How do you go about ranking the best games of 2023? It was arguably one of the best for years for video games in a long while, especially for horror and RPGs, which saw a few remasters and long-awaited titles, respectively.
Not everyone will agree with this list, and that’s okay. There will be a follow-up because there are simply too many exceptional games in 2023 for just one!
Starfield
This is likely the most controversial entry on the list, as Starfield garnered plenty of love and hate from the gaming community. There wasn’t much middle ground. You either fell in love with the Settled Systems and its many star systems, or you dropped the game faster than you could say “over 1000 planets.”
But personally speaking, I adore Starfield. I spent hundreds of hours scouring its many systems, writing guides on every single side quest and unique weapon in the game, and I still hop in occasionally to play on my Starborn.
Plus, like any good Bethesda title, the mod support will positively change the experience for the better. I’ll have a fully-kitted M4 on a display rack in my exact recreation of the Firefly-class starship from—you guessed it!—Firefly!
Resident Evil 4
Despite an undying love for the horror genre, I’m a giant chicken when it comes time to sit down and play a horror game. Movies? No problem whatsoever. But the immersion and in-your-face nature of a horror video game terrifies me more often than not. Thankfully, Resident Evil 4, specifically its remake, is too good of a game to put down. It’s a bit more goofy than your usual horror title, right?
Yes, it’s a remake of the original, but that shouldn’t discount the massive achievement of being one of the best games of 2023. It’s a solid remake with modern graphics and mechanics, and it retains so much of what old-school fans enjoyed back in the day.
Oh, and Ashley. I mean, look at Ashley.
Cocoon
I’m not big on puzzles in video games. It’s not that I can’t figure them out because I totally can (honest!), but it’s the work involved. I don’t want to tap into every inch of my brain when playing a video game. That said, Cocoon is unique. It’s a mystery, adventure, and puzzle game mixed into a gorgeous game world from the folks who made Inside and Limbo.
In Cocoon, you will jump between unique worlds, solving mysteries by manipulating the world around you. It’s all very alien, with flora and fauna designed to inspire, impress, and sometimes even shock you.
If you’re into the indie scene, you don’t want to miss this. It has too many memorable setpieces and mechanics to ignore.
Baldur’s Gate 3
It won numerous Game of the Year awards, brought in millions of dollars for Larian Studios, and remains one of the top-played RPGs in 2024. A single playthrough can take 100 hours to complete. Then there’s the variety in the number of classes, dialogue choices, romanceable companions, and paths through each quest and zone to consider. Baldur’s Gate 3 deserves every ounce of its success.
The CRPG genre is relatively niche despite its prominence in almost every system in history, but this is the one that solidified the genre as mainstream. Even players who have never touched a CRPG in the past could easily pick up Baldur’s Gate 3, mainly thanks to the console port, and enjoy a complex and downright addicting RPG experience.
I just spent time writing two paragraphs about Baldur’s Gate 3 and, in that short period, already thought up two different builds I’d like to play next. I have yet to play a bow-wielding Ranger, so that’s on the slate!
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
If I can be honest, I despised Cyberpunk 2077 on release. I was foolish enough to pre-order the game on PlayStation 4, a system in which Sony would inevitably pull the game from sale because of poor performance. It was a massacre for CD Projekt RED. And yet, over the past few years, they redeemed themselves with constant support for the game. Then, Phantom Liberty hit, which escalated Night City and its denizens into the spotlight even further.
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty is arguably one of the most significant expansions in gaming, not just in the RPG genre, and that’s saying something considering the studio’s pedigree for exceptional DLC in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.
If you have a chance, buy Phantom Liberty. It expands upon V’s story in fantastic ways!
What were your favorite games of 2023?