The 10 Best Video Games Released In 2013
2013 was a very important year for gaming, with both the PS4 and Xbox One releasing towards the end of the year and the Wii U releasing the year prior. The year would also see the release of some groundbreaking games that would go on to become iconic and hugely influential to their respective genres. As with other articles in this series, we will be using the ratings from the now-defunct Game Rankings to help us determine the top 10 games released in 2013. If a game has been released on platforms not mentioned below, that means either it was released on them in a different year, or those ports didn’t make the top 10. So without further ado, here are the top 10 best games released in 2013.
10. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD – Wii U
The Wind Waker was a huge departure from Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask when it launched on the GameCube, bringing with it a fresh cel-shaded aesthetic and featuring new sailing mechanics. The game received an HD port on the Wii U and became a system seller with it often being bundled with the console. The Legends of Zelda: The Windwaker HD scored 91% on Game Rankings.
9. Fire Emblem: Awakening – Nintendo 3DS
Fire Emblem: Awakening is a tactical RPG that was released exclusively on the Nintendo 3DS. For many years, the Fire Emblem series was exclusive to Japan and only made its way to the west in 2003. This meant that it took a long time for the series to become popular in the western market, but Fire Emblem: Awakening helped to build its mainstream appeal and the series has only gained more popularity in the years since. Fire Emblem: Awakening scored 92% on Game Rankings.
8. Super Mario 3D World – Wii U
Super Mario 3D World is a typically 3D Mario game, except with a strong focus on co-op, with it being able to be played by up to four players together. It isn’t the most difficult game in the world, perhaps a little bit too easy at times. But, Super Mario 3D World is designed to be a fun experience to play with friends and family and that is where the game shines. Super Mario 3D World scored 92% on Game Rankings.
7. Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons – PC
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons is a game that I highly recommend everyone play. The game is the first to be developed by Josef Fares, the founder of Hazelight Studios which created It Takes Two. Speaking of It Takes Two, if you’ve played it then you will understand how Brothers works. It is a co-op game that sees the player take control of two brothers as set out on a journey to find a cure for their father’s illness. One big difference between Brothers and It Takes Two is that the game can be played as a single-player game with each brother being controlled by a thumbstick on a controller. Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons scored an impressive 93% on Game Rankings.
6. Flower – PlayStation 4
Flower is another genre-bending title from the studio behind Journey, another incredible game that we recommend everyone checks out. Flower offers a unique gaming experience that lets you soar through a dreamlike world of luscious fields and rolling hills. Trying to explain how the game works and what it is about wouldn’t do it justice, so check out this review below.
Flower scored 93% on Game Rankings.
5. Fez – PC
After the gaming industry moved into 3D in the early 90s, 2D games often got left behind. That all began to change in the early 2010s as the 2D style of game made a huge comeback and Fez led the charge and helped bring a new wave of popularity to 2D platformers which have only gone from strength to strength in the years since. Fez scored 93% on Game Rankings.
4. Rayman Legends – PlayStation 3, Wii U
It is a travesty that Rayman Legends isn’t talked about as often as it should be. Rayman Legends is perhaps the best platformer that isn’t a Super Mario game of the last decade, with only Celeste being another contender for the top spot. After a series of mediocre 3D entries in the series throughout the 2000s, Ubisoft took the series back to 2D with Rayman Origins, before perfecting this new style with Rayman Legends. The game is incredibly fun to play, really well designed and has a very quirky soundtrack that often plays in sync to the actions performed in the game which really adds to the experience. Rayman Legends scored 93% on Game Rankings.
3. The Last of Us – PlayStation 3
Throughout the last decade Sony has developed a formula that works, that many have dubbed the “walking simulator”, and it all began with The Last of Us. The Last of Us ensured that the PS3 went out with a bang as it was released just a few months prior to the launch of the PS4. Since its release, The Last of Us has gone on to sell over 20 million copies, was remastered the following year for PS4, and will soon see a remake on the PS5 later this year. To say this game was impactful and a huge part of Sony’s success would be an understatement. The Last of Us scored a huge 95% on Game Rankings.
2. BioShock Infinite – PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
The Bioshock series is one of the best to be released during the last 20 years, and Bioshock Infinite saw the series go out on top. Although some fans will claim that it isn’t as strong of a game as the previous entries, specifically the first game, it really helped to tie up the story. If you haven’t played Bioshock before then you owe it to yourself to go and check it out as soon as possible. Bioshock Infinite ended the series on a high note with 95% on Game Rankings.
1. Grand Theft Auto V – PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
GTA V holds more records than almost any other game ever released, as well as being the second best-selling game of all time with over 165 million copies sold. GTA V and GTA Online have generated over $6 billion in revenue since it was first released in 2013. If that doesn’t sell the game to you then I don’t know what will. Play this game before GTA 6 is released in the next couple of years. GTA V became one of the highest-rated games of all time with a score of 97% on Game Rankings.
