This past year was a great year for fans of fantasy games. Games such as “Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom” were a monumental success to an already popular series, and several other fantasy games added new titles to their series too.
If you’re someone who enjoys story games with depth and good gameplay, 2023 was the year to pick up a controller or get on a keyboard for you.
Here are 2023’s top 13.
13. “Starfield”
“Starfield” takes open-world gameplay to a new level. A multitude of star systems and planets are available for players to explore. With its non-linear story, players can go off on their own paths and choose who they want to be, whether it be an explorer, pirate or diplomat.
12. “Assassin’s Creed Mirage”
“Assassin’s Creed Mirage” takes place in Iraq during the ninth century. Investigate conspiracies, seek vengeance as an assassin, and stop an order to control humanity’s fate. The open-world, enhanced movement system, and dense urban environment make the city of Baghdad a treat to roam.
11. “Super Mario Bros. Wonder”
“The Super Mario Bros.” games everybody knows and loves are back and completely refreshed. “Super Mario Bros. Wonder” brings back the old formula once again, but completely revamps the gameplay with brand-new power-ups, characters and level formats. The world is in constant flux with moving pipes, talking flowers and trippy, warping overlays above the levels.
10. “Atomic Heart”
“Atomic Heart” is a first-person shooter game set in the Soviet Union that has gameplay similar to popular 2000’s games like the “Call of Duty” zombies story. It has an immersive storyline that introduces the main character, P-3, to several unique NPCs that aid or become an obstacle to him. The fighting is impressive and the puzzles scattered throughout the gameplay challenge the player’s mind as well as their gaming skills.
9. “Diablo 4”
“Diablo 4” is an immersive game that blends several genres into one. Emphasizing the Action RPG aspect with real-time combat and character skills, “Diablo 4” manages to mix in open-world play, dungeons, and hack-and-slash gameplay that keeps the game feeling innovative and engaging. Despite how much content is in the game, it’s still easy to pick up and play without prior experience in the series.
8.“Metroid Prime Remastered”
Players can now replay or discover a timeless classic in an all-new light. “Metroid Prime” from 2004 has been rebuilt from the ground up in a complete revamp of the original game. “Metroid Prime Remastered” adds stunning visuals, unique puzzles, and improved mechanics from the original game. The claustrophobic, labyrinth-like map keeps players on their toes as they prepare for enemies to jump out at them and engage in combat.
7. “Baldur’s Gate 3”
2023’s Game of the Year, “Baldur’s Gate 3” leaves you in a parasite-infested world, where you and your friends face off against the Mind Flayers. The combat in “Baldur’s Gate 3” is inspired by “Dungeons & Dragons” dice-rolling gameplay complete with customizing your abilities and making devastating combos against enemies.
6. “Final Fantasy XVI”
“Final Fantasy XVI” is the 16th installment in the “Final Fantasy” world and is hailed as one of the best fantasy games out there. Although each game builds upon a set story, gamers can start playing any game without any confusion. In this installment, the story follows the main character Clive in his quest to free his world from evil titans powered by a crystal.
5. “Fortnite”
Although “Fortnite” is one of the first battle royale games started in 2018, 2023 had many game-changing updates that transformed the game. “Fortnite” introduced three new modes: “LEGO Fortnite,” “Rocket Racing” and “Fortnite Festival.” These new game modes take inspiration from popular games, like “Minecraft” and “Guitar Hero,” and widen the “Fortnite” variety to attract fans from different game bases.
4. “Lethal Company”
“Lethal Company” is a cooperative thriller game with a unique and creative premise that made it blow up in 2023. You play as a crewmate in space with the task of collecting scrap for the mysterious Company, but within the space station, you explore and find killer monsters with horrible deformities. This game is great for playing with your friends and keeping you on the edge of your seat, and the complicated and intriguing story makes you question the ethics behind your job as a scrap collector.
3. “Hogwarts Legacy”
“Hogwarts Legacy” lets Harry Potter fans and gamers alike step into the magical world created by J.K. Rowling. You play as a customizable character in their first year as a Hogwarts pupil. The story of the game is intriguing as you progressively learn more spells and the side quests allow for some fun if you want to take a break from the main storyline.
2. “Spider-Man 2”
Marvel’s “Spider-Man 2” was one of the most anticipated games of the year, and it delivered. “Spider-Man 2” combines mechanics from the first “Spider-Man” game and its spinoff, Marvel’s “Spider-Man: Miles Morales.” “Spider-Man 2” kept it fresh with a revamped swinging system, new bosses, and the ability to switch between Peter Parker and Miles Morales.
1. “The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom”
Teased by Nintendo for four years before its release, “The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom” (TOTK) was a dramatic improvement over its predecessor, “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.” TOTK kept the game familiar as a sequel, with the inclusion of countless new mechanics, such as sky islands, building abilities, and dungeons. With the countless hours of content, there was in TOTK, we think this should have won Game of the Year.
