Although I work in the game industry, I have to admit that I generally don’t play as many games as I’d like to (and I certainly don’t finish as many as I probably should). That being said, I started looking back on last year’s releases and realized that I actually played enough to put together a decent top 10 list. This is by no means an exhaustive look at the past year in video games, but merely a chance to give some thoughts on some of the games that I enjoyed most in 2009.

1. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (PS3)

I finally got around to playing the first Uncharted game just a few weeks ago, and I was hooked. But the sequel takes it to a whole other level. It builds on the solid framework of the original and creates something truly amazing. A seamless blend of action and intrigue, exploration and puzzle solving, with no stopping in between. Almost every scene introduces something new and unexpected. Stunning environments and first-rate voice acting help you grow attached to the characters. Definitely deserving of all the Game of the Year Awards that it has been winning, and the #1 must-play game of 2009.

2. Batman: Arkham Asylum (Xbox 360)

There aren’t a ton of great comic book-based video games out there (mostly because they are all cheap tie-ins to movie franchises), but this blows virtually all of them out of the water. It molds Metal Gear Solid stealth mechanics with a violent and innovative combat system. The dark, eerie atmosphere and beautiful art design immerse you in Batman’s world, while the creative bossfights make it a joy to cut through his rogue’s gallery of villains. I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that Batman: Arkham Asylum is to Batman video games what The Dark Knight was to Batman movies.

3. Shadow Complex (XBLA)

An unabashed tribute to Super Metroid, this Xbox Live Arcade game is the unofficial 2-D sequel I’ve been waiting for ever since Metroid: Zero Mission. Although the game isn’t the most original thing in the world, it does have a decent story (based on a book by Orson Scott Card) and it adds some 3-D elements to what is otherwise very familiar 2-D gameplay. Plus, as an XBLA release, there aren’t many other 2009 games that offered the same amount of value for the money.

4. Resident Evil 5 (Xbox 360)

I wasn’t a huge Resident Evil fan until Capcom came out with part 4, which totally revolutionized the series and became one of my favourite games of all time. Resident Evil 5 essentially uses all the same mechanics, but adds some interesting co-op elements as well. Although it doesn’t quite have the same atmosphere as RE4, the African setting was an interesting change of pace and the action was a lot more fun and satisfying.

5. Peggle (iPod Touch)

This past year we saw an explosion of casual games being released for the iPhone and iPod Touch, and I truly believe that this platform will eventually come to replace the Nintendo DS. Although Peggle was released on virtually every system in 2009, it was a perfect match for the iPod’s portable nature and touch screen. The game is ridiculously simple, but the folks at Pop Cap know how to take a good premise and refine it until it becomes a classic. If there was a more addictive game released this year, I definitely did not play it. Because I was too busy playing Peggle.

6. DJ Hero (Xbox 360)

I had my doubts about this one, and although I still think the game is a bit overpriced, it ended up being a pleasant surprise. It doesn’t have quite the same party presence as Rock Band, but the soundtrack is very accessible with a varied mix of songs, and the turntable definitely gives you an appreciation for what it is that DJs actually do. Of course, I can’t comment on how it might play if you’re already an experienced real-life DJ, but I had a good time with it. Apparently it didn’t sell that well (and with the horrid reviews for Tony Hawk’s Ride, the wacky peripheral trend might be on its way out), but hopefully people will give this another chance when it comes down in price.

7. New Super Mario Bros Wii (Wii)

Throughout 2009, Nintendo once again relied on their usual strategy of regurgitating classic titles and using on their brand to sell games. Although it’s not as creative as Super Mario Galaxy, and won’t win any awards for its cutting edge graphics, New Super Mario Bros Wii successfully builds on one of the most universal games of all-time. Well-designed but not over-designed, it’s just easy for anyone to pick up and play, and with the 4-player simultaneous drop-in/drop-out capabilities, anyone can.

8. The Beatles Rock Band (Xbox 360)

The Guitar Hero and Rock Band franchises have started to lose a bit of their appeal as each sequel slowly becomes little more than a glorified “Track Pack”, but despite this problem, The Beatles Rock Band still managed to offer a unique and refreshing experience. Taking us through the history of the Fab Four and giving younger listeners (myself included) an appreciation for the progression of their career, the game’s beautiful art design made it a joy to behold. The addition of vocal harmonies was also a logical and welcome improvement.

9. Tales of Monkey Island (PC)

If you grew up on Lucasarts adventure games like I did, the return of Monkey Island had to be one of the most exciting game announcements of the year. With the good folks over at Telltale Games already carving out a niche for themselves doing episodic point-and-click adventures, they managed to stay true to the series while also streamlining the interface and updating it for today’s audiences. The writing and voice acting were also quite strong. Although the format may seem dated, the joy of solving puzzles and interacting with amusing characters will definitely never get old.

10. Scribblenauts (DS)

There are probably a few other games that deserve the #10 spot more than Scribblenauts, but as a fan of offbeat and experimental games, I have to give developer 5th Cell props for trying something new. Although it was riddled with bugs, and input rarely yielded the expected result, it was still a lot of fun to play around with this strange little gem. Regardless of whether or not it lived up to its concept, I’m just impressed that someone actually took a risk on such an original game and saw it through to the end.