Our Top 10 Picks for Best Games of 2023

Published 12/26/2023, 5:18 AM EST

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2023 was a big year for gaming. This year brought gamers a bunch of titles that were just mind-blowing. From massive triple-A games to much-awaited sequels to mind-blowing indie releases, a bunch of exciting titles surprised gamers all over. Regardless of which console or platform players used or which genre players preferred, there was something for everyone. For instance, Nintendo had Mario and Zelda, Xbox had Starfield, PlayStation had Spider-Man. Potterheads got Hogwarts Legacy, horror fans got Alan Wake 2. With the competition tighter than ever, gamers were spoilt for choice.

With so many amazing titles to pick from, it’s impossible to narrow it down to just a hand few. There’s too many this year which we believe players need to checkout. However, there are 10 that we believe players just cannot afford to miss.

10 unmissable games of 2023

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1) Spider-Man 2

Insomniac Games’ first attempt at putting fans in the shoes of the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man was a striking success. Such a successful title can often prove hard to follow up on. But Insomniac Games took on this challenge and made it even better.

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Spider-Man 2 looks better, plays better, has a far better and darker story. With Kraven and Venom in the story, it was bound to get dark. The game included new villains like Kraven, Venom, Sandman, Lizard as well as some returning villains from the first game. And true believers have always loved the webhead’s rogue gallery. To take them down and save the city, the game allows players to seamlessly switch between both Spider-Men, who can now glide across the city with their new web wings, which was one of the most praised features, a step up from web slinging, seen in a Spidey game for the first time.

Further, this game expands its game world beyond the boundaries of the first one with a map twice as big. It includes the previous game’s map, as well as Queens, Coney Island and more. So what if it missed out on GOTY at Game of the year? It still won many awards, including PS5 game of the year at PlayStation Blog Awards. And awards or no awards, this is one of the best superhero game ever made.

2) Resident Evil 4 Remake

Capcom’s Resident Evil series saw a comeback with 7. That game brought the horror back to the series, once burdened by action tropes. Keeping up with this new era of Resident Evil games, RE 4 Remake brings the best game in the series to a modern player base.

A perfect mix of horror and action, this game does not disappoint. Resident Evil 4 Remake is mostly the same brilliant game. But developers have made it much more photorealistic, added gameplay mechanics such as parry and stealth, and added alternate ways to complete some levels. All in all, this game would be a treat for survival horror games.

3) Baldur’s Gate 3

Before 2023, CRPGS was not very common. They were for a very specific type of fan base. But Baldur’s Gate 3 did the impossible; it put the genre on the map. Baldur’s Gate 3 is an RPG unlike any other. Create your own character and start your journey to save the world. Go around, making friends or enemies. Fight them, flee, or just talk it out. And when you feel lonely, invite a friend.

There are multiple ways to complete missions, co-op, and choices in the story. This game has everything. Praised for almost every aspect, but especially its combat, it’s easy to see why this game won GOTY at TGA 2023.

4) The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

It can be hard to follow up on a game as good as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Nintendo had a problem very similar to Insomniac Games. But just like the Insomniac games, they succeeded too. Tears of the Kingdom is a game that takes over a hundred hours to complete, and not one of those hours feels boring.

Nintendo added many new enemies. Two new areas, a bunch of new abilities. Powers that surprised other developers. This game is just another one of the millions of feathers in Nintendo’s cap.

5) Super Mario Bros. Wonder

So far into a console’s life cycle, it’s hard to bring out games that can surprise console owners. But Nintendo did it. They brought a 2D Nintendo Switch game that literally redefined what it means to be a 2D Mario game.

With new gameplay mechanics such as Wonder Flowers and Dark Souls like online mode, this game just changes things for the better. Super Mario Bros. Wonder is no doubt one of the best 2D Mario games made in years.

6) Alan Wake 2

Years after the first game launched and became a success, Remedy’s Alan Wake 2 finally launched. And what do you know? They made a game that was much better than the first one. Gameplay, story, and visuals—this game improves everything tenfold.

They seem to have taken a lot of pointers from Resident Evil. And its story takes pointers from shows like The Twilight Zone and ends up with something incredible that stands on its own. This one is a survival horror title that everyone should experience.

7) Street Fighter 6

Capcom is on fire. They brought back the Resident Evil franchise from a slump, and then they made Street Fighter a household name. They did this by making Street Fighter 6 much more approachable than any other game before it. It has a very elaborate RPG-like campaign mode that literally serves as a way to teach players those impossible combos.

By the end of that campaign mode, players would be ready to duke it out like pros. And the best part is that they can create their own fighter this time around.

8) Hi-Fi Rush

For every fan of Jet Set Radio, Hi-Fi Rush is a must, but in many ways, it is much more. An action beat-em-up with rhythm game mechanics. This game literally combines these things and gives players an experience unlike any other.

Attack enemies, create combos, and parry the incoming attacks. There isn’t much to this game beyond these mechanics, but nothing else is required. It’s just brilliant.

9) Dave the Diver

It’s an incredible game, a game for every person who wondered what it would be like to be a deep-sea diver. Dave is a diver who also tends a bar. Players go deeper and deeper as they upgrade their equipment. They also learn new drink recipes to keep their customers happy, and they complete requests made by people.

There’s a reason Dave the Diver is such a success. Its core gameplay loop is so incredible and addictive that it’s very hard to put it down.

10) System Shock

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For every sci-fi horror RPG fan out there, System Shock is a must. Just like its 1994 original, this game does not fail to create an incredibly detailed, immersive environment. Its puzzles are challenging, and as a remake, it stays faithful to the original while upgrading the visuals to make it look much better.

This is a non-linear game where players explore a multi-level space station. They uncover the story through various audio logs, all the while keeping an evil AI at bay. It keeps throwing exciting new stuff at players through various puzzles and sometimes weapons.

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Just go ahead and choose the game you might want to play the most. You will not be disappointed at all.

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Written by:

Rohit Sejwal

1,315Articles

One take at a time

?Stories hit way better when you are part of them!? Which is why I am a gamer first, writer second and a filmmaker as well. Being associated with movies has given me a very different perspective on gaming. Writing about video games has been on my mind for years and being an eSports writer at EssentiallySports gave me that chance.
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Edited by:

Rohan Karnad