The 20 video games we couldn’t stop playing in 2023

When I first played Alan Wake, I remember being incredibly creeped out by its monsters and intrigued by its narrative. Thirteen years later, in Alan Wake 2, the story finally continues, this time with new playable character Saga Anderson, who brings a refreshingly different perspective to the game. 

If you’re a fan of narrative-driven games, Alan Wake 2 is an absolute treasure trove of character development, plot twists and inventive storytelling. It will scare you, surprise you and move you in ways few video games can, or ever have. I strongly believe it sets a new precedent for gaming in general, and that’s why it’s my favorite game of 2023. Thank you, Sam Lake and team, for this incredible piece of art. — Daniel Toy, section editor, copy chief

One of the most defining games of Oculus' bygone PC VR era is the original Asgard's Wrath from 2019, which was held as the standard for console-quality VR gaming before Half-Life: Alyx came around. The game mixed exciting combat, clever puzzle-solving and a captivating story about a Norse god taking divine intervention a little too far. Since then, a rebrand to Meta and a focus on consumer-priced stand-alone headsets found the game's sequel being released several months into the launch of the Meta Quest 3.

Free with the headset for a limited time, Asgard's Wrath 2 pushes the series far enough to be the new standard for VR gaming once again. Between updated combat mechanics, visuals that will soon take further advantage of the Meta Quest 3 hardware, tight platforming mechanics and 100-plus hours of content, it's safe to say that Meta's new VR headset has a definitive killer app. — Ural Garrett, contributing writer

I feel like one of the few people who didn't get fully bit by the Baldur's Gate 3 bug — in fact, the only reason I booted it up in the first place was to put the new iMac's graphical chops to the test. But once I dug into Larian Studios' universally beloved role-playing game, I was quickly taken aback on pretty much every level. The visuals are stunning, the voice acting is excellent and between the branching narrative paths and wealth of customization sliders (including, and I'm not joking, the amount of in-game nudity you'd like to see), there's a staggering amount of freedom to journey through the Forgotten Realms exactly as you see fit. And as someone who covers the Mac for a living, I'm always happy to see Apple's hardware get more legit triple-A games. Maybe just take a quick look around before firing this thing up on your MacBook in public. — Mike Andronico, senior tech writer

If you want to play a cozy game that’s more than just farming and simulation, Dave the Diver might be for you. It defies easy genre categorization, with role-playing, action-adventure and management elements, and it boasts a gorgeous pixel art style to boot. As the eponymous Dave, you’ll brave the waters to catch fish, then serve them sushi-style later in your restaurant. With Dave the Diver’s compelling characters, addictive but relaxing gameplay and fun minigames, it’s no wonder it was a 2023 Game Awards Best Independent Game nominee. — Daniel Toy, section editor, copy chief

If you couldn’t already tell, I’m a big fan of horror games, so it’s no surprise that Dead Space (2023) has also made my list of best games of the year. I played the original Dead Space way back in 2008, and after its sequels, it became my absolute favorite video game franchise. The 2023 remake is a master class in how to upgrade a classic game for the modern day, featuring stunning graphics and impeccable sound design without sacrificing the original’s charm and story. If you’ve never played Dead Space, this is the time to start … as long as you can handle a jump scare (or five). — Daniel Toy, section editor, copy chief

Diablo 4 may not be for everyone, but I personally had a blast ripping through hordes of monsters with friends online while exploring the sprawling lands of Sanctuary. Like the Diablo games before it, Diablo 4 becomes a little monotonous in its gameplay, but its incredible cutscenes, polished graphics and commitment to season updates make it a game worth playing well after the credits roll. — Daniel Toy, section editor, copy chief

I’ve never been the biggest fan of straight-up fishing and sailing games; I often find the mechanics frustrating and gameplay uninspired. But that changed when I discovered Dredge, which does include the above but with a horror slant. If you stay out too late to catch night-specific fish, you’ll begin to hallucinate and also encounter various monsters in the water’s depths. In spite of its sometimes chaotic and scary moments, Dredge is one of my favorite cozy games of the year. (Plus, don’t sleep on the free Dredge x Dave the Diver DLC, the absolute perfect crossover event for two of the best games of 2023.) — Daniel Toy, section editor, copy chief

​​Final Fantasy 16 is one of the best action games of 2023. With its emotional story, engaging characters and exciting combat, Final Fantasy 16 will keep players entertained for hours on end. The European-inspired setting is reminiscent of "Game of Thrones," and it's the perfect backdrop for the cinematic battles between Eikons, giant elemental creatures that wreak havoc wherever they go. We also got more content in the Echoes of the Fallen DLC at the end of this year, and it makes me excited to see what The Rising Tide expansion has in store for us in 2024. — George Yang, contributing writer

Tears of the Kingdom captured my attention most evenings for a few months straight. You can set your own pace and approach the game in many different ways. Having to constantly adapt my gameplay as the world unfolded around me kept things exciting. It felt steeped in nostalgia but also refreshing and new. I really enjoyed it. — Mark Amadio, senior manager of product design

Lethal Company is technically still in early access, but it’s already a major hit among PC gamers, with more than 130,000 “overwhelmingly positive” reviews on Steam. In this co-op horror survival game, your crew is responsible for collecting and selling scrap while trying to avoid genuinely terrifying monsters and environmental obstacles. My favorite feature is the proximity chat; the farther you stray from your crew, the harder it becomes to hear them over the mic. If you end up all alone? Well, good luck, comrade. — Daniel Toy, section editor, copy chief

My muscle memory was quick to take over the second I booted up Marvel's Spider-Man 2. Within minutes, I was swinging, wall-running and web-zipping around Manhattan as if no time had passed at all since I last hung with Miles Morales back in 2020. For my money, there's still nothing in games that feels as good as that. I was especially thrilled to see Insomniac Games expand Spidey's playable radius to Brooklyn and Queens this time around, and while my beloved hometown of Astoria wasn't fully done justice, I got a real kick out of visiting some of my favorite Long Island City landmarks while swapping between Spidey suits that pay homage to everything from the Scarlet Spider to the seminal 2014 Andrew Garfield film "The Amazing Spider-Man 2." There's a lot to praise about Spider-Man 2 — the dual-hero gameplay, the fun new combat and traversal abilities, the movie-quality narrative — but for me, this series will always be about the joy of swinging around a place that looks a lot like home. — Mike Andronico, senior tech writer

I had never played any of the original Metroid Prime trilogy on GameCube or Wii, so I came into this remake of the 2002 classic with no expectations. Nothing about it felt stale, and it didn't play like a 3D game made for a 2D character. The views of the planet through bounty hunter Samus Aran's helmet were fantastic. The journey of slowly adding more and more upgrades to her suit was rewarding. And navigating the puzzle of the planet Tallon IV and its hostile inhabitants was a great challenge. When I hit a few snags and didn't know where to turn next (the map is huge and returning to areas that are often an afterthought is how you advance), the game supplied clues that helped me avoid giving up. I wouldn't recommend this title for young kids because it isn't easy, but it's well worth it for anyone else — especially considering Nintendo listed it for $40 at release. — Joe Bloss, editorial coordinator

I've got my gripes with Mortal Kombat 1, but that didn't stop it from becoming my most played game of 2023. This might be my favorite Mortal Kombat ever in terms of gameplay, thanks to the new Kameo system that turns every match into a chaotic tag-team brawl filled with creative combos and deviously cheap strategies (team Sub-Zero/Sareena for life). Its cinematic story mode is brimming with B-movie charm and regularly had me hollering out loud, and it's just a stunner to look at. I don't love the game's dull Invasions mode, and it lacks the overall polish I've come to expect from a NetherRealm product, but I see myself sinking many more hours into MK1's beautifully bloody, endlessly creative combat for years to come. — Mike Andronico, senior tech writer

Resident Evil 4 isn't just a superb remake of one of the best games of all time; it also feels like the culmination of the series' grand return to form that began with 2017's Resident Evil 7. This is simply action-horror at its finest, where over-the-top boss battles against zombie sea creatures hit just as hard as tense shootouts inside a claustrophobia-inducing cabin. Many have argued that Resident Evil 4 doesn't need a remake; I'd say that the new version's airtight controls and wealth of creative new combat options say otherwise. What's more impressive is that the Resident Evil 4 remake makes all of these thoughtful changes without neutering what made the original so special — delightfully cheesy dialogue and all. — Mike Andronico, senior tech writer

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is one of the best "Star Wars" games yet, and it's one of the few titles to take the precise, punishing combat made famous by Dark Souls and turn it into something that's actually enjoyable. Yeah, I said it. Respawn's second outing in the "Star Wars" universe continues to be a delightful cocktail of triple-A gaming tropes, with the labyrinth exploration of Metroid, the thrilling platforming of Uncharted and that sweet, sweet lightsaber combat that's gotten even more dynamic for the sequel. Seriously, there's nothing quite like parrying an enemy strike at just the right time with your saber before hitting them point blank with an explosive blaster shot. But even with all of the game's satisfying spectacle and action, the real stars of this series remain the excellent cast of characters; the adventures of Jedi runaway Cal Kestis and his companions make for some of the most compelling "Star Wars" storytelling across any medium. — Mike Andronico, senior tech writer

Street Fighter is my favorite fighting game franchise of all time, but it's been a while since I felt like a Street Fighter release was also a legitimately great video game. Street Fighter 6 changes that. This is the most robust, polished and vibrant the series has ever been, with a meaty World Tour mode for those who want to play solo, an incredible suite of tutorials for those who want to get competitive and a thrilling combat system that's inviting for casual mashers while offering endless depth for those in the tournament scene. It's also gorgeous and bursting with personality, with incredibly fluid animation and a graffiti-soaked sense of style that's hard not to stop and stare at once you see it in motion. — Mike Andronico, senior tech writer

Suika Game has been my ultimate time waster the past couple of months. Its hypnotizing music, cute aesthetics and frustrating gameplay can get you caught in a loop for hours on end. I'll never admit just how much time I've spent playing or watching streams of this baby fruit game. — Kai Burkhardt, editor, outdoors and sustainability

Like many fans of this beloved 1996 role-playing game, I have dreamed of Super Mario RPG eventually being added to the virtual library of Super Nintendo games available to Nintendo Switch Online members. That hasn't happened, but it doesn't matter now, because Nintendo completely remade the game as a Switch release. And it's glorious. The graphics are updated, but the story remains exactly the same, with familiar low-key hilarious dialogue and new cutscenes. Turn-based combat pits Mario and his quartet of unlikely companions — Mallow, a cloud who thinks he's a frog; Geno, a doll that comes to life; and Bowser and Peach (yes, the princess and her captor team up with the mustached hero) — against a world of enemies that don't exist in any other Mario game. But my favorite wrinkle in this delightful reboot? The settings allow you to swap between the original score of the game, which totally rips, and modern arrangements, which also rip. — Joe Bloss, editorial coordinator

Super Mario Bros. Wonder might be my favorite Mario game yet. With neat power-ups and challenging levels, this game is fun, competitive and overall addictive. It’s perfect for reconnecting with friends you haven’t seen in a while with the game's online play mode. You definitely need to add this to your Switch collection! — Gabriella Triolo, social coordinator