**Slash** on 28 December 2008
most of the games for 2009 mentioned in this thread http://vgchartz.com/forum/thread.php?id=34940 i would consider as "hard core" games.
i would consider mario kart wii too, as that is a great mix between hardcore and casual gaming, casual gamers can play it and can win too but to really master it u need a lot of practise.
as for other possible hardcore games, i'm not sure if u know all games but there are plenty in this thread:
page 1: http://vgchartz.com/forum/thread.php?id=16273
page 2: http://vgchartz.com/forum/thread.php?id=16273&page=2
Improvements are caused by people who complain
