20 best games of 2023 so far (that you might not know about)
A flurry of good games combined with the impending arrival of Tears of the Kingdom got me thinking about the year so far.
The first third of 2023 has, in my opinion, been sneaky strong, and I wanted to celebrate that.
I’ve omitted the biggest games from this list — Resident Evil 4 remake, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, etc — in favour of lower-key (and slightly cheaper) releases.
Hopefully everyone will find at least one game on this list they didn’t know about.
Disclaimer: I haven’t played all of these. Not even close.
I’m leaning heavily on the recommendations of websites and reviewers that I trust, and for each game I’ll link to an external review that might help you decide whether to buy or not.
Let’s run through in no particular order.
And if you find this useful, please share it!
Deceive Inc. (PC/PS5/Xbox)
An online game of spy-based deception where you disguise yourself as furniture, tail other players, and escape with goodies. PC Gamer’s review: “When anyone can be anything, and everyone's looking for you while you're looking for them, every moment is tense.”
Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries Of Honjo (Phones/PC/Switch)
A visual novel packed with mystery, horror, and plot twists. Rock Paper Shotgun’s review: “Best played if you go in knowing nothing about it.”
Akka Arrh (PS/Xbox/PC/Switch)
A neon arcade shooter based on an unreleased Atari game. Simple concept with deep mechanics. Eurogamer’s review: “It's awful and brilliant… a wonderful simulation of what it feels like when the doorbell goes just as you have a bath running.”
Dredge (PS5/Switch/Xbox/PC)
One of this list’s more obvious picks, but shouldn’t be missed. Part relaxing boating-and-fishing sim, part Lovecraft nightmare. Polygon’s review: “Dredge is the perfect sort of dark-yet-cozy game.”
Wartales (PC)
Role-playing game with lots of freedom and turn-based combat. Control and grow a group of tough mercenaries in a low-fantasy world. PC Gamer’s review: “Survive long enough to penetrate that tough exterior and you'll discover a game built from a thousand little ideas.”
A Space for the Unbound (Switch/PS5/Xbox/PC)
Slice-of-life adventure game from an Indonesian developer. Puzzles, minigames, and a heartfelt story touching on school bullying and anxiety. Eurogamer’s review: “A beautiful game that's only more potent for its awkward adolescence.”
Stranded: Alien Dawn (PS5/Xbox/PC)
Colony management sim about starting a new life on a hostile planet, with some tower defence thrown in. RPS’s review: “The closest thing to my dream human vs nature survival game I’ve seen yet.”
The Pale Beyond (PC)
Another blend of management and survival, but this time set aboard a ship in a freezing wasteland. RPS’s review: “You know it’s a great turn in The Pale Beyond when only five of your crew are freezing, two have frostbite, and one has scurvy.”
Cassette Beasts (PC/Xbox/Switch)
A monster battler that’s quite a lot like Pokémon, except you trap critters in cassette tapes and then transform into them to fight. Eurogamer’s review: “A lesson in how to make a game that is delightful, cosy and brimming with nostalgia without being condescending towards your adult audience.”
Tchia (PS5/PC)
Explore a colourful archipelago by possessing animals and gliding on the breeze, Breath-of-the-Wild-style. PC Gamer’s review: “A delight, an enchanting world filled with adventure, excitement, beauty, physics-driven fun, and lots of charming characters.”
Full disclosure: My brother-in-law works for Tchia’s publisher.
Patch Quest (PC)
A big-old mash-up of lots of different ideas described best in Polygon’s review: ”You can tame monsters à la Pokémon, collect items à la The Binding of Isaac, and dodge for your life à la Enter the Gungeon. But despite its clear inspirations, developer Lychee Game Labs has created something unique: a monster-taming roguelike all its own.”
Everspace 2 (PC/PS4/Xbox)
An open-world spaceship game about blasting enemies and collecting loot to improve your craft. PC Gamer’s review: “It's Diablo in space; an RPG in which you play a conglomeration of engines and lasers as much as its pilot.”
Season: A Letter to the Future (PS5/Xbox/PC)
A game about exploring a strange world, photographing it, and writing notes in your journal. The Verge’s review: “At its best, Season is a game about discovery, where you’re scouring empty farms, ruins, and more for clues that help you appreciate how people lived.”
Outlanders (PC/iOS)
A chill low-tech town builder that’s charming, funny, and makes each of your villagers feel important. RPS’s review: “A great antidote to towering skyscrapers or technological arms races.”
Terra Nil (Phones/PC)
Another soothing one: Terra Nil is an environmental restoration game based on simple, relaxing puzzles. The Guardian’s review: “Will make your feel almost godlike every time you see trees re-emerge and your first bears stomp their way out of the woods.”
The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure (PC/Switch)
The first time this JRPG, originally from 2011, has been released outside of Asia. Here as a reminder that this is a consistently excellent series. Eurogamer’s review: “Packed with powerful worldbuilding, great storytelling, and strong character development to match.”
Swordship (PS/Xbox/PC/Switch)
Super stylish arcade-style game about moving fast, tricking enemies and staying alive. Eurogamer’s review: “Get into that and collect the container! Zing! I don't think there is actually a greater feeling in any game I've played this year. Pure connection.”
Hi-Fi Rush (Xbox/PC)
Yes, I know, Hi-Fi Rush is massive, but it’s also a genre — rhythm-based action game — that people sometimes ignore. IGN’s review: “It’s got best-in-class animation, endearing heroes to cheer for, and villains you love to hate, all wrapped in good-natured humor.”
Wildfrost (PC/Switch)
A deck-building roguelike that looks cute and welcoming but has layers and layers of strategy. PC Gamer’s review: “A perfect balance of accessibility and strategic depth.”
Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly (PC/Switch/PS/Xbox)
A follow-up to Coffee Talk, the talkative visual novel about the life of a barista and their clients. Worth playing the original before this one. RPS’s review (of Episode 2): “A sweet, warm visual novel that's as restorative as one of its good cuppas.”