Games · 2012
Generational Shifts and Narrative Triumphs
The year 2012 marked a pivot point for video games, introducing innovative hardware like the Wii U and PS Vita alongside storytelling triumphs that proved games could evoke deep emotional responses. From sweeping sci-fi finales to intimate episodic heartbreaks, gaming reached new narrative heights.
- Console | November 2012 | Nintendo
Wii U
Nintendo introduced dual-screen home gaming with a tablet-like GamePad controller, ushering in the eighth generation of video game consoles.
- Handheld | February 2012 | Sony
PlayStation Vita
Sony released its sleek handheld featuring a vibrant OLED screen and dual analog sticks to bring console-quality experiences on the go.
- March 2012 | PlayStation 3 | Indie
Journey
Thatgamecompany delivered a breathtaking, wordless adventure across desert sands that redefined multiplayer connection and emotional gaming.
- April 2012 | Multi-platform | Adventure
The Walking Dead: Season One
Telltale Games revitalized episodic narrative adventures with heart-wrenching moral choices following Lee and Clementine in a zombie apocalypse.
- March 2012 | Multi-platform | Action RPG
Mass Effect 3
BioWare concluded Commander Shepard's galaxy-spanning saga with epic battles, intense drama, and a fiercely debated climax.
- October 2012 | Multi-platform | Stealth
Dishonored
Arkane Studios crafted a masterclass immersive sim set in the plague-ridden, steampunk city of Dunwall with unmatched player agency.
- September 2012 | Multi-platform | FPS
Borderlands 2
Gearbox Software perfected the looter-shooter genre on Pandora with endless guns, chaotic co-op gameplay, and the memorable villain Handsome Jack.
- November 2012 | Multi-platform | FPS
Far Cry 3
Ubisoft set the standard for modern open-world action games on a tropical island dominated by the terrifyingly charismatic antagonist Vaas.
Enjoyed your trip back in time?