The Geekly Grind Presents: The Best Of 2023! [Video Games]
It’s been said about a thousand different ways by a million different people: 2023 was an absolutely killer year for video games. While this is accompanied by a massive asterisk in the form of extensive layoffs across some of the largest and most notable studios in the industry, the fact remains that the hard work of these developers paid off in multiple, top-tier titles that delivered hit after hit for the last 12 months.
Now, facing the final two weeks of the year, as is tradition, we must identify our top picks of the year. We’ll be doing our “Best of 2023” in a series, spotlighting top comics, movies, and anime as well in separate articles.
When it comes to our awards, while our crown jewel will be awarded to a single title, the additional picks (honorable mentions and runners-up) are in no particular order.
So here it is: The Geekly Grind’s Best Video Games of 2023!
Honorable Mentions
Dave the Diver
Controversy surrounding its nature as an “indie” title aside, Dave the Diver was a surprise hit and a delightful retreat into the mysterious depths of The Blue Hole. With memorable characters, a charming pixelated style, and a staggering amount of replayability, Dave the Diver is an awesome title that deserves to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with many of the best titles 2023 had to offer.
Sea of Stars
It’s gotta be tough when you’re carrying the burden of delivering a true spiritual successor to Chrono Trigger, one of the most beloved RPGs of all time. Still, I can think of no better studio to take it on than Sabotage, who so beautifully delivered The Messenger, which accomplished something similar for the classic Ninja Gaiden titles. While there were some areas that could use some tuning (writing, compelling main characters), the beauty of the world, crisp combat and stunning soundtrack merged together to deliver something special.
Super Mario Bros Wonder
Mario had a pretty solid year, all things considered. His movie smashed expectations, grossing nearly $1.4 billion, and on top of that we got a new 2D Mario in the form of Super Mario Bros. Wonder. The family-friendly title built upon the rock-solid foundation of everyone’s favorite mustachioed plumber, but the addition of Wonder flowers, which can warp and distort the level in unique and delightful ways (ever see a chorus of singing pirahna plants?) provided some depth and replayability. This, combined with some new powers, a robust roster of characters to choose from, and a vibrant world to explore all led to an amazing game for all ages to enjoy, and one of the best games of 2023 as a result.
Spider-Man 2
Insomniac Games shifted the paradigm around what a superhero game could be when it released Spider-Man. This year, they further refined the formula, distilling it into an action-packed, dramatic title that pitted Peter and Miles against a host of new threats, with tons of intriguing cameos that opens the door for future DLC. Taking an already amazing traversal system and taking it up a notch, Spider-Man 2 married this with a simplified set of powers and gadgets, resulting in tighter combat that still felt bombastic and worthy of a superhero game. Once again, stellar voice acting performances further elevated the narrative, and while it may have felt like more of the same for some, it was a standout gaming experience of 2023 for me.
Runners-Up
Armored Core VI
I have to start by admitting that I’m just a bit biased when it comes to Armored Core VI - mainly because I’m a sucker for giant mechs. So, when FromSoftware, maker of the iconic Dark Souls franchise, stepped forward to deliver their take on a long-running mech-battler, I was immediately invested. Unsurprisingly, it was a gem. While the learning curve in the early weeks was punishingly steep (curse you, Balteus!) the satisfaction that came from your eventual victory was hard to beat. With a host of build possibilities, challenging duels to engage in, and a surprisingly solid core narrative with great voice acting (“I…won’t miss!”), Armored Core VI solidly stands among my favorite titles of the year.
Octopath Traveler II
We’ve seen it many times before on social media: the lament of older gamers yearning for the titles of yesteryear. Specifically, the “golden age” of RPGs enjoyed on the Super Nintendo. An era of vibrant sprites, tweaks to turn-based combat and sweeping narratives that were far grander and detailed than any we could have hoped to get in the 8-bit age. This year, Octopath Traveler II helped to re-ignite that magic. Depicted in the stunning HD-2D style that Team Asano is further refining with each iterative title, and complemented by a superb soundtrack by Yasunori Nishiki, Octopath Traveler II tells 8 amazing stories, each centered on a different hero, and tangentially woven together as the story reaches its shared climax. With a vibrant world to explore, and an engaging combat system to lean into, it took me back to my younger years, waking up early on the weekend to log some hours on Chrono Trigger or Final Fantasy VI. An honest-to-goodness gem of a game, it stands among my favorites of 2023.
Lies of P
With FromSoftware busy with Armored Core VI, as well as the pending Elden Ring DLC, I know soulslike fans like me were wondering: “What about us?” Well, the folks at Neowiz Games and Round8 Studio had a plan in place all along in the form of Lies of P. Taking the classic story of Pinocchio and turning it on its head, Lies of P was one of the surprises of the year, delivering a high-quality soulslike that felt it was fresh off FromSoftware’s press. With a host of weapon options, challenging bosses and a hauntingly beautiful world and story, Lies of P was an amazing experience that truly delivered on the soulslike genre.
Final Fantasy XVI
What is a Final Fantasy game? The release of the latest mainline title sparked this conversation with fervor, as fans on both sides of the spectrum took to social media to determine whether or not Final Fantasy XVI was indeed, a Final Fantasy game. For this longtime fan, it certainly was. With an amazing take on action-centric combat (which also featured some of the most memorable boss encounters I’ve ever had), spectacular voice acting performances across the board, Masayoshi Soken’s magnum opus of a soundtrack, all blended together with a compelling narrative befitting a dark fantasy tale, Final Fantasy XVI cleared the high bar that the franchise has set, and then some.
Alan Wake 2
A dark horse in the game of the year race, Alan Wake 2 had a relatively late arrival in the year, and yet fostered some amazing conversations around subverting the horror genre and delivering a truly unique gaming experience. You wouldn’t think a fully-fledged musical number nestled into a horror game would work, but in Alan Wake 2 it absolutely does. With genuinely frightening elements of psychological horror, spectacular music and tight gameplay, Alan Wake 2 will leave you pondering long after you’ve rolled the credits. Oh, and definitely check out New Game+, it’s going to make you question your sanity even more…
Video Game of the Year:
Baldur’s Gate 3
Every once in a while there’s a game that comes out that actively helps to define a genre, and this year Baldur’s Gate 3 did exactly that for role playing games. Taking the core gameplay mechanics of Dungeons & Dragons and building out a robust narrative across three acts, Baldur’s Gate 3 offers a nearly endless number of opportunities for the player. Story beats that you think are inevitable on your first playthrough can be unraveled with a simple perception check or failed roll, sworn enemies can become lovers, and a few well placed explosive barrels can lay waste to even the largest and most well-guarded strongholds. With a wealth of class options, combined with the variation in the core narrative, hundreds of hours of gameplay await…hundreds of hours that you’ll thoroughly enjoy as you soak in the rich visuals, fantastic soundtrack and award-winning* voice acting performances. All in all, it’s a momentous achievement from Larian Studios, and our pick for the best game of 2023.
*Congrats Neil Newborn!
