The 2023 Games Thread - What Will You Play This Year?

[shortylickens]

We are looking at some decent crap this year. Theres a new Test Drive Unlimited and it may be a lot better than Forza Horizon.
Homeworld 3.
Starfield.
Vampire: The Masquerade® - Bloodlines™ 2
A 4X game called Falling Frontier.
STALKER 2.
A space and planet RTS called Fragile Existence.
A Lovecraft/Steampunk Survival Crafting game called Nightingale. https://www.playnightingale.com/
A Satisfactory clone called Volcanoids.
Fun fact: Satisfactory is still a long way from being finished.

 

[shortylickens]

Oh, and I'm not buying ANY of these games until theres at least 40 professional reviews out.
This paying for beta testing crap is OVER.

 

[SteveGrabowski]

Started the year with a fourth playthrough of Elden Ring, but a first on PC after getting a 6700 XT to replace my 1660 Super. Looks so much better at 1800p upscaled to 4k through Radeon Super Resolution on PC than playing the PS4 BC version at checkerboard 1800p (so really 1600x1800) on my PS5. I don't care how many times I play it, Elden Ring is so much fun to blast away at bosses in.

Played Control after that and it looks really cool graphically with the RT reflections but got bored and abandoned it about halfway through. Just couldn't get into the story at all, didn't find it nearly as interesting as Remedy's previous release, Quantum Break.

Currently playing God of War Ragnarok on PS5 and in the late game, another incredible release that would be GOTY most years but isn't as good as Elden Ring so couldn't take the 2022 crown. Still awesome enough I can't put it down though.

Not sure what I'll play next. @Stuka87's post reminds me I have Kena and have been wanting to play that for a while. Got a lot of real bangers in my backlog though. Just picked up Like a Dragon Ishin on Steam and have Miles Morales and Yakuza Like a Dragon on it too. Then have Demon's Souls Remake, Horizon Forbidden West, and the two Judgment games on PS5 and Shin Megami Tensei V on Switch. Will probably pick up The Last of Us Part 1 at the end of the month when it drops on Steam just to replay after watching the brilliant series. Probably leaning towards Yakuza Like a Dragon since a turn based RPG sounds awesome after playing through a couple of of Souls style combat games in Elden Ring and God of War Ragnarok. Guess I keep hoping SMT V will come to PC so I don't have to play at 30 fps haha.

 

[Sulaco]

I'm actually getting quite pumped for the RE 4 remake.

I'm a long time RE fan since 1996, and the original RE 4 was a GameCube launch day purchase for me. But after beating it, I never really had any desire to replay it. Easily THE most overrated RE game in the franchise to me. Still a great game and a lot of fun, but the whackjob story/characters just ruined the scares a bit too frequently.
But with the remake, I'm really curious to see how much of the "goofiness" they keep or if they have a darker, more menacing tone. VIllage had some pure silliness too but I was still able to have a lot of fun with it for the most part.

 

[Fenixgoon]

Started up Scarlet Nexus. Anime styling with DMC-style gameplay. The storyline is all over and difficult to explain, hah. It's not bad but I'm playing it moreso to see it through than because I'm invested in the story.

I will say, god bless whoever put in the option for skippable cutscenes. There are lots.

 

[GodisanAtheist]

Completed the main story of Witcher 3 (****ing masterpiece) and Hogwarts Legacy (solid 7/10 that just needed a bit more "bioware" if it wanted a 9/10).

Will count W3's expansions Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine as games unto themselves given i've spent 75 Hours on Witcher 3 alone.

 

[you2]

Completed the main story of Witcher 3 (****ing masterpiece) and Hogwarts Legacy (solid 7/10 that just needed a bit more "bioware" if it wanted a 9/10).

Will count W3's expansions Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine as games unto themselves given i've spent 75 Hours on Witcher 3 alone.

I didn't care for blood and wine but hearts of stone was absolute masterpiece. Tight and crisp story - a lot of fun.

 

[GodisanAtheist]

Hogwarts Legacy: Solid 7/10 game. Essentially carried by it's setting, but the game feels like there was a ton of content cut, which there was.

Solid launchpad for a series, and I suspect HWL2 will be a real banger if WB is on the ball, but as a standalone game it's solidly average if not at least very well executed.

Standard open world fare.

 

[GodisanAtheist]

Decided to fire up Wolfenstein: Youngbloods in between the Witcher 3 main story and Hearts of Stone.

I can already tell I'm not going to like this game nearly as much as the other entries in the reboot series thanks to to forced co-op, the crowbarred in RPG mechanics, and the god damn sponginess of some of the enemies (last boss on first level was such a pain in the ass).

I don't see myself hating the Blaskowitz sisters as much as some, however. They're definitely obnoxious but in a way that sort of fits with the camp element of new Wolf.

I'm only one mission in though, so lets see if I end up eating my words.

 

[GodisanAtheist]

Beat Wolfenstein Youngbloods.

Excellent game, especially consider its a "side entry" for the franchise.

Final boss was absolutely NOT difficult to beat. A little spongy, yes, but use Godhand and Uberhammer and you'll put him down FAST. Honestly first boss (General Winkler) is the hardest of the bunch. Start your last Bruder at level 32/33 or so (you're somewhat railroaded till the ending then) and the game will be a cake walk.

Toughest part of the game for me was losing internet connection and having to start all the way at the beginning of a level thanks to the always online GaaS BS.

 

[SteveGrabowski]

Have been absolutely glued to Zelda TOTK for the last month now, an absolute 10/10 masterpiece that I have like 170 hours in and am still way less than halfway through the story and sidequests. Had a lot of fun with Yakuza Like a Dragon before it, very solid 8.5/10 game and loved all the Dragon Quest shout outs. Ran great at 1800p for me too.

But I'll almost certainly be playing Tears of the Kingdom until at least Final Fantasy XVI comes out on PS5 and I'll probably get that after how much of a fan I was of Final Fantasy VII Remake (an easy 9/10), so might be a while before I'm back on PC gives FFXVI will probably be huge too.

Wonder if we're seeing Like a Dragon Gaiden this year?

 

[you2]

I'm playing a bit of spellforce eo and age of wonders 4; so far i'm finding wonders 4 slicker and spellforce eo better game.

 

[sandorski]

7 Days to Die Alpha 21 is supposed to be out soon. Will put many hours into that.

 

[GodisanAtheist]

Alright, started W3: Hearts of Stone.

Looks like more Velen, not sure how I feel about that, but we'll see how it goes.

Enemies are surprisingly pumped up, got killed by a pack of Wild Boars at level 38.

Funny I've killed the Wild Hunt and all sorts of insane crap and some wild boars killed me.

 

[the chillmaster]

I am so going to into Diablo 4. which is less than a week away!!

 

[the chillmaster]

Diablo IV is my honey. I can't wait to play it in just a few days!

 

[GodisanAtheist]

Since I obviously cannot play Witcher 3 on the couch with my kids around (Edit: well I could but it would rank up there for most questionable parenting choices I have made), I've fired up Jedi: Fallen Order as well.

Intro and first planet have been fun, the Soulslike fundamentals are there, and the Star Wars universe really brings the kids in. Shame these games don't have multiple profiles otherwise I'd let the kids use their hour of time on this game rather than Hogwarts.

 

[WelshBloke]

I'm trying not to get too excited by Starfield but my inner Squeeeee! is becoming hard to control!

 

[GodisanAtheist]

I'm trying not to get too excited by Starfield but my inner Squeeeee! is becoming hard to control!

-Ehhhhh still feels like Mass Effect without the hot alien babes and such.

Like most Bethsoft games it's likely worth sleeping on for a year or two as bugs get worked out, expansions are released, and QOL mods are released.

 

[GodisanAtheist]

Ok, just beat Witcher 3 Hearts of Stone. Absolutely superb expansion with an excellent narrative, interesting characters, a fantastic villain...

Just more of what you would play Witcher to get.

Started on Hearts of Stone, which as a new map/area looks like it will be more content but likely not as tightly constructed as Hearts of Stone.

 

[GodisanAtheist]

Completed Jedi Fallen Order.

Overall a fairly solid SW game, the story in typical Disney era SW fashion is a go nowhere sort of waste but I liked the characters and environments and most of the encounter design.

Final boss was absolutely miserable, but in that Souls Like way through gritted teeth and probably 10 attempts I got better and better at timing my blocks and evades and patiently landing a hit then running away until I whittled them down.

Had to really cheese one section where an imperial droid showed up and she would throw her saber at me. Kept that going as long as possible which really helped bring her health down.

 

[GodisanAtheist]

That's it. Looks like I've beaten Witcher 3. Just completed Blood and Wine and holy crap talk about unexpected consequences.

So I decided to take Syanna to Detlaff, and gave her the red ribbon in the process. Detlaff turns on me and that was a helluva boss fight. Afterward, decide to investigate who the Fifth victim was supposed to be. Oh, it's Anna Henrietta, let me warn her. Ok, she just got stabbed by her sister, her sister got shot in the neck, and now Regis has to bail because he's been outcast by Vampires for striking the killing blow against Detlaff. Kinda feel like I really screwed the pooch here. At least Triss shows up to vacay at the estate, so Geralt had that going for him...

Have to admit, it's a deeply unsatisfying ending and I almost feel compelled to load up the save before the castle and see if I can get Geralt a better, more fulfilling ending that doesn't end on such a down note.

 

[you2]

That's it. Looks like I've beaten Witcher 3. Just completed Blood and Wine and holy crap talk about unexpected consequences.

So I decided to take Syanna to Detlaff, and gave her the red ribbon in the process. Detlaff turns on me and that was a helluva boss fight. Afterward, decide to investigate who the Fifth victim was supposed to be. Oh, it's Anna Henrietta, let me warn her. Ok, she just got stabbed by her sister, her sister got shot in the neck, and now Regis has to bail because he's been outcast by Vampires for striking the killing blow against Detlaff. Kinda feel like I really screwed the pooch here. At least Triss shows up to vacay at the estate, so Geralt had that going for him...

Have to admit, it's a deeply unsatisfying ending and I almost feel compelled to load up the save before the castle and see if I can get Geralt a better, more fulfilling ending that doesn't end on such a down note.

Yea - heart and stone is 1000 times better and it is a bit shorter but the story is much tighter and really good.

 

[GodisanAtheist]

Yea - heart and stone is 1000 times better and it is a bit shorter but the story is much tighter and really good.

-IMO I think it's a fine adventure with a good story and plenty of self referential humor which was nice.

My biggest gripe with it really is that this is the end of the line for Geralt, this is his retirement and... Triss is the only one that shows up?

Would have loved to have characters from at least the entire game, if not the entire series show up for a final powwow at Corvo Blanco. Where is Dandelion? Where is Zoltan? Ciri should show up. Throw a big party. Let the player chat with characters that have been with you from Witcher 1 and let that be the "ending slide show" for the whole Geralt saga.

Instead Geralt's ending is just so... dull. I sort of expected something more for the end of his saga.

As an expansion though Blood and Wine was fantastic. Not as tight as Hearts of Stone but overall a fantastic "post main quest line" kind of adventure.

 

[Fenixgoon]

Beat Scarlet Nexus.
Beat Chaos Gate: Daemonhunters a 2nd time (w/ Duty Eternal DLC)

Not sure what to tackle next. I played MGSV a little but the game really wants you to be stealthy, rather than kill-everyone-stealthy.

Here's what's currently on my list:




And on my GOG List:

Iron Danger
Lords of the Fallen (2014)
My Friend Pedro (started but never beat)
Pyre (started but never beat)
Sang Froid
Seven
WarTile
Control
Farenheit/Indigo Prophecy