This is kind of tough because I generally know what I am getting into when I buy a game, but here is my list anyway:

1. de Blob - Best non-Mario, 3D platformer I have ever played.
2. Excite Truck - Crazy fun game. I had pretty low expectations from the look of this one.
3. Lost Winds - Great little WiiWare game.
4. World of Goo - Another great WiiWare game. I knew this was going to be pretty good though.

Finally someone says it......batman AA will probably win the surprise of the year award.

I might add it to my list ,buying it tomorrow :)

NO MORE HERO's made the list??????????...its was decent game, if it wasnt 4 the cool characters and boss fights, i wouldn't recommend it

I gotta agree with CGI on Condemned. It was one of the first games I played this generation but the intense atmosphere and unparalleled visceral combat tied into a good suspense story with great set pieces (the manikin shop in particular) lead to a game that really blew me away.

My other surprise favourites would have to be Crackdown, Valkyria Chronicles, Dead Space and... I can't think of a 5th surprise hit but there are a ton of games I want to try out that I haven't that others have listed here like Tales of Vesperia, Demon Souls, and Batman:AA.

Can't really comment since the only game on that list that i've played was TF2, and I personally don't think it was really that well done, i liked the original TF far better when it was on Quake engine.

My list would be as follows:

1 - Lost Odissey. Best JRPG i've played in a long, long, long while.

2 - Super Mario Galaxy. A gem of a game.

3 - Dead Space. The best survival horror game since RE2 and Enemy Zero

4 - FIFA 2010. As a PES fan, i've got to admit, this is the best football game I ever played

5 - Final Fantasy Dissidia. The best Beat 'm up ever IMO

My list would be.

1) de Blob - Creative, eccentric and stylish platformer. Jumping with gestures and camera aside, it's one of the best games I've ever played. Ever.

2) Excitebots: Trick Racing - This game captures the essence of what I believe a game should be. Realism is put in the after-burner and crazy gameplay is in full view.

3) Castle Crashers - Just when you think the beat-em up genre was done to death, here comes one of the best games on XBLA.

4) Art Style: Cubello - Possibly the best puzzle game since Tetris. Addictive gameplay and challenging puzzles.

5) The Legendary Starfy - A platformer that shines like a star(pun intended). Probably the best "water" levels of any platformer, charming atmosphere, and solid level design. This game has quite a bit going for it.

I'd like to add Folklore to the list of surprisingly good. I really liked it.

I still want to get Stafy :(

1. Mass Effect...who knew that this rental(soon after bought) game would become the J man's favourite of the gen.

2. Phoenix wright series...... best writing ever , in any game.

3.Professor Layton..... puzzles made fun ,made you feel like a champion after you solved one.

4. NBA 2k7........this experience blew the J man away , after years of playing nba live...the J man was blown away of how crappy nba 2k7 made nba live look...I was HOOKED...NBA 2K 4 LYFE!!!!

5. Batman AA... Damn this game nearly trouced every game released this year......with production values through the roof and an amazing campaign...this game will forever be the diamond in the crap-filled pool of crappy superhero games.