My Top 10 Favorite Games of 2023
A Very Special Year in Gaming
Here are my top ten favorite games of 2023. Now, I will point out this includes one game that I’m going by a Let’s Play I watched. Also this is my favorite games of the year ranked, not awards. This is all my personal opinion, and there are games I didn’t get to play that could have entered this list - Baldur’s Gate 3, Alan Wake 2, and Dead Space Remake, to name a few. These are titles I hope to play in the future. But for now, here are my top ten favorite games of the year from last to first.
#10 - Starfield
Bethesda / Microsoft
Xbox Series Console, PC
Right off the bat, I want to clarify that I did not finish Starfield, but I plan to. This was my most hyped game entering the year, and I think that’s where things began to go wrong. This game’s biggest issue is that too many people (myself included) came in with too high expectations. However, once you get past those disappointments, you realize you are still left with a very good game. Starfield feels like a top-tier Bethesda RPG, even if the formula seems to have aged a bit. The feeling of discovery as you hop from planet to planet is there, and while the main story is simple, you’ll bump into some really cool side quests. I hope when I do get back to it, it’ll have a strong ending.
#9 - Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
PlayStation Studios
PS5
This game would potentially be higher if I played it with a controller. Due to budget limits, I had to watch one of my favorite Let’s Players to get this experience. That’s okay because these types of PlayStation exclusives are more about the story. Spider-Man 2 is a great one, and it helps that you do it with some of the most beloved superheroes, Peter Parker and Miles Morales. There are some surprisingly emotional moments. Outside of that, the action is intense from the jump. The start of the game felt reminiscent of God of War 3 as you battle a giant Sandman in the city. Ultimately, I think this is a strong contender for the best superhero video game adaptation ever released.
#8 - Super Mario RPG
Nintendo / Square Enix
Switch
If this were a list of the original release year of 1996, this would be much higher. But this is a remake and a solid one at that. Nintendo added in some CGI cutscenes that add flavor and give us some cool visuals the Super Nintendo couldn’t. The same nostalgic story, characters, and moments are all there. I think it does have some quality-of-life issues that didn’t age well when it comes to certain small aspects of the game, but nothing gets in the way. If you missed out on this when it first came out or had the Virtual Console released, pick it up now and enjoy a great Mario experience.
#7 - Resident Evil 4 (Remake)
Capcom
PS4, PS5, Xbox Series Consoles, PC, iOS, macOS
Resident Evil 4 is one of the greatest games of all time. Easily, in my opinion, the greatest horror game of all time. The remake had a lot to live up to and many didn’t see it as a necessary one. That being said, Capcom delivered another gem of a remake for gaming’s most iconic horror franchise. It follows the original while adding more to modernize the characterization of the side characters, especially Ashley. Everything you remember and love is here, along with all the action. It was weirdly nostalgic to fear a chainsaw again.
#6 - Sea of Stars
Sabotage Studio
PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series Consoles, Switch, PC
Every year, there is that one indie game that steals the show. In such a packed year, we got multiple indie titles that could go in this spot; for me and many others, that was Sea of Stars. With a charming art style and presentation, a great soundtrack, and some touch of nostalgia for the old-school 16-bit JRPGs, Sea of Stars puts a smile on your face. While it does take a bit for the story to get going, and the main two protagonists aren’t anywhere near as interesting as the side characters, you’ll still be left with a good gaming experience, especially for RPG fans. With a great cast, great music, and one genuinely emotional moment, Sea of Stars is one game I will not forget.
#5 - Hi-Fi Rush
Bethesda / Microsoft
Xbox Series Consoles, PC
The game that took everyone by surprise when it was shadow-dropped at the 2023 Xbox Developer Direct, Hi-Fi Rush, was a game that the Xbox brand needed badly. Rhythm games aren’t usually my thing, but this one gets it right by being accessible to everyone. The colorful presentation mixed with music has you ready to play through a really good and short game. The cast of characters and story only adds to the great gameplay, and you find yourself immersed in one of the best new worlds the Xbox brand has produced in a while. Whether hitting the notes right or battling a giant boss to Beethoven, you know this is something special.
#4 - Super Mario Bros. Wonder
Nintendo
Switch
Not since Super Mario World have we had the chance to play a masterpiece in the first plane of existence the plumber appeared in. It’s a game that feels like a celebration of Mario 2D titles and leans into the wonder monicker by producing results such as singing piranha plants and bouncing hippos. This brought me back to my childhood and showed that 2D Mario still has a lot of juice left. It also gave me one of the best final boss battles I’ve enjoyed in the franchise since the epic conclusion to Super Mario 3D World. Even in a year as stacked as 2023, Mario still finds a way to deliver.
#3 - Lies of P
Neowiz Games
PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series Consoles, PC, macOS
A souls-like game with a retelling and darker version of Pinocchio? Sign me up. When someone tries to replicate the success of what From Software has done, it comes out feeling more like a pretender. Lies of P is not a pretender. Taking the story of Pinocchio and putting it into a soul-like game, telling a really good story but still delivering a solid soul-like gaming experience. Lies of P is just as good as any From Software game and, in my opinion, does the storytelling much better. It’s a game that taps into an idea we don’t get enough from video games – the fairy tale adaptation. There’s something about taking down corrupted puppets and monsters while the equivalent of Jiminy Cricket talks to you.
#2 - Final Fantasy XVI
Square Enix
PS5
Final Fantasy XVI is a game that completely shook me. This is one of the best stories ever told in video games. The messages around masculinity, mental health, and questions about destiny took hold of me. Clive hits it out of the park (voiced by Ben Starr brilliantly) as one of the best new characters of the year. The villains and entire side cast are also just as good. The gameplay is action-packed and has some mind-boggling moments in the fights between the Eikons, including the fight with Titan, which is now one of the most memorable boss fights I've ever played against. Add in what is probably the best soundtrack of the year and some powerful moments, and this feels like a return to those memorable franchise entries back in the 90s.
Special Mention - Metroid Prime Remastered
Nintendo
Switch
I went back and forth on where to place this, and I realized it just wouldn’t be fair. The main reason is that the original 2002 release of Metroid Prime is my all-time favorite video game. This game came out of nowhere and gave me my favorite game in modern graphics. The other reason is that, technically, it's not a remake; it's a big boy remaster. They did such a good job that it looks like a remake. Nevertheless, I had to give this a shout-out as it is a brilliantly done remaster of my all-time favorite game and just pumps me up more for the 4th installment in the Prime franchise.
#1 - The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Nintendo
Switch
Anyone who knows or follows me shouldn’t be shocked by this pick as my favorite game of the year. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is what I consider the equivalent of what Godfather Part 2 was to the original. It’s a sequel to an iconic consequential game, and yet it doesn’t feel like a money grab or misses the mark from reaching the heights of Breath of the Wild. It has a much better story, better-refined combat, and exploration, and adds in a monster map that truly adds to the exploration of Hyrule. The game feels epic, and combine that with everything we love about The Legend of Zelda franchise, and you get this absolute master class in gaming. The entire final segment of the game, from the final boss fight to the roll of credits, will stay with me and many fans of the series for years to come. The wait was worth it.
Special Mention - Metroid Prime Remastered
10 - Starfield
09 - Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
08 - Super Mario RPG
07 - Resident Evil 4 (Remake)
06 - Sea of Stars
05 - Hi-Fi Rush
04 - Super Mario Bros. Wonder
03 - Lies of P
02 - Final Fantasy XVI
01 - The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom