GamingBolt Game of the Year Awards 2013

Best Indie Title

Though AAA titles this year may have been a hit or miss affair, especially with the yearly sequels, 2013 was an excellent year for indies. There were tons of games that missed our ballots – The Stanley Parable, Monaco: What’s Yours is Mine and The Swapper are only a few examples – but that doesn’t mean they aren’t stellar titles. What did it take to stand out in the indie games category then? Was it the urge to do something phenomenally different, even if it could’ve led to outrage? Was it some good ol’ fashioned puzzle gaming but with a twist? Or maybe it was the ability to create a AAA experience that pushed the limits on an indie development budget? Take a look at our nominees for Best Indie Title of the Year.

Nominees:

– Sir, You’re Being Hunted

– Gunpoint

– Outlast

– Gone Home

– Guacamelee

– Papers, Please!

Winner: Outlast

Red Barrels’ Outlast isn’t just one of the best indie games of the year, or even one of the better looking games in its category. This game is arguably one of the scariest things out there. Even horror movie buffs with decades of scary film watching behind them found it to be an unsettling, no-holds barred descent into madness. The ending may have left some of us feeling disheartened, but it was almost poetic to the entire purpose of the game. Those looking for a strong story won’t be disappointed and it only enhances the experience without outright overshadowing the gameplay. If you haven’t played Outlast, you’re missing something truly special.