Gamers are just realising that 2023 is the best ever year for video games – here’s what’s topping the list

MULTIPLE games have been released this year that have been a big hit with fans and critics alike.

There are a huge 42 games that have scored more than 80/100 on review aggregate site Metacritic.


Gamers are just realising that 2023 is the best ever year for video games – here’s what’s topping the list
Street Fighter 6 is one of the best games of the year.

This excludes ports to new consoles released this year, such the excellent Monster Hunter Rise on PS5 (88) and Moss Book 2 for PS VR2 (90).

The list also excludes some of the excellent DLC packs that have been released this year, including Xenoblade Chronicles 3: Expansion Pass Wave 4 (92), Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania (88), and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: Booster Course Pass – Wave 4 (85).

Nintendo takes the top two spots this year with Tears of the Kingdom and Metroid Prime.

Capcom is not far behind, with Street Fighter 6 and the Resident Evil 4 remake.

Indie games have also been stepping up this year, with multiple games holding an 80+ rating.

The highest-rated indie of the year is A Space for the Unbound, a slice of life adventure set in Indonesia.

Here are all the 80+ rated games released this year.

  • 95
    • The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
  • 94
    • Metroid Prime Remastered
  • 93
    • Street Fighter 6
    • Resident Evil 4 remake
  • 92
    • Diablo 4
  • 90
    • Persona 4 Golden remastered
  • 89
    • Dead Space 
    • Hi-Fi Rush
  • 87
    • Hogwarts Legacy
    • Theatrhythm Final Bar Line
    • Persona 3 Portable remastered
  • 86
    • The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure
    • A Space for the Unbound
    • Octopath Traveller 2
  • 85
    • Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
    • Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End and the Secret Key
    • Humanity 
    • Labyrinth of Galleria: The Moon Society
  • 84
    • The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog
    • Dredge
  • 83
    • The Last Clockwinder
    • Cassette Beasts 
    • Age of Wonders 4
  • 82
    • Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus and Butterfly
    • Advance Wars 1+2 ReBoot Camp
    • MLB The Show 23
    • The Last Spell
    • Paranormasight
    • The Mageseeker: A League of Legends Story
    • Darkest Dungeon 2
    • WWE 2K23
  • 81
    • Everspace 2
    • Planet of Lana
    • OTXO
    • Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon
    • Tin Hearts
    • Like A Dragon: Ishin!
    • Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty
    • Honkai: Rail Star
  • 80
    • Season: A Letter to the Future
    • Fire Emblem Engage
    • Bramble: The Mountain
    • Wildfrost

Written by Georgina Young on behalf of GLHF.