Best Of
5 Best Video Games of 2023 (So Far)
So far, 2023 has been the year of video game remakes. We've seen fantastic remakes of classic games like System Shock, Metroid Prime, Dead Space, and even Resident Evil 4. At the same time, it is also the year for franchises to release a hit sequel. As many franchises have released sequels that are widely regarded as the best in their series yet. And to top everything off, there have been a number of notable indies emerging on the scene. Overall, you could say that the battle to become one of the best video games of 2023 is a close one.
This is great for us gamers because we have a handful of excellent titles to play. However, it also makes narrowing down the five best video games of 2023 a difficult task. That being said, it's only going to get more difficult as the second half of the year's games are released, and we know there are still some heavy hitters that have yet to launch. With that in mind, why not tackle this list while it's somewhat manageable? So, here you have it, our picks for the best video games of 2023, so far.
5. Street Fighter 6
It's no secret that fighting games are a massively popular and competitive genre. Having said that, the scene is made up of only a few titles. As a result, the best fighting game of the year is usually a battle between the same names, such as Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat, and Tekken. And, as it currently stands, Street Fighter 6 is cementing its name as not only the best fighting game of the year but also as one of the best video games of 2023.
Street Fighter 6 is one of the most exciting entries in the series in a long time. Its artistic flair, simplified controls, and eye-catching roster have drawn many fighting game enthusiasts out of the shadows while also attracting many new players. Furthermore, many of us are enticed by the prospect of creating our own fighter. Nonetheless, Street Fighter 6 raised the bar for fighting games this year. We'll have to wait and see what Mortal Kombat 1 has to say about it when it arrives in the second half of the year.
4. Final Fantasy XVI
The Final Fantasy series is best known for its story, characters, and world-building. And Square Enix knocked all of those facets out of the park in the series' latest entry, Final Fantasy XVI. It's only been out for a little over a week and is already stirring the pot for a game-of-the-year candidate. From the story to the RPG action, Final Fantasy XVI is a perfect blend of what makes this franchise so great. In all honesty, it is so well-rounded we expect it to contend for a lot of awards at the 2023 Game Awards.
All that being said, this year's RPG lineup has some tough competition with Tears of the Kingdom, Diablo IV, and the highly anticipated Starfield. Nonetheless, Final Fantasy XVI has secured their seat at the table alongside those titles and said “No, we will not be forgotten this year.” As a result, Final Fantasy XVI is easily one of the best videogames of 2023 thus far. The real question will be how it stacks up against the competition in the second half of the year.
3. Diablo IV
The last Diablo game, Diablo III (3), was released over a decade ago. So, as you might expect, there was a lot of pent-up excitement for Diablo IV's (4) release this year. And safe to say, Blizzard delivered. The pinnacle dungeon-crawling ARPG is back at it again with five exciting classes, all-new enemies, and an intriguing story. From beginning to end, it's a dark, chaotic, and bloodthirsty ride. It's everything gamers want and expects from the hack-and-slash ARPG series.
But, it's like we said, 2023 is the year for video game franchise sequels to resurrect them. And that's exactly what Diablo IV accomplished. So there is no doubt that it is one of the best video games of 2023, and it will undoubtedly be nominated for a number of awards.
2. Dredge
So far, sequels and remakes have been dominating the gaming scene in 2023. As a result, it's a tough year for new games to make a name for themselves. Furthermore, we already know how difficult it is for indies to stand out in a market where thousands of indie games are released each year. But, despite the odds, Dredge was one indie that was able to work its way out of the wickets and cement itself as the best debut Indie of 2023 so far.
Dredge is a single-player explorative fishing adventure that has been labeled as the videogame counterpart to The Lighthouse film. As the captain of your fishing trawler, you must explore a group of remote isles to learn about the area's troubled history and what might be lurking in the depths below. The game's somewhat dark theme, as well as its sense of mystery and adventure, have fans leaving drooling reviews. And, In the face of such stiff competition, we have to give Dredge the credit it deserves for one of the best video games of 2023.
1. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Of course, sliding in the number one spot we have The Legend of Zelda sequel, Tears of the Kingdom. One of the most difficult things for a video game to do is to release a sequel that offers a new experience while retaining the elements that fans loved about the first game. However, Nintendo is on the ball as Tears of the Kingdom blew fans out of the water just as much as Breath of the Wild did.
So there's no question that it's one of the best video games of 2023. But, will it win Game of the Year like its predecessor? We'll just have to wait and see.
