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Archive: 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007

Current standings:

The Last of Us - 62.5*
Grand Theft Auto V - 29.5*
BioShock Infinite - 9
Super Mario 3D World - 4
Papers, Please - 3
Animal Crossing: New Leaf - 2
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds - 2
Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag - 1
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons - 1
Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen - 1
Gone Home - 1
Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon - 1
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance - 1
Tearaway - 1
Tomb Raider - 1

*Why the half-point? Examiner couldn't make up its mind.

[3DS] Animal Crossing: New Leaf

CESA (Japan)

This game system incorporates a wide array of game elements and lets you enjoy playing at your own pace.In addition, the communication function lets you enjoy interacting with other players. Further, the broad support among players in all age categories also contributed to selection for this award.

Tiny Cartridge

The whole TinyCast team lost hundreds of hours to New Leaf, despite all being lapsed Animal Crossing fans. It’s just that good. And it’s not just that the actual game is that good – though it is, a perfect oasis where there’s always something new to do every day, be it collect outfits, decorate your house, run errands, or visit friends, and it’s all equally optional.

[360][XB1][NWU][PS3][PS4][PC] Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag

GameVerb

[360][PS3][PC] BioShock Infinite

Associated Press

The latest adventure from provocateur Ken Levine asks tough questions about the bloody path of American history. And it doesn't provide easy answers — indeed, the more you learn about its setting, the flying city of Columbia, the loopier it gets. No other game this year bent my brain as much.

CNN

In Elizabeth, "Bioshock Infinite" provided a companion character who made players truly care about what happened to her.

EGM

Rare are the games that leave such a lasting impression on the EGM Crew that, days after completion, we’re still excitedly swapping theories and interpretations about What It All Means. BioShock Infinite is one of those gems. It is, in a word, a total mindfuck. Ken Levine and his team at Irrational Games have not only delivered one of the finest narrative videogame experiences to date, but also a helluva shooter. It is the complete package—no one aspect of BioShock Infinite takes a backseat to the other. And while we recognize there are some legitimate issues to parts of BioShock Infinite that are certainly open to criticism, it remains nothing short of fantastic.

Entertainment Weekly

A city in the sky and a girl in trouble, a damaged hero and a villainous philosopher-prophet, symbolic baptism imagery and symbolic George Washington robots firing symbolic chainguns: The best game of 2013 was a reckless action fantasy, half a decade in the making and so ludicrously ambitious that the word ''infinite'' was right there in the title. Call it delirium noir. Lead designer Ken Levine adopted the structure of his original BioShock, but where the original game was a bleakly cerebral tour through an undersea hell, Infinite was a color-blasted and emotional trip through a vanilla-sky metropolis.

Emphasis on ''trip'': The storyline is a tesseract of quantum-druggy incoherence, with American history refracted through several space-time continua. But the moment-to-moment experience is pleasantly straightforward: Here's a game about building the perfect world, and then burning that world to the ground. BioShock Infinite is a monument of sacred-profane entertainment: Thrill-drunk Bullet Porn about the salvation of the human soul. Infinite? Close enough.

Forbes

For me, personally, that moment when you first walk into the flying city of Columbia and encounter the carnival, the hover-craft with the barber-shop quartet singing Beach Boys songs in entirely the wrong era…I can’t really recall another moment like that in all my years playing video games. That sense of awe. It was almost palpable.

Game Shampoo

BioShock Infinite was one of those rare games that felt more like magic than technology. It captured the eye-opening thrill of exploring new worlds and characters that attracted most of us to gaming in the first place, and did so supported by smooth, arcade-y shooting and scary-good world building. From the characters to the setpieces to the posters on the walls, BioShock Infinite wears the passion and intelligence of its creators on its sleeve.

A game like BioShock Infinite only comes around a few times per generation, and it couldn't have been a more appropriate way to close out the Xbox 360 and PS3's lifecycle.

GAMES Magazine

Anyone expecting a retread of the damp, claustrophobic atmosphere and objectivist critique of the first game is in for a shock from the opening moments. The world of BS Infinite is gloriously bright and colorful. It’s grounded in familiar elements—early 20th century, World's Fair-inspired Americana—with the addition of equal parts steampunk and dystopia. Men in straw boaters, ladies in long dresses, carnival midways, and barbershop quartets—there is color and life everywhere, all seen through a nostalgic haze. In the midst of this, there are rumblings that something is different, from the mechanized men to the disturbing undercurrent of fanaticism and racism, and the very singular fact that the city is floating.

HunGamer (Hungary)

And what has it all, is none other than the one of the biggest gem of Irrational Games, Bioshock Infinite. You may find that we not only won the biggest prize, but other sites approved site is stored on the game. As you can see, the HunGamer important category is more than he collected, so it really is not surprising that overall they have the Bioshock Infinite Game of the Year. And this is what brought us all.

VicioJuegos (Spain)

This year has been very tough. It is what is always said, but this time it is a truth as a temple. Any of the previous four games could have occupied this place of privilege, and if in the end we chose one is because we like living on the edge. Be one agrees or not, the reality is that Bioshock Infinite is an exemplary successor and further proof that Irrational Games, Ken Levine with the front, has no rival when it comes to mixing game and narrative. Elizabeth and Booker are exceptional duo will remember forever and ever, as this stunning city with two faces is Columbia and, above all, the consequences of an ending that has left its mark on us and on the network. Everything fits in Bioshock Infinite, so it is our favorite game of 2013 and one of the greats of his generation.

[360][PS3][PC] Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons

Times Live (South Africa)

In this game every element works together to provide a full experience. There is no real dialogue, only gibberish as you guide two sons on a quest to save their father.

The game isn't perfect by a long shot, but the way all the elements tie together leaves its imperfections adding texture. It is a modern classic.

[360][PS3] Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen

The Gaming Experience

Dragons Dogma Dark Arisen, while technically an expansion, goes above and beyond what it means to be an expansion. While Dragon’s Dogma was already a fantastic game, Dark Arisen added extensive new features and mechanics to the base game, so much so that you could consider Dark Arisen an entirely separate game from the original. Dark Arisen has its own massive adventure to undertake as well as the original adventure with all the improvements provided by Dark Arisen content. Most importantly, it’s fun and a total blast to play. Dragon’s Dogma Dark Arisen is the must have game for us and we proudly honor it with our Game of the Year award.

[PC] Gone Home

Paste Magazine

Will Wright once said, “games are not the right medium to tell stories…videogames are more about story possibilities.” Gone Home challenges such notions, not only by telling a wonderful story but by setting players free in the game world and trusting them to uncover it. By refusing to tell us what to do in the game, it communicates a self-confidence that most games lack. The result is an unforgettable story that’s intensely personal but universally powerful. To play Gone Home is to grow deeply invested in the lives of a family we’ll never know but in which we can all see different aspects of our own families and our own selves.

 

[Cheesemeister]

[360][PS3] Grand Theft Auto V

ABC (Spain)

He came, saw and conquered. It's that simple. The new installment of the franchise garnered a tremendous economic results. More than 1 billion dollars in just three days in stores. Always controversial, "Grand Theft Auto V 'introduced a new player mode, with up to three playable characters.

CNET

Of course this shouldn't be much of a surprise to anyone; GTA V killed it on every single level, creating the fully realized and interactive city of Los Santos that was absolutely brimming with personality and charisma. The game's roller-coaster narrative featured fantastic and believable performances from an incredible cast that rendered some of the most memorable characters in recent years. GTA V successfully created an immersive experience unlike anything I've ever played and it should be enjoyed by gamers of all kinds, of course as long as they're old enough.

Complex

What else can be said about a game that was given a $265 million budget, a six year development window, and cleared $1 billion in its first three days on sale? Rockstar's meticulously crafted world triumphs brilliantly in making players feel like they've discovered a world that existed long before they ever decided to make the trip to Los Santos.

A world inhabited by millions of citizens was already well broken in for the arrival of Trevor, Franklin, and Michael. Where Rockstar truly succeeds (aside from the flawless writing, impeccable voice acting, brilliant missions design, a radio station selection that never misfires, and a combat system that feels wholly realistic) was creating one of the most immersive, and technically precise worlds in the medium.

Computer Bild (Germany)

CraveOnline

Grand Theft Auto games seemingly take forever to develop, but for good reason. After over five years of wait, Rockstar Games delivered what could be argued as best game of the generation in the form of Grand Theft Auto V.

Grand Theft Auto V did just about everything right. Its map was huge and packed with entertainment. Shooting mechanics and driving were cohesive, making the minute-by-minute experience thrilling. Instead of letting you play as just one character, it gave you three very different individuals to switch between.

Edge

Once upon a time, while playing Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, we would lean back and wonder what such a game might look and feel like in the future, its rough edges smoothed out, its ambition explored in more detail. In September this year we found out – and the reality exceeded our daydreams. Given that it’s made up of so many moving parts, Grand Theft Auto V should collapse in on itself the moment you begin messing with it, but instead its countless pieces work in concert like a mesmirising symphony. For its self-belief, its scale, its art, its soundtrack, its three-way character twist, its lightning-cracked skies, its churning waves, its mountain-top parachute leaps and its desperate, bodywork-mangling storm-drain escapes, it is our game of the year.

Eurogamer (Spain)

There are many games that I had fun this year, and although GTA 5 is uniquely placed what impressed me most was not his provocative sense of humor - simple and vulgar, as a rule - and the dynamism they bring their individual actors - despite having fallen head over heels for Trevor, as I have spent many thing that impressed me was the titanic work that Rockstar has performed with Los Santos, the real star of the game:. no more credible, dynamic and alive in the world of video games this scenario, and is what sustains and gives life to all other elements such as gear clock, synchronized to form a unique world, from the fantastic stations until that pedestrian stops to take a photo of your wrongdoing. GTA 5 has an obsession for detail and gets totally organic and credible result while remaining a satirical portrait of the worst vices of modern society. Achieving something has much merit.

Examiner (tie with The Last of Us)

Rockstar once again redefines open-world gaming with their most massive installment. The beautiful scenery and fleshed out world made this a great way to end the generation.

Fearless Gamer

It’s a game that cost somewhere north of $200 million to make, and feels like it. In exchange for $60, it gives you hundreds and hundreds of hours of well-produced content. It feels like nothing was left on the cutting room floor in order to save for a future DLC you’ll be charged for, or to save for the next yearly installment.

Fun & Serious Game Festival (Spain)

Funny Malaysia (Malaysia)

Gamereactor (Italy)

For the umpteenth time, Rockstar Games has managed to prove its greatness, making the gaming experience more interesting year: Grand Theft Auto V. A complex plot, established for the first time in the history of the franchise of three characters, each characterized by a deep and dashed almost Hollywood. An endless open world, rich in detail and to do that we never tire of exploring in cars and transport more diverse. A soundtrack that is addictive, and that the brain drills up to sneak in neurons. Rockstar has managed to seal the end of the previous generation of consoles, reinvented (again) the concept of "sandbox" and giving one of his best performances, but especially by providing for the establishment of a new genus. If GTAV is the masterpiece that Rockstar has managed to achieve in the now "old gen", we are really curious to find out what will be able to accomplish, here recently, the current (new) generation.

GamerSushi

GamerZona (Spain)

Grand Theft Auto V has therefore received the highest award in our section: Award for Best Play of the Year, in recognition of all the years of work invested in its development, as well as other aspects such as the media impact, the expectation created and huge sales, but, above all, the quality that holds in each of its corners, without which there would be no award.

Lazygamer

It might be sexist, it might be bawdy and rambunctious, but dammit, it’s fun – and that’s what games are about.

Machinima Inside Gaming

MeriStation (Spain)

The bar that Rockstar own brand delivery after delivery has again come up with this new release, as it has managed to pass nearby competitors like the previous installment of the GTA saga or acclaimed by both audiences and reviewed Red Dead Redemption. In addition, also sought to recover the freshness of San Andreas, with a huge map and endless activities. Improve the web and how to tell it, to propose new, more varied missions and create a universe for memory. Everything has been known to mix in a delivery that perfectly presents memorable characters. Especially Trevor, an asset that becomes imperative to understand the greatness of Grand Theft Auto V.

The end result is a frame that is a mature and interesting recent work developing and Rockstar, with the mixture of three main characters that makes each brings something different. But not only highlights this narrative level system of several protagonists, but also as playable. We may change any time control of one of the characters, so when we're walking around the huge map available or in the middle of a mission. Michael, Trevor and Franklin perfectly penetrate, and the benefits of missions such as the Great Hits, their preparation, how to deal with elections and execution, are simply brilliant. All with a lot of missions, varied between them, and as many or more secondary and extras that allow us to explore such a large city as full of contrasts.

A quiet title to enjoy each and every one of the details that include, because if something has the title of Rockstar is it's extremely careful at all levels. A game that allows us to enjoy making the goat and expect the unexpected, a soundtrack full of great songs and a sublime interpretation and distribution of voices, great technical finish that pushes the envelope of current generation consoles, such as news and trivia App iFruit or improvements in Rockstar Social Club, overwhelming variety of vehicles and areas to explore (including under the sea) and the feeling that you can do everything. A spectacular single player experience that sum a GTA Online has begun with problems, and that does not reach the expected levels.

Metal Hammer (Germany)

The most expensive game of all time (development costs: more than 260 million U.S. dollars) is in many ways a game of superlatives. The game world is gigantic Los Santos, the characters have sound terrific, the gangsters missions with a tear. And who wants to take it easy, you can make endless discoveries in this lively environment - after some initial teething problems with a character of its own in the online mode. Fantastic!

P3 (Norway)

There was no doubt. The year's best game is Rockstar Games' epic tale of life in the fictional city of Los Santos. Michael, Trevor and Franklin are some of the finest examples of anti-heroes of games, in films or on television. We bow in the dust.

Playday (Norway)

You saw it might be? GTA V wins almost only by offering the best value for money - there is so much gaming to retrieve the input price here. But not only that GTA V's also infinitely entertaining. Los Santos and the surrounding areas is not only huge, it is so amazing realized. There is so much to do here, and everything feels so alive, so thoughtful and so varied. The idea of ​​the three main characters are interesting, and brings a lot of variety also to the main campaign. Trevor has already been a legend. The game's plot dabber maybe a little towards the end, but it is nevertheless a cool story, which takes us through an action-packed and humorous journey, and we continue to play for many hours afterwards thanks to the many solid side missions. And you get the a massive online mode with your purchase, although it has been plagued with a number of childhood diseases. GTA V is easily our favorite of the year, and we look forward to returning to the game after Christmas, when we have time to really enjoy ourselves.

Pocket-lint

Render Mag (Mexico)

Millions and millions of dollars spent perfectly to make the most expensive game in history, one of the best games ever. Create as such a gigantic city that is not easy to fill the city with adventures, characters and fill it with life seemed impossible but Rockstar did it again.

Reno Gazette-Journal

My top gaming pick usually has to satisfy three requirements: great storytelling, addicting game play and plenty of content. “Grand Theft Auto V” delivers that in spades with a gritty tale, three lead characters and a large sandbox with all sorts of crazy stuff to do. Just ask poor Conan O’Brien.

Slant Magazine

It's only been available for roughly three months, but Grand Theft Auto V has already approached Breaking Bad levels of "What else is needed to be said about how amazing this is?" ovation, and rightfully so. Rockstar North has accomplished something no other developer has ever done with such utter faultlessness, crafting an ancillary version of our own modern America, where veracious appetites for virtually every breed of sin or virtue can be brought to life in an authentic, meaningful manner. Michael De Santa, Franklin Clinton, and Trevor Philips are a trio of protagonists for the ages, each of their individual personalities and fully realized stories meshing together to paint a stunningly broad portrait of how the drive to succeed and attain self-worth can be unknowingly coupled with the internal craving to cause mass chaos and destruction. There were so many days this year when I inadvertently responded to the question of "What did you do today?" with a detailed retelling of my latest exploits in San Andreas. This is as possessive a game as has ever been made, bewitching not only in its remarkable design, but in its prodigious capacity to integrate the player into its sublime alternative cosmos without so much as a hint of unwanted turbulence.

Spike

Stuff

Few games arrive with the weight of expectation affixed to Grand Theft Auto 5, but in many ways the final product exceeded them: the map, which encompasses the city of Los Santos and the surrounding area, is immense; as is the level of detail, and the amount of activities on offer. The story does the trick too, with the innovative character-switching feature breathing new life into the franchise – and the extended heist missions are quite simply the most exciting in any GTA title to date. Essential.

Time

It’s as irresistible to play as it is to admire, a super-sized version of the already super-sized Grand Theft Auto IV with the best parts intact and all the impurities leeched out. It’s the most refined game Rockstar’s ever published: the vehicle physics are immaculate and the driving controls are superb; the interface is stripped and clean; the gunplay and tactical cover system are perfected; and the expertly paced missions are honed to a fine, felonious edge.

Tom's Hardware (Italy)

Merit of the crystalline quality of the game from Rockstar, which has managed to create a fascinating story, a spectacular world and an incredibly fun and durable, both in single player mode and in multiplayer online.

Trusted Reviews (UK)

It's probably comes as no surprise that GTA 5 is top of our list of games to play in 2013. We've had to wait over five years for the GTA IV follow-up but in return for our patience we are given Los Santos, the biggest open world to explore by some distance. The intertweaving of storylines from our three main protagonists and the introduction of heist missions also adds a whole new dimension to GTA proceedings. Los Santos is brimming with other activities to entertain yourself, the soundtrack is brilliant, and the humour is firmly in place to make this the standout out game of the year so far.

Xataka (Spain)

 

[Cheesemeister]

[PS3] The Last of Us

ABC Television (Australia)

ALT1040 (Spain)

But the plot of The Last of Us is very personal, emotional and has a shocking end, all it achieves impeccable, full of great moments game, dialogue and voice acting manicured and generally all the elements to be considered game of the year.

Amazon

This is the final argument in the debate over video games as art. The argument against was already pretty thin, but when faced with a game as rich in characterization and pathos as The Last of Us, it vanishes completely. Ellie and Joel are two of the most well-rounded, human characters in modern popular fiction. Both are shaped by a constant existential threat, which is heightened by the game's precarious mechanics and rich, reactive gameplay. The blend of quality cinematic storytelling, a compelling plot and characters, and tight control mechanics clinches The Last of Us the best game of 2013 spot, securing its place in history.

Arcade Sushi

Naughty Dog has once again wowed gamers with another stellar PlayStation 3 exclusive title. The Last of Us' post-apocalyptic tale combines everything compelling about stories like True Grit, The Road, and zombie thrillers, and puts together a package that exemplifies just how strong gaming can be as a narrative medium. It's also incredibly fun to play, too.

Ask Men (Australia)

For us, this was easily the game of the year –- and we’re not alone. The Last Of Us is so consistently stunning it has raised the bar for a video games as a powerful storytelling medium that may transcend any narrative impact to be found in books and movies. The PS4 is already on the market, but this game is that good we would not hesitate to recommend the retroactive purchase of a PS3 just to experience it.

Banana Scoop

There isn’t a more potent emotionally and physically wrecking game out there. After my play sessions, I recall being exhausted from the stress inducing atmosphere that is The Last of Us. I’ve already written an article that goes through the best and worst of The Last of Us, but the tl;dr version is that this game isn’t getting all the buzz it’s getting for nothing. Whether you think it’s the best game ever or overrated, you can’t deny that it’s accomplished such an incredible release during the PS3′s last years of exclusivity before the PS4 wave of games.

BT (UK)

While, admittedly, it occasionally follows familiar ground, The Last of Us is like no other zombie game you’ve played before.

Exploring motifs seldom witnessed in interactive storytelling, The Last of Us portrays a deeply unsettling story of love, loss and survival.

Showcasing what just might be gaming’s most potent voice work – and coupled with outstanding presentation that layers extra depth and texture to this broken world – this masterpiece just might be one of the greatest videogames ever made.

Canada.com (Canada)

Naughty Dog really makes you care about Ellie’s well being in The Last of Us.

The Last of Us is not only my favourite game of the year, but also my favourite game of all time. Yes, I had a better time with The Last of Us than my previous favourite game of all time, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. It’s also important to note I’m a very nostalgic person and hold a strong attachment to the games I enjoyed as a child.

I know saying The Last of Us is my favourite game of all time might sound blasphemous to the hardcore video game crowd, but hear me out.

The Last of Us took everything Naughty Dog learned about narrative/gameplay with the Uncharted series and perfected it. While other video games have certainly made me care about their virtual characters, The Last of Us’ flawless blend of narrative and gameplay, instantly hooked me and held my attention over the course of its 12-16 hour experience.

Cheat Code Central

Naughty Dog continues to impress. After setting the bar pretty high with Uncharted 3 (getting rave reviews), they deliver once again with The Last of Us. This game is probably the closest thing you’ll get to a cinematic experience in gaming to date. The acting, the graphics, and the sound all rolled into one, create a truly memorable and impressive experience. It’s gritty and sometimes dark edge goes the extra mile in earning its mature rating, but brings an overall level of quality that earns its Game of the Year title as well.

Contactmusic

Combining the tropes of every successful game in the past few years – a post-apocalyptic dystopia, eerie, zombie-like enemies, proficient enemy A.I and deep, meaningful characterization – The Last of Us was a production of extreme quality. Top marks were awarded, seeing it become one of the top rated games of all time on Metacritic, and deservedly so.

Contra Costa Times

It may not have the scope of Rockstar North's crime epic, but Naughty Dog's postapocalyptic survival game has more going for it. It's new intellectual property in a world full of sequels. It boasts a better narrative, and the developers coaxed out unforgettable performances from actors Troy Baker and Ashley Johnson. "The Last of Us" is the exact opposite of the blockbuster titles where players are empowered to save the world. It tells the personal story of Joel and Ellie with subtlety and grace, something that most games fail to do.

Destructoid

Naughty Dog has done something rare in the medium and that is tell a mature tell in a mature way. For as raw and grotesque as it is, The Last of Us is an exercise in subtlety and subdued story-telling. The writing is good, but it knows when to shut the dialogue off and continue telling the story in others ways, with affective music or the meticulously crafted homes you work your way through that all tell their own tale.

The Last of Us in some ways represents the height of big budget development. It isn't unfamiliar or arcane, treading in well worn post apocalyptic ruin and third-person action/horror gameplay. It also upsets this familiarity and quietly offers a much deeper, challenging experience for anyone who wants to explore it.

eGamer (South Africa)

The Last Of Us, in the end, lacked in nothing and delivered on all fronts. It was firstly the complete package, offering a very lengthy single player campaign that could very easily entice a second playthrough on its more taxing and ruthless difficulties, as well as a multiplayer mode that offered its own brand of entertainment. More than that, The Last Of Us was a game we played all the way back in June of this year, but it never left our memories or ceased to be incredible, even once the initial “honeymoon” phase wore off. It is arguably Naughty Dog’s finest overall work, proving once again that they are one of the greatest talents of our era right now. Its brutal, challenging and downright awesome gameplay resulted in it winning our award for the Best Action Adventure game of this year, while its brilliantly-written characters and amazing narrative, that was excellently-paced and had a fantastic conclusion, earned it our Best Story award. The Last Of Us was complete. There were very few ways it could have been improved, and it gave us everything we wanted, excelling in all areas and making it extremely difficult to fault it for much at all. There are few praises stronger than that.

entertainment.ie (Ireland)

If you haven't played The Last Of Us yet, stop reading this right now, go out and buy it and lose yourself to one of the best entertainment experiences of the year. Playing as a survivor of a plague that has wiped out most of humanity, and turned some of the rest into sorta-but-not-really-zombies, this is a landmark in gaming. Not just because of the fantastic visuals and sound design, and not just because the gaming mechanics are so perfectly spot on, but because this is the first game that most people will admit made them cry. Yes, that's right, this game will make you cry. It's THAT good.

The Escapist

With expertly-crafted characters, with their humanity on display at all times, The Last of Us told a heartbreaking story from the tragic introduction to the controversial end. Whichever side of the debate you find yourself on, it's hard to argue that the ending of The Last of Us was anything less than poetic, even if it's poetic in the saddest kind of way. It asks - and answers - uncomfortable questions. "What would you do?" It could be argued that Joel's actions in the closing scenes show more character development than some other games' protagonists get throughout their story. Then, there was the musical alternate ending, which is worthy of its own award.

Eurogamer (Denmark)

On the one hand we have the contrast between exploring the crumbling world, find resources and enjoy the energetic dialogue between Joel and Ellie and the sudden, violent fights with the infected, and on the other hand, we have confrontations with the rest of the desperate humanity which is definitely not always friendly to our two main characters. To be fair, there are times when the game evolves into a series of long firefights where you are like so many other games just have to shoot your way, and do not ask questions afterwards, and therefore there will be those who just see it as yet another action game. But there are also times when The Last of Us, through the interaction of its history, its unique technical competence and its solid gameplay obtains a greater whole that makes the outside world melt away and leave the player completely absorbed.

Examiner (tie with Grand Theft Auto V)

The Last of Us has earned its spot in gaming history by featuring one of the singularly best narratives that can be found inside any video game to date. Combined with the top-notch voice acting and animation, Naughty Dog has expertly shown off their ability to tug at a players' emotions in this post-apocalyptic journey.

Eyewave Games

The Fat Website (Australia)

Who would’ve expected that Naughty Dog’s swan song on the Playstation 3 would be a brand new IP called The Last Of Us, a game that explores new ground in video game narratives and starring the unlikely duo of a middle aged man and a teenage girl? When most other companies were sending off the last generation of consoles at their lowest creative ebb (Halo 4, Gears of War: Ascension, Assassin’s Creed IV, and on and on and on&#8230, Naughty Dog delivered one of the best games of the generation which featured compelling characters, a great story and engaging game play. One can only imagine what they will achieve on the Playstation 4.

Fyens (Denmark)

Zombies can be seen everywhere, but no movie or TV series has gripped us as much as this game that unfortunately only available for the PS3. Probably the strongest fusion of film and computer games.

GameInformer

When it came down to it, no game moved the editors at Game Informer nearly as much as the harrowing tale of Joel and Ellie in The Last of Us. From its tragic opening sequence to the open-ended finale, The Last of Us was an emotional roller coaster that moved the bar for narratives in interactive entertainment. We applaud Naughty Dog for its achievement, and can't wait to see what Sony's premiere studio delivers next.

Gamereactor (Denmark)

Narrative-wise, The Last of Us in our opinion, a milestone in gaming history. We have never seen a game that is so consistently hit us right in feeling the clothes, and has portrayed his characters, their thoughts, feelings and reactions to what is going on around them so compelling.

Most important of all. We saw magnificent game moments that were sufficiently subtle to the grabbed and slipped under the skin. We sincerely shuddered several times and felt the fear. We would survive. We enjoyed the simple puzzles, and we loved the cast. We were caught, which we rarely do. Not just to see the end, but to participate and to survive.

Gamereactor (Finland)

Joel and Ellie's post-apocalyptic journey across America is full of interesting twists and turns, which are a continual basis deepen the characters and their relationship to each other and the world around us. Emotions scale is staggering, and the fates of the characters deeply distressing from deep within the soul.

Gamereactor (UK)

GamesRadar

The Last of Us isn't simply the best game of 2013; it's the culmination of what games have been attempting to achieve throughout the entire 7th console generation. Exemplifying and improving upon everything that games have evolved into over the last eight years, it’s a masterpiece of mature, gameplay-driven narrative, stunningly well-realised world-building, and uncompromising but intelligent systemic game design.

The tension created by the fight-for-your-life gameplay works hand in hand with the edge-of-your-seat story, and while The Last of Us is often a stressful game to play, it's also an immensely rewarding one. The narrative constantly thrusts players into dire situations that perfectly illustrate the ugliness of a mankind warped by apocalyptic circumstances. The whole experience is uncomfortably dark, save for the touching bond that forms between Joel and Ellie, two of 2013's most profoundly believable characters. The final product is complete, cohesive, and affecting--it's the pinnacle of intelligent, powerful, artistically-minded gaming in the triple-A sphere.

GameRevolution

Not only is The Last of Us deserving of being call “Game of the Year”, but it quite possibly could be the game of a generation. The writing, the pacing, the dialogue, the world, the characters, and their relationships—everything is as perfect as it can get. When the credits rolled, I didn’t have any questions. I didn’t need to play it again. I had my conclusion, and there it left me—shocked, emotional, and appreciative of the experience that Naughty Dog had created.

GameTrailers

GamingBolt

It’s a relatively shorter ride, but one that you’ll be clinging to, non-stop. It affects us on a level beyond that of gaming, touching the core of one’s humanity.

G3AR (South Africa)

The Last of Us contained so much, and not just little addons or wasteful bits, it added quality to a brilliant end product. The soundtrack mesmerized throughout, ensuring that the tone was always set. The combat was slick and refreshing with a great cover system that really innovated. Scrounging for tools to craft new weapons and medic packs added a tension to a game that was already set in such a tense world. And wow, what a world it was. The immense detail alone meant that at times you could just sit and watch instead of proceeding with a game. It’s a world you would hate to live in, but would love to visit. It’s that special.

Giant Bomb

The core of the game's triumph is the developing relationship between survival companions Joel and Ellie, and the way their motivations change (and sometimes don't change) as they come to rely on and care for one another during a brutal, year-long trek across a savaged United States. The Last of Us relies on its characterizations to move its story forward in a way few games are brave enough to do, and it's fitting that the tale culminates in a way that's thematically appropriate to the characters and the story, and feels like a natural end to the tale. There's no reason The Last of Us needs a sequel, and that's a compliment. As poor as most video game endings are, The Last of Us sticks the landing and makes it look effortless.

That's not to give short shrift to the game's impressive mix of stealth and shooting. Naughty Dog wisely chose not to reprise the death-defying acrobatics of Nathan Drake here, instead restraining and focusing the gameplay on hard-scrabble survival that's more consistent with the tone of the story and the grim reality of life after civilization has broken down. The struggle for resources, for allies, for safety and some small comfort pervades every moment of the grueling journey from Boston across a large swath of the Midwest. Though you gain more tricks in your survival toolkit as the game wears on, you never feel like you're truly safe from whatever horror lurks around the next corner.

Naughty Dog has proven itself with cartoonish action and theatrical thrill rides in the past, but it was a pleasure to watch their first effort at deeper, more meaningful work. They made an instant classic.

GuySpeed

This is a video game set in a world where neck shanking is a daily activity. This is a game where you are just as likely to be killed by psychotic looters as you are to be killed by post-apocalyptic fungus zombies. This is a game in which you probably aren’t a good person, and that’s the point. It combines a phenomenally emotional story with tight stealth and shooting controls.

HardcoreGamer

It was clear upon release and even more so six months later how important of an achievement The Last of Us is for the medium. It’s not the deepest story to ever grace a game, but it’s one of the most realistic and perfectly paced ones we’ve experienced in one. Thanks to its mature manner, it’s one of the few video game stories that could truly be adapted into a film and preserve its integrity. It doesn’t succumb to convoluted, branching plotlines or crucial story elements told through side stories or item pickups, but instead presents everything in a single perfectly unfolded story. Better yet, Nauighty Dog resisted implementing any larger than life boss battles with a clicker as tall as a skyscraper — with one of the most memorable “boss battles” simply seeing Joel face of against another man. Most importantly, however, The Last of Us proved how far video games have evolved and gave hope for where the medium would go — and managed to do so on seven year old hardware.

Hobby Consolas (Spain)

Huffington Post (Canada)

Games have long aspired to be respected as art, or at least as much as cinema, but their biggest hurdle has always been narrative. Well, that achievement has been unlocked with this unexpected epic from the folks behind the fun but far less-ambitious "Uncharted" games. "TLOS" takes place in a post-apocalyptic future where humanity has essentially been turned into zombies (they're actually infected by a mutated fungus) with most of the survivors turning out to be even worse. As a father who lost his daughter in the chaos and became a gun-runner, you must regain your own humanity by helping escort a young girl across a ravaged America to a resistance group that may be able to use her to create a vaccine. While there's plenty of combat on hand, it's the sharp writing, impressive acting (both voice and motion-capture), organic art direction and bleak storytelling that set this game above its peers and earned its ream of near-perfect reviews.

 

[Cheesemeister]

IBTimes

Zombie apocalypses are so in right now. Developed by Naughty Dog and released this past June, “The Last of Us” tells the story of Joel and Ellie, two survivors navigating the post-apocalyptic United States in 2033. Players control Joel, whose objective is to escort Ellie, a 14 year-old orphan, across a desolate future landscape. His goal is to reach a resistance group that believes that Ellie may be the key to stopping a zombie-like infection that has taken over the world. The duo takes on ravenous zombies and hostile humans while using firearms and stealth. Shown from a third person perspective, the game involves both gunplay and melee combat – while also allowing players to control Ellie sporadically during the second half of the game. Praised for its voice acting, art direction, sound design and writing, the action adventure title makes survival horror pretty freakin’ fun, allowing gamers to be drawn into the plot, the characters, the goals of the game and the storyline.

IGN

While it's the emotional arc and human relationships that make The Last of Us exceptional, it also has a tremendously engaging game design. Whether you're stealthily sneaking from room to room, trying desperately to avoid being heard by cordyceps, or frantically shooting at the human bandits trying to flank you and Ellie, each encounter in The Last of Us is a tense and terrifying affair. There's enough time or space or tools to do the things you need to do, so you constantly feel like you're scrounging to make the most of every second, even inch, and every bullet that you're given.

Impacto (Mexico)

And the much acclaimed first place is taken by the video game, The Last of Us, is very personal, emotional and has a shocking end, all this does make it a pleasant, full of great moments game, dialogue and voice acting very care and in general all the elements to be considered the game of the year.

Inquisitr

IT News Africa (South Africa)

There has been many post-apocalyptic video games this year, and it almost seems as if the genre has been revitalised with new gusto – which is a good thing, as Naughty Dog’s title taught us that there is actually only one contender for the post-apocalyptic crown. The Last of Us is a carefully-crafted and beautifully curated masterpiece that encompasses pretty much everything that an excellent game should: stunningly beautiful graphics, a plot that would make for an excellent film, enemies that will scare and frighten the pants off anyone, and character development that is worthy of an Oscar.

Joystiq

So much has been written about the touching, convincing relationship between Joel and Ellie – which is Naughty Dog's greatest character writing to date – that it's easy to forget The Last of Us is fun, albeit in a peculiar way. It's essentially a challenging stealth game, stripped of gadgets and GPS overlays and the very world, until you're just a man, crouching behind detritus with a brick in his hand and a lump in his throat. The savagery of Joel beating a rival to death is unflinchingly portrayed – as most video game violence it – but it feels earned not just by you, a scrappy player squeezing every last option from the environment, but by The Last of Us as a piece of storytelling. There are many violent games, but few are about violence, and even fewer make you doubt and detest your success.

Kotaku

The Last of Us didn't fall short. It accomplished precisely what its creators set out to accomplish. It was about love and companionship in the face of a world-turned-nightmare. It was about the horror of survival, and about the gnawing fear that accompanies scarcity. It was about loss and coping, about why we choose to continue living when all hope is lost. It will remain a noteworthy accomplishment for years to come, not because any one of its accomplishments was all that remarkable on its own, but because together they made it seem possible that blockbuster games this good might one day become regular—though never ordinary—occurrences.

KSalue

The Ledger

It was a game about nightmarish creatures and savage humans roaming a post-pandemic America, and the vital journey of two survivors named Joel and Ellie. As a horror experience “The Last of Us” felt uniquely raw and real. The vivid settings and complex characters were a notch above anything else in the genre.

Yes, “The Last of Us” was about gruesome fungus monsters, but it also was a tale about flawed people and the desperate things they do when their lives are at stake — a theme that played out to the shocking end. A brilliant and haunting game.

Leviathyn

An apocalyptic tour de force in the same vein as books like The Road, The Last of Us presents us with a grim reality that is remedied by the tender emotions shared between the most unlikely of people brought together out of circumstance. The characters of Joel and Ellie are some of the best developed we’ve seen in a video game, and experiencing their troubles in the world was a fantastic and engaging experience not likely to be replicated any time soon, making it our top pick for game of the year.

Mashable

What is truly amazing about The Last of Us is the paternal relationship that reluctantly blooms between Joel and Ellie. Joel has been irrevocably changed by the spread of a deadly fungus that turns humans into zombie-like monsters. Ellie, at 13, has never known a world before monsters and government quarantine. These aren't one-dimensional puppets created just to pull your heartstrings; these characters have histories and back stories we slowly uncover through their casual conversations during the game.

Midland Reporter-Telegram

“The Last of Us” provides one of the best gaming duos ever with Joel and Ellie. As Joel transports Ellie to another city in a zombie-infested apocalypse in hopes of finding a cure, the two form a strong bond that is incredibly told in this year’s best game. The gameplay is solid, providing realistic shooting mechanics and gruesome stealth and melee combat.

But like “Bioshock: Infinite,” the game’s true gem is the story, which will pull at your heartstrings and make grown men cry. The game’s prologue will break your heart. The game’s epilogue may leave you scratching your head. But no other game this year captured the human instinct to keep fighting in a hopeless world.

Mirror (UK)

If you still haven’t got round to playing Naughty Dog’s post-apocalyptic adventure then make sure it’s at the top of your Xmas list.

Everything from the superbly atmospheric visuals and setting down to the stunning script and character development contribute to an emotional journey that ranks among one of the very best games ever made.

MTV

Take one part zombie apocalypse, a dash of character development, broil it with emotion, and serve on a bed of Holy F*** and you might get a taste of what Naughty Dog has served up with "The Last of Us." Charged with a story that equally chokes and embraces, you'll trace the steps in the yearlong journey of main characters Joel and Ellie as they learn about themselves and find life among a dead land. "Last of Us" features brutal firefights, gorgeous graphics, and one hell of a memorable story. If there's one game you should play this year, it's this.

The New Zealand Herald (New Zealand)

Yes, it had zombies - but The Last of Us is not about those scary violent mutants known as Clickers. It's about the sweet but sick relationship between Joel, a silent and violent hardman, and Ellie, a 14-year-old girl; both living in post-apocalyptic times. Joel's job was to smuggle Ellie - who may hold the key to a zombie cure - to a group of vigilantes known as the Fireflies, but over time the pair developed a father-daughter relationship that sucked gamers in until those shocking final scenes.

The Last of Us comes with a brutal twist that upends everything you thought you knew about the game, (and sparked a Sopranos-style debate over its worthiness). For a big budget game available on just one platform it was a huge risk - and it totally worked.

Penny-Arcade

For Being Beautiful, And Fun, And Sad, And True

PlayStation Universe

Naughty Dog’s post-apocalyptic adventure was always going to be a show-stopper, and it did not disappoint. Featuring unequivocally some of the most impressive graphics seen to date on the PS3, The Last of Us not only looks the business, but it plays spectacularly too. The gameplay is punctuated by slower, atmospheric segments and action-packed gun battles as Joel and Ellie attempt to survive across the fungal-ravaged United States, fighting off infected foes and human adversaries. The gritty storyline is the very antithesis of Uncharted’s more humorous proceedings, featuring a superb cast of characters and hard-hitting dialogue. If the cinematic campaign isn’t enough to satisfy you, then the game’s multiplayer is also worth a shot, featuring plenty of strategy as teams of survivors fight for valuable consumables and safe houses amidst the dilapidated cities.

Redactia 4 Fun (Romania)

Zombie, Zombie, Zombie. The story of Joel and Ellie's survival in a world overrun by zombies. The player controls the Joel and mission is to lead Ellie, an orphan of 14 years to a group that knows how to stop the zombie invasion with the help of Ellie. The action is happening in America in 2033, graphics are extremely realistic and appealing.

The Roosevelts

Zombies more or less pervade contemporary popular culture. Correspondingly, the lines between video games and film are constantly becoming blurred. Enter 2013’s crowning video game achievement: The Last of Us.

A visceral achievement in the sense of story and the portrayal of human emotion, The Last of Us takes a more realistic cue from Telltale’s The Walking Dead—incorporating sweeping destroyed landscapes and a political subplot rarely seen in stories of the zombified persuasion. Hence, it gave a largely needed fresh perspective on an otherwise overdone genre.

Space (Canada)

SquabbleBox (UK)

You can say predictable, I can say inevitable. Nothing was more appropriate than defining the PlayStation 3 with an incredibly solid video game developed by the company that shines the brightest on the console. Naughty Dog leaves a lasting impression on Sony’s third home console with one of the most consistent video games I’ve played this year, and my pick for the game of 2013. An action/survival horror title that is an emotional and thought-provoking tale about loss and hope, The Last of Us pulls no punches when it comes to its storytelling. It’s harsh, unflinching, and at times very disturbing. While it isn’t a scary game, the whole focus is how a journey through a desolate, danger-filled wasteland affects two opposite souls, from their outlook on life to their relationship with one another. Thanks to Troy Baker and Ashley Johnson’s impeccable acting – some of the finest I’ve ever seen in a video game – it is easy to get behind Joel and Ellie as we follow their struggle to deliver a cure for the outbreak. In terms of gameplay, its a reasonably balanced mixture of action, stealth, and survival. It does take some time getting used to, especially with a fidgety melee system, but it flows well whenever you are fighting enemies or sneaking past them, and it is always satisfying whenever you kill the last enemy or sneak past without getting noticed. While it isn’t the best-looking PS3 game (Beyond: Two Souls takes that award), it is still one of the most graphically impressive games on the system. Environments are meticulously designed, and the character animations are near realistic. If you have a PlayStation 3 and you still don’t have this game, I implore you to give it a try.

TechCentral (South Africa)

Having set the bar for cinematic storytelling and visual wizardry in the current console generation with the PS3-exclusive Uncharted series, Sony’s godlike Naughty Dog studio this year reinvented the survival horror game with The Last of Us. Borrowing more from Cormac McCathy’s novel The Road than from Resident Evil, The Last of Us is crammed with unforgettable characters and encounters. The stealth and resource management mechanics are robust, but it is the delicate characterisation of player character Joel and his surrogate daughter Ellie as well as its subtle and believable world that set the game apart from your average zombie thriller.

TechTudo (Brazil)

The Telegraph (UK)

Naughty Dog’s apocalyptic road trip has rightly won plaudits for its cinematic and narrative qualities, with terrific visual direction, writing and performances from its central pairing of Joel and Ellie. But rather than the filmic influence being a crutch, The Last of Us excels at building connection through interaction. Its unglamorous presentation of violence depicts a brutal world and, at times, The Last of Us can be gruelling and uncompromising. A brave sense of focus that stands at odds with anyone that expected an Uncharted re-skin. It is not immune to blockbuster excess, but is one of the smartest, most affecting big budget video games ever made.

Tom's Guide

A fungal infection has turned most of humanity into mindless monsters in "The Last of Us," a PlayStation 3 exclusive from Naughty Dog. You'll play as a middle-aged man named Joel tasked with escorting Ellie, a plucky young girl who may hold the secret to a cure, across the ruins of the United States. Gritty combat and stealth, breathtaking visuals, and haunting performances by Troy Baker (also of "Bioshock Infinite") as Joel and by Ashley Johnson as Ellie make "The Last of Us" a game that will stay with you long after 2013 ends.

VentureBeat

It’s here we meet Joel and Ellie, two stubborn characters (one a veteran killer, the other a teenage girl) who quickly learn that they need each other to survive. Combat is intense and brutal, with many 1-on-1 encounters ending with either crushed skulls or a swift stab to the neck with a shard of glass. And just when the game starts to feel a bit slow and mundane, Naughty Dog resets the rules with an amazing third act that doesn’t let up until the credits roll.

VGTV (Norway)

VideoGamer (UK)

It's an action game at heart, of course, and there is the usual array of guns, explosions and combat to sate anyone with a bloodlust. But it's the moments in between the combat that mark it out (indeed, the game could have comfortably lost a couple of hours of firefights and been better off for it.): a feeling of hopelessness and despair that's not usually found in third-person shooters (usually because certain devs think that 'growing a beard' is as emotional as games get).

Like its protagonists, however, you'll drive on despite the odds, even when in the back of your mind – and in front of your gun barrel – you know all hope is probably lost. It's a shooting game where shooting is never really plan A, a zombie apocalypse without the fun, and a game where you'll actually care about the people around you, and not just because they've got the health packs.

Yahoo!

By the time we finished our 2013 Game of the Year, we were emotionally exhausted. Tense, moving, and thrilling, The Last of Us manages to find beauty in the bleakest of worlds. It’s a gritty survival game that plays with the very notion of survival: how far will you go to save those you love? How can you save humanity if you don’t act humanely? Buoyed by developer Naughty Dog’s genius scripting and bolstered by the phenomenal acting of Troy Baker and Ashley Johnson, The Last of Us is more than the sum of its parts. It’s a moment, an instant classic, and the most important video game released in 2013.

 

[Cheesemeister]

[3DS] The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds

GameSpot

A Link Between Worlds is a stunning masterpiece that's so consistently rewarding, so unexpected, and so gosh darn fun that even thinking of it makes us giddy all over again.

Polygon

[3DS] Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon

Kotaku (Australia)

No game in 2013 placed a higher premium on detail. No game felt more tactile and malleable. No game felt more polished. Luigi’s Mansion 2 was a masterclass in simple thing done correctly; in difficult things made simple. Moving around and existing in Luigi’s Mansion 2 was an experience. Every curtain fluttered, every piece of furniture rattled and — at the centre of it all — the Poltergust, a brilliant designed weapon that allowed you to interact with almost every item in that world. There was a real sense of internal logic in Luigi’s Mansion 2 and it was good to the last pixel.

[PS3] Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance

Kontraband

We played this at the start of the year, and there was absolutely nothing else that was going to top it. Metal Gear Rising was absolutely astounding, especially considering its chequered development history. It had everything we look for in a game. It was bonkers, fast, silly, had a butt rock heavy metal soundtrack and was absolutely batshit violent, as you took control of cyborg Raiden and decimated everything in your path. Screw ‘deep stories’ and sophisticated narrative. Give us a sword and a bunch of enemies to chop to bits and we’re happy.

[PC] Papers, Please

ars technica

The game's mechanics, divorced from its plot, is akin to a casual puzzler—almost like Minesweeper, except human lives replace the flags and mines. Your challenge revolves around finding differences and errors in documents while manning a passport inspection station. This impactful twist on the "hidden picture" genre ramps up beautifully as the game progresses, with enough rule changes to keep the boat rocking smoothly and force things from becoming too rote.

But the gameplay in Papers, Please doesn't exist in a vacuum; your role, as the guardian of an oppressive regime's border patrol, impacts the narrative in important ways. On the surface level, how you play eventually feeds one of a variety of endings, from failure to compliance to revolution. On an emotional level, the game's disheveled citizens (and the status of your own, unseen family) respond to you, the gatekeeper, in ways that are meant to make you feel bad for excelling at the gameplay or making certain moral choices.

You cannot reach the game's end without destroying a few lives—without taking an active role in at least one type of downfall—upending the usual good-guy-bad-guy dynamic in a way that other, more passive art forms just can’t match. And it’s all tucked into a truly playable, addictive game that makes critical darlings like Spec Ops: The Line look like Call of Duty in comparison. Do not leave the year 2013 without having your gaming passport stamped by Papers, Please.

The New Yorker

Your choices have narrative consequences: Will you deny a mother from seeing her son simply because her entry document expired a few days ago? Allow her through, and the newspapers will report that immigrants are beginning to take local jobs. Grim yet affecting, it’s a game that may change your attitude the next time you’re in line at the airport.

Wired

On the surface, Papers, Please is a story about totalitarian government, but where it really has the potential to change the way you live your life is in how you react the next time you encounter a surly DMV clerk or humorless TSA agent. You may hate them, but rest assured that they hate you more because you're just one more opportunity for them to screw up and be responsible for a disaster. Never has a soul-crushing job been so enlightening.

[NWU] Super Mario 3D World

Digital Spy (UK)

Like 3D Land on the 3DS before it, Super Mario 3D World is a must have for existing Wii U owners and enough for anyone on the fence to make the plunge.

Similarly, while it isn't a strong case for the Wii U's unique features, that doesn't make it anything less special. It's platforming perfection, brimming with clever ideas and flawless execution.

Eurogamer (UK)

I must confess that I had little excitement for 3D World going in. It looked fun, but a bit samey and uninteresting. I've played 3D Mario before, many times. After two gravity-defying outer space adventures, coming back to earth - or the Mushroom Kingdom - looked rote. Then I got a cat suit and all bets were off.

"Look at the pawprints!" I exclaimed to my co-op partner. We both laughed out loud the first time cat Mario ran out of energy midway through a climb and would scratch the walls as he slid down in defeat. The surprises didn't end there. Monochromatic shadow levels, puppet theatres, multiplying Marios! This was all new. The icons and genre are as familiar as they come, but the way they're utilised makes the first hour of 3D World more fresh and exciting than most games manage in 10 times that.

MSN (UK)

Each one of Super Mario 3D World’s generous stages is packed with gleefully inventive surprises, with enough superbly realised one-shot ideas to fill a dozen other titles. There are portable piranha plants, ice skating Goombas, side-on stages shown in nothing but silhouette, ghost-popping lantern hats, getaway goal poles, surfing dinosaurs, brilliant boss fights, even an entire level themed around Super Mario Kart. It’s a breathlessly creative dash and hop through countless fiendishly designed stages that show Nintendo at the very top of its game - and that’s even before you factor in Super Mario 3D World’s ultimate triumph. We’ve had Mario multiplayer before, of course, but never in 3D form - and its inclusion here is spectacular. With Mario, Luigi, Peach and Toad on the playing field, the game becomes a dazzling, chaotic tug of war, sometimes cooperative, often competitive - but always hilarious. Super Mario 3D World is a true masterpiece of design and, with its unabashed focus on pure, unadulterated fun, is easily our game of 2013.

Nintendo Life

It'll perhaps go down as one of the strangest progressions for a game — its E3 reveal was slightly underwhelming, early preview builds were fun but relatively safe, before Nintendo unleashed a wave of reveals, new footage and exciting preview builds that suddenly changed the message. It was critically acclaimed but, far more importantly, seems to have created plenty of joy for Wii U owners that have taken the plunge.

[PSV] Tearaway

JoyPad.dk (Denmark)

Tearaway is the proof that games do not always need expensive voice actors, pistols, wild action scenes and other things that we are used to in the game today, creativity and skilled programmers is enough to deliver a game that outshines most others. Tearaway is simply pure joy of playing compressed down to a size you can take with you anywhere.

[360][PS3][PC] Tomb Raider

Clickonline

Tomb Raider seems an unlikely contender for the hotspot. But on closer analysis, there could be none other! Lara’s origin acts as the definitive blueprint of Triple A gaming - Open levels. Linear tales. Collectables. Upgrades. Progression. Spectacle. Drama. CHOICE. And each element seamlessly coupled by a wonderfully realized young heroine.

 

[Cheesemeister]

.

 

[Cheesemeister]

.

 

[Tokyo Rain]

Post #8 is reserved.

 

[Markitron]

Will be close between GTA and TLOU. My pick would be Bioshock Infinite

Thats right GAF, I think its just as good as the media hype/reviews made it out to be, come and get me!

 

[darkside31337]

One of the more interesting years for this stuff as there really isnt a clear cut favorite (although TLOU is by far mine personally and should be the clear cut favorite etc).

Would imagine its generally split between GTA5, TLOU and 3D World.

 

[Majestad]

GTAV is gonna dominate this.

 

[Jibbed]

Post #13 is mine and mine alone.

 

[Slixshot]

Post #8 is reserved.

lol

 

[Derrick01]

GTAV is gonna dominate this.

Hopefully. I have my doubts though and I can't get an accurate gauge of how the media's going to react this year.

 

[Santiako]

Post 16 is for sale, I take PayPal.

 

[GiantEnemyGoomba]

Super Mario 3D World has this easy



;_;

 

[Ikuu]

Dota 2 was easily the best game released this year, I'd be surprised if it won a single award.

 

[Nirolak]

Hopefully. I have my doubts though and I can't get an accurate gauge of how the media's going to react this year.

My personal expectation is:

1.) GTA V
2.) TLOU
3.) Either BioShock or Mario. I think BioShock would win more given how the media votes, except that GTA V and TLOU would take away a lot of votes from the types of people who would vote BioShock.

 

[Uno Venova]

Go TLOU.

 

[Dysun]

When is GAF doing our official voting for GOTY

 

[Santiako]

When is GAF doing our official voting for GOTY

Early January I think.

 

[Cheesemeister]

When is GAF doing our official voting for GOTY

It'll start in just a few days.

 

[elostyle]

I totally appreciate the Luigi's Mansion pick.

 

[Majestad]

Year of Luigi motherfuckers!

 

[btkadams]

Luigi's Mansion? Bizarre. I can think of a few 2013 3DS games that were much better IMO. It's nice to see a pick that isn't so obvious though (TLOU, GTA5, SM3DW).

 

[Kopite]

Dota 2 was easily the best game released this year, I'd be surprised if it won a single award.

Not when most of the media have been playing it for ages before the official release.

 

[ohlawd]

It'll start in just a few days.

ahh shit I haven't started writing.

 

[aScaris]

Year of Luigi motherfuckers!

Luigis Mansion 2 literally saved my sanity while writing my master's thesis earlier this year Dunno if GOTY-worthy though, it was such a great gaming year..

 

[ashecitism]

Dota 2 was easily the best game released this year, I'd be surprised if it won a single award.

I wonder if any press will have the "balls" to pick it. As for official awards I can see it at maybe being nominated at GDC, since apparently a lot of devs are into it.

edit: thinking about maybe Brad will carry it to win GB GOTY :lol

 

[WatTsu]

"The Last of Us isn't simply the best game of 2013; it's the culmination of what games have been attempting to achieve throughout the entire 7th console generation."

That's...that's the problem.

 

[Wynnebeck]

Damn you Cheesemeister! I was going to make the thread today, but got caught up in watching Man of Steel lol.

 

[Gorillaz]

It just hit me, Ign hasn't even done their end of the year hype up of montages of GOTY contenders. Crazy late

 

[Derrick01]

My personal expectation is:

1.) GTA V
2.) TLOU
3.) Either BioShock or Mario. I think BioShock would win more given how the media votes, except that GTA V and TLOU would take away a lot of votes from the types of people who would vote BioShock.

I think mario will lock 3 down from the nintendo sources alone and like you said everyone will be fighting over GTA and TLoU.

It'll start in just a few days.

Ah christ I really need to get back to Zelda and Fire Emblem.

edit: Luigi's Mansion won? I'm only on the 2nd mansion but it's really not impressive or very fun.

 

[ViewtifulJC]

It just hit me, Ign hasn't even done their end of the year hype up of montages of GOTY contenders. Crazy late

Waiting to see which paycheck clears first

 

[Radec]

here we go!

 

[NotTheGuyYouKill]

GTA V all the way, I bet.

 

[Dion Blaster]

I hope GTA V and Mario 3DW get most of the picks. Pure fun.

 

[gastricacid]

GTA V or Super Mario 3d world please.

 

[Loakum]

The Last of Us is simply the BEST Video Game of 2013

 

[ohlawd]

I think mario will lock 3 down from the nintendo sources alone and like you said everyone will be fighting over GTA and TLoU.



Ah christ I really need to get back to Zelda and Fire Emblem.

There shouldn't be any rush. If this year's is like last year's, you have until the middle of January to post your shit.

 

[Gilby]

Towerfall deserves to win every single multiplayer GOTY award.


Too bad it probably won't win any

 

[Wynnebeck]

I hope The Last of Us wins it all. GTAV was a good game, but I feel it was more like San Andreas 2 then a true next step for the series.

 

[pretty done]

I wonder if Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate will win any

 

[K.Sabot]

Dota 2. Mechanically superior game. Ground breaking community involvement and inclusion into the process of monetization, the grassroots funding of tournaments, and has even gone on to effect other games such as CS:GO (and in many ways has helped revive it as a competitive sport).

But of course, it demands too much of the contingent of people who give these awards, so I expect no awards for it. With that in mind, I give it some props here.

 

[fuzzyreactor]

TLoU or Tearaway please

I love Mario World and GTAV but they just felt like more of the same. The two games above are fantastic and fresh experiences

 

[AgentP]

TLoU should win, but GTAV is so much bigger and R* has a grip on the media. Tearaway deserve a few nods, but I don't expect a handheld to get any attention.

 

[MRORANGE]

I wish:

Winnie The Pooh Home Run Derby.

 

[Santiako]

I wonder if Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate will win any

It will win mine

 

[opticalmace]

2013 releases in case you've forgotten: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_in_video_gaming

 

[braves01]

I'm conflicted: Zelda ALBW is the best game out this year imo, but it it borrows so heavily ALTTP that I'm not sure it should win goty.