Most anticipated PC games of 2013
Aye, 2012 was good for gamers, with many great titles coming out and gracing us with countless hours of gameplay. What are the most anticipated PC games of 2013, on which titles are we betting? If you are not sure what you should keep an eye out for, with scheduled release dates. The list is randomly thrown together, thanks to the sloppy and slightly chaotic nature of the author, and by no means implicate some titles as “hotter” just because they are closer to the top of the page. And as usual, the disclaimer: this list is a matter of personal preference, so don’t be mad if we didn’t mention your favorite Football Manager simulation!
Watch Dogs
Game Genre: action
Developer: Ubisoft Studios
Publisher: Ubisoft
Release date: 2013
Things have been very quiet around this title since the presentation of the game, but it has left a very distinctive impression on everyone who has seen the gameplay trailer. Personally, it reminded of a combination of Max Payne, Matrix, Ghost in the Shell and even GTA in the best possible manner. From the first moment you see the main protagonist walking down the street, wind blowing dust and debris around him, his leather coat waving in the wind, you’ll give off a silent “woah, hell, this looks good!”, and as the trailer goes on, it only gets better. The dialogue, animation, graphic, fluidity of the gameplay is downright mesmerizing, culminating in a gunfight in the middle of the street. It is apparent that you will have multiple ways of solving problems, but will mostly rely on your ability to hack computers and cellphones as well as a steady hand and a quick trigger finger. Watch Dogs is promising a lot and is one of the games that, should the end product resemble the quality implied in the trailer, be easily one of the best games of 2013.
Rome 2: Total War
Game Genre: strategy
Developer: Creative Assembly
Publisher: SEGA
Release date: 2013
Off all the strategy series that exist to this date, Total War claims number one at my own personal top list. Even though some players resented the Creative Assembly’s love for reinventing their own titles (some jagged critics might say “rehashing” instead), I’ve never had anything against that. In fact, the CA’s decision to revisit feudal Japan and samurai warfare back in their focus ten years after first Total War: Shogun proved to be a perfect call. Next was, logically, reinvention of Rome (after all, Medieval saw its resurrection, so it kind of made sense), the game that truly introduced mass 3D unit combats and gave the series the push to the next level. Even though Rome was not everyone’s cup of tea, as the good ol’ Brits from CA might say while nipping Earl Grey – I for one still painfully recall my archers constantly shooting at the friendly units standing in front of them; no, lift that bow up higher, damnit! – it is quite a safe bet to say that Rome 2 will be a masterpiece of strategy, definitely one of the greatest titles of 2013. Looking forward to it!
Arma 3
Game Genre: shooter/warfare simulation
Developer: Bohemia Interactive
Publisher: Bohemia Interactive
Release date: 2013
We love Arma games and are especially looking forward to this deep, profound military simulation. The love for detail that went into this incredible game is breathtaking, the isolated island that the warfare will be taking place on looks wonderful, highly detailed and above all very realistic, but developers have also paid a lot of attention to night battles, vehicle physics, hell, even underwater action! Arma may never overthrow such mainstream games like Call of Duty and Battlefield, but it doesn’t even aim at that; Arma is warfare simulation at its best, bringing the realism to an entirely new level. Definitely a game that fans of FPS
Age of Wushu
Game Genre: MMO
Developer: SnailGames
Publisher: SnailGames
Release date: 03.05.2013.
Age of Wushu is a free-to-play, martial arts based Asian MMO sandbox without classes, which should alienate a lot of players already, based on the prejudice alone. So far the reactions were carefully optimistic and promising, but we will know for sure only when we give it a full spin when its done. Seriously, previewing a singleplayer game before it goes out, all nice and dandy, but doing the same with an MMO? When is an MMO “done and completed”, anyway?
Starcraft 2: Heart of the Swarm
Game Genre: RTS
Developer: Blizzard Entertainment
Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment
Release date: 12.03.2103.
When Starcraft 2 came out two and a half years ago, many folks were angry, claiming that Blizzard has divided the game into three parts to milk the player for what they are worth. Now, retroactively, I would say that we’ve had an incredible E-sports game with a remarkable multiplayer and engaging singleplayer, and that both Heart of the Swarm and Legacy of the Void will additionally enrich the game, extending its lifespan for a good decade, at least as far as E-sports are concerned. In short, I for one welcome our new Zerg rulers… Until the Protoss arrive, that is… On the bad side, hell, I finally mastered some builds and started sweeping the deck with others on ladders, and here comes Blizz, messing my whole game up. Well, shucks! Back to the drawing board!
Tomb Raider
Game Genre: action/adventure
Developer: Crystal Dynamics
Publisher: Square Enix / Eidos
Release date: 05.03.2013.
Here is another controversial title that I am very much looking forward to try out and expect it to be a fairly decent game. Others disagree. That is not the Lara we know, they squeak. She can’t even do a triple salto! And, OMG, is there an implication of a rape in that video!?! Calm…the fudge…down! This young Lara has the potential to be the best Tomb Raider title ever, but will certainly be the darkest and grittiest of them all. I bet my last buck on Lara. She’ll pull it off. Tomb Raider will be a memorable experience.
Company of Heroes 2
Game Genre: strategy
Developer: Relic Entertainment
Publisher: SEGA
Release date: 05. June 2013
Yet another strategy game that a lot of folks have high hopes about; of course, it is Company of Heroes 2. Sequel to the acclaimed Company of Heroes from 2006, this title was revealed in 2012 and was overshadowed by financial problems and eventual bankruptcy of THQ, who was the publisher of Relic Entertainment. SEGA snatched off Relic for 26m in the beginning of 2013 and so far it seems that CoH 2 is still on track. Let us keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best.
Mechwarrior Online
Game Genre: MMO
Developer: Piranha Games
Publisher: Infinite Game Publishing
Release date: April 2013
Ah, the Mech-universe revisited, the wet dream of every older geek has come true! This will be a free-to-play MMO with big robots shooting at each other with lazorz, bombz and whatnot. On the serious note, the game so far looks amazing, it is not a mere twitch contest, but it does requires quick thinking, improvisation, speed and tactical refinement. This one seems like a safe bet for a nomination as one of the most anticipated as well as the best games of 2013.
World of Warplanes
Game Genre: MMO
Developer: Wargaming.net
Publisher: Wargaming.net
Release date: 2013
We need more cowbell! Well, in this case, we need more MMO’s that are not about swords, shields and magic spells. And what we need the most is a game where you fly aircraft and shoot other planes down, as well as ships, tanks and general stuff that comes in your cross-hair. Remember the time when we once started out with PC’s? A joystick was a required part of your setup! Last time I had a use of joystick was around the time I played TIE Fighter. Time to go out and find me some new hardware, yeeehaaw!
Bioshock Infinite
Game Genre: action
Developer: Irrational Games
Publisher: 2K Games
Release date: 26.03.2013.
Bioshock Infinite definitely belongs to one of the highly anticipated games for the year 2013, and as we monitor its progress, we can say, with some careful optimism, that this game will turn out just fine. Well, it needs to live up to its very solid predecessors, as we are all investing a lot of hopes in it.
Europa Universalis IV
Game Genre: strategy
Developer: Paradox Interactive
Publisher: Paradox Interactive
Release date: 2013
Ah, there was a lot of talk about Europa Universalis IV, one of the latest and most promising strategies coming from Paradox’s forge. EU IV is promising to iron out the few not so successful features of its predecessor and possibly claim the throne as one of the finest wargames for 2013. Needless to say, we are betting heavily on this baby! It just might turn out to be as great a hit as Crusader Kings 2, the poet sighed and smiled.
DayZ
Game Genre: shooter
Developer: Bohemia Interactive Studio
Publisher: Bohemia Interactive Studio
Release date: June 2013
What has started out as an Arma 2 mod is now going to grace us as a full, stand-alone game, thanks to the knowledge and abilities of the modders to guess what gamers will like as well as the insight of Bohemia Interactive, who are at this very moment also preparing Arma 3. Good to see that there are still developers supporting their fans and allowing on their games to be expanded, instead of being focused on making their products as little as moddable as possible, discouraging player made mods and changes while they are churning expensive, sub-par DLC’s in order to milk the gamers for what they are worth.
DayZ mod now is turning more into a ganking feast than a zombie survival game, it remains to see how will it look in the final version of the game. Honestly, it could go either way. Cross your fingers, boys and girls.
Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2
Game Genre: shooter
Developer: CI Games
Publisher: CI Games
Release date: 15.03.2013.
Can you ever have too many sniper games? Nope, I don’t think so. Sniping games are always fun, but it is hard to get the perfect mix of realism and fluid, satisfying gameplay. Aside the grave inaccuracies while depicting Sarajevo, which we will contribute to the artistic freedom, the trailer below depicts actual gameplay footage. Let us hope the game will measure up to the video.
Grand Theft Auto V
Game Genre: action
Developer: Rockstar Games
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Release date: 2013
Ok, there is hardly anything to say about the Grand Theft Auto series, and the latest is promising to be the nastiest, most violent, fastest and most enjoyable sequel so far. However, this one could go either way, and we are hoping that it will live up to the hype. Of course, we do not expect it to simply stink to high heaven, it just remains to be seen if GTA V will count to the finest of the series or will it turn out a mediocre game? We should know soon enough.
Neverwinter
Game Genre: MMO
Developer: Cryptic Studio
Publisher: Atari / Infogrames
Release date: 2013
Neverwinter comes from Cryptic studios, promising us quite some different surrounding from the one from Star Trek Online, which just might be the best game they’ve ever made. Swords and shields and magic spells, vicious foes, quests…well, you know the drill. Now, even though we are hoping for this one to be a true gem, it could really go either way. As with other MMO’s, we have abstained from playing beta versions, and are letting us be surprised form the finished game. As far as an MMO can ever be “finished”.
