Infendo’s top 10 best Nintendo games of 2010

What were the best Nintendo games released over the last 12 months for either Nintendo DS or Wii? I asked notable Infendo staffers to name their picks. Here’s what they said.

Derek

1. Super Mario Galaxy 2 – A masterwork of creative, inspired game design.
2. Donkey Kong Country Returns – Retro Studios reinvigorates another icon.
3. Kirby’s Epic Yarn – A seamless marriage of clever art and gameplay.
4. Sin and Punishment 2 – Proof that the Wii can be hardcore, pigs can fly.
5. GoldenEye 007 – An excellent recreation of a multiplayer classic.
6. Metroid: Other M – An ambitious game that finally makes Samus Aran human.
7. Disney Epic Mickey – Stellar art, surreal concept put Mickey back on the map.
8. No More Heroes 2 – Suda’s latest is as irreverent, bold as ever.
9. Mega Man 10 – Even ten Mega Man games isn’t enough.
10. Trauma Team – Wii’s surgery simulator evolves, stays fun.

I don’t play much DS. Guilty as charged.

David

1. Professor Layton and the Unwound Future – continues the grand tradition of this series with tighter integration of puzzle and plot
2. Rock Band 3 – yes, the keyboard completely revitalized this genre
3. Dragon Quest IX – eases you into an amazing world and then blows your mind with so much to do
4. Super Mario Galaxy 2 – it’s a great expansion on the original with a lot less screwing around in between levels
5. Bit.Trip Runner – punishing in its intensity, rewarding in it’s graphics and music and fun
6. Puzzle Quest 2 – they made the puzzle RPG feel more like a true RPG
7. Wii Party – a huge improvement over the tired Mario Party series and fun to return for the minigames; I never knew hide & seek could be so much fun as an adult!
8. Kirby’s Epic Yarn – how can you not love Kirby, even as yarn?
9. Sin & Punishment Star Successor – lots of fun shooting critters in beautiful landscapes
10. Metroid: Other M – fun action, lame voiceover

Still haven’t played: Donkey Kong Country Returns, Epic Mickey, or the new Golden Sun

Jack — To lazy to submit his picks. Fart-knocker.

Richard

1. Super Mario Galaxy 2 – This perfect, awesome game introduced the world to lava hippos.
2. Rock Band 3 – It’s like a vast, fully-customizable musical theme park.
3. Professor Layton and the Unwound Future – This game’s final scenes are unforgettable.
4. Donkey Kong Country Returns – A stunning game that’s going to keep me challenged for weeks.
5. Kirby’s Epic Yarn – Jaw-dropping imagination at work, here.
6. Epic Mickey – Its incredible art direction, animation and concept compensate for oddly-paced gameplay.
7. Lego Harry Potter – Funny and charming from beginning to end.
8. Warioware D.I.Y. – This perfectly-tuned mini-game creator is a work of genius.
9. Wii Party – A lot more fun than it looked.
10. Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem – Tiny wind-up Marios hit DK in the face with rockets–What more could you ask for?

Blake

1. Donkey Kong Country Returns. Better than Super Mario Galaxy 2.
2. Super Mario Galaxy 2. Star Wars is to Super Mario Galaxy as Empire Strikes Back is to SMG2.
3. Call of Duty: Black Ops. Explosive gameplay, superior controls, inferior graphics.
4. GoldenEye 007. Split-screen bliss, sneaky campaign.
5. Epic Kirby. Not as good as Canvas Curse, bet clever background duality gameplay.
6. NBA Jam. Retro four-player riot with a modern look.
7. Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors. For those who dig Hotel Dusk…
8. Michael Jackson: The Experience. Just Dance 2 plus better dance music.
9. Guilty Party. Better than Wii Party.
10. Red Steel 2. Best Wii Swordplay ever?
11. Monster Hunter Tri. Snoozer opening, huge second and third acts.

Games I still haven’t played but would like to: The incredibly high-scoring Shantae: Risky’s Revenge for DSiWare. Udraw for Wii. Sonic Colors.

Enough about us. What are your top 10 Nintendo games of the year?