My Top Games of 2013
2013 was a great year for gamers. In addition to some really great games released on existing consoles, we also got two new next-gen systems – the Playstation 4 and Xbox One. Tons of games were released in old favorite series, and there were also lots of new IPs. Plenty of developers were working hard to impress us this year, and I have to say many succeeded! There were so many new releases I really enjoyed this year. Here is a list of my top ten picks for 2013 (it wasn’t easy to choose!). I’ve tried to cover a few different consoles here, and obviously this list reflects my own personal tastes. Let me know what games were your favorite in the comments!
10) Batman: Arkham Origins
The Batman: Arkham series has been some of the best superhero games I’ve ever played. Batman: Arkham Origins didn’t disappoint. I loved that they returned for a prequel, as seeing young Batman was really interesting. As always, the story was engaging, the graphics were top-notch, and the action was fantastic. Another well-rounded Batman game.
9) Lego Marvel Super Heroes
I love the Lego games, so I was very excited to hear about this one! It has Legos and superheroes! Beyond that, this is the most expansive Lego game yet. It has an open world with all kinds of collectibles and little side missions. There are so many characters to discover or buy, and plenty of hidden things to find.
8) Outlast
I am a big fan of the horror genre, so I get most horror games as they come out. Outlast was highly anticipated this year, and it didn’t disappoint. I haven’t gotten far yet, but so far this is one of the scariest games I’ve ever played. Seriously, I have to psych myself up to play it! It really is fantastically done, and sets a new bar for indie horror.
7) Pokemon X & Y
I’ve been playing Pokémon since elementary school. Obviously not much has changed, but this new 3DS game brought a lot to the series. I love the new features, including dressing up your character, interacting with your Pokémon, and online aspects. This is the most I’ve enjoyed a Pokémon game in a while, and it’s still addictive months later!
6) Dead Space 3
The Dead Space series is great. The first one really knocked my socks off, and although I was less impressed by the second one, I was still excited for the third entry. I thought it was excellent. Personally, I enjoyed it more than 2. Many people say that the co-op capabilities made it less scary, but I found it delightfully creepy. I loved going through the story with my husband, and the addition of some side missions really completed the game for me.
5) Grand Theft Auto V
Ah, probably one of the most anticipated games of the year for many. Rockstar went all out with GTA V, and it paid off. This is the most expansive world GTA has ever seen. There is so much to do in the game besides the story. I still have not beaten it! GTA Online was also a great addition, and a lot of fun to play with friends. There were quite a few glitches here and there, but overall it’s an excellent game.
4) Tomb Raider
This was a surprise for me. I actually didn’t plan on buying Tomb Raider, but I got it for free with another purchase. I ended up loving it. I loved the old Tomb Raider games from Playstation 1, but I felt the quality had suffered as the years went on. This reboot completely changed Tomb Raider, and in a good way. The character of Lara Croft has become so much more, the graphics were incredible, and the story and play style were both superb. I can’t wait for the next one.
3) Gone Home
This was another unexpected hit. Gone Home is a small indie game that came out this year to much hype. It sounded very interesting to me, as I love exploration games and mysteries. This was a game people either loved or hated, and I’m happy to say that I absolutely loved it. It’s not a long game at all (just a few hours), but once you start, you’ll need to finish it. I loved going through the house and uncovering all the items to learn about the characters. Simply amazing experience.
2) Animal Crossing: New Leaf
This game is the reason I wanted a 3DS so bad. Animal Crossing is one of my all-time favorite games, and this new game has taken the series in a great new direction. There are new villagers, new shops, and you get to be the mayor. I have put so many hours into this game! It’s not for everyone, but if you love a casual game, try out Animal Crossing. The new one definitely doesn’t disappoint.
1) The Last of Us
I’m sure some of you are sick of hearing about this game. However, it’s got the top spot for a reason. This game left me speechless. This is one of the best games I’ve played in a long, long time. Graphics are incredible, the voice acting is amazing, and the character development and storyline will blow you away. If you get the chance, play it.
Which was your favorite game of 2013?
© 2014 Nora B