GamesCreed team presents the Game of the Year 2023.
Time does fly. It seems as if yesterday we published our Game of the Year 2022, and here it is, yet another year has passed. But those who call themselves gamers may not be too sad about it. Over the past few years, the video game industry has grown consistently, with remarkable releases throughout the year.
This year, from AAA to indie, we’ve witnessed one or two games that shook the gaming community each month. The release of next-gen consoles propelled the gaming industry to new heights, and developers can finally use the full potential of the hardware capacity they’ve always wished for. Overall, the industry’s unparalleled accomplishment was helped by several fantastic games we played throughout 2023. Games range in genre and developer, some with more substantial budgets and others with more modest ones.
As usual, we evaluated all the games we played to find out which ones had a lasting impression and were the most memorable overall.
Most Hyped Games of 2023
- Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
- Resident Evil 4
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
- Diablo IV
- Final Fantasy XVI
- Alan Wake 2
- Hogwarts Legacy
- Baldur’s Gate 3
- Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
- Starfield
Most Hyped Game of 2023: Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (Rating: 4.8/5)
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is still arguably in the top 3 best games of 2023, the best Spider-Man game of all time, one of the best in modern gaming, and possibly one of the best games of all time. This is definitely five years worth the wait, and it’s great having to play one of the most iconic superheroes once again. – Reviewed by Junior Onunkwo.
Best Indie Games
- SEASON: A letter to the future
- Dredge
- Risk of Rain Returns
- American Arcadia
- UGLY
- Viewfinder
- Killer Frequency
- Planet of Lana
- The Last Case of Benedict Fox
- Figment 2: Creed Valley
Best Indie Game of 2023: Planet of Lana (Rating: 4.6/5)
Planet of Lana is short and sweet and never overstays its welcome. There was an onion or two cut in front of me by the time the credits rolled around. It is a remarkable debut effort from Wishfully Studios that is sure to delight with its gorgeous visuals, grand story, and brain-busting puzzles. – Reviewed by Michael Nicolosi.
Best Action Games
- Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
- Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon
- Final Fantasy XVI
- Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty
- Resident Evil 4 Remake
- Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
- Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons
- Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name
- Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
Best Action Game of 2023: Final Fantasy XVI (Rating: 5/5)
Whether you’re a longtime fan or a casual like myself, you’ll fully appreciate Final Fantasy XVI as one of the best role-playing games ever. A masterpiece story, incredibly in-depth combat and magic, awestruck battles, lovable characters, an eye-gawking environment, and much more formulated the ultimate unique experience. This is no exaggeration, but I couldn’t identify a single negative even if I tried. – Reviewed by Junior Onunkwo.
Best Action/Adventure Games
- Baldur’s Gate 3
- Horizon Call of the Mountain
- Starfield
- Hi-Fi Rush
- The Invincible
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
- Assassin’s Creed Mirage
- Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora
- Remnant 2
- Pikmin 4
Best Action/Adventure Game of 2023: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Rating: 5/5)
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is a tour de force of game design that managed to outdo its already impeccable predecessor by a large margin. This is the premiere Zelda experience, and I can’t wait to see how Nintendo manages to top this one because those are mighty large boots to fill. Masterpiece. – Reviewed by Michael Nicolosi.
Best Ongoing Games
- Baldur’s Gate 3
- Slay the Princess
- Aplex Legends
- Cyberpunk 2077
- Final Fantasy XIV
- Fortnite
- Genshin Impact
- Counter-Strike 2
- Football Manager 2024
- MEGA MAN X DiVE Offline
Best Ongoing Game of 2023: Cyberpunk 2077 (Rating: 4.7/5)
Cyberpunk 2077 is a phenomenal game that initially lost a lot of credibility due to the unfathomable tally of issues that occurred when it arrived. With the introduction of a few patches, many of the issues I have encountered have been rectified, making the game far more enjoyable; thus, a considerable amount of credibility has been restored. I will be waiting for more patches to arrive. – Reviewed by Junior Onunkwo.
Best Strategy Games
- Fire Emblem Engage
- Jagged Alliance 3
- Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew
- Last Train Home
- Pharaoh: A New Era
- SteamWorld Build
- Dungeons 4
- Showgunners
- King Of The Castle
- Ash of Gods: The Way
Best Strategy Game of 2023: Dungeons 4 (Rating: 4.7/5)
Dungeons 4 is probably the best entry in the Dungeons series. The game isn’t for everyone, but it is phenomenal, with outstanding voice-acting and story-to-gameplay that is both satisfying and challenging. Dungeons 4 is a must-play for fans of the genre or for players who want to live out their evil overlord power fantasy. – Reviewed by Daman Shelley.
Best Horror Games
- Alan Wake 2
- Bramble: The Mountain King
- FATAL FRAME: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse
- Resident Evil 4
- The Invincible
- The Callisto Protocol
- PARANORMASIGHT: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo
- The Outlast Trials
- The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
- Amnesia: The Bunker
Best Horror Game of 2023: Resident Evil 4 (Rating: 5/5)
Resident Evil 4 Remake is something to be remembered, as it is not only a great example of a remake, but it is, simply put, a great experience. With a solid story and excellent gameplay wrapped in a beautiful package, it reaches far further than just the already existing fans of the franchise. Surely there are a few issues, like the enemies being a bit too overwhelming at times or the Merchant not knowing when to stay quiet, but the issues are so small in comparison to the larger picture at hand. – Reviewed by Jacob Cowsert.
Best Sports Games
- FIFA 23
- EA Sports PGA Tour
- WWE 2K23
- NHL 23
- Blood Bowl 3
- NBA 2K24
- AEW Fight Forever
- Forza Motorsport
- Madden NFL 24
- Knockout City
Best Sports Game of 2023: Forza Motorsport (Rating: 4.8/5)
Playing Forza Motorsport is like stepping into a world of pure racing bliss. Despite that, it’s definitely not like being in a driving simulator. Racing on an Xbox One X or S will give you an incredible feeling of steadiness and weight. The glaring difference in aesthetic quality between older and newer vehicles will shock you. If you own an Xbox and want to get better at online racing, you need Forza Motorsport. – Reviewed by Azfar Rayan
Best Multiplayer Games
- Street Fighter 6
- Counter-Strike 2
- Destiny II: Lightfall
- Diablo IV
- Throne and Liberty
- Samba de Amigo: Party Central
- Six Days in Fallujah
- Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2
- Mortal Kombat 1
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder
Best Multiplayer Game of 2023: Street Fighter 6 (Rating: 4.8/5)
This goes without saying, but Street Fighter 6 is the major redemption to the iconic franchise that makes the predecessor look like a thing of the past by delivering an astronomically superior successor in virtually every way possible. Whether you’re a long-time fan or new to the series, from top to bottom, you are guaranteed the best experience from a Street Fighter game ever. – Reviewed by Junior Onunkwo.
Best Role-Playing Games
- Baldur’s Gate 3
- Starfield
- Lies of P
- Hogwarts Legacy
- Sea of Stars
- Dave the Diver
- Octopath Traveler II
- Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key
- Street Fighter 6
- Returnal
Best Role-Playing Game of 2023: Baldur’s Gate 3
Baldur’s Gate 3 was well worth the wait. The game truly captures the beauty and insanity of DnD and mixes it perfectly with the gameplay we have come to expect from the series. If you’ve played the first two games, then playing Baldur’s Gate 3 will feel like you’re seeing an old friend, one that has grown greater and better… and slightly more sexually inclined. Baldur’s Gate 3 is very much worth your time. – Reviewed by Daman Shelley.
Most Anticipated Games of 2024
- Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
- Tekken 8
- Little Nightmares III
- Dragon’s Dogma II
- Stellar Blade
- Pragmata
- Rise of the Ronin
- Crimson Desert
- Senua’s Saga: Hell Blade II
- Silent Hill 2 Remake
Most Anticipated Game of 2024: Silent Hill 2 Remake
Despite having to wait some time, it seems that the fans of the iconic horror franchise will get to see Silent Hill in a fresh new light while staying close to the experience we all know and love. The Silent Hill 2 Remake is currently in development for PC and PS5 but has no announced release date yet. – By Rexifirus Nightshade
GamesCreed Game of The Year 2023
- Baldur’s Gate 3
- Lies of P
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
- Resident Evil 4
- Final Fantasy XVI
Game of The Year 2023: Baldur’s Gate 3
Yes, You Can Kiss The Vampire! Baldur’s Gate 3 is a phenomenal game that is well worth the wait, and it wouldn’t be surprising if it is our game of the year. – Reviewed by Daman Shelley.
We congratulate all the winning publishers and developers on their well-deserved achievements, and we thank Larian Studios for delivering the illustrious Baldur’s Gate 3. With that, we wish everyone a joyful new year and look forward to 2024 being another thrilling year of gaming.
