2023 is coming to a close, so it’s a perfect time to take a look at the best video games released this year and pick some up for your next gaming adventure. Which one(s) should you grab, though?
We’ve prepared a handy list of some of the greatest, most popular titles that premiered in the last, well, 11 months. Let’s take a look.
Whether you’re looking for some great gaming present ideas or just something for yourself, you should be happy with our suggestions. They cover quite a variety of genres, but all the games on the list have one thing in common: they’re all great and worthy of your attention!
| Game | Release | Genre | Trailer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Alan Wake 2 | 2023-10-27 | Action & Horror | |
 | Resident Evil 4 Remake | 2023-03-24 | Horror | |
 | Street Fighter 6 | 2023-06-02 | Fighting | |
 | COCOON | 2023-09-29 | Adventure | |
 | Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun | 2023-05-23 | Action | |
 | DREDGE | 2023-03-30 | Indie | |
 | Brotato | 2023-06-23 | Action & Roguelike | |
 | DAVE THE DIVER | 2023-06-28 | ||
 | Lethal Company | 2023-10-23 | Co-op & Horror | |
 | Hogwarts Legacy | 2023-02-10 | Adventure | |
 | ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON | 2023-08-25 | Action | |
 | Hi-Fi RUSH | 2023-01-25 | Hack and Slash | |
 | Starfield | 2023-09-06 | RPG | |
 | Mortal Kombat 1 | 2023-09-19 | Fighting | |
 | OCTOPATH TRAVELER II | 2023-02-24 | ||
 | Ghostrunner 2 | 2023-10-26 | ||
 | The Talos Principle 2 | 2023-11-02 |
Lies of P
| Release date: | 2023-09-19 |
| Genre: | Souls-like |
| Developer: | NEOWIZ |
A soulslike video game adaptation of the classic story of Pinocchio? Sounds fun!
Set in the decaying city of Krat, Lies of P puts you in the shoes of Gepetto’s puppet-turned-son. Apparently, the boy is a skilled fighter capable of wielding a wide variety of melee weapons. He can also attach various gadgets – heck, even a flamethrower! – to his mechanical arm in order to put them to good use in combat and exploration.
Lying played a big part in the original story and it’s no different here. The decisions you make – and the lies you tell – lead to three distinct endings. The game has already proved to be a competently made action RPG game pretty much on par with the classics. It’s a good choice if you’re looking for another soulslike fix.
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Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
| Release date: | 2023-10-20 |
| Genre: | Adventure |
| Developer: | Insomniac Games |
First they had their own separate games, now they’re in one.
Peter Parker and Miles Morales certainly don’t have easy lives, as they need to balance out superhero and private stuff. And now Kraven and Venom are here to mess things up…
Gameplay-wise, there are no revolutions here. Once again, it’s an open-world action-adventure game where you play as both Spider-Men who have some new abilities and gadgets in addition to the moves and tricks returning from the previous installments in the series.
There’s free roaming, there’s combat, there are various main and side quests to complete. In addition to Manhattan, you can now explore Brooklyn and Queens. And since Peter gets bonded with Venom, he gains some special abilities courtesy of the symbiote from outer space. Nasty. In general, it’s one of the best action-adventure games ever released, so be sure to grab it if you love the genre.
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Baldur’s Gate 3
| Release date: | 2020-10-06 |
| Genre: | RPG |
| Developer: | Larian Studios |
Larian Studios did it again. Their latest opus, Baldur’s Gate 3, is an insanely good CRPG game, one of the best ever.
Why? It’s simple. Its quality and attention to detail is unparalleled. Baldur’s Gate 3 lets you create your own character – or a group of characters – and embark on an epic quest divided into three acts, each taking place in a different part of the game’s world.
The best thing about Baldur’s Gate 3, however, is the amount of freedom the game allows in how you interact with the world and progress the narrative. Most quests can be completed in numerous ways. You can kill virtually any NPC, even those important to the plot, and still be able to progress further. It’s simply insane how content-rich and detailed BG3 is. If you love role-playing games, this one’s a smash hit that you simply cannot miss.
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Football Manager 2024
| Release date: | 2023-11-06 |
| Genre: | Simulation |
| Developer: | Sports Interactive |
Behold: the most popular spreadsheet in the world. Football Manager never ceases to draw crowds. And the 2024 edition lets you import the career from 2023 one and continue your march to glory!
If you’re not familiar with the franchise, here’s a quick summary: Football Manager lets you manage your own football club and rise to fame and glory (provided that you’re successful). This means coming up with new strategies to outsmart your opponents, recruit players, train them and lead them to victory during matches. It’s a robust simulator, so it’s not for everyone, but if you want to try your hand at managing a club, it’s the best option around.
What does the 2024 edition bring? Well, for starters, new licenses unlock Japan’s J1, J2, and J3 Leagues. There are plenty of fresh updates to the existing features. Match Engine also has a couple of new tricks up its sleeve. In general, the changes are not very revolutionary, but they are certainly a breath of fresh air.
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Hi-Fi Rush
| Release date: | 2023-01-25 |
| Genre: | Action |
| Developer: | Tango Gameworks |
What do you get if you mix a rhythm game with action? Well, Hi-Fi Rush! If you always wanted to rebel against an evil mega corporation to some great beats, now’s your chance to do so.
You play as Chi, a wannabe rockstar who leads a ragtag bunch of resistance fighters in a fight against the above-mentioned evil mega corp. What’s interesting is that he has this device in his chest which makes him move according to the rhythm of the music.
Yeah, beats play a huge role here. And no, you don’t really have to synchronize your actions with them, but it’s something you should do for more powerful attacks and other bonuses.
With vibrant colors and an excellent soundtrack featuring the likes of Nine Inch Nails and The Black Keys, Hi-Fi Rush is certainly a treat to look at and listen to. It’s a fun mixture of two genres which you might want to try out if you’re looking for something far different from your usual fare.
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Alan Wake II
| Release date: | 2023-10-27 |
| Genre: | Action |
| Developer: | Remedy Entertainment |
The long-awaited sequel to Alan Wake is finally here. And it went full survival horror this time around.
As the titular best-selling writer, you find yourself trapped in an alternate – and hellish – dimension.
Your goal is obviously to escape it. Alan devises a plan which involves writing a new novel about an FBI agent, Saga Anderson. This way you get two playable characters, each with a separate storyline.
Combat involves using the flashlight to weaken your enemies and make them susceptible to your firearms. When you play as Saga, detective elements come in. You can find clues and then connect the dots using a special space known as the Mind Place. You can also find manuscript pages which foreshadow the events to come. All in all, it’s one of the best survival horrors that you can get right now, so if this is something you’re looking for, don’t hesitate and grab your copy of Alan Wake II!
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Hogwarts Legacy
| Release date: | 2023-02-10 |
| Genre: | Adventure |
| Developer: | Avalanche Studios |
It was a controversial title, no doubt, but it proved to be an excellent action RPG in the world of Harry Potter. Well, around 100 years before his time.
You play as a hopeful adept of magical arts enrolled in the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. As you learn new spells and improve your abilities, you also discover there’s an ancient secret within the world of wizards. This is where the fun begins!
What’s great about the game is the fact that you can create your own custom character and join any of the four Houses. Over time you’ll even get to craft your unique combat style. Aside from the Hogwarts Castle you will be able to explore various other locations. You’ll make new friends, gain new powers, and embark on an epic adventure. If you feel wizardry is your thing, be sure to grab Hogwarts Legacy!
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Mortal Kombat 1
| Release date: | 2023-09-19 |
| Genre: | Fighting |
| Developer: | NetherRealm Studios |
The second reboot of the Mortal Kombat universe, MK 1 feels somewhat familiar, yet it is very different from what you’re used to when it comes to this franchise. And that’s great!
One of the new features in the game are Kameo Fighters: unique characters who assist you during the duels with their special abilities.
As far as the available game modes are concerned, there’s multiplayer, of course, there are also the Story and Towers modes, in addition to something fresh: seasonal Invasions, which are a mixture of fighting, board games, and RPGs. Each season (lasting about six weeks) means a different board.
In general, it’s a super fun, quality fighting game, one of the best around. This means that it’ll surely be a staple at parties. Grab Mortal Kombat 1 if you’re into this genre.
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Resident Evil 4 Remake
| Release date: | 2023-03-24 |
| Genre: | Survival Horror |
| Developer: | CAPCOM Co., Ltd. |
Looks like Capcom is remaking the entire classic portion of the Resident Evil series and to a great effect, to boot!
Less of an action game and more of a survival horror, the re-imagined part four of the franchise is just as fantastic as the revered original.
The remake boasts revamped visuals, but also an updated plot and new gameplay features. The game is far more tense than the original, too.
Your task is to rescue the kidnapped daughter of the President of the United States, taken to a remote village somewhere in Spain. The problem is it’s crawling with crazed villagers controlled by a strange parasite, all “thanks” to the machinations of an evil cult known as the Los Illuminados.
It’s all in a day’s work for Leon. He’s got some new moves, too, as melee combat is now possible as well. You can also craft stuff and the knives you wield are subject to wearing down, so you’ll need to remember to repair them often.
All in all, it’s a great remake of a great game, so if you’re a fan of survival horrors, it’s going to be a perfect pick for your next scary adventure.
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Remnant 2
| Release date: | 2023-07-22 |
| Genre: | Souls-like |
| Developer: | Gunfire Games |
You might yawn, because it’s yet another soulslike.
But what if we told it has guns and – gasp! – procedural generation of pretty much the entire playthrough? Well, that probably got your attention!
The previous Remnan game already featured procedural generation, but the sequel takes it to a whole another level. You choose one of the character archetypes, including a bunch of new ones, and step into a randomized world.
Yup, the developers brag that even enemy types, region aesthetics, NPCs, heck, even quests and the storyline are generated that way!
It’s also a soulslike which encourages co-op. Up to three players can embark on epic adventures together, helping each other out along the way and decimating all threats as one.
With great combat and unique features, Remnant II is a fantastic pick, especially if you’re a fan of Dark Souls and its kin.
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Dave the Diver
| Release date: | 2022-10-27 |
| Genre: | Adventure |
| Developer: | MINTROCKET |
The final game on our list is a little bit perplexing, because it looks like an indie title, but it’s not necessarily so.
Maybe it’s the graphics, maybe it’s its unusual gameplay. Ah, no matter.
Based on a true story, Dave the Diver puts you in the shoes of the titular character who got talked into opening a sushi restaurant. So, he needs to fish by day and run the restaurant by night. The game thus blends various genres, ranging from restaurant management sim to exploration and even role-playing.
The fishing portion has you explore the sea, catch fish, discover new stuff, and complete quests for various folks. The restaurant management portion requires you to discover new recipes, perfect the ones you already know, attract customers, and make the place nicer and nicer.
There’s even a bunch of mini-games that you can unlock and play. It’s a fresh and fun little game, so if you’re tired of pompous AAA titles, this one’s a great pick.
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