The Most Playful Games of 2006

Over the weekend, we have finally closed our "Best of 2006" polls, so it's now time to count the votes and announce the winners in each category. Once again, we focused heavily on PC games, with just a sole category dedicated to the very best of console games, however next year we'll most likely have dedicated polls for each of the major platforms (ed. - I just wonder if the Xbox will still be a "major platform" by then). So, without further ado, here are what you people voted as the most playful games of 2006:

Best PC Game in 2006
1. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
2. Gothic 3
3. Company of Heroes

Best Action (PC)
1. Prey
2. Battlefield 2142
3. Splinter Cell: Double Agent

Best Adventure (PC)
1. Dreamfall: The Longest Journey
2. Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth
3. Broken Sword: The Angel of Death

Best Driving (PC)
1. FlatOut 2
2. Need For Speed Carbon
3. GTR 2

Best MMO (PC)
1. Dungeons & Dragons Online: Stormreach
2. Auto Assault
3. ArchLord

Best RPG (PC)
1. Gothic 3
2. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
3. Neverwinter Nights 2

Best Simulator (PC)
1. Flight Simulator X
2. Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII
3. Combat Wings: Battle of Britain

Best Sport (PC)
1. Pro Evolution Soccer 6
2. FIFA 07
3. Football Manager 2007

Best Strategy (PC)
1. Company of Heroes
2. Heroes of Might and Magic V
3. Medieval II: Total War

Best Expansion (PC)
1. Half-Life 2: Episode One
2. Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War - Dark Crusade
3. F.E.A.R. Extraction Point

Best Graphics (PC)
1. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
2. Company of Heroes
3. Gothic 3

Most Original (PC)
1. Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth
2. Company of Heroes
3. Prey

Most Disappointing (PC)
1. Need For Speed Carbon
2. Gothic 3
3. Dark Messiah of Might and Magic

Best Console Game
1. Gears of War (Xbox 360)
2. Wii Sports (Wii)
3. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (Xbox 360)

As for the best console games of 2006, Wii Sports had a great start, but it was ultimately defeated by Gears of War for the Xbox 360. Better luck next time, Nintendo. And of course Sony, who's PlayStation 3 games are just now starting to make a difference. Look forward to another playful year!

For the full list, you can still check our "Best of 2006" section.

It's interesting to note that, even though Oblivion took the crown as best PC game of 2006 overall (and best looking), it was Gothic 3 who prevailed as last year's best RPG (by a single extra vote). But at the same time, Gothic 3 was also one of the most disappointing PC games, right after NFS Carbon, who was barely passed by FlatOut 2 as the best driving game. In fact, most of the genre-specific battles were fiercely disputed, and most winners were decided by a margin of only 1-4 votes.