2012 was a bit of an odd year for the Playstation 3. It was surprisingly lacking in big, tentpole releases, but not altogether barren; many medium to small sized releases dotted the system's landscape over the course of the year, and while many, such as ingenious indie puzzler Closure, ended up on Steam or other platforms by the year's end, others remained entirely exclusive to the PS3. 

The following is a celebration of all of the Playstation 3's best and boldest titles of the year.

Journey

Just take a look at that screenshot. Journey is one of the most artistially beautiful games we've ever played. But that's not all it has going for it. Its unique gameplay encourages communication between players in a way that has never been seen in games before, forcing players to craft a unique language all their own in order to communicate with one another. Whether played with companions or alone, Journey was one of the most mechanically and emotionally fulfilling games of the year.

Starhawk

Starhawk was the Playstation 3's biggest shooter of 2012, and while its campaign's mixture of tower defense and third-person shooting didn't exactly set the world on fire, it's the multiplayer we're concerned about here. Vast battlefields exploded with action on land and in air, and the titular Hawks did not disappoint. But it was the base-building aspect which really set the game apart from others; buliding up a command fortress before launching an all-out assault on the enemy was a satisfying experience.

Papo Y Yo

For developer Minority, Papo Y Yo was more than a game. Every aspect of the game's design was indluenced by the developer's own troubled past and abusive family situation; the game's "Monster" was in fact a representation of a child's relationship with his alcoholic father. It's the metaphorical design of the game, along with the beautiful artistry of the game's graffiti-inspired art style, that made Papo Y Yo something special.

Playstation All-Stars Battle Royale

Playstation All-Stars Battle Royale was more than Sony's attempt at ripping off Super Smash Bros. The title added its own unique mechanics to the melee brawler formula, successfully integrating the personalities of dozens of unique Playstation characters and franchises into the game's attacks, levels and items in the process. 

And the winner is...

Journey brought a feeling of discovery and emotion to gaming that we haven't seen in anything else. It was both the Playstation 3's biggest and best title of the year in this respect. The game's emotional ending really did make you feel like you'd just been on an incredible journey, one fraught with danger and discovery, and the last few minutes ranked among the best moments of the year in gaming. In all respects, thatgamecompany's Journey is a masterpiece.