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The 2013 Boysie Awards

It’s awards time! This year, there were so many outstanding games that giving out the Boysies was the hardest process in recent memory. There were more games to consider with the launch of the PS4 and Xbox One. But cue the fanfare: Here are The Boysies!

BEST WII U GAME (TIE)

boysie-1Super Mario 3D World (Nintendo)

You wouldn’t think it would be but, boy, is it fun to play as Mario in a cat suit. Plus, the amount of creativity the game makers put into each level makes you want to find all three green stars. More than that, it’s the stuff that dreams are made of.

boysie-2Lego City Undercover (Nintendo)

Open world games made for everyone are still rare. Fun and funny, engaging and challenging, Lego City Undercover has all the ingredients of a game you want to play over and over again.

BEST PLAYSTATION 3 GAME

boysie-3Lego Marvel Super Heroes (Warner Bros.)

Another Lego offering wins! Starting with the Hulk, the ability to play as dozens of superheroes is a true escape into fantasy adventure for game fans who love comics. And if you don’t know comics, there’s not a more fun way to learn about superhero powers and history than with this game.

BEST PLAYSTATION 4 GAME

boysie-4Resogun (SCEI)

There aren’t many great PS4 games for kids — yet. Knack can be good, but Resogun is better. It’s an old-school science-fiction game all dressed up with new technology and fiery graphics. Classic arcade games like Sinistar and Zaxxon seemed really easy to play, but were hard to win. Resogun upholds that tradition for 2013.

BEST XBOX 360 GAME

boysie-5Disney Infinity (Disney Interactive Studios)

Sure, Skylanders SWAP Force has a cool new trick. But despite lackluster-looking action figures, Infinity feels innovative. The opening sequence is one of the best ever seen in games for kids — or otherwise. New user-made Toy Boxes keep coming weekly. If you have the time, that Minecraft-like build function makes for endless replay value.

BEST XBOX ONE GAME

boysie-6Zoo Tycoon (Microsoft)

There aren’t that many good kids games for One yet, either. But how could you not love this game? The brand-new Kinect makes hand-feeding the animals an awesome experience. Yes, your zoo looks a little too tidy in an unreal way. But there’s so much to do, see and learn, you’ll enjoy playing for some time.

BEST NEW CONSOLE

boysie-7PS4

Face it: Both One and PS4 have their wow factors and are close in quality. But the PS4 has better graphics, an easier-to-understand interface — and you don’t have to buy the camera if you don’t want one. That saves you $100. The machine looks better and everything is better designed overall, right down to the lack of a heavy power brick.

BEST 3DS GAME (TIE)

boysie-8Animal Crossing: New Leaf (Nintendo)

From the music to the portability to the unique, quirky characters, the appeal of this game is endless. And so is the play — especially on holidays when wondrous things happen. And those sea shanties heard as you travel to the island are nothing short of brilliant. Bravo, Nintendo.

boysie-9Pokémon X/Y (Nintendo)

This re-imagining of the old series is so full of surprises, it got me interested in the Pokémon again. The 3D portions are lackluster. But everything else about the game feels original. I kept thinking, “If this game were a theme park, I’d be first in line.”

BEST COMPUTER GAME

boysie-10Star Wars Pinball: Balance of the Force (Zen Studios)

It’s simple: Play amazing pinball and go deep into the Star Wars trilogy. You want to keep coming back to get high scores … and to unlock everything. It’s thrilling, and you even get to race the ships and shoot an X-Wing. Plus, Darth Vader is at his creepiest.

BEST VITA GAME

boysie-11Tearaway (SCEI)

Just as they did with LittleBigPlanet, the game makers created an unusual, fresh world. It feels like you’re inside a fairy tale, and thanks to Vita’s touch functionality, you feel like you really control it. Whether it’s Iota or Atoi you choose, you’ll remember your character even when you’re away from Tearaway. That in itself is the sign of a winner.

BEST ROLE-PLAYING GAME

boysie-12Ni No Kuni (Namco Bandai)

This story-filled game just oozes charm. More than that, it’s the first game I can remember that deals with a sweet mother-and-son story. Oliver is stalwart all the way through. But it’s Drippy, his sympathetic guide, who really steals the show.

BEST OVERALL SPORTS GAME

boysie-13NBA 2K14 (2K Games)

For sheer sports exhilaration, this basketball game rules. It just feels real. Players go on hot streaks and then cool off. And the animations are top notch. If you tire of the NBA, you can play European teams, too. LeBron: Path to Greatness is a fun what-if scenario (but I’d like to see the return of the Jordan Challenge). Still, you just can’t stop playing.

BEST RACING GAME

boysie-14Forza Motorsport 5 (Microsoft)

Need For Speed Rivals sure comes close with its open world. But Forza 5 lets you turn back time to avoid crashes that eat away at your top speed. And moving through the world’s great courses as a racer never gets old. Bonus? Cool artificial intelligence lets your car race against others in the cloud even when you’re sleeping.

BEST MOBILE GAME

boysie-15Ridiculous Fishing (Vlambeer)

There are many well-made mobile games, but few are as beautifully ridiculous. First, you don’t have to buy extra stuff (like many mobile games ask you to). Then, you fish for hundreds of species using your phone’s tilt controls. Then, you tap, tap, tap your way to shoot as many fish as you can. Finally, there’s Billy. He’s really ridiculous, too.

GAME OF THE YEAR (TIE)

Animal Crossing: New Leaf

Super Mario 3D World

82 Comments on The 2013 Boysie Awards

  1. Redpuffleguy // January 12, 2014 at 5:05 pm // Reply

    I own 1 of the “Games of the year”

  2. Go super Mario 3D world

  3. Animal Crossing Rocks!!!!

  4. frenchfries // January 9, 2014 at 5:02 pm // Reply

    super Mario 3d world and new super luigi u are totally woth getting so get them guys!!!!!!!!!!!

  5. Disney Infinity should have won. It is way better than Skylanders.

  6. okay I don’t like nba 2k14 that much

  7. okay I think they should have not pick the fishing game

  8. okay I got to say 3ds is the best

  9. I think skylanders should have won.

  10. I own both of the 3ds games of the year (animal crossing and pokemon y) and the game of the year

  11. I have got to play Super Mario 3D World! Maybe I’ll give New Leaf a try. I seriously hope Wind Waker HD was at least a canadite. 3DS should have been Link between worlds or Fire Emblem Awakening, although I’ve been stuck on chapter 17 for practically forever. I wonder what 2014 has in store.

  12. A link between worlds should be best 3DS game or best game overall.

    • i have played this game nonstop since Christmas eve and still going. Ravio is hilarious, the puzzles are fun, the story is great, the items are epic once you make them “Nice”, and you can be sure that merging is fun.

    • agreed

  13. I know for a fact that it is called Mario Kart 8, I’ve seen a trailer.

  14. There should be a best Lego game category. Marvel Super Heroes definitely would have won!!

  15. Where is Grand Theft Auto 5?

  16. Pee Wee Harris // December 25, 2013 at 3:51 pm // Reply

    Where is the WiiU on here?

  17. first of all: Minecraft came out in 2009, Rask007
    second of all: I love Lego City Undercover
    and third of all: Why isn’t there a Mario Kart U yet?

  18. polarbearman222 // December 25, 2013 at 9:24 am // Reply

    The Wii U was pretty cool, too.

  19. Nintendo did great with games this year. I just hope they have some new console ideas ready to unveil.

  20. Ultimateblaster // December 23, 2013 at 8:07 pm // Reply

    Yes the PS4 is good and stuff but it’s mostly for hardcore gamers. I don’t think Boy scouts are really hardcore gamers yes you might play M rated games but that still doesn’t make you a hardcore gamer. Xbox One could be used for all different stuff other than just gaming so yeah. And if we’re talking only E rated and T rated games then yeah this might be right, but there are games far better than these ones. One more thing should’ve made the best PC games.

  21. For ps4 best game IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN KNACk not resogun Knack is way better

  22. xbox one is better than ps4 // December 23, 2013 at 1:48 pm // Reply

    It’s really REALLY obvious that the xbox one is better than the ps4. The people who decided the winners just were wowed by the next-gen graphics, and thought the ps4 was obviously the best but they were wrong. Shame.

  23. Nick The Jumping Spider // December 23, 2013 at 1:07 pm // Reply

    Noooooooooooooooo! they didnt mention the Nintendo 64! they didnt mention gauntlet legends – 🙁

  24. I love the mario galixy.

  25. Grand Theft Auto 5, Bioshock Infinite, Assassin’s Creed:Black Flag, CoD:Ghost,
    and Tomb Raider are some of the best games of 2013!

  26. Janus leader // December 22, 2013 at 5:59 pm // Reply

    nba 2k14 is so awesome! it definitely should have won

  27. Microsoft and Sony greifers: Nintendo won best game. Lol.

  28. Smittyiswitty // December 21, 2013 at 8:42 pm // Reply

    Never mind, didn’t see the computer game award

  29. Smittyiswitty // December 21, 2013 at 8:41 pm // Reply

    There should be a best expansion pack award, or something like that, and best PC game

  30. Thanks Games Guru for putting out soooooooooo many post, tips, and reveiws. Merry Christmas!!!

  31. creeper collosus // December 21, 2013 at 8:44 am // Reply

    i want both of the best wii u games 4 xmas

  32. I agree with all of these. although I personally prefer One over PS4.

  33. nba 2k 14!

  34. Cod Ghost and battlefield 4 are the best games for xbox360 and PS3

  35. Roblox or Minecraft are the best computer games and Minecraft is on the freaking Xbox too!

  36. Yveltal lover // December 20, 2013 at 5:30 pm // Reply

    POKEMON Y SHOULD HAVE WON OR AT LEAST TIED FOR GAME OF THE YEAR!!!!!

  37. they didn’t even mention wii ps2 ds dsi or 360 seriusly

  38. WHAT!?!?!? Ridiculous Fishing won best mobile game!? It should at least be tied with Badland or PvZ2 (even though PvZ2 is pay-to-win).

  39. for game of the year, i vote Super Mario 3D World

  40. Sienna Octane 13 // December 20, 2013 at 12:23 pm // Reply

    I don’t really care for that weird, girly game, Animal Crossing: New Leaf. I’d much rather play NBA 2K’14; if only they had it for the 3DS.

    • Are you comparing a sports game with an great, bestselling 3DS game!? Animal Crossing isn’t for girls ONLY! Besides, you can do much more in New Leaf than you think!

      • Sienna Octane 13 // December 31, 2013 at 3:06 pm //

        I recently saw a commercial for the “bestselling ds game” Animal Crossing, and I have to admit you are correct, Mezmolover01. That game seems appropriate for girls and boys under the age of 10. As I have now seen the content that this game “Animal Crossing” contains, I will keep strictly to sports games or games with educational value.

  41. Why is there no best PC game award?

  42. Animal crossing New Leaf is the best game for my 3DS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  43. Magna Charge // December 19, 2013 at 8:54 pm // Reply

    Skylanders!

  44. There should definitely be a best Wii game category.

  45. sweet

  46. awesome can I play it

  47. Xbox one is better, Madden 25 should be a tie with NBA 2K14

  48. That is so cool! Thanks for putting this out every year. 🙂 (FIRST COMMENT!!!)

  49. I think I got first comment! Yay!

  50. I love Lego City Undercover!!!!!

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