Well, here we are once again— it’s the end (ahem, I mean, start) of the year and everyone is sharing their lists of favorite games, as is tradition. Unfortunately, I’m not “cool” or “notable” enough to have my blog featured in the headliner of a website, but I hear frequently from friends and peers that they like hearing what I’ve got to sat on what I’ve been playing so once more, as I have the past few consecutive years, I’ve got another list of ten favorite games to share with y’all today.
Now if you’re looking for another list that’s going to talk about how Tears of the Kingdom, Baldur’s Gate 3, and Alan Wake II turned my world upside down and redefined what an interactive experience could be, making 2023 one of the great years of gaming… yeah, you’re gonna wanna look elsewhere cuz oops, I haven’t played those games yet. Not out of disinterest mind you. Probably best to just chalk it up to less time for games this year (I got married and spent a lot of this past year depressed!) and some of the biggest games of the year having the prerequisite of needing to play a handful of other Giant-Sized Games first to fully appreciate what they were doing.
No no, what you’re getting here is the same thing as I always do; the games I actually did play, some to completion, some not, with a focus as best I can on stuff that actually came out this year.
Huh, what’s that?
All my picks this year *did* come out in 2023?
Oh well, cool then! I’m not the iconoclast that will sit here and tell you Spider-Man 2 represents the erosion of creative thought in the world, but I do my best to give as much new stuff a try. I’ve added some shoutouts to games at the bottom that I really really wished I had time to play but just haven’t… yet. So look forward to me playing catching on Twitter in three years talking about how cool that dance number in Alan Wake II is. Hold on, will Twitter even exist in three years?
Anyways, let’s dive on in, shall we:
10. Slayers X: Terminal Aftermath: Vengeance of the Slayer
Hypnospace Outlaw perfectly recreated what I remember being a 10 year old on the internet feeling like. Slayers X perfectly recreated what being a 15 year old on the internet was like. It’s a different type of personal time capsule essay than Hypnospace Outlaw, but ultimately manages to dig at the exact same themes— what we originally saw as play when computers were new were absolutely easy access outlets to express our weirdest most bundled up inner thoughts.
Zane, I see you.
9. Hi Fi Rush
There’s a moment once Hi Fi Rush hits its full momentum as it enters the final third where you really can just feel that it’s probably the most fun any single studio had making a game in 2023. It’s really easy to play one stage of this and bounce off, feeling like you’ve seen everything it has to offer, but I really do implore folks to stick this one out to the end. Not only do all the mechanics coalesce into something really engaging by the end (it is one of those games where most of the run is a tutorial for a bombastic finale), but there’s so much charm and care oozing out of every character, song, joke, setting, reference, and color choice.
It initially feels surprising that something this joyous can come out of one of the main studio carrying the torch for Japanese horror, but you really don’t even get into that genre if you don’t care a lot about anything and everything you make.
8. Super Mario Wonder
Mario is always at his most interesting when Nintendo is willing to play around with the semiotics of the series. I think that’s why you see way more intense nostalgia for Luigi’s Mansion, Mario Sunshine, and the various RPGs over the more traditional Mario sidescrollers. Mario Wonder felt like Nintendo brining that creative ethos to a classic Mario game after almost two decades of New Super Mario Bros proposing a very on-model take on the material.
I have no doubt that we don’t get a game like Wonder without the truly insane creations coming out of the Mario Maker scene. Knowing that there was a growing desire to mess with Mario absolutely gave Nintendo full permission to do the same and I for one am glad they did. There’s just something always truly exiting knowing that Nintendo is still consistently capable of really surprising us right when it feels like they’ve run out of ideas. Where do you even take Mario from here?
7. Wo Long Fallen Dynasty
Team Ninja is slowly catching up to From Software’s quality output with their own line of Soulslike games. Where I think they succeed best is not in amped up difficulty or a stronger emphasis on difficulty, but in the combination of Ninja Gaiden’s razor-sharp gameplay and a better focus on multiplayer action.
I’ve enjoyed all their games with the same friend and even when we’re casually calling out the flaws mid-game, there’s no denying the more straightforward approach to online co-op is what keeps us coming back instead of invoking the arcane rituals it takes just to even look at your friend in a game of Bloodborne. So far, Wo Long I think is the strongest game they’ve made with some of the most satisfying combat and collaborative design. Just… be warned, the end product is quite buggy (as was their MonHun clone, Wild Hearts this year… is Team Ninja okay?) but it’s absolutely worth pushing through, especially If you can bring a friend along. Probably the most fun I’ve had co-op-ing a game this year.
6. Final Fantasy Theatrhythm: Final Bar Line
In theory, I’ve enjoyed the idea of the Theatrhythm games, but they’ve never exactly hooked me in like some other rhythm games— especially the arcade cabinet. Final Bar Line figured out just the right alchemy to make this work for me, probably somewhere between translating the arcade controls really smartly to marrying the game’s structure to a pseudo-RPG that encourages you to actually play the songs you might not be too familiar with. It’s possible no other game is filled with as much content as Final Bar Line and is a truly addictive addition to any music lover’s library. Would love to see them just re-do that messy Kingdom Hearts rhythm game in this exact style.
5. Octopath Traveler II
The next time you find yourself wishing Square would just make another classic turn-based RPG, you probably should make a point to pick up Octopath Traveler II. This is the kind of sequel you find yourself wishing every game would get, with everything good just amped up and everything bad improved upon. If you’ve played the first game, you know what you’re getting here. If you haven’t, it’s Final Fantasy VI by way of Final Fantasy V. A true RPG classic for people who love RPGs, you’ll never find yourself wanting more for a return to tradition knowing that Square has had such success experimenting within the genre elsewhere, just under different names.
Oh and the music is still phenomenal throughout.
4. Resident Evil 4
They said it couldn’t be done. They said it shouldn’t be done. But gosh darn it, they really remade Resident Evil 4 and it’s actually quite good? Prior to this, the only improvements made on the original game was the addition of motion controls and VR and that’s still largely the same. Where the remake excels is not in trying to supplant the original, but supplement it. The original game (resident evil 4, all lower caps, technically) is one that I know like the back of my hand, so to have those expectations constantly flipped on their head kept this one a joy from top to bottom.
It’s an amazing gift for longtime RE fans and wonderful entry point for those new to the series. Resident Evil 4 is well aware of what made the original such a joyous experience and goes to great lengths to make those rose-tinted memories feel new again. Seeing is believing, folks.
3. Paranormasight
This game came out so unbelievably quietly, you’d be forgiven for not thinking it even came out in America. Paranormasight is probably the best visual novel that came out this year, which is saying a lot since this was a good year for reading in games. The premise is simple— cursed artifacts allow their holders to kill those who own the others using unique abilities, and when all are gathered can grant an impossible wish. You know the score. Without spoiling it, what starts as a Danganronpa style game of death quickly becomes a supernatural crime procedural with some wild twists along the way. If you like you games dark and subversive, this is a must play. Probably my favorite narrative in a game last year.
Also of note, this game was created in tandem with the tourism board of the prefecture in which its set, which is funny because the game really makes it out to be quite the stinkburg.
2. Pizza Tower
Much like Undertale and Starwdew Valley before, Pizza Tower is built upon one premise— no one’s gonna make this game again, so I’ll just do it myself. A hilarious ode to the Wario Land games, no other game has an energy like Pizza Tower. Playing it feels like stumbling upon your favorite MS Paint webcomic in 2003 for the first time— honestly, there was a moment halfway through where I realized the only colors used in the game are in fact that default pallet you get in Paint.
Following this game’s progression for years felt like watching a game that could never exist come into reality, so getting to actually play it was honestly a highlight of my whole year. The gamefeel was immaculate, the animation was impressive, and only one game this year dared to revive a character that for years I was pretty sure only me, my sister, and one other person actually knew existed. This would’ve been an easy number one pick on the grounds of being the most fun I had with a game this year if it wasn’t for…
1. Street Fighter 6
It’s very very possible my earliest memory is of the opening scene of Super Street Fighter II on the Sega Genesis. To say I have been playing Street Fighter my entire life is an understatement. It ignited my love of games and martial arts and I can attribute it to a handful of some the strongest relationships in my life. My heart was broken when Street Fighter V felt largely impenetrable and strung along with some egregious microtransactions. Had Street Fighter changed or had I? Street Fighter 6 asserts that both could be true and are solutions well worth addressing.
Every choice in Street Fighter 6 is in direct response to the question of “how can we make this more accessible?” And this is healthy! Not only does it help grow the audience, but it stumbles upon solutions that satisfy the needs of all players. Better training modes, a full on RPG-lite campaign mode, quick and easy multiplayer options… it’s the full package. But most importantly, the game just feels amazing to play. SFV stumbled by trying to make itself EVO-ready, but SF6 acknowledges that the most fun comes from hoping in a room and mashing out some sparring matches with a friend. SFV sought to be the people’s champion, but SF6 discovered its identity in being a champion of the people.
I look forward to the many years ahead of revisiting this game over and over and over again.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
World of Horror – Hey this game finally came out this year and it’s as good as it was in early access! I just haven’t spent nearly as much time with the 1.0 as I would like yet, but I’ve adored what I’ve seen thus far.
In Stars and Time — And here you thought we were gonna get through one full year without a good timeloop game. If you’re cool, you’ve already played this one and you know how amazing the writing and characters are. I would hurl myself in front of a speeding train for Bonnie.
Super Mario RPG —It was good then, it’s still good now! Whattya need, a map? Also shame on anyone who thought Yoko Shimomura wasn’t capable of redelivering on her amazing score
Returnal — I tried playing when it came out, but I didn’t enjoy it so I loaned it out to a friend. I recent got it back and tried it again with the co-op mode and golly gee, what a special game this is.
Metroid Prime Remastered — Fifth time’s the charm on this game finally clicking with me. Good lord that artifact hunt at the end is miserable, though.
Spider-Man 2 — This game is so good in a way that its almost impossible to tell its an improvement on the first. There’s a sequence near the end that Insomniac would be fools not to make a full spin-off of (which I think was actually in that leak, oops).
Robo Quest — This one slipped in at the last minute, but you know its good because it’s a rogue-like I stayed up until 2 AM playing the first night I booted it up. Kinda reminds me of the side-ops from my beloved Battleborn.
DISHONORABLE MENTION
Fashion Dreamer — Man, this could’ve been so good.