2013 was an excellent year for me and games. I finally built a gaming PC over the summer, upgraded to a Nexus 5 that can actually play graphically intense games, and was even surprise gifted a Vita for Christmas. I didn't get to play everything I wanted in time for this post (the winter Steam sale is helping that a little bit), I definitely have some fond memories of everything I've listed. Yes, there's quite a lot missing from this list, but these are the games I think about when I look back on 2013. Anyhow, in no particular order, here's what stood out to me this year!
Saints Row 4 (PC, PS3, 360)
I discovered Saints Row through a well-timed Humble Bundle, and managed to beat SR3 the day the fourth game released. Thanks to the Matrix-like world the game takes place in, lots of bullshit is skipped for the sake of good fun. For starters, you get freaking superpowers right off the bat. No more finding a car or a garage in order to travel anywhere when you can run at super speed! Even when you do need a vehicle, now it's as easy as opening your phone and phasing the thing into existence right where you stand. The cast of characters is also extremely memorable, and each loyalty mission managed to be both hilarious and touching at moments. Combine this with a neon-littered visual aesthetic, hilarious writing, and fantastic attention to detail, and you've got a game that's an unapologetically good time.
Oh, and there's a gun that shoots dubstep. Because.
Ridiculous Fishing (iOS, Android)
Only one mobile game on the list year, but you can blame Super Hexagon for being released in 2012. Rediculous Fishing is appropriately named, and gameplay can be summed up in three parts: tilt your device to avoid fish as you try to send your lure down as far as possible, tilt it again to catch as many as possible on the way back up, then SHOOT THE CRAP OUT OF THEM. Make money for your catches, buy upgrades, rinse, repeat. While lots of other mobile games this year were nothing but tedious time wasters, this game made me feel like I was building a skill, while also making progress with the fish in my encyclopedia and upgrades I've earned. With some funky music and a distinctly colorful art style, this game is worth having installed on every mobile device you own.
The Last of Us (PS3)
This game really nailed it on all fronts. Not only did it tell a story that was well acted and well written, but had engaging gameplay to match. I struggle to say anything without spoiling a tale that needs to be experienced, but I will say that Joel and Ellie are now two of my all-time favorite characters in gaming. The bonds they form over the course of the story are a joy to watch, with neither character overshadowing the other. I couldn't get enough of this game even after completing it, and spent hours reading and watching behind the scenes stuff, as well as reading many fan discussions over the story. Neil Druckmann's keynote on the process of writing the game especially stuck out to me, and made me appreciate his attempt to create female characters that young women could actually look up to. If you've finished the game, I'd definitely recommend watching it. If not, go steal a PS3 and play it already!
Not convinced? Read my review here!
Towerfall (Ouya)
Though I have unfortunately let my Ouya collect some dust since I've bought it, any time I bring it out, it's been for an awesome session of Towerfall. Every time, we would spend hours changing variants and adding chaos to each new match. Want ricocheting laser arrows, exploding corpses, and have the stage be in permanent darkness? Done. Start with no arrows, cursed bows that kill you when you dry fire them, and wings? It goes on and on. Rounds may only last under a minute each, but that doesn't mean you won't find you and your friends playing well into the night. If you want to see some awesome replays of matches in gif form, check out the Towerfall Tumblr. I'll be eagerly waiting for this feature when the game hits PC and PS4 in 2014.
If being on this list hasn't interested you enough, check out my review here!
Tearaway (Vita)
Tearaway is one of those few games that felt truly playful. While LittleBigPlanet's level editor was always a bit too complex for me to get into, Tearaway's simple use of an in-game camera as well as a custom construction paper cutout prop maker helps make the adventure feel like yours instead of another platformer. I stuck googly eyes on the butt of a pig and rode it across the desert. I took a picture of my dog, put a mustache on it, and saw it plastered throughout the entire level I was playing. I even made a little crown for that squirrel pictured above. The game surprisingly uses every single one of the Vita's features without feeling gimmicky or forced, and makes these features integral to the gameplay and actually fun to use. While not extremely challenging, gameplay always feels fun, yet never frustrating. This is the game that made me truly appreciate my Vita, and if you've got one, it's worth a try.
Depression Quest (PC)
This one is especially personal. Depression Quest is a choose your path text adventure that explores what it's like to be inside the head of someone with depression. This past semester I found myself in a motivational rut and an emotional wreck, and Depression Quest helped me start crawling out of it. I found myself relating to a huge portion of the scenarios and feelings presented in the game, and it made me feel like I wasn't alone in struggling with myself. On top of that, it also encouraged me that whatever I had, I could live with it, and that in itself was a huge motivation for me to finish the year stronger than I started it. I honestly don't know if I actually have depression or not, but Depression Quest made me see things about myself I never really noticed before. Rarely do games make me think so introspectively. While it's a simple text game, it's really one everyone should check out, if only to gain empathy for those who are truly depressed.
You can play the game for free here, and you should strongly consider voting for it on Steam Greenlight so it can be played by a wider audience!
Divekick (PC, PSN)
I'll be honest, I really don't like fighting games. Not because I think they're bad, but rather that I just can't get into them. Often with high barriers of entry and hundreds of complicated button combinations to remember, I often just can't justify the time investment. Divekick, however, removes all of that. With only two buttons (dive, and kick), it manages to be very complex while looking deceptively simple. Like Towerfall, this is a game I can pull out with friends around and sink a couple hours into getting "just one more" match in. Being such a simple game to pick up, I didn't mind the time investment learning techniques, reading my opponent, and even gauging what angles each character jumps at to time my jumps perfectly.
Gone Home (PC)
Gone Home is one of those games I couldn't help but tell the world to play the second I finished it. This is a game that involves no enemies, no NPCs, just you, a house, and a story to discover for yourself. If you took all the diaries from Resident Evil and the audio logs from Bioshock and made an entire game out of it, you'd have Gone Home. After a year of zombies, explosions, and aliens, it's definitely nice to experience a story about normal people in normal life. Any single detail of the story is a spoiler, so this is one truly worth experiencing yourself. Even played at a slow place, it only takes about two hours to complete end to end. If you've got two hours, dim the lights, start it up, and enjoy.
And that's my list! Disagree with my choices? Then post yours in the comments below! In the meantime, I'll be checking out what I missed this year before next semester starts. Also, keep an eye out for Wyatt's favorites list in the next couple of days!
