Home Gaming 2013’s best games, according to the people who make games

2013’s best games, according to the people who make games

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GDC

Every year we see a swathe of “best of the year” video game lists, selected either by readers, or by people who play a lot of games and write about them for a living. GDC’s annual awards are a bit different, because they’re selected by people who make games. Here are the games game makers think are the best from the last year.

As is expected, it’s a significantly more diverse line-up of games than your usual “best of list,” though there’s a lot of love shown for many of the usual suspects; The Last of Us, GTA V, Tearaway and indie darlings Gone Home, Paper’s Please and the Stanley Parable.

Game of the Year

Gone Home (The Fullbright Company)
Grand Theft Auto V (Rockstar North/Rockstar Games)
The Last Of Us (Naughty Dog/Sony)
Super Mario 3D World (Nintendo EAD Tokyo/Nintendo)
Tomb Raider (Crystal Dynamics/Square Enix)

Honorable Mentions: The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds (Nintendo EAD/Nintendo), Papers, Please (Lucas Pope), The Stanley Parable (Galactic Cafe), Tearaway (Media Molecule/Sony).

Innovation Award

DEVICE 6 (Simogo)
Gone Home (The Fullbright Company)
Papers, Please (Lucas Pope)
Tearaway (Media Molecule/Sony)
The Stanley Parable (Galactic Cafe)

Honorable Mentions: Brothers: A Tale Of Two Sons (Starbreeze/505 Games), Candy Box (Aniwey), Kerbal Space Program (Squad), The Last Of Us (Naughty Dog/Sony), Proteus (Ed Key/David Kanaga).

Best Debut

Blue Manchu (Card Hunter)
The Fullbright Company (Gone Home)
Galactic Cafe (The Stanley Parable)
Squad (Kerbal Space Program)
Undead Labs (State Of Decay)

Honorable Mentions: Facepalm Games (The Swapper), Frogmind Games (Badland), Grinding Gear Games (Path Of Exile), Suspicious Developments (Gunpoint), Warner Bros. Games Montreal (Batman: Arkham Origins).

Best Design

Grand Theft Auto V (Rockstar North/Rockstar Games)
The Last Of Us (Naughty Dog/Sony)
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds (Nintendo EAD/Nintendo)
Super Mario 3D World (Nintendo EAD Tokyo/Nintendo)
Tomb Raider (Crystal Dynamics/Square Enix)

Honorable Mentions: DOTA 2 (Valve) Pokemon X & Y (Game Freak/Nintendo), Rogue Legacy (Cellar Door Games), The Stanley Parable (Galactic Cafe), SteamWorld Dig (Image & Form), TowerFall (Matt Thorson/Miniboss/Alec Holowka).

Best Handheld/Mobile Game

DEVICE 6 (Simogo)
Fire Emblem: Awakening (Intelligent Systems/Nintendo)
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds (Nintendo EAD/Nintendo)
Ridiculous Fishing (Vlambeer)
Tearaway (Media Molecule/Sony)

Honorable Mentions: Animal Crossing: New Leaf (Nintendo EAD/Nintendo), 868-HACK (Michael Brough), Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon (Next Level Games/Nintendo), Plants Vs. Zombies 2 (PopCap/Electronic Arts), The Room Two (Fireproof Games), SteamWorld Dig (Image & Form).

Best Visual Art

BioShock Infinite (Irrational Games/2K Games)
DmC (Ninja Theory/Capcom)
The Last Of Us (Naughty Dog/Sony)
Ni No Kuni: Wrath Of The White Witch (Level 5/Namco Bandai)
Tearaway (Media Molecule/Sony)

Honorable Mentions: Don’t Starve (Klei Entertaintment), Grand Theft Auto V (Rockstar North/Rockstar Games), Papers, Please (Lucas Pope), Puppeteer (SCE Japan/Sony), Ryse: Son Of Rome (Crytek/Microsoft), Wonderful 101 (Platinum Games/Nintendo).

Best Narrative

Brothers: A Tale Of Two Sons (Starbreeze/505 Games)
Gone Home (The Fullbright Company)
The Last Of Us (Naughty Dog/Sony)
Tomb Raider (Crystal Dynamics/Square Enix)
The Stanley Parable (Galactic Cafe)

Honorable Mentions: Attack Of The Friday Monsters (Millennium Kitchen/Level 5), BioShock Infinite (Irrational Games/2K Games), The Cave (DoubleFine Games), Ni No Kuni: Wrath Of The White Witch (Level 5/Namco Bandai), Shadowrun Returns (Harebrained Schemes).

Best Audio

BioShock Infinite (Irrational Games/2K Games)
Forza Motorsport 5 (Turn 10 Studios/Microsoft Games)
Grand Theft Auto V (Rockstar North/Rockstar Games)
Saints Row IV (Volition/Deep Silver)
Tearaway (Media Molecule/Sony)

Honorable Mentions: Animal Crossing: New Leaf (Nintendo EAD/Nintendo), Battlefield 4 (DICE/Electronic Arts), Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon (Ubisoft Montreal/Ubisoft), Gone Home (The Fullbright Company), Metro: Last Light (4A Games/Deep Silver).

Best Downloadable Game

Brothers: A Tale Of Two Sons (Starbreeze/505 Games)
Gone Home (The Fullbright Company)
Papers, Please (Lucas Pope)
Resogun (Housemarque/Sony)
The Stanley Parable (Galactic Cafe)

Honorable Mentions: Guacamelee (DrinkBox Studios), Gunpoint (Suspicious Developments), State Of Decay (Undead Labs), SteamWorld Dig (Image & Form), TowerFall (Matt Thorson/Miniboss/Alec Holowka), The Wolf Among Us (Telltale Games).

Best Technology

Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag (Ubisoft Montreal/Ubisoft)
Grand Theft Auto V (Rockstar North/Rockstar Games)
The Last Of Us (Naughty Dog/Sony)
Killzone: Shadow Fall (Guerrilla Games/Sony)
Tearaway (Media Molecule/Sony)

Honorable Mentions: Battlefield 4 (DICE/Electronic Arts), DOTA 2 (Valve), Forza Motorsport 5 (Turn 10 Studios/Microsoft Games), Metro: Last Light (4A Games/Deep Silver), Tomb Raider (Crystal Dynamics/Square Enix).

The 14th Annual GDC awards will take place on March 19 this year.

Last Updated: January 10, 2014

91 Comments

  1. oVg

    January 10, 2014 at 12:02

    Nice to see Crystal Dynamics getting some well deserved love. Good on them.
    Tomb Raider kicked ass and finally stole the mantle back from Nathan Drake.

    Reply

    • RinceThis2014

      January 10, 2014 at 12:07

      Damn you. Was just about to say that.

      Reply

      • oVg

        January 10, 2014 at 12:17

        That’s only because you are going to propose to Rhianna Pratchett via twitter 😛

        Reply

        • Admiral Chief in Vegas

          January 10, 2014 at 12:20

          BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA

          Reply

        • SargonTheGreatPandaOfAkkad

          January 10, 2014 at 12:27

          She has an imagination, that’s for damn sure. Clearly inherited from daddy dearest. I’m glad she’ll be a co-writer for the Watch. Cannot wait for that to hit my television screen.

          Reply

        • RinceThis2014

          January 10, 2014 at 12:34

          Going to? 😉

          Reply

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            January 10, 2014 at 12:45

            I will perfect bringing people back from the dead just so I can kill you painfully AGAIN.

          • RinceThis2014

            January 10, 2014 at 12:47

            BWAHAHAHAH! I’ll let Rhany, that’s the nickname I use for her, know 😉

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            January 10, 2014 at 12:49

            Good idea. I’m sure after she gets to know you better she’ll feel the same way, it will be an excellent bonding experience for the two of us. Thanks buddy!

          • RinceThis2014

            January 10, 2014 at 12:51

            It’s called taking one for the team, I know she let me BOOM! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            January 10, 2014 at 12:57

            lol, I’m not going there. I will instead go to my happy place.

        • Alien Emperor Trevor

          January 10, 2014 at 12:44

          WHAT.

          Reply

          • RinceThis2014

            January 10, 2014 at 13:13

            Cat is out the bag! *RUNS

          • JJ's grand endeavour (John)

            January 10, 2014 at 13:31

            Dood. I’m prepared to make an arse of myself tomorrow.

          • RinceThis2014

            January 10, 2014 at 13:34

            Hahaha. Nah, all good, just a laugh. Then BEEEEER!

          • JJ's grand endeavour (John)

            January 10, 2014 at 13:35

            I need the beer after this week. 13h right? You have my number, if I don’t show up, don’t call me.

          • RinceThis2014

            January 10, 2014 at 13:37

            HAHAHA! I’ll call you at 3am and ask where you were.

          • RinceThis2014

            January 10, 2014 at 13:37

          • JJ's grand endeavour (John)

            January 10, 2014 at 13:39

            Oh. Thanks.

            I see you’ve become Nic. Was the K too heavy to carry around with you everywhere?

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            January 10, 2014 at 13:40

            The K is silent, if only he was like that too. 🙁

          • JJ's grand endeavour (John)

            January 10, 2014 at 13:41

            Hahaha

          • RinceThis2014

            January 10, 2014 at 13:41

            Not sure, asked Zoe to change it to Awesome, not a sausage…

        • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

          January 10, 2014 at 13:17

          Can I come to the wedding?

          Reply

    • JJ's grand endeavour (John)

      January 10, 2014 at 13:31

      Loved Tomb Raider.

      Reply

  2. Umar Appreciates Nier

    January 10, 2014 at 12:03

    Dem The Last of Us mentions

    Reply

    • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

      January 10, 2014 at 13:16

      Well deserved though! I’m also happy that Ni No Kuni got a mention.

      Reply

      • Umar Appreciates Nier

        January 10, 2014 at 14:25

        Worth every accolade! So much feels, here’s hoping something in 2014 will do the same!!

        Also by the way..WiiU…….

        Reply

  3. RinceThis2014

    January 10, 2014 at 12:08

    About bloody time TR got some love.

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief in Vegas

      January 10, 2014 at 12:09

      You said it Rince!

      Reply

  4. Admiral Chief in Vegas

    January 10, 2014 at 12:09

    • RinceThis2014

      January 10, 2014 at 12:25

      Gods, but they are nuts!

      Reply

    • Unavengedavo

      January 10, 2014 at 12:28

      Oi, I was planning on using this when I saw Jim!!!

      All I have left now is this…
      http://d24w6bsrhbeh9d.cloudfront.net/photo/a44651Z_460sa.gif

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief in Vegas

        January 10, 2014 at 12:30

        too slow old man!
        😛

        Reply

    • RockMossel2014

      January 10, 2014 at 12:31

      • Admiral Chief in Vegas

        January 10, 2014 at 12:31

        Indeed

        Reply

    • Sageville

      January 10, 2014 at 12:55

      What does one do with a lap full of nose bananas?

      Reply

      • Alien Emperor Trevor

        January 10, 2014 at 12:58

        Make banana-ade?

        Reply

      • JJ's grand endeavour (John)

        January 10, 2014 at 13:33

        Depends where on YouTube you end up.

        Reply

    • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

      January 10, 2014 at 13:15

      lol, cousin? No dude that’s me! Banana Wings! To the Sky!

      Reply

  5. Rock789

    January 10, 2014 at 12:23

    Very happy to see Tomb Raider and The Last of Us mentioned so many times – 2 of my favourite games of all time, let alone 2013!

    Reply

    • SargonTheGreatPandaOfAkkad

      January 10, 2014 at 12:24

      Have Tomb Raider. Recently acquired through the ridiculous Steam sales (sad bank balance is sad) but still haven’t touched it. Is it really good?

      Reply

      • Rock789

        January 10, 2014 at 12:31

        Honestly? Absolutely!! Seriously, it is really good. It’s one of those few games that come along and grip you, making you want to keep going so you can find out what happens next. And it is genuinely fun to play – great story, great mechanics and a world that actually feels lived in.

        Is it perfect? Probably not. But it’s damn close! Highly recommended! 🙂

        Reply

        • RinceThis2014

          January 10, 2014 at 12:32

          Damn close to perfect 😉 Seeing you tomorrow? I seem to remember you stealing a game from my collection, THIEF!

          Reply

          • Rock789

            January 10, 2014 at 12:36

            I will indeed be there! And I shall bring forth… The Grand Guitar of Awesomeness! 😉

        • Admiral Chief in Vegas

          January 10, 2014 at 12:32

          Took the words outta my mouth!

          Reply

      • Alien Emperor Trevor

        January 10, 2014 at 12:41

        I was honestly surprised at how much I enjoyed it.

        Reply

        • RinceThis2014

          January 10, 2014 at 13:36

          Why? Because you were playing with a woman for once? BOOM! HAHAHAHAHAHA! *RUNS

          Reply

          • JJ's grand endeavour (John)

            January 10, 2014 at 13:37

            LOL

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            January 10, 2014 at 13:37

            Damn you to hell!

          • RinceThis2014

            January 10, 2014 at 13:38

            😉 Come on, that was gold.

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            January 10, 2014 at 13:42

            I can’t agree with you again, it’s already happened twice.

            Fortunately I stopped myself from posting my original comment about how I regularly play as a female character. er.. crap….

          • JJ's grand endeavour (John)

            January 10, 2014 at 13:42

            Playing third person makes it so much worse because it looks like she’s constantly trying to run away from you.

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            January 10, 2014 at 13:47

            lol! What does it mean if your #foreverSP character doesn’t want to play with you? The rejection, it burns!

          • Gr8_Balls_o_Fire

            January 10, 2014 at 13:52

            lol top one

          • RinceThis2014

            January 10, 2014 at 13:42

            BWAHAHAHA! 🙂 Nicely done, and nice work stopping the apocalypse. But then again, I do that before breakfast most days *noob.

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            January 10, 2014 at 13:46

            I’m sure it’s easy to stop it if you’re the one causing it. It’s like punching in the numbers on Lost 😛

          • RinceThis2014

            January 10, 2014 at 13:47

          • JJ's grand endeavour (John)

            January 10, 2014 at 13:41

            That’s too easy. Hell doesn’t want him.
            Come to think of it. That probably makes Rince immortal. I don’t think heaven wants him either.

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            January 10, 2014 at 13:44

            Hell is female? 😉 *run*

          • JJ's grand endeavour (John)

            January 10, 2014 at 13:45

            Hahaha.

          • RinceThis2014

            January 10, 2014 at 13:50

            I am ginger, of course I’m immortal.

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            January 10, 2014 at 13:51

          • JJ's grand endeavour (John)

            January 10, 2014 at 13:52

            In that case I think we should test it. Just stand close to me tomorrow at the driving range. I’m bound to kill someone.

      • Gr8_Balls_o_Fire

        January 10, 2014 at 13:53

        Hell yes! It’s one of very few games that makes you feel what the character is feeling.. In this case it’s utterly daunting, but you just can’t stop forging ahead.

        Reply

      • Gareth L (That Guy)

        January 10, 2014 at 14:09

        Bought it in July but am only playing it now. It is such a strong character game, really, one of the most realistic character reactions to tragedy and terror that you’ll experience.

        It’s not Lara jumping around with pistols, it’s a young woman that has to save her friends trapped on an island of bizarre savages. The sense of adventure and success is incredible.

        Reply

  6. RockMossel2014

    January 10, 2014 at 12:28

    OK seriously wtf?! I dont expect Bioshock Infinite to win, but I atleast expected a nomination.

    Reply

    • RinceThis2014

      January 10, 2014 at 12:35

      You know what pisses me off? When Bioshock Infinite came out everyone loved it. Now those same people turn around and say it’s a shitty FPS! WTF?!

      Reply

      • Rock789

        January 10, 2014 at 12:38

        They’re called going-with-the-crowd’ers and they’re an annoying sub-species of human… 😉

        Reply

        • RinceThis2014

          January 10, 2014 at 12:39

          Agreed. Upsets me no end!

          Reply

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            January 10, 2014 at 12:40

            Me too! Erm…wait a minute :/

          • RinceThis2014

            January 10, 2014 at 12:41

            Not twice in one day man! A third and the vortex of the Warlock Demon Beiber will open!

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            January 10, 2014 at 12:42

            That’s nonsense. Crisis averted.

          • RinceThis2014

            January 10, 2014 at 12:43

            Whew

      • RockMossel2014

        January 10, 2014 at 12:39

        Same with Diablo 3. It was the epitome of gaming for the first month, then after that it was the worst game ever created. I think people still like BI, but just kinda realised that the mechanics could’ve been better. The story is still on another level in my books.

        Reply

        • Rags

          January 10, 2014 at 13:21

          I hated D3 15 minutes in. 😛

          Reply

          • Kromas

            January 10, 2014 at 13:22

            Same. The story was okay but nothing as good as what WoW and Starcraft have been pushing out lately.

          • RockMossel2014

            January 10, 2014 at 14:22

            lol that quick? I liked the game, but I also jumped on the hate train. It was my one chance to ride with the cool kids. hehe, no the game was fun…the first time. After that it is really dull.

          • Rags

            January 10, 2014 at 14:57

            No after my first encounter with an NPC, I though well this is bad acting and uninteresting. Then I leveled up, and could not select where to spend attribute points. So I thought no point about thinking about the best build as there is only one in terms of attributes. Almost the same with skill system.

            The gameplay, arcade like damage announcements and barrel destroy combos?! Totally killed any sense of immersion. That chilling atmosphere Diablo 1 created which dragged you into the world, D3 had none of it.

            Then lagged all over the place and was killed by shitty minions.

            Got some gold and bought a gem at the AH for next to nothing.

            Though what was the point in playing this shit. 😛 But finished one playthrough because it was R600!@# :<

          • RockMossel2014

            January 10, 2014 at 16:05

            lol I payed R450 on Kalahari! hehe. But yeah, sadly I must agree with everything you said! D1 was super sinister and evil, it basically taught me love horror games/movies.

  7. Tarisma

    January 10, 2014 at 12:42

    How is metal gear solid not there for best audio!!!!!

    Reply

    • TiMsTeR1033

      January 10, 2014 at 13:06

      Did it come out in 2013?

      Reply

      • Gr8_Balls_o_Fire

        January 10, 2014 at 13:50

        Yea, what did I miss??

        Reply

  8. RockMossel2014

    January 10, 2014 at 12:45

    So I just discovered that Gone Home was written by some of the same writers from Bioshock and Minerva’s Den. This game had my curiousity, now it has my attention!

    Reply

  9. Sageville

    January 10, 2014 at 12:58

    I agree with the Best technology award for AC Black Flag, the wave motion and ship interactions were ground breaking stuff I was seriously impressed.

    Reply

  10. Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

    January 10, 2014 at 13:14

    I’m so glad Ryse won something.. hahahahaha hahahahaha hahahahaahhahahaah! Poor Ryse… always the bridesmaid… never the bride!

    Reply

    • RinceThis2014

      January 10, 2014 at 13:37

      Yeah. Had potential man.

      Reply

      • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

        January 10, 2014 at 14:01

        My gladius was ready… 🙁

        Reply

  11. Kromas

    January 10, 2014 at 13:21

    I really want a best comedy award. SR4 would have won it for sure.

    Reply

  12. JJ's grand endeavour (John)

    January 10, 2014 at 13:30

    Just bought my girlfriend Brothers. Good to know I made a good buy.

    Reply

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