Favorite Games in 2023

I was originally going to talk about my favorite moments that happened this year in games but like half of them would have just been AC6 spoilers, so instead here are my favorite games I played in 2023.

Alan Wake 2

What Twin Peaks is to Alan Wake, then Twin Peaks: The Return is to Alan Wake 2. Expectations are subverted, new tricks were learned and are executed against the player, shit goes from 0 to 60mph instantly. AW2 is not for anyone who didn't take something away from the original. Remedy makes no apology or concession to this point, and I respect that.

Armored Core VI: The Fires of Rubicon

I expect that AC6 will amass a following over time with the general consensus being something to the effect of "why didn't I play this masterpiece back in 2023? Oh yeah, Baldur's Gate 3..." I was so moved that I wrote about AC6 earlier this year.

Cobalt Core

Incredibly charming. To say Cobalt Core is greater than the sum of its parts is in error; it's a masterfully crafted watch, with each piece precisely crafted and engineered to deliver consistency and perfection. Just fantastic scoping and execution.

Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising

A newcomer to the list due to releasing in mid-Dec., I've been having so much more fun with Granblue than I did trying to get into SF6. The skills, the modern controls, and liberal meter charging make for fun and frantic fights.

Grounded

Very fun with friends. I wouldn't have thought that a survival game that evoked my childhood would actually be fun and not triggering, but Grounded somehow managed to avoid summon any specters of my trauma.

Overwatch 2

It feels like I am one balance change away from shelving OW2 like some of the other live service games I've washed my hands of this year. From a balance perspective, I'm not confident that the designers can fix some of the inherent and foundational issues of the game. I almost quit at launch because Support, my role of choice, was food for tanks. They gave Supports more HP regeneration and now DPS and Tank players complain that Supports are too difficult to kill and they do way too much damage.

For now, the game is fun especially when queuing with donut. I enjoy the chess match of cooldowns and counter-picks that no other team based game really offers currently.

Remnant II

Much more accessible than the first Remnant with more interesting builds seemingly unique to an action RPG, Remnant II is the closest we'll ever get to a Dark Tower game, and that'd be fine by me.

Scarlet Hollow

I shoud've waited for Black Tabby Games to release all the chapters before starting Scarlet Hollow, as my only complaint is the time between releases. Fun characters, writing, and a story that's leaving me guessing with each new revelation.

Sea of Stars

Another charming title for 2023. Like The Messenger, this one overstays its welcome if you go about being a completionist, but the overall journey is enjoyable with some of the most heartfelt story beats and lovable characters of the year.

Spelunky

The daily challenge seed in Spelunky is still one of the best asynchronous methods of play in games and it meshes well with how I wind down for the day. I started back on Spelunky daily challenge this year, maybe in part to fill a Destiny sized hole. I strive to get to Hell and if I mess that up I can end the run and find something else, otherwise a full run goes for 30-40 min.

The Last Spell

Roguelite wave-based survival with tactical RPG elements is a fun mix, but damn The Last Spell is tough. I'm honestly not sure that I'll ever be able to complete it.

Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun

Boltgun is the best remake of Quake that I didn't know I wanted. Everything comes together thematically to realize the fantasy of being a brainwashed super soldier with no tolerance. The titular boltgun is a blast to use and on my shortlist of favorite video game weapons.