It seems to me that every year, quality games are snubbed by video game journalists in favor of the blockbuster titles that outsell and out-market them. Not every game this year had the marketing push or hungry, waiting audiences of Assassin’s Creed II or Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II.

It’s easy to overlook games that get such a shadow cast over them, so here’s my list of games you should have played, but probably didn’t.

1. Torchlight (PC) – I don’t know a single PC gamer in Philadelphia. The ones who do play PC games, are World of Warcraft addicts (I’m looking at you, Joe & Tim), and don’t really play titles released for their monster gaming machines anymore. That being said, if you’re a PC gamer from Philly and want to write for Geekadelphia, let me know.

This year, I discovered the joys of Steam, and have been welcoming old school PC games back into my life. Titles from the golden age of LucasArts, old Sierra titles that seem to get better like a vintage wine, and wonderfully charming indie hits, like Aquaria (one of my other picks) and Torchlight.

Developed by Runic Games, a studio that consists of a number of folks who worked on Blizzard’s Diablo series, Torchlight is an outstanding title that plays just like Diablo. In fact, that may have been the reason so many of my gaming pals wrote the game off, thinking it just a Diablo clone. While the game does take a lot of what made Diablo a great game, it builds on that concept, delivering a good story (Diablo severely lacked that), more loot, larger, sometimes massive bosses, all in a game that runs PERFECT on my netbook. Even with a dozen or more enemies charging my hero, the game handles great on the go.

Note: As of this post, Torchlight is available on Steam for only $10, now through January 3rd. Utterly worth the price.

—

2. Wet (Xbox 360 / PS3) – I’ve never gotten more flack for a post on this blog then I did for my review of Wet, but I still stand by my statements. A2M’s amazing move into hardcore gaming (after horrific PS2 / Wii titles), was a slam dunk, delivering one of the most unique gaming experiences of 2009.

Released in September alongside Guitar Hero 5, LittleBigPlanet’s Game of the Year Edition, Dirt 2, Beatles Rock Band, Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2, Halo 3: ODST… it was easy for Wet to get lost in the Fall gaming shuffle. When you’re up against such stiff competition, a new IP in the midst of several well established sequels, well, poor Ruby really didn’t stand a chance, sexy voice actress or not.

—

3. Bionic Commando (Xbox 360 / PS3 / PC) – For me, Bionic Commando played a lot like the movie Avatar. Gorgeous visuals, incredible music, but a flat, poorly written storyline. However, a bad story shouldn’t necessarily destroy a game. I mean, we aren’t talking about the next installment of Final Fantasy here. Other blockbuster titles, like Red Faction: Guerrilla, featured a somewhat lackluster storyline, but still delivered solid, exciting gameplay.

Swinging from cliffs, floating mines, and hurling objects at enemies with the bionic arm… so much fun. You can really see the connection between Lost Planet: Extreme Condition’s grappling hook and the Bionic Commando’s. The gameplay is pretty linear, thus negating any serious replay value, but the experience is fun. The voice acting (the singer from Faith No More, really?) is poor, but in traditional Capcom fashion, Bionic Commando sported one of my favorite soundtracks of the year, making up for it. The exhilarating music demands that you play the game with the speakers booming.

Grin’s swan song was a fun experience, and I will dearly miss that developer. Sure, they made some mistakes (Terminator), but BC and Wanted: Weapons of Fate were hella fun. With Bionic Commando’s retail price currently hovering around the $20 mark, worth a purchase.

A few more picks, including Wolfenstein and the indie darling Aquaria, after the jump!

—

4. Wolfenstein (Xbox 360 / PS3 / PC) – Ah, Wolfenstein. I loved every minute of this game. Overlooked by gamers galore (clearly due to popular shooters like Modern Warfare II, Halo 3: ODST, and the sleeper hit Borderlands) Wolfenstein boasts a lot of the qualities that make the series so beloved by fans: the incredibly over-the-top evil characters, a wild and unbelievable storyline, and a single hero up against an evil regime.

A lot of people were quick to dismiss the game, citing a lack of major innovations in the shooter genre and lackluster multiplayer. Considering Return to Castle Wolfenstein’s outstanding multiplayer component, I can certainly understand the disappointment. However, for those of us who enjoy solo play, the single player campaign delivered an engaging narrative, with excellent voice acting and music.

—

5. Aquaria (PC / Mac) – This might seem like an odd pick for a 2009 game list, especially since it came out in 2007. However, this title wasn’t available on Steam until the very end of 2008, and a special edition with soundtrack was just released this year. So, dear Aquaria, you’ve earned a special place on my list.

Developed by indie studio Bit Blot, Aquaria boasts a moving soundtrack, stunning graphics, and like Torchlight, runs beautiful on a Netbook. You take the protagonist, Naija, through an absolutely gorgeous undersea world, searching for answers about herself and her place in the world. You can even create your own worlds, and share them with fans across the globe.

Talking about this game really does it no justice. Go watch the trailer on Steam, and get it now.

—

Have your own suggestions? Leave them in the comments!