Winner: Mass Effect 3
From beginning to end, Mass Effect 3 is an action-packed adventure, with a stunning story and some of the best combat in recent memory. Fighting back the Reaper threat – one that has been teased for two full games – was grand and epic, with dramatic set-piece encounters we’ll remember for years. And then there’s the story, which pulled us from place to place, forcing us to make split-second decisions with rippling repercussions that make the last game’s decisions seem pedestrian in comparison. While we were impressed with the campaign, the quality of the multiplayer was even more surprising, roping us in for many more hours than we originally anticipated and proved strong enough to keep us coming back for more.
Developers have often promised that choices made in one game will carry to the next, but never before has it been achieved on the level of Mass Effect. With three games spanning nearly 100 hours of combined gameplay, BioWare crafted a personalized tale unlike the genre has ever seen, concluding the beloved franchise in stunning fashion.
Runner-up: Kid Icarus: Uprising
Kid Icarus was basically a forgotten series to Nintendo for decades, but when they finally called Pit back into action, it was more than worth it. This incredibly dense action-adventure game was crafted masterfully by the team behind Smash Bros and features some of the best visuals on the 3DS to date. With a stellar localization, awesome shooting stages and so many things to unlock, Uprising is an amazing package, even if the controls take a little practice. If you own a 3DS, there's no reason to miss this game.
