2023 is officially upon us, marking the beginning of a new year in video games. Plenty of highly-anticipated titles are slated to release within the next year, including Nintendo's sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, as well as Final Fantasy XVI launching exclusively on PlayStation 5 over the summer.
However, 2023 also marks the 10-year anniversary for many iconic games that defined the 2010s. Some of these titles would become all-time greats that fans still remember to this day, while others followed up on the nostalgia and anticipation of patient players. From AAA titles to indie darlings, these games from 2013 are worth celebrating in 2023.
10 The Last Of Us
Few modern-day games have created as much of a legacy as The Last of Us. The title was developed by Naughty Dog and released for PlayStation 3 in 2013, centering on the duo of Joel and Ellie navigating a post-apocalyptic America together. It's become one of the most critically-acclaimed games of all time, winning Game of the Year by several publications.
After receiving a sequel for PlayStation 4 in 2020, The Last of Us has still remained a relevant topic of conversation in pop culture. That relevancy will only continue into 2023, when an HBO series based on the 2013 game debuts, starring Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey as the series' now-iconic lead characters.
9 BioShock Infinite
BioShock Infinite was the third installment in the first-person shooter franchise, which began in 2007. The original title became notable around fans for its thematic concepts surrounding dystopia, incorporating elements of writers like George Orwell and Ayn Rand. BioShock Infinite is a standout, taking place outside the continuity of the first two.
Players control Booker DeWitt, who becomes involved in a brutal class warfare alongside Elizabeth, a woman who can interact with the multiverse. Although the game released 10 years ago, its theme and usage of alternative universes makes it all the more interesting to a 2023 audience, perhaps meaning it's due time for the game to receive a second life.
8 Grand Theft Auto V
The Grand Theft Auto franchise is one of the most iconic franchises in the history of gaming, allowing players to explore an open city and commit various crimes while avoiding police. Grand Theft Auto V has become the tentpole entry in the series, centering around the lives of three protagonists: Trevor, Franklin, and Michael.
Although the series was no stranger to controversy, Grand Theft Auto V has seen its fair share of critical acclaim over the years. It's also earned a significant place in gaming history as the second best-selling game of all time, behind Minecraft, which has certainly been a consequence of its extended lifespan of over 10 years.
7 Pokemon X & Y
2013 was a game-changing year for the Pokemon franchise, which for the past 10 years has seen even more change. Pokemon X & Y were the biggest divergence in the series to date, following up the 2D Black & White with the series' first 3D title on Nintendo 3DS. Other gameplay innovations included Mega Evolution and the brand-new Fairy-type.
Suffice it to say, Pokemon X & Y remains a fan-favorite amongst Pokemon fanatics. Even the entries' corresponding anime seasons saw Ash Ketchum reaching his greatest levels of strength yet. With some of the series' most unique Pokemon and gameplay mechanics, fans likely eagerly await the day when X & Y receive a fully-fledged remake.
6 Pikmin 3
Nintendo's follow-up to the Wii, the Wii U, was released in 2012, and struggled for a year with a weak library of games. The lineup got stronger with one of Nintendo's first major releases for the console in 2013: Pikmin 3, the long-awaited sequel to the early 2000s GameCube titles Pikmin and Pikmin 2.
While the previous two entries centered on space explorer and Super Smash Bros fighter Captain Olimar, Pikmin 3 follows the explorations of three new characters who begin to uncover the mystery of Olimar's disappearance. This mystery leads them to encounters with the titular creatures, resulting in some of the series' most gorgeous visuals yet.
5 Super Mario 3D World
As one of the few mainline Mario titles released for the Wii U, Super Mario 3D World had a lot of pressure behind it. However, most of its gameplay had been test-run in the 3DS title Super Mario 3D Land, combining the series' 2D staples with 3D explorations. Super Mario 3D World elevates that game's innovations, with some new and improved features.
Most notably, Super Mario 3D World featured four-person co-op, allowing players to control Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, or Toad. The game also featured the addition of the Cat Suit power up, allowing players to climb walls and pounce on enemies. It remains a popular Mario title, especially after its rerelease on Nintendo Switch in 2021.
4 The Stanley Parable
One of the most interesting indie games to be released in 2013 was The Stanley Parable, developed by Galactic Cafe and originally released on PC. The story-driven game is entirely predicated upon the player's choices, which allow for diverging paths and discovering alternate endings and Easter eggs along the way.
Like Super Mario 3D World, The Stanley Parable also received a remake, this one a year later in 2022. Many critics praised the game for its examination into existentialism, as well as its demo which offers a completely separate experience from the main game. The game even inspired the 2022 Apple TV+ series Severance, examining surreal office life.
3 Rogue Legacy
Another popular indie game that was released in 2013 was Rogue Legacy, a platform game developed by Cellar Door Games. The game lets players explore a randomly-generated dungeon, making their way through several bosses until they inevitably die. Afterwards, they respawn as one of their character's heirs with a new set of abilities and power-ups.
Predictably, the replay-ability of Rogue Legacy made it extremely popular amongst indie game fans. The series later received a sequel in 2022, which released for PC, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox consoles, and was subject to universal acclaim by media publications. Suffice it to say, Rogue Legacy has established quite a legacy of its own.
2 Tomb Raider
Lara Croft is practically video game royalty at this point, as the protagonist of the original Tomb Raider from 1996. The franchise went on to accrue multiple sequels, as well as a movie franchise starring Angeline Jolie. The 2013 video game was a reboot of the series, featuring Camilla Luddington as the voice behind the iconic treasure hunter.
The gameplay of the reboot, which was developed by Crystal Dynamics, takes inspiration from the successful Uncharted video game series. It certainly paid off for Tomb Raider, which received universal acclaim for its maturity and evolution of the original video game franchise. Luddington would reprise her role for two sequels in 2015 and 2018.
1 The Legend Of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
While fans eagerly awaited Breath of the Wild's release (which wouldn't come until 2017), Nintendo held off Zelda fans with A Link Between Worlds, a direct sequel to the beloved SNES title A Link to the Past. Like that game, this top-down 3DS title follows Link traveling between two parallel versions of Hyrule after Princess Zelda is captured.
Along with the game's new mechanics, including the ability to merge into walls to solve puzzles, A Link Between Worlds was a surprise favorite amongst Zelda fans. It incorporated elements from the series' past that had been long left in the retro titles, while also offering one of the best narratives in the series' long and storied history.