2012 has gone by so fast. And what a year it was. A year full of surprises and disappointments. So without further ado let me present to you my top 10 PC games of 2012.

10) Prototype 2

You could classify this game under "Just Plain Fun." Prototype 2 doesn't give you strong story or characters (though it tries). What it does give you is power. Crazy, awesome powers that let you wreak havoc on enemies and civilians alike. You get gruesome satisfaction when you slice and dice your way through hordes of the infected and then jumping into the air and Falcon punching a mutant. The open world gives you more space to go crazy. Too bad Activison axed the developing team. A sequel wouldn't have hurt.

9) Dishonored

In a time when big bangs earned you big bucks, stealth games were thought to be dying. The same could be said for new IPs. But Dishonored proves them all wrong. With solid stealth mechanics and probably one of the best melee combat systems ever, this game has won the hearts of many (myself included). The satisfying and gruesome combat of the game just feels right. There are many powers and different ways to non-lethally or lethally dispatch people. Stopping time to possess an enemy guard and making him stand in the way of his own bullet is one of my best gaming moments of the year. I'm looking forward to more of this, Arkane.

8) Hitman: Absolution

I have been a Hitman fan since Hitman: Contracts. Doing missions the way you want to held a certain appeal to me. Sure, this game isn't as open-ended as previous Hitman titles, but it still has that Hitman feel. Assassinating targets still require brain-work and patience. Completing your mission without being spotted is still as satisfying. The shooting also feels tight and fun. The new Instinct system is a welcome addition that helps you track people's routines and makes planning "accidents" easier. The graphics are also very slick and nicely done. Welcome back, Agent 47.

7) XCOM: Enemy Unknown

The geniuses behind the Civilization series return with this addicting and tense turn-based strategy title. I have never played the classic XCOM games, so this was my first experience with the XCOM franchise. And what an experience it was! Nail-biting tension and addicting mechanics sucked 20+ hours of my life away from me. Every mission has you wondering if everyone in your squad is going to make it back alive. One mistake can cost you the entire campaign. Those two veterans you had in your squad? They've just been skewered by Chryssalids and are now killing their former squadmates as zombies, making your rookies lose their cool and start running everywhere. Mission failed. Welcome to XCOM: Enemy Unknown.

6) Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning

This game is criminally underrated. It has a huge open world brimming with side quests. Fluid and flashy combat with a fairly interesting story, this wonderful RPG deserved much more. Even though I came fresh off Skyrim, the game never felt stale or tedious to me. I've sunk 50+ hours in it's vast, colorful world. The combat is the main attraction here. It's like an amalgamation of God of War and Fable. It's addicting and will keep you coming back for more. I wanted to see more from this IP. Hopefully a brilliant studio like CD Projekt Red or Bioware will pick this up.

5) Crusader Kings II

Every year, there is a game that comes out of nowhere and totally blows me away. This is one of those games. This is the first grand strategy game I've ever played. Though it has a steep learning curve, you eventually get the hang of it in a few playthroughs. In every new playthrough I discovered something new. Plus, I'm a sucker for games that let you have your own lineage. This gem lets you do that and more. Deal with scheming wives and assassins. Be a just ruler or a cruel tyrant, the choice is yours. The 'A Song of Ice and Fire' mod for this game lets you have the true Game of Thrones experience. For those who love the series, I recommend you get this game now!

4) Max Payne 3

This game felt like a movie. A fast-paced, very well done action flick. With slow-mo headshots and depressed monologues, Max shot his way into our hearts. Even though it is very linear, the shooting is fantastic. Watching the bullet entering and exiting the victim's head was sadistic satisfaction. Rockstar's marvelous RAGE engine makes the shooting all the more fun. Technically, this game is superb. The realistic animations coupled with wonderful character models made Max's adventure all the more brutal. Also, the port wasn't as bad as the GTA IV port. The game ran quite smoothly on my PC.

3) Far Cry 3

Let me tell you the definition of insanity. Insanity is setting a tiger on fire and then watching it maul pirates while simultaneously spreading the fire to the nearby forest. Insanity is blowing a shark up with an RPG. Insanity is killing bears, komodo dragons, and leopards to make wallets. In short, insanity is Far Cry 3. With jaw-dropping visuals, an insane story, solid shooting, and unpredictable wildlife. Far Cry 3 is without a doubt, the best first person shooter of 2012.

2) The Walking Dead

I hate zombies. They've gotten stale and are put into every single video game. They are like the military shooters of enemies. What this adventure game does is use the zombie apocalypse as a backdrop and focus on human interaction. The relationship between Lee, the protagonist, and Clementine involve some of the best writing ever. Don't let the cell-shaded graphics fool you. This is one of the most dark and depressing stories in video game history. There are brutal decisions that affect you and those around you. It's not about doing what's right, it's about doing what helps you survive.

1) Mass Effect 3

Dun dun dun. An epic trilogy ends with Mass Effect 3. Engaging characters, emotional moments, grand battles, this game has it all. The reputation of this masterpiece has been marred with the controversy about the lackluster ending. I agree that the endings leaves a lot of plot holes, but in my opinion, it's more about the journey than the destination. Would you ever forget those conversations with Garrus, the smart-ass quips of Joker, the ruthlessness of the Illusive Man, the Normandy? Those unforgettable moments have made the Mass Effect series what it is. Goodbye, Commander Shepard. Thanks for giving us one of the greatest epics ever made.

All in all, 2012 was a great year for story-telling in video games. I can't wait to see what 2013 brings us.