With another year wrapping up, it’s time to reveal our Games of the Year for 202. This year was a strong year in gaming; a number of long-awaited AAA arrived, a few indie games made a splash, and some surprise hits seemed to come out of nowhere. This year was tough for many developers, but we appreciate and celebrate their hard work in The Outerhaven‘s 2023 Best Games of 2023 awards.
In creating this list, I reached out to each contributor at The Outerhaven to rank their top ten games of the year. These went into a master list, assigning points to each ranking to create a list of almost 50 games. We explored everywhere, from faraway fantasy lands to multiple recreations of New York City. We took part in battles big and small, turn-based and real-time. And we enjoyed original experiences and revitalized remakes. And now, we share our top ten favorite gaming experiences of 2023 with you.
10. Street Fighter 6
Street Fighter VI was Capcom’s apology for Street Fighter V’s debut for me. It gave us everything we’d want in a fighting game sequel upfront and didn’t hold back. Though I will admit that I’m still not completely sold on Luke being the face, but nearly everything else Street Fighter VI has provided has been nothing but stellar so far. The RE engine encompassed the graffiti/street feel as gritty as possible, and the CFN access has improved immensely. I keep coming back to Street Fighter VI, even just to watch my friends’ and high-level replays because of it. -Kevin Kelly
Capcom dropped the ball so many times when it came to Street Fighter V that it was a disappointment on so many levels until the developer managed to get its act together towards the last few years of the game’s life. Thankfully, they learned a hard lesson, which shows with Street Fighter VI. The game features better visuals, better and less complicated fighting mechanics, faster gameplay, and, more importantly, more accessibility than the prior titles, thanks to user-friendly control schemes. It doesn’t matter if you’re new to the series or a long-time veteran; Street Fighter VI has something for everyone. I can’t seem to do better with my Ken, but the game keeps drawing me back. Though, I’m not a fan of all the microtransactions bleeding gamer’s pockets dry. That, and how dare Capcom try to replace Ryu and Ken as the face of the series. – Keith Mitchell
9. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
For its third open-world Spider-Man game, Insomniac had to find a way to outdo themselves. And so they added more of everything. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 has both Peter Parker and Miles Morales as two different versions of the web-slinging hero. The map adds Queens and Brooklyn to the already sprawling Manhattan. And our heroes do battle with more enemy types, using even more abilities. Quantity doesn’t always equal quality, but this game, thankfully, has both. -Andrew Agress
8. Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon
“Rock’em Sock’em Robots” mech games never get tired for me when it comes to Armored Core. Fires of Rubicon was unforgiving, but at the same time, that’s the whole excitement point of the FromSoftware series. Especially when you’re stuck on a boss and decide to go back to the training area to try out different loads. Armored Core VI keeps to tradition and even brings out some scarier Soulslike difficulty surprises. The Ravens are back! -Kevin Kelly
I’ve been a fan of mecha games for as long as I can remember, and when I got my taste of Armored Core back on the PlayStation 2, I was smitten. Imagine my frustration when the series died off nearly ten years ago, and then imagine my glee when Bandai Namco announced that we were finally getting a new Armored Core game with Armored Core VI. It’s the best game in the series due to how much more we can do with our Ravens, the massive stages, the hard-as-heck mid-boss and boss fights, the overall presentation, a bunch of Soulslike elements that made this Soulslike fan scream for joy (or is that grown in pain?). I hope it doesn’t take another ten years for another Armored Core game. -Keith Mitchell
7. Super Mario RPG Remake
Honestly, Super Mario RPG Remake was not even on my bingo card for release this year, but Square Enix dug into crates and came up strong with this one. The battle system’s new additions, such as Triple Attack and Member Swaps, did modernize the classic. Though I was still disheartened over the removal of the Bruce Lee reference, there’s so much else to love with this remake. Super Mario RPG Remake can go toe-to-toe with other RPGs of today despite it still reminding us of its Everyone demographic. -Kevin Kelly
Back during the Super Nintendo era, Super Mario RPG was a rare collaboration between Nintendo and Squaresoft that became a beloved classic. The enhanced remake offers more details, beautifully redone music, and a simple adventure that anyone can enjoy. This bite-sized adventure paved the way for the Mario RPG series. And the remake proves why it’s still fresh as one of the best games of the year. -Will Kok
6. Hi-Fi Rush
Shadow-dropped on the world at a late January Xbox Direct, Hi-Fi Rush wound up being the first great single that struck a chord with gamers in 2023. Whether it’s the animated cartoon-like graphics, the immersive sound design, or its rocking action rhythm gameplay, it definitely has that great hook that has kept it in the limelight all these months later. It’s truly incredible how the world of Hi-Fi Rush manages to keep both the beat and the fun going the entire time. -Sean Garmer
It’s always a pleasure when a game comes out of nowhere with unique gameplay and music. Hi-Fi Rush is a fantastic action rhythm game that hooks music into everything you do. It’s so sublime to see that in action with even the slightest thing, from smashing a foe upside its head to watching the world interact with the music. Hi-Fi Rush is the total package, and I feel sorry that not everyone will have the chance to play, but they should. -Keith Mitchell
5. Resident Evil 4 Remake
Capcom’s attempt to tie all the Resident Evil games together through remakes has been pretty awesome so far, and Resident Evil 4 Remake continues this streak. It retained some of the original gameplay but improved itself immensely through its UI and Leon’s corny banter delivery. I’ll always revere the original trilogy, but Resident Evil 4 Remake can stand tall in my books. -Kevin Kelly
When I first heard that Resident Evil 4 would receive a remake, I didn’t think it necessary. The original isn’t that old, people! But Capcom made the case for it. Resident Evil 4 Remake takes the beloved action-horror game and streamlines it to near perfection. The game looks ghoulishly great, and dropping infected cultists by the dozen feels more satisfying than ever. The story also has some nice updates, with more screen time for Luis and more personality for Ashley. And don’t miss the DLC, as Assignment Ada fleshes out the game’s fun even more. -Andrew Agress
4. Sea of Stars
Sabotage Studios is not shy about showcasing Sea of Stars‘ gaming influences. Take a heaping of Chrono Trigger, gameplay modeled after Super Mario RPG, fantastic music, and dungeons and puzzles straight out of The Legend of Zelda and smash them into one game. However, just leaving it at that would be doing the game an injustice. The way all of this comes together so magically is what makes Sea of Stars stand out. It may take a little bit to get going story-wise, but you’ll be so engrossed in each battle and in exploring the world that it won’t matter. Sea of Stars is such a special game that it caused something we’ve never seen before: both Xbox and PlayStation shelled out to have it come out on their streaming services Day 1. -Sean Garmer
Most games that try to replicate or pay homage to Chrono Trigger seem to fall short of hitting the high mark that the game has set. Sea of Stars is a title that has hit that mark and added even more to its formula. Engaging turn-based combat, endearing characters, a grand story, and a fleshed-out world hit a lot of checkboxes for major fans of the turn-based JRPG genre. It is a game you do not want to miss. -Scott Adams
For those who miss classic turn-based role-playing games, Sea of Stars comes along to comfort them. Drawing from so many RPGs from yesteryear, the indie darling by Sabotage Studios feels like a lost gem of the 80s or 90s. At first. Once you really get into it, you see all the ways in which this game builds upon older titles with contemporary flair. Having the option to platform across most terrain and sprinkle real-time action into combat goes a long way. And that’s just icing on the cake compared to the cozy visuals, blood-pumping soundtrack, and lovable characters. -Andrew Agress
Sea of Stars is an homage to conventional old-school turn-based RPG that features an enjoyable story, a fantastic soundtrack, and graphics that look amazing while not being cutting-edge. I grew up on games like Secret of Mana, Chrono Trigger, Lunar, and many others that, while they aren’t being created by those AAA companies anymore, I can see their DNA in this gem. I continue to find myself stealing moments to play the game on my Steam Deck or Asus ROG Ally when I’m not near my PC. It’s that good. Are we sure this is an indie game? – Keith Mitchell
3. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Ever since Breath of the Wild came out, I wondered how the Zelda team could one-up themselves. With Tears of Kingdom, the newest Zelda game opens up so much more with The Depths area and new chances for creativity. From the extra adventures with the cast to exploring the world once again, it just feels like home. This is why I consider Tears of the Kingdom my game of the year. -Will Kok
Many of us who were immersed in the world of Breath of the Wild could not fathom how Nintendo could one-up themselves. Luckily they did more than just that, they tripled down in the world of Hyrule by adding new layers of exploration. There’s The Depths with the new gloom mechanic and a more eerie side to Hyrule, as well as the Sky Islands that allow more use of air and vehicles that can be constructed. The Ultra Hand allows some of the most creative building mechanics as well as more combat techniques for even more engaging gameplay. Tears of the Kingdom will be a game played for years to come, just like its predecessor before it. -Scott Adams
The reason why Tears of the Kingdom is on so many lists of the best games of the year is simple: the game is just so good! Nintendo’s team took everything that they did with Breath of the Wild, and then expanded upon it in meaningful ways. The Ultrahand and Fuse abilities help create all sorts of gameplay options for players. And as for the story, it’s deep, fun, and proves why the series is called “The Legend of Zelda.” -Todd Black
2. Alan Wake 2
Alan Wake 2 has undeniably secured its place among the best games of the year with its captivating narrative, immersive atmosphere, and survival horror gameplay mechanics. It delivers a psychological thriller that keeps players on the edge of their seats. The narrative, meticulously crafted and presented in a manner unparalleled in my gaming experience, distinguishes Alan Wake 2 as not only one of the top games of the year but perhaps among the best of all time. -Jordan Andow
If gamers thought that Alan Wake and Control were weird, well, Alan Wake 2 is that with a capital W. Sam Lake deserves all of the narrative and direction awards for this incredible tale he’s weaved in this game. Intricately tying together the stories of both main characters while also expanding upon Alan’s original epic is nothing short of masterful. The survival horror gameplay doesn’t always land, but it makes up for that with its bone-chilling ambiance and great music. By far, Alan Wake 2 is my favorite gaming experience of 2023. -Sean Garmer
An eerie adventure into the town of Bright Falls continues the story of Alan Wake. Instead of pausing the game, the menu places you in a new realm entirely to put hints on a board to figure out the next step of the story, or in Alan Wake’s case, to rewrite the story of your location entirely. The game has an interesting narrative that makes you question everything you thought you knew about this world. Alan Wake 2 has some of the best uses of Live Action to Realist game graphic transitions that we might ever see. -Scott Adams
It’s a testament to the team at Remedy Entertainment that Alan Wake 2—a sequel to a decent game that came out 13 years ago—is this good. You can tell the developers have passion for this story, always hoping to make it and finally getting the chance. And Alan Wake 2 reflects that passion with a survival horror game that has a ton of style and inventiveness. You can run past shadowy monsters one moment, investigate a Lynchian mystery the next, and then take center stage in your very own epic musical. What other games offer all that? -Andrew Agress
1. Final Fantasy XVI
PlatinumGames needed a win this year with Square Enix since Babylon’s Fall stumble, and this was it. Final Fantasy XVI is clearly a collaboration of many talents from different franchises. The game itself compliments each of them through its punchy feel and darker aesthetic than other main Final Fantasy games. Clive’s multi-period story conveys the full weight of the themes of Final Fantasy XVI. The story of this Final Fantasy delivers and doesn’t leave much up to interpretation compared to those of its siblings. At times, it can feel as though the characters react to things the way I would in both tone and actual words. Devil May Cry was a series I purposely avoided, but thanks to Final Fantasy XVI’s frantic fun, I’ve decided to reconsider my stance to pull the Devil Trigger. -Kevin Kelly
What I love the most about Final Fantasy XVI is that it is truly a hot mess. A huge smorgasbord of spectacle with its differing giant kaiju battles and equally grandiose score sandwiched around Devil May Cry-infused combat and a brotherly medieval story. Is it an RPG? Is it an Action game? And is it even Final Fantasy? Actually, it is all of these things and so much more. The game is the definition of a flawed masterpiece. It certainly won’t work for everyone, but you’ll be a better person for having experienced it. If anything, at least it introduced us to the greatness of Ben Starr as Clive and Ralph Ineson as Cid. -Sean Garmer
A new entry in the mainline Final Fantasy series has graced our presence this year. A transition to full action-based combat and less RPG mechanics has divided its very large fanbase, but it has given Final Fantasy XVI a very nice balance of action combat and cinematic boss fights. The voice direction in this game is absolutely stellar. Its soundtrack makes the game feel like you are in the best and biggest adventure of all time. The characters are memorable and feel alive. Clive, Cid, and Jill are characters that will go down in the history of Final Fantasy as some of the best ones in the series. -Scott Adams
Final Fantasy XVI does what any great Final Fantasy should do. It harkens back to the best parts of the earlier entries while showing why this long-running series hasn’t run out of ideas yet. It returns to the high fantasy genre of the first few titles, but keeps the fantasy fresh with a Game of Thrones-inspired tale of battles and betrayals. Though it is light on role-playing, it serves up action in spades. Drawing from the series’ summons, Final Fantasy XVI uses these as the basis for Eikons, giant magical kaiju that duke it out in fights that would make Godzilla jealous. Truly, Final Fantasy XVI stands on the shoulders of giants. -Andrew Agress
