I take a ton of video game screenshots. This is partly because I need them for reviews and features like these. It’s also helpful when I’m feeling far too lazy to write a puzzle code down. The other (and more important) reason is that I love capturing singular moments in games. It’s like pulling out your camera in the presence of a beautiful sunset or taking a candid snapshot when your friends can’t stop laughing. When games evoke deep feelings, look gorgeous, or are just plain fun, I can’t help but collect the memory with a digital click!
As 2023 comes to a close, I’ve been thinking about how 2022 me had no idea just how many great games she’d get to experience in the year to come. From charming indie debuts to long-awaited sequels and remakes, I’ve collected a ton of memories, which is why I decided to create this roundup of the ones that will stick with me going into the new year.
Like opening a box of old Polaroids, I’ll reminisce on moments in video games that made me feel surprised, joyful, sad, triumphant, frightened, or a big ol’ mix of emotions. Amanda Tien said it best in her Best Video Game Cries of 2023, “I like games that make me feel stuff.” To that, I say a big, “Same!”
My Top Video Game Moments of 2023
Trek ahead with caution! This list contains spoilers for the following games: Alan Wake 2, Deathbulge: Battle of the Bands, Once Upon a Jester, Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical, and Super Mario RPG.
6. Kicking Doors in Deathbulge: Battle of the Bands
Deathbulge: Battle of the Bands is tied with Super Mario Wonder for the goofiest game I’ve played this year. In this colorful RPG, you’ll take on the role of the titular band, Deathbulge, comprised of Faye, Ian, and Briff, a loveable trio who’ve somehow stumbled into a deadly musical battle of the bands. This game is overflowing with hilarious characters, singing fish, flexing tree branches, and musical puns. Yet what I love the most about it is that you’ll never unlock, open, close, or knock on a door. No, there’s only one proper way to barge into every NPC’s home, workplace, or secret lab: give it a massive kick!
Even better, the doors don’t disappear into a mysterious game void. With every kick, you’re launching them into walls (now destroyed), televisions (also destroyed), and other doors (absolutely ruined). If you meet a door that doesn’t budge, you’ll just have to get better at kicking, by… doing more kicking!
I’ve never had a game transform something as mundane as opening doors into a compelling feature. It’s chaotic. It’s fun. It’s heavy metal, which is fitting for a game full of headbanging and guitar solos. Instead of a standalone moment of awe, Deathbulge has gifted me with several micro-moments of joy with every kick. But, fair warning, once you start kicking doors, you won’t be able to stop.
5. Saying Goodbye to Freddie in Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical
As someone who loves theater, Greek mythology, and visual novels, I knew going into Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical that I was going to love it. Not only does it push the boundaries of the genre, introducing a truly unique form of interactive fiction, but it also hits you right in the feels a lot.
While several songs made me tear up, I fully sobbed seeing Grace’s best friend Freddie in the underworld after she died. It’s a beautiful yet heartbreaking moment that I won’t forget. Freddie had been a beacon of light amid their efforts to solve the murder of Calliope, and she sacrificed herself to save Grace when the moment came. Her brightness snuffed out far too early. Of course, Grace cries seeing her again, and I join in.
There’s no way to avoid feeling the duo’s deep sadness. It just permeates through the screen. I can still hear Laura Bailey’s voice crack when she sings, “You’re irreplaceable” as Grace. My feelings were also pretty complicated at this moment. Truthfully, I was envious. She got to see Freddie again, if for a moment. They hugged and cried, moving toward peace together. In real life, we don’t get those second chances to say goodbye, apologize, or tell those we’ve lost that we’ll miss them. The scene serves as a good reminder to say the important stuff while we can.
That said, I do believe we should all have a protocol for experiencing sad fictional moments. In this case, I gave my dog a kiss on the head, told my partner I loved them, FaceTimed my mom, and made a warm cup of tea.
4. The Musical Number in Alan Wake 2
The “We Sing” chapter in Alan Wake 2 is simply iconic, so much so that its song “Herald of Darkness” was performed live at this year’s Game Awards with the whole cast present. Nothing beats seeing it in-game for the first time, though.
For me, it was quite a shock, and judging by the game’s subreddit, I’m not alone. AW2 lets you freely switch back and forth between Saga and Alan, and I chose to play as Saga for a long while before hopping back into the Dark Place to continue Alan’s part of the story. I had just finished a pretty intense boss fight (more on that later in this list), so I wasn’t prepared for a full-blown theatrical number, complete with choreography, bright lights, and dramatic monologues.
Playing AW2 really is a rollercoaster of emotions. One moment, you’re completely terrified, and the next, you’re laughing because Sam Lake is dancing on an oversized screen while you try to find your way out of a musical loop. Things get a bit more absurd when the game gives you the Flare Gun from the original game and sends Taken running after you mid-song. But I’m not complaining. It rocked, literally!
Plus, this song is an absolute earworm. If you’re not singing, “Show me the Champion of Light, I’ll show you the Herald of Darkness!” after playing this chapter, could you teach me your ways? It’s been stuck in my head for a month now, and the moment I think it’s gone, it returns.
3. (Almost) Meeting Mayor Gieregruit in Once Upon a Jester
Once Upon a Jester is a hidden gem that I always recommend if you want a game that is guaranteed to make you laugh. Playing as Jester, you’ll team up with your best friend Sok to pull off a once-in-a-lifetime heist to steal the Royal Diamond. To do so, you’ll start your very own improv theater act, creating silly stories, using various props, and performing your hearts out to receive standing ovations. The more flower bouquets you receive, the closer you get to being invited to the royal palace.
Although I first played this game in 2022, I replayed it in 2023 because it’s a nice bite-sized way to have some lighthearted fun. I loved rediscovering all my favorite moments a second time around, one of which was (almost) meeting the Mayor of Stad City.
The infamous Mayor Gieregruit is introduced with an epic, 30-second song, which you can listen to here. The camera zooms in on his tiny character, as he slowly approaches Sok and Jester. A candle-holding choir appears from nowhere and joins in alongside the electric guitar and drums to really make this entrance as dramatic as possible. He then uses his cane like a pogo stick to hop up the stairs, music still going, of course. Finally, he makes it to Sok and Jester, and is promptly smushed by Jerry Jeremy, the radio host of Stad City.
As you might’ve guessed from this description, Once Upon a Jester’s humor is rather quirky and occasionally strays into dark humor. It’s also jam-packed with puns. Most of the hilarity is much more lighthearted than Mayor Gieregruit’s quick demise, but that one moment never fails to make me laugh.
2. Defeating Jonathan Jones in the Super Mario RPG Remake
What I love about the rise in remakes lately is that I get the opportunity to play classic games for the first time. Super Mario RPG is full of great moments, from participating in Yoshi Races to crashing Booster’s wedding. It also comes with several challenges, whether it’s hunting for every hidden treasure or trying to get Mario’s super suit.
I wouldn’t say the game is particularly tough, but one fight did leave me stumped. In the Sunken Ship level, the shark Jonathan Jones (also known as Johnny) is holding one of the Star Pieces you need, but this isn’t your typical boss fight. After defeating his minions, the encounter turns into a 1v1 between Johnny and Mario. I’m not kidding when I say I died so many times. His attacks were impossible to block, and his HP seemed endless.
Stubbornly, I kept trying. When that didn’t work, I decided to level up my party more, and that extra effort helped! With more damage and precise blocks, I managed to take Johnny down solo. I felt so triumphant after finishing the fight, considering how many times I failed. Imagine my surprise when I finally looked it up online, just to see if anyone else struggled as much as I did, and discovered you could leave one of his minions alive to avoid the 1v1.
A bit frustrating? Yes. But I’ve included this on my list because I love that I did it the “wrong” way or, more accurately, the difficult way. It’s honestly been a minute since I’ve just let myself naturally work through confusing moments in games. In an era where we can just look up nearly everything from beginner guides to detailed level walkthroughs, this moment took me back to simpler times.
1. Evading Cynthia Weaver in Alan Wake 2
As mentioned above, before I stumbled into Alan Wake 2’s unforgettable musical, I was working my way through what I consider the game’s scariest chapter, Return 5: Old Gods. If I were Saga exploring the Vahalla Nursing Home, and happened upon an older woman who disappears, knocks out the lights, and makes me travel down to a dark basement, I would run away so fast. Sorry, Casey, Alan, and everyone else. It’s not worth it!
This being a video game, though, I persevered and ventured into the Overlap. I knew I was approaching a boss fight, just like Nightingale and the duo, Mulligan and Thorton. Those weren’t bad at all, aside from losing nearly all my ammo against Nightingale. So, following Cynthia Weaver’s voice down a series of dark, flooded tunnels would be business as usual. Or so I thought.
Cynthia chased me underwater while I desperately tried to find a generator to turn the lights on. The tension of running from platform to platform while I could hear the frantic splashing of water behind me was terrifying. It was even worse when she actually managed to grab me. Though it’s my most panicky moment of the year, I can’t deny that it was also one of my most memorable moments.
AW2 is a superb horror experience that became my game of the year instantly, hence why it made it on this list twice. I’m definitely excited to see what Remedy does next.
Tethering the Snapshots
After collecting these moments together, I’ve realized that many of these titles are connected by a shared love of music. In fact, Baldur’s Gate 3 Music Director Borislav Slavov noted recently that “We are witnessing a true renaissance of video game music.” I think the games I’ve played are great evidence of this.
Whether it’s Once Upon a Jester’s silly songs or Stray God’s heartfelt ballads, I can’t get enough of musical numbers. Sometimes they match the tone the gameplay has set, and other times serve as a stark contrast. Alan Wake 2’s enhanced the strangeness of the experience, for instance, whereas Deathbulge’s added to the unhinged fun, pairing well with all the door-kicking shenanigans.
When we look back on games, sometimes the first thing that comes to mind is the music. Instrumental Final Fantasy songs were some of my most-played tracks of the year on my Spotify Wrapped, bringing me back to several memories with each listen. I also recall Rakuen taking a top spot in 2020. And if there’s anything I know for sure, it’s that “Herald of Darkness” is going to be one of my top songs of 2024. As I tuck away this metaphorical box of video game Polaroids, I’m grateful for this year of music, but I’m also thankful for the wide range of experiences 2023 brought me. And the best thing about discovering cool, impactful moments in games is sharing them with others.
Several of these titles listed probably would have flown under my radar if I didn’t resolve at the end of 2022 to play more horror and visual novels, and connect with more people who love video games, as many of them were recommended to me by new friends. Looking back, it’s fitting that Coffee Talk Episode 2, a game about connecting with others over a warm drink, is how I found The Punished Backlog where lovely, thoughtful conversations are easy to come by. I haven’t been here long, but I’m already looking forward to capturing more moments in 2024 and sharing them all with you.
