Top 10 Most Anticipated Video Games of 2023
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 10 Most Anticipated Games of 2023. For this list, we’ll be looking at video games releasing in 2023 that have us most excited. Note that we prioritized brand new games over remakes and remasters. Naturally, we aren’t including any games without 2023 release windows at the time of writing. Which of these games tops your most anticipated list? Share your enthusiasm in the comments!
#10: “Redfall” (2023)
Recent years have seen a surge of multiplayer horror games, so many that it can be tough for one to stand out. However, there are a handful of reasons “Redfall” is on our radar. Published by Bethesda and developed by Arkane, it comes from the same team behind 2017’s “Prey.” As an open world FPS, you can choose between four different classes, playing alone or with others to take down hordes of vampires. We’re hoping for a bit of ridiculous fun, some unique weapons, and some bloody executions. It’s currently set to launch in the first half of 2023, where it will hopefully provide Xbox with a much-needed exclusive.
#9: “Assassin’s Creed Mirage” (2023)
Recent entries in Ubisoft’s “Assassin’s Creed” series have strayed away from certain elements of the past. Diehard fans were likely jumping for joy when they heard “Mirage” would take the franchise back to its roots. Set in 9th Century Baghdad, it will tell the origin of Basim Ibn Ishaq, who appeared in “Valhalla,” as he grows from thief to full-blown Assassin. With more and more games demanding our time with massive open worlds, a more linear experience honestly sounds refreshing. While we’ve only been given a cinematic trailer, the concept seems incredibly enticing. The only downside is that it has no firm release date outside of launching in 2023.
#8: “Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League” (2023)
The issues of “Gotham Knights” may have dispersed a bit of our hype here, but we’re still excited for Warner Bros.’ other open world multiplayer DC game. As Harley Quinn, Deadshot, King Shark, and Captain Boomerang, players will be forced to go up against a brainwashed Justice League in Metropolis. Gameplay shows that each character has their own strengths, like Boomerang’s teleportation and Deadshot’s airborne artillery. It also looks to have nailed the dynamic of these iconic villains, though we shouldn’t be surprised given developer Rocksteady’s caliber. Having created the “Batman: Arkham” series, the studio has more than proven itself. It will be its first game since 2016’s “Arkham VR,” and we can’t wait to see what’s in store.
#7: “Star Wars Jedi: Survivor” (2023)
It’s no secret that EA fumbled the “Star Wars” license…but then “Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order” was released. With a talented developer, Respawn, at the helm, it was a genuine surprise and a great single-player experience. It had just enough nostalgia and just enough new to please most fans, and we knew, just like the rest of the franchise, that there was more story to be told. “Survivor” will pick up 5 years after the first game. Other than a brief teaser, we don’t have much to go on. But the strength of the first game, Respawn’s continued great work on “Apex Legends,” and our love for the IP has us ready to jump back in as soon as possible.
#6: “Hollow Knight: Silksong” (2023)
If you didn’t play “Hollow Knight,” you missed out on one of the definitive indie games of the last decade. The world was dark and mysterious, the art style undeniably gorgeous, and the gameplay tough but extremely satisfying. Its sequel will focus on side character Hornet, with combat looking much quicker. Unfortunately, the wait for “Silksong” has been a long one. After announcing it in 2019 and showing us a ton of tantalizing footage, developer Team Cherry went quiet. However, in June of 2022, a new trailer brought good news. While Team Cherry didn’t give a definitive release date, Xbox announced it would release before June of 2023. We can only hope.
#5: “Street Fighter VI” (2023)
Not many fighting franchises command, or deserve, as much respect as “Street Fighter.” Despite some missteps with the fifth entry, we’ll be ready to throw hands on Day 1 when “Street Fighter VI” releases. Combat looks fluid and intense, and we have no doubt it’ll lead to plenty of awesome matches both local and online. But we’re also extremely curious about its new World Tour mode. Here, players can customize their own character and take them on their own story with action adventure gameplay in between the fist fights. It will launch with 18 characters both new and returning, though it seems likely that roster will balloon over time given how many characters there are.
#4: “Starfield” (2023)
We were pretty excited for “Starfield” to be released in 2022. But like several other high-profile games, it was delayed. We were happy to pay that price as long as it's the best game Bethesda can make. It will be the studio’s first original IP in over 25 years, which would be grounds enough for anticipation. Set in the 24th Century, it follows a space explorer in a vast, post-war galaxy. Bethesda’s worlds are usually the biggest selling point in their games, so we hope that what looks to be its grandest lives up to the legacy. Like Bethesda’s other title, “Redfall,” “Starfield” is set to launch in the first half of 2023 and will be a coveted Xbox exclusive.
#3: “Final Fantasy XVI” (2023)
We’re just as excited as the rest of you to get the next chapter of “Final Fantasy VII’s” remake trilogy. But for us, there’s no way it can match the hype of a brand new game. This installment will come from the same team behind “Final Fantasy XIV,” the well-received MMO that has gotten near-constant support from Square Enix. With a heavier focus on medieval fantasy, “XVI” will center on six factions at each other's throats during the spread of a dangerous sickness known as the Blight. Everything we’ve seen so far, from the stunning visuals to the exhilarating combat, has readied us for another stellar adventure when it launches in mid-2023.
#2: “Marvel’s Spider-Man 2” (2023)
When a game is as great as “Marvel’s Spider-Man” was, a sequel is a no-brainer. While Miles Morales’ spin-off was a great appetizer, the main course finally arrives in 2023. Announced in September 2021, we still haven't gotten much information on it. Although, what we have gotten has been stellar. The announcement trailer revealed it will focus on Kraven and Venom, two of Spidey’s deadliest foes. We also know Venom will be voiced by Horror icon Tony Todd, an extraordinary casting choice. There’s no doubt that developer Insomniac will continue to build out Spider-Man’s world with neat combat improvements and traversal mechanics. Whether we can stand the wait is another story.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
“The Plucky Squire” (2023)
A Visually Charming Indie Adventure
“Black Myth: Wukong” (2023)
A Striking Action RPG with Chinese Roots
“The Wolf Among Us 2” (2023)
A Follow-Up to One of Telltale’s Best Games
“Alan Wake II” (2023)
It Will Have Been Thirteen Years Since the First Game
#1: “The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom” (2023)
We’d be excited to get a new “Zelda” game regardless. But a sequel to “Breath of the Wild,” one of the best games of all time, has us over the moon. First announced in 2019, fans have had to settle for a slow drip feed of news and contend with a delay. However, every single second of footage has had us theorizing, speculating, and dreaming about our return to Hyrule. While much of the game is still a mystery, we’ve gotten glimpses at incredible new abilities and areas. We can’t wait to take our adventure skyward to explore the kingdom’s floating islands. If it manages to pull us in every direction the way its predecessor did, “Tears of the Kingdom” will be a resounding success.