2010 was, simply put, a great year for video gaming. While lacking in new systems (unless you count the iPad in there), we had intriguing new hardware thanks to Kinect and Move, a plethora of AAA titles that delivered on their promises, and even a few pleasant surprises.

In our first annual Best of awards (I promise, we’ll retroactively rename them to something better when we think of it), we at GamerPops are proud to honor the best games of 2010 in four categories. As always, feel free to share your thoughts at the end.

Console Game of the Year

The Contenders

Halo: Reach (XBox 360) – Though technically a prequel, Halo: Reach was the perfect coda for Bungie’s involvement with the franchise. A refinement of everything that has made Halo a bestseller, Reach featured an emotional single player campaign and one of the finest multiplayer experiences available on any system. Halo: Reach is a must-own for core gamers, and the highest scoring game reviewed by GamerPops this year. But of course, it’s not for kids. Not even the 12 year olds on Xbox Live. You know who you are.

Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit (Xbox 360, PS3) – The best of a banner crop of racing titles, Need for Speed united the best arcade racing development house (Criterion Games) with a franchise sorely in need of a quality reboot (Hot Pursuit). The end result was a fantastic game of cops and robbers, filled with intense racing action and gorgeous high end vehicles. Even if some of the vehicle options, like a Lamborghini police car, were a tad ridiculous. While it wasn’t a true sequel to Burnout Paradise, it was still another outstanding achievement for Criterion.

Red Dead Redemption (XBox 360, PS3) – Red Dead Redemption is, to its credit, everything that’s good about Grand Theft Auto, set in the largely neglected (in video games anyway) milieu of the American west. Drawing cues from every decade of western cinema, the folks at Rock Star San Diego (previously known for the Midnight Club racing series) have created a rich and compelling protagonist in John Marston, and surrounded him with heroes, villains, and everyday folk in a beautifully rendered setting that is simply fun to experience on horseback. An absolute winner, and likely the biggest surprise of 2010.

And the winner is:

Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood (XBox 360, PS3) – If Ubisoft would have taken the amazing Assassin’s Creed 2 and simply extended Ezio’s story while doing little else (would we have called it Assassin’s Creed 2… 2?), it would have likely been another terrific game that sold a whole bunch, but it wouldn’t have been Game Of The Year material. True, Ezio Auditore da Firenze is back and his story does continue, but AC: Brotherhood has evolved as a game. The combat system has been changed, now including the capability to perform extremely satisfying kill chains. Most of the game takes place in Roma, and yes, you do get to climb the Colosseum. You also now have the ability to recruit and train assassins who you can call in for help along your journey. All this while exploring historic Renaissance Italy, digging through conspiracies, and having the opportunity to do numerous side activities and perhaps pick up on a little history. Oh, and they added a really cool multiplayer mode as well, by the way. This game has it all, and does what great games do: make me want to risk being in the doghouse to keep playing it.

Handheld Game of the Year

The Contenders

Angry Birds (iOS, Android) – Wouldn’t be a handheld game of the year list if Angry Birds didn’t show up. As popular as it is simple, the bird catapulting game has become a global phenomenon, helped by a great original app and seasonal add-ons. A perfect on-the-go experience, Angry Birds is an absolute must-own for all.

Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies (DS) – Dragon Quest IX makes a jump to the DS for one of the two seminal Japanese RPG franchises, and frankly, it was a good choice. Staying true to its traditional roots, Dragon Quest IX nevertheless offers a lengthy and fun role playing experience filled with the usual array of colourful visuals and characters. With its focus on only a main character, at the expense of the usual collection of oddball supporting party members, it does feel like it’s lacking in that regard, but the gameplay and job options will appeal to strident Dragon Quest fans, and hopefully newcomers to the series.

God of War: Ghost of Sparta (PSP) – Taking a huge spectacle like the God of War series and putting it on a handheld is an interesting juxtaposition, but Ready At Dawn Studios pull it off again with Ghost of Sparta, Kratos’s second foray on the PSP. While not quite as huge as God of War 3 was, it’s still an impressive game for the dying system and an indication of what the PSP could have accomplished. It’s almost everything you love (and hate) about the console versions that you can take on the go. And it looks great.

And the winner is:

Game Dev Story – Management sims have been around for years, so what exactly causes this quirky made-in-Japan entry to top our list of handheld titles? A delightful mix of cute 16 bit graphics, easily addictive gameplay, and plenty of inside jokes at the expense of the gaming industry. As a fledging game studio, you work through the last three decades of video game history, mixing and matching genres and gameplay styles to try and create hit games (for example, audio books and baseball). You can hire, fire and train your staff, invest in advertising to increase your audience, and even eventually create your own game system. The gameplay is simple but addictive (there’s something bizarrely compelling about watching the imaginary sales for your pretend video game increase). There does come a point where you’ve done everything you can, at which point you just kind of stop playing, but until that point, this $2.99 gem is the funnest handheld game of the year.

Family Game of the Year

The Contenders

ModNation Racers (PS3) – ModNation Racers delivers on the promise that LittleBigPlanet initially offered, putting the ability for users to create their own content in their hands. Unlike LBP though, ModNation Racers made it easy. Ridiculously so. While this game is one of the best kart racing games available, it is the content creation that sets this game apart, and makes it one of our favorite family games of 2010. Want to create a track right now so your family can race on it? Have you got five minutes? Because that’s all it will take, thanks to a suite of tools and auto-complete features that let you design and share your own tracks, cars, and racers.

Wii Party (Wii) – On a platform full of minigame compilations, you need something more to stand out. Wii Party does this. Building on the Mario Party series, Wii Party adds a variety of activities such as board games, bingo, wheel spinning, and other metagames that also happen to utilize minigames. With a variety of game types and lengths, and a healthy dose of randomness to keep the whole family in every game you play, Wii Party is the ideal family game.

Kinect Joy Ride (XBox 360) – Despite the launch of the Kinect sensor, the Xbox 360 still isn’t a fully viable option as a family gaming machine. But there is hope on the horizon, and titles such as Kinect Joy Ride, while not a perfect experience, provide a decent validation for your pricey new purchase.

And the winner is:

Disney’s Guilty Party (Wii) – See the Wii Party comments above. But what Wideload and Disney Interactive did here was create a focused and fun experience for the whole family. The minigames here are secondary to the real metagame, the solving of various mysteries, which is the real star of the show. The minigames are simply supporting players to help you get clues. Guilty Party allows the whole family to work together (or against each other!) to figure out whodunit, and varying escalating difficulty levels allow adults and kids to easily play together. Plus, varying game lengths can accomodate whatever family game night timeslot you happen to have. The characters are funny, using well known mystery archetypes, the story mode is light-hearted and fun, and the gameplay is terrific. Gaming dads, gaming kids, and casual players will all have something to enjoy with this one, a well polished effort top to bottom.

Kids Game of the Year

The Contenders

Did it Myself ABC123 (DSi) – As you may recall from the review, this was the game that taught my daughter how to use the DS, which has been great for her, but bad for me actually wanting to get time with the DS. Featuring coloring, counting, colour recognition, and even a little music game, for only about $2, parents absolutely cannot go wrong with this cute little educational title. If you have a DSi and a pre-schooler, spend the money, buy the points, and get this game.

Kirby’s Epic Yarn (Wii) – The visuals are adorable, the story is cute, and the gameplay is fun and accessible. Definitely one of the more unique titles of 2010, and certainly not your typical Kirby game (Kirby can’t swallow anything because air goes right through him!), but it works as a fun old-school style platformer that kids will have no problem getting into, but you may have a problem getting them away from it. Plus, 2-player co-op lets a friend (or a parent) jump in and join the fun.

Toy Story 3 (Wii, PS3, Xbox 360) - The platforming movie tie-in levels are thoroughly adequate, but where this game truly shines is the Toy Box mode. This is sandbox gaming at its most literal, as you build your wild west town from the ground up, adding buildings, characters, and an assortment of new toys, while unlocking new levels and games along the way. It’s as cute and charming as Toy Story can be, and a great way to really play up the “toy” aspect of the main characters. In fact, the Toy Box mode is so much fun, you might not even bother with the Story mode.

And the winner is:

NHL Slapshot (Wii) – Maybe this is just our Canadian bias showing through, but quite frankly we loved the total package that NHL Slapshot brought to the rink. The included stick peripheral did what Wii peripherals rarely do, and that’s add to the play experience. The controls are simplified and fairly intuitive if you want to use the stick, making it easy for kids to pick up. EA also put more of an emphasis on arcade-style play than pure hardcore simulation. There are a variety of modes available, from single game, to Stanley Cup Finals, to full seasons, to backyard hockey, and more. Plus, the Peewee To Pro mode is a real winner, adding an RPG element to the proceedings as you take your young Peewee player and progress them up through Bantam and Junior, up to making the NHL. Adults can certainly play and enjoy NHL Slapshot, but it’s definitely geared towards the younger set and caters to them extremely well with a fun and easy playing experience.