The Best Games of 2023 | Game8's Top Reviewed Games of All Year

Want to know the best games of 2023? Don't worry, we've got you covered. Here's our list of the top reviewed games. Read on to see the game information, release dates, and our scores for those games.

The Best Games of 2023

Top 10 Games of 2023 Video

83. UFC 5

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
October 27	Electronic Arts	EA SPORTS
Systems
PS5, Xbox Series X|S

UFC 5 feels very much like its predecessor, but with next-gen visuals, more violence, more blood, and more profanity. It comes with a few notable improvements to its gameplay, but overall feels more like an M-rated UFC 4.5 rather than a brand new game. EA played it safe with UFC 5 as it features the same, slightly more polished, extremely fun MMA experience, but with repetitive solo gameplay.

82. Death Must Die (Early Access)

Overall Score
76/100
Story	Gameplay	Visuals	Audio	Value for Money
6/10	8/10	7/10	7/10	10/10

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
November 15 (Early Access)	Realm Archive	Realm Archive
Systems
PC

Death Must Die is a great action roguelite with very polished gameplay and a cast of colorful support characters. Due to its reasonably challenging difficulty, improvements in your performance come with an incredible sense of satisfaction and a reward in drops to help push your characters further. However, unfortunately, it lacks the personality to differentiate it from other action roguelites.

81. Risk of Rain Returns

Overall Score
76/100
Story	Gameplay	Visuals	Audio	Value for Money
6/10	8/10	7/10	7/10	10/10

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
November 9	Gearbox Publishing	Hopoo Games
Systems
PC, Nintendo Switch

Risk of Rain Returns is an excellent remake of the 2D action roguelike, especially for those who weren’t there to experience it. With modernized rules and new additions of characters, items, skills, and quality of life changes that even veteran Risk of Rain 1 players would feel and appreciate. The remake is a great way to modernize the older roguelike, while also introducing the game to players who may have only played the sequel such as myself.

80. Silent Hope

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
October 3	XSEED Games	Marvelous (XSEED)
Systems
Nintendo Switch

Silent Hope is fun, with surprisingly fleshed out play styles across the seven playable heroes. The adequate story, alluring art direction, and amicable music makes this a simple but enjoyable game, albeit with a few missing quality-of-life improvements. However, it pulls its punches for the majority of the game, lacking enough enemy variants and engaging environments.

79. Fire Emblem Engage

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
January 20	Nintendo	Intelligent Systems
Systems
Nintendo Switch

Fire Emblem Engage has probably the best strategy gameplay seen in the Fire Emblem series so far, with the game’s “Engage” mechanic being the star of the show. However, it is hindered by its lackluster story, generic characters, and potentially divisive character design.

78. Minecraft Legends

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
April 18	Xbox Games Studios	Mojang Studios/Blackbird Interactive
Systems
Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X, PC

The Overworld is being invaded, and it needs your help! Minecraft Legends is a unique, albeit short, take on the action and strategy genre, doing its best to streamline unit creation and resource gathering so you can keep fighting big tactical battles with many units on Minecraft's Overworld.

77. Amnesia: The Bunker

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
June 6	Frictional Games	Frictional Games
Systems
Playstation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X, PC

Amnesia: The Bunker is a terrifying game where you’ll never feel safe, not even once. It combines tactile gameplay, resource scarcity, lighting, and sound design to make you keep looking behind you, and be as quiet as you can. For all its strengths, Amnesia: The Bunker is a terribly short game that you can finish anywhere between four to six hours.

76. Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless Review

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
October 3	NIS America	Nippon Ichi Software
Systems
PC, PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch

Disgaea 7 is, overall, a decent addition to the series. The main story carries itself well with its entertaining characters, engaging dialogue, and outlandish setting. But more importantly for a Disgaea game, its postgame is streamlined and convenient, but equally challenging and rewarding. That's why it's deserving of a 76, at least!

75. My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! -Pirates of the Disturbance-

Overall Score
76/100
Story	Gameplay	Visuals	Audio	Value for Money
7/10	7/10	8/10	9/10	7/10

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
November 28	Reef Entertainment	IDEA FACTORY
Systems
Nintendo Switch

The visual novel is a fun romp set in an original story based on the My Next Life as a Villainess light novel, manga, and anime series. As such, every scene is a breath of fresh air for folks wanting to experience more of the protagonist, Katarina Claes' shenanigans, and their hilarious and often charming consequences. However, though the visual novel has faithfully recreated every central character from the original work, including their love for the protagonist, one can't help but entertain the idea that its dating sim-like gameplay feels quite inappropriate for the kind of friends that surround her.

74. The Invincible

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
November 6	11 bit Studios	Starward Industries
Systems
PC, Playstation 5, Xbox Series X|S

The Invincible is a magnificent experience, with a breathtaking retro sci-fi aesthetic and a fantastic mystery thriller narrative. It is, however, a rather slowburn experience, where you’re brought along a premade linear path for the entirety of the game. There is so much to enjoy and be immersed in with The Invincible, so only as long as you withstand the sluggishness at certain points.

73. Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
March 17	Nintendo	PlatinumGames
Systems
Nintendo Switch

Explore the tale of how Bayonetta became a powerful Umbran Witch! Cereza and the Lost Demon is a great action-adventure title with an eclectic fairy tale aesthetic, good voice acting, and a story full of callbacks to the mainline series. It’s only hampered by repetitive gameplay near the end, and its 60-dollar price tag despite being a spin-off game.

72. Wizard with a Gun

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
October 16	Devolver Digital	Galvanic Games
Systems
PS5, Xbox Series, PC, Nintendo Switch

The game offers a unique mix of survival shooter sandbox, base building, and crafting. It also incorporates the farm-run-based approach popularized by roguelites. It sounds exciting, kooky, and ambitious, but sadly Galvanic Games wrapped all this up into a relatively dry bite-size of those many things.

71. Worldless

Overall Score
78/100
Story	Gameplay	Visuals	Audio	Value for Money
6/10	9/10	9/10	8/10	7/10

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
November 20	Coatsink, Thunderful	Noname Studios
Systems
PC, PlayStation 5, Playstation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch

Worldless is a beautifully unique game with its abstract art, well-implemented turn-based combat mechanics, and a soothing and intensifying soundtrack. However, the story leaves a lot to be desired, and a surplus of the unconventional art direction diminishes the visuals at certain points and times. Nevertheless, Wordless is still an all-around great experience.

70. Bomb Rush Cyberfunk

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
August 19	Team Reptile	Team Reptile
Systems
Nintendo Switch

Bomb Rush Cyberfunk is an amazing product of love and nostalgia, considered as the spiritual successor of Jet Set Radio. Despite emulating the cult classic, it still manages to set itself apart with its theme and much better gameplay experience compared to the original. It's easily one of the best indie games this year.

69. Cities: Skylines 2

Overall Score
78/100
Story	Gameplay	Visuals	Audio	Value for Money
5/10	7/10	9/10	10/10	8/10

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
October 24	Paradox Interactive	Colossal Order
Systems
PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S

Cities: Skylines 2 is a prime example of ambition running rampant. The game has undeniably built on the strong foundations set by its predecessor, innovating in almost every aspect expected from a city-builder. That being said, such improvements came at the cost of the game’s performance, lagging on even the most powerful setups with its countless simulations. If not for its stunning visuals, amazing audio, and addicting gameplay loop, this game’s performance issues could have sent it to an early grave. This is a truly disappointing start for the sequel of a well-loved game.

68. Honkai: Star Rail

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
April 26	HoYoverse	HoYoverse
Systems
Android, iOS, PC, PS5

All aboard the Astral Express! Honkai: Star Rail is shaping up to be a decent Gacha RPG that's only hampered so far by its gacha rates. The turn-based combat didn't slow down the game as first feared, and it's simple enough for anybody to just play a few matches on the go.

67. Warhammer 40K: Rogue Trader

Overall Score
80/100
Story	Gameplay	Visuals	Audio	Value for Money
8/10	9/10	7/10	8/10	8/10

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
December 8	Owlcat Games	Owlcat Games
Systems
PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S

Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader is a robust CRPG with tons of options on character customization, abilities, classes, and more. Its multitude of options allows you to role play as a Rogue Trader of your own background and style which leads to unique experiences down the line. The Warhammer universe and lore is massive and this game doesn’t pull its punches when it comes to dropping jargon left and right. People new to Warhammer may need to take some time to read on these terminologies as it is overwhelming.

66. Payday 3

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
September 21	Prime Matter, Plaion, Deep Silver	Starbreeze Studios, Overkill Software
Systems
PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S

After 10 long years, the classic heist simulator series comes back to life. PAYDAY 3 modernizes many of the classic aspects that made the series great, with cutting-edge graphics, new ways to plan and begin heists, as well as new weapons and gunplay. Though it's held back by its online matchmaking and disorganized menus, PAYDAY 3 is a solid hit overall.

65. NBA 2K24

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
September 8	2K Games	Visual Concepts
Systems
PC, Playstation 5, Playstation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch

NBA 2K24 is the latest installment in the long-running NBA 2K franchise, featuring new graphics, stunning animations, and new gameplay features like GOAT Skills and the Mamba Moments mode. However, the game needs you to go through a lengthy grind and avail microtransactions just so you can compete against other players online.

64. Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince

Overall Score
80/100
Story	Gameplay	Visuals	Audio	Value for Money
8/10	9/10	8/10	7/10	8/10

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
December 1	Square Enix	Square Enix
Systems
Nintendo Switch

Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince is an amazing spinoff for the Dragon Quest series. With amazing visuals, compelling storytelling, and great gameplay, it can definitely hold its own with the different "monster taming" RPG games. Don’t let the simple gameplay fool you, all of the monster taming mechanics unlock the floodgates for all players to make the monster dream team of your choice.

63. Jusant

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
October 31	DON’T NOD	DON’T NOD
Systems
PC, Playstation 5, Xbox Series X|S

Jusant has great unique rock climbing puzzle solving gameplay and dazzlingly rich art and visuals. However, the story lacks much more depth, and the alluring music was very sparsely utilized throughout. It’s a very great game, but falls shy of becoming all around excellent due to its shortcomings.

62. Persona 5 Tactica

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
November 17	SEGA	ALTUS
Systems
Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PS4, PS5, PC

Persona 5 Tactica is, quite frankly, an unexpected gem in the franchise. It is an amazing overall package with engaging gameplay, great characters, and awesome music wrapped in a completely new story. It has different mechanics like the Cover System, All-Out Attack formation, and the One-More turn that applies the franchise’s most memorable mechanics into the strategy tactics genre in a remarkable fashion.

61. Remnant 2

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
July 25	Gunfire Games	Gearbox Publishing
Systems
PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC

One of the more unique takes on the Souls-like genre, Remnant 2 takes you on a thrilling romp between a myriad of fantasy and science fiction-inspired worlds. Armed with your firearms and quick wits, duke it out against the malevolent Root and other enemies while staying alive. Upgrade your guns, upgrade your armor, and allocate your Trait Points well - it's time to shoot your enemies down.

60. Brown Dust 2

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
June 22	NEOWIZ	GAMFS N
Systems
Android, iOS

Brown Dust 2, the sequel to the highly-rated visual work of art Brave Nine, builds upon its predecessor's success by fine-tuning its gameplay, story, and visuals to the next level. Featuring dungeon-crawling exploration, strategic, turn-based combat, visuals that belong more in a console than on mobile, as well as a wide variety of stories that put your characters into unfamiliar yet wholly entertaining scenarios, Brown Dust 2 is a game that RPG enthusiasts won't want to miss.

59. Atomic Heart

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
February 21	Focus Entertainment	Mundfish
Systems
Playstation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X, PC

The Revolution will be Polymerized, and you can see it first-hand in Mundfish's debut title Atomic Heart. Atomic Heart is a great debut title for a new studio, with its crisp visuals, intense gameplay, and great story. Though parts of it remain unpolished and subject to a decent amount of bugs, the game manages to pull through as a unique showcase of Soviet Superscience in the vein of the games that inspired it.

58. Wo Long Fallen Dynasty

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
March 3	Koei Tecmo	Team Ninja
Systems
Playstation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X, PC

China is in chaos, and it falls to you to restore peace. Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is a great Souls-like game in the vein of Team Ninja's previous Nioh titles and Sekiro, but with a heaping dose of Chinese history and mythology. The combat is intense and the visuals are stunning. However, the story and characters might leave those unfamiliar with Ancient China feeling lost, like a ghost that merely shifts from battlefield to battlefield.

57. The Lord of the Rings Return to Moria

Overall Score
82/100
Story	Gameplay	Visuals	Audio	Value for Money
7/10	8/10	7/10	10/10	9/10

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
October 24	North Beach Games	Free Range Games
Systems
PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S

Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria is a solid survival crafting game with easy-to-grasp features, mechanics, and combat. A respectful homage that makes Tolkien's iconic fantasy world and beloved dwarves come to life through colorful and comical representations. The game isn't quite up there with acclaimed titles in the genre, but it offers a solid gaming experience and is a huge step-up from previous Lord of the Rings games.

56. Born of Bread

Overall Score
82/100
Story	Gameplay	Visuals	Audio	Value for Money
9/10	6/10	10/10	9/10	7/10

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
December 5	Dear Villagers	WildArts Studio Inc.
Systems
PC, Playstation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch

Born of Bread looks absolutely amazing, where its world, characters, and writing are all very cozy and jovial, all of which blends well with the wonderfully stunning art direction and energetic music. The gameplay itself lacks more cohesion and engagement however, with systems upon systems that try to add depth but ends up being unnecessary surface-level complexity. Nevertheless, with a zany colorful cast of characters and a whimsical world full of magic, Born of Bread is an extremely well-made storybook, great not only for children, but for everyone.

55. Ghostrunner 2

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
October 26	505 Games	One More Level
Systems
PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S

Ghostrunner 2 is a fast-paced, first-person platformer where you die and kill enemies in one hit. The game is intended to test your skill and creativity with all the various tools at your disposal for movement and combat. With a new and simpler skill progression that lets you customize the way you play, Ghostrunner 2 adds more flavor and flexibility to their already creative experience.

54. Age of Wonders 4

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
May 2	Paradox Interactive	Triumph Studios
Systems
Playstation 5, Xbox Series S|X, PC

The Wizard Kings have returned, and they want to take back what they've lost in Age of Wonders 4 by Triumph Games. Age of Wonders 4 is a solid mix of strategy, tactics, and worldbuilding. You’ll find yourself spending hours just crafting the races you like, pitting them against other Wizard Kings and Champions, while using a wide variety of spells and units. Definitely not a strategy game you’d want to miss.

53. Hi-Fi Rush

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
January 5	Bethesda Softworks	Tango Gameworks
Systems
Xbox Series S|X, PC

Hi-Fi Rush is a creative take on the hack-and-slash formula, blending it with rhythm game action. This is anchored with a superb cast of characters, a light-hearted story, and graphics shot out of the mid-2000s American Anime boom. It's a must-play for fans of both hack-and-slash and rhythm games, as well as anime fans.

52. Lords of the Fallen

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
October 13	CI Games	Hexworks
Systems
Playstation 5, Xbox Series S|X, PC

Lords of the Fallen masterfully encapsulates the ambiance of the Dark Souls franchise, from which it draws inspiration, with its impeccably crafted dark and ominous atmosphere, fluid combat, and an ever-present sense of foreboding, hopelessness, and trepidation as you push deeper into the tainted kingdom of Mournhold. Despite its flaws - from how many enemies it throws at you to fencing off the game’s lore behind character stats you may not need - Lords of the Fallen stands as a strikingly great homage to FromSoftware's seminal game series.

51. HoloCure

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
August 17	KayAnimate	KayAnimate
Systems
PC

Are you a fan of Hololive? What about Vampire Survivors? Then you can get both of them in HoloCure, the addictive VS clone that features all your favorite Hololive vtubers.With a massive cast of newcomers, great abilities, and faithfulness to the source material, this humble (not to mention free) love letter to the Hololive fandom will not disappoint.

50. SWORD ART ONLINE Last Recollection

Overall Score
82/100
Story	Gameplay	Visuals	Audio	Value for Money
8/10	9/10	8/10	8/10	8/10

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
October 6	BNE Entertainment	Aquria, Aclear Co., Ltd.
Systems
PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

SWORD ART ONLINE Last Recollection is a dynamic JRPG that balances casual accessibility and competitive depth. It shows a clear focus on the complexity and synergy of its gameplay, showcasing many layers of game mechanics that all seamlessly integrate to provide a memorable and exciting adventure through Underworld.

49. The Last Faith

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
November 15	_PUBLISHER	Kumi Souls Games
Systems
PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One

The Last Faith is the premier 2D Metroidvania Souls-like experience. The environmental storytelling and exploration, the basic but deep combat mechanics, the extraordinary visuals, the astounding soundtrack, and the vast exploration all provide for a challenging but enjoyable game. It masterfully implements what makes Metroidvanias and Souls-likes great, and delivers its strengths to the highest regard.

48. Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
November 7	GameMill Entertainment	Fair Play Labs
Systems
PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, PC

Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 addressed all the negative feedback about the first game, and is now a legitimate player in the landscape of platform fighting games. It’s definitely up there with Smash and Brawlhalla in terms of its overall quality. Each brawler feels unique to play and all their attacks reference something from the show they star in. It’s also a nostalgic trip back in time, and is filled with fun references from popular Nick shows.

47. Sea of Stars

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
August 29	Sabotage Studio	Sabotage Studio
Systems
PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch

A homage to the 90s like no other, Sea of Stars features polished graphics, cohesive combat gameplay, and great exploration. The world is open enough to make exploring the map for every nook and cranny of treasure a wonderful experience. Though the early game experience is marred by a very underwhelming opening hook and two disappointingly dull protagonists, Sea of Stars is still a fun JRPG.

46. Naruto x Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections

Overall Score
84/100
Story	Gameplay	Visuals	Audio	Value for Money
8/10	9/10	9/10	8/10	8/10

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
November 17	BNE Entertainment, Namco Bandai Games America Inc.	CyberConnect2
Systems
PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S, Microsoft Windows

NARUTO X BORUTO Ultimate Ninja STORM CONNECTIONS is an arena fighting game with great gameplay, spectacular visuals, and a pretty good unique storyline to come with it. While some modes are lackluster, like the history mode being just a compilation of all the Storm games' stories, the game has everything you'd want in a game adaptation of an anime.

45. DAVE THE DIVER

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
June 28	MINTROCKET(PC), NEXON(Switch)	MINTROCKET
Systems
PC, Mac, Switch

DAVE THE DIVER has great synergy between its underwater exploration and restaurant management, with both having expansive systems in place to support one another. Having great visuals, many will want to explore great seascapes of coral reefs filled with bustling fauna waiting to be caught. The vibrant soundtrack matches and enhances all situations of calm, cozy, or even intensity that the game contains.

44. Snowbreak Containment Zone

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
July 20	Seasun Games PTE. Ltd.	Amazing Seasun
Systems
PC, Android, iOS

An excellent third-person shooter game that will no doubt challenge the limits of what is possible for mobile gaming. Snowbreak: Containment Zone offers players solid core gameplay, amazing visual effects and models, extremely punchy audio with a lot of attention to detail, and minimal incentive to pull for multiple high-rarity characters to offset its low rates.

43. Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
November 9	SEGA	Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
Systems
PS5, PS4, Xbox Series S|X, Xbox One, PC

Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name is a short and sweet experience. Fans of the franchise will finally know why Kiryu came back and what he’s been doing so far. While the game is great, it is more of a fan service title and a justification for why they brought him back for Yakuza: Like a Dragon when his story has seemingly finished already. While fans expect to pass the torch in the upcoming game, the developers seem to want to give Kiryu the Fast-and-Furious treatment by giving him one last ride.

42. Lies of P

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
September 19	NEOWIZ	NEOWIZ, Round8 StudioX
Systems
PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

A hauntingly beautiful Souls-like game, Lies of P is a macabre take on Carlo Collodi's "The Adventures of Pinnochio," complete with impeccably-dressed characters, detailed graphics, and intense melee gampeplay.

41. Jagged Alliance 3

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
July 14	THQ Nordic	Haemimont Games
Systems
PC, Android, iOS

It's not often that a game lives up to the reputation of its legendary franchise, but Jagged Alliance 3 is one of the few that has done exactly just that. It successfully captures the essence and nostalgic feel of the older games while making some welcome improvements to the mechanics, like inventory management, aiming, and movement. Of course, there are still a few missing features that fans might have hoped for, such as the ability to purchase guns from Billy Ray’s website. But hopefully, future patches or user-made mods will bring back these beloved elements to fully complete the experience.

40. Dead Space Remake

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
January 27	Electronic Arts	Motive Studio
Systems
Playstation 4, Playstation 5, Xbox Series S|X, PC

After more than a decade in stasis, the Dead Space franchise returns with a remake of the first game from 2008. The Dead Space Remake is a pure and terrifying remake that takes a classic game and gives it a fresh coat of paint while enhancing the overall experience. This is how a remake should be done in the modern era, and both veteran and new players can look forward to surviving the Ishimura once again.

39. Darkest Dungeon 2

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
May 8	Red Hook Studio	Red Hook Studio
Systems
PC

Madness has taken over the land in Darkest Dungeon 2, and it's up to you to hinder its spread! Darkest Dungeon 2 is a brutal trip across the world where you’ll be facing off against all manner of abominations in a desperate attempt to bring peace to the world once more. With its gritty and grotesque graphics, compelling sound design, and great turn-based gameplay, this is an indie game you won’t regret getting your hands on.

38. Street Fighter 6

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
June 2	Capcom	Capcom
Systems
PC

It’s been seven years since the last SF came out, and Street Fighter 6, thankfully enough, seems to have exceeded Street Fighter 5 in graphics, sound, as well as gameplay. A great addition to the franchise that should have come sooner, Street Fighter 6 welcomes both newcomers and series veterans alike with its slick controls, stunning visuals, and amount of content.

37. Assassin's Creed Mirage

Overall Score
86/100
Story	Gameplay	Visuals	Audio	Value for Money
7/10	9/10	9/10	8/10	10/10

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
October 5	Ubisoft	Ubisoft
Systems
PC, Playstation 4, Playstation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

Assassin's Creed: Mirage properly delivers on the core elements of assassination, stealth, and parkour. Mirage dials back down on the RPG mechanics introduced to the series in Origins, and condenses the open-world activities into a more focused, more engaging experience. What we get is a full-fledged stealth-oriented action-adventure game that successfully goes back to the series’ roots.

36. Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3

Overall Score
86/100
Story	Gameplay	Visuals	Audio	Value for Money
8/10	8/10	10/10	9/10	8/10

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
November 10	Activision	Sledgehammer Games, Treyarch, Infinity Ward, Beenox, Raven Software, High Moon Studios, Demonware
Systems
PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC

Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3's campaign mode features outstanding storytelling through its stunning visuals, captivating cutscenes, and strong gameplay. The game puts you in the boots of skilled special forces soldiers executing missions straight out of an action movie. Multiplayer and Zombies are as good as ever. Overall a great FPS experience on next gen consoles or powerful PCs, but may be lackluster on PS4 or Xbox One.

35. Beyond Sunset (Early Access)

Overall Score
86/100
Story	Gameplay	Visuals	Audio	Value for Money
7/10	9/10	8/10	9/10	10/10

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
November 8	Movie Games S.A.	Metacorp/Vaporwave
Systems
PC

Beyond Sunset is a love letter to classic games of the bygone FPS era with a synthwave-cyberpunk twist. With highly addicting combat, great stylized visuals, and an amazing soundtrack, Beyond Sunset will leave you wanting more every second. First impressions can only last so long, however, as the directionless exploration, visual clutter, and early access bugs, such as blocked progression, are present and dampen the whole experience. Nevertheless, Beyond Sunset is proud of its identity and is still a remarkably fun game.

34. Forza Motorsport

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
October 10	Microsoft	Turn 10 Studios, Playground Games, Sumo Digital
Systems
PC, Xbox Series X|S

Forza Motorsport is the best feeling racing simulation game right now. The excellence in its gameplay, visuals, and audio, provides players with an incredible driving experience. Customization in this game is vast and while it obviously will satisfy a car connoisseur, the game also assists players who aren't too keen on car customization.

33. Last Train Home

Overall Score
86/100
Story	Gameplay	Visuals	Audio	Value for Money
7/10	9/10	8/10	10/10	9/10

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
November 28	THQ Nordic	Ashborne Games
Systems
PC

Last Train Home is a great RTS by all accounts, but more than that, it is a respectful depiction of real-life events through a gameplay lens. The game delivers its promise of showing a realistic and gritty adaptation of the historic aftermath of WWI. Its rich atmosphere is reinforced by its stylized visuals and era-appropriate sound design, making every moment of gameplay feel as tense and depressing as what one could expect from a civil war.

32. System Shock Remake

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
May 30	Prime Matter	Nightdive Studios
Systems
PC

Nightdive Studios has outdone itself with its take on the classic System Shock. A faithful take on the classic survival horror game, the System Shock remake demonstrates a great balance of recreating its experience while expanding certain sections. The visual style, the sound suite, and the ever-lasting tension in the game are also some of its strongest points.

31. Battle Shapers

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
October 3	Metric Empire	Metric Empire
Systems
PC

Overall - Battle Shapers feels extremely polished, even for a game in Early Access. While its story is a bit generic and its sound effects are pretty average, they’re easy to look past, thanks to its incredibly fun gameplay and Megaman style theme. Its graphics look great on a powerful PC and when paired with its fitting soundtrack, leads to an overall great experience.

30. TEVI

Overall Score
86/100
Story	Gameplay	Visuals	Audio	Value for Money
7/10	10/10	9/10	8/10	9/10

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
November 29	Neverland Entertainment	CreSpirit, GemaYue, Ein Lee
Systems
PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S

Insane customizability, fantastic gameplay, and a cast of wonderful characters; these are the ingredients chosen to create TEVI. Even without a secret ingredient, the game distinguishes itself from its peers through its inherent qualities alone. Additionally, the writing, though not enough to create a memorable story, has the advantage of being self-aware of its own themes, making every joke an endearing line that can easily connect its readers with the game’s world.

29. Lethal Company

Overall Score
86/100
Story	Gameplay	Visuals	Audio	Value for Money
7/10	9/10	8/10	9/10	10/10

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
October 23	Zeekerss	Zeekerss
Systems
PC

Lethal Company is a fantastic game that mixes a fun co-op experience with the claustrophobic experience of scavenging in the dark with monsters prowling around. So, despite branding itself as a survival horror game, the end product is an incredibly enjoyable, extremely entertaining, and only slightly frightening game that commands several dozen ways to eke out silly deaths from its players.

28. The Finals

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
December 8	Embark Studios	Embark Studios
Systems
PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S

The Finals is an excellent free-to-play online FPS game. It’s loads of fun, features unique FPS gameplay, good graphics, a unique art style, decent audio, and is truly free-to-play. What more could you ask for?

27. Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
August 25	Bandai Namco Entertainment	FromSoftware Inc.
Systems
Playstation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X, PC

A great addition to the Armored Core series that combines elements from past games and can satisfy both series veterans and newcomers at the same time. The gameplay loop of designing your mech, testing it out, and using it to clear the game’s challenging levels is very satisfying, and the mechs themselves look very cool. The only downside is that the soundtrack is rather weak, and it’s tough to get into a multiplayer game. Despite that, if this is FromSoftware’s attempt at pulling in new fans into the AC franchise, then they’ve succeeded.

26. Marvel's Spider-Man 2

Overall Score
88/100
Story	Gameplay	Visuals	Audio	Value for Money
8/10	9/10	9/10	9/10	9/10

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
October 20	Sony Interactive Entertainment	Insomniac Games
Systems
PS5

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 builds upon the foundation set by its predecessors and even adds on top of it. The addition of new traversal mechanics like the Web Wings as well as new combat features with the abilities add a certain level of “new-ness” to the game while keeping it familiar to those who have played the previous iterations. While the game runs smoothly at “Performance Mode” at 60 frames per second, bugs and crashes may hurt the overall experience as well as having a couple of things in most aspects that don’t elevate the game to a perfect score.

25. Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora

Overall Score
88/100
Story	Gameplay	Visuals	Audio	Value for Money
8/10	7/10	10/10	10/10	9/10

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
December 7	Ubisoft	Massive Entertainment, Lightstorm Entertainment
Systems
PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S

There's really no other way to describe it; this game is staggeringly beautiful. Your eyes and ears are in for a sensory feast of exoplanetary proportions the moment you set foot in the vibrant and teeming wilds of Pandora - if you can forgive the boring gameplay and pacing issues, that is. In the end, this game is all flash and no bang.

24. Witchfire

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
September 20	The Astronauts	The Astronauts
Systems
PC, Playstation 5, Playstation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch

A challenging dark fantasy adventure that puts you in the shoes of the Vatican's finest witch hunters, Witchfire is a very polished game despite still being in early access. Gunplay, movement, and spellcasting are all on point, and you'll have to keep up with an evolving enemy with distinct movesets you have to counter. Though it doesn't offer an extensive story, Witchfire compensates with its excellent gameplay, dark fantasy aesthetic, and a hauntingly beautiful soundscape, all at a very reasonable price point.

23. Roboquest

Overall Score
88/100
Story	Gameplay	Visuals	Audio	Value for Money
8/10	9/10	8/10	10/10	9/10

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
November 07	Starbreeze Publishing, RyseUp Studios	RyseUp Studios
Systems
PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

Roboquest is an absolute blast to play. Its fast-paced FPS combat and roguelike elements blend together into a beautiful balletic barrage of bullets and bashes that'll get your blood flowing the moment you boot it up. If you're up for some robotic carnage and aren't one to shy away from a gunfight, then Roboquest is the rock'em sock'em robot experience for you.

22. Final Fantasy 16

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
June 22	Square Enix	Creative Business Unit III
Systems
PS5

A good step in the right direction for the series overall, though it can leave you asking exactly how much of a game can you change until it stops feeling like a Final Fantasy title. But it is still a good game, or better than its predecessor at least. It shows several design decisions that Square Enix ought to implement in future Final Fantasy titles, especially in terms of themes and presentation of the game’s world.

21. Diablo 4

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
June 6	Blizzard Entertainment	Blizzard Entertainment
Systems
Playstation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X, PC

Diablo 4 is an excellent new installment to the legendary Diablo franchise. With a strong plot, a well-designed combat system, excellent visual and audio direction, and hundreds of hours of replayability, Diablo 4 seeks to overthrow its predecessors in claiming the title of the best Diablo game ever. It gets an 88 in our books!

20. Super Mario Bros Wonder

Overall Score
88/100
Story	Gameplay	Visuals	Audio	Value for Money
7/10	9/10	9/10	10/10	9/10

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
October 20	Nintendo	Nintendo
Systems
Nintendo Switch

Super Mario Bros. Wonder is a solid addition to Nintendo’s ever-expanding catalog of Mario games. A commendable effort has been made to maintain the game’s quality in terms of gameplay, aesthetics, and replayability. It’s not a complete standout in the lineup, at least visually, but it’s not a bad game by any means.

19. Fate/Samurai Remnant

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
September 29	KOEI TECMO, TYPE-MOON BB	KOEI TECMO
Systems
PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

Fate/Samurai Remnant (F/SR) is an incredible addition to the Fate franchise. While it certainly suffers from having a painfully average musou experience compared to its predecessor, the story, visuals, and audio, are nothing short of an excellent display of Type-Moon’s expertise in storytelling.

18. Party Animals

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
September 20	Source Technology	Recreate Games
Systems
PC, PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch

One of the best physics-based PvP brawlers to have ever come out for the current console generation, Party Animals offers hilariously fun gameplay, cute characters, great environments, and excellent sound design. With or without friends, you can join the party and keep it going with many game modes and maps, making it a must-have for anyone looking to have some silly, light-hearted fun.

17. Pikmin 4

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
July 21	Nintendo	Nintendo
Systems
Nintendo Switch

Pikmin 4 is perhaps the greatest game of the series. It strikes a perfect balance between difficulty and accessibility with its many additions to the standard Pikmin gameplay of old. Featuring vibrant environments to explore, dozens of puzzles to solve, and a wide variety of enemies and terrain to deal with, the game offers dozens of hours of pure joy that players can leisurely experience and tackle. For that, we gave the game a 90.

16. Against The Storm

Overall Score
90/100
Story	Gameplay	Visuals	Audio	Value for Money
7/10	10/10	9/10	9/10	10/10

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
December 08	Eremite Games, Hooded Horse	Eremite Games
Systems
PC

This game is a sleeper hit and one that really came out of the storm swinging. It dared to combine two genres that had no business being together, taking the best each had to offer and doing away with their downsides. Against The Storm is ingenuity and creative game design manifest. If it wasn't part city-builder, this game would be among the roguelike genre's greatest.

15. Viewfinder

Overall Score
90/100
Story	Gameplay	Visuals	Audio	Value for Money
8/10	9/10	10/10	9/10	9/10

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
July 18	Thunderful Publishing	Sad Owl Studios
Systems
PlayStation 5, PC

Viewfinder is a mind-bending game that challenges you every step of the way. The game delivers amazing puzzles that reshape the simulated world you explore into a collage of beautiful artwork. Your perception of reality is playfully challenged as you continue your journey. While the narrative is thought-provoking, especially in the times we live in right now, it will definitely disappoint you that it doesn’t further explore its themes and characters in a more meaningful way by the end of the story.

14. Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising

Overall Score
90/100
Story	Gameplay	Visuals	Audio	Value for Money
8/10	10/10	10/10	8/10	9/10

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
December 14	Cygames, Inc.	Cygames, Inc., Arc System Works
Systems
PS5, PS4, PC

Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising is an amazing overhaul of the previous game while adding the necessary rollback netcode that every fighting game desperately needs. The game was known to simplify a lot of things that new players may struggle with in fighting games but it was able to add additional layers of depth to the game without compromising the difficulty. It also sets the bar as having the best story mode for any fighting game to date.

13. Alan Wake 2

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
October 27	Epic Games	Remedy Entertainment
Systems
PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S

Alan Wake 2 makes a strong impact as an engaging sequel to the original game. Its exceptional graphics, audio elements, and atmosphere grip the player throughout with its myriad of mysteries that keep them guessing what happened to the troubled writer since his last appearance. Although the game could be made into a less disorienting experience, Alan Wake 2 has all the hallmarks of a thrilling psychological adventure.

12. Star Ocean 2 The Second Story R

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
November 2	Square Enix	Tri-Ace, Square Enix
Systems
Nintendo Switch, PS4/PS5, PC

Star Ocean The Second Story R is a faithful remake for people to experience the magic of the series. With a top notch story, engaging gameplay, and unique characters, everything blends together into an amazing game. While there are a few hiccups here and there, in terms of skill improvements and the like, the quality of life changes they made were able to modernize one of the beloved classics into a whole new experience.

11. Reverse 1999

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
October 26	Bluepoch Co.,Ltd.	Bluepoch Co.,Ltd.
Systems
PC, Mobile

A first-class mobile game. It stands apart from the many releases of its time, proving that you don't need the best 3D models or the freedom of an open or semi-open world, or even the backing of an established community to be superlative. It knows what it wants to be and spares no effort in providing the best version of itself. And although its gameplay may not be entirely appropriate for those who typically resort to mobile gaming for entertainment, the quality of its entire design makes it a strong, if not a niche contender for one of the best mobile releases of the year.

10. Baldur's Gate 3

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
August 3	Larian Studios	Larian Studios
Systems
PS5, PC

One of the best CRPGs to have come out since Disco Elysium. Baldur's Gate 3 hits all the right notes - great Dungeons and Dragons-based gameplay, great story, stunning graphics, and a degree of freedom rarely found in games like this. BD3 is perhaps the closest you can get to a D&D experience in video game form, and Larian Studios has exceeded all expectations.

9. Dungeons 4

Overall Score
92/100
Story	Gameplay	Visuals	Audio	Value for Money
10/10	8/10	9/10	10/10	9/10

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
November 9	Kalypso Media	Realmforge Studios
Systems
PlayStation 5, PC, Xbox Series X|S

Dungeons 4 puts the master in Dungeon Master. This game has everything from the endearing sarcasm that oozes from every line of dialogue to the goofy but oddly fitting design of every character. Its gameplay is no low-level monster either, effortlessly blending complex strategy with intuitive design to deliver a dungeon-delving experience worth its weight in loot. If you're looking for a charming, fun, and endlessly quotable RTS, then Dungeons 4 is the game for you.

8. Resident Evil 4 Remake

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
March 23	Capcom	Capcom
Systems
Playstation 4, Playstation 5, Xbox Series S|X, PC

Go back to Spain to save the president's daughter from an evil cult once again. A remake worthy of its namesake. Resident Evil 4 Remake does the best thing any remake can do: To capture the spirit of the original while updating it to modern standards. Without question, this is a great game you shouldn’t be missing out on. We scored this game with a 92!

7. Slay the Princess

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
October 23	Black Tabby Games	Black Tabby Games
Systems
PC

Slay the Princess has astounding surreal horror storytelling, stunningly unnerving visuals, exceptional voice performances, and excellent use of background music. As a visual novel, it sticks to the genre’s identity of simple point-and-click gameplay, but provides countless separate and interwoven branches all threaded from the simplest choices you make. Slay the Princess is a surrealist and philosophical experience that spans across emotions and perspectives.

6. A Space for the Unbound

Overall Score
94/100
Story	Gameplay	Visuals	Audio	Value for Money
10/10	9/10	10/10	8/10	10/10

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
January 19	Toge Productions	Mojiken
Systems
PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One

Excellent in almost every aspect, A Space for the Unbound is one of gaming’s peak products. It combines an exceptional narrative style with unabashed depictions of societal issues to pull at your heartstrings in such a way that resistance is all but futile. Backed by amazingly vivid and nostalgic visuals, a set of wonderfully apt tracks, and a truly stunning ending, A Space for the Unbound is almost guaranteed to stay in your heart for a long time.

5. Cocoon

Overall Score
94/100
Story	Gameplay	Visuals	Audio	Value for Money
9/10	10/10	10/10	9/10	9/10

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
September 29	Annapurna Interactive	Geometric Interactive
Systems
PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch

Cocoon tells a captivating story without having a single word uttered. It’s a complex puzzler with an extremely simple control scheme. It features gorgeous and vibrant views, and excellent sound design, which lead to a truly immersive, borderline psychedelic experience. It’s a unique and excellent gaming experience for only $24.99.

4. Super Mario RPG

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
November 17	Nintendo	Nintendo
Systems
Nintendo Switch

Super Mario RPG is a hit of concentrated nostalgia delivered directly to your veins in glorious 3D. This game is a true remake among remakes, as it was able to capture the charm that the original game had while implementing small but smart combat updates that streamlined an already amazing gameplay loop. This remake certainly had big shoes to fill, following up on a game of mythic proportions that was carried by its dedicated fanbase through nearly three decades.

3. Dredge

Overall Score
96/100
Story	Gameplay	Visuals	Audio	Value for Money
9/10	10/10	10/10	10/10	9/10

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
March 31	Team17	Black Salt Games
Systems
PC, Playstation 5, Playstation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch

Dredge is fantastic in all aspects, from its murky horror-mystery story, the deeply addicting gameplay, its sublime visual language and atmosphere, and the immersive and sound effects. Though all elements come together harmoniously to provide a great playthrough, it runs into a slight problem of repetition, acknowledging its strong suits and never straying from it the entire game. Nevertheless, Dredge shines as an amazing game that sticks to its identity flawlessly and triumphs as a paranoia-filled fishing game.

2. The Talos Principle 2

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
November 2	Devolver Digital	Croteam
Systems
PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S

Superb on all fronts. The Talos Principle 2 is an achievement in creative cohesion. It seamlessly weaves a powerful, thought-provoking narrative with the perfect amount of levity, garnished beautifully with gameplay that's both challenging and rewarding in equal measure, something that even the highest-budget games struggle to do. With its spectacularly-designed world and incredibly immersive audio design, The Talos Principle 2 deserves nothing less than a standing ovation for its near-perfect delivery.

1. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Release Date	Publisher	Developer
May 12	Nintendo	Nintendo
Systems
Nintendo Switch

Take to the skies and underground in the highly-anticipated sequel to Breath of the Wild. For $69.99, you will get an epic adventure with three layers of a world to explore, tons of sidequests, lots of collectibles, and many ways to travel the world. Nintendo has outdone itself once again, taking the foundations it laid with Breath of the Wild and expanding them greatly with Tears of the Kingdom. Certainly not a game that Switch owners (or anyone, in fact) would want to miss. We gave this game a score of 96!