In a recent reader feature published by GameCentral, James Davie makes the case that 2011 and 2013 stand as the two best years in video game history, surpassing other celebrated years like 1998 and 2007. Davie argues that these years combined quality and quantity of releases like no other, delivering top-tier games from January through December.
Why 2011 Stands Out
Davie recalls his college days in 2011, walking to the local supermarket to buy the latest hot releases during breaks. He describes the year as a 'sheer assault' of games that should make any other year blush. January kicked off with LittleBigPlanet 2, the PlayStation 3 version of Mass Effect 2, and Dead Space 2. Throughout the year, gamers were treated to Bulletstorm, Portal 2, the Mortal Kombat reboot, L.A. Noire, Deus Ex: Human Revolution, Dark Souls, Minecraft, Saints Row: The Third, Skyrim, Batman: Arkham City, Rayman Origins, and The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword.
Davie also highlights the Nintendo 3DS, which launched that year with a wealth of games utilising its gyroscopic 3D capabilities, including The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, Star Fox 64 3D, Super Mario 3D Land, and Mario Kart 7.
2013: An Industry-Shifting Year
Davie calls 2013 'arguably way larger and far more epic', describing it as both an industry-shifting year and the last bastion of amazing seventh-generation titles. The year began with DmC: Devil May Cry and Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch, one of Davie's all-time favourites. Other notable releases included Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, Luigi's Mansion 2, the Tomb Raider reboot, Bioshock Infinite, Animal Crossing: New Leaf, Far Cry: Blood Dragon, The Last of Us, Pikmin 3, Saints Row 4, GTA 5, Puppeteer, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD, The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, The Stanley Parable, Rayman Legends, Tearaway, Killzone: Mercenary, Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag, and Super Mario 3D World.
In November 2013, the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One launched, changing the games industry in ways still present today. PlayStation 4 launch titles included Resogun, Knack, and Killzone: Shadow Fall, while the Xbox One offered Ryse: Son of Rome, Forza Motorsport 5, and Dead Rising 3.
A Personal Perspective
Davie acknowledges that other years like 1998 (with The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Metal Gear Solid, Half-Life, Resident Evil 2, and Banjo-Kazooie) and 2007 (with Bioshock, Super Mario Galaxy, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Mass Effect, Assassin's Creed, and Uncharted: Drake's Fortune) are often cited as the best. However, he maintains that 2011 and 2013 overloaded gamers with quality releases unlike any other years.
'Simply put, the enormity of 2013 isn't spoken about often, but it really should be enshrined in video game lore forever,' Davie writes. He adds that both years had industry-shifting qualities that are hugely significant to the history and modern state of video games.
The reader feature does not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro. Readers can submit their own 500-600 word features for publication.
