O ano de 2012 apresentou diversas sequências de jogos eletrônicos aclamados pela crítica, como Alan Wake, Assassin's Creed, Borderlands, Call of Duty, Counter-Strike, Darksiders, Dead or Alive, Diablo, Fable, Far Cry, Forza Motorsport, Halo, Hitman, Mario Party, Marvel vs. Capcom, Mass Effect, Max Payne, Medal of Honor, Need for Speed, Ninja Gaiden, PlanetSide, Pokémon, Prototype, Resident Evil, Silent Hill, Sniper Elite, Spec Ops, Super Mario, Tekken, The Darkness, Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon, Transformers, Trials e X-COM. Além disso, foram lançadas diversas novas propriedades intelectuais, como Asura's Wrath, Dishonored, Journey, Lollipop Chainsaw e Sleeping Dogs. Muitos prêmios foram dados a jogos como Borderlands 2, Far Cry 3, Journey, Mass Effect 3, The Walking Dead e XCOM: Enemy Unknown. Quanto a lançamentos de consoles, o ano começou com o portátil da Sony, o PlayStation Vita, e, no final do ano, ocorreu o lançamento mundial do console Wii U, da Nintendo, marcando o início da oitava geração de consoles de videogame.
Eventos Mês Data(s) Evento Março 5–9Game Developers Conference 2012 ocorre em San Francisco, Califórnia. Abril 6–8PAX East 2012 ocorre no Centro de Convenções e Exibições de Boston. Maio 2-5Korean e-Sports Association, Ongamenet, Blizzard Entertainment e GOM TV anunciam a introdução de StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty em competições profissionais na Coreia do Sul, com StarCraft: Brood War sendo completamente eliminado de campeonatos em outubro. Junho 5–7E3 2012 ocorre no Centro de Convenções de Los Angeles. Julho 7-9A série Metal Gear completa 25 anos.Agosto 2–5QuakeCon 2012: A grande LAN party anual ocorre em Dallas, Texas. 15–19Gamescom 2012 ocorre em Cologne, Alemanha. 24-31A série Street Fighter completa 25 anos. Setembro 20-23Tokyo Game Show 2012 ocorre em Chiba, Japão. 26-29Eurogamer Expo 2012 ocorre no Earls Court, Londres. Dezembro 7-9Ocorre o Spike Video Game Awards.17-19A série Mega Man completa 25 anos.
Lançamentos de consoles A lista de consoles lançados em 2012 na América do Norte.
Mês Dia Console Fevereiro 15PlayStation Vita Agosto 19 Nintendo 3DS XL Novembro 18Wii U Dezembro 7Wii mini(apenas no Canadá) 18 Neo-Geo X
Lançamentos de jogos A lista de jogos lançados em 2012 na América do Norte.
Mês Dia Título Plataforma(s) JANEIRO 4 Katawa Shoujo Win NFL Blitz PSN, XBLA 10 Choplifter HD Win 11 Amy XBLA 12 Run Roo Run iOS 17 Amy PSN Dustforce Win 18 Caverns of Minos iOS Haunt XBLA 19 Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I Win Sonic the Hedgehog CD Win25 Oil Rush Win, Linux, Mac Puddle XBLA SOL: Exodus Win 26 Dead Block Win Mutant Mudds 3DS eShop Tropico 3: Gold Edition Mac 27 King Arthur II: The Role-playing Wargame Win 30 Call of Cthulhu: The Wasted Land iOS 31 Puddle PSN Final Fantasy XIII-2 PS3, X360 NeverDead PS3, X360 Soulcalibur V PS3, X360 FEVEREIRO2 Mortal Kombat: Arcade Kollection Win PixelJunk Eden Win 3 The Simpsons Arcade Game XBLA7 The Darkness II Win, PS3, X360 Gotham City Impostors Win, PSN Jak and Daxter Collection PS3 Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning Win, PS3, X360 Resident Evil: Revelations 3DS Shank 2 Win, PSN The Simpsons Arcade Game PSN 8 Gotham City Impostors XBLA Shank 2 XBLA 9 Jagged Alliance: Back in Action Win 13 Rhythm Heaven Fever Wii14 BlazBlue: Continuum Shift Extend PS3, X360, PSVita Crusader Kings II Win Grand Slam Tennis 2 PS3, X360 Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games 3DS Tales of the Abyss 3DS Tekken 3D: Prime Edition 3DS Twisted Metal PS3 UFC Undisputed 3 PS3, X360 Worms Ultimate Mayhem PSN 15 Asphalt: Injection PSVita Dear Esther Win, Mac F1 2011 PSVita Little Deviants PSVita Michael Jackson: The Experience PSVita Rayman Origins PSVita Uncharted: Golden Abyss PSVita Warp XBLA 16 Alan Wake Win21 Asura's Wrath PS3, X360 Cliff Diving PSVita Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D 3DS Syndicate Win, PS3, X360 Tales from Space: Mutant Blobs Attack Win, Mac, PSVita WWE WrestleFest iOS 22 Alan Wake's American Nightmare XBLA Army Corps of Hell PSVita Ben 10: Galactic Racing PSVita Dillon's Rolling Western 3DS Dungeon Hunter: Alliance PSVita Dynasty Warriors Next PSVita Escape Plan PSVita Hot Shots Golf: World International PSVita FIFA Football PSVita Hustle Kings PSVita Lumines: Electronic Symphony PSVita ModNation Racers: Road Trip PSVita Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus PSVita Plants vs. Zombies PSVita Shinobido 2: Revenge of Zen PSVita Super Stardust Delta PSVita Touch My Katamari PSVita Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 PSVita Virtua Tennis 4: World Tour Edition PSVita Wipeout 2048 PSVita 23 Wargame: European Escalation Win 24 Gridrunner iOS iOS 27 PokéPark 2: Wonders Beyond Wii Zombies, Run! iOS 28 Auditorium Win, Mac Binary Domain PS3, X360 Hyperdimension Neptunia Mk2 PS3 Mortal Kombat: Komplete Edition PS3, X360 Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 2 NDS SSX PS3, X360 29 Microsoft Flight Win Nexuiz XBLA Wakfu Win, Linux, Mac MARÇO 1 Deep Black: Reloaded Win The Simpsons: Tapped Out iOS Vessel Win 6 Blades of Time PS3, X360 Crush 3D 3DS Lego Harry Potter: Years 5–7 PSVita Major League Baseball 2K12 Win, PS3, X360, Wii, PS2, PSP, NDS Mass Effect 3 Win, PS3, X360 Mass Effect: Infiltrator iOS, Android MLB 12: The Show PS3, PSVita MotorStorm: RC PS3, PSVita The Sims 3: Showtime Win, Mac Stacking Win Street Fighter X Tekken PS3, X360 Unit 13 PSVita 7 I Am Alive XBLA 11 Mario Party 9 Wii 13 Birds of Steel PS3, X360 FIFA Street PS3, X360 Journey PSN Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations PS3, X360 Reality Fighters PSVita Ridge Racer PSVita Shoot Many Robots PSN Silent Hill: Downpour PS3, X360 Tales of Graces ƒ PS3 Warp Win, PSN Yakuza: Dead Souls PS3 14 Shoot Many Robots XBLA 15 Chaos Rings II iOS Dungeon Defenders Mac 19 Ys: The Oath in Felghana Win 20 Armored Core V PS3, X360 Ninja Gaiden 3 PS3, X360 Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City PS3, X360 Silent Hill HD Collection PS3, X360 Sumioni: Demon Arts PSVita Warriors Orochi 3 PS3 21 Mutant Storm Reloaded Win Sine Mora XBLA 22 Angry Birds Space Win, Mac, iOS 23 Kid Icarus: Uprising 3DS Rayman 3 HD PSN, XBLA Total War: Shogun 2 – Fall of the Samurai Win 27 Capcom Digital Collection X360 Closure PSN Gettysburg: Armored Warfare Win Ridge Racer Unbounded Win, PS3, X360 Supremacy MMA: Unrestricted PSVita Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13 PS3, X360 Tropico 4: Modern Times X360 Warriors Orochi 3 X360 28 Wrecked: Revenge Revisited PSN, XBLA 29 BioShock 2 Mac Rayman Origins Win 30 South Park: Tenorman's Revenge XBLA 31 Trine 2 Linux ABRIL 3 Blacklight: Retribution Win Devil May Cry: HD Collection PS3, X360 I Am Alive PSN Kinect Star Wars X360 4 Diabolical Pitch XBLA 5 Bug Princess 2 iOS Confrontation Win 6 Anomaly: Warzone Earth XBLA Shoot Many Robots Win Xenoblade Chronicles Wii 10 Naval War: Arctic Circle Win Skullgirls PSN The Pinball Arcade PS3, PSVita Treasures Of Montezuma: Blitz PSVita 11 Avernum: Escape from the Pit Win Burnout Crash! iOS Skullgirls XBLA 12 Men of War: Condemned Heroes Win Tribes: Ascend Win 13 Fez XBLA Spirit Camera: The Cursed Memoir 3DS 16 Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP Win 17 Disgaea 3: Absence of Detention PSVita The House of the Dead 4 PSN Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet Win StarDrone Extreme PSVita The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Enhanced Edition X360 18 Trials Evolution XBLA 20 Blades of Time Win, Mac The Darkness II Mac 23 Serious Sam 3: BFE Mac 24 Prototype 2 PS3, X360 UEFA Euro 2012 Win, PS3, X360 25 The Walking Dead: Episode 1 – A New Day Win, PSN, Mac, iOS 26 Deus Ex: Human Revolution Ultimate Edition Mac 27 Binary Domain Win Risen 2: Dark Waters Win The Walking Dead: Episode 1 – A New Day XBLA MAIO 1 The Exiled Realm of Arborea Win Sniper Elite V2 Win, PS3, X360 The Legend of Dragoon PSN Mortal Kombat: Komplete Edition PSVita 2 Fable Heroes XBLA 3 Nexuiz Win 8 Starhawk PS3 Tomb of the Lost Queen Win, Mac 9 Minecraft XBLA 11 Street Fighter X Tekken Win 13 Soul Sacrifice PSVita 15 Battleship PS3, X360, NDS, 3DS Diablo III Win, Mac Game of Thrones Win, PS3, X360 Max Payne 3 PS3, X360 PixelJunk 4am PSN Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II Win, PSN 16 Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II XBLA 17 Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II iOS 18 Dragon's Lair XBLA Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City Win 20 Mario Tennis Open 3DS 22 Alan Wake's American Nightmare Win Dragon's Dogma PS3, X360 MIB: Alien Crisis PS3, X360, Wii Sorcery PS3 Table Top Tanks PSVita Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Future Soldier PS3, X360 23 Dirt: Showdown Win Doctor Who: The Eternity Clock PSN 24 Pastry Panic iOS 28 The Binding of Isaac: Wrath of the Lamb Win, Mac29 Resistance: Burning Skies PSVita Ys Origin Win JUNHO 1 Max Payne 3 Win 5 Inversion PS3, X360 Rayman Origins 3DS 10 Pikmin 2 Wii 12 Dirt: Showdown PS3, X360 Gravity Rush PSVita Metal Gear Solid HD Collection PSVita Gungnir PSP Lollipop Chainsaw PS3, X360 Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion Win 13 Doctor Who: The Eternity Clock PSVita 14 Pocket Planes iOS 17 Heroes of Ruin 3DS 18 Pokémon Conquest NDS 19 Brave: The Video Game Win, PS3, X360, Wii, PSVita, NDS, 3DS Civilization V: Gods & Kings Win, Mac Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes Win, PS3, X360, Wii, PSVita, 3DS Magicka: The Other Side of the Coin Win Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor X360 Tomba! PSN 20 Magic: The Gathering – Duels of the Planeswalkers 2013 Win, PSN, XBLA, iOS 21 Quantum Conundrum Win 25 Penny Arcade Adventures - Episode 3 Win, Mac 26 The Amazing Spider-Man PS3, X360, Wii, 3DS London 2012 Win, PS3, X360 Spec Ops: The Line Win, PS3, X360 Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Future Soldier Win Unchained Blades PSP 27 Record of Agarest War 2 PS3 The Walking Dead: Episode 2 – Starved for Help Win, Mac, PSN, XBLA, iOS Final Fantasy III Android 29 Mini Ninjas Adventures XBLA JULHO 3 Test Drive: Ferrari Racing Legends PS3, X360 The Secret World Win Theatrhythm Final Fantasy 3DS 4 Spelunky XBLA10 NCAA Football 13 PS3, X360 Quantum Conundrum PSN Rhythm Thief & the Emperor's Treasure 3DS 11 Quantum Conundrum XBLA12 AFL Live: Game of the Year Edition Win, PS3, X360 Tiny Wings 2 iOS 17 Heroes of Ruin 3DS Dyad PSN 18 Tony Hawk's Pro Skater HD XBLA 19 Fieldrunners 2 iOS 24 Prototype 2 Win 25 Wreckateer XBLA 27 Inversion Win 28 Warsow Win, Mac, Linux 30 Orcs Must Die! 2 Win 31 Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance 3DS Risen 2: Dark Waters | PS3, X360 |- | Growlanser Wayfarer of Time| PSP
| rowspan="35" style="text-align:center; background:thistle; textcolor:#000;"| AGOSTO | 1 | Deadlight| XBLA |- | rowspan="2"| 7 | Persona 4 Arena| PS3, X360 |- | Sound Shapes| PSN |- | 8 | Hybrid| XBLA |- | 10 | The Amazing Spider-Man| Win |- | rowspan="2"|13 | Sanctum| Mac |- | Iron Brigade| Win |- | rowspan="4"| 14 | Darksiders II| Win, PS3, X360 |- | The Last Story| Wii |- | Papo & Yo| PSN |- | Sleeping Dogs| Win, PS3, X360 |- | rowspan="2"|15 | Dust: An Elysian Tail| XBLA |- | Tales from Space: Mutant Blobs Attack| Win |- | 19 | New Super Mario Bros. 2| 3DS |- | rowspan="6"| 21 | Counter-Strike: Global Offensive| Win, PSN, XBLA, Mac |- | The Expendables 2 Video game| Win, PSN, XBLA |- | Jojo's Bizarre Adventure HD| PSN |- | Retro/Grade| PSN |- | Transformers: Fall of Cybertron| Win, PS3, X360 |- | Way of the Samurai 4| PSN |- | 22 | Jojo's Bizarre Adventure HD| XBLA |- | 24 | Dark Souls: Prepare to Die Edition| Win |- | rowspan="7"| 28 |God of War Saga|PS3 |- | Guild Wars 2| Win |- | Madden NFL 13| PS3, X360, Wii, PSVita |- | Ratchet & Clank Collection| PS3 |- | Rock Band Blitz| PSN |- | Tony Hawk's Pro Skater HD| PSN |- | The Walking Dead: Episode 3 – Long Road Ahead| PSN |- | rowspan="2"| 29 | Rock Band Blitz| XBLA |- | The Walking Dead: Episode 3 – Long Road Ahead| Win, XBLA |- | rowspan="2"| 30 | Mutant Mudds| Win |- | Snapshot| Win |- | rowspan="2"| 31 | Cypher| Win, Mac |- | Final Fantasy Dimensions| iOS, Android
| rowspan="42" style="text-align:center; background:#98fb98; textcolor:#000;"| SETEMBRO | 3 | Sacred Gold| Linux |- | 4 | Zen Pinball 2| PSN |- | rowspan="2"|6 | Trine 2: Goblin Menace| Win, Mac |- | I Am Alive| Win |- | rowspan="2"|7 | Closure| Win, Mac |- | Mark of the Ninja| XBLA |-