Cole Jones, Staff Writer: Me, fashionably late? Whodathunkit. Here's my top five, with a bonus just in case one gets disqualified.

Zen Bound (iPhone)

5. Star Ocean: Second Evolution (PSP) -- While I was a bigger fan of the First Departure, Star Ocean: Second Evolution is worth adding to any top five list simply for its replayability. With two main characters to follow, a host of hidden and character-specific party members to recruit, and tons of synthesis and item crafting, Star Ocean sneaks onto the list by being one of the first RPGs I've started over the second it was done.

4. Red Faction: Guerrilla (PS3) -- Man, I feel like such a broken record adding Red Faction to my list, but you've seriously got some problems if you don't enjoy all the gleeful carnage found in this game. I've always wanted to bring down a skyscraper with a crowbar, and thanks to this PS3 sandbox, I can finally live out my wildest dreams. Sure, it's mindless fun, but sometimes you just need to break something.

3. Prinny: Can I Really Be The Hero? (PSP) -- Did you remember to play Prinny: Can I Really Be The Hero? Probably not, and that's a damn shame. It's a brutally fun platformer that channels old-school classics like Ghosts n' Goblins and Mega Man in a way that's perfect for both sadists and newcomers alike thanks to its 999 lives and "easy" mode. This satisfying and stylish platformer is a first for NIS America, and I have to say that they did a damn good job making the Disgaea universe just as diabolical in 2D.

2. Zen Bound (iPhone) -- What! An iPhone game? Is that even allowed? I'm really not sure, but Zen Bound deserves a mention somewhere for being the first puzzler on the iPhone that couldn't have been done anywhere else. Its quirky rope-painting play mechanic is a lot more engaging than it sounds, and developer Secret Exit did an amazing job creating an atmosphere that's as conducive to relaxation as it is to completionists. While I've played a lot of iPhone games over the last year, Zen Bound still stands out as the game I always pull out to show that developers can do something truly original with the platform if they just put their mind to it.

1. Chrono Trigger DS (NDS) -- Oh, Crono! How I love thee. I can't even try and sugar coat it -- Chrono Trigger's one of my favorite RPGs of all time, and Chrono Trigger DS gives you a picture-perfect port you can take with you anywhere. What's not to like about that? Even though I found the bonus content to be a little underwhelming in comparison to the main game, this game oozes so much replayability through its New Game + features, it's hardly even worth mentioning. While there's certainly more original titles to be played in 2009, Chrono Trigger DS is pure role-playing perfection.

Honorable Mention:

6. Puchi Puchi Virus -- When I first played Puchi Puchi Virus, I didn't quite get it. Chalk it up to the noisy bar or my lack of attention, but when I gave it a go at a press event, it literally made no sense. After spending some solid time with the finished product, though, I have to say that Puchi Puchi Virus is both an original and enjoyable puzzler for those who need a bit more twitch in their game. Even though I would have liked to have seen a bit more substance to its story, the funny characters and challenging gameplay kept me coming back for more.

Brian: *Psst* Cole. Chrono Trigger came out in '08.

Cole: Oh good lord, you're right. I should really try making lists on days I get more than 3 hours sleep. I knew that honorable mention would come in handy!

Danielle Riendeau, Staff Writer: Ok, I've literally been without internet access for two weeks (and I actually survived) so my lateness is totally excused. By myself. Anyway here are my picks

5. EA Sports Fitness: Personal Trainer -- As a fitness freak and gamer, I've long waited for a piece of software that legitimately combines the two. Wii Fit is for wimps. EA Sports Fitness is for champions

4. OverLord 2 -- Take the concept of Pikmin, make it absurdly evil, add a completely whacked sense of humor, and stir vigorously - viola, you have Overlord 2. I played so many hours of this one that I swore I was seeing little minions running around in my everyday life.

3. Pikmin (New Play Control version) -- Can you tell that I'm obsessed with this type of gameplay? Pikmin was a phenomenal, fresh mix of strategy and puzzle solving way back in 2001, and the formula has only improved with age. Unlike most Wii games, the pointer controls actually added quite a bit to the already intuitive system.

2. House of the Dead: Overkill -- Here's my only pick that jives with another staffer. This was the funniest, most "un-PC" game I've ever played on my Wii, and I loved every gory, Grindhouse-y second of it.

1. Boom Blox Bash Party -- Far and away, this has been my favorite game of 2009. EA took everything that was awesome about the groundbreaking original (awesome physics, incredible multiplayer play, excellent puzzle stages, wanton destruction), threw in a ton of new content, and trimmed the fat. The result: the absolute pinnacle of Wii party experiences. That’s right, I said it – this game is way more fun (and longer lasting) than Wii Sports and Mario Kart combined.

Boom Blox Bash Party

Mitch: That's almost all Wii!

Danielle: Aside from Overlord 2 and the magic of Wanted and Matt Hazard, everything I played on my 360 this year was from like 2007. I played through Portal for the first time in March. Am I behind the times? Yes. Am I a satisfied customer? Yes.

Brandon: 3 of my 5 are Wii games and the only reason I don't share Dani's love of Boom Blox Blast Party is because my kid sucks at it so we can't make it past enough stages to see the whole game. Curse him!

William: Mitch, the reason we do these round table lists instead of just picking a base top 5 is so that people who play various types of games on various platforms -- like Danielle and her Wii/DS obsession, will get their say. Now stop being a 360/PS3 elitist!