What a year 2023 was for gaming!
From AAA publishers to Indie games, 2023 was a year filled with something for everyone. With that in mind, I asked my fellow writers here at Boss Rush Network to share their Game of the Year, and what made it their stand-out experience.
Here’s what they had to say.
Moonring – James Bojaciuk
2023 was an exceptional year for video games. The best this year has to offer extends far beyond the AA and AAA games that dominated the conversation.
Thief: The Black Parade is a mod for the original Thief that goes beyond being a fan-made expansion to essentially become the third game in the series; if it had released earlier in the year, I suspect “Can a mod qualify for game of the year?” would be a hot topic. Backpack Hero is one of the best, most inventive puzzle games I’ve played in years. Other highlights include En Garde!, a swashbuckling puzzle brawler; World of Horror, which ties together its unique art style and setting with one of the best dungeon crawlers in recent memory; Book of Hours is, simply, one of the best games of the year.
But one game drew in my imagination and admiration like few others.
Moonring presents a remarkably fleshed-out fantasy world: a deep world, with significant roleplay options, featuring systems that go a good deal further than you expect. All of this is cast in a striking, beautiful neon-on-black style. Moonring is developed by one of the lead developers responsible for Fable and Dungeon Keeper, Dene Carter; this game feels like the culmination of his ambitious goals for RPGs, or at least a fully-realized step toward where the genre can go.
“This is my love-letter to a style of gaming that has largely fallen out of fashion,” Carter explained. “The days I spent playing these games were spent in joyful exploration and discovery, venturing into the dark unknown, a co-author of the experience, filling in the gaps left by the primitive art with my imagination. For those of you who did the same, I hope Moonring recaptures some of the spirit of those days for you. For those who did not, I hope that the more modern conveniences you find in this game allow you to catch a glimpse of what we did 40 years ago.”
Moonring is not only one of the most unforgettable games of the year, it is one of the best.
The game is free to own on PC, and can run on virtually any Steam-compatible hardware, so you have no reason not to dive into this incredible journey.
Book of Hours – Sam Reader
Cultist Simulator remains to this day a titanic achievement in gaming, a game simple enough that anyone can figure out the basics, but complex and obtuse enough it was the closest thing to House of Leaves in video game form.
Book of Hours is a more than able followup, one that doesn’t try to surpass its predecessor but instead takes the systems and weirdness in a new direction. It’s a slower, cozier kind of cosmic horror (a direction Dredge would similarly take this year) with an emphasis on reading and rearranging forbidden books as you manage a sprawling clifftop library. It’s a gorgeous, strange, and lovely game, and one that proves Weather Factory doesn’t miss.
Final Fantasy XVI – Josh Martinez
Final Fantasy XVI was a dark turn for the series and one I really enjoyed. There’s a lot of criticism of this game based solely on what people think makes a Final Fantasy game and that, in my opinion, unfairly tainted the view of it. That’s not to say the game is above reproach. It certainly had its high and low points.
For myself, however, it was a blast to play. As a standalone game, it was an excellent game that really showcased some great cinematics, a gorgeous world, and wonderful characters. I was enthralled with the story and loved the main protagonist Clive Rosfield.
The characters were fleshed out well enough that you cared about them. What made this game stand out was the insane Eikon battles. In lieu of traditional summons, Final Fantasy XVI utilized these titanic Eikons and each battle was unique and iconic.
We’re still awaiting the announcement of future DLC that will likely explore Valisthea more and I am looking forward to its arrival. While I really enjoyed Tears of the Kingdom, I think Final Fantasy XVI just inches it out. I just had a lot of fun with it and its story.
Baldur’s Gate 3 – Blake Thaggard
You’d be hard-pressed to find a best-of 2023 games list with no mention of Baldur’s Gate 3.
As a follow-up to BioWare’s classic isometric RPG series, the game exceeds every expectation. As a story in its own right, it’s nothing short of spectacular.
As a massive RPG and tabletop fan, there’s nothing that scratches the itch quite like it; a seamless blend between the beloved fifth edition of Dungeons and Dragons, and classic companion-driven role-playing action.
Every ounce of humor from the originals has been preserved and brought to new heights by Larian Studios. As someone who can spend hours just building characters, it’s beyond easy to get so caught up optimizing the early game that the thought of even reaching Act 2 is a daunting prospect – and any RPG that can eschew a genre-standard tutorial slog is one to remember.
WitchSpring R – Jou Lee Yang
I greatly enjoyed WitchSpring R, and it was entirely coincidental that I found this game while scrolling through Steam. I was looking for something with a great story line that didn’t require as much time and dedication as other RPGs I had been playing. I wanted something sweet yet thrilling.
WitchSpring R is about a young witch named Pieberry abandoned in the forest who lived isolated from the world besides the monsters around her home and the humans trying to hunt her. But when she finally steps out into the human world, she finds herself compelled to help those around her and finding out the past she has forgotten.
The game has some great turn-based combat, and it felt like the MMORPG I was looking for that didn’t actually have the mass amount of players in a server. I could train her stats, hunt down materials to craft potions, and even subdue monsters to become her tames.
It was a wonderful experience that, overall, took me a little over twenty hours to finish. It was definitely one of my favorite games that were released during this year.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 – Andrew Millard
Good sequels can take a number of approaches, but if one doesn’t follow through with a healthy amount of the style and substance of its predecessor, it can easily waste its momentum. Maybe there’s a dimension out there in the spider-verse where my game of the year squandered its potential, but that definitely isn’t the case here in our slice of reality.
Even with not one, but two sets of gigantic pairs of shoes to fill in the form of Spider-Man and Miles Morales, Spider-Man 2 Takes everything those games shined at and adds several more coats of luster. Where the first game took too many opportunities to disrupt your flow and force you to play spider-cop, Spider-Man 2 gives you much more room to breathe between calls to adventure. And rather than doing rah-rah police work, the game tackles a side story about a dangerous former detective. The emergent crimes are fewer and you are more often asked to be an aid to firefighters and EMTs.
The traversal in Spider-Man 2 is so fun that I found myself gladly noting when I’d unlocked fast travel, and then never using the option. Though I’d imagined a co-op mode with Peter and Miles, the game instead gave me the serendipity of passing the controller around with my daughter as we decided how to play next.
And through it all Peter, Miles, and the whole cast show the player that no matter where you’re at in life, there’s usually a chance to do some good. And if you haven’t been doing any good lately, well, that can change, too. It is a lovely theme and so rare that I can only compare it to the tone of Studio Ghibli movies.
Blizzard’s Warcraft Rumble – Jai V
While my hope had been for the new Monster Hunter Now AR experience by Capcom and Niantic to be my pick of the year, I am pleasantly surprised to share it’s actually Warcraft Rumble, which was released on iOS and Android on November 3rd!
I’m an avid MMO player, however I hadn’t played anything from the Warcraft IP in a very long time. So I was a bit apprehensive at first of A) feeling behind in Warcraft knowledge and B) trying out a mobile action strategy game for the first time. Not only was the mobile game experience extremely first-time player friendly, it is well-balanced and offers a lot more than I expected.
There’s guild chats where you can hype each other up while working together to unlock special minis and leveling rewards. Or remind each other that it’s Arclight Surge time.
There’s 70 starting PvE campaign maps, rotating dungeons, and quest instances where you can earn rewards to level up minis. Their in-game store’s G.R.I.D. feature is a pretty fun way to try and collect new Minis without feeling like a cash grab. And with 65 minis currently available, I say it’s quite dangerous for the character hoarder (*cough* I mean collector) in all of us.
Competitive? Go pitch your army against another player in PvP or have fun vying for the top spot in the guild leaderboard. Looking to build the ultimate 7-Mini Horde? You got it.
For the Alliance, just want an Undead army, or to overwhelm opponents by turning them into sheep or deploying chickens? Go for it.
Instances are long enough to scratch that before bedtime game itch and short enough to play while waiting for the kids to get off the bus.
In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if I play a round or two in joyful chaos while waiting for the New Year’s ball to drop.
Pikmin 4 – Eddie V
Nintendo delivered a variety of experiences this year. As much as I love and enjoyed certain games I bought from them, one game in particular had me running and twirling with praise.
Yes, Tears of the Kingdom did this but Pikman 4 took me on a whole different journey that made me love this game so much while missing a certain personal touch and involvement. Truly, Pikman 4 feels like Shigeru Miyamoto’s design, input, and ideas have returned to video games.
I mean this in the best way. As you and your new companion, Oatchi, are on a journey to find Captain Olimar and what happened to the crew on this planet called Urth, you feel not only the foundation of previous Pikman games, but older Legend of Zelda games with the dungeon-like undergrounds.
Finding new Pikman and fighting bosses really showcases how Miyamoto and the team of developers were able elevate the series to a higher degree, but to remind older players that Miyamoto still has it when it comes to developing games.
Say what you will about Starfox Zero but if you haven’t played Pikman 4, START IT UP OR PURCHASE IT AND START IT UP! The demo may be a tease but once you and Oatchi start progressing through the game, you’ll love every moment.
Also, OATCHI IS THE BEST CHARACTER OF 2023 and once you get attached to him, you don’t want to see him harmed. TRUST ME!!
Alan Wake II – Yarri C.
There come along titles that change the way you consider media. Maybe they push the boundaries further than you ever thought possible. Maybe they subvert all your expectations.
Maybe they do both.
And for me, Alan Wake II did both. Filled with thrills and chills, but also heart and passion, this celebration of all things Remedy left me captivated for the entire playtime, no easy feat.
Alan Wake II, despite being a survival horror title to its core, is a game that exudes fun and silliness. It’s made by people who, you can tell, just really really like making video games. I Laughed, I cried, I covered my face in a pillow, and pondered on its central thesis long after credits rolled.
It’s not a perfect game, but its imperfections don’t hinder it from the absolute triumph that it is. I was fully immersed in this world from start to finish, and a co-protagonist who both looked like and resembled me did a lot to help as well. I haven’t been this enchanted by a game in years, and this spooky, chilling, vibrant mystery was definitely the one to do it for me.
Aliens: Dark Descent – David Lasby
For die-hard fans of the Aliens franchise, the video games released over the years have been the franchise’s lifeblood even as the films have struggled to find their way. But for many, nothing has ever quite matched the feel of Colonial Marines fighting their way through LV-426 in the gritty, terrifying adventure of the second film.
Cold Iron Studios’ Aliens: Fireteam Elite certainly came the closest in the nearly four decades since Aliens, but the third-person shooter genre felt too much action, not enough horror for some. Others noted the individual “hero” feel of the gameplay rather than a true squad-based experience.
However, in June of 2023, Tindalos Interactive and Focus Entertainment released the real-time action game (a subgenre of RTS) Aliens: Dark Descent. The game is both terrifying and gripping as players control a squad of Colonial Marines trapped on the planet Lethe. The developer team nailed the atmosphere, recapturing the thrill and nostalgia, while also telling a damn good story.
Playing the game made me feel like I was really a part of the Colonial Marines, facing the duty and responsibility of command. The game’s format created a real bond between my squad and me, and I found myself worrying about individual marines as their stress levels became high and their vital signs weak. I really hope that the success of Aliens: Dark Descent will warrant a sequel.
Coral Island – Mary Helen Norris
After a wildly successful Kickstarter that I backed, I have eagerly been awaiting the full release of the game. I was able to play a bit of both Alpha and Beta for Coral Island but when 1.0 released, I had to restart from the very beginning.
What makes this game so good? There’s so much do to and there are several story lines that seem to be separate from each other only to start weaving together into one big picture. At the time of writing, I have almost played through an entire year and feel like I’ve only scratched the surface of everything there is to do – a refreshing change from games in the genre.
In my opinion, this is the most well-rounded and fulfilling farming sim since Stardew Valley.
We only scratched the surface of the amazing games that came out this year. Did we miss your favorite? Share it with us in our Boss Rush Facebook Group or our Boss Rush Discord.
Featured Image: Pixabay from Pexels
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