2023 has been pretty great for games, hasn’t it? I feel it goes without saying though, that it has absolutely sucked for the people that actually make them. My heart goes out to all the developers who’ve been affected by the many many layoffs across the industry this year.
Picking a top 10 has been a strange affair for me, in that, being old, grumpy and decidedly not into “souls-likes”, horror games or huge, sprawling RPGs, I’ve been left a little out in the cold for the year.
I acknowledge of course, that the majority of folks have had some great games that suit them to play throughout 2023, and while the occasional open-world game or RPG has made it into my list, you won’t see Diablo IV, Lies of P, Dead Space or Resident Evil 4 taking up any space. They just ain’t my jam.
#10 High on Knife
I may be knocking on 40, but the child within me found High on Life’s add-on, “High on Knife” – a story focused almost entirely on everyone’s favourite sentient serrated blade to be a bloody good laugh. Utterly puerile, and full of the most bizarre set-pieces I’ve seen in gaming, it had chuckling throughout. It helps that it’s a competent game too!
#9 The Finals
Swooping in (even though it’s only just released on console this December) is free-to-play “The Finals”. A purely multiplayer affair, I’ve had a very good time with friends as we’ve attempted to cash out our winnings across the games various modes. It looks great, the in-game real time destruction is top notch, and I’m having a rather good time. Definitely a nice palette cleanser!
#8 Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora
What a pleasant surprise Avatar is – written off by the majority as “just another Ubisoft game”, what we have is one of the best looking titles of the year, alongside solid gameplay in a unique environment. While the films are merely “fine”, this takes the interesting universe and technology of the IP and gives us a big chunk of Pandora to play in. I’m enjoying it a lot, and I think it’s been severely underrated.
#7 The Last Case of Benedict Fox
I admire ambition and intent when it comes to game design, and while it’s not without it’s wobbles, there’s something I really admired and enjoyed about Benedict Fox. A sprawling metroidvania, it was the developers first go at a big console release, and while not everything is perfect, it was a lot of fun to play through. Filled with decent puzzles, a satisfying gameplay loop and a gorgeous artstyle, I look forward to seeing what this team make next.
#6 Halo Infinite
343 have been on a bit of a comeback this year, and Halo Infinite has received a bevvy of fresh content to keep Halo fans entertained. It’s a crying shame that Halo Infinite didn’t launch in this state, but they’ve earned all the praise from fans of the franchise this year. If you’re a lapsed Halo fan, I promise you it’s worth a redownload.
#5 Jusant
Jusant is a wonderful game, and a sterling example of good game design – here, the team at DON’TNOD found a cool climbing mechanic, and built the entire game around it. There’s no combat, and really the threat has already been and gone – the oceans have dried up and the sun is merciless. Yes, arguably the game is about the threats facing our own planet. The climb is one of hope – of healing – and it’s well worth the journey. Killer soundtrack too!
#4 Starfield
I am well known for not really being into RPGs, and I’d never really enjoyed a Bethesda adventure at all. And yet, something about Starfield grabbed me, and with well over a 100 hours into the game (I’m still not done) it’s more than earned a spot on my list. The discourse on the game across the industry has been hilarious to witness in real-time, but the reality is Bethesda have made an absolute belter of a game, and one that many players will revisit as more updates land.
#3 Planet Of Lana
I loved Planet of Lana – a wonderful combination of heartfelt story, beautiful game design, and a gorgeous soundtrack combine together to deliver a brilliant first effort from a new team. The duo act that is Mui and Lana is a memorable adventure and you should absolutely play it if you get a chance.
# Hi-fi Rush
What a surprise Hi-Fi Rush was! Shadow dropped during Xbox’s first developer direct, it came as a complete surprise. An impeccably designed action adventure all played to the rhythm of the beat, Hi-Fi Rush is without a doubt one of the coolest games of the year, and certainly started 2023 with a bang.
#1 Cocoon
Ah, my favourite game of the year. Cocoon had me grinning from ear to ear throughout my entire playthrough. Cocoon is an impeccably designed puzzle game that has you manipulating entire worlds, battle various guardians, and you take these worlds on your back to solve ever evolving, complex puzzles. It’s literally brilliant, and coming from the mind of the original gameplay designer of Limbo and Inside, that’s not really a surprise. I was so in love with it, I just had to chat to the designers, so you can check back on Saturday for an interview I had with them earlier this year.
