Just about every publication (us included!) has its own “Best of E3”awards soon after gaming’s biggest annual event – but a number of them also get together afterwards to decide which gaming hardware really is the best, by way of the “Game Critics Awards.” Real gaming industry professionals like CNN, The L.A Times, Entertainment Weekly and the Hollywood Reporter get together with people who know nothing about games like Polygon, Kotaku, Joystiq and Destructoid make up these critics – and this is what impressed them most.
TitanFall, the new shooter from EA and Respawn has set a new record for the Game Critic Awards by nabbing six of the nominations. We liked TitanFall quite a bit, but feel that it’s really just another shooter – even if it has some clever multiplayer tricks.
If you’re wondering why some of our favourites – like The Witcher 3 and The Division – aren’t on the list, they had to be playable to be eligible. Here are the nominees for the Game Critics Awards 2013.
- Best of Show
– Destiny (Bungie/Activision)
– Oculus Rift HD (Oculus VR)
– PlayStation 4(Sony Computer Entertainment)
– Titanfall (Respawn Games/Electronic Arts)
– Watch Dogs (Ubisoft) - Best Original Game
– Destiny (Bungie/Activision)
– Fantasia: Music Evolved (Harmonix/Disney Interactive)
– Rain (Japan Studio/Sony Computer Entertainment)
– Titanfall (Respawn Games/Electronic Arts)
– Watch Dogs (Ubisoft) - Best Console Game
– Batman: Arkham Origins (WBIE Montreal/WBIE)
– Beyond: Two Souls (Quantic Dream/Sony Computer Entertainment)
– Destiny (Bungie/Activision)
– Infamous: Second Son (Sucker Punch/Sony Computer Entertainment)
– Titanfall (Respawn Games/Electronic Arts)
– Watch Dogs (Ubisoft) - Best Handheld Game
– Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate (Armature Studio/WBIE)
– Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Dual Destinies (Capcom/Capcom)
– Plants vs. Zombies 2 (Popcap/EA)
– Tearaway (Media Molecule/Sony Computer Entertainment)
– The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Two Worlds (Nintendo EAD/Nintendo) - Best PC Game
– Battlefield 4 (DICE/Electronic Arts)
– Company of Heroes 2 (Relic/Sega)
– The Elder Scrolls Online (Zenimax Online/Bethesda)
– Titanfall (Respawn/Electronic Arts)
– Total War: Rome 2 (Creative Assembly/Sega) - Best Hardware
– Oculus Rift (Oculus VR)
– PlayStation 4 (Sony Computer Entertainment)
– Blade (Razr)
– Shield (Nvidia)
– Xbox One (Microsoft) - Best Action Game
– Battlefield 4 (DICE/Electronic Arts)
– Call of Duty Ghosts (Infinity Ward/Activision)
– Destiny (Bungie/Activision)
– Killzone: Shadow Fall (Guerilla Games/Sony Computer Entertainment)
– Titanfall (Respawn/Electronic Arts) - Best Action/Adventure Game
– Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag (Ubisoft Montreal/Ubisoft)
– Batman: Arkham Origins (WBIE Montreal/WBIE)
– Bayonetta 2 (Platinum Games/Nintendo)
– Infamous: Second Son (Sucker Punch/Sony Computer Entertainment)
– Watch Dogs (Ubisoft Montreal/Ubisoft) - Best RPG
– Dark Souls 2 (FromSoftware/Namco-Bandai)
– The Elder Scrolls Online (Zenimax Online/Bethesda)
– Mario & Luigi: Dream Team (AlphaDream/Nintendo)
– Shin Megami Tensei IV (Atlus/Atlus)
– South Park: The Stick of Truth (Obsidian/Ubisoft) - Best Racing Game
– Forza 5 (Turn 10 Studio/Microsoft Studios)
– Gran Turismo 6 (Polyphony Digital/Sony Computer Entertainment)
– Mario Kart 8 (Nintendo EAD/Nintendo)
– Need for Speed: Rivals (Ghost Games/Electronic Arts)
– The Crew ( Ivory Tower/Ubisoft) - Best Sports Game
– FIFA 14 (EA Canada/EA Sports)
– NHL 14 (EA Canada/EA Sports)
– Madden NFL 25 (Tiburon/EA Sports)
– Pro Evolution Soccer 2014 (PES Productions/Konami) - Best Strategy Game
– Command and Conquer (Victory Games/Electronic Arts)
– Company of Heroes 2 (Relic/Sega)
– Pikmin 3 (Nintendo EAD/Nintendo)
– Total War: Rome 2 (Creative Assembly/Sega) - Best Social/Casual
– Disney Infinity (Avalanche/Disney Interactive)
– Fantasia: Music Evolved (Harmonix/Disney Interactive)
– LEGO Marvel Super Heroes (TT Games/WBIE)
– Plants vs. Zombies 2: It’s About Time (Popcap/EA)
– Skylanders: Swap Force (Vicarious Visions/Activision)
– Project Spark (Team Daokta/Microsoft Studios) - Best Online Multiplayer
– Battlefield 4 (DICE/Electronic Arts)
– Destiny (Bungie/Activision)
– Titanfall (Respawn Entertainment/Electronic Arts)
– The Elder Scrolls Online (Zenimax Online/Bethesda)
– Watch Dogs (Ubisoft Montreal/Ubisoft) - Best Downloadable
– Contrast (Compulsion Games)
– Octodad: Dadliest Catch (Young Horses Inc)
– Outlast (Red Barrels)
– Rain (Japan Studio/Sony Computer Entertainment)
– Transistor (Supergiant Games)
The 2013 Best of E3 Winners will be announced on this page on Tuesday, July 2, 2013. do you agree with the nominations? Are there some glaring omissions, or nominees you disagree with?
Last Updated: June 27, 2013
Ultimo_Cleric N7
June 27, 2013 at 12:37
What, no Crimson Dragons? Lol “pew pew pew!”
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
June 27, 2013 at 12:40
oooh fok. I played that. It was SHIT.
Theo Steenekamp
June 27, 2013 at 12:42
Sies met die taal! 😛 … but ye it looks like utter shit.
Admiral Chief Groot Wors
June 27, 2013 at 12:44
Its ok, he is Afrisian
Umar Kiiroi Senk?
June 27, 2013 at 12:44
🙁 bye bye Panzer Dragoon 🙁 🙁
Ultimo_Cleric N7
June 27, 2013 at 12:45
Cant believe it. The game looked amazing….NNNAAAAATT!
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
June 27, 2013 at 12:39
I’m starting to really dislike Titanfall. The more I read about it, the more it sounds like it’s heading down Over-hyped Avenue. Once something is over-hyped, I start to get anxious.
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
June 27, 2013 at 12:49
All aboard!
ElimiNathan
June 27, 2013 at 13:26
Lol totally agree
Sageville
June 27, 2013 at 13:48
It’s my only reason to buy an Xbone (never gonna happen), and like you say, I feel the awesome slipping away, day by day.
Admiral Chief Groot Wors
June 27, 2013 at 12:40
According to OVG?
RinceWind
June 27, 2013 at 12:46
Hahah! He is looking over us, and RAGING!
OVG
June 27, 2013 at 13:00
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA GIVE ME MY DRUM GIVE ME MY DRUM!!!
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
June 27, 2013 at 12:40
Header win!
RinceWind
June 27, 2013 at 12:46
Header OVG!
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
June 27, 2013 at 12:41
Really looking forward to Elder Scrolls Online
Umar Kiiroi Senk?
June 27, 2013 at 12:41
Am I the only one not that blown away by Destiny
RinceWind
June 27, 2013 at 12:47
I think it looks sweet, and the idea of a fully interactive solar system/galaxy gets me wetter than the last few days in Cape Town 0-O
Umar Kiiroi Senk?
June 27, 2013 at 12:54
I was nicely snuggled in at home when it was raining. but man it was pouring … but I digress. Destiny is every Sci-Fi fan’s ultimate jizz inducer
RinceWind
June 27, 2013 at 12:57
Totally. I want, nay, NEED it to work man! You are going to be First Lieutenant, OVG will be our secret weapon. A few drinks, a microphone, and no one will hang about to fuck with us man! RE: Snuggled in bed, I will be burning an effigy of you tonight, you lucky bstd. I have been sitting in my ‘new’ office, which has a leak in the ceiling. Whole week has been Chinese water torture!
Umar Kiiroi Senk?
June 27, 2013 at 13:40
WhooHoo , can I be called Eagle Sniper Super Viper? Always wanted to be a badass . and shame dude! outside you get, inside you get wet, there ain’t no escape 🙁
RinceWind
June 27, 2013 at 13:46
I like that name! It’s yours. I will have to ponder on my own now. I just went out side. I shit you not, there is this massive fucking ball of fire in the sky! The end is neigh!
Umar Kiiroi Senk?
June 27, 2013 at 14:04
LOL wha??where? ….. are you having an afternoon sip maybe??
RinceWind
June 27, 2013 at 14:06
UPDATE: I’ve been told it’s called the SUN. Not sure why I haven’t seen it before, but apparently when you see it, the chances of my getting wet are slimmer, marginally…
Umar Kiiroi Senk?
June 27, 2013 at 14:08
Okay …. Now I understand 🙁 ….. I’m so slow today … need hot choclate ! ….. No wetness today
RinceWind
June 27, 2013 at 14:08
Eagle Sniper Super Sleeper?
ElNicko
June 27, 2013 at 12:52
WatchDogs to Win EVERYTHING !! !!
OVG
June 27, 2013 at 13:14
I HATE CELL PHONES.
Umar Kiiroi Senk?
June 27, 2013 at 12:55
HORRIBLE list …… Best console game should have gone to knack!!
TiMsTeR1033
June 27, 2013 at 13:01
Knack lacks a few things I rate, Should of made more shit getting destroyed. Doesnt seem like enough stuff around the levels. It would be kickass if made new Crash bandicoot for next gen! or maybe thats just me
Umar Kiiroi Senk?
June 27, 2013 at 13:43
Nope, I would love a new Crash and Abe’s Odyssey
OVG
June 27, 2013 at 12:58
It is all bollocks. We all know that GTAV is the best game ever created, even if the logo was on a brick I will still buy it because IT THE BOMB PEOPLE.
Next gen sucks… give it 5 years then we will see. In the meantime the games are all going to be hybrid across both gens.
Jakster
June 27, 2013 at 13:08
Forza 5 vs GT6? Really? Next-gen racer vs this years poo?
OVG
June 27, 2013 at 13:14
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
ONE TRILLION UPVOTES 🙂
Justanibble
June 27, 2013 at 13:19
Have you actually played Forza5? It looks like a great game, I wouldn’t call it poo! Bloody fanboys.
CaptainNemo42
June 27, 2013 at 13:10
Did you guys that went to E3 have any time with the Oculus Rift?
Major Commodore 64 Darryn B
June 27, 2013 at 13:15
We tried. But they told us to get lost. Sniff.
CaptainNemo42
June 27, 2013 at 13:20
That’s sad, because that thing looks truly rad. The first VR device that looks like it actually works.
OVG
June 27, 2013 at 13:38
sniff this
OVG
June 27, 2013 at 13:16
Sounds like one of my farts :p OCULUS RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIFFFFFffffff… t