Best Games 2023 Top 10 List Baldurs Gate 3 Spider Man 2 Hogwarts Legacy Alan Wake Zelda PS5 PS4 PC
2023 was an incredible year for gamers. Not only did we see the comeback of beloved games that not only upped the bars but set a precedent for future games to come (we’re looking at you, Alan Wake and Zelda). We also saw several new titles take centre stage by becoming the most searched games of the year on Google (Hogwarts Legacy). So, this year, gamers spent hours trying to learn the perfect magical spells, take on “Venomous” villains, explore fantastical worlds, be a bona fide badass, and also learn a bit about rare cultures and history.
So, without further ado, here are the top 10 games of 2023, based on our playtime experiences.
10. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Developed by: Respawn Entertainment | Published by: Electronic Arts | Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
A sequel to 2019’s surprise hit Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Survivor took everything its predecessor got correct and dialled it all up to 11. You’ll step into the Jedi boots of Cal Kestis (voiced by Cameron Monaghan) and take on the evil Galactic Empire with the help of his trusted droid BD-1 as well as some new (and old) friends. Of course, it’s a Star Wars game, so lightsabers understandably played a major role in Survivor as well, adding to the single- and double-blade action a brand-new crossguard-style lightsaber stance (which instantly became our favourite, thanks to a certain Kylo Ren). While the story is pretty straightforward and engaging, it was the incredibly detailed planetary explorations, puzzles, and challenge speed runs that kept us hooked.
9. Tchia
Developed by: Awaceb | Published by: Kepler Interactive | Platforms: PS5, PS4, PC
Tchia is a prime example of why indie games are so beloved by seasoned and amateur gamers alike. Packing stunning graphics and surprisingly fun exploration-focused gameplay, Tchia beautifully showcases the culture of New Caledonia. The story revolves around the eponymous hero, who must search a beautiful archipelago steeped in lore and activities to find her kidnapped father. Apart from swimming, catapulting off trees, and playing the ukelele, Tchia has this incredible ability of ‘soul jumping’, which allows her to possess dozens of animals and even more objects. Be it a crab or a coconut, Tchia can jump into almost anything to help solve traversal puzzles and challenges. Delightful and refreshing, we highly recommend this to anyone who wishes to explore games off the beaten track.
8. Street Fighter 6
Developed by: Capcom | Published by: Capcom | Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S
Making its return after a gap of seven years, Street Fighter 6 jump kicked its way into our list, and rightfully so. You’d imagine that after nearly four decades, an arcade fighter might not have anything new to deliver. Well, think again. SF6 is still fun to play, and you can still spend hours trying to hone your skills or challenge your friends at a party. We didn’t care much for the World Tour mode where you can explore the world and take on challenges in 3D, as we were too busy trying to get our timings right in the classic Fighting Ground. While the game still follows a 2D design, the prowess of the underlying RE Engine was evident and the game never looked better. Not only did we get a chance to play with a handful of new characters such as Manon or A.K.I., but also took a trip down memory lane stepping into the shoes of series icons such as Chun Li, Ryu, Juri, Akuma, and Luke.
7. Armored Core VI: Fires Of Rubicon
Developed by: FromSoftware | Published by: Bandai Namco Entertainment | Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Ones, Xbox Series X|S
First things first, Armored Core VI comes from the house of FromSoftware, the same studio behind timeless gems such as Elden Ring, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and Bloodborne. With such a pedigree, it’s understandable that the Tokyo-headquartered developers knocked one out of the park. If you like Transformers and generally laying waste to everything you see in front of you, Fires Of Rubicon is something that you definitely shouldn’t miss out on. You will control souped-up mechs, known as Armored Cores, which are gargantuan robots that can zoom around battle arenas like a butterfly and shoot rockets like a bee. No wonder it won the Best Action Game at the Game Awards this year.
6. Forza Motorsport
Developed by: Turn 10 Studios | Published by: Xbox Game Studios | Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S
The world’s most accurate racing sim is back, and how. The game features 500 cars and 800 upgrades. If that number doesn’t impress you, just check out the gameplay trailer below and see how the newly added ray tracing, damage models, and real-time track/vehicle wear and tear come alive on a powerful PC, or Xbox’s current-gen consoles. Sure, this one’s not for adrenaline freaks or fans of arcade racers. This is a game for true racing aficionados, who won’t mind grinding that extra mile to unlock the very specific brake or spoiler that can shave off 0.01 second from their lap times. If you ever wanted to feel like a true racer, this is the closest you will get virtually.
5. Hogwarts Legacy
Developed by: Avalanche Software | Published by: Warner Bros. Games | Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch
Is it any wonder why Hogwarts Legacy was the most searched game on Google in 2023? I mean, how many games would let you not only go back to the wonderful wizarding world of Harry Potter but let you play out your wildest Hogwarts fantasy just the way you want it? Hogwarts Legacy will let you create your character form scratch, just like any other RPG, and let you enrol as a fifth-year student at the iconic school. You can spend your time obediently following classes and finishing lessons and challenges, or (like us) you can spend hours exploring a surprisingly expansive and detailed world of Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, Forbidden Forest, and surrounding hamlets and valleys in search of challenges, goons, and new unlockables. No matter what you do, Hogwarts Legacy has designed a way to make you feel rewarded like no other. You can fly around on brooms and hippogriffs as well. Oh, and you can also choose to become a Death Eater and learn all the unforgivable curses. Your story will well and truly be written by you in Hogwarts Legacy.
4. Alan Wake 2
Developed by: Remedy Entertainment | Published by: Epic Games Publishing | Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S
Leave it to Remedy to bring out a sequel to a 13-year-old game, and fill it with enough weirdness to make it one of the most discussed yet one of the most confusing games of the year. Staying true to its horror roots, Alan Wake is set 13 years after the events of the first game, this time taking up a dual-character approach as you explore the sleepy, sinister town of Bright Falls and an even more sinister and horrifying dream world resembling New York City. The game encourages exploration, but you are almost always on the edge of your seat anticipating the next horrid encounter with the supernatural. Ammo and resources are limited, and all you can hope is that your trusted flashlight (which can help make enemies more vulnerable) doesn’t fail you. I have never been more tense while playing a game (only the very first Dead Space comes close) and was left utterly confused with the ending, which eventually made me go through the entire game once again. If you are a fan of topsy-turvy psychological horrors, Alan Wake 2 shouldn’t be missed. A major shoutout to the artists and developers for the incredible feat of designing a game that blurs the line between graphics and real-life cutscenes.
3. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Developed by: Insomniac Games | Published by: Sony Interactive Entertainment | Platform: PS5
Hands-down the most enjoyable game we got to try out this year, Spider-Man 2 sets a major precedent for upcoming superhero games. That is primarily because the game has been designed in a way that your hero traverses around a sprawling map of New York at breakneck speed — something that we haven’t quite seen in any other superhero games before. Sure, Batman Arkham had its grapple-and-gliding technique, but poor Bruce can’t hold a candle in front of how Peter or Miles can zip and zoom around the town. You get to play as both Spider-Men, switching between them with ease (à la GTA V, but way faster) and take on the finest collection of villains from the Spidey rogues gallery, including the likes of Kraven and Venom. The story felt slightly underwhelming, especially when compared to the first Spider-Man. However, the game’s pace, action setpieces, and the best ray-tracing prowess we have seen to date on a PS5 game make this a must-try.
Sure, certain discussions are going on about how Spider-Man 2 was nominated for seven The Game Awards, but won none, so if it’s worth your time at all. I have two words for them — “Shashank Redemption”. If you didn’t know, Redemption was nominated for seven Oscars and won none. See how relevant that movie is even after nearly three decades.
2. Baldur’s Gate 3
Developed by: Larian Studios | Published by: Larian Studios | Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S
Winner of six The Game Awards, including the coveted Game of the Year title (as well as the Ultimate Game of the Year at Golden Joystick Awards), Baldur’s Gate 3 is a classic RPG that offers a mix of single-player as well as co-op gameplay. The game employs a turn-based combat style and an engaging open-world format, which is made even better thanks to the incredible world design. Playing the game feels like spending hours on your favourite D&D-style board game. The lore is deep, the story is engaging, and we found ourselves lured amply into any missions that kept cropping up. Somehow, it’s not easy to tear yourself away from Baldur’s Gate 3, and I suppose THAT is the mark of a truly great video game.
1. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Developed by: Nintendo | Published by: Nintendo | Platform: Nintendo Switch
Link has been looking for the missing Princess Zelda for 37 years now. Sure, all Zelda games are marvels, but 2017’s Breath of the Wild is wholeheartedly considered to be the greatest game ever made. So, how did Nintendo still manage to one-up their previous way-too-high bar? The answer is simple, take a winning formula and expand it by three new layers of the world map. Breath of the Wild’s Hyrule was game-designing excellence. Now, Tears of the Kingdom adds two expansive new areas — the Sky, which offers expansive floating islands to explore, and the Depths, which offers innumerable weapons, resources, and enemies. The best part is that the new areas, along with Hyrule, are masterfully tied together in a way that will encourage you to explore every nook and cranny. Of course, our dedicated hero is more than up to the task, thanks to his agile climbing, horseback riding, and paragliding. Red Dead Redemption 2 and Skyrim did lend inspiration to Tears of the Kingdom, but the good guys at Nintendo ensured that nothing ever felt like an uninspired copy-paste job, like most of the new Assassin’s Creed games are starting to feel like. Lastly, Link’s Fuse ability, which allows you to join multiple objects together to make anything from a club to a jetski, is an absolute delight. So, if you do own a Switch, and wish to play a great sequel to the greatest game, do check out Tears of the Kingdom.
Did we miss any game worth the top 10 list? Do let us know in the comments.
