With 2013 coming to an end, it’s is time to review the games that won our hearts this year, from the AAA to the indie, the point and click to the point and shoot. In no particular order here are our picks:
Tomb Raider
Tomb Raider defied the expectations of its critics when it was released this past March. It delivered gameplay that far surpassed those of its predecessors in the Tomb Raider franchise and fleshed out Lara Croft as a real, living and breathing character who went through the ordeals of survival on the godforsaken island where the game takes place. Needless to say, the reboot puts Tomb Raider on even footing with the likes of Uncharted, and the two franchises are expected to go head to head in the coming years. -IMC
A Link Between Worlds
This fall, Legend of Zelda fans finally got a long-anticipated sequel to one of the best games in the series. A Link Between Worlds, sequel to A Link To The Past, features a major deviation from the classic LOZ formula, the ability for dungeons to be completed in any order the player wishes. Yet this wasn't the best part of LBW. No, I'd say the most appealing aspect was the return to a top-down overworld. While Ocarina of Time 3D was a beautiful remake, truly, this is the perfect handheld Legend of Zelda game. It’s a brilliant, challenging, and well-constructed title that is both charmingly nostalgic and pleasingly fresh. -HG
The Last of Us
It might not be the cinematic thrill ride that Naughty Dog has become known for over the course of the generation, but The Last of Us stands as the most interesting zombie-themed project released in 2013. Few games have managed to move me to tears. The Last of Us holds the honor of having pushed me to my emotional limit several times over the course of the game. It’s an emotional rollercoaster wrapped into a post-apocalyptic survival horror experience. -IMC
GTA V
Fair or unfair, developing a Grand Theft Auto title carries certain expectations, especially from a high-profile developer like Rockstar Games. Since the release of GTA IV, fans have been pining for an experience that surpassed Nico Bellic’s great adventure in Liberty City. Rockstar managed to go above and beyond what was asked for them by delivering a game that features not one, but three main characters, all of whom—gifted with unique personalities—lend their roles to one of the best-written action games since Rockstar’s own Red Dead Redemption. -IMC
Gone Home
Fullbright’s intimate point and click adventure explored a topic generally ignored by the mainstream, that of teenage lesbian love. Its defiance of expectation was as stunning as it was heartwarming, perhaps paving way for a broader perspective in the future for video games as a whole. -IMC
Papers Please
Papers Please is probably best described as “surprisingly appealing”. On the surface it seems like a monotonous nightmare–hours of checking paperwork at the border of a fictional cold war era Eastern European country, making sure each applicant has the necessary documentation to go through (and occasionally having to let a member of your family die when your pay doesn’t cover heat or food). Yet there’s something satisfying about perfectly processing the day’s work. This game is a must-play for developer Lucas Pope’s sheer ability to turn repetition into a fun and rewarding experience. -HG
Runner 2
If you’ve yet to get into the Bit Trip RUNNER series, now is the time–it’s the same rhythm based side scrolling obstacle course, however the sequel took Runner from its pixelated roots and added full renderings, an upbeat narrative from Charles Martineau, and its most energizing, head-bobbing soundtrack to date. The game’s primary charm, its ability to create a perfectly synched orchestra between the sound effects and backing track, is only enhanced through this new shiny lens. -HG
Saints Row 4
When we reviewed this game back in August, it was described as the “perfect escapist power fantasy” and really, that’s still the best way to put it. It’s a funny and well scripted blend of comedy and action that delivers a gravity defying superhero experience few actual superhero games have ever managed to achieve. On top of that it helps further establish an individual identity for the series, which started out as an unremarkable GTA clone. -HG
BattleBlock Theater
This side scrolling dasher won our hearts this year with its masterful, fluid level design, hilarious narration, and delightful art direction. Behemoth as always has delivered a high quality and well polished product honed through countless hours of feedback from the fans on show floors and at conventions. The hard work shows–folks who love high speed platformers will be in utter gaming heaven. -HG
Super Mario 3D World
The past few years we’ve been subjected to a nearly endless stream of games from the Super Mario universe, starting with New Super Mario Bros. and New Super Mario Bros. Wii and continuing on through Super Mario 3D Land, New Super Mario Bros. 2, New Super Luigi U, and New Super Mario Bros U. The latest entry, Super Mario 3D World, manages to bring together a few elements from Super Mario Bros. 2 and Super Mario Bros. 3 and meld them into a entertaining adventure that feels brand new, even if it isn’t. It also managed to create a new dimension to each level by adding a multiplayer mode that turned gameplay into a mix of both co-op and competition. -HG
