The Best & Worst Games of 2023
2023 was a pretty good year for games.
Well, perhaps I should rephrase that. 2023 was a pretty good year for playing games. We were spoilt rotten by big releases across varied genres, a plentiful supply of hardware, and even a pair of EDGE tens. Business was booming in 2023, yet commercial and critical triumphs didn't translate into success for the teams behind many of these games. 2023 saw record layoffs and studio closures, as the industry continued to fail miserably at providing security for the creatives who fuel it. A piss-poor state of things.
It's important to celebrate the games that we enjoy, and that's what I'll be doing for the next six thousand words (!), but we should also recognise that this was a horrendous year for many of the people who make them. In time, the talent-churn will affect the quality of the games that we play, and thus an industry problem will become an everyone-problem.
Anyway, GAMES!
In 2023, I played games and I enjoyed them very much. I didn't buy anything new for the first half of the year, and instead focused on catching up with what I'd missed in 2022. It was great, and I had some of my favourite experiences of 2023 during that stretch. I broke my fast in June with Street Fighter 6 and haven't looked back since. I couldn't get to everything, of course, and this year could just as easily be defined by the games I didn't play as those that I did. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Baldur's Gate 3, Diablo IV - maybe I'll see you next year?
I bought an Analogue Pocket, and I've been gradually adding to my retro backlog. I swear I'm going to play all these games when I retire, if retirement is still an option in thirty years' time. I've been very good with my new-game backlog, essentially only buying games as and when I can play them. Well done me.
I was out and about a lot this year, attending BitSummit in Kyoto in July and Tokyo Game Show in September, both of which were wonderful. We spent three weeks in England this summer, and although the weather was shit, it was great seeing family, and of course seeking out 7th Gen bargains at CEX! I got off Twitter this year, I met loads of new people, and I took my Japanese a little more seriously, committing to improved study habits and finally taking the JLPT N2.
That was the year, and these were the games.
Played (on contemporary consoles, to completion or for a significant amount of time): A Short Hike, Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, Assassin's Creed Mirage, Cocoon, Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII - Reunion, Far Cry 6, Final Fantasy XVI, Forza Horizon 5 - Rally Adventure DLC, Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective, God of War Ragnarok, GoldenEye 007, Gran Turismo 7, Hardspace: Shipbreaker, Hi-Fi Rush, Jusant, Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, Live A Live, Norco, Pentiment, Prodeus, Resident Evil 4, Resident Evil 4 - Separate Ways DLC, Sonic Superstars, Splatoon 3, Starfield, Street Fighter 6, Suika Game, Vampire Survivors - Legacy of the Moonspell and Tides of Foscari
Bought but have yet to play: Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition, Mario Wonder, Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol.1
These are the best and worst games of 2023, according to me.
Enjoy your games and have a very Happy New Year.
1. Game of the Year: Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name
2023 was the best kind of year. A year of quantity, quality and variety; a year of expectations met, pleasant surprises and minimal disappointments. Plenty of eights, some nines, but no tens for me. A great time to play, but a challenging one when you need to choose your Game of the Year!
I delayed the write-up for this category until the last possible minute. Everything else written, edited, checked and rechecked before I would even entertain committing to my favourite of 2023. The candidates were clear, but picking between them was the problem. No Elden Ring, Uncharted 2 or Mass Effect 2 to make my life easier.
The shortlist: Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, Starfield and Resident Evil 4 Remake. Not a bad choice among them, nor an obvious number one.
I had hoped that Alan Wake 2 would become a late-contender, and perhaps make my decision easier. I started it a few days ago, and while I have enjoyed it thus far, it's too up and down to earn a spot here. I'm sure I'll have stronger feelings, one way or the other, once I've finished it. Final Fantasy XVI was the number one focus of my non-stop internal discourse this year, but it was far from number one in my heart. It doesn't belong here. Street Fighter 6 was excellent, but I think its true qualities will be revealed and better appreciated over the long run. Bound to appear in my end-of-gen rankings, but absent from my yearly countdown.
So: Like a Dragon Gaiden, Starfield and Resident Evil 4 Remake.
At its best, Starfield makes a compelling case for GOTY. An original, triple-A banger, it's the kind of game that predictable-me would choose. It was a significant moment in the gaming calendar, something that I was looking forward to and was able to enjoy alongside everyone else. At its best, Starfield is the correct pick. The issue is that it's too often not at its best, and thus I can't reward it here.
I usually try to avoid picking a remake or re-imagining as my GOTY, but I'd make an exception for Resident Evil 4 Remake. The previous RE-makes built towards this moment, and Capcom absolutely nailed it. It's a different experience to the original, tied to the source material where it should be but not afraid to wander from it elsewhere. Still, it is a remake, and this version doesn't quite have the same impact as the original did back in the day. It's a better game, yes, but it's not as special.
Despite being a huge fan of the series, and a devotee since part 3, I've never selected a Yakuza as my game of the year. Had I played Yakuza: Like a Dragon in its year of release, instead of a few months removed, it would've probably claimed the title back in 2020. I adore Yakuza 4, but 2010 was stacked with all-timers with which it couldn't quite compete. Like a Dragon Gaiden probably isn't better than those games, but that's not going to stop me from calling it my favourite of 2023.
A victory 13 years in the making.
I've seen others dismiss Gaiden as a Yakuza Greatest Hits. It's a succinct and accurate description and, to me at least, high praise. There are plenty of tweaks to the formula, new bad men to beat and/or befriend, some worthwhile additions to combat, and a handful of new time-wasting activities, but Gaiden is clearly a celebration of what came before, a condensed indulgence packed into a tight 15-20 hours. It's more of the same, but when it's this good, who are we to complain?
So, does that mean that Gaiden is a good entry point for newcomers? Perhaps. Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio shows little interest in burdening new players with excessive lore and backstory, aside from explaining that Kiryu, now Joryu, has faked his death and is indebted to a very shady organisation. However, the behaviour of friends and foes who recognise Joryu as Kiryu will tell new players much of what they need to know about this man and his reputation. That being said, having a full and first-hand understanding of who Kiryu is makes Gaiden so much more meaningful. Us Yakuza old-heads can fully appreciate this celebration of Kiryu, and feel a little bit special because of it. We can see past the sunglasses, if you know what I mean?
RGG Studio has proven more than capable of creating new, impactful characters with each new entry. And it's no different here, as Kiryu teams up with memorable Watase Family associates and street-wise allies. Clearly, Like a Dragon doesn't need the Dragon of Dojima, but it's all the better for having him. There's no keeping a good man down, especially one who hits this hard.
In the end, everybody loves a Greatest Hits - all killer, no filler. And that's exactly what Gaiden is.
It's also my favourite game of 2023.
Honourable Mentions: Starfield, Resident Evil 4 Remake
2. Best Pre-2023 Game Played for the First Time: Pentiment
I'd never played anything quite like Pentiment, and I probably never will again. A narrative-driven role-playing game set in a 16th century Bavarian town, spread over 25 eventful years, with an art style that echoes medieval manuscripts and woodcuts, and developed by a studio more accustomed to making high profile games in existing franchises - yeah, those games don't come around very often! The main narrative drive is a generation-long murder mystery, but it's the elements that surround it that make Pentiment so interesting. We view shifting relationships between neighbours, the haves and have-nots and, most importantly, the religious and secular townsfolk. We feel the love, hate, joy and sadness that accumulates over multiple decades, and share in the tragedies that punctuate the life of our main protagonist, Andreas Maher. The historical setting is also fascinating, as is the handling of mortality and the role of faith in different walks of life. Pentiment is an exceptional piece of storytelling, and one that I still regularly think about almost 12 months later.
Honourable Mentions: Outrun 2, Far Cry 6, God of War Ragnarok
3. My Daughter's Game of the Year: Animal Crossing New Horizons and Pokemon Violet
No surprises here! In her own words: "My favourite games this year are Animal Crossing New Horizons and Pokemon Violet. The new good thing about Animal Crossing is Happy Home Paradise. The reason is I like decorating the houses and stuff and the characters are cute and you can go to the shop and DJ KK comes to that island, so it's fun. Another good thing is there's fun events and if you talk to the animals you get things. For example, for the thanksgiving event, if you give food that the animals want you can get other things as well. The characters are super cute, so it's fun to play.
For Pokemon, there are lots of things I like. The first is that the Pokemon are cute and strong. And it's fun moving around in the game and talking to the characters and stuff. The boss was the funnest thing. It was a bit strong but I beat it. In the school you can do lots of study, like history and stuff. The Pokemon that I like, and is one of my strongest, is Klawf, because they look funny and cute and they've got lots of strong attacks. One of them beats other Pokemon in one hit! I got the DLC for Christmas and the best characters are Snorlax and Ogerpon."
4. Best Retro Playthrough: OutRun 2
I'm not sure why it hadn't dawned on me to seek out and play Outrun 2 until this year. I knew it existed, I enjoy the original game, and I adore arcade racers, yet I'd never bothered with it. Perhaps it was down to the difficulty in playing it these days, due to availability and cost? Regardless, I corrected that oversight this summer, and I'm glad I did. A perfect, short-burst experience, and one that I'm continuing on PSP with 2006 Coast 2 Coast. With Sega moving forward with renewals of past favourites, perhaps we won't have to wait too long for a new OutRun? Let's keep our fingers crossed.
Honourable Mentions: NBA Live '96, Mr Driller 2
5. Might've Appeared More Frequently Here Had I Started Playing it a Week Earlier: Alan Wake 2
I began Alan Wake 2 just before Christmas and, so far, it's a mixed bag. It started off very strong: I love the Saga and Casey FBI duo, and I've been impressed by the acting, the genuinely disturbing atmosphere and the seamless blend between in-game visuals and live-action footage. I've been less impressed with the combat, that awful 2-hour stretch in the NY subway, and the largely pointless detective work that's done in Saga's Mind Palace and Alan's writing room, where the game does all the deducting for you. However, it's certainly making an impression, and that's why I wanted to mention it here. Fingers crossed it'll end up being a good one.
6. Most Joy: We Love Katamari Reroll + Royal Reverie
Games don't have to be fun. They don't need to be pleasant or filled with joy to be worthwhile, but it doesn't half help! Spending time with We Love Katamari is an absolute pleasure. It's bursting at the seams with colour, imagination and weird-arse nonsense, and is the perfect treat between more "serious" games. The music is great, of course, and there are few things more satisfying than starting out as a speck on someone's dinner table and finishing up as a city-consuming, spherical nightmare. Love it.
Honourable Mention: Street Fighter 6
7. Best Remake or Remaster: Resident Evil 4 Remake
This is how you redo a classic. Remake is well curated, re-imagined and modernised, and in no way tarnishes the original. It was never going to have the same impact as it did 20 years ago, and this was no more apparent than during the opening chainsaw scene, which fell a little flat. But the focus isn't on repeating the same tricks, but rather the evolution of a classic into a quintessentially modern action game. The Separate Ways DLC is the perfect way to cap off the experience, and I can confidently say that this is by far my favourite of the RE-makes. Bring on RE5!
Honourable Mentions: We Love Katamari + Royal Reverie, Age of Empires II Definitive Edition
8. Best Reason to Have Game Pass in 2023: Starfield
I'm giving Starfield the nod here, over Like a Dragon Gaiden, because I'm still astounded that we got the latest Bethesda RPG as part of a very reasonably priced subscription service. It certainly has its issues, but when it's good it's really good, and I can see myself going back to it at some point in the future. Starfield aside, Game Pass gave us several titles in 2023 that I've seen mentioned on GOTY lists, including Like a Dragon Gaiden, Hi-Fi Rush, Jusant, Cocoon, Forza Motorsport and more. It remains my favourite thing this gen, and nothing else comes close.
Honourable Mention: Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name
9. Most Disappointing: Sonic Superstars
I wasn't exactly anticipating the latest entry in the Sonic franchise, but I was in the right mood for some platforming. I'd had fun with the TGS demo, gotten my colourful Sonic t-shirts, and finished Sonic Advance 2 on my Pocket, all of which had whet my appetite for more hedgehog. I just wanted to have some simple, colourful fun, to revel in forward momentum, collect some rings, do some light platforming and switch off for a few evenings, but I was to be severely disappointed. While Superstars isn't terrible, it ain't very good either. It's plagued by poor level design, annoying gimmicks, overly-large stages, a lack of detail, rough edges, and superfluous new mechanics, all of which make it very difficult to recommend. I am reminded that modern Sonic is not for me. Lesson learned, again.
Dishonourable Mention: Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective (not bad, but I was expecting to like it far more), the continued lack of a Final Fantasy Tactics remaster
10. Best Game When You've Got Your Mates Round: GoldenEye 007 Remaster
We moved into our current home three years ago, but it wasn't until this summer that I finally had my friends over for lunch and a spot of belated house-warming. Predictably, it didn't take long before we started playing computer games. Street Fighter 6 was the main attraction, being that it'd only just come out, but that was swiftly followed by the GoldenEye 007 remaster. Three-player deathmatch was an absolute blast - I need to buy a fourth controller - and an unqualified hit. We're all of an age where we have a certain amount of nostalgia, or at the very least respect, for GoldenEye, and for those thirty minutes it was like we were back in our teenage living rooms, chucking around knives and sneaking a glance at each others portion of the telly. Timeless!
Honourable Mention: Street Fighter 6
11. Best Voice Acting: Final Fantasy XVI
The voice acting in XVI is a cut above almost everything else. The regional, UK accents suited the main crew and brought the kingdom to life, in a way that generic, really fucking annoying anime voices would not have done. The use of continental sounding accents for kingdoms more further afield created a clear divide between Clive's lot and everyone else, and made the world seem much bigger, varied and interesting than it looked on the map. From west country accents to straight up Geordie, it was an audio delight.
Honourable mention: Alan Wake 2
12. Standout Moment: Hi-Fi Rush - Invaders Must Die
Chai fighting an army of robots in a cafeteria to the sounds of the Prodigy - this was the exact moment when I began to fully enjoy Hi-Fi Rush. A pulsating, heavy, filthy track, Invaders Must Die infused that scene with an energy that had been missing up to that point. Although it did nothing new mechanically, the battle was exhilarating, and I replayed it several times. Until The Prodigy turned up, I wasn't 100% convinced that I liked Hi-Fi Rush - I had enjoyed the setting, appreciated the loud colours, and the characters were starting to grow on me, but the gameplay consistently felt a bit off. I couldn't quite find the beat the way it wanted me to, and the marriage between music and action was unconvincing. I'd still progress, as most sections were fairly forgiving, but I wasn't satisfied. Something about Invaders Must Die changed that, and suddenly the vibe just fit. I was won over.
Honourable Mentions: Take your pick of Final Fantasy XVI bosses, Like a Dragon Gaiden - night out on the town with the lads from the Watase-family
13. Best Gameplay Mechanic: Street Fighter 6 - Classic, Modern, Dynamic
I suppose it's a bit of a stretch to refer to control schemes as gameplay mechanics. However, this is my blog and I don't care! The inclusion of simplified options is a ballsy move in a genre that lives and dies by the tightness and responsiveness of its input systems, so I want to give Capcom their due. I don't know how well it has been received by the core SF audience, but my feeling is that it has made the series more inclusive than ever, which is always a good thing. These options have levelled the playing field, allowing my daughter and I to enjoy ever-competitive rounds. I use Classic controls, and she uses Modern, and that's not necessarily because I'm better than her at SF. To be honest, I doubt that I am. However, these options ensure that I gain no meaningful advantage from the extra time I put in at night, between our bouts. As for my limited experience online, I find I lose to Modern and Dynamic users just as much as I do Classic. Consistency in defeat, and proof that it works!
Honourable Mention: Switching to Eikons in Final Fantasy XVI, climbing in Jusant
14. Best Mercari Purchase: Tactics Ogre Limited Edition (PSP - JPN)
I didn't even know this existed until a few minutes before I bought it! A Japan E-store exclusive, the PSP remaster comes in a lovely box along with some artwork prints, a pack of tarot cards, and a 4-disc soundtrack. The perfect way to cap off a year which began with me completing the latest remaster, the majority of which I played during the tail end of 2022. Tactics Ogre is a true all-timer and almost as good as Final Fantasy Tactics. Almost. 4000 yen was a steal, even if I already have a copy of the much smaller PAL Limited Edition. The perfect gift to myself this Christmas.
Honourable mention: A boxed Saturn Bomberman multi-tap (1980 yen)
15. Best Character: Joryu (Kiryu) - Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name
I'm very attached to Kiryu, or Joryu as he's now known, having been through so much with him over the last two decades. He's a hugely sympathetic character, not to mention a very cool one, being that he can basically punch anyone's face off, if he fancies it. While elements of the series may have grown stale over countless entries, it was never Kiryu who needed replacing, and Gaiden is proof of that. Now don't get me wrong, I love Ichiban too, but I'm glad Kiryu is still hanging around for the time being, and excited that we'll get to see how his relationships will develop with a new crowd. Kiryu is Yakuza, and the switch to Like a Dragon was a smart one, as it'll one day allow the series to continue without him. Just not yet, thankfully.
Honourable Mention: Clive - Final Fantasy XVI
16. Most Addictive: Suika Game
It might have only held our interest for a week, but for those few days we were gripped. We had several pass-the-controller sessions, my wife, daughter and I, each trying to set a new high score and evolve an elusive watermelon. And then in the evening, when everyone else had gone to bed and I was supposed to be playing "proper" games, I'd sneak in another round, that would turn into two, then three, then four and then it was 1:00 am! A heavy reliance on luck, and minimal need for strategy, meant that it wasn't going to hold our attention for long, but it was certainly a hit for a few days back in late autumn.
Honourable Mentions: Like a Dragon Gaiden's Coliseum, smashing signs and pinatas in Forza Horizon 5: Rally Adventure, Vampire Survivors DLC
17. Biggest Surprise: Jusant
Jusant was a very pleasant surprise. I knew nothing of it before it was shown during the June Xbox Showcase, and its appearance on Game Pass ensured that I'd play it. I love the setting, a drought-ridden mountain that was once partially submerged by a frighteningly deep sea that has long since receded, and I have a lot of time for that cute whale thing that lives in your rucksack. Jusant is very pretty looking, and while there were certainly points where I grew tired of the climbing, I can't fault the trigger-hold-release controls. To top it all off, it's only 5-6 hours long, which is an exceedingly good thing to be.
Honourable Mention: Age of Empire campaigns coming to AoE II: Definitive Edition, Hi-Fi Rush
18. Best Comfort Game: Assassin's Creed Mirage
Yes, it's another Assassin's Creed, but I don't have any problem with that. Far from it, in fact. Abandoning the bloat of the otherwise excellent Origins, Odyssey and Valhalla, Mirage goes back to a simpler time, a time before anyone had played Witcher 3, when AC had a narrower focus and a sub-20 hour runtime. It is a bit rough around the edges, and there's little worthwhile to do outside of the story missions, but I greatly enjoyed knocking about 9th century Baghdad for fifteen hours. There's no modern day nonsense, and the sci-fi fantasy, while present throughout, takes a backseat to the historical world in which Basim resides. Give me a big Assassin's Creed every 4-5 years, and one of these more condensed versions in-between, and I'll be very happy.
Honourable mention: Forza Horizon 5: Rally Adventure, Vampire Survivors Legacy of the Moonspell and Tides of Foscari
19. Best Expansion: Resident Evil 4: Separate Ways
I don't usually play DLC, as when I move on from a game I tend to do so completely. However. this year I found myself returning to several games for newly-released content, including Forza Horizon 5's Rally Adventure, Age of Empire 1 campaigns in AoE II, and the Vampire Survivors expansions. I'm also keen to try out the free God of War Ragnarok DLC, Valhalla. My favourite of the bunch is Resident Evil 4 - Separate Ways. Unfolding in parallel with Leon's adventure, and occasionally intersecting with it, Separate Ways puts you in control of the mysterious and very dangerous Ada Wong. It was fascinating to see her side of the story, and I found her far more interesting here than I did during the main game. Added bonus: you get lots of extra Luis. It's the perfect way to wrap up the RE4 experience.
Honourable mentions: Forza Horizon 5: Rally Adventure
20. Most Pointless Setting: Space - Starfield
Almost none of my considerable enjoyment of Starfield was derived from space exploration. More often than not, space and space travel just gets in the way of far more interesting things. Dogfights are the worst, and fast travel is far more troublesome and ill-explained than it should be. Granted, exploring a new planet brings with it some initial excitement, but it's quickly diminished upon discovering that each new planet is essentially the same as the last: largely barren, featuring a couple of buildings indistinguishable from the last ones you saw, a smattering of generic flora and fauna, and of course some rocks and stuff for you to scan for no good reason. Starfield would've been just as interesting had it been set on one expansive planet, and the immediate space around it. Outer space was a waste of time and effort.
21. Tiny Thing That Bugged Me More Than it Should: Final Fantasy XVI - cut-aways when characters interact with items
A.k.a the "using different buttons to open and close the map in Elden Ring"-award. This year, it goes to Final Fantasy XVI for it's lack of animations when characters interact with an item. For example, Clive hands something to an NPC at the culmination of yet another fetch quest, only the handover and the item is out of sight. The shot is framed in such a way that we don't see the exchange, only upper bodies and a rustling sound effect. Another example: Clive has a drink and the screen goes black for a second, as we hear him gulp. The scene returns, and the drinking is over; the drink never seen. Weird.
22. Best Side Quests: Starfield
For the first half of Starfield, the side missions far outshine the main story. They are varied, well-paced and full of interesting characters and quandaries, in stark contrast to the early, core narrative. I'd heard people recommend pursuing some of the optional faction story lines, once the first few core missions are out of the way, and I'm glad I followed this advice. My time spent with the United Colonies, dealing with the Terrormorph menace, and my infiltration of the Crimson Fleet on the behalf of UC SysDef constitute some of my most memorable hours in Starfield, and the opportunity to pursue the other faction missions is the single biggest motivation for a second playthrough.
Honourable Mention: Like a Dragon Gaiden - The Coliseum
23. Most Frustrating: Being inundated with visual & performance options each time I start a new game
I don't fucking know if I want performance or quality mode! I don't even know what that means. Adjust brightness until the logo is barely visible? What logo? What are you talking about? HDR, SDR, motion blur, film grain effects, movement sensitivity and on it goes, choice after choice that the player is ill-equipped to make. Accessibility options are great, of course, but some of this stuff is just overwhelming. Ask me to choose the level of difficulty, and then present your game as you intend it to be experienced. If I want to fiddle with things, I'll do that later. Starting AAA games has never been more stressful. I spent the first few hours of both Alan Wake 2 and Final Fantasy XVI worrying that I wasn't playing it properly, because I'd made the wrong visual and audio choices. And while we're on the topic, ban motion blur! It's always fucking awful.
Dishonourable Mention: Fast travel in Starfield
24. Best Swearing: Final Fantasy XVI
Great Greagor's Gash, indeed! I was smiling ear to ear the first time I heard that exclamation. XVI's leads are some foulmouthed motherfuckers, and the game was all the better for it. They reacted just as I would if I came face to face with an angry Behemoth or putrid Malboro, by doing some serious effing and blinding. And the swears sounded just right coming from these characters, not forced and out of place like they did in Deathloop, for example. Clive, Cid, Gav and Jill came across as being very comfortable swearing up a storm, and their colourful language better conveyed the gravity of the situations they found themselves in.
25. Bound to be in Rotation for Years to Come: Street Fighter 6
I'm guaranteed to be going back to SF6 for months, if not years, to come. I still return to Ultra SFIV fairly regularly, and I see no reason why it won't be the same for 6. I'm constantly battling the temptation to buy the season pass and add a handful of new challengers, but I know that I'm better off waiting for Super Championship Edition, or whatever the eventual, complete package will be called. SF6 has the makings of a family multiplayer staple, though I've probably already played my last online round, as I can only handle so much embarrassment.
26. Quality Game That Was Easiest to Criticise: Final Fantasy XVI
Final Fantasy XVI is a 7/10. Immediately after finishing it, I thought it might've been an 8, but it's not. It is a seven, and sevens are good. I love sevens! Yet, I can't help but pick fault with it. I think this is partly down to my longstanding fondness for the series and desire for every entry to be great, which they haven't been for many years. XVI's high profile may also factor into my desire to criticise, as well as the noisy insistence of its fans that it's actually great. It's not great, though; it's a seven. You know what, it might be a six. Sixes are decent though.
Dishonourable Mention: Starfield
27. Best Online Multiplayer: Street Fighter 6
Street Fighter wins by default here, as I played little else online. Polished, easy to grasp and difficult to master, it kept me entertained for a good couple of weeks, splitting time between the Fighting Ground and Battle Hub. Doing loops of the arcade machines, seeking an opponent whose avatar looked weak will be an enduring memory of gaming in 2023! I never got particularly good, but I started to understand some of what was expected of me and how to counter different styles and characters. I mostly stuck with Kimberly, as I'm bloody useless at closing the gap with my lumbering favourite, the almighty Zangief. I should probably work on that.
Honourable Mention: Forza Horizon 5: Rally Adventure
28. Best Luxury: Analogue Pocket
I umm'd and ahh'd about buying a Pocket for almost a year, before pulling the trigger in January. After nine months of silence, Analogue finally shipped out my handheld, and it was well worth the wait. I don't want to gloss over Analogue's protracted fulfilment process and their appalling lack of communication, but in the end it was well worth it. I've dipped into several games thus far, from a range of different systems, and I'm looking forward to using it more over the New Year holiday.
Honourable Mention: The Starfield Xbox controller
29. Biggest Shrug: Cocoon
I know you all loved this indie darling, but I just didn't get it. Don't get me wrong, it was fine, and I don't regret the handful of hours I put into it. I appreciated its commitment to one-button input, and I genuinely enjoyed the inventive boss battles. However, I just found its core puzzle mechanic of worlds within worlds to be frustrating and unsatisfying. Maybe it was just the way I was playing it, but I tended to stumble on solutions, rather than have eureka moments, and I quickly tired of backtracking to ensure I had orbs where I needed them, something that often was impossible to do without pre-existing knowledge of the next task. Aesthetically, it also did nothing for me.
Dishonourable Mention: Street Fighter 6 World Tour mode
30. Best Far Cry: Far Cry 6
I was not expecting to enjoy Far Cry 6 as much as I did. I came to it a year late, as I was in zero rush, but I think I might have a new favourite Far Cry. The setting, the characters, and the usual mayhem-inducing gameplay come together perfectly and I didn't want to put it down. Even when FFXVI turned up, I kept going back to Far Cry and postponed getting stuck into what was one of my most anticipated games this year. Simple and effective entertainment - I can't fault it, really. With a couple of years off, I hope I'm able to equally enjoy the next instalment.
31. Best Partial Playthrough: Exoprimal
I really wanted to play more Exoprimal, but it just wasn't to be. It came out around the same time as FFXVI and just a few weeks before I disappeared to the UK for the bulk of August. Everything I've experienced of it, both first and second hand, suggests it's a highly entertaining romp, and if I'm going to get into a team multiplayer game, this is the kind of thing I'd be drawn to. Unfortunately, I fear the moment may have passed, as things quickly went quiet and going quiet is death for this kind of game. Were I to return to it now, I fear I'd be greeted by underpopulated lobbies and over-experienced players. Sorry about that, Capcom.
32. Best Score: Final Fantasy XVI
I enjoyed XVI, but it was the very definition of a mixed bag. I loved the boss battles, but I quickly lost interest in regular fights. The male leads were interesting and well-developed, but the female leads were far more one dimensional. Most of the story missions were fun and engaging; the side missions were among the worst I've ever seen in a modern RPG. The music, however, was consistently great across the board - no bad to balance out the good. Inventive, yet familiar, it sounded exactly how I would hope a modern FF would. Its finest moments are likely to stay with me far longer than any other part of the game, apart from the swearing, obviously.
Honourable Mention: We Love Katamari Reroll + Royal Reverie
33. Wish I'd Made Time For: Baldur's Gate 3
I'm unsure whether or not I'll enjoy Baldur's Gate 3. On the one hand, plenty of people I trust tell me that it's excellent, and I do love a grown-up, fantasy RPG. Something along the lines of Dragon Age or The Witcher. On the other, I know nothing about D&D and all this talk of dice rolls puts me off. Honestly, I don't quite understand how that manifests in combat. On top of that, I'm just so sick of social media posts about horny orcs and high-fantasy hunks. If you want to finger a goblin that's your business, but please stop posting about it. I'll probably play it next summer, but I absolutely will not be horny while doing so.
Honourable Mentions: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Chants of Sennaar, Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters
34. Most Looking Forward to in 2024: Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth
"Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Dragon's Dogma 2 - and that's just the first three months!" I wrote that first sentence before googling the release slate for 2024, which was when I realised that next year is going to struggle to live up to 2023. Personally, there's little of interest beyond that trio of massive RPGs. That probably won't be an issue, however, as Infinite Wealth, Rebirth and Dragon's Dogma will most likely fill the majority of the first half of next year, so I'm pretty much sorted. As for my top choice, I'm picking Like a Dragon over Final Fantasy VII by the slightest of margins, mostly due to how much I enjoyed Gaiden.
Honourable Mentions: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Dragon's Dogma 2
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