Xbox Live’s Larry Hryb has released the annual lists of the twenty most-played Xbox
games for 2012.
There are two lists: one for all Xbox Live games and one just for Xbox Live Arcade.
The list for all Live games was calculated based on the average Unique Users per day
between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2012.
Unsurprisingly, Call of Duty: Black Ops II was the most-played Xbox 360 game of the year.
Halo 4, released in November, was actually beaten by 2011's Modern Warfare 3, but that
is because gamers had almost an entire year to play that one before Halo 4 and Black Ops
II were released.
The Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition was a smash hit and managed to beat popular games like
the original Black Ops, two FIFAs, and Battlefield 3.
Notably absent from the list is Mass Effect 3.
Sure, there was a lot of controversy surrounding it, but that doesn't mean it wasn't popular
and there was a multiplayer component -- although it looks like that didn't get much play on
Xbox.
It’s worth noting that twelve of the top twenty titles were released before 2012.
The oldest game on the list is 2008's Grand Theft Auto IV.
People are still playing that one.
As for the top Xbox Live Arcade games, the list is based on full versions purchased in
2012.
Minecraft obviously sits atop the throne, followed immediately by Trials Evolution,
The Walking Dead, Pinball FX 2, and Counter Strike: Global Offensive.
Counter Strike was released in August and didn't get a lot of media attention, but it
looks like it did get some play time.
What Xbox 360 game did you play the most in 2012?
Let me know, and for all things Xbox, stay tuned to IGN.