Game of the Year 2013
2013 was a strong year for games. Every sector of the video game landscape was well represented, from the big-name triple-A titles that drive the industry to the smaller indie projects that are becoming bigger and more influential by the day. So of course this made forming this list a huge challenge. No one game really stood out above the rest, unlike years prior where a clear choice for game of the year presented itself.
Because not everything I wanted to honor made the list (if it did, the thing would probably end up being a top 20 list or more), I’d like to mention just a few of the games that still left a big impression on me.
The Last of Us – Naughty Dog’s take on the post-apocalypse was dark and powerful. The opening and ending scenes especially are some of the strongest I’ve seen in a game. To think this came from a major developer is almost absurd given how risk-averse the triple-A game scene traditionally is.
Gunpoint – I played through this game in one sitting. The witty writing and supremely fun and inventive mechanics created a fantastically enjoyable game. That this is the very first project developer Tom Frances ever worked on only speaks to the guy’s talent. Bravo.
Race The Sun – Every time I needed something to play for a few minutes, Race The Sun was the game I always kept coming back to. It’s mindless enough to easily play whilst listening to podcasts while still engaging enough to keep the pressure on. That it’s levels change every day is a fun and clever hook as well, playing a major role in why I kept on coming back to it.
Gone Home – I love that we’ve gotten to a point where games like this can exist and succeed. That games have come so far that they can tell a such a simple, deeply personal story and do it marvelously. It’s disappointing that the discussion around it has shifted toward questioning its legitimacy as a game (for the record, it is), because it deserves better.
And now, without further ado, onto the list.