A YEAR that delivered both Elden Ring and two new Pokémon games feels like one that’s hard to top.
Yet, game studios are preparing to outdo even 2022, with a stellar lineup of games ready for 2023.
Tears of the Kingdom was voted the most anticipated release at The Game Awards.
This list is by no means extensive, but these are the games we’re most looking forward to being released in the upcoming year.
Here are the games we’re most looking forward to playing in 2023.
Starfield
Todd Howard called Starfield, “more than just Skyrim in space”, but if it is just Skyrim in space, that doesn’t make us any less excited.
We know very little about the gameplay, which is fairly normal for Bethesda games, seeing as how they have never got Skyrim to run perfectly, even the text version on Amazon Alexa.
Despite all these hesitations, we still can’t wait to get our hands on Starfield. We want to fly through space and take out space basements filled with hoards of space rats.
The thing is, even if Starfield isn’t “Skyrim in space”, it was still developed by the people who made Skyrim, which means it’s likely to be pretty good.
Redfall
Xbox fans were left a little wanting by Xbox’s collection of 2022 first-party games, and no, don’t remind us about Scorn.
But 2023 is already looking a little more promising, as Redfall joins Starfield for an impressive lineup.
If you are old enough to remember Left 4 Dead, the better prequel to Back 4 Blood, then Redfall is much like that but everyone’s a vampire.
It’s always good to liven up the tired-out zombie shooter formula, so this one is going to be better because everyone can now do magic.
Spider-Man 2
Spider-Man for PS4 is perhaps one of the best superhero games of all time and we’ve all been eagerly awaiting the sequel.
We did get Miles Morales a few years later, but how good it was only left us hungry for more.
Frankly, it’s just fun to web-sling your way around the city, so we’re excited about our next big Peter Parker adventure.
The fact that the sequel will have both Miles and Peter is just the icing on the cake.
Hollow Knight Silksong
Hollow Knight is one of the best Metroidvania’s of all time, and the amazing pacing and level design is backed up by a stunning art style and world.
It feels so good to jump, dash and strike with your knight in battles that last a few turns but are tough to take on.
We’ve heard very little of Silksong since its announcement, to the point where people now think it might be just a collective fantasy.
But we’re all hungry for more Hollow Knight, and good things come to those who wait.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Breath of the Wild broke the industry in the same way that Dark Souls did many moons ago.
Since its release, games have been compared to Breath of the Wild almost as many times as they’ve been called ‘The Dark Souls of…’ and that’s quite a high standard to hit.
Tears of the Kingdom has that standard to hit too, only as a sequel it’s supposed to surpass it.
Will the industry be broken once again? We’re hoping 2023 brings the goods.
Master Detective Archives: Rain Code
Our last pick may be a little niche, but a new IP from the creators of Danganronpa is hard to not get excited for.
The first trailer gave us that same feeling we had when we first booted up Danganronpa, and we’re glad the team finished the series at three games as promised.
However, we’ll always want more murder mysteries with shocking twists and that’s where the excitement for the new IP comes into play.
We’ll be keeping an eye on this one for another cult hit.
Written by Oliver Brandt and Georgina Young on behalf of GLHF.
