcoming releases, and hits from the past. Use filters to narrow down search.
Dragon Age: Origins
RPG
November 3, 2009
A classic cRPG developed by the famous Canadian studio BioWare – the creators of such iconic RPGs as Baldur’s Gate, Neverwinter Nights, and Mass Effect. The game is set in a typical fantasy universe inhabited by several non-human races. Long ago, in response to a demonic Blight, the elite brotherhood of Grey Wardens is created to fight the spreading evil. Now, as the Blight returns under the reins of an arch-demon, you have to gather an army and personally take command of up to 4 characters to stop it once again. Gameplay is built around real-time combat with active pause and story quests, featuring many dialogues, interesting characters, and moral choices, whose consequences become evident later in the game. While playing, you can choose between the classic isometric view – typical of earlier BioWare games – and modern third person perspective.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat
Action
October 2, 2009
The third installment in a series of action games developed by GSC Game World. The story is set in a post-apocalyptic reality of the Zone - an area contaminated as a result of the explosion that destroyed the sarcophagus protecting the damaged reactor in Chernobyl. The story focuses on discovering the reasons behind the failure of the Fairway Operation, which was organized by the government in order to thoroughly search the dangerous areas. The player assumes the role of a State Security Service agent by the name of Alexander Degtyarev, whose task is to find out why the aforementioned secret operation yielded no results. The player visits three extensive new areas located around the titular Pripyat, all of them representing real-life locations. When it comes to the changes brought with this installment, these concern mainly the side missions, which are no longer randomly generated. Instead, they are more extensive and non-linear now. Among other changes, it is worth noticing further AI improvements, a new UI, and the new ability to sleep, which regenerates the protagonist's health.
Assassin's Creed II
Action
November 17, 2009
A sequel to Assassin's Creed, an action game released in 2007. Just as the original, also the second installment was developed by Ubisoft Montreal studio. Assassin's Creed II tells of the new adventures of Desmond Miles. This time the protagonist uses the Animus to relive the memories of Ezio Auditore da Firenze, a young noble from Florence living in the Renaissance period. The hero decides to join the Brotherhood of Assassins in order to take revenge on the Templars for killing his family. Just as in the first Assassin's Creed, gameplay combines elements of third-person action game, adventure, and stealth. The world’s open structure offers much freedom in terms of movement and the order in which you complete the missions. Once again, the developers skillfully enriched the fictional story with historical facts and figures (e.g. Leonardo da Vinci and Niccolo Machiavelli).
League of Legends
Action
October 6, 2009
An extremely popular MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) game, produced by Riot Games. League of Legends is set in Valoran, a fantasy world that has been torn by a bloody war for centuries. However, the opposing nations found another way of resolving disputes – duels fought by their representatives in the arenas. The game has been designed with multiplayer mode in mind, based on rivalry between two teams composed of several people. Each player controls one character. The key to the victory lies in cooperation between the team members and the ability to make good use of the individual strengths of each character. The game is using free-to-play business model with optional micropayments for some items and features.
Sherlock Holmes vs. Jack the Ripper
Adventure
April 30, 2009
Sherlock Holmes vs. Jack the Ripper is a classic adventure directed especially to fans of the most famous detective in the world. Extremely intelligent Sherlock Holmes has to face the most famous serial murderer of mankind - Kuba the Ripper.
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Action
August 25, 2009
A dark action game starring the popular comic book superhero. Batman: Arkham Asylum was made by the Rocksteady developer studio, makers of Urban Chaos: Riot Response. The game's story revolves around Batman's struggle against the Joker. After capturing the villain, Bat transports the captive to titular psychiatric hospital. After they arrive, everything turns out to be a part of the Joker's intricately hatched plan, and the hero has to face the most dangerous thugs imprisoned there (Victor Zsasz, Killer Croc, Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy and others). The gameplay consists of fighting using several spectacular combos, as well as clever bat-gadgets. Batman: Arkham Asylum is powered by the Unreal Engine 3.
Divinity II: Ego Draconis
RPG
July 24, 2009
Another entry in the series of cRPG games developed by Larian Studios. The title is a sequel to the games Divine Divinity from 2002 and Beyond Divinity from 2004. Divinity II: Ego Draconis takes place in the fantasy realm of Rivellon, about 50-100 years after the events from the previous games. In the game the player assumes the role of a dragon slayer who gains the ability to transform into a dragon himself. This enables him to fly and use various dragon abilities. Contrary to the previous entries in the series, Ego Draconis is a third-person perspective action RPG focused on combat. The player can use various melee weapons and spells. Because the game is a RPG, a large part of the gameplay consists of speaking with encountered characters and completing main and side quests. The players' decisions can impact the story and define the way other characters think about them.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2009)
Action
November 10, 2009
A sequel to the 2007’s Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare and the sixth major entry in the Call of Duty franchise. It was developed by Infinity Ward, a subsidiary of Activision. The players witness the continuing struggle against Russian ultranationalists whose actions resulted in a war against the United States. Similarly to the previous game, the story campaign of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is linear and the numerous in-game events follow a predetermined course. Available missions let the players assume the role of several playable characters and visit different corners of the globe. As befits an FPS, the gameplay is based on dynamic shooting sequences. One of the game’s strong points is the extensive multiplayer mode.
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
Action
October 13, 2009
The sequel to the very enthusiastically received action-adventure game developed by Naughty Dog and released in 2007 on the consoles of Sony Company. In Uncharted 2, once again you play as the adventurer Nathan Drake. The story focuses on search for a powerful artifact which has the power to change the fate of the world. During the game, you will visit various exotic locations, accompanied by both the characters known from the first installment as well as some completely new faces. Since a ruthless warlord and his private army follow the trail of the artifact as well, the game is full of dynamic action elements and battles. As opposed to the previous game, the developers decided to make the gameplay more varied by increasing the number of Nathan’s abilities and available weapons. The puzzle system has changed as well, to solve many puzzles a cooperation with your allies will be required. The game is once again presented in a very spectacular, cinematic style and filled with witty cutscenes.
Empire: Total War
Strategy
March 3, 2009
The fifth installment in the popular strategy game series created by Creative Assembly in 2000. This new game is set in the 18th century, focusing on key events of the period, such as the American Civil War, the Industrial Revolution, and the rivalry over the Eastern trade routes. Although the core concept of the gameplay remains the same, the mechanics went through some major alterations, mainly due to the introduction of sea warfare. The game lets you command entire fleets as well as individual ships. Moreover, external factors, e.g. weather conditions, can affect sea battles. Additionally, the game offers improved advisers, as well as new options of trade, diplomacy, and espionage. Due to the widespread use of firearms in the period, new combat tactics have to be used. However, the key elements of the series, the turn-based strategic layer and large-scale battles, remained unchanged.
Left 4 Dead 2
Action
November 17, 2009
A sequel to the popular 2008 co-op shooter game by Valve, in which you play as one of the four brand new characters and face hordes of virus-infected mutants, visiting previously unavailable locations in the American Southwest. Compared to the original, the mechanics remained mostly unchanged, while the biggest novelty is the introduction of several kinds of weapons to be used in close quarters combat. The game utilizes a new version of the AI Director system, up until now responsible for the direction the opponents were coming from and their spawning point. In Left 4 Dead 2 it controls also the weather conditions and some map elements, whose placement may vary in different playthroughs. The game features more maps than the first installment, both for the co-op campaign as well as the versus and survival modes.
Resident Evil 5
Action
March 5, 2009
A TPP action game, another entry in the popular horror game series. Resident Evil 5 takes place 10 years after the destruction of Racoon City. Main hero – Chris Redfield – travels to Africa to investigate origins of the mysterious T Virus that changes humans into zombies. Gameplay combines dynamic shooting sequences with gory horror, as the player has to deal with hordes of enemies using various weapons: from pistols, shotguns and machine rifles, to knives and grenades. Resident Evil 5 offers several modes, including multiplayer cooperation for two players.
Prototype
Action
June 9, 2009
A sandbox action game with third-person perspective, developed by Radical Entertainment studio, known from Scarface and a few games from the popular Crash Bandicoot series. The game takes place in future Manhattan, plagued by a mysterious virus that can transform people into monsters. We take on the role of Alex Mercer – a hero with unknown identity, who gained superhuman powers due to genetic experiments. Not only he can change into other people while gaining their memories and skills, but he can also modify his body almost any way he wants, making him a true killing machine. Walking the streets of New York, Mercer tries to stop the deadly virus and find out who he really is. The world of Prototype is completely open, not unlike in the Grand Theft Auto series, and there is a plentiful of tasks waiting for our hero, requiring both combat and stealth.
Risen
RPG
October 1, 2009
An action role-playing game from the fathers of the Gothic series – Piranha Bytes from Germany. The plot of Risen takes the players to Faranga, an island full of valuable artifacts as well as dangerous creatures. The player assumes the role of a nameless hero, whose ship sinks near the island's shore. The character gets involved in a complicated intrigue of three competing fractions: the Inquisition, the bandits, and the Mages. The gameplay consists of exploration, completing quests for NPCs, and fighting enemies. Experience and money gained during the game allow your character to develop his skills and acquire new weapons and equipment. Risen's attractive visuals are powered by the Ageia PhysX engine.
Plants vs Zombies
Strategy
May 5, 2009
A game belonging to the popular tower defense genre. It's theme, however, is rather unusual, for the players' task is to protect their household against the attacking hordes of zombies. The game was developed by PopCap Games - a company popular for successful arcade-logic games, such as Peggle Deluxe or Bejeweled. In Plants vs Zombies, the levels are made of paths along which the zombies are coming. The player's task is to secure each of those paths. Interestingly, the player's fortification comprises of various plants and flowers growing outside of their house. Each kind of plant has a unique ability. These include things like production the in-game currency, attacking, slowing down the enemies, or exploding in front of them. Zombies are equally diversified - there are many types of attackers, differing in appearance, equipment, and armor. All the subtleties of gameplay are gradually revealed and explained to the players. The game stands out with its atmosphere of comedy, deprived of serious undertones and tension. This was achieved mainly by colorful visuals and a cheerful soundtrack.
Halo Wars
Strategy
February 26, 2009
A side-episode of the flagship shooter series, transferring the well-known universe of the Halo series into the realities of a typical real-time strategy. Unlike the previous instalments in the series, this spin-off was developed by Ensemble Studios, known for their cult classic Age of Empires. Halo Wars is set before the events shown in the first Halo and focuses on the first great battle which took place on the planet Harvest between human forces and aliens known as Covenants.
The Sims 3
Simulation
June 2, 2009
The third major installment in a life simulation game series, The Sims. The title was developed by The Sims Studio in cooperation with Maxis and Electronic Arts. As per usual, The Sims 3 lets you take control of a life of a virtual character from the cradle to the grave. Your job is to provide for the needs of your family of Sims when it comes to their social interactions, family matters, and career. The Sims 3 introduces two significant novelties to the game: lifetime wishes and a personality system that attributes 5 dominant character features to each Sim. As compared with previous installments in the franchise, the game’s 3D visuals were significantly improved.
Still Life 2
Adventure
April 3, 2009
Still Life 2 is a sequel to a great adventure, which turned out to be one of the hits of 2005. The plot of the game presents the fate of FBI agent Victoria McPherson, a tracing psychopathic murderer. The development team of the French GameCO studio tried to create a captivating script, atmospheric audio-visual setting and memorable riddles to solve.
inFamous
Action
May 26, 2009
Third-person action game set in a typical modern metropolis, in which we take control over the hero endowed with supernatural powers. The title was developed by Sucker Punch, an American studio known for their Sly action adventure series released on PlayStation 2. The action of the game takes place in an open world and apart from the main storyline it introduces sandbox elements, consisting of a number of optional side missions. The game focuses on completing tasks which include reaching a specific place or eliminating a group of enemies.
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II
Strategy
February 19, 2009
A sequel to the popular real-time strategy game by Relic Entertainment, set in the cult Warhammer 40,000 universe, where over a dozen feuding factions fight a bloody war. In the story campaign, we can assume control of the armies of four sides of the conflict: humans (Space Marines), Orks, the Eldar, and the Tyranids. Contrary to its predecessor, in Dawn of War II we have a much larger freedom in terms of playing and can determine the order of conquest. Moreover, every mission ends with a fight against a so-called boss who is more resistant to damage and has more powerful attacks at his disposal. In the title, we command units that usually consist of only several troops, which serves to strengthen the tactical side of the gameplay and the way players bond with their subordinates. As we progress, the experience level of our armies also rise, thanks to which they can perform increasingly better on the battlefield.
The Godfather II
Action
April 7, 2009
A sequel of the well-received action game based on the novel by Mario Puzo and its movie adaptation by Francis Ford Coppola. This time the game is set in the 1960s where you play as a rookie gangster, trying to earn the respect of the criminal underworld and get to the top of the mafia hierarchy. Compared to the original, The Godfather II features a much larger world, now spanning over three cities: New York, Havana and Miami. The gameplay is based on that of the first installment, although some strategy elements have been added. You can now not only get new members for your gang, but also manage whole districts in the Don's View mode, in which the camera goes from TPP to bird's eye view, and you can see the bigger picture of the situation in your controlled area. The visuals have been greatly improved, and they're complemented by the music based on that from the movie. Moreover, the voice cast of The Godfather II includes e.g. Marlon Brando and Al Pacino.
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen - The Game
Action
June 23, 2009
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is an action game embedded in the popular science fiction universe based on film. Players have the opportunity to embody their favourite robots and take part in the struggle between the Autobots defending humanity and the Deceptikons threatening it.
Call of Juarez: Bound In Blood
Action
June 30, 2009
The second installment in the series of FPS games developed by Polish studio, Techland. This game is actually a prequel to the original title. We play the part of two brothers: Thomas and Ray McCalls, of whom the latter is known from the first game. Much like in the original Call of Juarez, the two characters play very differently – they have individual skills and equipment. While Ray uses two guns simultaneously and is a walking storm of bullets, Thomas is a sharpshooter who prefers bigger caliber and a longer barrel – he can also use a lasso that gets him to places unreachable to his brother. Apart from story campaign, where we can choose which brother to play in each mission, Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood also includes a coop mode, and a competition-based multiplayer. The game runs on Chrome Engine 4, which ensures high visual fidelity.
Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 - Uprising
Strategy
March 12, 2009
Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 - Uprising is a Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 expansion, released by Electronic Arts in 2008. It expands the plot with new threads, taking place after the events of the core game. During the three campaigns, the player can support the retreating Soviets, help the Empire of the Rising Sun to regain its former glory, or tackle the corruption ravaging the ranks of the Allies. The fourth mini-campaign tells the tale of one of the Empire's leaders – Yuriko. The developers didn't forget about the implementation of new, previously unknown units, a fresh bunch of FMV cut-scenes with live actors, as well as many more minute upgrades of the mechanics. The game mode list is complimented by the challenge mode known from C&C Generals: Zero Hour. During the fifty missions of increasing difficulty, the player fights against nine AI-controlled leaders.
Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes
Strategy
December 1, 2009
A spin-off of the popular Might & Magic series by Capybara Games, originally released for Nintendo DS, and later also for PC and the eight generation consoles. It is a combination of logic puzzle games and turn-based strategies with significant plot, and visuals-wise it resembles a jRPG. The story was divided into 5 episodes, during which you have to complete quests, explore the world, talk to NPCs, and, of course, fight enemies. The game focuses strongly on creating and managing your team, consisting of e.g. knights, elves, wizards, necromancers, or tamed demons. It allows you to use various strategies and your troops' special abilities in battle. The single player mode is complemented by an online and a local multiplayer mode, in which your team competes against other players' teams.
Company of Heroes: Tales of Valor
Strategy
April 7, 2009
The second standalone expansion to the popular war RTS from Relic Entertainment, released in Poland under the name Kompania Braci. Along with the expansion we get three more campaigns set in key moments of World War II: Causeway, Battle of Falaise and Ace of Tigers. The most noteworthy campaign is the one in which we take control over a single German tank with its four-man crew and a group of infantry covering it. Each of the tankers has a slightly different role, and the gameplay is a bit like a hybrid of strategy and RPG.
Overlord II
RPG
June 23, 2009
A sequel to the unusual action game with RPG features, that was developed by Triumph Studios. Similarly to its predecessor, in this game the player assumes the role of an antihero who wants to become a dark lord. However, an evil empire inspired by Roman Empire is standing in his way. The protagonist must conquer various kingdoms in order to eliminate his opponents. In Overlord II the player once more controls not only the main character, but his minions as well. The minions gained some new abilities, including the ability to ride various creatures, assemble into military formations and destroy the surrounding objects. This time the player participates in a war on a much greater scale than in first entry in the series. The game features catchy graphics that use a slightly cartoonish visual style.
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars
Action
March 17, 2009
A spin-off to the bestselling Grand Theft Auto series, at first developed for Nintendo DS and PlayStation Portable handhelds and later converted to mobile devices as well. The story takes place in Liberty City, a place well known to the fans of the series. As Huang Lee, member of a Chinese criminal group, the player is trying to prove his worth, avenge the death of his father, and reclaim a valuable sword that for centuries was the symbol of his family’s power. The gameplay mechanics are similar to previous installments in the series, except for the missions being slightly shorter and the fact that the player can repeat failed actions. Other important changes include an auto-aim system, simplified driving mechanics, and the necessity of destroying police cars. A new interface and various mini-games were added to the game as well. The graphics of the game utilize cel-shading technology, combining the classic top-down view and isometric perspective.
Trainz Simulator 2010: Engineers Edition
Simulation
November 23, 2009
Trainz Simulator 2010: Engineers Edition is the next installment of the realistic train driving simulation cycle developed by Australian studio Auran. The creators of the game faithfully reproduced a number of authentic routes by which players can travel in the cockpit of several dozen historical and modern locomotives. The advantage of the game is an extensive editor that allows you to set new paths and share them with other railway enthusiasts.
Final Fantasy XIII
RPG
December 17, 2009
The thirteenth full-fledged installment of one of the longest and most popular jRPG series, Final Fantasy. The game takes place in the futuristic city of Cocoon, whose rulers terrorize the people of the entire land. Facing them is a former member of the army, now a rebel named Lightning, who, accompanied by allied soldiers, declares war on tyranny and sets out to rescue her kidnapped sister. The gameplay is shown in TPP perspective and its inseparable element is fighting with hordes of enemies.
FIFA 10
Sports
October 2, 2009
FIFA 10 is another part of the famous football simulator, produced by EA Sports. Again, we have the opportunity to play the famous players on the pitch of the world's most famous stadiums. Compared to the previous part, player behaviour, artificial intelligence, and new tactical development possibilities have been added. In addition, multiplayer mode has been improved and enriched with additional protection in online gameplay.
Pro Evolution Soccer 2010
Sports
October 23, 2009
The next installment of a series of sports games dedicated to football. Compared to the previous edition, several improvements were introduced in 2010. Artificial intelligence and realism have been improved. Managerial options have been added to the Master League mode. In addition, Konami has finally acquired the rights to the European League.
Art of Murder: Hunt for the Puppeteer
Adventure
February 13, 2009
Another adventure about the adventures of FBI agent Nicole Bonnet. This time a woman has to face a serial murderer operating on a global scale in the biggest cities of Europe and America. The game was given in the form of mini-games representing various activities - collecting evidence, conducting dialogues and searching for clues.
Rig'n'Roll
Simulation
November 27, 2009
Rig'n'Roll is an automotive game produced by Softlab NSK studio, combining elements of a truck driving simulator and economic strategy. The player takes on the role of a young entrepreneur who is the head of a transport company. The game consists mainly of transporting various cargoes between the cities on the west coast of the United States and investing in the development of the company.