This has been an interesting year for me as a gamer. I’ve gone from heavy use of my Xbox 360 to pretty much solely a Nintendo & PC gamer. The 3DS is definitely my machine of the year, although thanks to my brother I have a working gaming PC now and have fallen in love with Steam.

As one of the writers for D+Pad Magazine, I took part in an article where we all shared our games of the year, so you can see what I thought was my game of 2013 over there.

Other noteworthy games which I feel are worth mentioning in 2013 are the following:

Rogue Legacy (PC)

I’ve been growing to enjoy roguelikes, and one which combines Metroidvania gameplay and a progression system as you die, then get to play your descendant, build up a castle and get better as time goes on. Make a dynasty on a doomed quest to conquer an ever-changing castle. It’s amazingly compulsive, short to play and unlike a lot of roguelikes, rewarding. My review is here.

Papers, Please (PC)

People could be fooled into thinking that games are only about a half-dozen ideas, or at least that only shooting, driving and sports make for good games. This is a fascinating bureaucracy-em-up with so much to think about, so many compelling aspects and about 20 endings. Prepare to think about your own morality. My review is here. Glory to Arstotzka!

The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds (3DS)

The first Zelda game I played was A Link To The Past, so seeing the basic world and mechanics vastly improved was amazing. A stunning game with some great mechanics. You play an adventurer who can turn into a living painting as he quests around a small world looking to fre seven sages who were all turned into paintings. A perfect homage without being slavish to the original or casting it aside. My review is here.

Pokémon X (3DS)

A deeper Pokémon game than its predecessors despite sticking to the tried, tested and slightly tired formula. I’ve not been able to give it as much time as I’d like, but seeing my flatmate discover The Nintendo Magic for the first time has been a joy.

Animal Crossing: New Leaf (3DS)

This was an illness. I love it, but I can’t go back. Not yet. I still own it just in case I give up on life.

Super Mario 3D World (Wii U)

Joy. Pure joy.

The Stanley Parable (PC)

I’ll talk about this soon in the slowest/hardest review I’ve ever made.

Spin The Bottle: Bumpie’s Party (Wii U)

Also to be explored in a review for D+Pad soon, but this is the kind of thing that’s easier to show than tell, so I’ll be enlisting friends to help demonstrate it in a video.