Welcome to the 2012 OXM GOTY Awards! All this week we’ll be running down our picks from the best in games, concluding Friday with OXM’s 2012 Game of the Year. Check back here all week for the running list of winners.

Our final batch of awards before the Game of the Year are for the best in each genre. If you’re a fan of any of these particular game types, these should be considered the best of the best. 

BEST FIGHTING GAME: Persona 4 Arena
In a year packed with solid fighters, the top honors for the category went to a quirky 2D debutant based on a long-running RPG series…that’s never appeared in any form on Xbox. But this upset isn’t as surprising as it might seem — Persona 4 Arena managed to steal our pugilistic hearts and virtual quarters by presenting a polished, deep experience that provides just as much story-heavy fanservice as it does challenge. Where else can pretty teenagers face off against each other’s meta-“Personas” in drop-dead gorgeous environments?
(Runners-up: Skullgirls, Dead or Alive 5, Soulcalibur V)

BEST SPORTS GAME: NBA 2K13
Some years, it’s the more refined — rather than revolutionary — experience that takes home the trophy. After snagging our Best Sports Game award last year, 2K Sports captures a sophomore success with NBA 2K13, thanks to its fluid, smart tweaks that kept your time on the court front and center. Sure, the new Virtual Currency gives 2K’s latest a decidedly modern feel, letting you customize your player down to their Signature Moves, but the slick feel of the overall game is what delivers nothing but net.
(Runners-up: FIFA 13, NHL 13, FIFA Street

BEST RACER:  Forza Horizon
A quick peek at your to-do list in Forza Horizon’s wide-open world, and why it won:(Runners-up: F1 2012, DiRT Showdown)

BEST RPG: Mass Effect 3
Whether you loved, hated, or didn’t have an opinion on its final moments, the 30- hour run-up to Mass Effect 3’s close offered both a believably bleak galaxy on the brink of destruction and a breathtaking reflection of our choices throughout the series. Stolen moments with love interests and old friends gave the tale an intimate, gritty feel that even its polarizing ending couldn’t strip away. No other RPG on Xbox came close to delivering the same level of emotional investment we had in Shepard and the Normandy crew, and some of the game’s toughest choices arrived at pivotal moments, giving us enough watercooler talk and wistful “Should I reload that save?” regrets to last us well into next year and beyond.

BEST ACTION-ADVENTURE GAME: Dishonored
Arkane’s new IP earns another nod after Best Original Game, but it could almost lay claim to being boththe best action and adventure game. The Bioshock-inspired powers make for some explosive action-combat, while the robust stealth mechanics and wide-open stages allow for adventurous exploring. Regardless of the way you ultimately play it (we recommend a nice mix of both), you’ll get a lot out of Dishonored.
(Runners-up: Hitman: Absolution, Assassin’s Creed III

BEST SHOOTER: Halo 4
The return of Master Chief in the first numbered Halo since 2007 could’ve turned out disastrously. With a new team at the franchise’s helm, it was tough to predict where 343 Industries was taking the series after an early trailer focused on Cortana’s impending rampancy, rather than spotlighting, say, something like dual-wielding. So when we ran wild on the Forerunner plains of new-planet Requiem, we were relieved (and delighted) to discover that Halo 4 had broken new ground in its storytelling, graphics, and soundtrack, without losing the franchise’s essence. Some may call it “playing it safe,” but this shooter masterfully balances its narrative, multiplayer, and sense of exploration. And we’re champing at the bit to see what awaits Chief in the next chapters of Halo’s new trilogy.
(Runners-up: Hitman: Absolution, Syndicate, Call of Duty: Black Ops II, Borderlands 2, Far Cry 3