On top of its emotional prowess, The Walking Dead followed a smart model: episodic releases. Like episodes of your favorite television show, The Walking Dead's episodes were followed by deep conversations and analysis. It kept players actively interested and intrigued. And it kept us all on the same page.

Advertisement

Even though the mobile version is plagued with bugs and inconsistencies, and even though players reported some other bugs on the other available platforms—360, PS3, PC—it's hard to argue with such a beautifully somber story.

Advertisement

At the very least, no other game this year made me cry and smile at the same time.

Advertisement

The writers of Kotaku are nominating nine games for 2012 Game of the Year. The nominations will be posted throughout the first week of January. The winner of our staff vote being announced on the Monday following and that game will be our 2012 GOTY, shifting 2011 GOTY Portal 2 a little further down our imaginary trophy shelf. Read all of our 2012 nominations, as they're posted.