Here it is. My 2010 Game of The Year is:

Mass Effect 2

I listed the original Mass Effect as one of the most significant games of the last decade, and I imagine Mass Effect 2 will find its way onto my list of the best games of this decade. Mass Effect 2 came out back in January, and never has a year in gaming kicked off in a better way.

Usually when simplification comes into the equation, the result is less than stellar, but Mass Effect 2's streamlined shooter-RPG gameplay works perfectly. The shooting mechanics are as satisfying as any AAA third-person shooter, and the RPG elements continue to be unlike anything else thanks to the intuitive dialogue wheel, and most of all, the tangible consequences of your actions, even those from the previous game.

It goes without saying that the story is incredible as well. By not focusing directly on the series' overarching conflict, but instead on the game's large cast of characters Mass Effect 2 tells a much more personal story that really fleshes out the universe BioWare has created. Shepard's dirty dozen (or more, provided you have the DLC) are a memorable bunch, and, in my opinion, they represent the first party in RPG history without one weak character.

But Mass Effect 2 is only in part a character piece; the end game (a suicide mission that Shepard and his crew must embark upon) looms over the player throughout the entire journey, and that is where Mass Effect 2 becomes a truly amazing game. Everything is structured around this final mission - if you're ill-equipped to handle it, a lot of people will die. By making this clear to the player, every action they make feels vital to making it out alive. It's undeniably rewarding to feel as if every little side quest, every upgrade, and every loyalty mission will bring you that much closer to a good outcome.

BioWare is up there with the likes of Blizzard and Valve as one of the best development teams around, and Mass Effect 2 is one of their best games yet. Any problems that the original Mass Effect had were patched up, the core game mechanics are streamlined and tweaked to perfection, and the story is truly incredible. But where Mass Effect 2 triumphs most is in its structure; pretty much every action feels significant, and every consequence feels like it has some affect on the end result of Shepard's suicide mission and it goes a long way towards selling the fact that you're supposed to be the most important person in the galaxy. 2010 has been a year defined by sequels, spin-offs, and franchise reboots, and even though Mass Effect 2 is a sequel itself, it's one that feels totally fresh and inspired. At the end of the day, it's far and away the best game of this year.