2023 has been a rollercoaster of both amazing surprises and terrifying setbacks for the gaming industry. Throughout this ride, I have accumulated more games than I can count in my backlog while simultaneously empathizing with developers who have been laid off.
Meanwhile, I found myself venturing into single-player games more often than not. From The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom to Baldur’s Gate 3, I’ve seen an increased attention toward the central experience and reducing needless distractions, culminating in an immersive, vicarious journey.
Without further ado, let’s move on to the list!
10. Final Fantasy XVI
Final Fantasy XVI continues the beloved series’ departure from turn-based battles to real-time action. The 16th entry returns to a classic medieval setting as a callback to the earlier games and to emphasize the growth of where it is now. Real-time action combat is the big differentiator, as it infuses role-playing elements to not alienate series newcomers. They also added larger-than-life Eikon battles that make the gameplay more grand due to the sheer scale of the quest at hand. The dark fantasy nature of this game gives roots for its mature elements to blossom and feel more connected to the world and its characters.
I thoroughly enjoyed this game due to the grandness of the journey, the epic combat scenarios, and the themes of revenge and free will. Fighting the Eikon (massive magical beings), though, had to be my favorite thing about the game. Such battles made me nostalgic for one of my favorite games, Final Fantasy IX, which also featured similarly big moments. Every spectacle had a purpose and transferred wonderfully to the gameplay as it made all points of impact all the more satisfying. The combat made me feel like I was in a big-budget action movie, tearing through every enemy that was within my sight.
While I enjoyed it, there are two reasons FFXVI doesn’t rank higher on my list. First of all, I made a combat set-up early on that clears enemies within seconds, drastically affecting how likely I was to experiment with other abilities. Secondly, I was frustrated with the main character.
Clive is a likable protagonist, but throughout the trailers, I felt like I was deceived about how he would turn out for the rest of the game. He became too perfect of a protagonist where his flaws weren’t that apparent and every big bad would be ripped to shreds the moment he faced them. He’s easily approachable and agrees whenever someone concocts a crazy plan to get him closer to his goals. I felt that the revelation of his character should have been drawn out to have a greater sense of who Clive is as a person rather than the importance of his mission. Most characters in this game suffer the same fate, and I wished I connected with them more instead of their journeys.
I recommend Final Fantasy XVI to any fans of the action-roleplaying genre who desire a gripping experience of cinematic detail and gameplay.
Platforms: PlayStation 5, PC (TBD)
9. Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and The Lost Demon
Quite the turnover from a gut-busting action game to a more personal story about everyone’s favorite Umbran witch, Bayonetta. This was a palette cleanser for me. I love action and fighting games, and Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and The Lost Demon was a great game to play in short bursts. I enjoyed learning about Bayonetta’s character growth to becoming the bad-ass witch we know today, especially since it juxtaposes against her past self. The storybook art style and ethereal atmosphere make it feel like I hopped into a fairytale pop-up book. I felt that venturing off the beaten path was always worth it. Players are treated to mesmerizing landscapes and cute costumes that are delightful callbacks to the previous entries.
The gameplay is a bit fickle for me due to the weird control scheme and the combat getting repetitive quickly. The puzzles themselves, on the other hand, are brilliantly set up as they tested my hand-eye coordination and efficiency to take the best path forward. As a result, Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and The Lost Demon has a wonderful flow state to it. The puzzles are well integrated into boss fights, the lore is sprinkled around in the correct places, and the combat is simple to pick up.
I recommend Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and The Lost Demon to cozy gamers who are looking for a break from action games but need enough to scratch that itch.
Platforms: Nintendo Switch
8. Bomb Rush Cyberfunk
My experience with this type of game started on the Game Boy Advance version of Sega’s Jet Set Radio (2000) when I was really into skateboarding games. However, I quickly fell off that version because I did not get the same fun factor from other skating games I played like Tony Hawk’s Underground series or Disney Extreme Skate Adventure.
Fast forward to 2012. I remember seeing Jet Set Radio becoming available on the PlayStation 3. I was curious to see if I felt the same from when I played it before. After spending just a couple of minutes with the game, I immediately fell in love with it. The art style was popping out from every corner. The brilliant aesthetics of a 90’s city and the music were different than anything else I had experienced in a video game.
Fast forward to this year. The feelings are mutual with the release of crowdfunded indie, Bomb Rush Cyberfunk. I was captivated by the faithfulness of the style that it was trying to emanate as the spiritual successor to Jet Set Radio. The controls are modernized to keep the free-flowing nature of the old skateboarding games while keeping the floatiness when performing tricks. The verticality of the map is also well done. There are a ton of hard-to-reach places in this game that forced me to figure out the map layout and perform crazy tricks to reach them. Learning about the map was essential to getting a high combo score when performing tricks and it allowed me to experiment with the objects around me.
The music in particular was a personal highlight. Developer Team Reptile managed to turn the dial-up on inspiration and incorporated different musical styles. I later found that they brought the original musical composer, Hideki Naganuma, from Jet Set Radio to help out, which helped explain why it felt so good.
I recommend Bomb Rush Cyberfunk to people who are looking for a great skateboarding game that does not waste time getting you into the action. I also recommend it for aspiring artists because the graffiti art in this game is on a whole other level.
Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
7. Robocop: Rogue City
My dad would play Robocop on the VCR for me whenever he got home from working long hours at his trucking job. I grew up to be a fan of the series as I got older and have rewatched the films plenty of times, catching things that I did not notice before. The grim nature is masked under the hilarity of the franchise since it’s made to be rewatchable and not be a once-in-a-lifetime watching. I felt similar when playing Robocop: Rogue City, where the cyberpunk atmosphere is eclipsed by the absurdity of the world. The NPC dialogue is probably my favorite aspect of the game–it’s a crime-ridden town and a robber will give you an economics lesson.
This comical feel translates well into the gameplay loop too, as I could grab and use my enemies as meat shields as I mercilessly tore through them with my pistol and robot armory. The gunplay is surprisingly good as well, and it rivals that of a modern shooter in many ways while giving you the options that feel in character for Robocop. The impact of hits and bullet shots is satisfying once they land, making the destruction that I caused more addicting. Rogue City bears a strong resemblance to Bethesda games; there’s a similar quest structure, often having unexpected results at the end.
Overall, if you enjoy immersive worlds with high-paced action combat and enormous detail, you’ll have a fun time. I recommend this game to any Robocop fans, anyone who wants a quality movie-titled game to play, or anyone who wants a cyberpunk world without having to deal with all the baggage of Cyberpunk 2077.
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
6. Pizza Tower
Pizza Tower is a love letter to the Wario Land series in many ways. One thing I think Pizza Tower does better than its inspiration, however, is that it throws you into the loop right at the start.
This game made me want to speedrun it (not something I do often) due to how tight and intuitive the controls are. The strongest feature of Pizza Tower is its replayability. The game is relatively short. I constantly found shortcuts to improve my clear time on a level and devise strategies to handle boss phases. I also admire the Microsoft paint-esque art style; it makes the content even more unhinged with certain characters and environments. The music is stellar; it’s packed full of leitmotifs, always creating that feeling that you are in a rush for time.
I recommend Pizza Tower to any fans of platformers and speedruns.
Platforms: PC
5. Resident Evil 4 Remake
One of my favorite games on the GameCube got a remake, and it’s terrific all the way through. I was thrilled to be transported again to rural Spain, surrounded by Gothic architecture. Being hunted by brazened villagers encompassed a familiarity with the previous entries in the series while expanding upon the world of Resident Evil. The graphics were mesmerizing because the area was dark and moody but the colors painted it as always having a way out with more options at my disposal. The Resident Evil 4 remake also doubled down on the horror elements; I was surprised by several enemies in various areas I wouldn’t have thought I’d find them.
Since I’m a big fan of the original, I was excited to see how the remake would change things up. The new combat additions (parry, roundhouse kick, etc.) were a welcome change since I am the type of person to flee from a challenging foe and then take it on and risk using my resources. Ashley’s AI is significantly improved making the escort less of a hassle since she can take care of herself while I’m exploring on my lonesome. Side quests are also a new, welcome change; it managed to double my playtime since I tend to be a completionist with the Resident Evil series.
I recommend the Resident Evil 4 remake to any horror fan as well as people who are looking to jump into the Resident Evil series.
Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad
4. Street Fighter 6
Street Fighter has always been a special series to me, as it fueled my love for the fighting game genre. With memorable characters and quarter-circle combinations to master, it quickly became one of my most played fighting game series as a child. I was undoubtedly excited about Street Fighter 6, and I’m happy to report it was an evolution on every front. Notably, I want to highlight the accessibility features it added including modern controls for people new to fighting games, customizable audio cues, and toggles for those that have low vision. Additionally, the characters are brilliantly expressed and all of them have a unique playstyle to them making it difficult to tell who is low-tier or not.
Street Fighter 6 also had a fully blown open world for its campaign where I could battle veterans of the series and random passersby. I enjoyed customizing my character to make it as nightmare-bound as possible while also sporting some moves that I gained from story mode. I can feel the developer’s love and passion for the game, which shows that they care about the series’ fans. I keep coming back to it to improve my skills and force myself to try and do more with less.
I recommend Street Fighter 6 to all the fighting game fans out there, but anyone who’s ever enjoyed a casual match on an arcade console.
Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, PC
3. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
This was probably one of my most anticipated games of the year and the game I thought most about after I completed it. In my eyes, Tears built on the success of Breath of the Wild, then ran away at full speed. I was initially skeptical about a sequel since I doubted they could do any more mind-blowing things in this version of Hyrule but somehow they did.
I couldn’t believe there were three overworld maps to explore in the game, all of which managed to run seamlessly on the Nintendo Switch. I thought it was absurd that I could attach any maneuverable object together like hot glue with the Ultrahand ability, and nine times out of ten it had an amazing outcome. Ascend allowed me to get out of caves and scale mountains with ease. Recall is my favorite out of the Link’s new powers; it allowed me to reverse the time of any given object around me or return fire that nearby enemies were shooting at me.
Flabbergasted is an understatement when talking about Tears of the Kingdom. When I looked at my total playtime hours, I knew my social life had come to an end. From the new abilities Nintendo added to soaring high in the sky and plunging deep below, the developers crafted their magnum opus by using this format. I enjoyed constructing my vehicles and weapons of chaos and made me actively seek out the world to find new parts.
I played this game a bit unconventionally–I did not have my weapons hogging the inventory, so I opted for building and smashing things on Bokoblin’s head until they died with Ultrahand. It’s simple and intuitive but also incredibly deep based on my imagination and ability to problem-solve things in my path. With the change in locales and updates to previously established characters, the magnitude of this game is incredible.
I recommend Tears of the Kingdom to any open-world enjoyer and of course, any Zelda fans who loved Breath of the Wild.
Platforms: Nintendo Switch
2. Pikmin 4
I used to play Pikmin 2 when I came home from elementary school. Pikmin was my ultimate comfort series. Naturally, I was ecstatic that the fourth entry was around the corner. I have not done any all-nighter for a game release in recent times except this one, and I wasn’t disappointed.
In Pikmin 4, the collection loop is super addictive and while the shortened aiming took some getting used to, I was already falling back in love with the series. The graphics looked super crisp for a Switch game and I found myself gazing at the water multiple times because of how detailed it looked. Whenever I did not 100% an area upon unlocking a new one, I was happy to head back to finish what I started. Pikmin 4 was also longer than I expected, which was a treat.
The introduction of Oatchi, a space dog that can serve as a secondary leader, is an element that I’d love to see in future Pikmin games. He made the game more fun and streamlined the cumbersome moments I would have found in older entries. This is the first game in the series to include every Pikmin type. While some are more useful than others, it soon became second nature to master which ones I had to bring to accomplish my task of the day. Night mode was an awesome change as it challenged me to master the art of switching back between my captain and Oatchi. The hub area and quality of life upgrades made the game more fun as well and I could fully focus on how to manage my time efficiently.
I recommend Pikmin 4 to anyone who enjoys strategy games, is a completionist, or wants to be challenged while also being comforted.
Platforms: Nintendo Switch
1. Octopath Traveler II
My Game of the Year is a title that I thought I would rank a bit lower on my list, but upon looking back, there is a plethora of things to praise about it.
First of all, the characters are more varied than their predecessors in the first Octopath Traveler. I could resonate with each character’s journey, even if some of them did not hit as close to home as others. There is increased interaction between the party members, which makes a difference in a character-focused game like this one. There’s a whole post-game story centralizing on all eight of them which culminates into one of my favorite final bosses in recent memory.
The HD-2D style is at a peak with this game. I’m impressed with how much work it must take to compact beautiful imagery into small spaces. The result is that Octopath Traveler II features rich and grand visuals that cultivate an appreciation of what was limited back in the past. The music is also on a whole other level than any game that has come out this year. The soundtrack dynamics ebb and flow brilliantly depending on the situation or an area that a character is in — all great stuff.
The developers have also improved the combat progression; when the characters are at their strongest towards the end of the game, I felt like they could tear the whole continent apart. It was incredibly satisfying. There was no shortage of content in this game whether it was exploring new landscapes, stealing from the townsfolk, or challenging villagers to a fight; it felt like an epitome of an epic adventure. The game also does not hold my hand with secrets either; it was up to me to find these on my lonesome.
The scale of Octopath Traveler II feels contemporary with other large modern role-playing games, but the pixel art provides a world that feels timeless in comparison. I feel that Octopath Traveler 2 is a love letter to role-playing games and the people who grew up playing them.
I cannot recommend Octopath Traveler II enough for role-playing game fans and enthusiasts of grand epics.
Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
Roleplaying Games in 2024
Looking at my top 10 games throughout this year, it feels like many role-playing elements have reached new peaks. I believe this progress means there’s potential for the industry to go even further beyond, which makes me super excited for the upcoming year!
