CraigPlaysGames’ 2023 Game of the Year Rankings
While we rarely get a “Bad Year” in Gaming, some years aren’t seen as favourably come the end of the calendar. Some years are pretty unanimously considered Good or even Great years by the community, and 2023 has definitely peaked into Great for many, myself included. I don’t see the point in being contrarian and it seems silly to lie about my rankings, so my list is going to look a lot like many mainstream outlets’ lists.
There will be some big omissions however – I didn’t really like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, I was never interested in Starfield and I didn’t really find the time to start Baldur’s Gate 3.
The final thing to note is that list is longer than a Top 10, in fact there are 16 entries. Entries 10-1 are of course my top 10 options, I also like to include the runners up – games that would have made the list if I hadn’t played other games I enjoyed and finally the honourable mention – a game that’s not going to see any form of recognition in awards season or frankly ever again, but it was a game I played and enjoyed nonetheless.
Honourable Mention: Scars Above (Mad Head Games)
Somewhat generic and low budget, but there’s a spark of something greater here. I feel the passion of the developers trying to make something they really want to make, backed up by some good ideas and side tracked with some bad ones. A solid foundation for a first time studio.
The Runners Up
15) Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (Insomniac Games)
There’s something to be said of the mantra “If it’s not broke, don’t fix it”, but there’s also plenty case to argue that waters that don’t flow will stagnate. While Insomniac’s Spider-Man 2 isn’t stagnant, it’s certainly not flowing either. This is a flowery way of saying that while fun, the series seems to be treading water. Put all three games next to each other and I’d not be able to tell the difference. For the time it took to make (and for the cost, revealed by unfortunate data leaks), I suppose I just wanted more than what felt like the cutting room floor ideas repurposed. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed my time with Spider-Man 2, but it’s not a speck on the first game.
14) Venba (Visai Games)
Fancy some tasty food with a side of emotional rollercoaster? For a brief hour or so of your time, Venba can deliver just that. A heart-warming and heart wrenching tale about the importance of food, culture and family wrapped in a visually beautiful bow. Truly an emotionally resonant experience.
13) Cocoon (Geometric Interactive)
Smart enough to make you feel smart, and then stupid, and smart again. Drawing from the same wellspring as Limbo and Inside but doing its own thing with it, Cocoon is one of the best puzzle games I’ve played in a good long while.
12) Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon (Platinum Games)
To release this so soon after the controversial Bayonetta 3 (a game I enjoyed) was certainly a choice by the team at Platinum Games, less striking while the iron was hot and more plaster for bullet hole in many ways. For me though, fantastic character design and a striking art style weren’t enough to scratch the itch it was so close to scratching. It’s a shame because I did enjoy my time with the game, but it’s not entirely memorable and any post launch discussion is practically non-existent.
11) RoboCop: Rogue City (Teyon)
Sometimes you just want simplicity, none of the loot boxes or battle passes. Just a straight forward First Person Shooter, perhaps with some RPG elements, and it has to be Single Player. Luckily Robocop has you covered with a great setting and story to boot.
And now, the Top 10 Games of 2023:
10) Smushi Come Home (SomeHumbleOnion)
In a sea of wholesome games starring fungi or frogs or what have you, Smushi manages to stand head and shoulders above the rest thanks to not just relying on it’s cute visuals (of which it definitely has) or character design, but actually having a game to back it up – well-crafted levels and fun challenges bring Smushi ahead of its contemporaries.
9) My Friendly Neighbourhood (John Szymanski)
To take the core concept of a game like Resident Evil, place it in a totally different setting yet still nail the gameplay, atmosphere, story, progression and more is an effort worthy of praise. My Friendly Neighbourhood is a crash course in taking inspiration but putting a great spin on it.
8) Thirsty Suitors (Outerloop Games)
Bollywood bombast meets Scott Pilgrim in an emotionally driven tale of reconciliation and moving on from past mistakes, wrapped in a competent turn based RPG with Skateboarding. The game only gets more ridiculous the more emotionally involved you get, and you will be totally engrossed by tales end.
7) Killer Frequency (Team 17)
There’s more than meets the eye with these murders happening in Gallows’ Creek, and you’ll have to get to the bottom of it quick. An interesting premise is only part of this great title, which is as dark as it is heartfelt and humorous. A real surprise, this one.
6) Final Fantasy XVI (Square Enix)
Final Fantasy by the way of Game of Thrones meets The Witcher 3 with a healthy dash of Kaiju battle was certainly an inspired choice, one that is executed nearly perfectly. The games absolutely massive bombastic fights help soften the blow that the by the numbers side quests dampen the experience with. Engaging well voice acted cast help carry this experience home.
5) Dead Space (EA Motive)
I haven’t played the original Dead Space, so I can’t comment on how it works as a remake but the fact it feels like a brand new 2023 game is a testament to its quality. The environment upon the Ishimura was really tense and the game got me a couple times thanks to its dynamic enemy AI. Fingers crossed they go onto remake 2, or perhaps a brand new sequel
4) Super Mario Bros. Wonder (Nintendo)
Credit to Nintendo – they heard the criticisms of how stale the ‘New’ series of 2D Mario games were getting and decided to release one of the best 2D platformers in recent memory – beautiful to look at with great level design and truly whimsical Wonder abilities. It’s a cliché but its no truer anywhere else than it is here – there’s never a dull moment and you won’t ever stop smiling.
3) Star Wars Jedi Survivor (Respawn Entertainment)
Jedi Fallen Order was a pleasant surprise, coming from the developers of Titanfall – a completely different type of game. Little was shown before release but it proved to be a good title. Survivor follows on from the original and improves everything from the story to combat to exploration (finally a bloody fast travel option). Planet selection is still a little lacking but the main planet of Koboh is just as diverse as any open world. For a very clear trilogy mid entry, it does more than it needs to.
2) Alan Wake II (Remedy Entertainment)
How do you turn a fun but fairly basic third person shooter with horror elements and a strong narrative into a True Detective dual protagonist horror drama mixed with arthouse segments and banging musical numbers? You give Remedy a proper budget.
A game I was excited for that blew my expectations out of the water, only let down by sometimes being a little too obscure in its puzzles and combat sometimes being a little jank, but it’s nothing that brings the incredible experience down.
1) Resident Evil 4 + Separate Ways DLC
I fell in love with Resident Evil a few years back, and it’s not shaken its grip on me yet. Despite having no nostalgia for it, Resident Evil 4 scored an easy 10 from me for being so effortlessly stupid and entertaining. It’s incredible that the remake manages to take that foundation, cut whatever tiny slithers of fat it could find and deliver an even better experience – tighter gameplay, a refreshed narrative and still sickening (in the best way) amount of camp. As a remake, as a standalone entry of Resident Evil, as someone’s first introduction to the series or even a person’s first game, Resident Evil fires on all cylinders and knocks it out of the park.
Even without DLC, Resident Evil 4 Remake would have been top billing. Separate Ways could have been a cheap phone in from Capcom but it wasn’t, instead being a campaign worthy of its own merit – repurposing U3 from the original as well as setting up the future remakes.
Resident Evil 4 is far and away the most fun I had with a game this year, which earns it its top spot as CraigPlaysGames’ Game of the Year 2023.
Game of the Years past:
2020: Final Fantasy 7 Remake | 2021: It Takes Two
2022: Elden Ring | 2023: Resident Evil 4 Remake + Separate Ways DLC
