Top 10 Must-Play Video Games of 2023
As the year draws to a close, it’s time to look ahead and prepare for 2023. It looks to be a huge year for gaming, with almost wall-to-wall releases across the PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo platforms.
With this in mind, here are our top 10 must-play video games of 2023. Some of these have already hit shelves, while others are currently in development and could be released before the end of the year.
1. Hollow Knight: Silksong
Hollow Knight is a Dark Souls-inspired Metroidvania that mixes precision platforming with hardcore boss battles. It’s a must-play if you love gothic, beautiful worlds.
The original game’s difficulty level is incredibly difficult, but it rewards you with a sense of accomplishment and endless replayability. Team Cherry’s sequel, Hollow Knight: Silksong, looks to continue this trend.
Silksong will also add new combat abilities and spells, as well as a quest system. The latter allows Hornet to complete side missions, which are more fleshed out than those in the first game.
Healing will also work differently in Silksong than it did in Hollow Knight. It will be much faster to restore health, which could be a huge improvement over the slow refills you’re used to in the series. Hopefully, this will make it less frustrating when fighting tough enemies.
2. Nightingale
Nightingale is a first-person survival crafter in which players chop trees, gather stones, build shelters and fend off attacks from hostile eldritch creatures. The game also features a realm card system that can be used to shape procedural realm generation, along with an array of weapons and a miscellany of other resources.
In the midst of a violent colonial war, Irish convict Clare (Aisling Franciosi) seeks revenge for an unspeakable attack she suffered at the hands of British soldiers. She’s assisted by a local Aboriginal tracker named Billy (Baykali Ganambarr) in her journey through the rugged wilderness of Van Diemen’s Land, now Tasmania.
Director Jennifer Kent resists the temptation to be pigeonholed into the easy-to-watch cliches of Hollywood horror flicks like Room, instead tapping a rich vein of palpable rage to explore imperialism, state-sanctioned genocide and unimaginable heartbreak. A superb lead performance from Franciosi – who also stars alongside Sam Claflin and Damon Herriman – is matched by the power of Kent’s vision to make us see and hear things in new ways.
3. Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League
Rocksteady, the developers of the Batman Arkham series, is making a return to the DC universe with Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. In this game, players take control of a team of villains that Amanda Waller recruits for a black ops mission in Metropolis.
The plot centres on a classic Superman villain, Brainiac, who has invaded Metropolis and is controlling a number of the Justice League members. The Suicide Squad is tasked with hunting down and eliminating these mind-controlled superhumans.
The game features a slew of familiar characters from the recent Suicide Squad movies and the original comics. Harley Quinn, Captain Boomerang, King Shark, and Deadshot are all playable, and each character has their own unique movesets and abilities.
4. Redfall
Vampires have been a staple in video games and films for decades, and upcoming co-op FPS Redfall will be using them as its main antagonist. But the game is taking some notable risks with its portrayal of vampires that differ from popular depictions.
The open world is set in the town of Redfall, which has been cut off from the outside world and overrun by vampires. Players must fight together to reunite the town and save its inhabitants from the deadly creatures.
Arkane Austin, the developer of Prey and Dishonored, is behind Redfall. The first-person shooter is scheduled for Xbox Series X|S and PC release in 2023.
5. Fire Emblem Engage
For fans of the Fire Emblem series, Engage offers a great mix of tactical combat and character relationships, which many people seemed to enjoy in the last iteration. However, there are a few notable differences to the franchise’s usual turn-based style.
One is that you can now recruit heroes from previous titles, which adds a new layer of depth to the series’ signature battle system. Another is that you can choose to rewind time after losing any of your units in battle, which can help you get back on track when things go wrong.
While it may not be the deepest story in the series, it’s still a lot of fun to play and has plenty of interesting things to see. It also delivers a high-quality and polished game that will have both new and old fans coming back for more.
6. Starfield
Starfield is Bethesda’s first new game in more than two decades, and it’s sure to be a hit. It’s set to launch in 2023, and it’s a must-play if you’re looking for a great sci-fi RPG.
It’s also a massive game, with 1,000 planets spread across 100 star systems to explore. That makes it one of the biggest games in the genre yet.
Players can also build their own Outposts on the planets they visit, which will serve as living accommodation and provide resources. It’s a great feature, and I’m excited to see how it works in action.
Another huge feature is ship flight, which will let you clamber into a spaceship and explore the galaxy. You’ll be able to pilot your craft freely within systems and engage in ship-to-ship combat. It’s a feature that’s gotten quite a bit of attention in the community, so it will be interesting to see how it plays out in action.
7. Skull and Bones
Ubisoft’s upcoming pirate simulator is set in a world inspired by the Indian Ocean during the Golden Age of Piracy. Players begin stranded ashore, deemed as an outcast, and must build themselves up through dangerous seas to become infamous pirate captains.
The game also features resource gathering and crafting systems, which are used to improve your ship’s defense and attack power. There are three different ship types that can be customized with a variety of weapons and upgrades.
Despite a number of delays, Skull and Bones is still on track to release for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. It is also expected to be available for Google Stadia and Amazon Luna in 2023.
8. Horizon Forbidden West
Horizon Forbidden West is the follow-up to 2017’s Horizon Zero Dawn, and it’s one of the best games available on the PS4 this year. It features improved graphics and a new main story with well-written characters, along with improved pacing and a huge variety of side quests that make for a more immersive experience than its predecessor.
There are also a number of new machines to battle, including the elephantine Tremortusk and the dramaeosaur-like Clawstrider. Besides these mechanical beasts, there are also a range of wildlife that can be found around the map.
In addition, there are some new weapons to craft as well, such as a grappling hook weapon that lets you reach hard-to-reach areas and open vents. Aloy will also have access to a new Shieldwing Glider, which can let her glide from tall heights.
9. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
The Legend of Zelda is one of the most iconic franchises in gaming history. Breath of the Wild set a new standard for open world adventures, and Tears of the Kingdom will continue to build on that legacy.
In 2023, players will take Link to the skies as his massive adventure starts again! The sequel has also been rumored to include a variety of new features, including co-op.
Nintendo hasn’t revealed a lot about Tears of the Kingdom, but marketing materials have gotten fans to speculate on what kinds of online features will launch with the game. Reddit user Few_Working3350 stumbled across in-store marketing pages that confirm Nintendo Switch Online functionality for the next Zelda title.
10. Marvel’s Spider-Man
Swing through a wide range of NYC neighborhoods as Peter Parker in a crime-fighting adventure that’s infused with Marvel’s best superhero moments. The game’s action is incredibly satisfying to play, and it showcases Insomniac’s expertise in slick, tactile action games.
Its animation is also a lot of fun, and you can do a variety of moves while swinging in the air. The New York City skyline is gorgeously rendered and the density of the city’s populace makes it feel more alive than most open world games.
There are some dated elements to the gameplay, but it is still a solid and engaging superhero videogame that anyone can enjoy. It is also one of the best licensed games we have played, and it shows that Insomniac has an incredibly strong and deep understanding of what makes a great game.