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When it comes to the best video games of 2023, it was all about revisiting familiar realms. Whether it was through sequels, returning franchises, or long-awaited remakes, the pleasure was finding new things to enjoy in old games. Larian Studios created a breakout hit based on one of the most iconic role-playing franchises in the world; Nintendo let players return to the land of Hyrule for one more go at saving the world. We went to Hell, and then New York, and we liked it.
These, dear reader, are the best video games of 2023.
Alan Wake II
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Remedy Entertainment’s long-awaited sequel is a fantastic mix of horror, a little detective work, and a lot of camp. The game sees the return of its titular hero after a long imprisonment in an alternate dimension, freshly escaped and fighting the supernatural elements alongside a new hero, FBI agent Saga Anderson. Players swap between the two, whose stories intertwine as Saga investigates ritualistic murders in a small town. Although Alan Wake can be deliciously scary to play sometimes, the game balances it out with surreal live-action sequences and the kind of weirdo charm you can only get when the writer, Sam Lake, makes sure to put his own likeness in the game as Saga’s fellow agent.
$60 on PlayStation$60 on Xbox $50 on PCBaldur’s Gate 3
Platforms: PS5, PC
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There’s a lot to love about Larian Studios’ D&D-inspired role-playing game, Baldur’s Gate 3, which we called “not only a throwback to a style of role-playing design enjoyed by those already won over by past games, but a fresh argument for its approach to RPGs.” The game’s choice and customization options are vast, with a dozen classes and more than two dozen sub-races to choose from, and its combat at its best is thrilling, making you feel at times like a master tactician. But it’s Baldur’s Gate 3’s story and characters that really make it shine, with a cast as lovable as they are horny. Characters like the sharp tongued (and toothed) Astarion and the more reserved Shadowheart offer rewarding journeys if you stick with building their relationships; the latter especially so, as choices made through the game can change her drastically.
Plus, you can fuck a bear? What else is there to say?
$70 on PlayStation$60 on PCDave the Diver
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PC/Mac
When we saw the first trailer for Dave the Diver we knew we were in for something special, and when the game finally came out, it did not disappoint. It’s amusing how what looks like a simple game with two broad sets of mechanics (dive and collect stuff, then serve said stuff in your sushi restaurant) can be surprisingly complex and deep. It’s the perfect game to pick up and put down when you only have a few minutes to, say, go diving, and a few more later to serve sushi, and then again later when you have some time to do extra quests and missions. Beyond that, it’s an incredible game that proves yet again that realism and “historical accuracy” always take a backseat to humor, fun, and refusing to take yourself too seriously.
$20 on Switch$20 on PC/MacDiablo IV
Platforms: PS4, PS5, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
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With Diablo, you know what you’re getting: class-driven combat, a hellish story, sidequests, loot—but that fails to capture Diablo IV’s spark. There’s something devilishly satisfying about the game’s addictive combat and its occasionally very grotesque yet undeniably fun method of destruction that makes it hard to put down. Or, as we put it in our review: “Lilith, also known as the Daughter of Hatred, has a simple pitch for the residents of Diablo’s world of Sanctuary: Violence is fun. You should try it.” Maybe she’s onto something.
$70 on PlayStation$70 on PC$70 on XboxFinal Fantasy XVI
Platform: PlayStation 5
We’re thoroughly convinced Final Fantasy XVI’s biggest problem is a branding issue. The game’s creators promised fans Game of Thrones. Instead, they delivered something no one expected: WWE, in the best way possible. Final Fantasy XVI’s strength is not its bloody, gritty, “fuck”-filled world; its story (a forgettable mix of medieval-inspired tropes, fictional world jargon, and a very gruff guy in leather); or its characters (a cherubic little brother, a pollyanna perfect best friend, a very gruff guy in leather). Instead, it’s the game’s combat system and its larger-than-life boss fights.
In Square Enix’s latest Final Fantasy, a handful of humans called “dominants” have the power to transform into devastating creatures known as eikons. Over the course of the game, hero Clive will eventually assume these dominants’ elemental powers. His growing abilities add both strategy and a sense of power that doesn’t exist in previous Final Fantasies. The game’s story doesn’t need to be good to make its boss fights—whether it’s fighting a dragon in space or sprinting the rocky tendrils of a very large, very pissed off rock guy—some of the most compelling moments of the year.
$70 on PlayStationThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Platform: Nintendo Switch
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Following the critically acclaimed The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is a daunting task. It completely reimagined what a Zelda game could be, and created a massive, beautiful world where you could visit anything you saw. Its sequel, Tears of the Kingdom, didn’t break the mold. It fine-tuned it, giving players one more very compelling reason to return to Hyrule.
We could go on about how gorgeous the game is, or its successful iteration on the systems laid out in BOTW, or even just how much we love its characters. But what really makes this game special is its ability to build just about anything you can dream of with Ultrahand and Fuse—which players naturally used to create flamethrowing dicks, a jail for Ganondorf, a Gundam, torture devices, and so much more. Game of the year.
$70 on SwitchSpider-Man 2
Platform: PlayStation 5
Superhero games don’t have the best track record, but Insomniac Games is the exception. Picking up after the events in Marvel’s Spider-Man and Spider-Man: Miles Morales, the game follows Peter Parker and Miles as they face off against their personal lives and new foes like Venom and Kraven the Hunter. Both Peter and Miles feel refreshingly distinct and perfectly complementary, even as Insomniac turns their world into a playground of skyscrapers to swing through amid the game’s twisting story. And, of course, who could forget its world full of wild NPC conversations?
$70 on PlayStationSuper Mario RPG
Platform: Nintendo Switch
One of the best games Nintendo released this year is also its oldest. Super Mario RPG, which combined the role-playing sensibilities of Final Fantasy games with Nintendo’s characters, is a delightfully weird, extremely ’90s adventure. After a giant, talking sword foils Bowser’s latest attempt to kidnap Peach, Mario is tasked with collecting seven stars to restore the world’s ability to make wishes.
It’s a pretty simple premise that plays out in much weirder ways. The game’s original invading villains are all weapons (including a Power Rangers spoof); Mario and Bowser join forces with a talking doll; mini-games include everything from hiding behind curtains to bouncing off barrels while dashing uphill. Super Mario RPG is funny and full of unforgettable moments that make its remaster unforgettable, even after all this time.
