One year ago today marks the day we lost an important Duder in the video game industry.

It was two years ago when I first heard the Giant Bombcast, a podcast created by several ex-Gamespot.com employees, who felt they could take the medium they love so much, and turn it into a website FOR gamers. No game was unplayed (good or bad), no person was turned away. It was there I first heard Ryan Davis. Ryan was candid, upstanding, and always gave each game he played the benefit of the doubt. It was then I formed a connection with Ryan, as I had the same outlook, not only about video games, but life. I was stuck in a dead end job at the time, with no light at the end of the tunnel, but it didn't matter. I had the GB cast of characters to take my mind off of the task at hand. Ryan made me feel like it was ok to laugh at the little things, and to not stress over those unavoidable hard times. I truly felt like I had a purpose to believe in myself, and that I was actually worth something.

I was extremely upset when I found out last year, that Ryan had passed away. A wave of sadness I couldn't explain, hit me light a lightning bolt, as if I had just lost someone I knew my entire life. I felt I had a connection with Ryan, even if it was purely through the podcast. His words got me through some of the darkest days of my life. Days where I could care less if I made it to see the next day or not, but there was always Ryan and the Giant Bombcast to get me through.

How can someone who I've only listened to have such a profound effect on my life? It really doesn't matter, and I don't care to search out for that answer. The only thing I do know is when I felt like I had no one, Ryan and the GB crew were there. They had my back. They may not have known it, but the words spoken on that podcast gave me the motivation to keep pushing. I used their enthusiasm and passion for the gaming industry (which I love), and used it to fuel my own determination.

Do I regret not meeting Ryan had I known what the man would do for me? Yes absolutely. Am I hopeful that wherever Ryan is now (depending on your beliefs), he knows how much he meant to all of us? Damn right. I can only hope to emulate everything Ryan was and stood for, and preach what he taught us. We love you Ryan Taswell Davis, and thank you for everything.

2013 was a great year for gaming. We saw the rise of the rogue-like, the arrival of next generation consoles, and some incredible indie games. I was extremely pleased with the lineup this year had to offer, and cannot wait to see what the future holds, it’s a great time to be a gamer! These are my top ten games of 2013. Enjoy!

10. Device 6

- An IOS game right?! This game is extremely hard to explain, if you even want to call it a game. This reminds me of the “choose your own adventure” books of my youth, now in digital form. Made by Swedish developer Simogo (Year Walk), this is a fully interactive novel, in which you become a woman on an island, suffering from amnesia. You solve puzzles along the way based on what you’ve read, what you hear, and pictures you see on the screen. I love the way the developer has implemented the interactivity, as well as the tilt function of smart phones. One example is when you walk down a set of stairs, you actually have to tilt the phone to read the text and scroll down, as if you were walking down a set of spiral stairs. I should also mention the story is well written. This is a perfect example of marrying technology with books, and I hope it gets more people to read in the future. I also hope to see more of this type of experience in the future.

9. Dead Rising 3

- I had no plans to include this game on my list, as I had not even played it until about a week ago. That being said, this is my favorite game so far on the next gen consoles. Despite having both Dead Rising 1 and 2, I never could get fully behind it, as the super strict time limit, suppressed any type of fun I wanted to have with it. Because let’s be honest, if you have a game full of zombies, and crazy weapons, you want to see how many said zombies you can decapitate, zap, shoot, and ultimately screw around with those weapons and zombies. Dead Rising 3 throws the time limit out the window (it’s still there, but very forgiving), in order for you to do just that. The story is not the worst in the bunch (although the voice acting can be a little too cheesy at times), and the combat is very satisfying. The best aspect of this game though is the impressive number of zombies that can be on screen at one time. Once you get to your first open area, you really get a sense of wonder that only Capcom Vancouver could pull off. I can’t wait to see what Next-Gen has in store for the zombie enthusiast, in the years to come.

8. Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch

- There is one reason this game is on my top ten list…charm. This game, with its visual style, dialogue, and aesthetics, all has the charm of a children’s book. Now don’t take that statement the wrong way. The game is a JRPG through and through, which as you know, can be extremely difficult. But the way the game presents itself, creates a such a dynamic, and engaging experience, that it needs to be at least watched, let alone played. You play as a young boy by the name of Oliver, whose mother has a heart attack, and unfortunately passes away. You soon learn that you are a “pure heart”, and have the ability to go into a fairy tale land to rid the evil that plagues the world. You also find out there are alternate versions of you and your mother in this world, and may have the ability to save her. From there, you meet a vast array of interesting characters. The world is simply astounding. It really feels like you are playing a cartoon. The combat is a mixture of real time and turn based attacks. You also capture and collect familiars (similar to Pokemon), who you can take care of, and in return, they will fight for you. The story is absolutely wonderful, the music is some of the best I’ve heard in a game, that it’s hard to not be a part of the best games of 2013, and the best of this generation. *For those of you who know me, I don’t play a lot of JRPG’s. So for this game to get a spot on the list, you know it’s gotta be good!*

7. Injustice: Gods Among Us

­- Mortal Kombat meets DC, what’s not to love? This simply isn’t a reskinned MK game. It has been built from the ground up to become its own entity, and in my opinion, about as close to a flawless victory as you can get. The combat seems to be a bit faster than MK, and each character feels, and plays vastly different. Although there are no “fatalities”, the super moves are extremely satisfying (look up Aquaman’s…trust me). NetherRealm Studios has also gone the extra mile of including multiple controller set ups (quarter-circles for you Street Fighter experts), as well as hit and frame data so you can get the most out of your performance. It’s also worth noting that the story is superbly done (Superman breaks bad), and can compete with some of the best comic storylines on the market today. The inclusion of STAR Lab mini games will also keep you busy long after the main campaign has ended. The game is easy to pick up and play, but hard to master. I am not the best fighting game expert by any means necessary, but I was pulling off satisfying combos and supers within minutes of playing, and that is an accomplishment in itself.

6. DmC: Devil May Cry

- I’ve always been a fan of the Devil May Cry series (yes, I even liked DMC 2), so I was wary when Ninja Theory came out to say they were rebooting the franchise, as I was afraid the integrity of the original might be compromised. I am glad to say I was wrong. I am in the minority where I did enjoy the new “punk” Dante, and appreciated a new look into the lore of the world. The basic story remains the same. You play as the cocky nephilim (half angel, half demon) Dante, who gets thrown into a world of demons to discover the truth about his past, battling all kinds of grotesque baddies along the way. The story is the staple of the franchise, and although it plays out as you would expect, it still manages to stay fresh. The combat combines the nostalgia of Capcom’s original system, with the best that Ninja Theory has to offer, creating a really satisfying experience that makes even the most novice players, feel like a badass. It’ll be interesting to see where Ninja Theory decides to take this next, as I feel this is a franchise worth investing in. If you are a fan of the DMC of old, you should have already picked this up. If you have never heard of Devil May Cry, you owe it to yourself to check out this stylish hack-em-up adventure!

5. Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag

- I’m not going to lie; I was pretty heartbroken by Assassin’s Creed III. I saw this game at PAX East 2012, and got extremely excited for it. Everything I saw leading up to the release spoke “best game ever”. Not to mention I’m a bit of a history buff. Needless to say when AC: III was finally released; the game I played was not the same game I had seen in the months prior. Everything was broken, the story was uninteresting, and the main protagonist was utterly uninspiring. I had lost my faith in the franchise.

That all came back though when I first popped my Black Flag disk in my XBOX ONE. I bought it simply to fill out my launch line up, and came away extremely impressed. AC IV: Black Flag is not a great franchise game; however it is a FANTASTIC pirate game. Taking place in the early 18 century, during the golden age of piracy, you play as Edward Kenway, Grandfather of Connor (the main protagonist of AC: III). You soon stumble across the never-ending battle between assassins and templars, but your main motivation is quite different than the other protagonists in the series. The story is on par with the other AC games, although it’s not the best the franchise has to offer. Being able to jump off my ship, onto an island, back to my ship with no load time whatsoever is something I couldn’t wrap my head around for days. Not to mention, the game is visually stunning (those water and weather effects!). I never really wanted to fast travel because the sailing is so satisfying. The game also gives you a reason to do side objectives, as you need money to upgrade your ship, and you need to hunt to upgrade your personal equipment. Despite some of the nagging issues still present in the series, I quite enjoyed my time with Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag, and my faith has been restored in the franchise. Now give me Assassin’s Creed: Ninjas vs. Samurai PLEASE!

4. Saints Row IV

­- Another game I really had no interest in playing, until about a week before release. After I finished Saints Row 3, I was pretty burnt out by the franchise. Not to say it wasn’t a good game, but I had my fill, and was ready to move on. A good friend of mine begged me to get this so we could play multiplayer. I obliged, and came away with a new appreciation for the series. If you thought Saints Row 3 was nuts, I dare you to pick up the controller and play Saints Row IV. The new game takes what you loved about 3, and throws the rules out the window, giving you super powers, and the ability to fly. No more driving from one end of the map to the other. Simply jump, and soar. The story is as outlandish as ever (the Matrix with aliens), and the combat is utterly crazy. All of this melds perfectly together, to create an experience that a lot of blockbuster hits forget about these days, it’s simply FUN!

3. GTA V

- I was totally engrossed from minute one with Grand Theft Auto V. Rockstar Games has taken everything they learned from their previous titles, and threw it all into this game. You certainly get vibes from Red Dead Redemption, and Max Payne 3 (among others) while playing GTA V. This is by far their best outing yet with any of their franchises. The story is classic Rockstar, a psychopath, an ex criminal, and wannabe gangster all looking to get that big score. Although we’ve seen this many times in games, it just simply works when Rockstar is at the helm. I enjoyed being able to switch characters on the fly mid mission, I enjoyed the combat, driving, the setting, the world (felt full of interesting people). I enjoyed the different take on multiplayer than your standard death match fare. There’s not much I didn’t like about the game. Rockstar paid attention to a lot of the little details, which made the world feel more realistic. You know you’ve got a good game when you wear flip flops, and they actually flip (and flop) in a realistic way. That’s how insane the talent is at Rockstar. The only thing I would change, would be adding more heists, as these were clearly the highlight. Being able to scope out a bank, then steal the proper guns and vehicles, then complete the heist, all in real time, really made the game feel engaging in ways other games would simply have disregarded by putting in a cut scene. Now the only question is, what will GTA 6 look like on next gen?

2. The Last of Us

­- What can I say about this game that hasn’t already been said? To say this game was an emotional rollercoaster would be an understatement. It’s not the type of game to play if you’re looking for rainbows and fairies. You don’t play as a very nice person. However, the game is so engaging, that I felt like I was Joel (the protagonist), trying to protect this innocent girl (Ellie), who grew up in a post apocalyptic world and doesn’t know any different. Even though I had no direct control over the important decisions, I felt like I still had a direct impact on the story by the way I played. It also helps when you have a superb cast to really make those characters and the world feel alive. The game takes the best aspects of Naughty Dogs signature game play experience, and improves it tenfold. Also, the multiplayer is surprisingly well done, and I have probably spent more time than I should playing the various modes it has to offer. This game is the true definition of “survival horror”, as in most scenarios you have limited supplies, barely any health left, and either crazy looters or monsters running at you full speed. It’s also worth mentioning I’ve dubbed The Last of Us as the best looking game of this generation, bar none. Finally, the ending. I won’t spoil anything here, but you know you have a piece of art on your hands when you can invoke so many emotions by a single word…”ok”. That is the last word spoken in the game, followed by a hard cut to black, and it drove me mad for days after I’ve completed it. Not only is this one of the best games I played this generation, it’s one of the best games I’ve ever played period.

1. Bioshock Infinite

- “Find the girl, wash away the debt”. Sounds easy right? Taking place in the year 1912, on a floating city called Columbia; you (Booker Dewitt) are tasked with finding a girl (Elizabeth), in order to wipe out your debt. It quickly becomes apparent that all is not what it seems on Columbia, and you become entrenched in an ongoing battle between two warring factions. Bioshock Infinite wins my game of 2013 on a single premise. This premise is hard to explain in a word, so I will explain it in a scenario. There is a sequence in the game where you (Booker) and your A.I. companion (Elizabeth) are on a beach. I begin to walk toward the end of the beach (where the checkpoint was located), assuming Elizabeth was behind me. Much to my knowledge, I turn around and she’s gone! I double back, and find her dancing with some of the other townsfolk. With a button press, I tell her to follow me, I get halfway to the checkpoint, and she’s gone AGAIN! This time, she’s over hearing a conversation by two beachgoers. Let me explain. The programmers over at Irrational Games, scripted Elizabeth to basically take control of herself, and do things at her own will. Sure there are “hotspots” in which she can gravitate towards, but it’s never guaranteed. It’s quite possible that you may never see that sequence play out. The result is having a companion character not feel like a companion at all, but a living, breathing person, capable of making her own decisions, at any point in the narrative. Something that shouldn’t be possible in a videogame. Although I preferred the Last of Us’ gameplay, I enjoyed Bioshock’s story more (and you can’t deny how cool those skyrail sequences are). That’s not to say the combat isn’t good. I enjoyed being able to combine your abilities (vigors) together to create interesting results, while simultaneously using a shotgun to keep your enemies at bay. There’s a certain mystique when you first boot up the game, and it drives you to keep going until you have the answers. If you’ve played the other Bioshock games, Infinite will eventually explain the entire universe to you, and when you come to that revelation, it’s mind blowing (took me a couple of days to figure out). The city of Columbia is a sight in itself, and the vibrant colors of the characters and buildings really make this one of the most visually appealing games I’ve played in a long time. With the superb writing of Ken Levine, and the amazing programming talent at Irrational, Bioshock Infinite is an easy pick for Game of the Year 2013 J

Honorable Mentions:

Tomb Raider

Year Walk

Splinter Cell Blacklist

Super Mario 3D World

Games I did not get a chance to play in 2013 that I plan on playing in 2014:

Gone Home (most likely would have made top ten had I played it)

Zelda: A Link Between Worlds

Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons

Best Indie Games of 2013:

Gone Home

Rogue Legacy

Papers Please

The Stanley Parable

Divekick

Gunpoint

Character of the Year: Trevor (Grand Theft Auto V)

Game with most emotional impact: The Last of Us

Game I still haven’t beaten in 2013 that I need to finish: Mass Effect 3

Worst game of the year: Sim City

Best RPG of the year: Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch

Best Movie of the year: Gravity

Favorite movie of the year: Man of Steel.