Retro Gamer’s Top 10 Games of 2013By Fawzi Mesmar

10 - The Wolf Among UsLet’s get this out of the way: I’ve never read the Fables comics, but this game made me want to do just that! The masterfully made world, interesting characters, surprisingly deep and dark plot made me go through this game of it’s entirety in one go. I was both disappointed and delighted that it’s episodic because i wanted more and I’m happy that there’s more of this to come.

In the meantime, I’ll be reading the comic books.

9 - Fire Emblem AwakeningThe main problem with Tactics RPGs is that once you’ve gone through the first hour you pretty much have seen all the game has to offer in terms of gameplay and mechanics, most good games of that genre rely on story to keep you hooked in.

Fire Emblem Awakening not only offers a very compelling story, the level of customization that you can do for your gameplay experience make this game the quintessential tactics RPG game to come in years.

8 - Gone HomeSeeing games like Gone Home makes me happy. Not just because it further establishes games as an art medium, but because it explores mature themes in new and innovative ways. Gone Home presents environmental storytelling in ways that haven’t been experienced before, showcasing it’s strong design decisions while delivering a strong narrative. There are no character models, no combat, no puzzles but yet the game delivers an experience that can not be described as anything else than a game.Reminded me a lot when I used to read reports in early Resident Evil games and get a better understanding of the world I’m exploring.

7 - Papo & YoSpeaking of mature themes, Papo & Yo deals with topics so heavy that you can’t help but be touched at the game’s completion. Sure it has it’s fair share of technical mishaps and glitches, but that shouldn’t cloud our judgement of the main picture: the game itself. A deep personal message from it’s creators, Papo & Yo creates a beautiful almost surreal world that transforms you into a little kid as you joyfully dance through it until it’s powerful finale. Papo & Yo demonstrates how different cultures can broaden our gaming horizon and introduce us to worlds we never knew existed.

6 - Papers PleaseVideo games are all about decisions, choice and consequence. While most games will focus on having the players make decisions that will directly benefit them, Papers please present them with options that will have negative effect on them, but will have a heavy moral consequence. Sometimes doing what’s right for you can harm others (even if they don’t exist).

Papers please hires you to do a mundane, routine job and somehow makes it exciting, stressful and often tricky.

Its a fine example of finding inspiration for game design anywhere.

5 - Grand Theft Auto VGTA V is fine game and perhaps the best in the series. The world is vast and believable, the characters are varied enough to have something for everyone, the heist mission have great potential to be built on for future iterations of the series.

There is so much to do within the offline mode of the game, and by going online that just doubles the amount of time you can spend in Los Santos.

Solid shooting, driving, flying, tennis mechanics ensure that this is the defining GTA game of this generation.

4 - Dota 2I’ve had a love hate relationship with DotA for years, it’s probably one of the most competitive games out there. Nothing feels as good as winning a Dota game and nothing feels worse than losing a Dota game.

Valve were always known to do community games justice, and DotA was just that. So much careful work and attention to detail has been poured into the game and it shows.

Regardless of my attempts of escaping it I’ve spent most of 2013 playing Dota 2 and most probably be doing so for years to come.

3 - Super Mario 3D WorldSuper Mario 3D Land is probably one of the best games I’ve played on the 3DS, tight controls, strict beautifully constructed levels, your mastery of the game becomes better as you play it and it’s just so darn cute, so you can imagine my excitement when I heard that the same team was expanding on the concept to the Wii U - btw its the same team that did the genius Galaxy series and Mario Sunshine before that as well.

Super Mario 3D world is good old fashioned gaming, they way you loved gaming and is a blast on a local multiplayer.

2 - Rayman LegendsRayman Legends, has charm, character, genius level design, wonderful Musical levels and incredibly catchy can’t-get-it-out-of-my-head soundtrack. Everything that the fantastic Rayman Origins did legends did better. The levels are fast paced and creative, the monster design is charming and funny, obstacle design creates something new for you to enjoy in every single level. The Local multiplayer is hectic and a ton of fun. I don’t remember laughing so hard this entire year. They also have a lot of remastered Rayman Origins levels included in the game, what more do you want?

1 - The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds

Being a crazed Zelda fan I was hesitant to place this as my top pick of the year as it would make it questionable; but the amount of fun I had playing this game states otherwise. This is definitely the best Zelda made in YEARS! and my number one game of 2013. Character design, missions, level design, treasure locations, item design, orchestrated soundtrack, the mixture of old and new is just PERFECT!If you’ve never played a Zelda game before, this is the perfect entry point to the series; and if you are a Zelda fan, you owe to yourself to play this game.

Honorable Mention - The Stanley Parable

This is the type of game that is best enjoyed if you don’t know anything about it.

If the internet hasn’t spoiled this for you yet or you haven’t heard of it, go pick it up and play it now.