As the intertubes get filled with "best-of's" and "top whatever" lists (look forward to ours!), Michael Zenke at his MMOG Nation blog has a thoughtful round-up of the most innovative games over the past two years. (There's also a list of least innovative games, so swing by, check 'em out.) Here are the best three with choice sound-bytes:

• Half-Life 2

• This, right here, is 'next generation' gaming. Valve beat everybody to the punch, and has set a very very high standard for the rest of the industry to follow.

• Resident Evil 4
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  This game was one of the best titles ever released on the GameCube, a complete reinvigoration of the Resident Evil franchise, and has entirely set the tone for modern shooters. A lot of the goodness from Gears of War came from filing the serial numbers off of RE4.
  

• Kirby: Canvas Curse
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  The control scheme is unlike anything else I've ever played, and is one of the first titles that hit the system where the touch screen was obviously a centerpiece of the design.
  

And in Kotaku-land, whaddaya think? What games have been innovative? What ones haven't? Stand on your soapbox. We're all ears. Brian Ashcraft

Most Innovative Games [MMOG Nation via GameSetWatch]

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