Polygon's Editor's Choice selections for E3 2013

It's been a long time since an E3 has been this ... big. There are always a ton of games; that's nothing new, but E3 2013 represented the largest tectonic shift in the industry in nearly a decade. We're finally saying goodbye to the last generation and getting our first glimpse at what, exactly, the future will look like. After sifting through all that this year's show floor had to offer, what follows is the list of the offerings we found most impressive, most important. It took a lot of inter-staff disagreement to get this list, but on one point there can be no argument: It's gonna be an amazing year.

Titanfall

"The development veterans who created Modern Warfare and the team they’ve assembled are making their debut with Titanfall, an online-only multiplayer-focused shooter that takes all the chances they never could with a billion-dollar juggernaut." — Arthur Gies

Transistor

"Transistor is a science-fiction-set RPG that allows players to take on the role of a woman who is nearly killed by a mysterious group of assailants, who later gains access to a particular weapon and fights from street to street in a futuristic city against enemies attempting to take it back." — Emily Gera

Hohokum

"If a player really wants to find objectives in the game, then there are a few that can be found, such as the seed-collecting mechanic in the Kite Village. However, the developers say Hohokum is about losing yourself in the game world and just enjoying the experience." — Tracey Lien

Infamous: Second Son

"...this year Fleming and crew are leading the charge on showcasing Sony's powerful new PlayStation 4 hardware. Their latest superhero game, Infamous: Second Son, is less than a year away, and it's one of the most exciting next-gen demos on display — nearly as exciting as Sucker Punch's promises for what's in store in the full game." — Philip Kollar

Quantum Break

"In layman's terms, Quantum Break is one of those wildly ambitious projects that would be prohibitively expensive were it not funded by a billion-dollar corporation determined to get people excited about its upcoming entertainment hardware, in this case Microsoft's Xbox One." — Chris Plante

Forza Motorsport 5

"The fifth game in Turn 10's Forza series follows a bi-annual tradition stretching back to the original game's launch on Xbox in 2005. Last year, Microsoft released an open-world arcade-racer spin-off Forza Horizon, though this release is clearly a return to hardcore simulation gameplay." — Colin Campbell

The Division

"There's sophisticated tablet play, responsive-looking third-person shooting, a detailed XP-fueled upgrade system and deep, classless character customization, all within a persistent open world. In short, it's an incredibly ambitious project." — Danielle Riendeau

Super Mario 3D World

"The playable demo had two stages (out of six) that positively reeked of Super Mario Galaxy. One involved Mario riding a giant sea creature across a maze-like ocean, while a boss battle with a giant worm creature felt like it could have been dropped in from any 3D Mario game from the Sunshine era on." — Danielle Riendeau

Dying Light

"Compared to the chaotic hack-and-slash nature of Techland’s previous work with the Dead Island games, Dying Light is overflowing with ideas." — Philip Kollar

Destiny

"For Bungie, this latest game represents the culmination of decades of growth and years of hard work. It is Bungie's best — and possibly only — chance at shedding the mantle of 'former Halo developer.'" — Russ Pitts

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

"The Witcher 3 is the conclusion to the story of Geralt of Rivia and will focus heavily on his personal journey. The third entry in the trilogy follows Geralt as he searches for a dark and deadly force known as the Wild Hunt." — Megan Farokhmanesh

Dark Souls 2

"Dark Souls 2 has a new director and a new engine, but the soul of From Software's series of dark, challenging role-playing games appears to be intact in Dark Souls 2, even if slipping into its body feels a bit different." — Mike McWhertor

Saints Row 4

We didn't write a new preview about Saints Row 4 at E3 because Polygon, and indeed, all of existence, is deeply unjust. So allow me to just say that Saints Row 4 is going to drive you to the Pleasure Pool and push you into the deep end. It will watch, aroused yet terrified, as you drown in your own fun. — Justin McElroy

Payday 2

"Stealth is a huge component of Payday 2. Sneaking, rather than engaging, is at least a viable option for players, who can now specialize in one of four career paths, each with its own associated upgradeable skills." — Mike McWhertor

DualShock 4

For two generations, I've preferred the Xbox controller to the DualShock, but in its fourth iteration, it may have made a convert out of me. The new shape is fantastic, contouring perfectly to my hands. The concave sticks are a blessing for the sweaty-thumbed among us. Sony showed during E3 that it's willing to listen to players, to evolve, and the DualShock 4 is a fantastic example of what a big impact that can have. — Justin McElroy

Fantasia: Music Evolved

"Disney didn't just want a licensed game based on old ideas. It wanted Harmonix to use all of its power and artistry to try and tap into the spirit of what Walt Disney had set out to do — 73 years ago — with music and animation." — Russ Pitts

Outlast

Outlast is the sort of indefinable experience that seems to accidentally transcend genre. You take on the role of a Colorado journalist lost in a blood-spattered asylum. There's no button for fighting what hunts you in the game, but there's one for hiding. And it's not very effective. — Brian Crecente

The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds

"The game seeks to move us into the modern era, through its five-play addition of snazzy graphics, new mechanics, new puzzles, stereoscopic 3D and second-screen functionality." — Colin Campbell