The Last of Us is the strongest all-around answer to “What was the best video game of 2013?” It topped Metacritic’s displayed 2013 critic-score ranking and won Game of the Year at the 2014 D.I.C.E. Awards. But “best” depends on what you want: 2013 also brought acclaimed platformers, strategy games, a major open-world hit, and memorable smaller releases. This guide to the best games of 2013 separates review scores, awards, editorial picks, and sales so you can choose by taste rather than treat one ranking as final.
Best games of 2013 at a glance
| Game | Genre and play style | Platform context | Recognition |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Last of Us | Story-driven action-adventure; primarily solo | PS3; the PlayStation Blog described it as a PS3 standout | 95 Metascore in Metacritic’s displayed 2013 ranking; D.I.C.E. Game of the Year and 10 awards overall |
| BioShock Infinite | Story-led first-person shooter | Multi-platform; platform-specific availability depends on edition | 94 Metascore; D.I.C.E. Action Game of the Year; 18th in U.S. 2013 retail-tracked units sold |
| Grand Theft Auto V | Open-world action | Released for PS3 and Xbox 360 in 2013 | 1st in U.S. 2013 retail-tracked units sold; also recognized in PlayStation Blog awards |
| Super Mario 3D World | 3D platformer with cooperative multiplayer | Wii U | 93 Metascore; D.I.C.E. Family Game of the Year; Game Informer’s Best Wii U Exclusive and Best Cooperative Multiplayer |
| Fire Emblem: Awakening | Turn-based tactical role-playing | Nintendo 3DS | 92 Metascore |
| Rayman Legends | 2D platformer; supports cooperative play | Released across multiple platforms | 92 Metascore |
| The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds | Action-adventure | Nintendo 3DS | 91 Metascore; D.I.C.E. Handheld Game of the Year |
| Brothers – A Tale of Two Sons | Story-focused adventure; designed around controlling two characters | Originally released as a downloadable game | D.I.C.E. Downloadable Game of the Year |
| Plants vs. Zombies 2 | Casual tower defense | Mobile | D.I.C.E. Casual and Mobile Game of the Year |
Metascores are from Metacritic’s accessed 2013 ranking, not a universal measure of quality. D.I.C.E. honors are category awards, not positions on a single overall ladder. Platform notes identify the relevant 2013 release context, not a guarantee of current store availability.
What was the best video game of 2013?
The Last of Us has the clearest combined case in this selection. Metacritic’s displayed 2013 ranking placed it first with a 95 Metascore, and the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences named it Game of the Year at the 17th D.I.C.E. Awards on February 6, 2014. It also won 10 awards at that ceremony. The two signals measure different things—an aggregate of critics’ ratings and an industry peer-voted award—but together make it a defensible overall pick.
That does not make the ranking objective or settle every player’s choice. If you prefer a sprawling open world, Grand Theft Auto V may be the better fit; for co-op platforming, Super Mario 3D World has a more direct appeal. The strongest recommendation depends on genre, platform, and whether you value solo storytelling, multiplayer, or a particular kind of challenge.
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#1 Best Overall
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Metacritic’s ranking also shows how close the year’s leading critic scores were: BioShock Infinite scored 94, Super Mario 3D World 93, Fire Emblem: Awakening and Rayman Legends 92 each, and The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds 91. These are scores displayed in the accessed 2013 list; they are not timeless or platform-independent quality ratings. See Metacritic’s 2013 Metascore ranking.
Which award-winning 2013 game should you choose?
The D.I.C.E. Awards recognized games within different categories. Their winners are useful for finding standout games by type, but a category win should not be read as a claim that every winner outranks every other game.
- For a cinematic solo adventure: The Last of Us won Game of the Year.
- For a shooter: BioShock Infinite won Action Game of the Year.
- For a downloadable adventure: Brothers – A Tale of Two Sons won Downloadable Game of the Year.
- For family play: Super Mario 3D World won Family Game of the Year.
- For a handheld game: The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds won Handheld Game of the Year.
- For mobile play: Plants vs. Zombies 2 won Casual and Mobile Game of the Year.
- For sports: FIFA 14 won Sports Game of the Year.
The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences announced these results on February 6, 2014. Read the 17th D.I.C.E. Awards winners release.
Rank #2
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Best games of 2013 by genre and play style
For a powerful single-player story: The Last of Us
Naughty Dog’s PS3 action-adventure is the natural starting point if you want a tense, character-led journey. It combines exploration, combat, and resource management, with an emphasis on the relationship at its center. PlayStation Blog’s December 2013 awards post highlighted the game’s performances and story while also praising its multiplayer mode. Its consensus standing is unusually strong, but its bleak tone and violence make it a poor fit for anyone seeking light or family-friendly play.
For a shooter with a distinctive setting: BioShock Infinite
BioShock Infinite pairs first-person combat with a story set in the airborne city of Columbia. It placed second in Metacritic’s displayed 2013 ranking with a 94 and won D.I.C.E. Action Game of the Year. Choose it for a narrative-driven shooter rather than for a purely competitive multiplayer experience.
For an open world: Grand Theft Auto V
Grand Theft Auto V offers a broad urban setting and a story built around three protagonists. It was the leading commercial hit among the three games named in the U.S. sales table discussed below, though commercial reach is not the same as critical acclaim. It is intended for mature audiences and is not an appropriate default recommendation for children.
Rank #3
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For co-op platforming: Super Mario 3D World
Super Mario 3D World is the clearest choice here for cooperative platforming, and its Wii U release matters: players need access to that platform or a later edition on a compatible system. It ranked third in Metacritic’s accessed list, won the D.I.C.E. Family Game of the Year award, and Game Informer selected it for both Best Wii U Exclusive and Best Cooperative Multiplayer.
For tactical role-playing: Fire Emblem: Awakening
Fire Emblem: Awakening is a turn-based strategy RPG for Nintendo 3DS. Its 92 Metascore placed it among the top games in Metacritic’s 2013 list. It suits players who want to plan battles and develop a roster of characters more than those looking for real-time action.
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Rayman Legends is a lively 2D platformer with cooperative options and a 92 Metascore in Metacritic’s displayed ranking. Its appeal is movement, timing, and level design rather than a long, story-first campaign. It appeared on multiple platforms, so check the specific edition before buying or revisiting it.
Rank #4
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For a handheld adventure: The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
This Nintendo 3DS adventure earned a 91 Metascore and D.I.C.E. Handheld Game of the Year. Its handheld focus makes it a distinct recommendation from the year’s console blockbusters, especially for players who want exploration and puzzle-solving in a portable format.
For an unusual two-character adventure: Brothers – A Tale of Two Sons
Brothers – A Tale of Two Sons is a compact, story-focused adventure built around directing two brothers. It won D.I.C.E. Downloadable Game of the Year. Its central control idea makes it a good pick for someone seeking a smaller-scale experience rather than a lengthy open world.
For mobile strategy: Plants vs. Zombies 2
Plants vs. Zombies 2 brought the series’ accessible tower-defense format to mobile and won D.I.C.E. Casual and Mobile Game of the Year. It is the most platform-specific recommendation in this selection: confirm compatibility and current availability for your device, since historical recognition does not establish present-day store status.
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What games came out in 2013—and which are still worth playing?
The games above span console, handheld, and mobile releases, as well as downloadable titles. They are not a complete release calendar; they are a selection of games supported by a mix of critic rankings, awards, and editorial recognition. The year’s variety is part of the point: there is no need to choose a shooter if your preferred experience is a strategy RPG, co-op platformer, or portable adventure.
All nine remain plausible picks if their genre and platform match what you want, but “still worth playing” does not guarantee that a particular version is currently sold, supported, or easy to access. These sources establish their historical reception and release context, not current marketplace inventory, pricing, or compatibility. Before choosing one, check the platform and edition against the hardware you own; older games may have different releases or availability by system and region.
How to choose the right 2013 game
- Start with your play style. Choose The Last of Us or BioShock Infinite for a story-led solo campaign, Super Mario 3D World for co-op platforming, Fire Emblem: Awakening for tactical battles, or Plants vs. Zombies 2 for mobile strategy.
- Check the platform before the title. The Last of Us was a PS3 standout; Super Mario 3D World and the two Nintendo picks are associated with Wii U or 3DS; Plants vs. Zombies 2 is mobile. Confirm the exact edition and supported hardware before purchase.
- Use recognition as a guide, not a substitute for taste. Metacritic summarizes critic ratings, D.I.C.E. awards recognize category winners through industry voting, and sales figures track purchases. None alone predicts whether you will enjoy a game.
Best-reviewed, award-winning, and best-selling are different claims
Each kind of recognition answers a separate question. Metacritic’s 2013 ranking summarizes critics’ reviews; D.I.C.E. names peer-voted winners by award category; Game Informer’s awards reflect one publication’s editorial choices. The Entertainment Software Association’s 2014 Essential Facts report reproduces The NPD Group/Retail Tracking Service’s U.S. top 20 games of 2013 by units sold. In that list, Grand Theft Auto V ranked first, The Last of Us fifteenth, and BioShock Infinite eighteenth. Those are U.S. retail-tracking placements by units, not global sales totals or measures of review quality. See the ESA’s 2014 Essential Facts report.
Game Informer’s January 2014 selections provide another editorial lens: The Last of Us won Best PS3 Exclusive and Best Action; Super Mario 3D World won Best Wii U Exclusive and Best Cooperative Multiplayer; Dota 2 won Best PC Exclusive and Best Competitive Multiplayer; and The Stanley Parable won Best Adventure. Those choices underline that a single overall ranking leaves out some of the year’s strongest genre-specific games. Read Game Informer’s Best Of 2013 awards.
PlayStation Blog’s December 23, 2013 awards also recognized Grand Theft Auto V, BioShock Infinite, and Ni no Kuni alongside The Last of Us. Its winners reflect that publication’s own awards and platform perspective, rather than a neutral cross-platform scorecard. See the PlayStation Blog’s 2013 awards.
Quick Recap
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