Something went wrong. Try again later

benpursley27

This user has not updated recently.

39 14 16 0
Forum Posts Wiki Points Following Followers

2013 Games of the Year - Top Ten

I could say a lot of cliche stuff here about how 2013 was the best year yet in video games. How there were so many diverse experiences to be had at every end of the spectrum for "gamers" and "non-gamers" alike. How there were so many new narrative styles on display in video games this year that transcended the medium and elevated the status of games in popular culture. How development in the mobile game market has matured beyond just being the "Tiger handheld games" of this era.

But you know what? 2013 was a great year for video games. And below, I collected ten of the reasons why. (Despite all odds, I was in fact able to find ten games that came out this year that were better than Brothers; thanks for nothing, Brad.)

Honorable mentions: Tomb Raider, Call of Juarez: Gunslinger, The Stanley Parable, SteamWorld Dig, Don't Starve, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons (because...why not?)

Notable games I didn't get a chance to play: Super Mario 3D World, The Last of Us, Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, Rayman Legends, Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon, Gunpoint, Device 6

List items

  • I love pretty colors. I love Metroidvanias. And I sure do love DrinkBox Studios. From the art, to the music, to the precision of the controls...they just know how to get it right every time. Much like their Tales from Space games, on the surface, it's not hard. But if you want a challenge, and you go looking for it, it's there to be found; and I had so much fun doing so.

  • The random characters, the constant unlocking of new powers, the challenge of the enemies,...this is an expertly crafted game. With each role of the dice came hard swings in the difficulty, but that's where the joy of it was for me. The most fun I've ever had with a roguelike...-like...-like?

  • Short, but oh so sweet. No unresponsive touch-screen controls, no blowing into the microphone, no waggling my arm in the air, just pure top-down dungeon-exploring bliss. This is the Zelda we all know and love.

  • Right up there with Assassin's Creed 2 as one of the best endings to a video game, ever. Columbia is one of the most imaginative fictional settings I've experienced, and it re-created the excitement I felt exploring Rapture in the first game, which I didn't even think would be possible. Bravo, Irrational. Bravo.

  • Guess what? Even in 2013, Crackdown is still a really fun game. To every video game developer that has tried and failed at making it feel cool to have superpowers - THIS is how you do it. From a franchise that started as the poor man's GTA, Saint's Row has come such a long way. Now, come on, Volition! Where's that Geo-Mod technology we've been missing?

  • It boggles the mind how something like this could even be designed. It's a game that is firmly rooted in physical laws and geometric principles, but just not the ones of the reality we know. I...don't even...how....what...?

  • I explored every inch of that house, and felt truly rewarded for doing so. This is one of those games whose impact in the industry should be felt for years to come. You don't need big open spaces to make a great video game, you just need attention to detail.

  • I fondly remember the many months I spent exploring every last bit of GTA III, Vice City, and San Andreas. But GTA IV?...I grew to hate that game. GTA V takes note of the things Rockstar learned from Red Dead Redemption and then brings even more to the table; nothing short of impressive.

  • The rare type of puzzle game that makes you feel like a genius every time you overcome a new obstacle. And the atmosphere, truly unsettling. It's those moments when you figure out the puzzle, but then you hesitate to solve it, because you don't know if you should.

  • This is how you make a touch-screen game; great use of the platform. A room? - Check. Puzzles? - Check. Cthulhu? - ...
Load Comments