2011
4) Disgaea 4: A Promise Unforgotten / Disgaea 4: A Promise Revisited / Disgaea 4 Complete +
Publisher: NIS America
Platform(s): PlayStation 3 / PlayStation Vita / PlayStation 4 / Nintendo Switch
Release Date(s): September 6, 2011 / August 12, 2014 / October 29, 2019
Jenae R. says:
Disgaea is an SRPG [Strategy-Role Playing Game] series that has now been around for sixteen years. But it isn’t like any other among this genre. Disgaea breaks the limitations of your typical SRPG. These are games where you’re able to grind as much as you want, stack your characters sky high, do ridiculous amounts of damage and much, much more. Disgaea 4 follows the story of Valvatorez. Once a feared tyrant, he has now become nothing more than a humble Prinny instructor with a love for sardines. Having promised his newest trainees one sardine each for their hard work, he intends to keep that promise. Though when The Corrupternment gets in the way of him keeping it, he ultimately goes on journey to overthrow those in charge.
As of today, Disgaea 4 isn’t the newest entry in the series anymore. Four years ago now, Disgaea 5 was released. But despite Disgaea 4’s lack of certain gameplay aspects which were added in the fifth entry, its story and characters stand among the best. Disgaea 4 has arguably more humor, better characters, and a much more interesting story than its successor. For those reasons, it is this title which we have put on our list of top games of the decade and it has most certainly earned its place here.
5) Batman: Arkham City
Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Platform(s): PlayStation 3 / PlayStation 4 / Xbox 360 / Xbox One / Wii U / PC / MAC
Release Date(s): Oct 18, 2011
Drew D. says:
After the overwhelming success of Batman: Arkham Asylum in 2009, Rocksteady Studios delivered yet another remarkable addition to the then-budding Arkham franchise.
Arkham City once again transports us into a world of grizzled destitution, as the old Gotham City is transformed into a prison state. With plans for the transport of Arkham Asylum’s and Blackgate Prison’s incarcerated inmates to be housed together, a fear-filled nerve is struck with Gotham’s populace. Bruce Wayne takes it upon himself to expose the conspiracy behind the prison state’s inception and true purposes, but is soon arrested, driving him to don his Batman mantle and wage a one-man war against Gotham’s deadliest.
Arkham City is noteworthy for taking the confined, dilapidated atmosphere of the previous game and managing to develop it to encompass an entire city. Not only that, Arkham City is also able to incorporate a huge map to explore and make discoveries without taking away from the tones of imminent danger and pure isolation. The increased variety in enemies allows for a more enhanced combat system, making the combat a more satisfying experience overall.
With an engaging story, fantastic voice acting, and plenty to do, Arkham City is easily a top standout this decade.
And that covers it for the years 2010 and 2011, and the first five entries of our top thirty-one best games of the decade list!
Do you think we missed any games (such as 2010’s Tatsukomo v. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars for the Nintendo Wii)?
Let us know in the comments below!
