Skip to main content
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+ The Games, Movies, TV & Comics You Love
UK EditionUK US EditionUS CA EditionCanada AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
    • Gaming
      • Cyber Monday Nintendo Switch Deals
      • Cyber Monday Xbox Series X Deals
      • Cyber Monday PS5 Deals
      • Cyber Monday Meta Quest Deals
      • Cyber Monday Gaming Chair Deals
    • PC
      • Cyber Monday Gaming Laptop Deals
      • Cyber Monday Graphics Cards Deals
      • Cyber Monday iPad Deals
    • Tabletop & Merch
      • Cyber Monday Lego Deals
      • Cyber Monday Pokemon Card Deals
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
    • Quizzes
    • Newsletters
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
Total Film
  • home
      • Cyber Monday Nintendo Switch Deals
      • Cyber Monday Xbox Series X Deals
      • Cyber Monday PS5 Deals
      • Cyber Monday Meta Quest Deals
      • Cyber Monday Gaming Chair Deals
      • Cyber Monday Gaming Laptop Deals
      • Cyber Monday Graphics Cards Deals
      • Cyber Monday iPad Deals
      • Cyber Monday Lego Deals
      • Cyber Monday Pokemon Card Deals
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • View Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
    • Quizzes
    • Newsletters
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
Total Film
Gaming Magazines
Gaming Magazines
Why subscribe?
  • Subscribe from just £3
  • Takes you closer to the games, movies and TV you love
  • Try a single issue or save on a subscription
  • Issues delivered straight to your door or device
From$12
Subscribe now
Don't miss these
A stack of board games on a wooden table beside Life in Reterra and Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion, all behind a GamesRadar+ logo
Board Games The best board games 2025, with over 25 recommendations tested, reviewed, and rated by experts
Photo by Rosalie Newcombe of the Donkey Kong and Pauline amiibo standing in front of a Nintendo Switch 2.
Games I've been recommending nerdy presents for over a decade, and I think these are the best gifts for gamers in 2025
Golden Joystick Awards
Events & Conferences Everything announced at the Golden Joystick Awards 2025
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
JRPGs Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's record-high nominations at The Game Awards proves what I've been saying for the past 8 months
Golden Joystick Awards
Events & Conferences All the Golden Joystick Awards 2025 winners revealed
Voting Powered By
Games Golden Joystick Awards 2025: Check out the winners on our Steam page
A screenshot from Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 showing Maelle fighting an enemy.
Events & Conferences The Game Awards 2025 has Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 as the most-nominated game in the show's history, while Arc Raiders is up for just one category
Two characters standing on a glowing battlefield during Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
RPGs Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is your Ultimate Game of the Year at the Golden Joystick Awards 2025, because of course it is
Best Xbox 360 games: a screenshot of an Xbox 360 console next to a controller and a collection of games.
Games 25 Best Xbox 360 games of all time
A screenshot from Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, showing a man named Verso covered in dirt and blood, looking into the camera.
JRPGs The Witcher legend Doug Cockle agrees "there's so many great games this year," but Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is the highlight: "It's such a beautifully written game, and beautifully conceived and achieved"
Steam logo from Valve
PC Gaming As the Steam Next Fest wraps up, Valve shares some of the seasonal event's most-played demos – and they range from chaotically comedic co-op games to brutal Braveheart-inspired roguelikes
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
RPGs RPGs reign supreme as Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 ties Baldur's Gate 3's record-breaking Golden Joystick Awards haul
GTA 6
Games GTA 6, Hollow Knight: Silksong, Peak, and Ghost of Yotei all win big after Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's mammoth Golden Joystick Awards haul
A PS2 games console standing next to some of the best PS2 games and a black controller.
Games The 25 best PS2 games of all time
Two nobles getting married in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
RPGs RPG fans stay winning: 2025 has been a critical hit for the genre, though I'm anticipating a GOTY bloodbath
Trending
  • Cyber Monday gaming deals
  • Fallout Season 2
  • New Games for 2025
  • Gift Guides
  1. Games

GamesRadar's E3 2012 Most Valuable Games

Features
By GamesRadar Staff published 9 June 2012

We picked the best of the best from this year's show floor

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

E3 Most Valuable Game

E3 Most Valuable Game

The debate over E3 2012's awards was as controversial as ever, as we saw quite an assortment of new announcements and sequels - but in the end, we were able to cut down the list.

Without further ado, here are GamesRadar's MVGs for E3 2012...

Page 1 of 17
Page 1 of 17
Far Cry 3

Far Cry 3

What did we say about it in our preview: "Offering an intoxicating mix of stealth, action, and psychological scares, our time with Far Cry 3 impressed at every turn. We look forward to getting more tats, gutting more goons, and coming off our meds when the open-world FPS hits this fall."

Page 2 of 17
Page 2 of 17
Need For Speed Most Wanted

Need For Speed Most Wanted

What did we say about it in our preview: "Theres no other way to put it: Criterion Games has created the sequel to Burnout Paradise that we all wanted, albeit with a different name. As was unveiled during EAs press briefing, Most Wanted is the developers latest racing title. It is, by Websters admission, not a sequel to 2005s racer of the same name, but a reimagining, not unlike 2010s reboot of Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit. And by 'reimagining,' we think Webster means 'updating Burnout Paradises best features for a more socially connected age.'"

Page 3 of 17
Page 3 of 17
Resident Evil 6

Resident Evil 6

What did we say about it in our preview: "Resident Evil 6s best elements work well. The gameplay additions, like the inventory wheel and sonar directions, help keep you engaged in the action (instead of pausing and micromanaging) and add great flourishes to the RE4/RE5 formula. As long as Capcom makes those aforementioned adjustments, RE6 should offer an exceptionally robust action experience in October."

Page 4 of 17
Page 4 of 17
Injustice: Gods Among Us

Injustice: Gods Among Us

What did we say about it in our preview: "Injustice has already got a lot going for it. On top of the fan-pleasing roster of pugilists and aforementioned features, it sports near-photorealistic visuals, silky smooth animations, and more comic book call-outs than you can shake a Batarang at. Oh, and then theres that tag line: What if our greatest heroes became our greatest threat? That tease alone has us dusting off our capes, cowls, and fightsticks in anticipation of its 2013 arrival."

Page 5 of 17
Page 5 of 17
Call of Duty: Black Ops 2

Call of Duty: Black Ops 2

What did we say about it in our preview: "Its not especially surprising how thrillingly captivating Black Ops 2 is the Call of Duty formulas gone through enough iteration that movie-caliber moments are practically a regular occurrence. What is unexpected is how different the game feels from Modern Warfare 3, beyond the different timeline and settings. Our E3 demo of the game showed off an entire level, one that promoted wandering off the beaten path instead of rigidly locking you to it. The Strikeforce mode was icing on the cake but that may turn out to be one of the most satisfying singleplayer FPS modes in awhile."

Page 6 of 17
Page 6 of 17
Beyond: Two Souls

Beyond: Two Souls

What did we say about it in our preview: "One of the biggest surprises out of E3 2012 was Quantic Dream's Beyond: Two Souls. Revealed during the Sony press conference, the Heavy Rain developer's next title looked amazing, and featured some of the best visuals of the generation. The addition of actress Ellen Page playing protagonist Jodie Holmes got us excited, and proved that the developer had learned from some of their last game's mistakes. Or, at least the ones that involved casting actors who can't fake an American accent."

Page 7 of 17
Page 7 of 17
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance

What did we say about it in our preview: "When we first saw Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance (back when it was called Metal Gear Solid: Rising) a few years ago, we were interested in the premise, but unsure as to how the Metal Gear Solid team's experience with stealth-based titles would translate to an action-packed slasher. The answer, apparently, was very poorly... until Vanquish and Bayonetta developer Platinum took over. It quickly turned Revengeance into a game we finally got to play at E3 2012 - and one that we want to play more of. Like, right now."

Page 8 of 17
Page 8 of 17
Tomb Raider

Tomb Raider

What did we say about it in our preview: "Visibly shaken and splattered with her victim's brains and blood, Lara seems a far cry from the buxom fortune-and-glory hunting heroine we've gotten to know over the years. There's still much to learn about young lady Croft's gritty survival story, but our recent peek of the promising reboot left us as breathless as its physically and psychologically scarred star."

Page 9 of 17
Page 9 of 17
Watch Dogs

Watch Dogs

What did we say about it in our preview: "Of the many games weve seen this week at E3, few have impressed us as much as Watch Dogs. From its amazing visual splendor to innovative gameplay and approach to issues that we worry about today, such as privacy and surveillance, this is a title well be eagerly anticipating. In a minute-to-minute world in which every program, app, and TV show fights for a sliver of our attention, were looking forward to Watch Dogs stealing all of it."

Page 10 of 17
Page 10 of 17
Pikmin 3

Pikmin 3

What did we say about it in our preview: "Rumored for what seems like ages, hardcore Nintendo fans have been dying for Nintendo and developer mastermind Shigeru Miyamoto to return to the Pikmin series. A novel approach to the RTS genre that mixed in naturalistic elements, we hadnt seen the little carrot-ant men since the GameCube. E3 2012 marks their big return, with the distinction of being one of the first and biggest Wii U games, and after our first playthrough with the HD sequel, it looks to be what fans of the cult series are looking for."

Page 11 of 17
Page 11 of 17
XCOM: Enemy Unknown

XCOM: Enemy Unknown

What did we say about it in our preview: "XCOM: Enemy Unknown is a bit of a tough sell. On top of convincing fans of the classic series that the multi-platform reboot hasn't been watered down, it must prove to the console crowd that managing resources is just as exciting as emptying magazines. If our recent hands-on time is any indication, though, Firaxis Games is on the right path to pleasing any fan with an appetite for exterminating alien scum."

Page 12 of 17
Page 12 of 17
Dead Space 3

Dead Space 3

What did we say about it in our preview: "The Dead Space series has been making derelict spacecrafts scarier than anyone could have imagined since 2008. Chronicling the trials and tribulations of the once mild-mannered Isaac Clarke, each new frontier is filled with hideously deformed creatures known as Necromorphs and humans driven mad by ancient artifacts known as Markers. Now, after two adventures lost in space, Isaac is fighting those enemies on solid ground alongside new friends in Dead Space 3 (provided he doesnt freeze to death first)."

Page 13 of 17
Page 13 of 17
The Last of Us

The Last of Us

What did we say about it in our preview: "Its too early to comment on the core gameplay, other than to say it looks similar to Naughty Dogs Uncharted series in both quality and accessibility. But already we see some real confidence in the storytelling. The dialogue and interaction is believable. Even the music is special: instead of coaxing and cajoling our emotional responses with movie-like swells and trills, we hear silence and ambient noise or, at most, the lonesome twang of country tune in the background. Its almost counter to what most games do, more in line with what some movies offer, and it further signals a confidence in the characters and their connection to each other and to us."

Page 14 of 17
Page 14 of 17
Assassin's Creed III

Assassin's Creed III

What did we say about it in our preview: "While the freshness of the New England forests and naval fights of Assassins Creed III have gotten all of the attention, were glad to see that the urban battles of Ubisofts sequel are evolving in a logical fashion. Amidst a strong E3 with plenty of titles to be excited about, few have us as excited as this one."

Page 15 of 17
Page 15 of 17
ZombiU

ZombiU

What did we say about it in our preview: "After our 10 minute demo, we can say that ZombiU is more than just a fancy trailer. Its a very real FPS for the Wii U and one of the most full featured games weve seen on the Wii U yet. Though no release date has been announced, based on Ubisofts history with Nintendo, were betting well see this one out at launch. "

Page 16 of 17
Page 16 of 17
You've seen our Most Valuable Games; what were yours?

You've seen our Most Valuable Games; what were yours?

Still riding the E3 high, or want to see who won in previous years? Check out the top 7 sequels we wanted announced at E3 (but knew wouldn't be) or the GamesRadar E3 2011 Awards: Best of Show from last year.

Page 17 of 17
Page 17 of 17
CATEGORIES
iPhone PC Gaming Wii-u Nintendo PlayStation Xbox Platforms Mobile Gaming
GamesRadar Staff
Social Links Navigation

GamesRadar+ was first founded in 1999, and since then has been dedicated to delivering video game-related news, reviews, previews, features, and more. Since late 2014, the website has been the online home of Total Film, SFX, Edge, and PLAY magazines, with comics site Newsarama joining the fold in 2020. Our aim as the global GamesRadar Staff team is to take you closer to the games, movies, TV shows, and comics that you love. We want to upgrade your downtime, and help you make the most of your time, money, and skills. We always aim to entertain, inform, and inspire through our mix of content - which includes news, reviews, features, tips, buying guides, and videos.

Read more
Golden Joystick Awards
Everything announced at the Golden Joystick Awards 2025
 
 
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's record-high nominations at The Game Awards proves what I've been saying for the past 8 months
 
 
Golden Joystick Awards
All the Golden Joystick Awards 2025 winners revealed
 
 
Voting Powered By
Golden Joystick Awards 2025: Check out the winners on our Steam page
 
 
A screenshot from Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 showing Maelle fighting an enemy.
The Game Awards 2025 has Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 as the most-nominated game in the show's history, while Arc Raiders is up for just one category
 
 
Two characters standing on a glowing battlefield during Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is your Ultimate Game of the Year at the Golden Joystick Awards 2025, because of course it is
 
 
Latest in Games
Hytale
Hytale's returning owner has hatched a genuinely ingenious marketing strategy: repeatedly telling everyone the game "isn't good," but like, only for now
 
 
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's Jennifer English says it was "hard" playing two characters in the RPG: "I had to find the subtlety of it being the same but different"
 
 
Fallout 4
Ghost in the Shell director and Death Stranding 2's pizza guy has "deep respect" for Hideo Kojima games, but hasn't been able to pull himself off Fallout 4 for 8 years
 
 
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Team Cherry finally answers to the crimes of Silksong's Bilewater: "We just love a big swamp. We wanted some kind of poison status for ages"
 
 
Sciel, Marielle, Gustave, Lune, and Monoco approach the Paintress in the Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 key art, cropped for our thumbnail
"After Baldur's Gate 3, I didn't think we'd be in this position": The team behind Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 can't quite believe they've matched Larian's award wins
 
 
Frank West fighting a zombie with a teddy bear in Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster
After almost 10 years, a Dead Rising sequel is reportedly happening with Capcom bringing back time limits and trapping Frank West in a zombie-infested Hollywood
 
 
Latest in Features
100 Nights of Hero
I'm not a fan of rom-coms or romantic fantasy – but the delightfully queer 100 Nights of Hero made me a believer
 
 
Picard and Ryker in Star Trek Next Generation looking at the GamesRadar+ Quiz icon
How well do you know Star Trek?
 
 
A spooky necromancer's city with a green sky in Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era
As Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era soars, Hooded Horse boss Tim Bender says passion-publishing trumps chasing money: "Why would anyone want to work with you if not for total lack of choice?"
 
 
Jotun in Troll 2
Troll 2 director on the kaiju-sized sequel to Netflix's most-watched non-English language movie: "We wanted the troll to feel very different to the first movie"
 
 
Robert rides the elevator to work in Dispatch with his dog Beef, looking out of place surrounded by superheroes
How Dispatch helped me to see my father's death in a new light
 
 
The Big Preview art of Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era showing a vampire holding a glowing skull
The Big Preview for Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era – Exclusive dev access and hands-on with the strategy RPG revival
 
 
  1. Escape from Tarkov review
    1
    Escape from Tarkov review: "An extraction shooter that will make you truly miserable if you let it, but can offer dizzying highs you won't find elsewhere"
  2. 2
    Fans think this is the best strategy board game ever made, and I have to admit that they've got a point
  3. 3
    Constance review: "If Hollow Knight: Silksong seems too daunting, this wonderful paint powered adventure should do nicely"
  4. 4
    This enthralling team board game is perfect for playing with family this Thanksgiving
  5. 5
    Kirby Air Riders review: "This racer is also equal parts fighting game, minigame collection, and roguelike – and I'm shocked at how well that works"
  1. Josh O'Connor and Daniel Craig in Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery
    1
    Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery review: "Brings Knives Out back to its roots for a sequel that's almost on a par with the original"
  2. 2
    Wicked: For Good review: "Builds to an incredibly cathartic conclusion, but isn't quite as captivating as Part 1"
  3. 3
    The Running Man review: "Some fun action and Glen Powell's star power aren't enough to energize this disappointing Stephen King adaptation"
  4. 4
    Predator: Badlands review: "Die-hard fans may be disappointed, but as a blockbuster action-adventure, Badlands kills it"
  5. 5
    Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc review "Storytelling just as compelling as the chainsaws, devils, and visually excessive fight scenes"
  1. Noah Schnapp as Will Byers and Jamie Campbell Bower as Vecna in Stranger Things season 5
    1
    Stranger Things season 5 volume 1 review: “Can the Duffer brothers stick the landing? It’s sure looking like they will”
  2. 2
    Pluribus season 1 review: "Easily one of the year's best dramas"
  3. 3
    The Witcher season 4 review: "The Henry Cavill-less fourth season is the best yet"
  4. 4
    IT: Welcome to Derry review: "A supremely confident step back into the history of Stephen King's cursed town and killer clown"
  5. 5
    Splinter Cell: Deathwatch review: "A pale imitation of the long-dormant stealth franchise"

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...