5 Best Games of 2023

2023 is going to go down as one of the best years in gaming in quite some time. There have been quality releases across the board on all platforms, but when it comes to the top of the pile, there are some horror remakes, a superhero sequel, and a surprising entry that got our vote for the best experiences of 2023:

Resident Evil 4 Remake

Platforms: Xbox Series X/S | PS5 | PS4 | PC

If you played the original, you’ll love shooting and surviving your way through this vastly improved nightmarish rescue mission of Leon Kennedy that makes up RE 4′s plot. And if you haven’t ever played Resident Evil 4, you’re in for a treat, given that this is one of the best survival horror experiences around, which has now been given a healthy dose of ninth-generation gaming magic.

Assassin’s Creed: Mirage

Platforms: Xbox Series X/S | PS5 | Xbox One | PS4 | PC

Assassin’s Creed: Mirage is exactly what the franchise has been needing to remind longtime fans and newcomers about what made Assassin’s Creed so great in the first place. It rests on a lot of the foundations of the most acclaimed entries, but adds in modern twists, streamlines the experience, and eliminates the frustrating elements which crept in over the years. There are the odd sticky parkour moments and some of the in-engine cutscenes seem awkward and out of place, but overall, Mirage is the perfect example of why sometimes less is more, and often better.

Dead Space Remake

Platforms: Xbox Series X/S | PS5 | PC

Everything that made the original Dead Space isn’t lost with the game’s rebuild. The atmosphere, tension, and relentlessly enjoyable limb-chopping combat are all turned up to 11 thanks to the new visuals, improved controls, and modern enhancements. This is a remake done right, perching Dead Space right next to that of the Resident Evil 2 remake as a nostalgic homecoming worthy of your attention.

Spider-Man 2

Platforms: PS5

Much Like Sam Raimi’s 2004 big-screen sequel, Spider-Man 2, the follow-up to Marvel and Insomniac’s brilliant 2018 Spider-Man game feels like a second chapter and continuation of what made the first game great, without taking too many drastic risks that could hurt an already excellent formula. It focuses heavily on progressing the story of this shaken-up Spider-Man lore rather than overhauling the gameplay. With that said, there have been some slight refinements to how you traverse around the city and can tinker with combat that will throw some curveballs to fans of the first game.

Hi-Fi Rush

Platforms: Xbox Series X/S | Xbox One | PC

Hi-Fi Rush is not only one of the best games of 2023, but it was also a massive surprise, which makes the experience even better. While Hi-Fi Rush comes from the same team that brought us the horror of The Evil Within, the game is the complete opposite experience, delivering a super-colourful, rhythm-based hack-‘n-slash action game that has a punchy soundtrack, stellar visuals, and an interesting gameplay loop.

Honourable mentions: Dead Island 2, Starfield, Final Fantasy 16.