he year has just gone by. In many ways, the year 2023 has been a bad one for gaming. Mass layoffs have hit even the most well-funded companies, while the cost of living as a gamer continues to skyrocket.
In a normal year, there would be a handful of games that would be lock-downs for GOG, and a handful of interchangeable alternatives that would populate most top 10 lists. But this year, there have been so many games that deserve to be at the top of the leaderboard that choosing a top ten feels more challenging than ever.
For Imaji DIgistudio’s Top 10 Best Game of 2023, there were some truly great games that just barely missed the cut and whose impact we don’t want to ignore. Titles like Super Mario Bros. Wonder and Hi-Fi Rush, which bent genres and surprised in some incredible ways. But ultimately, only 10 titles could make the final list.
So, without further ado, here are
10. Hogwarts Legacy
Hogwarts Legacy is the closest that a video game has come to recreating the magic of Harry Potter without simply adapting the books/movies. With its own story, the game stirs up the experience of being a Hogwarts student, with all the mischief and excitement that comes along with it.
Using magic, riding broomsticks and mixing potions are all expected elements of a Harry Potter game, but Hogwarts Legacy combines them into its own experience that makes it so immersive. There's no escaping the cloud of conflict hanging over the property, but just looking at the game itself and the features it offers, Hogwarts Legacy has a certain magic that only exists in one universe.
9. Starfield
Starfield, Bethesda Game Studios' most ambitious game to date, presents the player with a galaxy and instructs them to explore it. Its world is enormous and oftentimes empty, yet the game encourages exploration and provides it on a scale few other producers can. There are factions to join and characters to meet. There's certainly that distinct Bethesda feel to Starfield, but it also feels fresh.
There is also an additional layer to Starfield that turns what players think they know about the game on its head, which produces a game that is truly limitless. Todd Howard and his team deserve serious props for taking a step outside the familiar and trying something different. There is nothing like Starfield and likely won’t be anything like it in the future.
8. Street Fighter 6
Capcom has released one of the most content-rich fighting games ever made with Street Fighter 6, from its over-the-top World Tour story mode to its a lot online multiplayer options. Fights are fast-paced and brutal, with the new Drive Gauge system proving to be a game-changer in the Street Fighter formula. Street Fighter 6's multiple control options ensure that it can be enjoyed by both hardened veterans and beginners, making it one of the most approachable fighting games on the market.
7. Resident Evil 4 Remake
Resident Evil 4 Remake has become the new standard against which all future remakes should be contrasted. It takes a beloved title and doesn’t change too much about it, only modernizing combat to make it acceptable in the present day and shifting up some areas to reduce frustration and increase excitement.
Capcom's RE Engine continues to impress with a presentation that is sharp and clean, yet foreboding and haunting. Survival horror has had its ups and downs over the past decade, but Resident Evil has found new life in almost every aspect of the brand. Resident Evil 4 both shows what the series brought to the genre and acknowledges how it can improve.
6. Alan Wake 2
Alan Wake 2 is a game in development for over a decade. Remedy Entertainment used lessons learned from previous games to instill confidence in their writing and designer skills, and it all shows on screen. In a way, it's worth the 13-year wait to see how Alan Wake 2 performed now rather than before.
The introduction of Saga Anderson gives newcomers a way into the world of Wake, but the game as a whole feels like the "Remedy" games the studio has made so far. It's weird, it's bold, and one of the best games out there; Alan Wake 2 is an experience that few can shake off afterwards.
5. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Insomniac Games has been on the rise lately, and the same pattern continued with Marvel's Spider-Man 2. The sequel was bigger because it gave Peter Parker a more personal story when he introduced Miles Morales as Spider-Man himself. in every sense of the word.
Combat has become smoother and more versatile, playable New York has expanded to include Queens, and the inevitable showdown with Venom always excites Spidey fans. Not to mention, the full jump to the PS5 allowed Insomniac to show off some of its technological wizardry in terms of graphics and load times. In every sense of the experience, you can make a big-budget sequel this way.
4. Lies Of P
Many games try to emulate what FromSoftware did with their Soulsborne series, but few can capture that spirit like Lies of P does. More Bloodborne than Dark Souls, Lies of P wears inspiration on its sleeve, but it also breaks from the mold. with a battle that forces patience, rhythm and pattern recognition.
The game also features an exciting story and a story based on Carlo Collodi's Pinocchio story, and even the promise of a larger universe beyond Krat's borders. Souls ultimately live and die in battles and boss battles, and Lies of P features some of the best the genre has ever seen.
3. Sea Of Stars
Traditional turn-based RPGs aren't as popular as they used to be, but Sea of Stars shows what the genre can offer, albeit with a modern twist. Much of the gameplay and design is taken from other successful RPGs, but the way this title combines and develops the concepts of its predecessors helps it stand out.
An art style that is retro but still delivers an impressive sense of scale, combat that keeps the player engaged, and a story that becomes more layered and nuanced the longer it goes on; The Sea of Stars is an example of how simplicity can be as effective as grandeur. Not to mention, added one of the best soundtracks of the year.
2. Baldur’s Gate 3
Baldur's Gate 3 is the kind of RPG that gamers are talking about when they say RPG. It is an experience that allows players to take on a role and move with their imagination.
Possibilities abound in a story that is sprawling and full of memorable characters at every turn. And best of all, this third entry never shied away from embracing its Dungeons and Dragons roots, literally giving players a roll of the dice when they want to take an action. Baldur's Gate 3 has now set a new bar, so the RPG style will likely be much different for years to come.
1. The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom
Nintendo was able to top the multi-award-winning Breath of the Wild by leaning more towards the Zelda formula with the return of temples, while at the same delivering something completely new. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is an incredible Zelda story and tale, but it’s also an amazing sandbox capable of birthing creations that run the gamut of creativity. Some are simple yet effective while others are downright jaw-dropping.
Tears of the Kingdom may be the end for this era of The Legend of Zelda and that feels fitting. It would be difficult to top the Ultrahand as a concept and this open world as a sandbox.
So, that's an interesting article from Imaji Digistudio regarding the most played and best game of 2023. Stay tuned for information about other film information and don't forget to follow Facebook and Instagram Imajidigistudio!
