Top Ten Best PC Games of 2013
Wading through the mess.
I've played through hundreds of games, starting with my atari as a kid, and never stopped throughout my adult life. I find most games are pretty generic nowadays, lacking the creativity and freshness of the games of old. There are certainly some stand outs though. Here's a list of the top ten for the first half of 2013.
1. The Walking Dead
The Walking Dead series by telltale games presents story telling in an entirely new way no other game has done before. You get to make conversation choices that steer the course of story. Who lives, who dies, and the types of relationships you have with the stellar cast is literally in your hands as you adventure and explore a world similar to the Walking Dead television series. There are world interaction puzzles to solve, adding a layer of gameplay depth not seen since the likes of King's quest.
This game is done in such a fresh way it easily makes my top spot. It really is a must play for everyone! It is intended for a mature audience though. Also there are more upcoming episodes yet to be released!
2. Bioshock Infinite
Bioshock Infinite is the third Bioshock game of the series. It stands alone just fine and weaves an extremely immersive gaming experience with the best story telling of the year so far. The color palettes, texture design, and audio implimentation draw you along your path. I was very impressed with the Bioshock Infinite team as they did live up to the hype. This game will stick with you after you have beaten it and the ending will leave your mouth agape with revelations as good as the sixth sense.
The gameplay is fun but the story really drives the experience. Introduced is a more vertical action based game where you can leap up and slide along rails all over the sky as you upgrade your weaponry and typical bioshock styled powers.
3. Starcraft 2 - Heart of the Swarm
Blizzard entertainment is known for their high quality polished games. Starcraft doesn't disappoint. Blizzard features incredible CGI cinematics between campaign missions of Blizzard's second installment of Starcraft 2. If you like real-time strategy games, this is the king of it all. Starcraft has the highest skill cap in modern RTS today and is the second most popular E-sport in the world.
Blizzard has just recently set up their own broadcast channel with popular casters such as Day 9 and Apollo as they televise the World Championship Series of Starcraft. You can view it here for free: wcs.battle.net.
You can also try it for free by downloading the starter edition. I enjoy this game so much I even casually stream myself playing it at twitch.tv/lucidvein.
4. League of Legends
League of Legends is a free moba-styled game (multiplayer online battle arena). It is currently the largest E-sport in the world with season prize pools of $5,000,000 in awards and hundreds of thousands of viewers.
You play in a 5v5 environment, alongside or against your friends if you desire, and ultimately try to fight your way to their main base to destroy it and win. There are always more champions being released into the game with over 100 currently available and an innumerable amount of different ways to play them.
The community can be a little tough to integrate with as is the case with most MOBA games. But LOL has captured the most new-player friendly method to present this game style and has rocketed in popularity because of it.
5. Farcry 3
Farcry 3 really sets the bar for a sandbox FPS experience in 2013. Spectacular graphics, open world gameplay, voice acting, and story - all wrapped up into one AAA package. One of my favorite antagonists in any video game really comes to the forefront early in this experience.
As you explore you can take over zones in the game by defeating enemy camps helping strengthen your control over the island. You can hunt the wildlife upgrading your equipment such as your backpack, ammo holding capabilities, and wallet. Among the secondary quests scattered across the world you can always engage the main story quest that really immerses your character into the world.
Farcry 3 is certainly one of the most beautiful games to look at this year, and if you like FPS this is my #1 FPS recommendation.
6. Neverwinter
MMOs have gotten pretty stale with everyone trying to copy World of Warcraft's formula. What sets Neverwinter apart to start is that the game is entirely free. Free to download and play and no monthly fee. The graphics are really solid. The combat plays differently than the typical MMO. No auto-attack, no tab targeting, heavily action oriented combat.
Neverwinter also separates itself by offering a community tool to build quests and zone development that players can experience. Now you can enjoy unlimited content that isn't the same daily quest again and again that Warcraft brings.
I've had a good deal of fun playing it with friends. The game is currently in open beta but they have promised no character wipes. You can expect a lot more content to be released over time including raid and larger scale pvp content.
7. Faster Than Light
Faster than light is the most fun indie game you will play for $5. You get a space ship and can name your crew. Every day in the game is a challenge to survive. Every encounter could turn your ship into a broken chunk of metal or send a crew member to their demise. You can fire lasers, guns, board enemy ships, upgrade your shields and hull, or get an entirely robotic crew.
You have to move your crew to put out fires, fix air lock leaks, repair battle stations all while managing your offenses and possibly the hazardous environment. It's exciting and fun. You could stumble across resources with your last bit of fuel and recover enough to move on, or you will have to start over from the start.
You have to try this one!
8. XCOM: Enemy Unknown
Xcom brings back turn-based strategy to the forefront. You are presented with a customizable squad and progress through missions taking turns firing shots against enemies tactically. The combat is fresh, strategic, and unlike any other game of the year which is a big plus in my book.
If you like turn-based strategy definitely look into this one.
9. Tomb Raider
Tomb Raider (2013) is the prequel story of Lara Croft back when she was just a student on an adventure, before she ends up having to fight for her life. Tomb Raider is a linear survival game that presents you environmental puzzles to proceed along the story path. If you like survival games give this one a try. The game is as beautiful as Lara Croft herself.
10. Planetside 2
Sony's next foray is another free to play offering. With Planetside 2 you can experience futuristic FPS action in a large scale theater of war. There are six different classes that you can completely customize as well as customizable vehicles. For example, you can not only assign what type of guns/rockets your attack helicopter uses but those of your passengers.
You earn points as you complete team objectives, capture nodes, and kill enemies which allows you to kit out your class and vehicles as you level up. It's fun and at free, the price is right.
How many of these games have you played?
PS4 with Watch Dogs bundle on sale.
The new PS4 looks to be the next in demand console. You can pre-order one with this PS4 and WatchDogs launch day bundle from Amazon for $458.
Amazon also sells digital downloads and has great customer support. Or pick up some games from eBay. You can find great prices on used games below.
Thanks for Reading!
I hope you enjoyed my PC gaming 2013 selections for the first half of the year. Hopefully the second half will be just as good!
If you want to read more hubs by me check out:
What were your favorite games in the first half of 2013? List them in comments below.