2023 is already shaping up to be a great year for gaming, with highly anticipated games like Hogwarts Legacy and Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League at the top of gamers' lists. But even while looking ahead to the future, it doesn't hurt to take a look back at the past.
10 years ago, in 2013, the gaming industry was a very different place, and multiple games that gamers will recognize instantly were just about to come out. Some games could not withstand the test of time, while others, like these titles, have grown so much that they're still worth playing even today.
Injustice: Gods Among Us
It's hard to believe, with how massive the Injustice universe has gotten, that the franchise is only 10 years old. And it's all thanks to this game.
Set in an alternate DC Universe, players take up the roles of various DC characters as they battle against an oppressive regime led by Superman. The game leans heavily into themes of what makes a hero heroic and how easy it is for even the greatest hero of them all to lose his way after a tragedy. The game has since spawned a prequel comic series, a sequel game, and an animated movie, with hopes from fans that a 3rd game will be announced.
BioShock Infinite
The BioShock franchise has one of the best steampunk games out there, and the latest game, BioShock Infinite was released back in 2013.
While the game's plot, involving alternate realities and a multiverse, was a little complicated, the game itself was spectacular and received critical acclaim. It features great combat and stunning visual designs that put other games released in the same year to shame. Without a doubt, BioShock Infinite was one of the best games of 2013, and certainly still deserves to be played even 10 years later.
Batman: Arkham Origins
While there are many harsh realities when replaying the Batman: Arkham games, there's no doubt that all of them are worth playing even years later, including the 2013 title, Arkham Origins.
Arkham Origins serves as a prequel to the series, and despite it being developed by a different game studio than the rest of the games, it still made quite an impact on people. Yes, many consider it to be the weakest of the series, but that doesn't make it a bad game. Players have had a lot of fun fighting off the various assassins sent to kill Batman, and it's also interesting to see just how Joker got his start in this universe.
Crysis 3
The Crysis franchise certainly isn't as popular as some other big FPS games, but it's still a memorable trilogy of games, with Crysis 3 having come out 10 years ago.
A key reason why Crysis 3 is worth playing is that, unlike games like Halo and Call of Duty, stealth is a vital part of success. Many battle encounters in the game are nearly impossible take on all guns blazing, as the player will easily be killed despite the advanced nanosuit they are wearing. Therefore, it's up to the player to decide when is the time to be stealthy and when is the time to fight. It makes the game more difficult, but a lot more fun in the process, even 10 years later.
Warframe
Warframe is one of the biggest free-to-play online multiplayer games, and it's still growing today after 10 years of being online.
The game offers multiple different exosuits for players to play as, along with hundreds of different weapons to choose from. The world Warframe exists in is rich and filled with hidden lore just waiting to be found. While waiting for some things to be unlocked can be a pain, the nearly unlimited potential of what gamers can do in this game keeps it high up on the charts and makes the grind for better equipment well worth it.
Dead Space 3
Dead Space is one of the most immersive horror games out there, and all 3 games are still worth playing after all this time, including Dead Space 3, which came out 10 years ago.
In the game, the horror keeps players on the edge of their seats and the jump scares are intense. Combat is brutal, but not too challenging that it makes people want to quit. While the shift towards action for this game disappointed some, many saw the game as a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy. Regardless, fans will have a chance to return to this universe with the upcoming release of the Dead Space remake later this year.
Grand Theft Auto V
It's hard to believe that a franchise like Grand Theft Auto would be filled with emotional gut punches. It's also hard to comprehend that the most famous of the games, Grand Theft Auto V, is turning 10 this year.
With several different protagonists to play throughout the campaign and a never ended amount of bad guys to take down, the game quickly established itself as an iconic fan favorite for many years to come. Many of the systems and themes of the game may seem outdated today to some, but that never takes away from the fun people have throughout.
Outlast
Outlast may be one of the scariest horror games out there, and it's been around long enough that some might consider it outdated. But this couldn't be further from the truth.
Not only does the scariness of the game still hold up after all this time, but it still poses a hard challenge for gamers. With so many horror games out there involving combating the monsters or killers head-on, Outlast ignores all that and forces players to hide from them in increasingly difficult areas. With the health bar also hidden from view, it's also impossible for players to know how much health is left, giving the game an extra amount of challenge that makes it still a top-tier game to play.
Payday 2
Similar to games like Watchdogs and Grand Theft Auto, Payday 2 is a heist game. But with over 20 different characters to choose from, it easily became a hit despite the competition.
The game lets players team up on different heists, each with their objectives and varying difficulty. The variety of enemies in place, which also get harder as heists go on, keeps gamers entertained and challenged, as each comes with its strengths and weaknesses to overcome. Given the game can be played in the multiplayer coop, it's perfect for gaming with friends, which, in 2023, has grown to be an even bigger experience than ever before.
Tomb Raider
The 2013 Tomb Raider game served as a reboot of the franchise, and also proved to be one of the best installments in the series overall.
Instead of seeing Lara Croft in her prime, the game shows her towards the start of her career and not the seasoned explorer fans knew her to be. This gave players a chance to see Lara in her early days as she fights against a creepy and sinister cult. The game served to revitalize the Tomb Raider franchise and led to 2 more games in the reboot trilogy. For those wanting to get into the series, this 2013 game is a good start and still worth it after a decade of being out.
Source:gamerant.com