Like letting your weird, stinky aunt kiss your cheek, doling out end of the year awards is a necessary evil. We don't understand why everyone feels compelled to make gigantic lists of the best games of the year, coming up with obscure categories just to make sure every game walks away a winner. "Best Use Of Catwoman In A Game" doesn't seem very fair.

But alas, we are slaves to our beloved readers, so once again we gulped down some Red Bull, huddled up, and randomly spit out

Game Revolution's Best of 2004 Awards!

Hooray for recognition!

Ye Olde Rules

If it ain't broke, don't break it. Last year's policy seemed to work well, so once again, Game Revolution has opted to do a little bit of everything. In addition to awards for the best of each genre, check out our Top 5 games of the year! Then, go ahead and write us nasty letters telling us how we got it all wrong...again. That's why they made a 'delete mail' button.

Game Revolution gives out awards as it sees fit. If there are no worthy recipients in a certain category, no awards will be given. Editor's Choice awards are given to games that did not win in a particular category, but caught the eye of the GR editorial staff and just had to get something.

These games exemplify the upper echelon of video and computer gaming over the past year. Only games released during the 2004 year are eligible. Awards are based on a complex formula involving a shoe horn, whipped cream, Elmer's glue and a copy of Gigli. Our hats off to the winners!