Check Out The Six Best Video Games Of Fall 2013

With Fall right around the corner, most of us will be spending a lot more of our days indoors, with tons of extra time on our hands. What better way to fill that time than by picking up the sticks and playing some video games? In anticipation of a busy Fall season, XXL compiled a list of hit games that you’re sure to spend way too much time playing later this year.—Written and compiled by DJ Rhude (@DJRhude)

Madden NFL 25
Publisher: EA Sports
Developer: Tiburon
Street date: August 27, 2013
Platforms:

PS3
Xbox 360
PS4
Xbox One

Description: For this year’s Madden release, EA Sports ditched their typical yearly number increments and hung a 25 on Madden in a nod to the title’s 25-year anniversary. Madden 25 breaks the huddle this year with the Infinity Engine 2 feature, which promises an improved physics simulation, as well as the all-new Force Impact System, that allows for new power moves on both sides of the ball.

Connected Franchise also got some love from EA, as they decided to bring back the beloved Owner Mode (from the PS2 days), allowing players to function as a player, coach or owner. EA will also offer Madden fans the Special Anniversary Edition of M25—which comes equipped with discounts on DirecTV and a unique access code to NFL Sunday Ticket for the 2013 regular season—all for a price of $99.99.

NBA 2K14
Publisher: 2K Sports
Developer:  Visual Concepts
Street Date: October 1, 2013
Platforms:

PS3
Xbox 360
PS4
Xbox One

Description: To say LeBron James is having a good year is an obvious understatement. Fresh off picking up his second NBA Finals MVP award after his Miami Heat won their second consecutive championship, The King was also selected as the cover star of 2K Sports’ upcoming NBA 2K14 title. Bron Bron also produced the soundtrack, which can be streamed on Spotify before the 2K14’s October 1 release.

As for the game itself, 2k will be delivering more of what fans have come to expect from their award-winning basketball sim, with realistic 5-on-5 play as well as player-specific signature shots and moves. As an added bonus, 2K Sports added fourteen teams from the Turkish Airlines Euroleague to the game, including CSKA Moscow and Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv, among others.

Grand Theft Auto V
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Developer: Rockstar North
Street Date: September 17, 2013
Platforms:

PS3
Xbox 360

Description: Crime may not pay, but the GTA series sure made it fun as hell to be a virtual crook. Rockstar Games is rolling out the newest installment of the series this year with Grand Theft Auto V, and with it they’re promising their most ambitious game to date.

GTA V tells its story from the perspective of three playable characters—Franklin, Michael, and Trevor—who’s stories interweave with one another in one elaborate paper chase. All three are playable at virtually any time, and can be switched on the fly with only a brief period of loading time.

The open world in GTA V is truly massive and takes full advantage of every ounce of processing power available in the current generation of consoles. Rockstar didn’t stop there though, as they finally deliver a fully fleshed-out multiplayer experience called Crime Online. There will be a total of 15 game modes divided into three main categories (including Player Match, Ranked and Party Mode), each filled with unique objectives. Some modes will allow a maximum of 16 players on the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions. Clearly the Rockstar boys ain’t playing this year.

PAYDAY 2
Publisher: 505 Games
Developer: OVERKILL – A Starbreeze Studio
Street Date:  August 13, 2013
Platforms:

Xbox LIVE Arcade
PlayStation Network
PC via Steam by Valve Corporation
PS3
Xbox 360

Description: This Fall, 505 Games follows up on its 2011 hit PAYDAY: The Heist, with the sequel PAYDAY 2. The four-player co-op shooter once again lets gamers don the masks of the original PAYDAY crew—Dallas, Hoxton, Wolf and Chains—as they descend on Washington D.C. for an epic crime spree. PAYDAY 2 looks to rectify the gameplay flaws found in its predecessor by improving the gun combat and stealth mechanic. The new CRIMENET network offers a huge range of dynamic contracts, and players are free to choose anything from small-time convenience store hits or kidnappings to major league cyber-crime or emptying out major bank vaults for that epic PAYDAY.

Up to four friends co-operate on the hits and as the crew progresses as the jobs become bigger, better and more rewarding. Alongside earning more money and becoming a legendary criminal comes a new character customization and crafting system that lets crews build their own guns and gear. Originally slated to be a digital-only release, PAYDAY 2 will now be available by retail on the PS3 & Xbox 360 by August 16.

Battlefield 4
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: DICE (Digital Illusions CE)
Street Date: October 29, 2013
Platforms:

PS3
Xbox 360
PS4
Xbox One

Description: It'll be all out war again when Battlefield 4 drops. The wildly popular first person shooter is gearing up for the 13^th installment of the series, and from the nuggets that DICE has dropped so far, it doesn’t look like it will disappoint. Back in June, attendees at EA’s press conference at E3 were treated to a first look at BF4’s new multiplayer mode that boasted an intense level of destruction as well as the return of Commander Mode. While the game is shaping up to be really sick, next generation gamers will get the full glory of it as the 64-player matches will be carried over from the PC to the PS4 & Xbox One versions. However, PS3 and Xbox 360 users will be will be limited to only 32 player matches.

Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Blacklist
Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer: Ubisoft Toronto
Street Date: August 20, 2013
Platforms:

PS3
Xbox 360
Wii U

Description: Splinter Cell's Sam is back in his tactical suit and goggles, and he’s more lethal and agile than ever. Now the freedom to do whatever it takes to stop the Blacklist, Sam flies from exotic locales to U.S. cities as he races against the clock to find out who’s behind devastating threats to national security. Stealth has always been the name of the game in Ubisoft’s Splinter Cell series.

Blacklist introduces a new gameplay mechanic called Killing In Motion, allowing players to highlight targets and take them out in quick succession while on the run. The game's Xbox 360 version will utilize voice integration, allowing players to distract the enemies by saying something, opening them up for attacks. All told, Splinter Cell: Blacklist is shaping up to be another fine edition in the series.