Best Games of 2013 (So Far)

Three strangers must work together to traverse the mysteries of The Cave, the latest adventure game from the minds at Double Fine. With seven different characters to choose from, the experience will be different for everyone involved, and this player choice mechanic also offers plenty of replay incentive. Sharp graphics, laugh-out-loud humor, and intuitive puzzles make The Cave a must buy.

Isaac Clarke has returned, and with him comes a brand-new way to play Dead Space. In Dead Space 3, Visceral included cooperative play for the first time in franchise history, as well as a new weapon-crafting system that drastically changes the way you're able to battle the Necromorph hordes. The series has evolved beyond its survival horror roots, but the strong story and solid action will keep you coming back for more.

The zombie apocalypse has been hot for a few years, but still developers continue to mine the well for new and innovative takes on the genre. XBLA title State of Decay manages to be fresh and new by offering gamers the first true open-world zombie title with real consequences. Perma-death lurks around every corner, and you truly do feel like you're smack in the middle of the end of the world. Even if the tropes in the story have a been there, done that vibe, Undead Labs has accomplished something truly memorable.

You know what's outrageous? That a fishing game could be considered one of the best games of 2013. Of course, the minute you start playing Ridiculous Fishing: A Tale of Redemption you realize just how fun it is to drop a line in the ocean. The soundtrack is terrific, the art style is reminiscent of 8-bit games, (but with a bit more personality), and the easy-to-learn, hard-to-master gameplay is addictive as any mobile game that's been released.

Plenty of fans decried Ninja Theory's reboot of Capcom's Devil May Cry, but little did they know the developer behind Enslaved and Heavenly Sword would deliver one of the best entries in the series to date. The new-look Dante has a wealth of powers and weapons at his disposal to make use of a easy-to-learn combat system that is just as addictive as past DMC games. Combined with great graphics and a solid story, DmC: Devil May Cry breathed new life into a stale franchise, earning its spot in our Best Games of 2013 list.

As part of Nintendo's "Year of Luigi," the release of the 3DS sequel to a Gamecube classic was one of the best ideas the publisher ever had. Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon showed off the 3DS' capabilities, while also being a really fun, and surprisingly lengthy, adventure. Combined with a adequate multiplayer component, Dark Moon served as an example that Luigi could really stand on his own as a competent leading man. It doesn't hurt that Nintendo knows how to get the most from its hardware either.

Though only the first chapter of this new episodic adventure game has been released so far, Kentucky Route Zero has already established itself as one of the Best Games of 2013. The point-and-click genre has had a bit of a renaissance in recent years, and Kentucky Route Zero is just the latest example of how there's still plenty of mileage in the tank with the right developer. Centered around a mysterious secret highway running through caves beneath Kentucky, the atmosphere of the world and questions raised during the journey will have you glued to your keyboard, waiting to find out what happens next.

Etrian Odyssey 4: Legends of the Titan continued the strong legacy established by earlier entries, but added a few new wrinkles to the fold. With a bigger world, and 3D monsters for the first time in franchise history, Legends of the Titan was an instant standout amongst its predecessors. Also, there are dragons flying around that can attack your airship, so that's an automatic pass into the best of the year conversation. Atlus continued to show it knows how to impress with RPGs on Nintendo handhelds, and Etrian Odyssey 4 might be the cream of the crop.

Who hasn't wanted to be one of the greatest thieves of all time? Monaco gives you the chance to act out your inner Danny Ocean, and along with a few friends, you can be stealing valuables from around the world in no time. The clever stealth-based indie game requires solid teamwork to get the job done, and even with its simplistic, yet attractive, style, Monaco manages to be a captivating downloadable game. As the tag line says, "What's Yours is Mine." You should make this game yours.

New franchises typically don't spring up at the end of a console's cycle, but that didn't stop Dontnod Entertainment and Capcom from bringing Remember Me to the gaming masses. One of the few games this year to feature a female protagonist, Remember Me's heady sci-fi is both ambitious and, at times, too smart for its own good. Nilin's world is quite remarkable though, and the combat is fluid and fun, which helps Remember Me stand out from a crowd of sequels and tired genre titles.