With the year flying by, we’ll be recapping the best games of 2023 before we know it. So why not get a head start? With the year already two months in, a surprising amount of games have been released. Five titles, in particular, stand out above the rest.
We’ve also compiled a list of the best indie games of 2023 thus far.
Metroid Prime Remastered
An early contender for game of the year. Metroid Prime Remastered takes an already near-perfect game and refines it to an immaculate shine.
One of the quirks of the Nintendo GameCube classic is the control scheme. However, thanks to reworked handling by Retro Studios and the introduction of a modern control set-up, one of Metroid Prime’s only flaws is eradicated. Coupled with a visual overhaul and a gameplay formula that has stood the test of time, it’s easy to see why Metroid Prime Remastered is one of the best games of 2023.
Hi-Fi Rush
A huge departure from what you’d expect from developer Tango Gameworks pays off in spades.
Hi-Fi Rush is a delightful rhythm-based action game. Surprisingly, there’s a lot of depth found beyond the game’s main hook. Characters are extremely fleshed out.
The game’s personality is ripped straight from your favorite Saturday Morning Cartoons. It results in a warm and comforting feeling from a game that stands out in a crowd of sameness.
Persona 3 Portable and Persona 4 Golden
Is it cheating to include some of the best JRPGs ever made on our list of best games of 2023 thus far? Possibly, but we don’t care. Persona 3 and 4 are finally playable on Xbox and Nintendo consoles.
While the older Persona titles feel dated compared to Persona 5, they’re still worthy of your time. In addition, a new audience can discover some of the greatest games ever made thanks to their re-releases.
Dead Space
The spiritual successor to Dead Space, Callisto Protocol, didn’t fare too well. However, the remake of the beloved survival horror game Dead Space is a much better time.
Dead Space’s 2023 remake by EA Motive is everything fans could have ever dreamed of. Like Metroid Prime Remastered, the studio uses the remake and remaster to enhance the original experience we already know and love. This is the experience we all remember from Dead Space, only now it’s fully realized.
Theatrhythm Final Bar Line
Honestly, I waffled back and forth between a couple of final options. But ultimately, I went with Theatrhythm to close out our list of the best games of 2023 so far.
Theatrhythm Final Bar Line is more than just the latest entry in the musical rhythm series from Square Enix. Instead, it’s a celebration of all things Final Fantasy. The impressive amount of content means you’ll be playing songs repeatedly, continually discovering something new. Between the deep cuts and most popular musical tracks, there’s something for everyone to love in Final Bar Line.
Wrapping Up
Choosing just five entries for our best games of 2023 thus far was tough. Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition for Xbox is an incredible port of the RTS franchise. Octopath Traveler II is a classic JRPG for the modern era. Fire Emblem Engage features more fantastic tactical strategy gameplay the series is known for.
But hey, only five games can make the list. Do you agree? Disagree? Sound off in the comments below.
