13 best game publishers of 2010

Metacritic has compiled a list of the best performing game publishers of 2010 in terms of critical reception among games released. 

Firstly, publishers were sorted into two categories; ‘major’ and ‘mid-sized’ publishers. Publishers that released over 15 games during the year are considered ‘major publishers’. Then the scores from all games released by each publisher were added up and averaged out, to give each company an overall average meta-review score. 

The rankings were not solely based on the average metascores, but the number of good games (75%+), excellent games (90%+) and bad games (below 49%) contributed towards a points system, which ended up with the following publisher rankings:

1. Take Two Interactive (includes 2K Games, 2K Play, 2K Sports, Rockstar)

Average metascore: 77.1% 

Best overall release: Red Dead Redemption (360) 95%

Best original title: The Misadventures of P.B Winterbottom 83%

Worst game: Major League Baseball 2K10 (Wii) 52%

Metacritic users’ favourite: Red Dead Redemption (360) 8.8

2. Nintendo 

Average metascore: 76.1%

Best overall release: Super Mario Galaxy (Wii) 95%

Best original title: Fluidity (Wii) 83%

Worst game: AquaSpace (Wii) 48%

Metacritic users’ favourite: Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii) 8.8

3. Capcom

Average metascore: 74.5% 

Best overall release: Super Street Fighter (PS3) 92%

Best original title: Dark Void (PS3) 59%

Worst game: Dark Void (PC) 57%

Metacritic users’ favourite: Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars (Wii) 9.3

4. Microsoft

Average metascore: 73.4%

Best overall release: Halo: Reach (360) 91%

Best original title: Alan Wake (360) 83%

Worst game: Fable III: Understone Quest Pack (360) 50%

Metacritic users’ favourite: Perfect Dark (360) 9.0

5. Electronic Arts 

Average metascore: 72.6%

Best overall release: Mass Effect 2 (360) 96%

Best original title: Deathspank (PS3) 79%

Worst game: Dead Space Ignition (360) 35%

Metacritic users’ favourite: Mass Effect 2: Lair of the Shadow Broker 9.2

6. Activision Blizzard

Average metascore: 69.3%

Best overall release: StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty 93%

Best original title: Blur (360) 82%

Worst game: Blood Drive (360) 40%

Metacritic users’ favourite: Transformers: War for Cybertron (360) 8.8

7. Sony

Average metascore: 70.9%

Best overall release: God of War III 92%

Best original title: Heavy Rain 87%

Worst game: Kung Fu Rider 36% 

Metacritic users’ favourite:  MLB 10: The Show 9.3

8. Square Enix

Average metascore: 70.8%

Best overall release: Lara Croft and the Guardian of the Light (360) 85%

Best original title: Nier (PS3) 68%

Worst game: Raystorm HD (360) 46%

Metacritic users’ favourite: Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep 8.8

9. Sega

Average metascore: 67.4%

Best overall release: Bayonetta (360) 90%

Best original title: Bayonetta (360) 90%

Worst game: Iron Man 2 (360) 41%

Metacritic users’ favourite:  Sonic Colors (Wii) 8.4

10. Namco Bandai

Average metascore: 66.3%

Best overall release:  Pac-Man Championship Edition DX (360) 93%

Best original title: Enslaved: Odyssey to the West (360) 82%

Worst game: Clash of the Titans (PS3) 41%

Metacritic users’ favourite: Enslaved: Odyssey to the West (360) 8.1

11. THQ

Average metascore: 67%

Best overall release: Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War II – Chaos Rising 85%

Best original title: Darksiders (PC) 83%

Worst game: Truth or Lies (360) 33%

Metacritic users’ favourite: Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War II – Chaos Rising 9.1

12. Ubisoft 

Average metascore: 64.6%

Best overall release: Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood (PS3) 90%

Best original title: R.U.S.E (360) 78%

Worst game: Fighters Uncaged (360) 31%

Metacritic users’ favourite: No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle (Wii)

13. Konami 

Average metascore: 62.2%

Best overall release: Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (PSP) 89%

Best original title: Tomena Sanner (Wii) 77%

Worst game: Deca Sports Freedom (360) 27%

Metacritic users’ favourite: Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (PSP) 9.2

Be sure to check out the full report on Metacritic for additional insight into each publisher and the games they released over the year, as well as the top ‘mid-sized’ publishers of 2010.

What were were your favourite publishers in 2010? << Share your views in the forums.