2022 is coming to a close, and what a year it has been for video games. We had award winning games like Elden Ring and God of War Ragnarok, and we also had some new faces come in like High on Life and The Callisto Protocol. Games sure are getting better and better every year, and it looks like 2023 is stacking up to be another full year of high quality games. Even though there are a lot of games coming out, here is a top 10 list of games that we are excited for in 2023.
Upcoming Games in 2023 – Top 10 List
10. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
- Developer: Respawn Entertainment
- Release Date: March 17, 2023
- Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
The sequel to the smash hit Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order comes three years after its release in 2019. This time, we see a much rugged Cal Kestis go up against the Empire. Everything we know and love from the first game is back in the sequel, but with a lot more polish to it that looks amazing in the current gen consoles, which they are taking full advantage of now that we are starting to ditch last gen.
From the trailers we have seen, we are getting more lightsaber variations, including the popular Crossguard hilt that is famously used by Kylo Ren in the Sequel Trilogy. Alongside Cal’s trusty lightsaber, he now uses a blaster to help combat against faraway foes. Even the open world looks vast and beautiful, making the wait for this game all the more excruciating.
9. Dead Space Remake
- Developer: Motive Studio
- Release Date: January 27, 2023
- Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
It’s been almost 15 years since the release of the first Dead Space game that started a beloved survival horror franchise (that sadly got ruined because of EA’s meddling). Now, a decade and a half later, we get to see the first Dead Space remade with updated graphics and better gameplay. Not to say that the first game is unplayable, but that’s not the reason why this game is so hyped.
Aside from new and improved graphics with tweaked gameplay, Isaac Clarke is now fully voiced, with Gunner Wright back again to lend his voice to the iconic engineer. In the first game, Isaac Clarke was a silent protagonist, making every interaction we had with other characters seem kind of weird. But in the remake, Isaac interacts with other characters, as well as the environment around him. There are plenty more to look forward to, but this has to be their biggest selling point by far.
8. Final Fantasy XVI
- Developer: Creative Business Unit III
- Release Date: June 22, 2023
- Platform: PlayStation 5
Final Fantasy returns with another mainline entry to its franchise with Final Fantasy XVI. This game, like any other Final Fantasy game (unless you count their sequels), does not require you to play or have any knowledge of previous Final Fantasy games, making any new Final Fantasy fan jump into the new world of XVI.
With Final Fantasy XVI, we take a much (more than usual) darker turn, with the game receiving a Mature ESRB rating, and you can tell because of how serious the trailers seemed because it looks like a Japanese adaptation of the Game of Thrones series. Still, PlayStation players will be incredibly excited to play the game, and hopefully other consoles will too in the future.
7. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
- Developer: Nintendo
- Release Date: May 12, 2023
- Platform: Nintendo Switch
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild brought an open world so vast and rich with life and activities, it’s impossible to go back and enjoy open worlds from other developers like Ubisoft. Breath of the Wild redefined the open world genre, so much so that even Ubisoft and other companies tried replicating its success.
But there’s only one game that has the potential to even surpass Breath of the Wild, and that is its sequel, Tears of the Kingdom. After 6 years of waiting, Legend of Zelda fans finally get to experience the continuation of the Breath of the Wild story, as well as see what changes they have made in the gameplay from the already exceptional first game.
6. Like a Dragon: Ishin
- Developer: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
- Release Date: February 21, 2023
- Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC
The Yakuza franchise soared into popularity in the west when Yakuza 0 came into the fray. The game serving as a stepping stone for new players, and a new adventure for veterans of the franchise. With Yakuza 0 becoming a hit, the rest of the game inevitably followed suit, which lead to Sega realizing that maybe the Yakuza franchise might be profitable.
Fast forward a couple of years later, after the huge success of Yakuza: Like a Dragon, we now have a remake of one of Yakuza’s most popular entries that never received a western release. That’s right, Like a Dragon: Ishin is essentially what the Yakuza series would be if it was set in the 1800’s.
5. Resident Evil 4 Remake
- Developer: Capcom
- Release Date: March 24, 2023
- Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Capcom continues their trend of releasing remakes with the much anticipated Resident Evil 4 Remake. While fans have always wanted the remake of both Resident Evil 2 and 3, not many were expecting the very accessible Resident Evil 4, which is available on almost all platforms, to get the remake treatment.
While some may see it as Capcom milking the nostalgia out of their fans, the Resident Evil 4 Remake actually shows promise because of how well made it looks from the trailers, even adding some slight changes to gameplay that completely changes the way the game is played compared to the original.
Of course, there are skepticisms about the game being 100% faithful to the original, as Resident Evil 3 Remake had a lot of cut content that it was supposed to have, we should save our judgement until we hear more from Capcom. And who knows, they might remake Resident Evil 5 and 6 next.
4. Hogwarts Legacy
- Developer: Avalanche Software
- Release Date: February 10, 2023
- Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC (PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions release on April 4)
Hogwarts Legacy is the Harry Potter game that we have been waiting for. While the movie tie in games were good on their own right, they did not have the level of polish and care from its developers that Avalanche Software gives to Hogwarts Legacy. From a fully explorable Hogwarts to Hogsmeade, as well as combat you have never seen before in a Harry Potter game.
3. Starfield
- Developer: Bethesda Softworks
- Release Date: 2023
- Platforms: Xbox Series X/S and PC
Starfield was originally a 2022 game that was scheduled to be released in November 11. But due to unknown circumstances, whether it’s because they need more time to polish the game or fix some bugs, or maybe they realized that some gameplay mechanics might not work and needs to be cut, the game was delayed to 2023.
Which is such a shame, because Starfield is easily one of Xbox’s most anticipated games that is on the same level of quality as PlayStation’s other games. But, if they need to delay the game, then I’m sure it’s for a good reason.
2. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
- Developer: Insomniac Games
- Release Date: Fall 2023
- Platform: PlayStation 5
While Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 does not have an official release date yet, PlayStation and Insomniac games that the game is still slated to come out in Fall 2023, which starts in September 23 and ends in December 22. That essentially means it can release sometime between late September to late December.
While the wait for the popular sequel to the PlayStation 4 game is unbearable, we have to remember that we have to give time to the developers and let them finish their game. After all, we don’t want another Cyberpunk 2077 situation where the game comes out in an incredibly broken state now, do we?
1. Final Fantasy VII REBIRTH
- Developer: Square Enix
- Release Date: Winter 2023
- Platform: PlayStation 5
PlayStation 5 players really do get the awesome exclusives, don’t they? First Final Fantasy XVI, then Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, and now another Final Fantasy game called Final Fantasy VII REBIRTH, which is the sequel to Final Fantasy VII REMAKE, which is technically its own story instead of a remake of the original game (curse you, Nomura).
Little is known about the game, but we do know that it is a sequel to FFVII REMAKE, and that it is following its own story instead of following the original story from the PlayStation 1 game. Not only that, but this game is also slated for a 2023 release, sometime in Winter 2023.
Square is already releasing a mainline Final Fantasy with XVI, so it’s kind of hard to see them releasing another Final Fantasy game so soon. But, we are just telling you what is public knowledge. For all we know, it could be true that this game will release in 2023.
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