The video game industry celebrated a great 2023 with an abundance of blockbuster games and sequels players had been looking forward to. Here’s a deeper dive into the top 10 games that stole the show, exploring what made them so exceptional
- Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (Action-Adventure): Respawn Entertainment provided a new journey for Cal Kestis throughout the galaxy. Commended for the lightsaber combat that made the heroine feel both grounded and agile, Survivor opened up a much larger world to play in. Force powers and new lightsaber attacks brought more variety into combat, and the story again focused on the challenges that a Jedi faces after Order 66.
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder (Platformer): Such orientation of gamers made the return of the iconic side-scroller a thing of nostalgia and critical acclaim. Wonder was not just a nostalgia fest in terms of level design; it included new ideas such as a paintbrush upgrade that enabled the player to alter the terrain. The musical, full of the recognizable hits and the new songs added to the film’s atmosphere, and matched the colorful visuals. Characters like Mario, Luigi, the Princess, even Yoshi were available to play which made Wonder interesting for kids, adults, and beginners in gaming.
- Dead Space (Remake) (Sci-Fi Survival Horror): This was a great remake that revived the USG Ishimura with graphics and an eerie feel that are better than the first one. Even the sounds of the ship groaning and the Necromorphs growling were improved through and through to make every creak and groan feel even more horrific. The game kept the original’s claustrophobic feel and emphasis on strategy in dismembering foes and was a great fright for both old and new players alike.
- Resident Evil 4 (Remake) (Survival Horror): Yet another brilliant remake recreated the village and other locations around it with immense precision. To be able to focus on this aspect of the game and to substitute blocky textures of the 2005 release with beautiful environments that exuded impending gloom and doom was simply brilliant. The typical horror aspect was cranked up, and the use of shadow and light was also enhanced to evoke tension and fear. Besides the basic gameplay stayed true to the original concept, there were more modern approaches to exploration and combat making this game a new spin on an old favorite.
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Action-Adventure): Though not being able to capture the no. 1 position, Tears of the Kingdom was undoubtedly one of the most anticipated games of the year. Building on the ideas of open world exploration of the first game, the sequel added mechanics like changing terrain, which made puzzles and exploration even more engaging. A darker story was experienced as players explored regions outside of Hyrule, hinting at a new threat, which may be even more formidable than Ganon.
- Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (Action-Adventure): Swinging its way back to consoles, Insomniac Games’ follow-up wanted to set the bar even higher. Being the first game with the return of Peter Parker and Miles Morales, it was interesting to see the development of these heroes after the previous game. A possible new villain in Venom, said to be front and center, was expected to bring more action to the webslingers. New York as an environment opened up even greater variety in movement and stylized combat sequences.
- Baldur’s Gate 3 (RPG): After years in Early Access, the full release of Larian Studios’ massive RPG was released, allowing players to immerse themselves in the Forgotten Realms. Compared to the prequels, the branching story and meaningful choices in BG3 provided players an avenue to create their own destiny. There were a multitude of possibilities when it came to character creation, and players were able to construct the hero they desired. The combat was tactical, in the vein of the original Baldur’s Gate series and similarly engaged newcomers and veterans just the right way.
- Hogwarts Legacy (Action RPG): Taking players into the world of Harry Potter for the first time with an open palate, Hogwarts Legacy allowed players to create their own witch or wizard and go through the halls of the famous Hogwarts Castle and its vicinity. Players learned from the classes, studied the magic spells, prepared potions, and earned necessary information about Hogwarts. Players could improve their character to focus on certain aspects of magic, while the nonlinear structure of the game world provided certain liberties of movement and exploration. For fans of the Harry Potter series, Hogwarts Legacy was a dream come true; it allowed them to visit the Wizarding World.
- Sea of Stars (RPG): A fascinating turn-based RPG in development by Sabotage Studio, Sea of Stars evoked interest of players in the old-school JRPG aesthetics and the emphasis on exploration, logical puzzles, and tactical battles. The bright and cheerful pixel art brought out the spirit of the old school RPGs for me. This story was about two heroes with the powers of the sun and the moon who fought an evil alchemist and in between, there was a lot of fun and action. This wise, those behind the development of Sea of Stars have demonstrated that turn-based RPGs from the old school still have its place in today’s gaming world.
- Elden Ring (Action RPG): Developed by FromSoftware and directed by Hidetaka Miyazaki along with George RR Martin, Elden Ring took the open-world formula and seasoned it with the studio’s uncompromising combat and elusive narrative. The vast environments with many hidden areas and bosses to defeat provided a complex and engaging game for those who played the game for discovery and challenge. There were many character builds possible because players could choose different weapons and armor, schools of magic, and distinct ways of approaching the game. The success at the critical and commercial level of Elden Ring made FromSoftware a true game-making elite and created a world that gamers would discuss for years.
There are so many great games that were released in 2023, no matter what kind of gamer you are. From revamped classics to new iterations of sequels and other products, fans had an incredible amount of exciting adventures to immerse themselves in. Looking forward to 2024 and the years that follow, the prospects for gaming have never seemed rosier.
