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Let’s just say World of Warcraft was excluded from this list because we want to give other games a chance…

#10 - Demigod
“Gas Powered Games’ mix of action, strategy and RPG look to serve it well with this title. The graphics look amazing and the idea of mixing up gameplay between one large unit and controlling smaller ones has us intrigued.” - Big Download .com

#9 - Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
“I thought about leaving MW2 off the Top 10 completely due to Infinity Ward’s blatant disregard for the PC gaming community, but there’s no denying that I still enjoyed the game quite a bit. Though disjointed and lacking in story depth, the single-player campaign is intense. Drawbacks include the inexplicable absence of an ability to lean around corners and the superhuman reaction time and accuracy present in the AI, but it’s still chock-full of kickassery.

The multiplayer component is what really dragged this game down the list. IW.Net has to be the worst idea that ever actually made it into the final cut of a game. Matchmaking is hit or miss at best, and the forced P2P hosting has led to connection loss or disruption in at least 33% of all the games I’ve played due to other people being hackers or unreliable. Compare that to the maybe 2% of games played on a dedicated server that have been screwed up due to crashes or my own connection issues. The only thing that keeps me playing is the addictive nature of leveling up, unlocking, and completing challenges.” - Firing Squad.com

#8 - Need For Speed: Shift

“The newest in the long-running series of racing games from EA, Shift is actually a surprising improvement over the likes of Carbon and Undercover. This is what Pro Street was supposed to be, a more realistic driving game focusing on professional tarmac circuits in the vein of Codemasters’ GRID. Damage to your car can be a detriment to its performance and encourage “clean” racing, and no longer will you be taking 90-degree turns at 80MPH without careening into a wall.

The super-detailed first-person view is a delight for immersion buffs, and tune freaks will enjoy tweaking everything on the car from camber and caster to toe-in and 20 other things I have no clue about. It’s not all about realism though, as evidenced by the retention of the “best line” guide on the road (it can be disabled) and a tiny figure-8 track that leads to some serious demolition derby-style pile-ups. On the whole, I’m pleased with the direction they’ve taken the series, and can only hope things keep going this way.” - FiringSquad.com

#7 - Prototype

“Frequently, battles that you’re not directly involved in can be seen playing out as you negotiate the rooftops above, as can large crowds of fleeing civilians and mutants shambling toward their prey. Prototype isn’t a game in which any one visual element is remarkable, but it looks good, and the frame rate generally manages to stick close to 30 per second even when the number of characters and the amount of action onscreen border on insane. Furthermore, Mercer is brilliantly animated, which makes the parkour, the combat, the shape-shifting, and especially the gliding between rooftops all the more satisfying.

That’s a word that can be used to describe almost every aspect of Prototype, and although there’s no multiplayer component, you’re free to remain in Manhattan long after you’ve beaten the story or, if you prefer, go through it a second time while retaining all of the powers that you already unlocked. Prototype is good enough that you’ll almost certainly want to keep playing either way, and even if you don’t, there’s more than enough fun to be had here in a single play through for us to recommend the game without hesitation. ” GameSpy.com

#6 - Batman: Arkham Asylum

“Regardless of whether you’re getting sucked into the Story mode or competing for high scores in the Challenge mode, Batman: Arkham Asylum does an outstanding job of letting you be Batman. Everything about this game–the impressive visuals, stirring soundtrack, superb voice acting, fiendish puzzles, hard-hitting combat–feels like it has been lovingly crafted by a development team that’s both knowledgeable and passionate about the source material. Miss out on this one and the joke’s on you.” - GameSpot.com

#5 - Resident Evil 5

“Capcom has done it again with the newest game in their flagship franchise, also known as Biohazard. While it’s a shame to see a universal shift in definition of zombie from stiff-as-a-board, shambling undead to virus-infected, blood-thirsty psycho, that doesn’t stop the Resident Evil saga from making a killing. As modern tastes dictate, RE5 is more action-oriented than its predecessors, virtually eliminating any semblance of survival horror roots. As long as you’re okay with that, though, you’ll still have a lot of fun.

Unlike the pansy-princess of a partner from RE4 that only managed to get hauled away by bad guys every 5 minutes, your new sidekick can handle a weapon just as well as you can. Well, most of the time; you might want to take advantage of the opportunity to play through the entire game in co-op mode with another human to avoid some frustrating moments of AI stupidity. There are also many extra features and hidden weapons to unlock, as well as the newer Mercenaries mode that was enhanced especially for PC.” - FiringSquad.com

#4 - Borderlands

“There are plenty of elements to like about the game - first and foremost, there’s the tongue-in-cheek sense of wit which is infused throughout the entire experience. As the 87 bazillion gun claim does accurately imply, Borderlands is a game that’s all about excess and while plenty of the game is crass to the point of eye-rolling, it’s hard not to smile the first time you’re attacked by a ‘Lv. 16. Burning Psycho Midget Bandit’.

Likewise, while most of the game is a canvas of fetch quests stretched over a paper-thin frame of the usual alien-planet-space-cowboy variety, it’s wonderfully invigorated by the selection of characters, who are under-developed but in an engagingly mean and moody way. Everybody you meet is full of swears and one-liners, from the blind farmer outside Fyrestone to the callous scientist who sends you off to collect scattered audio reports.

This approach to creating a world is obviously nicely complemented by the presentation of the world itself and Borderland’s high-quality cel-shaded visuals go a long way to lending the arid wastelands of Pandora a sense of character. If the cartoon visuals were stripped away then it’s likely Borderlands would be just another gritty, brown FPS with too much gore and not enough innovation, but much like a Quentin Tarantino movie, style goes a long way to casting the thin substance and setting in a different light.” bit-tech.net

#3 - Empire Total War

“Empire: Total War is a masterful combination of all the things that I love about strategy games — a great setting, a first-rate presentation, tactics that reward maneuver, and a strategic layer that requires flexibility in your plans. The 18th century is a perfect setting for the game design, and the new naval battles, while a tad clunky, finally deliver the series’ one missing component. The new strategic options are nicely balanced by increased convenience and legibility across the map. True, the end game still drags a bit and there are some small, rough edges in the tactical battles, particularly at sea, but none of those errors compromise the incredible amount of fun you’ll have developing your infrastructure, forging alliances and leading your forces into battle.

Ultimately, Empire Total War maintains the excellent fusion of thoughtful turn-based empire building and dramatic tactical action that the series is known for, and it layers many new features on those foundations to reach awesome new heights. I’ve never given a score this high before, but that’s only because I’ve never played a game as thoroughly enjoyable as Empire Total War.

Simply put, if you’re a fan of strategy games, this is one game you must have in your collection.” - IGN.com

#2 - Left 4 Dead 2

“Left4Dead2 is a better game than I thought it would be, while many people will be crying of a ‘cash in’, Valve have really spent a lot of time fine tuning and enhancing the original experience and have updated the engine as well to improve the appearance. The game mode options are also enhanced and the characters are more interesting which aids the immersive nature of the experience. The AI is slightly better than before and while single player is good fun the core of the game is based around team based multiplayer with other humans involved. If you never liked the first one, then this won’t suddenly warm you to the franchise, but for everyone else I suggest you get onto the steam store and make your purchase, it really is a brilliant game worthy of the cost.” - GamingHeaven.net

#1 - Dragon Age: Origins

“If you told me a year ago that an old-school role-playing game focused primarily on the PC would turn out to be GOTY 2009, I wouldn’t have believed it. Now that I’ve picked my jaw up off the floor, let me tell you that it is, in fact, the truth. Bioware, probably now known more for Mass Effect than classics like Baldur’s Gate and Icewind Dale, has struck RPG gold once more with their completely original new IP, Dragon Age. The amount of history and culture they’ve constructed as the backdrop for this fantasy universe is awe-inspiring, especially considering it’s not even a necessary component of the game itself.

Dragon Age: Origins is named for the epoch in which it takes place and also for the unique fashion in which you are introduced to your character’s place in the world. Fully-voiced by well over 100 competent actors, the epic storyline unfolds as you are drafted into an elite sect of warriors called the Grey Wardens. A blight is upon the kingdom, and it is your job to unite the factions of the land in battle against the hordes of sub-human creatures. Combat is similar to that found in Knights of the Old Republic, only with more of an emphasis on finely orchestrated tactics. Dialogue options are vast, as are the consequences of several meaningful choices you must make. If you’re the type that likes to get lost in the world of a single-player RPG, do not miss out on this game.” - FiringSquad.com

I am eager to see how 2010 shapes up, with big names like Diablo 3 and the long awaited expansion of the World of Warcraft, we are bound to have a great year of gaming.

Question of the year: What was your “game of the year” and what are you looking forward to in 2010?

Facebook, twitter, email or post here, entries are eligible to win prizes!

Well,… farewell 2009, it’s been real, it’s been fun, it’s been real fun. We want to send our best wishes to our customers and supporters,  have a HAPPY NEW YEAR and enjoy the holidays!

- DogHouse Team