Is there a list of the Top AAA titles for each year?

[rich2k4]

I'm talking about the games that were highly anticipated, were big hits, and are must plays.

for example, 2012 had Arkham City, Dishonered, etc. 2011 had Skyrim, etc. 2013 will have Last Of Us, Beyond Two Souls.

[Violent By Design]

That's really subjective imo.

Though, you could go to any major gaming site, filter a year (like 2011), and just ask it to order it from best rating to worst.

[Erik_Twice]

I don't think there's such a thing as a must play and if it were, I doubt they would coincide with highly anticipated blockbusters.

[Cronozilla]

Rant alert: I wish the term "AAA" would die a horrible death. It's such a bullshit term. No one has a remotely sane definition of it. The one you hear the most is something akin to a feeling. It makes absolutely no sense.

As for a list of "must play" games every year ... the easiest way to get a quick idea would be to look at aggregate scores listed from highest rated descending. Not that scores are particularly accurate ... but it's the closest thing to what you may be thinking of.

[dsheinem]

Rant alert: I wish the term "AAA" would die a horrible death. It's such a bullshit term. No one has a remotely sane definition of it. The one you hear the most is something akin to a feeling. It makes absolutely no sense.

While people may misuse the term, it does have a clear definition: http://gameindustry.about.com/od/glossa ... a-Game.htm

A AAA game, or pronounced "triple-A game", is generally a title developed by a large studio, funded by a massive budget.

These games will have a marketing budget in the multiple-millions of dollars, and are planned to earn out in excess of one million titles sold. Investors/publishers expect a multiple-of-cost return on their investment. In order to recoup general development costs, publishers will generally produce the title for the major platforms (currently Xbox 360, PS3, and PC) to maximize profits, unless it is a console exclusive, in which case the console maker will pay for exclusivity to offset the loss of potential profit to the developer.

[BoneSnapDeez]

Rant alert: I wish the term "AAA" would die a horrible death. It's such a bullshit term. No one has a remotely sane definition of it. The one you hear the most is something akin to a feeling. It makes absolutely no sense.

I like the term. Helps me know which games to avoid.

[Snatch1414]

The above is exactly why I too would like it to die a horrible death. So many people think AAA title means "great game". It doesn't. It's a game that some studio spent a bazillion dollars on in development and, just as important when defining, advertising. It has nothing to do with quality.

[Damm64]

Rant alert: I wish the term "AAA" would die a horrible death. It's such a bullshit term. No one has a remotely sane definition of it. The one you hear the most is something akin to a feeling. It makes absolutely no sense.

You say AAA and this is what comes to my mind

[isiolia]

The above is exactly why I too would like it to die a horrible death. So many people think AAA title means "great game". It doesn't. It's a game that some studio spent a bazillion dollars on in development and, just as important when defining, advertising. It has nothing to do with quality.

The entertainment value of B movies varies too, but people know what you mean when you apply the label.

[Cronozilla]

People don't use it to mean how much was spent on the title or it's marketing budget. A title that has very little marketing, but is popular will still be called "AAA" as well. And several titles that were actually expensive, but aren't appealing to some people will not be labeled the same thing.

I'm sure all the buzzwords have some definition, but people do not consistently use it that way, and the meaning gets changed to whatever they want.