The Top 10 Games from 2013 That We‘re Still Playing
It‘s hard to believe an entire decade has passed since 2013, which proved to be a landmark year for gaming that still holds up beautifully. As the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 era drew to an epic close, developers were expertly harnessing every last ounce of power from these aging consoles. This pushed visuals, scale and ambition further than ever to deliver countless instant classics whose gameplay and visuals have aged gracefully.
Remarkably, many of these titles continue seeing ongoing support years later thanks to enduring popularity. Let‘s revisit 10 of 2013’s very best games that retain devoted followings today.
Grand Theft Auto V
Grand Theft Auto V’s sprawling satirical sandbox has kept fans obsessed for nearly a decade. Exploring its vast open world across land, air and sea grants unparalleled freedom. Amidst the mayhem, Rockstar’s signature storytelling shines brighter than ever. Shifting between three distinct protagonists as their stories dramatically intertwine throughout this epic crime caper makes it Rockstar’s richest narrative to date.
Its industry-leading production values were jaw-dropping at release and remain mightily impressive played on modern hardware at 4K resolution and 60 frames per second. With Rockstar continuing to support GTA Online dating back to 2013, GTA V retains a vibrant community to this day.
The Last of Us
Few games have achieved the cinematic heights of The Last of Us’ emotionally gut-wrenching story. Set in a post-apocalyptic America decimated by a Cordyceps brain infection outbreak, players experienced the life-changing bond forged between Joel and Elliet as they braved a nightmarish coast-to-coast journey brimming with heartache.
Its masterclass in storytelling resonated profoundly thanks to incredible acting and directing that rivaled Hollywood’s best. Complemented by meticulously detailed environments and white-knuckle survival horror action sequences, The Last of Us raised the bar for narrative excellence in gaming while boasting utterly breathtaking visuals that hold up beautifully nearly a decade later.
BioShock Infinite
Irrational Games’ swirling tale of interdimensional chaos in the cloud city of Columbia redefined merging narrative ambition with blockbuster action in first-person shooters. Booker DeWitt’s reality-shattering quest to rescue Elizabeth from her oppressive lifelong confinement is packed with more mind-bending twists and revelations than most games contain from start to finish.
Infinite’s pioneering use of tearing open tears in reality dripfeeds inventive gameplay powers and weapons systems to produce blockbuster combat encounters punctuated by stark emotional gut punches. From soaring high above its majestic steampunk cityscape aboard its labyrinthine rollercoaster skylines to unleashing dark sorcery amidst neon-bathed battles, Infinite was a true next-gen marvel in 2013 that’s only become more visually striking with modern hardware.
Super Mario 3D World
Super Mario 3D World polished Nintendo’s 3D platforming formula to perfection with wonderfully creative level designs bursting with vibrant colors. Its charming world brims with ideas blazing across distinct landscapes connected by a maritime overworld dotted with hidden collectibles.
Transforming into a cat temporarily opens up new platforming possibilities through wall climbing and pouncing maneuvers adding to the whimsical fun. Local 4-player co-op multiplying the madness is a total riot. Nearly a decade later, it remains the pinnacle of 3D Mario greatness before Odyssey expanded scope further on Nintendo Switch.
Assassin‘s Creed IV: Black Flag
Ubisoft achieved the impossible delivering its most purely enjoyable Assassin’s Creed adventure alongside the best pirate fantasy ever imagined. Seamlessly transitioning between unspeakably beautiful Caribbean islands and the boundless azure ocean was an incredible technical feat in 2013 that holds up brilliantly nearly 10 years later.
Sailing the high seas with Kenway and his crew while plundering ships and uncovering lost treasure between assassinations onshore perfectly balanced this epic adventure. Black Flag‘s dynamic naval combat mechanics have arguably still never been bested. For both longtime series fans and newcomers, Black Flag marked the peak of Assassin’s Creed’s seafaring swashbuckling era.
Pikmin 3
Nintendo’s criminally underappreciated Pikmin franchise hit magnificent new heights with its lush Wii U debut. Pikmin 3’s profoundly charming world is overflowing with clever environmental puzzles woven into expansive nature-drenched alien vistas. Its strategic action revolves around commanding various Pikmin breeds to overwhelm enemies, haul precious fruit and recover essential spacecraft upgrades strewn about environments.
With limited time across days to accomplish key tasks before deadly nocturnal predators emerge, progress demands efficiently managing Pikmin squads. Local co-op makes conquering its world easier while boosting the delightful fun. Nearly a decade later, its luscious landscapes filled with adorable creatures still present an irresistible adventure worth revisiting.
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
A Link Between Worlds transported loyal fans back to SNES golden-era Zelda glory with a nostalgic classic top-down perspective paired with gorgeous stereoscopic 3D. Yet innovative new mechanics like renting essential items early on greatly improved flexibility for freely tackling dungeons. Link’s brilliant dimensional shifting between worlds added wonderfully inventive puzzles accentuating its incredibly refined gameplay.
Despite a backwards glance at franchise foundations, its brilliantly remixed overworld flooded with secrets cemented A Link Between World’s status as an all-time great Zelda entry. From its beautifully orchestrated score to upgrade permitting strengthened weapons, everything exuded premium polish expected from Nintendo’s action-adventure masterpiece factory.
Pokemon X and Y
Game Freak propelled Pokemon into a contemporary online 3D wonderland with X and Y’s 3DS breakthrough debut. Running about Lumiose City’s grand Parisian metropolis dawning the next evolution of RPG excellence while bonding with a lovable Froakie proved this was the bold new direction fans craved. Expanded online connectivity finally enabled seamless multiplayer battles and trading to unite the community like never before.
Mega Evolutions temporarily unlocking new forms mid-fight added thrilling new combat dynamics that upped the competitive stakes. While franchise hallmarks like gym battles remained at the core, everything from visuals to progression saw meaningful modernizations cementing Pokemon as a 21st century phenomenon.
Rayman Legends
Rayman Legends perfected Ubisoft’s limbless hero‘s sidescrolling platforming escapades with ingenious level designs bursting with loving artistic detail. Beyond precisely tuned running and jumping antics, many stages open up entirely new gameplay avenues from rhythm violence timed to musical cues to circular scrolling chase sequences.
Solo quests to rescue kidnapped fairies save it from growing stale, but rampaging through vibrant worlds with up to 4 player local co-op is when Legends truly shines as bright as the glowing collectibles players heartwarmingly applaud friends towards at level’s end today just as they did in 2013. Its lush cartoon aesthetic bursting with magical sparkles remains timelessly beautiful.
Beyond: Two Souls
Beyond: Two Souls’ paranormal drama marked a watershed moment advancing interactive cinematic storytelling through remarkable performances from Ellen Page and Willem Dafoe. Shifting between breathtaking set pieces and emotionally charged drama segments as Jodi across disjointed stages of her life sometimes feels more like watching prestige television than playing a game.
Guiding wayward souls alongside her supernatural spirit companion proved equally compelling thanks to their strikingly conveyed bond realized through Quantic Dream’s uncannily lifelike motion capture mastery. Its daring experiments pushing gaming’s narrative limits set the stage for more expansive choice-driven adventures today even without matching its celebrity star power.
Stay Tuned for More Lasting Memories
Revisiting these 10 supremely crafted games that first released in 2013 reveals how much heart and ingenuity developers invested during the preceding generation’s climax. We can only hope 2023 sees titles as lovingly built to similarly endure another full decade. Until then, these classics should thoroughly satisfy your gaming cravings and make waiting for true next-gen greatness more bearable.
