3.) Guild Wars 2
Guild Wars 2 shocked the world last year by announcing an unprecedented two-week update schedule. Delivered in the wrapper of an ever-evolving story, ArenaNet set out to re-define the Living World. It can be challenging to keep up with how much is changing in Tyria but there is no denying how impressive what ArenaNet is accomplishing is. With the first story arc only now drawing to a close, Guild Wars 2 leaves us breathless. Combined with stellar leveling, strong arena combat, and the best RVR this side of Dark Age of Camelot, Guild Wars 2 is easily one of the best games of 2013.
2.) Neverwinter
Cryptic Studios made it clear from the outset that Neverwinter was a game to be impressed, by and getting our hands on it only proved that to be true. Not only does it pack some of the industry’s best action combat but it delivers it with all of the chest-looting, trap disarming flair of a good Dungeons and Dragons adventure. The game also packs Cryptic’s proprietary Foundry software which allows players to create their own adventures and share them online. A bunch of DnD fans free to craft their own stories? You guessed: there is good stuff here and well worth your time.
1.) Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn
Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn is as unlikely an MMO as there has ever been. The stories of its disastrous initial release are well known but Square-Enix has proven a game can rise from its own ashes. A Realm Reborn easily stands toe-to-toe with any game on the market. It has a beautiful world, a deep class system, dynamic events, housing, raids, dungeons, and PvP. More importantly, FFXIV: ARR has reminded players how much fun it is to work together to overcome challenges. Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn is a Phoenix Down at work and is without question the MMO highlight of 2013.
Those are our top ten but we want to hear from you. Are these your best of or are we total crazies? Sound off in the comments below!
Christopher Coke / Chris has been an MMO player since the days of MUDs. Occasionally he likes to pontificate on the subject. Read him every other week in Player Versus Player and in MMORPG’s The Tourist. He can also be found on Twitter: @gamebynight.
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