It’s that time of year. Once again, as everybody gets prepared for the new year, we’ve been slaving away over a massive pile of indie games that got released in 2011 in order to bring you our very best. And what a year it was!

Wow, I honestly thought I would never be writing about a game classification here on DIYGamer. I mean, it’s just not something we typically have to do with indie games. Fez, however, is different and the fact that it’s been rated by somebody is actually pretty huge.

Looking for a classic, retro-styled action RPG to sate your mid-90s console desire? Then look no farther than EvilQuest, a soon-to-be-released Xbox Live Indie Game that brings some very impressive gameplay to Microsoft’s oft-neglected channel. What’s more is that this game puts you in the shoes of an evil tyrant, not a plucky hero.

You might have noticed that Microsoft has highlighted a few choice Xbox Live Indie Games over the last couple weeks, ten to be precise. I suppose we should be happy that Microsoft decided to pay any attention whatsoever to their oft-forgotten indie channel, but, for some reason, I can’t help but be disappointed.

I missed it over Christmas day, but apparently IndieDB released the results of their 2011 indie game competition after revealing their top 100 games earlier this month. And just to be clear, these are the top 10 released games, I’ve also included a bit below the top 5 unreleased games, each of which look very tasty, although a little surprising as well…

There are so many zombie games out there, specifically amongst the indie scene. It makes sense though considering that the setting seems to be so popular amongst the core gamer demographic, men and women alike. Admittedly I love them. Zombie games just get me, y’know?

Good news! Mommy’s Best Games, developers of such great indie games as Explosionade, Serious Sam Double D, Shoot 1UP and others, has released a new Xbox Live Indie Game! The bad news? You probably won’t be able to find it due to Microsoft’s new dashboard.

Not to be left in Steam’s dust, Microsoft is launching their own holiday sale. It’s not as ambitious, but for Xbox 360 gamers, it’s just about all your going to get. Not to say that it’s bad either, in fact today’s game, Bastion, is available right now for 50% off it’s original price. That’s quite the steal if you’re into action RPGs.

Yesterday, Xbox 360 gamers were treated to one of the best PSN indie games released: Joe Danger. For those of you who remember the “good ol’ days” of gaming this newly minted XBLA version should remind you of the time honored classic: ExciteBike, only with more stunts and danger because it’s 2011 not 1984.

Technology and charm are not two things that naturally go hand-in-hand. This year has seen massive studios create technologically stunning new ways to render brown dirt roads and shattered concrete – there’s just no room for whimsy in triple-A development, it seems. That’s where the indie scene comes in. Frozenbyte’s Trine 2 is a great big cozy comfort-blanket of a game, but is charisma all this fairy-tale storybook has to offer? It takes more than graphics to make a complex platform-puzzle game sing, after all. Wrap up warm, grab yourself some hot cocoa and read on for our verdict.