My top 10 GOTY 2013 list is below..
(full disclosure; I don't have a Wii U, so no Mario for me)
Slots 11-15 are for unfinished projects which have been great so far, slot 16 is for an iOS title that I rather liked and 17 is an honorable mention.
I enjoyed this game far more than I thought I would.. Despite some minor control issues, this game was just a pleasure to experience on many levels. For my money it is the definitive Assassin's Creed title and certainly deserves a top billing.
Just like Assassin's Creed, this latest installment of GTA is certainly the best to-date. My only issue with it is the underdeveloped heist mechanic.. It's introduced too late in the game and used far to infrequently.. still an amazing game and a perfect way to bid adieu to the Xbox 360.
Your mileage may vary. I understand that there were (and still are) some bugs with this game for some users.. I had them as well initially.. For the past few weeks, however, this game on the PS4 has been the perfect embodiment of the Battlefield franchise. It's graphically rich, encourages teamwork over meaningless K/D ratios and is responsible for some of my best gaming experiences this year.
I've always loved Naughty Dog's titles and this darker more serious franchise is excellent. The stealth mechanics are a bit awkward and the game takes too long to get rolling, but it's still an amazing showpiece for the now outmoded PS3.
Brilliant, engaging and exactly what we should all demand of small development studios.. The story is great and the feeling of wandering through the house is immersive.
It's a lovely game which shares the rare distinction of actually using the 3D for good. It's just enough retro to be good.. my only complaint is that it's a bit by-the-books zelda.
This thing looked beautiful on the PC (where I played it) and played nearly as well.. My only hesitation was the ho-hum boss battle and the somewhat meandering storyline.
For me, this was 2013's FTL.. one of my favorites of the year. It's been said a thousand times Im sure.. but it's great.
Fantastic narration and clever writing make this a must-play for sure.. I keep wanting to play more.
Nothing makes the oppressive grind of day-to-day minutia seem more riveting. I love the aspect of supporting your family and the increasingly difficult identification challenges.. It just got a bit much for me at the end.
Special mention for a Greelight project which has a massive amount of potential, and is getting regular updates! This could be the 2014 game of the year if they manage to pull it off.
As far as half-done games go.. this is amazing so far. It's a detail-oriented tycoon game which promises to give aspiring gear heads the ability to run their own automotive empire. It's fun, even now competing in the massively difficult engine design challenges.
It's like a 2D No Man's Sky! or Space Terraria! Fun.
Here's your voxel Zelda then.
Nothing better than hosing down inmates I suppose.
Here's a truly great mobile game which draws heavy inspiration from Windwaker.. if you're into it, have and iPad and $6.. get it. Bonus points for a developer who doesn't offer a single in-app purchase or up-sell of any kind.
Honorable Mention goes to this great turn based title. The art style and retro-neo-future setting is great.
