/ 19 December 2013

Best of 2013: Games

Grand Theft Auto V.
Grand Theft Auto V.

CRITICS' CHOICE: Ines Schumacher & Ben Kelly

1. GRAND THEFT AUTO V (PS3, Xbox 360) 

Everything we hoped for and more. The latest instalment of GTA offers the best open-world experience to date and introduces the first true example of multiplayer. This title has the dubious honour of causing a case of strained eyeballs in one of our more obsessive critics.

2. BIOSHOCK INFINITE (PC, Mac, PS3, Xbox 360) 

This title walked away with more than a few awards this year and for good reason. BioShock Infinite is a first-person shooter game set in a steampunk air city. It boasts beautiful graphics, memorable characters and a plot that will keep you guessing.

3. ASSASSIN'S CREED IV: BLACK FLAG (PC, PS3, PS4, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One) 

The series may have gone through a bad patch a few years ago when it started becoming stale and predictable, but you'd never know it when playing this exciting, fresh new instalment that had us falling back in love with the franchise. 

4. TOMB RAIDER (PC, Mac, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One) 

After years of substandard Tomb Raider offerings, Lara Croft is back and better than ever. Gone are the days of being an overrated sex symbol. Instead, we go on an origins journey that sees Lara maturing from a frightened young woman into a strong fighter. We look forward to future games in this series.

5. THE CAVE (PC, Mac, PS3, Xbox 360,Wii U, Linux, iOS, Ouya) 

This is our indie choice: a little gem by Monkey Island and Maniac Mansion creator Ron Gilbert. Assemble a team of unlikely adventurers and descend into a sentient cave. Witty, funny and smart. Once you've played it, you'll wish every adventure game was more like it.

Most popular video games released in 2013

1. Grand Theft Auto V (PS3, Xbox 360)
2. Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag (PC, PS3, PS4, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One)
3. Batman: Arkham Origins (PC, PS3, Wii U, Xbox 360)
4. Call of Duty: Ghosts (PC, PS3, PS4, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One)
5. The Last of Us (PS3)


Source: IMDb (“Most popular video games released in 2013”)

Great holiday buys

Download the first episode of the second season of the incredible The Walking Dead game. If you haven't even played the first season yet then drop what you're doing and get to it. Now. Other great buys in addition to both lists are Gran Turismo 6, Fifa14, and XCOM: Enemy Within.