The Best Gaming Duos Of 2013

Certain characters bring out the best in one another. Video games offer even more unique circumstances for duos to capitalize on each others' strengths and weaknesses. Beyond just story riffs, a pair's assets can also extend to gameplay. We look back on some of the most memorable ones this year.

Note: List is no specific order.

Booker and Elizabeth – BioShock Infinite

Everyone needs a little enlightening, but it turns out Booker DeWitt needs a lot of it. Elizabeth is the voice of reason in their journey through Columbia, making Booker question things he never considered. These two learn to trust each other along way, which makes the big reveal all the more effective. Let’s just say we all need someone to slap us with a dose of reality, and that’s why Booker and Elizabeth’s partnership is so well-done. 

 Joel and Ellie –  The Last of Us

Ellie and Joel help each other along the way in more ways than one in The Last of Us. Whether they’re aiding each other in battle at just the right moment or forcing each other to confront hard truths from their past, they’re what true companionship is all about. Joel learns to care about someone again through Ellie, and Ellie becomes a stronger person due to Joel’s influence. But perhaps, this duo is strongest because of the question their companionship provokes: Just how far would you go to keep someone you love at your side?

 Chase McCain and Frank Honey –  Lego City Undercover

Chase McCain is the straight-laced hero of Lego City Undercover. Frank Honey is his hilarious foil. Not only is it comical that whenever McCain calls on him on the phone, he has to say, "Hey honey," but Honey worships the ground McCain walks on, like the adoring fan from Skyrim. Honey is a just a big goofball, who's clumsy with ladies and calls computers, "compupers." Watching Honey, a guy you wonder how he ever became a police officer because he's so daft and unintelligent, interact with the heroic and well-versed McCain is a highlight in Lego City Undercover. 

 Little Brother and Older Brother –  Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons

Brothers fight and strive to separate themselves from one another. In A Tale of Two Sons, both of these brothers have also the difficult journey to save their ill father on their shoulders. Along the way, we see them bicker, try to prove their worth to one another, and ultimately work together for a common goal. However, it’s how you see the impact of what they’ve learned from one another that really makes this relationship hit home. Sometimes the people in our lives make us stronger, and we don’t always realize it until we face an obstacle we never thought we could conquer.

 Oliver and Mr. Drippy –  Ni no Kuni: The Wrath of the White Witch

Oliver lost his mother. Mr. Drippy tells him to stop being a cry baby. Sometimes the biggest life lessons are delivered bluntly. However, what’s most touching is how these two really do become friends along the way. Mr. Drippy’s snark and banter with Oliver begins to come off more loving than harsh as the journey progresses, and you can tell the two would do anything for each other, including embarking on a fantastical journey to help a boy confront his grief.

 Apollo and Athena –  Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney –  Dual Destinies

Matching up a total rookie like Athena Cykes with another greenhorn in Apollo Justice might seem like a poor choice for a law firm, but it makes for the status quo at the Wright Anything Agency. Apollo brings his trademark Chords of Steel and intuition to the table which are matched by Athena's background in Analytical Psychology to create a one-two punch of lawyering. When either one finds themselves down because of strikes by prosecutor Simon Blackquill, the other is right there to keep everyone on the level. Together, they're almost as good as Phoenix Wright and Maya Fey...

 Isaac and Carver – Dead Space 3

Isaac Clarke is all too familiar with hallucinations, but he was done with them in Dead Space 3...until he met John Carver. This time around Isaac is free of the delusions, but his new partner isn’t, which actually creates a cool co-op mechanic. In a unique co-op mission, the world appears differently on your screen, depending if you’re playing as Clarke or Carver. Isaac can relate to the madness, so it’s cool to see him on the outside and interact with someone who’s trying to fight against it. Carver sees illusory mementos from his family, including giant toy soldiers which are actually coffins or birthday decorations that aren't actually there. Working through what's real and imagined with a co-op partner makes these two a memorable duo.

 Neymar and Messi –  FIFA 14 

 When Neymar signed a huge deal with Spanish La Liga to play on FC Barcelona, fans instantly got excited about seeing him on the pitch with their captain and other star, Messi. Both players are two of the fastest in the game, putting  FC Barcelona in a great position offensively. FIFA 14 is your chance to be a part of magic and interact with the two powerhouses, capitalizing on their superior skills. Although in real life the players don't bounce off each other much on field, the thrill is in being able to play as both superstars on an already great team. And, who cares about reality anyway? You can make them work together if you want...

Did we miss one? Which duo of 2014 was your favorite? Let us know in the comments below!