Now that I’ve got my Top 10 of 2022 games list out of the way, it’s time to look forward to the future of 2023. Now that the gaming issues caused by the pandemic are well and truly over with the developers back in full swing, 2023 looks to improve on the impressive year that was 2022 with a lot of new games and remakes alike.
I know there are tons of games coming out in 2023, and I would love to give my thoughts on all of them, but that would take forever to read, and I don’t think people would like to hear me bitching about things like Tekken 8 looking just like Tekken 7 all over again… You have a huge article I did about the PlayStation 5 and Sony, in general, to read if you want that. So let’s have a look at some of the games that I personally am looking forward to in 2023… and hope I get to review all of them right here on The Outerhaven.
Game: Lollipop Chainsaw
Release Date: Sometime in 2023
Recommended System: Any
Starting things out is a special mention of sorts. Unlike other games on this list, Lollipop Chainsaw is only rumored to be released in 2023, whereas everything else either has a confirmed release date or is confirmed to come out in 2023. That being said, the sudden announcement that this game was getting the remake treatment is a welcome surprise. Lollipop Chainsaw, during its original release on the PlayStation 3, was something of a cult smash hit.
Its outrageous gameplay nature mixed with a weird story made from the mind of Suda52 quickly garnered praise from outlets everywhere, but this was during an age when we weren’t too concerned about how females are portrayed in video games. With this new “anti-sexy” movement in video games, when it comes to how a female is shown on screen, can Lollipop Chainsaw even be allowed to exist? Probably not. But unlike other outlets who are going to slander this game daily (*cough* Kotaku *cough*), I am looking forward to having some crazy fun as a chainsaw-wielding Cheerleader.
Game: Dead Space
Release Date: January 27, 2023
Recommended System: Xbox Series X
Another remake to add to the long list of remakes that will dominate the market in 2023, alongside this list. Dead Space was one of those games I didn’t really get into much back in the day for some unknown reason. However, with the way graphics have improved since the PlayStation 3/Xbox 360 era that the original came out in, it’s going to be a gruesome time of cutting off Necromorph limbs in order to stay alive as I experience the emptiness of space all over again.
Hopefully, this time around, there is enough game here to keep me going from start to finish, especially since Keith Mitchell is going to be talking our ears off about this game from the second it comes out to the minute he finishes it for the 400th time.
Game: Resident Evil 4
Release Date: March 24, 2023
Recommended System: PlayStation 5
Oh, how times have changed. As anyone who is a long-time reader of my articles, I have made it no surprise that I DESPISE Resident Evil 4 with all the hate I can muster from my little black heart. However, since writing an article about how much I think making this remake would be a bad idea, I’ve grown more confident in CAPCOM’s Resident Evil development team after seeing hit after hit with the Resident Evil 2 remake, Resident Evil 3 remake, and Resident Evil Village (as well as the Shadows of Rose DLC). Given the change in opinion and confidence in the development team (as well as playing the original Resident Evil 4 on PlayStation 4, Xbox, and Gamecube a few times) I’m willing to give this remake a shot.
My hopes going into this is that CAPCOM does more than change the story around a bit and maybe tie things back into the general Resident Evil lore a lot more, or even linking this to Resident Evil Village, giving that saga some more worth. If Resident Evil 4 can do more than just be a retread of the Resident Evil 4 story with Resident Evil VII: Biohazard and Resident Evil Village art assets, then I’ll be willing to give this game the credit others think it deserves.
Game: Street Fighter 6
Release Date: Sometime in 2023
Recommended System: PlayStation 5
To be honest, outside of reviews, I haven’t played much of Street Fighter V. However, with Street Fighter 6, I have already been won over. I did get a chance to play an early Alpha of Street Fighter 6 at PAX Australia back in October, and I found it to be somewhat good. The changes in standard characters like Ryu and Ken, alongside the new characters like Kimberly, were enough to get me actually hyped to play Street Fighter 6 in its final form late in 2023. The only thing that would sour me on this game is if CAPCOM does the same thing they did with Street Fighter V, that being the excessive and expensive amounts of Season Passes that locked a majority of the roster behind that paywall.
Game: Silent Hill 2
Release Date: Sometime in 2023
Recommended System: PlayStation 5
Wow, to say that I’m excited about Silent Hill 2 remake is something that is very understated. I heard the rumors like everyone else, but I never thought that Konami would actually pull the trigger on remaking one of their best-ever games. I know this has been inspired by the Resident Evil series having huge success with remakes of Resident Evil 2 and somewhat with Resident Evil 3, but I’m all for anything that brings Silent Hill back to consoles without me having to spend hundreds of dollars on buying the original PlayStation 1 and PlayStation 2 games from eBay. I, along with everyone else, do not know what is in store for this remake of Silent Hill 2, but I can’t wait to see what that foggy town has for James Sunderland once again.
Game: Marvel Spider-Man 2
Release Date: Sometime in 2023
Recommended System: PlayStation 5
The 5-star Game of the Year winner is coming back! After the really good DLC/Stand Alone Miles Morales game, it’s good to go back to the proper Spider-Man (Peter Parker). From the second we got the teaser trailer showing the two Spider-Men together, I was hyped. Add into that the reveal of Venom, one of my favorite all-time comic book characters, as well as possibly the main villain being Kraven The Hunter too…
Oh yeah, I’m ready to get swinging once again around New York and take down thugs once again. I know it’s not going to be easy to live up to one of the best PlayStation 4 games of all time, but Marvel Spider-Man 2 looks like it could be a top contender for another game of the year.
