Sorry for taking so long to finish up this list. But here is my favorite game of the decade. First off, a recap of 10-2:

10. Metal Gear Solid 4
9. Call of Duty 4
8. World of Goo
7. Grand Theft Auto IV
6. Valkyria Chronicles
5. God of War II
4. Mass Effect
3. Uncharted 2
2. Chrono Cross

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1. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

As stated in my thoughts on Mass Effect, Bioware are master storytellers. Take that talent and add in the Star Wars universe and you have KOTOR. But what's so great about the game is that you don't have to be a Star Wars fan to enjoy it. It's a well-crafted RPG with a riveting plot, an excellent cast of characters, and a fun combat system. Being a big Star Wars fan certainly doesn't hurt though. Using force powers and wielding a lightsaber is easily one of the most thrilling things I've ever done in a video game.

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Hope you enjoyed taking a look at my favorite video games of the decade. Happy holidays everyone!

Part 1 and Part 2 in case you missed them.

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4. Mass Effect

Bioware knows how to tell a damn good story, and Mass Effect is no exception. It's not the most original game out there but the time and effort put into creating the sci-fi world in Mass Effect is really something. Being able to create your own Commander Shepard, choose your backstory, and make key decisions in the story really puts you in control of the game and I absolutely love that. Gameplay-wise pulling off biotic powers is fun and the gunplay is solid. There are some shortcomings here and there like some of the side-quests being tedious and handling the Mako (which sucks). But this is one of those games where I can overlook the flaws because of the experience that it provides.

3. Uncharted 2

Yes, I know this game came out only a couple of months ago, but I had no hesitations putting it so high on my list. When the first Uncharted came out it was an instant favorite of mine. Nathan Drake was a charismatic new character that you couldn't help but love and the story had that modern day Raiders of the Lost Ark feel to it (which is one of my favorite movies btw). I enjoyed the gunplay quite a bit and the platforming was great minus the occasional elusive edge here and there. Uncharted 2 takes that game, makes some minor improvements to the gameplay, and includes huge set pieces. This is the equivalent of a great summer action movie, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I won't spoil anything, but the train level in particular is probably the coolest I've ever played in a video game. And whereas Uncharted was a very short game that didn't add much replay value, Uncharted 2 includes some very fun multiplayer that is sure to keep me coming back every now and then. It really is the complete package.

2. Chrono Cross

I know some people that didn't like this game just because it wasn't a proper Chrono Trigger sequel. For the record I love Chrono Trigger, but it's pretty obvious that I didn't mind Chrono Chross not being a true sequel. The story of parallel dimensions and the Frozen Flame is one of the best ever told in an RPG; in fact, I'd put it behind only my #1 game on this list. The plot is extremely important to me when it comes to RPGs, but I also really enjoyed the battle system. It was different from your normal turn-based affair, and I loved the fact that you could even escape boss battles if you needed to get resituated. On top of that the game features an amazing musical score and the inclusion of many potential party members. Sometimes I prefer having a core cast of characters in your party but not in this case.

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Well, there's only one game left. Can you guess what it is? I guarantee it will be a surprise...just kidding, it's kind of obvious.

Here's Part 1 in case you missed it.

Alright, here's the second part of my favorite games of the decade list.

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7. Grand Theft Auto IV

I've always been a big fan of the GTA series but the mindless fun and endless cheat codes were what appealed to me most. The writing in the series has always been top notch and often hilarious, but the plot itself never kept me completely interested. That all changed with GTAIV. There were still plenty of humorous moments in the game but it took a darker tone and actually focused on a coherent narrative, at least more so than previous entries in the series. By the end of it I was really invested in Niko as a character and wanted to know what would happen to him. Best of all the gunplay was immensely improved, thanks in part to a solid cover system, and the mission variety was better than it had been in years past. Those two things significantly decreased the frustration factor that often pops up in GTA games. Plus, the inclusion of online multiplayer didn't hurt.

6. Valkyria Chronicles

I have to thank those at the RPG Temple for this one. Leading up to this game's release I didn't know much of it and didn't care either. Final Fantasy Tactics would be the only strategy RPG in my heart. But the positive feedback from some people at the Temple convinced me to get the game, and boy am I happy I did that. Valkyria Chronicles is a strategy RPG, but it ignores many conventions that follow that genre. The ability to actually control your individual troops really changes things, and eventually I got hooked. I'd find myself repeating previous battles over and over again not only to level up troops but also because it was a lot of fun. On top of that the game looks amazing with its watercolor painting-esque visuals and the audio is fantastic as well. Although the story isn't groundbreaking I find myself ranking it right up there as one of my favorites. It hits all the right spots, tackling tough issues, presenting a compelling cast of characters, and delivering a perfect ending. This is easily the biggest and most pleasant surprise of the decade for me.

5. God of War II

The God of War games deliver bloody, straightforward action at its finest. The controls are extremely fluid, the boss battles are epic, and the over-the-top violence fits the games perfectly. I went with God of War II specifically because it took the framework from the first game and just made everything bigger and better. It really pushed the PS2 to its limits and showed what the system could do; now that's what I call a perfect swan song. Oh, and Kratos is probably the most badass character in video game history. His quest for revenge on Greek Gods just reeks of awesomeness.