As such, I’ve created a number of auxiliary awards in an effort to cover more ground. Some are good, some are bad, and some are so specific they could only be dreamed up after a six beer self medication session following another traumatic Dallas Cowboys loss on Sunday. These are those awards.

Game That Proves You Can Turn Anything Into a Videogame – Viscera Cleanup Detail

Are games about farming and driving a truck across Europe weird? Yeah but at least there is some potential for excitement in those scenarios, as they allow you to do something you may not otherwise get to in real life.

It’s “Viscera Cleanup Detail” that proves that no topic is incapable of being gameified, though. In it you play a janitor tasked with cleaning up the aftermath of video game levels, with gameplay consisting largely of mopping. At this rate I wouldn’t be surprised if we get a game about data entry where you are actually doing data entry for a company, but pay them to do it.

Most Overrated Game – Tomb Raider

I tend to shy away from this topic, as by its very nature it requires you to take shots at a game that’s generally well liked. It’s difficult to not sound like kind of an ass in the process.

However, the love train for “Tomb Raider” is getting a little too crowded this awards season. It’s by far the best “Tomb Raider” game made in years, but is also burdened by uneven action sequences, a meandering plot, a host of half implemented ideas, and not enough platforming, puzzle solving, and actual tomb raiding. It’s a very good game, but certainly not a great one.

Best System of The Year – Nintendo 3DS

Hey believe me, I’m just as shocked as you are.

The 3DS has still yet to really prove that its 3D capabilities are worthwhile, but when you look at the system’s murder row  lineup this year (“Fire Emblem,” “Pokemon,” “Zelda,” “Animal Crossing,” etc.) its hard to deny that the handheld provided better exclusive entertainment than any other platform in 2013.

Most Intriguing Developer Not Getting Enough Attention – Simogo

Mobile gaming is, by and large, bastardized by the “hardcore” gaming community. As such, many great mobile games tend to go unnoticed and unappreciated by that particular contingent.

In the case of Simogo that’s an incredible shame. From the entertainingly inventive “Beat Sneak Bandit” to genre, and even medium, defying experiences like “Year Walk” and “Device 6,” Simogo is proving to be one of the most inventive and original studios in all of gaming. It’s a crime that they aren’t getting more attention.

Best Crowdfunded Game – Risk of Rain

It seemed like every week in 2013 we were hearing about another crowdfunded gaming success. Where once the concept was something of a running joke, it is now becoming an exciting source for fresh ideas and worthwhile games.

Of the ones that came out this year, none entertained me more than “Risk of Rain.” It’s a top to bottom well designed rouge-like that features one of the best combat systems the genre has to offer, and a soundtrack that may be the year’s best. Unbelievably addictive, “Risk of Rain” will have you saying one more try until the early morning.

THE BEST GAME EVER! (That Hasn’t Been Released Yet) – Star Citizen

Speaking of crowdfunded successes, there have been none bigger than “Star Citizen.” With over $30 million in funds raised so far, all eyes seem to be on “Star Citizen” and its lofty goal of becoming the ultimate interstellar experience.

The hype surrounding this project couldn’t be higher, making the chances it’ll meet its oddly appropriate out of this world expectations slimmer every day. That being said, trying not to get caught up in the possibilities of “Star Citizen” gets harder with every new detail revealed.

Best Game With Serious Problems – Battlefield 4

Ask anyone who plays “Battlefield 4” a question about it that doesn’t have to do with it’s technical aspects, and you’re likely to hear gushing praise for its continuation and expansion of the “Battlfield” franchse.

Nah I’m kidding. They’ll only tell you about the technical problems. It’s hard to blame them, considering that the issues are so prevalent even EA has decided to back off of development on future DLC content until the game is fixed. Considering the source, that’s saying something.

Worst Game With Really Good Ideas – Ride to Hell: Retribution

On the spiritually opposite end of the “Battlefield 4” situation comes “Ride to Hell.” One of the most broken works of programming ever disguised as a video game, “Ride to Hell” is so bad it can cause you to involuntarily shudder just by walking by a copy of it.

Still the idea of a biker gang game set in a grindhouse film style atmosphere is a very interesting one, and could have easily served as the foundation of a good title if the development process had been more thorough. With the attention “Ride to Hell” got this year (even if it was for all the wrong reasons) don’t be surprised to see its set up used again in the near future.

Most Divisive Game – Beyond: Two Souls

Pick two people at random who played “Beyond: Two Souls” and you’ll be extremely lucky to get the same opinion on it from each.

That’s pretty standard for a David Cage game, but “Beyond” really had players split into camps of those who claimed it to be a brilliant work of cinematic excellence, and those who thought it was a laughable farce that’s among the year’s worst. Honestly, they may all be right.

Biggest Game With The Quietest Release – Gran Turismo 6

There was a time when “Gran Turismo” was the best racing series in gaming, and a legitimate system seller to boot. Now it’s lucky to get a YouTube commercial you skip five seconds in.

The games themselves may have seen better days, but this feels closer to an example of bad marketing.

The “Duke Nukem Forever” Award for Game that Is Shockingly Still in Development – The Last Guardian

Honestly, I’m stunned that this is still actually in the works. It’s becoming morbidly amusing to hear the developers refer to its lengthy development cycle as mere delays.

We all knew it would be hard to follow up “ICO” and “Shadow of the Colossus,” and the continuing “delays” that haunt “The Last Guardian” only serve to reinforce that belief.

Game That Makes You Want to High Five Someone – Blood Dragon

“Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon” is a game with the romanticized image of 80s pop culture running through its veins and seeping out its pores. It’s ready to explode at any moment and create a river of references in its wake.

It’s also incredibly awesome. You’d better hope you’ve got someone around to high five when you first man the turret of a helicopter while “Long Tall Sally” plays on the radio, or you’ll be left tragically hanging.

Best YouTube Gamer of the Year – John Bain (AKA TotalBiscuit)

John Bain does things a little differently than most YouTubers.

He doesn’t aim for the younger and more easily entertained audiences of YouTube by yelling and acting childish like so many of his contemporaries. Instead he is an honest to god game critic, and a damn good one at that. His “WTF Is:” series is one of the most reliable and entertaining sources for game reviews, and the man himself exerts a level of professionalism that is unusual for users of that format. He’s an all around great personality to have in the world of gaming.

Biggest Disappointment of 2013 – The Delay of Watch Dogs/South Park Stick of Truth

There were some games I looked forward to this year that let me down, but the biggest disappointment of the year to me were actually two games that didn’t come out.

Both “Watch Dogs” and “Stick of Truth” looked to be genuinely interesting properties that got delayed to next year at the 11th hour. While “Stick of Truth” had been playing footsies with a release date for some time, its the delay of “Watch Dogs” that’s the most shocking as the game was so near to completion it was being sold as a bundle with the PS4. We’ll probably get these games eventually, but their last minute delays really stung.

Best Game Worth Going Out of Your Way to Play – Artemis (LAN Party)

What is “Artemis?” It’s a spaceship bridge simulator in the style of “Star Trek” where six players get together and take on various roles on a spaceship that include weapons, engineer, navigation, and of course captain. Each has their own role to perform, their own computer screen to manage (except for the captain who gives all orders) and a main screen to view that largely serves as the bridge window.

To really get the full “Artemis” experience, you’ll need six people in the same room, with six copies of the game, and six computers. It’s no easy arrangement to make, but doing so yields one of the most inventive and enjoyable party games of all time.

Best Game That More People Really Should Play – Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons

There’s no getting around the fact that “Brothers” biggest weakness is it’s length. Clocking in at a generous 3 hours, even at its reduced price there isn’t necessarily a lot of “value” here.

However, if you’re a fan of truly exceptional storytelling and creative platforming then “Brothers” is essential. It’s certainly not the biggest bang for your buck  in gaming, but the overall experience does justify the price point.

Free to Play Game That’s Better Than Most Full Priced Games – Path of Exile

I did a write up on “PoE” when it first launched as a full release free to play on Steam and found it to be extremely derivative of the “Diablo” series, but in a very good way.

Some time later I feel largely the same, but with almost a hundred hours of the game under my belt without a dollar spent, I find myself feeling guilty for having knocked it at all. In every respect “PoE” is free to play done right.

Game That Was Ridiculously Ahead of It’s Time Achievement Award – Rogue

Remember how I mentioned it seemed like every week we were getting another crowdfunding success? Of those games, it seemed like every other one was a rouge-like. A genre built around permant death, randomization, and the 1980 PC game “Rogue.”

While the rouge-like has been around for awhile, its the last year or two that has seen the genre explode onto the indie scene with a number of high quality entrants. With every great game the rouge-like produces, we should all take time to thank a 1980 title with ambition that would inspire over decades.

The Best Case for Video Games as Art 2013 Edition – Kentucky Route Zero

We’ve been extremely lucky to get a host of games in recent years that have really explored the artistic abilities of gaming, and pushed the limits of the medium in an attempt to mature our expectations of game design.

Of them, “Kentucky Route Zero” may be the best yet. It’s a new American folk tale in gaming form, and its graphical style and storytelling methods really know no peer. Revolutions have been started from lesser works, and should “Kentucky Route Zero” maintain this level of quality throughout its remaining episodes, it could very well ascend to a higher level of gaming greatness.

The Bar None, Absolute, No Questions Asked, Worst Game of the Year – Final Fantasy: All the Bravest

Where do you possibly start with this one? Featuring the most blatant in-app purchase fishing scheme of any video game to date and gameplay so basic you don’t have to look at the screen for the entirety of its duration, “All the Bravest” is best viewed as a parody of bad mobile games if you hope to maintain any respect for the “Final Fantasy” franchise.

I’ve seen honest-to-god scam games on the app store with more design integrity than this irredeemable embarrassment to a once proud name, and gaming in general.

I feel that everyone putting together a best of 2013 list that truly cares about gaming only does so after slamming a recently emptied bottle of whiskey down on their desk and sighing deeply.

2013 was one of the most packed years in gaming history. From every available outlet poured titles that are without comparison, even when weighed against the entirety of gaming history. Sure, there was the usual flood of crap and frustration, but it seemed that bi-weekly we were getting one of those games that you just had to play. Of course, that’s because we were.

Even if you don’t take into account the launch of two next-gen systems and all the other major industry occurrences and just focus on the quality of the games themselves, you’d be hard-pressed to name to many other years ahead of 2013.

A lot of hard decisions had to be made when putting together this list, but I feel that this is as comfortable with the honors as I’m ever going to be. Just note that if you don’t see your favorite game, it’s either because I didn’t play it, painfully had to cut it, or just didn’t like it. The curious can ask in the comments below.

Without further ado, here are the best games of 2013.

10. Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag

Let me get “Assassin’s Creed IV’s” biggest problem out of the way first. It’s still an “Assassin’s Creed” game. Therefore, it carries all of the faults of that series, including a far too simplified combat system, some seriously uneven mission quality and obligatory futuristic plot elements that are getting more and more superfluous.

But, sweet Jesus, this game is just pure fun. A lot of that fun derives from the perfect implementation of its pirate elements. “AC:IV” is the absolute greatest pirate game ever made. It gives you nearly everything you could ever want from the romanticized pirate experience many of us are familiar with, and does it with sheer glee. It certainly doesn’t hurt that this is also one of the best written and best acted games I’ve played in some time.

Were this game developed from the ground up as an entirely new series called “Black Flag,” it may be even higher on this list. As it is, though, there are few games more entertaining than “AC:IV” regardless of your feelings towards the series up until this point, or any specific video gaming turn-ons and peeves you may have.

9. Outlast

The age of the true survival horror game seems to be coming to a close as a growing number of developers pussy out and implement more and more action elements into the genre in order to make it more appealing to a larger crowd.

That’s a true shame, as a game like “Outlast” shows the tremendous amount of life left in the traditional horror style. This is quite simply one of the most terrifying games ever released, and at no point does it give a damn if you are enjoying yourself while playing it or whether or not you feel safe. It’s an uncompromising realization of the potential gaming has in terms of conveying pure horror, and you’ll love every minute you hate playing it.

I’m so very thankful the new generation of YouTube players have spread the gossip of “Outlast” and all its terrible wonders and helped let the people know that for all the waves of shitty action games with occasional jump scares that dare label themselves horror, there are still some games that do it right.

8. The Last of Us

Developer Naughty Dog earned a reputation among gamers as a developer that can, at times, seemingly do no wrong. It’s a reputation built upon a history of titles ranging from incredibly fun, to all-time classic, with very few misses on any level. It’s a reputation that made “The Last of Us” almost destined to be a success.

That “The Last of Us” ascended to the throne before its release by virtue of its birth right could have been its undoing, but the game easily carves a legacy of its own dependent on nothing else but the quality of the final product. Its blend of stealth action, environment, character development, and above all else, story, is so effortless at times that you really have to step back from the title to force yourself to appreciate the work that went into making “The Last of Us” possible.

I do have some complaints about certain elements of “The Last of Us” as it pertains to decisions made in its gameplay and storytelling (which is very important to distinguish from just the pure story) that keep it from being game of the year, but the sheer craftsmanship of the game makes it impossible to not distinguish as a highlight in a year absolutely full of them.

7. Super Mario 3D World

Have you ever stopped to consider the nigh impossible level of consistent quality that is the “Mario” series? The natural cynic in me keeps expecting every major release to finally be the one that doesn’t get it right, but without fail, once I actually play the game, I hang my head in shame for daring to doubt it.

“Super Mario 3D World” is a celebration of everything that makes the series great. It’s colorful and lively, it’s got some of the best level design you’ll see in any game this year (or any other), and it’s capable of pumping an almost childish level of joy into your entire being that you thought the world had stomped out long ago.

You’ll find that an important characteristic I use in distinguishing which of the many great games available this year are worthy of being singled out for this list is just how much fun they are. That’s important because, far more important than any critical analysis I can divulge regarding “Super Mario 3D World” is the simple fact that it is just great fun from beginning to end.

6. BioShock Infinite

The original “BioShock” was just such a punch-in-the-gut great game that you were forced to bow to it out of mere reaction. In the world of 24-hour gaming coverage, it’s rare that you play a game that catches you off guard with its excellence, but such was the case with “BioShock.”

Many (rightfully) questioned how you follow up such an experience considering that everyone is now anticipating greatness. “BioShock Infinite” answered that question by providing a game that felt every bit worthy of the “BioShock” name in terms of its mechanics and style, but at no point felt like a $60 retread down memory lane. It used the best parts of “BioShock” as a foundation (because why wouldn’t it?), but really only took advantage of them to allow the team to focus more on creating a story and world worthy of the “BioShock” universe, but never derivative of it.

In that regard, it is a wall-to-wall triumph, and one of the best examples of how to do a proper video game sequel.

5. Gunpoint

Put a gun to my head and force me to classify “Gunpoint” as one specific genre, and I suppose I’d label it a puzzle game. After all, it gives you a series of levels that you are asked to manipulate and navigate through in order to succeed, similar to a game like “Portal,” which I’d also tentatively consider a puzzler.

Where “Gunpoint” gets the idea so very right, though, is in its organic approach to the puzzler genre. Puzzles in “Gunpoint” are not there as mere obligations and hurdles, but rather as genuinely interesting challenges with multiple solutions. The usual satisfaction in any puzzle game is when you finally solve the puzzle. In “Gunpoint,” the satisfaction comes from the process of solving the puzzle, and finding all the different ways to approach it. It makes the work you put into it as thrilling, if not more thrilling, than the eventual payoff.

“Gunpoint” became a runaway indie hit and deserves every dollar thrown its way. There are few games that manage to balance visceral satisfaction and genuine cleverness in equal measure, and “Gunpoint” does it with ease.

4. The Stanley Parable

I’ve never heard an explanation of “The Stanley Parable” that I’ve ever been completely satisfied with when it comes to conveying the full idea of the thing. After all, how do you describe a game that so openly defies nearly every gaming convention?

Fortunately, there is a free “Stanley Parable” demo available that does far better justice to the experience than words ever could. While I’d like to say to just go play that, and come back if you don’t agree with its placement here, in the interest of defending its lofty ranking over other high-profile titles, I feel compelled to tell you that every kind word you’ve heard about this game and how it is smarter, more engaging and more surprising than just about every other game out there is 100% the truth.

“The Stanley Parable” questions the very structure of gaming as we know it and presents a fully realized visual walkthrough of an alternative to those tropes. Once you are done with it, you’ll never catch yourself saying you played it, but rather that you experienced it.

3. Gone Home

As a fan of gaming my whole life, I tend to feel that the medium is capable of anything. However, before “Gone Home,” I never would have thought the next great American novel would come in the form of a video game.

However, lets not call “Gone Home” a video game, because that doesn’t really give an accurate indication of it. It’s an interactive digital expression of humanity and family. It turns the camera on the user, so to speak, and asks us to really take a look at our shared community and everything that makes us, well, us. Not as gamers, mind you, but as people.

A subtle yet profound look at family, life and all the little things that make up the bigger picture, “Gone Home” won’t last you long, but it’ll cling to your soul and forever alter the expectations you have concerning this medium and storytelling.

2. Papers, Please

Can you imagine the looks developer Lucas Pope must have gotten when telling people about “Papers, Please?” How many awkward silences and bit lips followed the explanation of a game where you, from a gameplay perspective, do little more than review paperwork for discrepancies?

Clearly, though, Pope was a man with a clear vision and I’ll be damned if he didn’t make the perfect realization of it. Let’s put aside how strangely compelling it is to go over documents and try to single out any of a number of errors while under a strict time limit, and talk about the real contribution of “Papers, Please?,” which is its unique approach to morality in gaming. Rather than doing what most other games do and give you cut and dry choices on which moral path to pursue, “Papers, Please?” presents one unified experience that is driven by your natural instincts and personality morality. This is in opposition to those other games which solicit morality from you point blank and give you plenty of chances to consciously examine your choices before making them.

“Papers, Please?” is certainly entertaining, but I would in no way call it fun. I understand that goes against an earlier outlined philosophy regarding the selection of this list, but “Papers, Please?” is the type of game that causes you to reexamine a lot of preconceptions you have regarding not only gaming, but yourself. It is one of the most immersive experiences in the history of gaming.

1. Grand Theft Auto V

The beauty of “GTA” selling millions and making billions is that I don’t have to go into too many details about it here, since you’ve probably played it. Instead, I only need justify its appearance at the top spot ahead of some very worthy competition.

Here’s the thing: AAA gaming is in seriously bad shape. Far too many of them have become this sort of futuristic nutrition paste. All of the substance, none of the flavor, and beneficial only for survival. Worse than that, they are becoming plagued with such horrors as micro transactions, an over-reliance on outdated gameplay mechanics, and a growing interest in filling the coffers of their publishers as opposed to using the considerable resources at their disposal to pursue something a little different and take the occasional risk.

Into that world comes a game like “GTA V.” It’s a game that cost somewhere north of $200 million to make, and feels like it. In exchange for $60, it gives you hundreds and hundreds of hours of well-produced content. It feels like nothing was left on the cutting room floor in order to save for a future DLC you’ll be charged for, or to save for the next yearly installment.

It is, in so many ways, the polar opposite of nearly everything that makes AAA gaming so incredibly frustrating these days. Yes, it has its problems, but none of them feel like they were put in the game with malicious intent or out of laziness. It’s a game that shows what happens when a large studio with a considerable budget aims to make a game that the developers can genuinely be proud of — not because of how much money it made, but because of the the quality of the thing itself.

Of course, it would also go on to make all the money in the world anyway. Go figure.

At the end of the day, though, “GTA V” is simply more entertaining and packed with more content than any other game released this year, which is why it snags this honor.

Since the ghosts of video game present are a little tied up at the moment building their shooting skills (got to hit up Ammunation), to find something non “GTA” related to talk about, we’ll have to look towards the future.

It’s been something of an odd year for video games as even though it has seen some of the most high quality games in recent memory, they all seem to have been released early on, rather than continuing the traditional holiday season release rush. As such, while we may have a pretty good idea how the game of the year talks will shape up, here are some of the biggest games still left to get excited about, once your “GTA” addiction has subsided.

Watch Dogs

What was one of the most touted games on the video game horizon has slipped a little bit in hype due to some questionable current gen graphics shown in a recent gameplay video, and something of a media silence since the last E3 showing, but still remains the biggest name left in 2013.

It’s easy to say that its got an even tougher path to glory in a post “GTA V” world, but while it may be an open world game, it’s unique hacker mechanics and the possibilities they provide when it comes to interacting with the world in previously unexplored ways, makes “Watch Dogs” more of an original superhero style game in the vein of “Crackdown” or “Infamous.”

Obviously when you’re mentioned in the company of such titles  you’ve got some raised expectations to try to clear, but so far “Watch Dogs” looks primed to provide a unique and memorable experience at the least.

Batman: Arkham Origins

While “Origins” initially drew concern from fans who were unsure if the “Arkham” name could maintain its level of excellence away from developer Rocksteady, the more and more we discover about this game, the easier it is to get excited for it.

Drawing more design cues from the “Mega Man” series than any previous “Arkham” installments, “Origins” will see the dark knight take on some of the highest profile members of his rouge gallery on his never ending quest to save Gotham City. Though it serves as a prequel to the high profile original titles, “Origins” looks to  take Batman games in an interesting new direction that mixes old school gaming ideas with previous series features, and some fresh ideas (including an intriguing multiplayer mode), to form a best of all worlds experience.

Like “Watch Dogs,” this ones has some lofty goals  to live up to, but appears to be coming together well.

Beyond Two Souls

Continuing the trend of wild card games that could really go either way on the quality scale, this spiritual successor to “Heavy Rain” is already causing some seriously divided discussion.

“Beyond Two Souls” continues to look like a different game every time we see it and, even as more and more of the game’s basic plot becomes clear, remains shrouded in mystery regarding what the overall product will look like and play like. We do know that fans of “Heavy Rain” will be happy to hear that it retains the interactive film gameplay of that title, while detractors will no doubt roll their eyes at the same news.

Quantic Dream has proven that they know how to create a game that differentiates itself from every other on the market, and can get people talking, with their distinctive style of game design. While it would be easy then to say that you can use your reaction to their previous games as a gauge for how excited to be towards this one, given the ambitious and exciting nature of “Beyond,” it may well be worth a trip outside of your comfort zone.

South Park: The Stick of Truth

As someone who suffered through the dreadful “South Park” games of the PS1 and N64 days, its hard to imagine that an adaption of the influential animated series could actually prove to be something worth getting excited for.

Yet that is exactly the situation I find myself in. Surviving the closure of THQ, “Stick of Truth” has continued to look better and better with every showing. In marrying the series with basic RPG elements, developer Obsidian Entertainment has found the perfect outlet to showcase the deep cast of memorable characters, and ever expanding list of scenarios and worlds the show has crafted during its long run. Their execution of the source material’s style and humor has been dead on so far and, given the developer’s track record with RPG games, there’s more and more reason to get excited for the possibilities.

The only question now is if the game will actually honor its 2013 release date. If so, don’t be surprised if this ends up being a dark horse on some game of the year lists.

While individual  game releases will always (deservedly) get most of the love, there is nothing like a truly great overall year of gaming. Even though it’s never an intended effect, it’s amazing when a group of independent properties come together to create an incredible 365, or 366 if we’re talking leap years, days of gaming. Years like 2001 (“Halo: CE,” “Grand Theft Auto III,” “Final Fantasy X”), 2007 (“Bioshock,” “Portal,” “Mass Effect”), and, of course, the greatest of them all, 1998 (featuring the holy trinity of “Metal Gear Solid,” “Half-Life,” and “Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time”) represent some of the best times ever to be a gamer.

And 2013 has the potential to join, or even exceed, all of them. Thanks to some fortunate timing, and a few delays, it’s looking to be a landmark year of video gaming that will be remembered for many, surely lesser, years to come. While there are many, many reasons for this, here are five that lead me to believe that 2013 in gaming will be one for the ages.

Mobile Gaming is Coming Into Its Own

“Serious” gamers may look down on the mobile gaming market, but it’s time that all gamers realize that we’ve come a long, long way from “Doodle Jump”. Now, instead of being an outlet for puzzlers, tower defense titles, and slightly lesser console ports, mobile gaming is producing intriguing and inventive titles at a rapid pace, due in large part to a sea of developers making use of the simpler programming on mobile devices, and the still interesting touch controls, to provide a constant, and often cheap, flow of amazing games on the go. Since the explosion in tablet sales over the last couple of years, we’re even starting to see more titles developed specifically with their larger sized screens and more powerful abilities in mind.

There hasn’t really been a truly noteworthy traditional handheld gaming system since the Nintendo DS, but thankfully an ever growing community has slowly turned a platform that was only used for brief sessions of “Snake” in your downtime, to one of the most exciting fields for surprising high quality video game releases. Expect this to continue in 2013.

The Next Generation Begins

As the Wii U is proving, a new console doesn’t have to blow minds to still produce some genuine excitement and huge sales numbers. While nothing from the other major gaming companies is official, it’s looking more and more likely that 2013 will bring gamers the next generation of Xbox and Playstation consoles (even if it is only a preview at the least). While that means that gamers will have to soon be plucking down some serious cash on new consoles, accessories and games (not to mention still trying to keep up with the releases still to come for the previous consoles), there is nothing more exciting than the promise of a new gaming generation.

Soon battle lines will be drawn once again as gamers choose their alliances, and new specs and features will again re-shape what we thought was possible in the medium. This has been a great console lifecycle, but it’s gone on for longer than usual, and it’s time for a new day to begin.

People Are Choosing the Games They Want, and What They Want in Games

One of the biggest changes to gaming over the last year or two has been the influence of sites like Kickstarter (or more recently Steam’s “Greenlight” program). Now, developers have open forums where they can present their ideas and let the community decide their interest in them, and even help by directly funding the titles. Even though the road to success is not guaranteed, it’s now easier than ever for a good idea to see life, and for gamers to help make sure the games they want get a chance.

But this isn’t just about sites like those. It’s also about events like “Mass Effect 3’s” optional new endings, or “Bioshock: Infinite’s” alternate cover. Now, more than ever, gamers have the ability to directly influence the decisions of major developers, and have a word about the final product. While this is a controversial move, the fact that the average gamer now has so much power to directly influence the titles available to them will have some major, and intriguing, implications in the coming year.

Influence of 2012’s Biggest Games

2012 was not one of those all-time great years of gaming I mentioned, but it did have some all-time great games. It’s natural to build off of what came before, and in the case of 2013, that could mean some exciting and sweeping changes across several genres.

Particularly, look for the success of “The Walking Dead” to lead to a revival of the traditional point and click genre, as well as a greater focus on the effect of storytelling in games. I also wouldn’t be surprised if the indie hit “Slender” put horror game developers back to the drawing board to come up with some fresh ideas for the genre (and veer it away slightly from the growing action elements), and if the praise that “Far Cry 3” is garnering expands the aging FPS market into more of the sandbox gaming territory.  Other less likely, but equally welcome innovations would be if more all-star developers got together on independent properties like in “Dishonored,” or if other long dead franchises get exciting resurrections like “XCOM,” or even if “Journey” inspires people to look towards developing with art, and not violence, more in mind.

Whatever the final influences may be, 2012 showed there are still some exciting places for gaming to go. 2013 might just take us to all of them.

That Lineup…

Oh sweet heaven, the amazing lineup of 2013. While you can never guarantee that any game will be great no matter how it may look, with 2013 set to deliver no less than “Grand Theft Auto V,” “Bioshock: Infinite,” “Last of Us,”  “Watch Dogs,” “Crysis 3,” “Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time,” “Simcity,” “Command and Conquer Generals 2” and the new “Tomb Raider,” it’s very likely that we are going to get a host of instant classics.

Of course, that’s just some of the games that we actually know about. Many of the best games of this year came out of nowhere, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the best game of 2013 is one that no one is talking about yet. Even in an ever expanding industry, at the end of the day games are still king, and the games set for 2013 are some of the most exciting that I’ve seen in a long time.