For the first time in years, I did a decent job keeping up with the latest video game releases. There were still many that I missed, but this is the first time I have been able to put together a top 10 list during January. This was a great year for video games, especially when it came to narrative-driven experiences.
Honorable Mentions:
Journey
Dyad
FIFA 13
Call of Duty: Black Ops II
10) Mass Effect 3
This is The Dark Knight Rises of the Mass Effect trilogy, especially in terms of divisiveness. I loved it despite mixed feelings about the ending.
![Trials Evolution [XBLA]](https://twscritic.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/trials-evolution.jpg)
9) Trials Evolution
Pretty much the perfect sequel. Expands upon the original in every way possible.
![Sleeping Dogs [Xbox 360]](https://twscritic.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/sleeping-dogs-story.jpg)
8) Sleeping Dogs
A strong contender for my new favorite GTA-style game. Gotta love the Hong Kong setting, too.
![Mark of the Ninja [Xbox 360, 2012]](https://twscritic.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/mark-of-the-ninja-xbla.jpg)
7) Mark of the Ninja
This could very well be the best stealth game I have ever played. Finishing a level without being seen always feels like a huge triumph.
6) Max Payne 3
If ever there were a game that feels like an action movie, this is it. Hell, it’s better than most of Hollywood’s recent action flicks.
![Hotline Miami [PC]](https://twscritic.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/hotline-miami-chicken.jpg)
5) Hotline Miami
The violence is hard to stomach, but the gameplay is so addictive that I kept coming back for more. Best soundtrack of the year as well.
4) XCOM: Enemy Unknown
I’m usually not a big fan of strategy games, but XCOM locked me in and didn’t let go. Easy to learn, difficult to master, but always fun.
![Spec Ops: The Line [Xbox 360]](https://twscritic.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/spec-ops-the-line-2012.jpg)
3) Spec Ops: The Line
On the surface, this appears to be nothing more than a standard third-person military shooter. But then the story kicks in, and it’s impossible to get out of this descent into madness. Arguably the best narrative ever found in a shooter.
![Borderlands 2 [Xbox 360]](https://twscritic.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/borderlands-2-screen.jpg)
2) Borderlands 2
The original Borderlands was one of the breakout hits of 2009, and the sequel delivers everything that worked so well in an even more refined experience. I can’t stop looting.
![The Walking Dead: The Game [Xbox 360, 2012]](https://twscritic.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/the-walking-dead-game.jpg)
1) The Walking Dead
The most emotional experience I have ever come across in a video game. An unheralded art of storytelling in a medium that so badly needs strong narratives.
What I Missed: Far Cry 3, Lone Survivor, Torchlight II, Diablo III, Hitman: Absolution
What did I miss? Do you agree with these choices? If you have your own top 10, feel free to share in the comments!
Call me crazy, but my favorite game of the year was Sleeping Dogs. It blew my friggen mind! 😀 Great list, by the way.
That’s not crazy at all, man. Loved that game!
Reblogged this on Darph Blog and commented:
Another listing with some Awesome games.
Solid selections indeed. We are in the same boat with top honors to The Walking Dead and Borderlands 2. Both excellent titles.
I had a sort of sleeper hit this year for my top games. Zero Escape: Virtue’s Last Reward for 3DS and Vita was absolutely amazing. Great storytelling, like you mention for The Walking Dead. I suggest checking it out if you can.
You know, I heard a lot about that game and it definitely sounds like something I could get into. I’ve heard it helps to play the first one — that’s 999, right? — so I might try to do that beforehand. Unless you think I could get away with just playing the new one…?
Yes, 999 is the first one. But actually, I’ve never played that one! Even without the background information established in that game, Virtue’s Last Reward is still enjoyable. It’s an entirely different story from 999, but I understand that playing 999 gives you a bit more incite on a few characters and happenings in the new game.
My suggestion would be to play both, but I can only speak truths about Virtue’s Last Reward 🙂
Haha sounds like a plan then. Thanks for the heads up!
999 is a really good game for its story, the gameplay however isn’t anything special, which is a shame. The endings though are pretty great.
You’ve played a lot of great games man, more than me :p Always nice to hear your take on these games, and I also got reminded to play a few I haven’t played yet 🙂 Keep those lists coming!
Haha will do, man! Hope you find something you like in there. 🙂
Have played way too little last year, but Sleeping Dogs has been on my “to buy” list for a while. I’m currently working my way through Max Payne and it is stunning. Have to check out Spec Ops, sounds interesting!
Glad to hear you’re digging Max Payne! That one got a lot of publicity over the summer, but it seems to be slipping people’s minds in these top ten lists. Spec Ops and Sleeping Dogs are well worth your time, too.
I finished Mass Effect 2, I ended up really enjoying it. Hopefully I will get a chance to play three. I just downloaded all of the other chapters for The Walking Dead, but haven’t had a chance to play it yet.
Mass Effect 2 is my favorite of the trilogy, but ME3 is still pretty damn good. It unfortunately gets a bit of a bad rep due to its lackluster ending.
I haven’t played either the first one or the third one. I asked the clerk at Gamestop which out of the three she felt was the best game she said the second one, so I went with that suggestion to start with. As for the ending, I have probably sat through more movies with terrible endings than that game. I think I have sat through entire movies that were terrible all the way through (especially some B titles).
Ah, if you have only played ME2, the ending might not bother you as much. Most people were just pissed about putting 40+ hours into their character between ME1 & ME2 only to reach a mediocre conclusion. It didn’t bother me as much, but the complaints are certainly valid.
If you get a chance, I would recommend playing through the series in order, importing your character from the previous game each time. ME1 is a bit dated now, but it sets the framework for the rest of the series. I felt myself getting pretty damn attached to some of the characters, too.
Sounds like they did like .Hack did with the ability to transition the player character and levels from one game to the next. That is pretty cool.
I’d love to have a bit more time on my hands to exchange notes on videogames but sadly I only get to play and finish about two or three per year. Having said that, Im somewhat familiar with most of your choices and Im not entirely surprised by the ones that made it. I cant wait to get my hands on Borderlands and Sleeping Dogs from this lot you have here.
I kind of went overboard on gaming during the last couple months but I think it was worth it, heh. Borderlands and Sleeping Dogs are both incredible games, and if you play just two or three a year, they are worthy choices.
The CK is working on building up a video game section and this list just gave me a ton of games I have to add to my already increasingly big backlog of stuff. Thank you lol
Haha no problem, glad to be of service!
Excellant List Eric! I mostly agree with you, especially on Borderlands 2, i would say that was game of the year. If i can suggest a list? top ten games your looking forward to in 2013.
Thanks Tony! That’s a great idea for a list. I may have to do just that.
Great list with the majority of top titles of the year on there…but you missed two! “dum dum dum!” Journey and FarCry 3! Those are my #2 and #3 of the year, but my #1 is the same as yours so I guess I’ll keep coming by this site of yours 😀
Haha, well at least Journey made my honorable mentions. 🙂 I still need to play Far Cry 3 — heard nothing but good things about that one.