You may be wondering right now if your eyes are playing tricks on you. "A top 8 list," you may be thinking to yourself. "In this society of circles and spheres, shouldn't a top list be represented by a round number?" No, it should not. My year-end lists always encompass the games that I loved, no matter how many that is. Last year I had a top 11, whereas 2006 only had 7 games worth wooing. Plus, what's more round than 8? It's made of two circles! Only a monstrous 3 circled number or, heaven forbid, a 4 circled freak of nature could top this curvy delight.

On to the list!

8. Burnout Paradise - It took me a good 10 hours before I actually started to enjoy this game. The city is so huge, that just learning how to navigate its treacherous streets is an oftentimes arduous ordeal. But you know what? I stuck with it because there wasn't anything else out last January, and once I learned how to play, it was a non-stop blast. As strange as this sounds, this was probably the most violent game I played last year too. Those crashes made me cringe. The multiplayer is especially awesome. There's nothing quite like having seven of your friends ridicule you as you desperately try to jump through a hanging airplane cylinder. I just hope with all the DLC they keep churning out they come up with a better crash mode.

7. Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts - This is one of those rare (pun!) games that literally has no peers. I have never played a game like N&B before, and the sheer novelty is enough to make it a memorable experience. But you know what? It's really fun as well. Making vehicles is a cinch, and trying to come up with creative ways to pass the objectives is rewarding and often hilarious. I can't wait to see this idea expanded in the future, with crazier objectives and more outlandish worlds, but in its current form, it's easily one of my favorite games of the year.

6. Culdcept Saga - Yeah, it's a card collecting game. I understand how lame that must sound for people who have not experienced its awesomeness. But it is awesome. It combines the nerdy glee of playing with mythical cards with Monopoly, which makes it a lot easier to pick up and more fun and strategic once you get going. I probably sunk 100 hours into this beast earlier in the year and still haven't unlocked all the cards and fancy avatar parts to cloth my naked character.

5. Prince of Persia - It's easy, but who cares? Not every game needs to be difficult to be fun, right? Navigating around the beautiful environments was a joy, as was seeing the relationship develop between the crass Prince and the noble Elika. And the ending is making me drool in anticipation for the next game in series. I've never played a 3D platformer that was so inviting, that constantly rewarded players instead of punishing them when they coudn't make a treacherous leap.

4. N+ - From the easiest platformer of the year to the most challenging in one smooth jump. Have you noticed a trend? I love platformers, and N+ was the best pure platformer of the year. Without a compelling story, complex characters, or an exhausting creation tool to get in the way, it was able to focus on just pure running and jumping bliss. The co-op levels provided some of the most memorable experiences of the year. The levels are designed with teamwork in mind, so you'll have to rely on your buddy to get to the next level. It makes for a frantic and often anger-filled experience, but it's still one of my favorite games around.

3. No More Heroes - What a weird game this is. The story is absolutely nuts, and the characters are so over-the-top, they are impossible to believe. But that works in this game's favor. It knows it's ridiculous and relishes in it. And the combat showcases some of my favorite uses of motion controls on the system. You use the A button to swing your lightsaber, but finishing moves are performed with a hearty slash in whatever direction you want. Lopping off heads never gets old. I can't wait to see what Suda has in store for the sequel.

2. Braid - I was shocked at how good Braid turned out. I've seen time manipulation used in games before, but it's usually just a simple rewind feature, like Sands of Time. A way to erase a stupid mistake. But the time mechanic in Braid was implemented in such devious ways that you'll have to think long and hard, and logically, to pass these puzzles. And the ending was just fantastic. I couldn't get over the events, thinking about the satisfying twists all through the night and into the next day when I started to work on my review. An unforgettable experience.

1. Metal Gear Solid 4 - Holy crap, this game is amazing. I plowed through the whole thing in two 10 hour sessions, and then went online to read other people's thoughts on the controversial ending. I absolutely loved every second of this game, and this is coming from someone who had spent one painful hour with the first MGS a decade ago and hasn't touched the series since. The stealth/action was immensely rewarding, letting you tackle situations in whatever manner you choose, but the sheer variety in the gameplay kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. From excellent vehicle sections to heart-pounding boss fights, this was as fun a game as I have played this year. And the story! Oh my! Yeah, I didn't understand everything (what's Foxdie?), but, at its core, this is just about relationships and conflicts between different people, and I certainly grasp that. The characters were strongly developed and their motivations felt real. Just writing this makes me want to play through all over again.