TA Top Five: Games of 2013

By Cindy Minguez,
In our ongoing quest to highlight some of the best games of this past generation, here is our "Top Five" list of most-notable Xbox 360 games from 2013. Interestingly, every single game in this year's top-five is a sequel. Even the honorable mentions, with the exception of one title, are continuations of series, so I think it's fair to call 2013 the year of the sequel.

Honorable Mentions

Splinter Cell: Blacklist Achievements - Ubisoft - August
Community Rating - 4.5 | Metacritic Score - 82

Homeland 3


Sam Fisher is back in another Splinter Cell sequel, and this one really shines. Whether sneaking through a facility in stealth mode or blasting your way through with guns blazing, Sam doesn't fail to please the fans.

Brothers - A Tale of Two Sons Achievements - Starbreeze - August
Community Rating - 4.3 | Metacritic Score - 86

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The only non-sequel in our list, in this charming XBLA title, two brothers must traverse a dangerous world, working together to come through their adventure. With its stunning artwork, enthralling story, and the genuine care put into the game by its creators, this one is indeed a gem.

Rocksmith 2014 Edition Achievements - Ubisoft - October
Community Rating - 4.7 | Metacritic Score - 87

Launch


In the follow-up to its popular Rocksmith Achievements, Ubisoft goes in far greater depth with its guitar teaching. Able to plug your own guitar into the game, you can learn everything from the basics to complicated techniques of the experts with over 80 available lessons to explore.

XCOM: Enemy Within Achievements - Firaxis - November
Community Rating - 4.8 | Metacritic Score - 89

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Enemy Within is an expansion on its very popular predecessor XCOM: Enemy Unknown Achievements, the strategy game that has the player fighting off aliens that have invaded the planet. With numbers this high, it almost made it into the top five, but since it's only been out a few days, it seems a bit too soon to give it that distinction.

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag Achievements - Ubisoft - October
Community Rating - 4.7 | Metacritic Score - 85

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Black Flag is the latest in the popular Assassin's Creed series with the added twist of our main character being a pirate. Edward Kenway has breathed new excitement into the sometimes too formulaic series. This is another game that almost made the top five, but it hasn't been out quite long enough to justify its spot there.

The Fine Five

Tomb Raider Achievements - Crystal Dynamics - March

Community Rating - 4.6 | Metacritic Score - 86

The latest installment of the ever-popular Tomb Raider franchise is a sharp departure from past games in which Lara Croft crawls through tombs, climbs through jungles, and blasts through hordes of enemies with nary a hair out of place. In the 2013 version, for the first time, we see Lara dirty, bleeding, and desperate in the harrowing circumstances that formed her later character. In other words, we see the real woman, a real person, and she's better than ever as we watch her claw her way to survival. You go, girl.

Diablo III Achievements - Blizzard - September

Community Rating - 4.6 | Metacritic Score - 87

In the latest title of the popular Diablo franchise, dungeon crawling never looked so good. With a vast array of gameplay options available, there's never any reason to be bored. Whether choosing from the eight difficulty settings, joining a multiplayer game to increase the amount of loot you receive, or making a hardcore character that will truly die if killed, Diablo III puts the game into your hands to customize and play as you wish to play. Slaying monsters and collecting loot was never so much fun.

Rayman Legends Achievements - Ubisoft - September

Community Rating - 4.7 | Metacritic Score - 90

The spiritual descendant of Rayman Origins Achievements, Legends returns to the game's roots, combining old school platforming with beautiful visuals for a truly amazing platforming experience. With 120 levels available, a great musical score, and the in-depth fun of the original Rayman, this game is a platformer fan's version of heaven.

Grand Theft Auto V (Xbox One) Achievements - Rockstar - September

Community Rating - 4.8 | Metacritic Score - 97

In its latest return to San Andreas, Rockstar pulls out all the stops. With not one, but three main characters, the game has a whole new dynamic that works beautifully as you try to balance the personalities and actions of Franklin, Michael, and Trevor as they work toward making that big score. With a plethora of vehicles at your disposal, realistic gameplay, and beautiful city environments, this game is a resounding success in an already successful franchise.

BioShock Infinite Achievements - Irrational Games - March

Community Rating - 4.7 | Metacritic Score - 93

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=...

The newest member of the BioShock family sees us leaving Rapture to take to the skies in the flying city Columbia, and like its predecessors, all is not well in the world. While there are no little sisters to save here, we do have one young woman that desperately needs rescuing, and Booker DeWitt is just the man to get the job done. With its beautiful graphics, great gameplay, and shocking twist at the end (no, I won't tell), this one is definitely one of the best of 2013.

The TA Team has now brought you up to date on some of the best games of this generation. While voting does close today at 6pm GMT THERE IS STILL TIME to cast your votes for "Game of the Generation".
Cindy Minguez
Written by Cindy Minguez
Cindy has been writing for TA/TT for three years now and is the Assistant Manager of the Newshounds at TrueTrophies. She's an English instructor at a small college and considered a remarkably cool teacher for knowing all about Mass Effect, Skyrim, and Diablo III.
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