In conclusion of 2023, we find ourselves once again marveling at the incredible year of gaming that transpired. While this phrase has become somewhat overused, you really can’t deny the truth that the year was jam-packed with excellent games, many of them earning top marks.
This year truly marked the resurgence of the gaming world, rising above the struggles faced in the previous years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Covering the entire spectrum, 2023 offered a plethora of gaming experiences. From delightful indie games taking players to the depths of the ocean and traversing unfamiliar planets with perilous creatures, to action-packed adventures featuring high-octane mecha fights and magical broom rides. We haven’t even delved into PC Invasion’s 2023 Game of the Year winner, runner-ups, and honorable mentions.
PC Invasion’s 2023 Game of the Year winner: Baldur’s Gate 3
Baldur’s Gate 3 winning the Game of the Year came as a surprise. Many expected titles like Tears of the Kingdom or Starfield to steal the spotlight, but just like the best Rogue build, Baldur’s Gate 3 snuck up and captured our hearts.
Related: 10 must-get holiday gaming deals you can’t miss in 2023
What else is there to say about Baldur’s Gate 3 that hasn’t been raved about already? The game excels in characters, in-and-out-of-combat mechanics, choices, quests, race and build customization, multiplayer component, lore, and bosses — truly top-notch in every aspect.
My most cherished part of Baldur’s Gate 3 is the narrative guided by the player, and the whimsical shenanigans one can get into with friends. The multitude of player-created stories, full of hilarity and mischief, have already begun flooding the internet and are sure to continue for years to come. The game’s communal longevity is a testament to its greatness.
PC Invasion’s GOTY 2023 runner-ups
While Baldur’s Gate 3 claimed the title of Game of the Year 2023, we must not ignore the noteworthy runner-ups. Taking second place is The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, followed by Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 in third place. Alan Wake 2 and Super Mario Wonder both tied for fourth.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is undoubtedly deserving of the second place. Similarly, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, Alan Wake 2, and Super Mario Wonder would have dominated in a less competitive year. The abundance of great games in 2023 leaves much to anticipate for the coming year.
Related: The best free PC games in 2024
PC Invasion’s 2023 honorable mentions
Before we conclude the chapter on 2023, a number of PC Invaders wish to shine the spotlight on some very special games. While the runner-up and honorable mentions lists don’t cover every fantastic game of 2023, these titles are certainly worth the attention.
| PC Invasion Writer/Contributer | Game | Praise |
|---|---|---|
| Raza Malik | Dead Space | “From start to finish the game doesn’t give up. As soon as you descend on the iconic Ishimura, the ride begins, and it only gets worse (in a good way). The narrative is another highlight. Being a part of Isaac Clarke’s struggle makes you feel connected to the protagonist. Even if you have played the original, diving back into the horrific world of Dead Space with more than a facelift is worth it. Speaking of facelifts, the remake looks amazing on the new hardware. The darkness of the anxiety-riddled world feels alive and much more immersive which helped pull me. Overall, the Dead Space remake is worthy of your time because it’s the full package: A great and expansive story with horrors that pulls everything together.” |
| Alex Garcia | Final Fantasy 16 | “For a year in gaming that was jam-packed with IPs new and old, Final Fantasy 16 seems to be part of one franchise that keeps forging ahead almost 40 years later. The theme of writing your own destiny sticks with me even after I completed the game over six months ago, and will be something that sticks with me for a while. I enjoyed the action shift in gameplay and the outstanding performances from actors such as Ben Starr, Ralph Ineson, Nina Yndis, and so many more. This, coupled with the stellar soundtrack from Soken and the overarching story made for one of my personal favorites of the year.” |
| Jason Venter | Pikman 4 | “Nintendo had a strong 2023 that not everyone may have noticed. Besides Tears of the Kingdom, which was hard to miss, there were new entries in some of its other long-running franchises and even a pleasing remake of Super Mario RPG. One of the brightest stars among that happy little galaxy was Pikmin 4, which revived the franchise 10 years after its last proper new installment and pushed the formula to new heights. There are more varieties of Pikmin to find than ever before, expansive environments to explore, thrilling mini-games, and (best of all) a loveable canine companion named Odachi. It’s the biggest Pikmin game to date, packed with value and charm for fans old and new, and may have just saved the franchise.” |
| Anthony Yates | Robocop: Rogue City | “There’s been so many absolute bangers in 2023, but Robocop: Rogue City is my favorite. In the movies, Robocop awkwardly shuffles around with the grace of a bulldozer. Teyon had the unenviable task of recreating that in video game form while keeping it enjoyable. The devs knocked it out of the park while staying faithful to the source material with some of the most visceral combat I’ve seen in a modern shooter.” |
| Luis Prada | Dredge | “I love an open world that tricks me into thinking it’s much bigger than it is. That’s Dredge. A small snow globe of a game that feels as vast and expansive as a 200-hour RPG. Not just geographically, either, though that is certainly true. Every character feels richly developed with a lot more going on internally than they’re letting on. It’s a tale steeped in oceanic Lovecraftian lore that only provides a sampling of the horrors that lay beneath the surface. But that sampling is just enough to unsettle as it implies a wider, stranger universe of unfathomable terrors.” |
| Aidan Lambourne | Lords of the Fallen | “Lords of the Fallen is truly the best Soulslike I’ve come across, even surpassing (mechanically, as lore and aesthetics are largely personal preference) Dark Souls 3. The dual-world premise isn’t just a gimmick; it’s executed so well that I think other games need to take note. Aside from all the normal Soulslike qualities that it executes excellently, it stands out as a Soulslike that is simultaneously accessible to newcomers and certainly made for players who have brushed off other difficult Soulslikes. For once, you need to know all the skills and moves and need to take note of the systems, weapons, attributes, and abilities at your disposal.” |
| Noah Nelson | Hi-Fi Rush | “While I love visually, thematically, and mechanically dark games as much as the next person, I miss the bright, bombastic brilliance of early 2000s mascot games like Sly Cooper, Ratchet & Clank, and Spyro. Hi-Fi Rush is the only game in recent memory that perfectly captures that nostalgic energy of a Saturday morning cartoon. The music is wonderful, the boss fights epic, the humor is actually funny, and the character growth is surprisingly beautiful. I don’t even like rhythm games and yet, I love Hi-Fi Rush.” |
The year 2023 boasted an impressive list of games that we all hold dear. While it stands as one of the top gaming years of the decade, there are still many exciting prospects on the horizon in 2024. As part of my duty to stay ahead of the curve and play the latest releases, I look forward to delving into a long list of 2023 games, starting with Alan Wake 2.