A tiny button-cute biped voguing burlap and Clouseau costumery, who bounds through lush, gloriously absurd backdrops that look like dioramas of childhood creations as imagined with markers, stickers, pieces of felt and bits of scribbled-on cardboard. That’s LittleBigPlanet, the game that looks and plays like no other. As sidescrollers go, there’s nothing — not even the latest Mario games — that surpasses it. The Vita version offers the same genius level design punctuated by the handheld’s unique front-back touchpad controls, as well as the welcome option to design and share thousands of levels with other Vita players on the go.
Tech
Thanks for liking TIME’s Top 10 Everything of 2012 List. Like TIME on Facebook now for more breaking news and current events from around the globe.
8. LittleBigPlanet
Full List
Top 10 Gadgets
Top 10 Video Games