Top 10 Video Games of 2023 So Far

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water. While on the surface, this indie presents itself as a well-crafted, borderline zen fishing simulator, where players will go about catching their quarry, upgrading their boat, and raking in their earnings in an all too satisfying cycle. There’s just one thing – the ocean also happens to be host to all kinds of eldritch monsters who, if you aren’t careful, will drag you under. While more atmospheric than an outright exercise in horror, it’s still effective, and will have you questioning just how many close calls with Cthulu it takes before a person should really consider a career change.

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#9: “Diablo 4” (2023)

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Video Game Classics: Diablo

Are there a few unwanted micro-transactions, issues with the end-game, and other Activision-Blizzard nonsense we wish weren't here? For sure. But holy Mama Lilith if this isn’t some of the best content we’ve experienced since Diablo 2. The variety of the character classes, crazy amount of offensive abilities, vastness of the open world, and a pretty tight story campaign all wrapped together felt like the perfect apology gift off the back of the nightmare that was Diablo Immortal. It’s a great start, and we can’t wait to see just how much this game can shine going forward.

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#8: “Star Wars Jedi: Survivor” (2023)

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10 Hidden Secrets in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

While it is a damn shame about this game’s graphical fidelity, or lack thereof, upon release, we can safely say this sequel took everything we adored about Fallen Order, and drastically amped up just about every aspect. The numerous lightsaber stances allowed for new ways to approach combat, Koboh made for one of the most extensive hub-worlds we’ve explored in modern gaming, and most importantly of all, we got to see Cal Kestis with a handlebar mustache. Though in all seriousness, watching the once hopeful padawan be pushed to the brink and potentially seduced by the Dark Side was truly gripping. And after that finale, every Star Wars fan is asking the same question…when is Rick the Door Technician getting his own game?

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#7: “Hogwarts Legacy” (2023)

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There’s not been a game to date that’s captured the magic and wonder of Harry Potter more so than Hogwarts Legacy. And sure, the bar may not exactly have been high, but nobody was expecting just how enchanting the final product would be! As a new student at the titular school for wizards and witches, players got to revel in the thrill of exploring iconic locations from the source material, dueling it out with spells, interacting with a surprisingly well-rounded cast of supporting allies, and most importantly of all – unleashing the three forbidden curses on just about everyone! The potential for the IP going forward with such a grand foundation now in place is honestly staggering.

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#6: “Hi-Fi Rush” (2023)

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The 10 BEST Indie Games of 2023

This thing came out of nowhere, and yet from the moment it was shadow launched, it charmed and impressed basically everyone who played it! With combat that combined the easy to learn and hard to master mechanics of rhythm games along with hack and slash elements, a banging soundtrack, some truly creative boss battles, and a visual palette that was just a delight to get lost in, Chai’s wayward journey from rock’n’roll loser all the way to the face of rebellion was the underdog story we didn’t know we needed. Did we mention how much the songs slap?

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#5: “Final Fantasy 16” (2023)

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Top 10 Final Fantasy Video Games

Step aside Cloud, Yoshi P is here to show you how it’s done! Delivering wholeheartedly on the Final Fantasy experience they had promised, with a medieval twist and a splash of DMC-inspired swordsmanship for good measure, this latest installment is both a frantic fest of fantastical fights seeped in rich lore, whilst also serving as one of the most approachable entries in the franchise to date! Weaving through enemies with Clive’s slick sword skills before everything unravels into the spectacle that is the battles between the kaiju-sized Eikons is a gameplay loop we won’t be getting tired of anytime soon!

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#4: “Street Fighter 6” (2023)

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After the mediocre reception of the fifth mainline game, Capcom really had to knock this one out of the park if it had any hope of getting back on its pedestal as the king of fighting games. Needless to say, they shoruyken’d it out of the park! This is an exceptional title across the board, to the extent that even non-fighting game fans are bound to have a blast playing it! The Overdive mechanic? A brilliant overhaul that can turn the tide of any fight. The roster? Small yet dense, filled with some golden oldies and newcomers that have already got the internet’s tongue wagging. Even the open-world add-on is a neat feature for those who want to live out their fantasy of getting kicked around by Cammy!

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#3: “Dead Space” (2023)

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This year will go down as a new golden age for remakes and remasters, and the one that kicked it off was this exceptional retelling of one of sci-fi horror’s greatest outings. Isaac Clarke’s descent into the Necromorph-infested Ishimura has been lovingly recreated in all its gruesome glory, whilst improving other previous gameplay elements to boot! Isaac’s got way more personality thanks to some additional voice acting, flying in zero gravity is now seamless, they completely replaced that awful turret section for another horrifying boss fight, we’ve even got side missions and even alternative endings for the committed completionists out there. We’ve never been more eager to dive back into a waking nightmare!

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#2: “Resident Evil 4” (2023)

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They did it. The mad bastards over at Capcom actually did it. They took one of the most revolutionary games of all time, and brought it into today’s gaming landscape without ruining what made the original so special! Leon’s mission to rescue the president’s daughter, whilst shooting through an endless swarm of infected along the way, has never looked or played better. The gunplay and newly implemented parry system feel amazing to control. The enemy variety and design will constantly have you on your toes. The roundhouse kicks, the merchant’s accent, Leon’s hair, the infinite rocket launcher – there is so much to love here it’s almost nonsensical! Where the franchise goes from here is a mystery, but there’s no denying this is a new high point!

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#1: “The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom” (2023)

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Top 10 Best Video Games of 2023

And here comes Nintendo to show the world how a sequel is done, and blow us away in the process! The hype and expectation for the follow up to Breath of the Wild could not be more monumental, and yet somehow, they pulled it off. Hyrule is just as massive as before, filled to the brim with enemies and dungeons and new obstacles for Link to overcome…only now there’s also the sky islands and the depths to explore! There is so much to do here! And that’s not even touching upon the freedom this game gives players when it comes to constructing giant weapons, vehicles, phallic imagery and…the ritualistic slaughter of Koroks. What a game.