henke on 17/12/2013 at 18:39

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It's that time of year, people!

Top 10 of 2013:
(PC versions unless stated otherwise)

10. Lost Planet 3
Tragically overlooked by people who were not fans of the series, and disliked by fans who were hoping for more of the same. Lost Planet 3 might not have had the over the top gameplay and insane plots that made LP1 and 2 cult favourites, but it did have the best story and character writing in an action game this year.

9. Teleglitch: Die More Edition
Fiendishly addictive and difficult. More System Shock than Doom.

8. Brothers
Good gameplay and a thrilling sense of Adventure!. And the ending is kind of incredible.

7. Amnesia: A Machine For Pigs
First scared the shit out of me, then made me feel like a Victorian-era actionhero gentleman.

6. Tomb Raider (X360)
An all-around solid title that delivers both fun gameplay and a decent origin story wrapped up in a good looking package. Sadly it didn't deliver much actual tomb raiding, but eh.

5. Guacamelee!
Solid platforming and one of the best combat systems I've experienced in a 2D beat'em-up. Fantastic art design and genuinely hard boss fights are also a big plus.

4. Euro Truck Simulator 2
There's something about the very mundane challenge of delivering cargo from one city to the next that really appeals to me. Mapping out the route, navigating out of the city and onto the highway, indicating turns and checking blindspots before changing lanes, remembering to keep an eye on my fuel gague and plan my next reststop. Nothing for company on the long and winding road but the sights and a country music station.

3. Super Stickman Golf 2 (iOS/Android)
The sequel to my favourite mobile game expands on the physics-based gameplay with new obstacles and powerups as well as a fantastic multiplayer mode. I've gotten a lot of mileage out of this one, it's my go-to game whenever I'm somewhere with my phone and nothing to do.

2. FEZ
I wasn't expecting much from Fez, but as I traveled deeper and deeper into it's world I began feeling like I was playing one of the all time great platformers. The world of Fez, is... amazing. There is so much depth to this world, so much history sown into the fabric of these environments. Disasterpeace's soundtrack is top notch as well.

1. GTA V (X360)
I was expecting GTA V to be more or less the greatest thing ever, and even so it surprised and delighted me in ways I had not expected. But it also let me down in ways I could not have foreseen. Simplified vehicle physics and a main story that didn't go anywhere interesting were a disappointment. Instead the most interesting thing about V was the mission design, which IMO is the strongest in the series.



Honorable mentions:
Shadow Warrior
State Of Decay (X360)
Trials Evolution Gold Edition
The Swapper
Surgeon Simulator 2013
Volgarr The Viking
Call Of Juarez: Gunslinger
Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon
The Shivah: Kosher Edition
Kentucky Route Zero Ep. 1 & 2
The Stanley Parable
XCOM: Enemy Within
Monaco
Dead Space 3
The Organ Trail

A lot of sequels this year, and though there were more than enough good games, not a lot of great ones. I think 2014 will be better.

WingedKagouti on 17/12/2013 at 19:33

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The lack of Divinity: Dragon Commander and Saint's Row 4 is concerning. Do you hate good games? :p;)

I would probably have liked Tomb Raider 2013 more if it hadn't been named Tomb Raider or featured Lara Croft. As a game it's good, as a Tomb Raider game it's bad. Too much arena shooting (with lots of clown cars), way too many QTEs (especially in the first segment) and too little puzzle/exploration gameplay. The platforming was great though.

june gloom on 17/12/2013 at 19:51

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GOTY: Kentucky Route Zero and The Last Of Us

DOTY: Bioshock Infinite

OGOTY: Dark Souls

Jason Moyer on 17/12/2013 at 20:47

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Game Of The Year: BioShock Infinite
"Game" Of The Year: Gone Home
Wish It Were Significantly Longer Of The Year: Remember Me
I Don't Really Give A Fuck About What Critics/Gamers Think Of The Year: The Bureau
Surprise Release Of The Year: Brütal Legend
Disappointment Of The Year: The Cave
Stuff That's Great But Still Early Access Of The Year: Assetto Corsa, Betrayer, Sir You Are Being Hunted

Didn't Get Around To Really Playing It Of The Year: Antichamber, Blood Dragon, Gunslinger, Last Of Us, Dishonored DLC, ArmA III, Borderlands 2 DLC, Skyrim DLC, BioShock Infinite DLC, Mars: War Logs, Enemy Within, DmC, The Incredible Adventures Of Van Helsing, Expeditions: Conquistador, Zeno Clash 2, Saints Row IV, Ace Patrol, Civ 5 DLC, Rogue Legacy, La-Mulana, Teleglitch, Dust: An Elysian Tale, The Stanley Parable, Typing Of The Dead: Overkill, Guacamelee, 140, Monaco, Ittle Dew, Marlow Briggs, Monaco, Foul Play, Rain Blood Chronicles, Kairo, Hammerwatch, Enslaved, Crysis 3, Deadpool, Volgarr, Kentucky Route Zero, Shadow Warrior, The Pit, Skulls Of The Shogun, Assassin's Creed IV, Splinter Cell Blacklist, Tomb Raider, Dead Space 3, Mass Effect 3 DLC, A Machine For Gay, Fez, MirrorMoon EP, Outlast, Castlevania: Lords Of Shadow, Euro Truck Simulator 2

WingedKagouti on 17/12/2013 at 21:38

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Those are games I know are worth playing. There are other games in your list I want to play, but haven't had time/money to try yet. Blood Dragon & Marlow Briggs are mostly for people who like copious amounts of 80-90s cheese, if you enjoy Arnie movies from that era there's a good chance you'll like those two.