Super Meat Boy made it into the finalists this year, and it's interesting to note that this is Edmund McMillen's second game to make it to the grand prize finalists. The first game was a little title called Gish, and it went on to win the grand prize and be released out into the public for their enjoyment. Thus, Super Meat Boy has a great pedigree behind it that could definitely drive home to win the goal. It also helps that Super Meat Boy is a fantastic game that can hold its own with any other game on this list. The game follows the adventures of Meat Boy and colleagues as they attempt to rescue the beautiful (in the eye of Meat Boy_ Bandage Girl from the grumpy and murderous Dr. Fetus. Cue many levels of incredibly difficult and precise platforming, and the result is Super Meat Boy.

Super Meat Boy was nominated for excellence in audio, but it really excels in every area. The physics change according to the character you choose, which is awesome. Meat Boy himself feels very flighty but precise, allowing you to move quickly through the levels. The graphics are very impressive, with Edmund's distinctive style shining through in every aspect of the game. It's very pretty, especially when you see some of the special effects such as the blood splatter. The audio is wonderful, with music that keeps you pumped and sound effects that are distinctive but do not interfere at all. In other words, Super Meat Boy is a masterpiece, and every part of the game has been polished to a mirror shine. A definite contender, and we wouldn't be so disappointed if it won the whole thing!

Our last game is the only browser game to make it to the grand prize finals. Rocketbirds Revolution is playable right now, anywhere, straight through your browser, and it's distinctive in that it is also the only released game on this list. All you need is flash, and you can enjoy the adventures of Hardboiled Chicken as he attempts to overthrow the dictatorship of Albatropolis. Rocketbirds Revolution was nominated for excellence in audio and visuals, but it's such a well-made game that it also sits here as a grand prize finalists. Is this the return of the mature platforming genre? It very well could be, especially if Rocketbirds Revolution wins.

Rocketbirds is stunning in almost every way. The characters and actions in the game feel like they have weight and purpose, while the visuals emphasize a beautiful painted style behind a cartoony, hyper-stylized one. The audio is excellent, with the song Robot by new World Revolution serving as one of the best intro songs we have heard in a very long time. The design is thoughtful and respectful of the games that came before, and it pushes to merge different mechanics formerly seen in opposite games together. The end result is a highly polished flash game that is definitely worth some money.