2023 is shaping up to be possibly one of the greatest years in video game history. As 2022 comes to a close and we move on from masterpieces like Elden Ring and God of War: Ragnarök that were released this year, I and other Temple of Geek staff talk about 23 games coming in 2023 that we’re excited for!
Minor spoiler warning for some games.
Fire Emblem Engage
I’ll level with you: I’m a Fire Emblem newbie. Aside from a handful of entries on the 3DS and maining Lucina in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, my experience with the franchise is next to none. Having said that, I am a fan of tactical RPGs in the vein of this game and Triangle Strategy. Fire Emblem Engage looks promising as a newer player, with returning characters from past entries and familiar characters from Smash. The reason why this makes my list (aside from completely missing out on Three Houses) is because of its deep tactical gameplay. Figuring out the right strategy and learning your enemy’s weakness is at the forefront of Fire Emblem battles, and I’m hoping Engage sucks me in.
Release Date: January 20, 2023.
Platforms: Nintendo Switch.
Forspoken
Forchy says:
Forspoken is a 3rd-person, high-mobility, open world action-RPG with stunning magic and graphics. After playing the demo earlier this year I was impressed by its gameplay and it made me significantly more optimistic than I was before getting hands-on with it. I do have some concerns about monster placement and how alive the world feels, but given that demos are always based on older builds, the issues I saw were the type that could easily be patched up by launch. Forspoken is being developed at a new studio called Luminous Productions that is composed of many staffers that worked on high-profile projects from Square Enix like the Final Fantasy franchise. Notably, the game also includes talented writers like Gary Whitta (Rogue One) and Amy Hennig (Uncharted franchise).
Release Date: January 24, 2023.
Platforms: PS5, PC.
Dead Space
Holly says:
Nightmares await in the Dead Space remake. With what we know so far, it seems like the remake will be true to the original in both visual and gameplay style but with everything turned right up to 11. This is exactly what I hoped for.
New mechanics keep the game fresh for familiar players, such as the disgusting “peeling” that exposes the innards of the necromorphs and worst of all (for me) is the no-win scenario of being forced to route power away from either the lights or life support. This really brings a whole new level of terror to the game. Being forced into only bad choices like this is so scary that I already know it will be a game that I can only play with the lights on. The new gameplay footage shows off just how incredible this game looks. When I picture Dead Space, the remake lines up so perfectly with the image in my mind’s eye it’s almost like it has always looked this way. The environment is super detailed in the most beautiful yet horrific way, causing the USG Ishimura to truly become a fully realized nightmare. I’m so excited yet petrified to be able to step back into Isaac’s clumpy boots to once again face the terror of the necromorphs.
Release Date: January 27, 2023.
Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC.
Hogwarts Legacy
This is a childhood dream come true. We’ve all patiently waited for our Hogwart’s letters, and they’ve finally arrived in the form Hogwarts Legacy, a gorgeous, deep open world RPG. Controversy aside, this game is very high on my priority list for 2023. As a fan of the wizarding world since its inception, this early prequel to the Harry Potter books promises to help fulfill many of the fantasies I had as kid while reading them; riding broomsticks and Hippogriffs, brewing potions, wizarding duels, and conversing with living portraits, among many, many others. Hogwarts Legacy is a game I’ve dreamed of since childhood, and will be taking up a lot of my time when we can play it in February.
Release Date: February 10, 2023.
Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, PC.
Atomic Heart
Forchy says:
Atomic Heart looks fantastic, like a modern BioShock made by a relatively unknown developer named Mundfish. Its a retro-futuristic sci-fi game taking place in a seemingly robotic post-apocalypse. Your character fights for their lives using guns, melee weapons and strange powers that allow you to toss enemies around and other things.
Release Date: February 21, 2023.
Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC.
Octopath Traveller II
If you’re like me and you can’t let the 8-bit, turned-based nostalgia of the SNES-era go, then you probably loved Octopath Traveller. If you’re still like me, then you’re also super excited for its sequel. Sporting Square Enix’s signature HD-2D style, Octopath Traveller II promises to build on the amazing nostalgia-factory of the first entry. The game features new mechanics like a day/ night cycle for added depth and role-playing opportunities. My biggest hope for this game is that the eight protagonists’ individual storylines converge in a more meaningful, cohesive way, which is what I feel was the original’s biggest downfall.
Release Date: February 24, 2023.
Platforms: PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, PC.
Skull and Bones
After many delays, Ubisoft’s pirate adventure Skull and Bones is finally releasing in 2023. Aside from games like Sea of Thieves, gamers are fairly starved for a truly swashbuckling pirate game. Skull and Bones aims to change that with its detailed sailing and looting mechanics, alongside light life-sim and RPG-elements. I’ve had my eye on this for awhile now, and hope the game delivers the experience I’ve been looking for when it comes out in March.
Release Date: March 9, 2023.
Platforms: Amazon Luna, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Danielle says:
The trailer promises a grittier look into Cal’s feelings about the empire and his place in the fight against such a powerful regime. I’m looking forward to exploring this part of his character and seeing how he works alongside the powerful antagonist. I’m also hopeful that the extended fighting options make the boss challenges more versatile and less repetitive. Finally, given that Saw Gerrera made an appearance in Fallen Order, I’m also hoping for some fun inclusions of other familiar characters!
Release Date: March 17, 2023.
Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC.
Resident Evil 4
Revered by many (including myself) as one of the greatest games ever made, the original Resident Evil 4 still holds up to this day. And while I’m glad for this reimagining, I would have preferred Capcom let this one stew for a few more years and instead remade Resident Evil: Code Veronica . Who knows? Maybe that’s next on their list. But having said that, Resident Evil 4 remake is high up on my most anticipated list of games for 2023. Judging by what we’ve seen so far, the remake promises a faithful reinterpretation of the original, from atmosphere to solid gunplay. This is definitely one to set aside time for.
Release Date: March 24, 2023.
Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC.
Dead Island 2
Simmering in development hell for years, Deep Silver’s Dead Island 2 finally has a release date. Taking place in and around Los Angeles, the game brings back the big, dumb fun zombie slaying and crazy weapons from the previous installments. I’m curious to see if the sequel has many, if any, story ties to the first game, which has deep enough lore to make me crave more over the years, but I’m still excited to just run through the streets of LA choppin’ limbs off with my homemade chainsaw-baseball bat hybrid… thing.
Release Date: April 28, 2023.
Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
This is sure to be at the forefront of many peoples’ game of the year discussions in 2023. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is widely regarded as one of Nintendo’s G.O.A.T.s, so the sequel is sure to be of the same caliber. The beautiful, ambient open world returns, but this time Link takes to the skies and possibly time travels. Story details have been hush-hush, with the developers wanting to hold off on revealing the full title because it contains story hints. Does Zelda die? Does Link? Does the kingdom grow actual tear ducts and literally cry, flooding Hyrule and lead into The Wind Waker?? Ok, that’s doubtful, but with land masses floating in the sky and talk of time travel, it isn’t out of the realm of possibility that this game has deeper ties to past entries in the series like Skyward Sword or Ocarina of Time. Anyway, be sure to clear your schedules in May when this finally releases. I know I will.
Release Date: May 12, 2023.
Platforms: Nintendo Switch.
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League
To be entirely honest, I’m a bit lukewarm on this one. After the disappointing launch of Gotham Knights, I’m afraid that Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is fated to underdeliver. A saving grace for this title, however, is that it takes place within the Arkham-verse, taking place after 2015’s Batman: Arkham Knight. We’ve seen so far in the trailers that the villain Brainiac has invaded earth and is controlling members of the Justice League, leaving the fate of the planet to the Suicide Squad. The game will offer up to 4-player cooperative gameplay featuring playable characters Harley Quinn, Deadshot, Captain Boomerang, and King Shark. This game also features the final vocal performance of Kevin Conroy as Batman. I’m going to give this game an honest try but am tempering my expectations significantly, but I’m ready to be pleasantly surprised.
Release Date: May 26, 2023.
Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC.
Street Fighter 6
After having sat out the two previous entries in Capcom’s celebrated fighting game franchise, I’m eager to return with Street Fighter 6. Announced earlier this June, Street Fighter 6 builds upon the tried-and-true fighting formula with new and returning World Warriors. As a filthy casual, I’m mostly hyped for the game’s deeply immersive single-player campaign called “World Tour” (canonically taking place after Third Strike), which sees players create their own fighter and rise through the ranks of Metro City’s underground. The art style is incredible and the soundtrack slaps, so this is sure to go down in the fighting game genre’s book of all-time greats.
Release Date: June 2, 2023.
Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC.
Diablo IV
I was already hyped for Diablo IV, but after witnessing Halsey’s performance of “Lilith” live at the Game Awards 2022, I’m not sure how much longer I can wait to return to Hell. Diablo III: Reaper of Souls had a bit of rocky launch riddled with controversy, so I’m hoping Diablo IV either subverts the expectation of its own possible rocky launch with a solid marketing campaign and transparent communication from the development team. Blizzard and acquisition controversies aside, the game looks incredible. Its signature isometric view and action-RPG roots return, with familiar character classes, items, enemies, and hectic gameplay, with new, more modern mechanics like an open world and instanced events. June is going to be an extremely busy month, what with Street Fighter 6, Diablo IV, E3 returning, and…
Release Date: June 6, 2023.
Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC.
Final Fantasy XVI
Adam says:
For me, the excitement for Final Fantasy XVI was felt during The Game Awards, 2022. They showcased their most recent trailer “Ambition” which included more of the narrative, combat, and an improvement to visual fidelity. Naoki Yoshida, the producer for Final Fantasy XVI, brings tremendous amount of hope to the fans for this new entry. Regarded by many, he helped revive Square Enix’s MMO by relaunching it as Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn which caught wildfire and became a massive success with each successive expansion. Given his track record, fans feel like Final Fantasy XVI is in good hands and they generally feel optimistic about this release despite the launch of SE’s last main entry, Final Fantasy XV. I’m excited to see a mainline Final Fantasy return to a medieval setting which might help the purists accept the new combat changes from here forward. I’m especially excited for the ESRB M rating which has never been done before for a mainline entry. Playing on the PS5 will be an absolute joy and I sincerely hope that it utilizes the adaptive triggers. The tactile feedback seems like an easily overlooked aspect of connecting with a game but I promise that the experience elevates the way you feel while playing. Needless to say, this is shaping up to be a day-1 purchase given all the positive sentiment from Naoki Yoshida at the helm.
Release Date: June 22, 2023.
Platforms: PS5 (timed exclusive).
Redfall
Bethesda and Arkane Studios’ newest project Redfall is a “cooperative, story-drive FPS experience” akin to games like Left for Dead or Back for Blood, but with vampires. Cool! Promising quirky characters and detailed character progression, Redfall is another heavy one on the “big, dumb fun” scale, but that is meant in the most positive way possible. The game features snappy looking gunplay and extremely unique mechanics based on the character you choose to play as. Unfortunately, PlayStation players will miss out on this, as it looks like it will be one of 2023’s greatest multiplayer highlights.
Release Date: First half of 2023.
Platforms: Xbox Series X/S, PC.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Elizabeth says:
Though we don’t know much about the game outside of the one trailer that’s been released and that it’ll be out sometime in the second half of 2023, I am really looking forward to Insomniac’s Spider-Man 2! The first installment in their Spider-Man series was a lot of fun- from great web-swinging mechanics to the different ways you can fight enemies to the amazing, heartbreaking, wonderful storyline for this version of Peter Parker and Miles Morales. There’s a lot of possible directions they could be going with this game’s storyline… and frankly I am not emotionally prepared for whatever goes down between Peter and Harry in the sequel given that (spoilers!) the ending of the first game seemed to indicate that Harry might be Venom’s host in this universe. I can’t wait to find out more and play this game!
Release Date: Fall 2023.
Platforms: PS5.
Starfield
As a longtime Bethesda fanboy, Starfield is one of my most anticipated games ever (after The Elder Scrolls VI, which is sure to be released by the time I’m 70). Starfield sees the return of Bethesda’s signature truly open world (open galaxy?) Western RPG mechanics, with new character building features such as choosing parentage, socio-economic status, and temperament, all of which affect your character’s stats and playthrough outcomes. Another feature that looks promising is your starship. Fully customizable for aesthetics and in combat, it seems as though your ship will play a big part in your journey through Bethesda’s foray into the final frontier. This is one I’m sure I will be sinking countless hours into. If only we’d just get a release date…
Release Date: First half of 2023.
Platforms: Xbox Series X/S, PC.
Sea of Stars
Another SNES-era style JRPG, Sea of Stars pays homage to pillars of the genre like Chrono Trigger through its gorgeous, top-down pixel art and deep turn-based combat. Developed by Sabotage Studios, this prequel to 2018’s The Messenger is sure to be on any JRPG junkie’s must-play list for 2023. A stunning aesthetic and an instant classic soundtrack will surely add to a satisfying battle system with in-depth character progression that once again will help to scratch that nostalgic itch.
Release Date: 2023.
Platforms: PS4, PS5, Mobile, PC (Xbox release imminent).
Hades II
This is one is sort of cheating, as it will be released in early access in 2023, not a finished build, like the original. The sequel to the 2018 roguelike masterpiece, Hades II was announced at this year’s Game Awards (and was my favorite new announcement of the show, aside from Judas). In Hades II, you play as the original protagonist Zagreus’s sister, Melinoë, again fighting through the Greek Underworld, this time to rescue their titular father from the Titan Chronos. The stunning cel-shaded art style and face-melting soundtrack return, along with the addictive endless loop gameplay. I’m sure Hades II will keep me up for “just one more run” like its predecessor did.
Release Date: Early access in 2023.
Platforms: PC confirmed, current-gen consoles very likely.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
The second entry of the newly announced Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy, Rebirth takes place directly after the events of 2020’s Final Fantasy VII Remake, or for fans of the original, after Cloud and company leave Midgard. The announcement trailer doesn’t show much, but fans of the first game can expect similar real-time RPG gameplay and customization, with many new and returning features from the original Final Fantasy VII. Until this comes out, we can spend more time in the reimagined FFVII world with Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion, a remaster of the 2007 PSP prequel.
Release Date: Winter 2023.
Platforms: PS5.
Lies of P
A highly-stylized Souls-like game taking its story cues from the Pinocchio folklore, Lies of P is an unexpected but welcome addition to 2023’s already ridiculously good line-up. Featuring a “lie” mechanic that “dynamically affects gameplay”, this third person action-RPG is sure to leave gamers frustrated to the point of ripping their hair out, as is customary for a Souls-like. I’m curious to see how this game sets itself apart from others in the genre, but the setting alone has piqued my curiosity enough to be hungry for updates.
Release Date: 2023.
Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC.
Pikmin 4
Aside from the above trailer, we know next to nothing about Pikmin 4. Fans of the previous entries can surely expect the series’ signature gameplay, with hopefully some new surprises. Not a lot to say about this one as, well, there’s nothing quite yet to say. But Nintendo die-hards like me should, and will, be picking this one up.
Release Date: 2023.
Platforms: Nintendo Switch.
Well, it was a long one, but these are Temple of Geek’s 23 games we’re excited about for 2023! Some honorable mentions we couldn’t quite get to include the Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters for Nintendo Switch, Wild Hearts, and Witchfire. What are your most anticipated games of 2023? Let us know on Twitter!
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