LOOKING BACK at the games we played in 2023, there have been some titles that have made us grind for eternity to the point where we even lose track of time.
Eventually we were transported to another dimension, killing zombies, exploring a fantasy setting, Revelio-ing every area, and undergoing a trailblazing expedition across numerous worlds.
These games have truly made our 2023 memorable and perhaps they could be worth every minute of your life. So here we are, SPIN.ph's top games of 2023.
We'll be basing our list on the games we played so we apologize if there are notable exclusions. With that being said, let's take a look at some of the games that marveled us in no particular order.
Baldur's Gate 3
Baldur’s Gate 3 was the quintessential RPG of 2023. Larian Studios really outdid themselves this time around with one of the most dense (and beautiful games) in recent memory.
Fueled by Dungeons & Dragons 5E Mechanics, this romp across the Forgotten Realms of the legendary Wizards of the Coast really is the cream of the crop. The freedom and attention to detail is rarely seen in Modern Triple-A Games and Baldur’s Gate 3 really hits out of the park several times over.
With multiple races and classes to choose from, the customization and the ability to stir the story in the direction of your choosing is absolutely gobsmacking.
On top of a memorable cast of characters and impressive voice performances behind them, (Oh Astarion, darling, of course we're talking about Neil Newbon!) Baldur’s Gate 3 will definitely have you sucked in its world for hundreds of hours in one playthrough alone and we recommend several...I mean we spent several hours alone staring in amazement at how good a wolf and a bear can be at climbing ladders.
Diablo IV
With years of hype behind the game, Diablo 4 was supposed to be the messiah of Blizzard’s failing reputation. Is it everything we hoped it would be?
Not exactly, but it's definitely got the great foundation for it to be your go-to action looter game for many years to come. After all, it is hard to come back from the depths of hell especially under the much maligned leadership of Bobby Kostick (who thanks to the prayers of many around Sanctuary and beyond) is finally gone maybe Blizzard can regain its former glory.
The story and the single player experience of Diablo 4 was great out of the box with a much more cinematic and dire experience in contrast to the fairly light hearted romp of Diablo 3. Taking down Lilith, the Queen of the Succubi and the Mother of Sanctuary, was definitely a bloody good experience and with memorable supporting characters like Ralph Ineson’s Lorath and James Goode’s Donan really helped enrich the story.
While the live service seasonal gameplay is still far from the ever popular Path of Exile, Diablo 4 is a great out of the box experience and it will only get better.
Resident Evil 4: Remake
Time didn't seem to ruin the prestige that the original Resident Evil 4 held and despite its outdated controls and PS2-esque graphics, the OG is still one of GOATs in survival horror.
So when the remake of the original was announced, there was skepticism if it can live up to the status of its 2005 counterpart.
Upon playing the remake, our jaws were on the floor as the modern graphics and the changes made to the gameplay and story have really brought the 4th installment to the next level. The horror elements reached a different level with the darker color schemes.
Overall RE4 Remake manages to solve the issues of its OG counterpart and the developers seem to find the perfect balance between action and horror, making this one of the best RE experiences to date.
There's a reason why this game was nominated in the Game Awards 2023 and while it fell short against Baldur's Gate 3 in the Game of the Year Award, there's no denying the spectacle it has produced this year.
Honkai: Star Rail
Genshin Impact has wowed its community through its immerse story telling, a colorful cast of characters, and...perhaps the game's gacha system.
In fact Genshin's popularity has soared HoYoverse to greater heights and it seems the game's publishers have also found the midas touch through Honkai: Star Rail.
The overall gameplay has been lauded as it is considered to be an upgrade to Genshin, and while its exploration is limited compared to its Teyvat-ian counterpart, Star Rail manages to capture the beauty of its predecessor all thanks to the usual HoYoverse's formula of storytelling and character development.
The game is free-to-play making it a lucrative option for casual gamers. Just be sure to watch over your bank account as you progress.
Hogwarts Legacy
As fans of the Harry Potter series, Hogwarts Legacy has indeed captured our dreams to fly on broomsticks and cast spells towards our foes. It was indeed a magical experience as we finally got the chance to unleash our inner Auror, Herbologist, Magizoologist, or Dark Arts practitioner.
The combat remains to be one of the biggest selling points of this game as fans are immersed to the various spells in the franchise, which includes the forbidden spells. But besides the use of spells, one may also summon plants to do most of the dirty work, or better yet unlock the graphorn which can be used to charge towards foes.
While its combat is heavily praised, it's story and exploration can be a hit-or-miss given the loopholes and the grindy and repetitive nature of the Merlin Trials. Some would even argue that Sebastian Sallow's narrative is better than the main story arc.
But despite its flaws, Hogwarts Legacy has been a thrilling experience especially for diehard fans of J.K. Rowling's novels.
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