The best video game we played this year.

Mass Effect 3
It wasn’t easy, Shepard, but you really did it this time. The most talked about and targeted game of the year made it easy to forget all of the things that made Mass Effect 3 incredible. In fact, it is because of those things that the game conjures up so much passion from its fans and detractors. The best playing / looking Mass Effect game yet managed to finish everything that Commander Shepard started while providing some of the most awesome set pieces of the series so far. Add in a stronger-than-it-needed-to-be multiplayer experience, ongoing DLC that continues to flesh out even more of the universe, meaningful conclusions to your favorite side missions and characters, on top of the borderline addictive level of replayability and Mass Effect 3 stands tall as our game of the year for 2012.

Finalists

• Far Cry 3
• The Walking Dead
• Dishonored
• XCOM: Enemy Unknown

Hear how we narrowed down the winner and finalists for this category. (Starting at 1:41:11)

The 2012 Grimmys

Part 1 Deliberations

• Best Brosef
• Best Gunz
• Best Hype Package
• Best Trucks
• Best Digital Butt
• More of These Award
• Date Night Award
• Quickie Award
• BFG Award
• Comeback Award

Part 2 Deliberations

• Shock and Ahh Award
• Infinite Lives Award
• Mr. Dave Award for Best New Character
• Not Entertained Award
• Queued Up Award
• F*** Me Award
• Tingle Award for Worst Character
• Game Against Humanity Award
• Best Debut
• Best Looking Game of the Year

Part 3 Deliberations

• Mobile Game of the Year
• Handheld Game of the Year
• Co-op Game of the Year
• Competitive Multiplayer Game of the Year
• Local Multiplayer Game of the Year
• Music of the Year
• Indie Developer of the Year
• Story of the Year
• Downloadable Game of the Year – Bottlecaps Edition
• Downloadable Game of the Year – Coins Edition
• Game of the Year