To mark the end of an impressive year in gaming, our team breaks down their five favorite games of 2023.
The gaming industry went through a lot in 2023. Despite being a year which featured banger after banger of AAA releases (along with groundbreaking smaller titles), behind the scenes hasn’t been so great. We’ve seen more layoffs this year than ever before from major developers, as well as a major data leak from some nefarious ransomers.
It’s important, even as we look back at the games that brought us joy and transported us to other worlds, to acknowledge the hardships the industry is currently facing. Hopefully the developers who made our favorite games in 2023 will find better working conditions in 2024…
[Don’t skip out on our Favorite Movies of 2023 article!]
Jordan
Fae Farm – My love for cozy/farm sim games is well known and it takes something special to truly stand out in the crowded genre. Fae Farm managed to do it in style, bringing slick/refined mechanics, and enough new quirks to offer something new. Sitting as a blend between Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing, it’s easily the game I’ve played most this year.
Dune: Spice Wars – Considering I’ve been playing it on the regular since it hit Early Access last year, it seems like I’m cheating listing it here. But since it officially launched in its complete form a few months ago…I’m doing it anyway. If you love strategy games of any kind, even if you’re not huge on the Dune mythos, this is a fantastic entry into the genre and hard to put down.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 – From the first introductory mission, it was clear Spider-Man 2 was going to be something special. As a long time Spidey fan, I loved the previous game (along with the Miles Morales game), and couldn’t imagine how Insomniac would be able to improve upon them. At most, I figured it’d be more of the same with a new story…and that would have been FINE! Yet, they went above and beyond to deliver an all new experience with sleek mechanics and yet another emotional story. I need more. Soon.
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora – As a long time Avatar defender, I was eager to dive into Pandora for myself. While I wasn’t sure what to expect from the Ubisoft game (I’m not normally a first-person game kinda guy), but I’ve been completely blown away by the experience. The world itself feels alive and manages to recapture that awe of seeing it for the first time in the films. Not to mention the story is about an indigenous character fighting to reclaim their land and heritage. It’s like living out my Native American fantasy in game form! Even though open-world games normally freeze me up with their size/scale, I’ve found myself more than happy to “get lost” in the maps and wander around.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor – Is it any real surprise to find a Star Wars game on my best of list? It seems like a no-brainer, but considering that I was only “okay” on the first game, I wasn’t expecting Survivor to hit as hard as it did. It’s everything I’d wanted out of Fallen Order and more, while refining the gameplay to a ridiculous level.
Honorable Mentions: Armored Core VI, Diablo IV, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Fire Emblem Engage, Terra Nil, Street Fighter 6
Becky
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor – I was late getting to Star Wars Jedi: Survivor but once I finally got in I promptly fell in love. As much as I have enjoyed Jedi Fallen Order, this game improves on everything in the original by leaps and bounds. It’s thrilling playing as Cal Kestis once again and seeing how much more you can do as a fully fledged Jedi Knight compared to where we started in the first game. The story is great too, and I love how the game has incorporated the High Republic into the story. This is easily one of my favorite games of the year.
Baldur’s Gate 3 – In terms of time spent obsessing over a game, Baldur’s Gate 3 automatically jumps to the top of the list. Everything about this game is gorgeous, especially if you already love Dungeons and Dragons. The graphics, the story, the sheer amount of everything you can DO, I’ll easily be playing this game for years to come.
Sea of Stars – I fell in love with this game from the moment the first teaser dropped and it’s continued to be one of my favorites. I thought the retro style might be a hindrance at first, but once you get the hang of the gameplay it’s really no trouble at all. And the scenery is just gorgeous! You really do fully immerse in this world, and it’s been great fun to play through.
Sonic Superstars – I was partially of the opinion that the glory days of Sonic the Hedgehog games were dead and gone, but then Sonic Superstars showed up and proved me dead wrong. This game plays just like a classic Sonic game except the story is all new. This game is 100% responsible for re-invigorating my love of all things Sonic the Hedgehog and I hope this means more games are coming in the future.
AEW: Fight Forever – I know wrestling games aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, but AEW: Fight Forever really is a lot of fun to play, which is why it’s one of my favorites. It’s a game based more on the N64 wrestling game model as opposed to the style the current WWE 2K games favor, and that’s really refreshing. You feel more like you’re playing an arcade game and that helps the matches flow and really feel, well, more authentic. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, if you’re looking for a good alternative to the WWE 2K games, check this one out.
Katy Barber
Baldur’s Gate 3 – The game that has stolen the hearts of many. I’m a longtime RPG enjoyer, DnD enjoyer, and turn-based game enjoyer so it was a natural yes.
Sons of the Forest – I am a huge fan of survival crafting and have been loving the game as it has developed through Early Access. Developers have reliably been updating the game with great content, additional builds, reworked and added enemies and areas on the map, added areas on the map, new vehicles, new tools and more.
Dave the Diver – A really fabulous management sim-rouguelike dungeon (but its the ocean) crawler mix. The story and characters are some of the best I’ve learned to love this year, and it carves itself out as a truly unique title in its genres. Absolutely recommended for fans of Moonlighter.
Roots of Pacha – A life sim set in the Stone Age with its own unique approach to developing the world and lives of NPCs in your village and beyond. Absolutely recommended for fans of Stardew Valley, Harvest Moon, Story of Seasons, etc.
Cassette Beasts – A monster tamer with a very unique brand of escapism. Absolutely recommended for fans of Pokemon, Tem Tem, Coromon.
Honorable Mentions: Starfield, Lego Fortnite, Ark Survival Ascended
Games that aren’t new in 2023 but I’ve enjoyed this year: Potion Permit, Sun Haven, Travellers Rest, Stardew Valley, Dwarf Fortress, Binding of Isaac (plus DLCs), Bear and Breakfast, Spelunky, Boyfriend Dungeon, Kynseed, No Man’s Sky, Beacon Pines, Powerwash Simulator, Raft.
Dustin
There were so many games this year, but I mostly play lesser known games and get more hype for horror. Sadly most of those got delayed, but I still had trouble condensing my list to these games.
Dead Space – I love horror games, but normally AAA horror games fall flat. Dead Space was always one of those exceptions, and I was curious how they would remake the original game without messing it up. Instead they went and made one of the best games of the year with a gallon of polish at every turn. I think I loved it more than I did the first time I played the game.
Dead Island 2 – When I reviewed the game, the only real complaint I had was that it was short and lacking some content. Which still holds true, but with a new DLC expansion I gladly jumped back in and still had a ton of fun. I think the game is just so good that you don’t want it to end.
Eternights – I’m kinda bummed this didn’t make our Game Of The Year awards because I truly believe it deserves to be highlighted in every way possible. The Persona similarities are undeniable, but it does things so well that it’s very honorable in that regard. The whole dating relationship twist to give the characters deeper backstories and emotional connections was well done and made playing it over again more fun. The fighting mechanics are also not super complicated, but are enough to make the fights thrilling and fun at every turn.
Synapse – PSVR2 has been one of the most thrilling new gaming experiences I’ve had, but the biggest highlight of all the games I played was Synapse. The way it utilizes motion controls and sets up arena’s for combat, it’s just all done so well. Very few games released on PSVR2 this year that just simply worked, and yet Synapse not only worked, it worked well.
Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom – Finally a reason to use my Switch! I absolutely loved this game. The last Zelda kinda fell flat for me over time and I struggled to finish it, but Tears of the Kingdom just had some magic to it that made me never want to put it down. If I wasn’t so hype on Eternights, this would be my GOTY by a long mile.
Honorable Mentions: Resident Evil 4, Atomic Heart, Cosmonious High, Gylt, Spider-Man 2
Anti-Honorable Mentions (games that shouldn’t exist): Overwatch 2…. F–k that game, give me Overwatch 1 back please!
SOLEB
Starfield – Starfield is a masterpiece that has captivated me for countless hours. It’s an enormous and intricate universe that offers an endless supply of adventures and secrets to explore. Despite having spent almost 200 hours playing this game since its launch, I still find myself discovering new worlds and stories that keep me engaged and entertained. Starfield is a true gem that showcases Bethesda’s creativity and skill in crafting a compelling and immersive RPG.
God of War Ragnarök: Valhalla – The GoW Ragnarök Valhalla DLC is not just any free area mode DLC or a simple add-on for fans to get closure. This DLC brings a new Rogue-like gameplay style to the game, elevating the already challenging gameplay to new heights. Moreover, it reinvigorates the overall gameplay mechanics like never before in the God of War saga. The DLC also provides a fascinating insight into the mind of Kratos, compelling him to face his past demons and question the choices he made during his time as the God of War. I’m still astounded that this DLC was entirely free, and I highly recommend playing it as soon as possible to experience its greatness firsthand!
Hogwarts Legacy – I understand that the game has received significant backlash due to its association with Joanne “J.K.” Rowling, but despite that, I was gifted the game and decided to give it a try. And to my surprise, I have had an absolutely wonderful time playing it so far. One of the things that stand out to me is the incredible job done by Avalanche Studios in creating a game that takes place many years before the events of Harry Potter’s time, but still manages to capture the magical essence of the Wizarding World.
The game is filled with a vast array of magical creatures, spells, and potions that make the experience all the more immersive. I was initially skeptical about how the game would hold up, but I quickly found myself engrossed in the gameplay and storyline. The attention to detail in the graphics and sound design is truly impressive, and I found myself being transported to a world that felt both familiar and new at the same time.
Despite the negative press surrounding the game, I highly recommend giving it a chance, especially if you are a fan of the Wizarding World. It offers a unique perspective on the magical universe that we have all come to love, and I am excited to see where the story goes from here. Avalanche Studios should be proud of what they created with this game, which is now the biggest boxed selling game of 2023 in the UK.
Honorable Mentions – Super Mario Wonder, Dead Space, Mortal Kombat 1, Street Fighter 6, Assassin’s Creed Mirage
In all the deluge of great games in 2023, which ones were your favorites?
