Best year for gaming ever?

On the Digitally Downloaded page, we've just put up a story about how we've given a full ten games the 5-star treatment already this year:

http://www.digitallydownloaded.net/2013/06/five-star-games-six-months-into-2013.html

Ten games getting 5-stars in just six months is a record for Digitally Downloaded, which raises the question - is 2013 just ridiculous in terms of top-quality must-play games, or is 2013 just ridiculous in terms of top-quality, must-play games?

What have been some of your 2013 highlights so far?

It has been a good year for gaming, though 3 out of the 10 games from your link are ports or delayed releases from other years (Frozen Synapse was from 2012 I think, same with XCOM which won GOTY awards last year, and Pandora's Tower finally came out in America, but it has been released for some time). 

Still, with Tomb Raider, The Last of Us, Ni No Kuni, Bioshock Infinite, and Fire Emblem Awakening, it's no doubt it's been an excellent year for gaming. And the best part is, we have 6 months left! 

Personally, TLOU is my GOTY so far. DAT ENDING

I have seen a lot of years come and go. Tough for me to ever look at one and go as definitive as 'best ever'... but this has been a really good year already.

Fire Emblem Awakening alone has really made this year stand out to me. Still, I'd really have to sit down and analyze which games came out in which years to make any sort of legitimate assessment and even then it would be down to opinion. That said, it looks like the year will only get better with the release of two new consoles and several exciting exclusives and multi-plats. I'd at least say we're already better than yesteryear.

Midori wrote:Fire Emblem Awakening alone has really made this year stand out to me. Still, I'd really have to sit down and analyze which games came out in which years to make any sort of legitimate assessment and even then it would be down to opinion. That said, it looks like the year will only get better with the release of two new consoles and several exciting exclusives and multi-plats. I'd at least say we're already better than yesteryear.

Yeah, Fire Emblem made the 3DS for me this year. Luigi's Mansion 2 is something I just picked up and my son's been playing - I need to soon as well, but it looks solid. Project X Zone appeals to me on several levels. Strategy/rpg title with characters from all over the place. Ni no Kuni was a blast for me as well. I have been deep into persona 4 Golden on my Vita as well. I believe that didn't come out until late last year? But it's new to me this year! LOL

No, its not. Wouldnt even be in my top 10 personally

Stealth wrote:Wouldnt even be in my top 10 personally

What would be your favorite year(s) or favorite general era? Would be nice to hear from someone with established preferences.

Midori wrote:

Stealth wrote:Wouldnt even be in my top 10 personally

What would be your favorite year(s) or favorite general era? Would be nice to hear from someone with established preferences.

1998

Metal gear, OOT, pokemon red

That year changed gaming forever. This one I cant say that

It is a dead tie: 1996 was the year that Mario 64, WaveRace 64, Resident Evil, Crash Bandicoot, Tomb Raider, Command and Conquer: Red Alert and Diablo released and 1998 was when Metal Gear Solid, Resident Evil 2, Parasite Eve, Banjo-Kazooie, Mega Man Legends, Spyro the Dragon, Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit, Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped, Half-Life, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Star Wars: Rogue Squadron released.

It simply doesn't get much better than 1996 and 1998 - even if the release of Tomb Raider II in 1997 put it right there in the running too.