This list is based on a points system tallying up the individual Game of the Year lists of the DualShockers editorial team, which we’vewritten throughout December.
Ooof,wow, did you just see that year in gaming that went by? There’s a strong case to be made that we’ve never experienced one quite like it, with an impressive depth of glorious, glossy triple-A games, and artful, enveloping indie games giving us gamers an incredible amount of fun to chew on.
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Beyond that, it’s been great seeing what you could call ‘B’ or ‘Double-A’ games rising up and rubbing shoulders with some of the big names this year. It wasn’t so long ago that it looked like that tier of games might be dying out. While we still need to be wary ofthe damage caused to these games and the studiosthat make them byprofligate companies like Embracer, we should also celebrate their successes.
So yes, what a year it’s been. Now read on for our definitive list of the top 25 games of 2023. It’s been a hell of a ride, and it’s a mighty fine read too.
25Assassin’s Creed Mirage
True Stealth Combat Returns
Kyle:Like many fans of the series, I’ve had a bumpy relationship withAssassin’s Creed. Although I loved Valhalla,I was skepticalofMirage’returning to its roots,' as Ubisoft put it. But I was pleasantly surprised by how much I missed those classic stealth elements that Assassin’s Creed does so well.
Alongside some returning features, such as the ability to quickly jump into a crowd and sneakily disappear, Mirage has plenty of new mechanics that allow you to play however you want. Want to distract the guards by paying some civilians to start a riot? You got it. How about slipping your way into a fortress by locating some unfinished building work? Go for it. There are multiple different ways to approach missions, with each one making me feel like a true master assassin.
Mirage feels like it could be a current-gen remake of the original Assassin’s Creed, and that’s not a bad thing. The story answers plenty of questions set up byValhalla, whilst also returning the series to that classic stealth action of the series' earlier years. Parkour is fast, fluid, and fun, whilst the combat finally allows for a more stealthy approach that was sorely lacking in Valhalla.
Assassin’s Creed Mirage
24Ghostrunner 2
Neon Apocalypse
Jack:Ghostrunner 2impressed me when Ireviewed ita couple of months ago, earning it a high place inmy own game of the year ranking. While I was aware of the original, Ghostrunner 2’s quality caught me off guard. In addition to amazing fast-paced action, the narrative elements elevated the experience for me.
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There’s a satisfying amount of skill expression in Ghostrunner 2 — you have access to numerous tools that can be used in creative ways to pick off large groups of enemies. All the while, Jack (the game’s hero, not yours truly) is providing deadpan comic relief through his interactions with other characters. Also, the motorbikerocks.
Ghostrunner 2
23Dave The Diver
A Diving Extravaganza
Kyle:Dave The Diververy well could have been my game of the year, had it not been such a jam-packed year. Not only does it mash multiple genres together, it does them all incredibly well.
By day, you’ll explore the depths of the mysterious Blue Hole. But by night, you’ll sell your catches at Bancho’s sushi restaurant, with multiple mini-games and management sections to keep things entertaining. If that wasn’t enough for you, Dave The Diver is also an RPG that allows you to uncover and assist an ancient civilization found deep underwater.
Dave the Diver
22Season: A Letter To The Future
Quiet Moments Speak Loudly
Rachael:Sometimes, you need to take a little break from the madness of the world and dip into a game that offers up a mindful experience. For someone who loves a good story in games,Season: A Letter to the Futureallows its quiet moments to do the speaking and for me to just listen, without expectations, as I explored who Estelle was and the cultures she uncovered.
Its post-war world is rippling with cultural and agricultural life, which makes it a vibrant and vivid playground for discovery — perfect for the countless pictures taken, journal entries, and relaxing bike rides. There are no cars, bustling cities, or noisy neighborhoods, which only adds to its magical, yet peaceful mystery.I thoroughly enjoyed every inch of what Season had to offerand will undoubtedly be replaying it again throughout 2024.
Our own Jeff thought the game was great too, giving it 8.6 inhis glowing review, saying"it offered a strange peace that was, all at once, a somber experience — one full of joy, sorrow, laughter, and regret."
Season: A Letter to the Future
21Remnant 2
Root Out Corruption With Friends
Jeff:Remnant: From The Ashesoffered a brutal butfun soulslike challengewith guns. It was a bit rough around the edges, but the world stones and the portals into different settings offered exciting ways to explore a variety of locations filled with deadly enemies.Remnant 2took everything the first game did well and enhanced it, smoothing out those rough edges andbringing an overall more refined touch to this unique offering.
The game works well enough as a solo experience, but where it truly shines is in the fun and chaos of co-op with friends. Even without a pal along for the journey, you’ll venture through several alien locations, collecting parts from a diverse range of bosses, and craft increasingly cool weaponry on your journey to wipe the Root from existence.
The game works well enough as a solo experience, but where it truly shines is in the fun and chaos of co-op with friends.
The story can be a bit cheesy and cryptic at times, but the true enjoyment of the game is in its replayability, as every level can be randomized, adding a freshness to retreading the same areas over and over again. The portal-based setup offers a great premise to continue adding new worlds to the mix viaits excellent DLC; here’s hoping for a long life ahead for this game.
20Hogwarts Legacy
A Magical Adventure Awaits
Kyle:It might not be perfect, butHogwarts Legacyquickly became one of my favorite games of this year. Inmy review, I praised the game’s immensely detailed and immersive world, as well as its plethora of quests and mini-games.
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Hogwarts Legacy does exactly what you’d want a game set in the Harry Potter universe to do: make you feel like a witch or wizard in the world of J.K. Rowling’s creation. There are plenty of classes to attend (all with their own entertaining mini-games), mysteries to uncover, spells to learn, and places to explore. Whether you want to buy a new broom from Ollivanders or battle a troll in the forbidden forest, Hogwarts Legacy has it all.
Hogwarts Legacy
19The Outlast Trials
Trial By Electric Wire
Rob:I’m glad to see this madcap co-op horror gauntlet make it onto the list, which I suspect is largely propelled by the fact that it unexpectedly became something of an after-hours office game for Jack, Kyle, and I. I liked it so much, in fact, thatI even spoke to the devs about it.
The Outlast Trialsis jumpy, it’s jolty, and has an excellent loop of stealthily sneaking to complete your objectives before all hell breaks loose and your seemingly tight team cravenly scatters in all directions. It’s full ofcool creepy tricks,armwrestling mini-games, and with the right support, it could go on to become something quite special as it sprints out of Early Access.
The Outlast Trials
18Hi-Fi Rush
Rock & Robots
Matthew S: Dropping onto the scene in January out of absolutely nowhere,Hi-Fi Rushwas a great start to an amazing year of gaming. The story is centered on our hero Chai being labeled as a defect by an evil corporation for having his music player accidentally embedded in his chest while he’s being fitted with a cybernetic prosthetic arm, and if that sentence didn’t melt your brain, the guitar riffs might, because beating bad robotsto the beat of the musicis a great time.
…the flashy visual presentation is one any rock star would be proud to set their music to.
An absolutely thumping soundtrack featuring acts like Nine Inch Nails, The Black Keys, and Fiona Apple makes this rhythm-enhanced brawler even more memorable. Plus, the flashy visual presentation is one any rock star would be proud to set their music to.
Hi-Fi Rush
17Octopath Traveler 2
JRPG Excellence
Jack:I’ll say it —Octopath Traveler 2is slept on. This isn’t a genre bias — I’m not even a prolific JRPG player — but Octopath 2 has been one of my best gaming experiences of the year. The concept of an ensemble cast with branching stories is a surprisingly novel type of storytelling in video games.
The voice acting, original soundtrack, mesmerizing art style, and unique narrative combine to produce the gold standard of the genre. As I progressed through the story, I became attached to all eight main characters; it’s an emotional story and a truly special game.
Octopath Traveler 2
16Pikmin 4
A Pint-Sized Juggernaut
Matthew O.: Nobody does joy and nostalgia quite like Nintendo.Pikmin 4is a success on all levels. It’s a delight to be stranded once again, this time rescuing fellow travelers. The addition of our adorable pup makes for a wonderful twist on traversal and combat, and the game does a fantastic job of mixing challenge with family-friendly fun. While the credits may roll relatively quickly, there’s so much more to do. That back half of the content is where you’ll find more challenging tasks.
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Choosing which Pikmin to use for the day adds a wonderful element of strategy to the game. And, while choosing the wrong Pikmin can sometimes be punishing, it always feels fair. This is all to say that Pikmin 4 perfectly balances its challenges without ever losing sight of the fun factor. Nintendo has created a masterpiece of a sequel with stunning visuals and beautiful sound design. I’ve never been happier to blow that iconic whistle to rally the little fellows.
