As we head into the new year, hardcore and casual gamers alike should be looking out in anticipation of the exciting slate of video games 2023 has in store for us.
Following the announcement and the subsequent release of the newest generation of consoles; the PS5, the Xbox Series X|S, and the Nintendo Switch, as well as the latest developments in graphics processing, we have been promised a new era of games. For years and decades now, since we started playing around with pixelated sprites and poorly rendered textures, developers and designers have been hindered by hardware limitations—finite computing power has put a cap on artistic vision. Time and time again, massive worlds with intricate storylines and intriguing characters have been reduced to a form inferior to what they could have been to compromise with playability, their potential staying unrealized. With new and improved platforms to play and create these games on, this should no longer be a problem. There won’t be anything holding back creators from making the experiences they want their players to enjoy.
This past year, we have only seen a glimpse of this new era with games such as; God of War Ragnarök, Elden Ring, Horizon Forbidden West, A Plague Tale: Requiem, and The Callisto Protocol to name a few. While impressive projects in their own right, it’s an underwhelming lineup for a so-called brand-new generation. But with delayed release dates left and right, perhaps it’s not that this new age is a false promise, rather, maybe developers just needed a little more time to perfect their product and acclimate to the new platform. As that time is approaching, here are our picks for the top 10 highly-awaited games to watch out for in 2023.
Forspoken
Announced as Project Athia during the PS5 reveal event presentation back in 2020, Forspoken has surely taken its sweet time, but it’s finally here. The game follows the story of Frey Holland, an ordinary New Yorker who is mysteriously transported into the magical world of Athia. Caught in the middle of a battle for survival between the people of this new world and the malevolent Tantas, Frey is called upon to use her newfound magical abilities for good while at the same time also seeking her way home. Forspoken promises a massive open-world sprawling with magnificent structures and aggressive creatures. Emphasis is placed on free-flowing combat and traversal, featuring Frey’s arsenal of magical spells that she can use depending on the situation. The game is developed by Luminous Productions and published by Square Enix.
Forspoken is set to release on January 24, 2023, on PC and PS5.
Watch the gameplay trailer here!
Dead Space Remake
A faithful reimagining of the classic 2008 survival horror game, the Dead Space Remake looks to unearth the deep-seated horrifying memories and trauma your much younger self experienced while playing through the original. The game follows Isaac Clarke, an engineer on a bad work day for the ages, who boards the USG Ishimura mining ship, intending to repair it. As he arrives, he soon realizes that much has gone wrong and finds that the ship is now sprawling with the grotesque Necromorphs. Unarmed and inexperienced in combat, this becomes a battle for survival, set in a ship stuck within the far reaches of space, and alone, with nothing but bloodthirsty monsters who are on the hunt for you. Dead Space Remake is developed by EA Motive and will be powered by the Frostbite engine for a revamped gaming experience.
Dead Space Remake is set to release on January 27, 2023, on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
Watch the gameplay trailer here!
Hogwarts Legacy
I’m sure I’m not the only one who wishes they could be a wizarding student at Hogwarts just like those in the Harry Potter universe. An answer to our prayers, Avalanche Software together with Portkey Games, and Warner Bros. is delivering us with an experience into the world created by J.K. Rowling in a manner no previous Harry Potter game has ever done. Hogwarts Legacy is your adventure, your tale to tell. Explore a massive open world as the wizard or witch you always wanted to be, equipped with the knowledge you will gain from your studies in the prestigious school for magic to aid you in protecting the wizarding world.
Hogwarts Legacy is set to release on February 10, 2023, on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, on April 4 for PS4 and Xbox 1, and on July 25 for Nintendo Switch.
Watch the gameplay showcase here!
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
The Star Wars universe keeps on expanding and I’m here for it. This upcoming game is a direct sequel to Respawn Entertainment’s Jedi: Fallen Order set five years later. Critically acclaimed for its eye-catching visuals, impressive storytelling, detailed traversal mechanics, in-depth exploration, and immersive combat noted to be on par with the likes of Dark Souls, it’s no surprise that many have clamored for a sequel. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor follows the story of Cal Kestis on the next chapter of his journey, a number of years following his close encounter with Darth Vader which saw him barely escape by the skin of his teeth. A little older and a little wiser, equipped with his trusty lightsaber and aided by old and new allies alike, we will see where the force takes Cal on his crusade against the ever-growing empire.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is set to release on March 17, 2023, on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
Watch the reveal trailer here!
Resident Evil 4 Remake
It is the era of remakes, of revisiting older games and revamping them to fully realize their potential that wasn’t met at the time of their release. Capcom returns early this year for the modern reimagination of the 2005 Resident Evil 4, a game touted to be one of the best ever made. This is the latest in a string of remakes (Resident Evil 2, and 3) following a change in creative direction to lean back into survival horror in the series’ two latest releases. The game will faithfully follow the original, delivering a modern take on Leon’s journey as he is sent to rescue the president’s kidnapped daughter from a secluded European village, six years after the biological disaster in Raccoon City.
Resident Evil 4 Remake is set to release on March 24, 2023, on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
Watch the gameplay trailer here!
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
It’s time to rise Switch users! Who cares about all those AAA games that your handheld console could only dream of running when you have this latest Zelda release? Five years since its previous title, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is a direct sequel to the console’s launch title Breath of the Wild, and follows Link’s journey to the floating islands above Hyrule.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is set to release on May 12, 2023, on the Nintendo Switch.
Watch the trailer here!
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League
Task Force X, or better known as the Suicide Squad, was organized by Amanda Waller for the sake of executing government-issued black-ops missions in exchange for reduced sentences. As seen in previous films highlighting the group, oftentimes, they are sent on one-way ticket adventures where they are more than likely going to die. After all, they’re dispensable, if they disagree to join they will rot in prison, and if they flee during the mission they will be executed. It’s a brutal situation, but hey they’re ruthless criminals. Their latest impossible task, kill the Justice League that have all been brainwashed during Brainiac’s invasion of earth. Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, you name it, they have to kill it.
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is set to release on May 26, 2023, on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
Watch the Batman reveal trailer here!
Final Fantasy XVI
Final Fantasy XVI is the latest addition to Square Enix’s storied franchise, seven years after the previous title (excluding the remakes to the seventh game). An all-new story to be told, the game follows the journey of Clive Rosfield, a royal in his homeland, as he embarks on a crusade motivated by revenge in a massive fantastical medieval world. Final Fantasy 16 will launch on the PS5 with a six-month window of exclusivity.
Final Fantasy XVI is set to release on June 22, 2023, on the PS5.
Watch the gameplay and story trailer here!
Starfield
Known for their widely loved franchises The Elder Scrolls, and Fallout, Bethesda Game Studios returns for their first original title in 25 years with Starfield, a single-player open-world adventure game set in space. In true Bethesda fashion, similar to their other projects, you will be creating your own character before being sent out to explore the galaxy on your own, in whatever way you choose. According to the studio’s director and executive producer Todd Howard, Starfield is their biggest game yet, with over 1,000 planets to explore and a story longer than anything they’ve done before.
Starfield is set to release on an unspecified date in the first half of 2023, on Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
Watch the gameplay reveal here!
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
After the success of their 2018 title and the 2020 spin-off, Insomniac Games is back with your friendly neighborhood spider with Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. Building on the stories of the previous two games, the latest comeback of your favorite web-slinger includes Peter Parker, together with his new partner in crime and protege Miles Morales as they face a new enemy threatening New York City. A battle for the ages, the game’s reveal trailer hints at the appearance of his long-time villain, Venom.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is set to release on Fall 2023, on the PS5.
Watch the reveal trailer here!
