To be perfectly honest, sitting down and thinking about my favorite games of 2023 has been a surreal experience. When I look back on my corresponding list I wrote in 2022, I feel like the person who wrote that is a fundamentally different person? than who I am today.

At the time, I was still recovering from some rough life experiences and wasn’t playing a lot of new games. My list of candidates was so sparse that I had to include Jimothy Donbleau’s Quest for Game of the Year, which is totally real and not just something I mocked up in RPG Maker. Look, I’ve always had an overwhelming passion for video games. Once upon a time, I was here as a community member of Destructoid talking about my story of playing Final Fantasy II (IV) bef??ore I could even read. But it was always something I treated as my hobby and no??t my work.

Now, ever since Chris �.5�Carter invited me to write for Destructoid full-time, my relationship with the world of gaming has changed a lot. I’ve gotten to preview games like Persona 3 Reload, Dragon’s Dogma 2, and even Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. I was able to review huge games like Diablo 4 and be on the forefront of complaining about its microtransactions. And aside from talking about new releases, I got to write about the insane backstory behind Gex and how The Magical Quest Starring Mickey Mouse still holds up.

And of course, I must mention the entire week I spent pouring my heart and soul into a single Link’s Awakening analysis for Destructoid’s Zelda Week. I’ve been given so many opportunities to follow my passions here, and I cannot express how thankful I am that so many of you have been reading my words. Despite the? gaming community’s reputation for toxicity, most of you have been nothing but exceedin??gly kind and supportive. I don’t know what I did to deserve that, but from the bottom of my heart, I’m grateful to you all.

The dark side of the industry

That said, I can’t say this year has been a bed of roses. Being this close to “the industry�and seeing how the sausage gets made has meant being keenly aware of layoffs after layoffs after layoffs after layoffs after�you get the point.

It’s been hard to retain my enthusiasm for video games when the people making them have been treated like disposable assets. It’s as if the ones responsible for these firings merely see their employees as gears in a machine, completely unaware that those gears have hopes, aspirations, families, and maybe the occasional desire to just stop turning fo??r a few minutes. Even if 2023 was a particularly bad year for job security, it’s not like any of this is necessarily new. But it’s been hard to sit here and enjoy amazing new video games when so many lives were changed in the process.

In the face of such tumultuous times, I’ve frankly felt kind of cursed. Feelings of imposter syndrome and more have welled up throughout the year. All in all, I’m doing okay. But I also couldn’t talk about a bunch of cool games I played this year without acknowledging the sheer mental and emotional cost they accru??ed. My hope beyond hope is that everyone who lost their jobs this year will land back on their feet soon.

Now let’s talk about video games

Some quick ground rules for my rankings: I’m not limiting my picks this year to strictly 2023 games. Since there was some warm reception last year to seeing ??older games pop up, anything I played this year is fair game. Priority is given to completely new titles though, so don’t expect older stuff in the top 3.

Also, I’m only ranking games that I finished or at least got close to finishing. So while I’m sure Tears of the Kingdom belongs on this list, I didn't play enough to have much to say about it. And given how much I struggled to find time this year, I had absolutely no chance of making progress in Baldur’s Gate 3. I played more games than I ever have and still missed some of the bigg??est hits of the year, which is maybe worrying. I’m going to choose n?ot to think about that now.

Timothy Monbleau’s favorite disaster of 2023: The Last of Us on PC

Look, playing The Last of Us on PC was not pleasant. I had a lot of issues, to the point that my write-up for the port had less to do with the game and more to do wit?h my whirlwind experience of playing ??it. But I can’t pretend that I didn’t have an absolute blast writing that piece for you all.

From what I understand, The Last of Us on PC is at least a bit better today than it was then. At the very least, the underlying game was still excellent, which made coping with the ridiculous PC port easier. It was a good, bad time, and sometimes those experiences are memorable too. Still probably better than ?half the? things Zoey puts herself through every week, though.

#10: Astlibra Revision

I was barely able to finish Astlibra before 2023 ended. Fittingly, it barely makes its way onto my best of the year list. Granted, I don’t mean that as an insult. The fact that I’d sooner rank a game made predominately by one person over other polished AAA games is a testament to KEIZO's dedication to this passion project. The ever-evolving gameplay was an absolute trip, and the story really stuck out to me with its n?umerous twists and turns.

It’s a title for a very specific audience. But if you like the grindy games, there’s truly nothing quite like Astlibra.

#9: The Legend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails

Few things make me smile wider than a Falcom action game, and The Legend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails is no exception. Despite technically being an HD version of a decade-old PSP game, Nayuta’s adventure absolutely competes with the best games released this year. The combat gave me a rush that only Falcom games can, and the soundtrack is easily one of my favori??tes of?? this year.

Nayuta’s adventure is pure RPG comfort food. One day, I’d love to complete a New Game Plus run and see everything it has to offer. It's just a pleasant time from start to finish, and a game I highl?y recommend you check out if it passed you by this?? year.

#8: Final Fantasy VII Remake

How’s this for a long overdue backlog game? Someone into both RPGs and Final Fantasy like me should have had Final Fantasy VII Remake long finished by now, but with Final Fantasy VII Rebirth on the horizon, I knew I needed to catch up?. And, surprise, it’s a good game.

I’m going to make a potentially controversial statement here, but the weirdest thing about Final Fantasy VII Remake is that it kind of felt like a better version of Final Fantasy XIII? I mean, the dungeon design often devolves into hallways, but the inclusion of puzzles and twists and turns helps disguise it much better. The battle system feels like an evolution of the mix of action and menu-based combat XIII attempted, with things skewed towards the “action�side to give mo??re player freedom. Even the weapon upgrades feel like the Crystarium with less busy work.

I don’t say this to argue that Final Fantasy XIII is actually a misunderstood gem. It was just a weird case of déjà vu, but also a testament to how rough ideas can be refined in interesting ways. Also, I like?? that Tifa and Aerith are pal??s this time around. I’m not emotionally prepared for anything to happen to them in the sequel.

#7: Rakuen Deluxe Edition

Rakuen is the very first game I reviewed for Destructoid, and�I honestly feel a little bad about it. I was still finding my voice at the time, and in retrospect, I perhaps focused too much on critique and created a negative sounding review. A lot of that was because of my reaction to Mr. Saitou, but it does seem like most people? did enjoy that little side story. Honestly, I’m happy to be in the minority as far as that goes!

All of this is to say, Rakuen was a special experience. It’s a very earnest, emotional story that hit me hard after my experience through the pandemic, even though Rakuen originally came out in 2017. And Laura Shigihara did a fantastic job on the music here. Build a Little World With Me is one of the most emotional??ly devastating songs I’ve ever heard, and I’m amazed more artists haven’t covered it. I’d say I’ll listen to anyone? who takes a stab at it, but I don't think I’m ready for that feels-trip again.

#6: Blasphemous 2

As far as my personal tastes go, Blasphemous 2 is an absolute dark horse hit. I genuinely was not grabbed at all by Blasphemous when I tried it out, and I was prepared to just treat reviewing the sequel like sheer work. Imagine my surprise when I realized that I didn’t just like Blasphemous 2, but I loved it. It just hit so many notes that I feel a Metroidvania should, and I adored nearly every boss battle.

I don’t typically expect Metroidvanias to hit the highs of stuff like the GBA Castlevania games, but The Game Kitchen p??ulled it off in stride. It’s just a good as hell video game that's well worth your time, whether you played the first or n?ot.

#5: Super Mario RPG

It’s Super Mario RPG, what do I even have to say? It’s one of gaming’s greatest creative collaborations, and this remake retains nearly everything that made the SNES classic special. Mario RPGs work so well for both genre fanatics and those who typically dislike RPGs, and Super Mario RPG especially reminded me of that.

If the Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door remake (remaster?) does just as well and succe??eds commercially, I hope we see a renaissance of Nintendo RPGs. Bonus points if we get Yoko Shimomura back for the soundtracks!

#4: Terranigma

Anyone who has followed me this year knows I’ve spent a lot of time discussing this nearly 30 year old RPG. I wrote a whole passionate write-up about it b?ack in May, and I even ranked it as one of the top three best SNES games ever made. Given how much I’ve already said about it, I’m going to let you in on my dirty se?cret that ??partially influenced why I’m so enthusiastic about it.

This year was the first time I’d ever finished Terranigma.

Don’t get me wrong, I played Terranigma a lot when I was younger. However, given the game’s Europe exclusivity, let’s just say I had a rough time trying to beat it with a keyboard two decades ago. My main motivation for playing it this year is that I wanted to rank Illusion of Gaia on my best SNES games li??st. However, I needed to see if Quintet’s subsequent game was more worthy of the spot.

I was not prepared for how hard Terranigma’s themes would strike right?? through my soul. Shortly after I finished the game, my girlfriend called me while she drove home from work. I was doing my best to engage in our usual small talk, but she could tell there was something different about me.

She asked me about it, and I just started bawling, and we spent the rest of our call talking about Terranigma. The ending didn’t even have those big emotional moments that I was expecting it would. But everything Terranigma was about, and everything it had built up to, just sunk in. I was so profoundly sad and so happy to be alive all at the same time, and I couldn’t believe something that powerful was hidden in an SNES game all this time. A week hasn’t gone by since where I haven’t thought about Ark’s journey in one way or? another.

I gave myself the rule about prioritizing newer games in my rankings here because Terranigma was, hands down, the game that impacted me the most this year. It’s easily in my top 10 games of all time and stands as a testament to the reasons we create and share art with each othe??r. I’m almost three decades late to the party, but you did it Quintet. You created a masterpiece, and I’ll never, ever forget it.

#3: Final Fantasy XVI

Final Fantasy XVI is somehow both a critical darling and a surprisingly divisive game, and I can understand both sides. I don’t necessarily agree with every take on its gameplay or story I’ve read, but I do get the points of view. Personally, Final Fantasy XVI really resonated with me, and I felt it was the kind of?? st??ory I needed this year.

As I discussed back when I was ranking Final Fantasy games, the series likes to explore the concept of hope amid hopeless circumstances. And despite how edgy Final Fantasy XVI is, I felt this ?spirit was in??tact. This particularly struck me early in Clive’s journey, when he is getting to know his mentor figure Cid. Clive explains his desire for revenge, which makes Cid rather bluntly respond with:

“Fate. You’re content to be its slave then.�/p>

Many RPGs explore the concept of fate, but usually from an external perspective. For example, for the characters in Final Fantasy XIII, their fate of becoming l’Cie is forced on them, and the game’s theme involves breaking free of that fate. But in Final Fantasy XVI, fate is anything that takes our agency away from us. Whether it’s the destruction of your home or a desire for revenge that clouds y??our judgment, we’re constantly struggling with forces that threaten to take or redirect our freedom.

That depiction of fate has really struck me since it’s something that I struggle with daily. And I’ll venture a guess that many of you have you??r own "fates" you're battling too. Reframing fate in those terms has, weirdly, been mentally grounding for me. Whenever I feel myself staring too deep into that void, feeling hopeless as the world around us just seems weirder and dumber with each passing day, I try to remember Cid’s words. I don’t want to be a slave to fate. No matter how futile that may seem, it’s something I want to fight against.

I also like the part where Clive gets the big laser beam move and can go pew pew on his enemies. Good game, I hope to have a drink with Ben Starr someday.

#2: Super Mario Bros. Wonder

After discussing two games in a row that made me think and feel, it’s also important to remember games that are like the equivalent of being dropped in a Six Flags as a kid with $500 in your wallet. I went into Super Mario Bros. Wonder expecting something along the lines of the New Super Mario Bros. games, but what I got instead was pure, unadulterated joy. As much as I like to wax poetic about video games, sometimes I enjoy a?? good v?acation too.

I love 3D Mario, but 2D Mario has always been where it’s at for my tastes. And Super Mario Bros. Wonder is, without a doubt, the best 2D Mario game I’ve played since Super Mario World. The level design consistently knocks it out of the park, the Wonder gimmicks are almost always entertaining, and it’s visually more filled with life than all the New games combined. There wasn’t a minute of Wonder where I wasn’t having fun; i??t was pure ?Nintendo magic from start to finish.

All in all, 2023 was a great year for Mario fans. And as cynical as I’ve become about our modern corporate world, the thought of parents sharing these wonderful Mario experiences with their kids this ??year just warms my ??heart.

#1: Octopath Traveler 2

Octopath Traveler 2 is one of those games where I couldn’t even comprehend how special it was until it was over. I went into it expecting more of the original Octopath Traveler, which I liked but did not love (similar to Chris Carter’s take). But if Octopath Traveler was a love letter to golden age SNES/PSX RPGs, Octopath Traveler 2 is a perfect encapsulation of them.

This is, without a doubt, one of the most fun RPG worlds I’ve ever explored. There are secrets and bosses around nearly every corner, rewarding every ounce of curiosity you have. At the same time, it never feels like you’re just cutting through filler content either. Octopath Traveler 2 is immaculately paced?, always tantalizing your senses with story objectives and rare treasures to pursue.

Similarly, the game’s combat mechanics offer a wonderful level of depth. Random encounters never gave me that usual feeling of tedium, since I felt consistently engaged in figuring out ways to dispatch foes faster and faster. Octopath Traveler 2 does a fantastic job of offering rich levels of party customization, yet it never bogs the player down with them. I was constantly getting huge “aha!â€?moments whenever I discovered different synergies with my skills and equipment. This did eventually make the game feel easy, but I also felt like I’d earned it. Even after spending nearly 100 hours with the game, I was fi?ddling with my team and experimenting wi?th new ideas.

The segmented story has grown on me in retrospect too.?? While I initially didn’t?? like how separated each character’s tale was, that structure felt so real to me this year. Our paths often cross with friends and comrades, but ultimately, we’re all the heroes of our own stories. We all have our dreams we’re reaching for, and those goals may create temporary friendships of convenience.

But that’s not to say that those practical relationships can’t become meaningful. It’s human to want to make connections where we can, and we see the characters in Octopath Traveler 2 do that too. Hikari’s mission to lead Ku will naturally diverge from Agnea’s aspiration to become a star. But that doesn’t mean that, for a brief time, they can't share a story together. People often come and go in our lives, and seemingly lifelong friendships may become fleeting over time. But those memories, however temporary, are important. And by the end of Octopath Traveler 2, that’s the sense I got from these eight unlikely, but ultimately rel??atabl?e allies.

There’s no telling where our paths in life will take us. But if we only look ahead at where we want to be, we might miss the adventure we can have now. And in the case of Octopath Traveler 2, there are few adventures I’ll? ever look back on as fondly. Here’s to what 2024 may bring, and may Team Asano rest easy knowing they’ve created such a special?, captivating game.

#0: Jimothy Donbleau’s Quest for Game of the Year 2: We’re All Content

That crazy bastard did it aga??in, Jimothy Donbleau wins Game of the Year 2023!!!

The post Timothy Monbleau’s 10 favorite games of 2023 appeared first on Destructoid.

Each year, we're treated to a new collection of lovable characters in video games. Some of ?them might be returning, familiar fa?ces or mascots. But plenty of new characters made our favorite games of 2023, too.

Within a single character, there's a huge amount of work done b??ehind-the-scenes. It's not just design, or writing, or even direction. The actors themselves put themselves into it, and in a time where stabs at s??o-called AI are propagating at an uncomfortable rate, celebrating all the minds that make these characters shine is crucial, too.

At their best, a character gives the player a tangible, connective experience with a game. Something they want to share with friends, write about, create art for, and remember well. Whether it's a newfound main in a fighting game, a favorite companion in an RPG, or just a silly platformer mascot that makes you laugh, a charac?ter can make games come together.

So, in that spirit, which newcomers were our favorite new characters of 2023? The Desructoid staff has rounded up each of our favorites and why. We ho??pe ??you find some new faces to love in here, too.

Eric Van Allen: Karlach from Baldur's Gate 3

It would be really, truly easy to put any of Baldur's Gate 3's companions on this list. Even if they might technically count as 2020 characters, they all reached their full potential in BG3's full launch in August, and they form an ??RPG party that is truly an all-timer. But one is an emotional constant, a facet of the party I consider essential: Karlach.

From the jump, Karlach is immediately endearing. She's energetic and strong, intimidating to her foes and kind to her friends. Quickly, the nicknames like "??soldier" trickle in, and I'm buying a drink for whichever writer coined that. From little dances to fiery explosions of rage, she's always a fun inclusion.

But reach Act 3, and you'll start to see Sama??ntha Béart's performance as Karlach really shine. They bring a depth of emotion to Karlach. The warrior has a ticking clock in her heart, an Infernal Engine. The tension between Karlach's search for meaning and joy outside Zariel's clutches, and the Engine burning her up, is a highlight. It makes Karlach incredibly memorable in a cast full of greats.

Zoey Handley: Mio Kurosuzu from Paranormasight

In itself, Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo was a big surprise this year. It wasn’t on my radar, having been announced a month before its March 8 release date, but somehow, for some reason, I fi??t it in with an extremely busy review workl??oad I had piled on myself. But I played through it, and it wound up being one of my favorite titles of the year.

Paranormasight is an extremely capable visual novel full of great characters, but the standout for me is Mio Kurosuzu. She is technically only a supporting character for Yakko, who is one of the game’s curse-bearers,?? but easily overshadows her. Even at her young age, she has a knowledge of the oc?cult that exceeds the professionals in the story, and while Yakko is impulsive and naive, Mio is courageous and calculating.

Mio has very little skin in the mysteries behind Paranormasight, and instead just seems to remain in the midst of things due to her curious nature. Her frank, blunt interactions wi??th the adults in the narrative are an absolute joy and stick with me long after I rolled credits on the game.

Timothy Monbleau: Hikari Ku from Octopath Traveler 2

I initially went into Octopath Traveler 2 pessimistic about its segmented story structure. And while I didn’t quite warm to it by the time I finished the game, its characters really grew on me as I thought about it in retrospect. Originally, I picked the warrior Hikari (who is wonderfully performed by Howard Wang) as my protagonist because I’m as vanilla as a Frappuccino. But since then, I’ve really learned to love what he represents in Octopath Traveler 2’s big picture.

Every character in the game has a dream they’re fighting to fulfill. On the lighter end, we have characters like Agnea, who wants to become a star and put smiles on everyone’s faces. And on the more serious end, we have someone like Partitio, who is functionally waging war on the personification of unfettered capitalism (It took me an embarrassing amount of time to realize that Roque feller sounds an awful lot like Rockefeller). These aren’t necessarily your typical RPG?? goals, but they are important to the betterment of society. Each character does, in their own way, change the world.

This brings us to Hikari, who is subtly positioned as the “hero�of Octopath Traveler 2’s overarching story. But unlike the others, he doesn’t necessarily have his own dream to pursue. His quest begins almost out of reluctance, as he fights to become king despite having no real desire to rule. Yet he takes this role because he realizes the alternative; a world in which his brother rules Ku is a world where no one’s dreams can come true. Throughou??t his tale, Hikari repeats the classic RPG cliché that he fights for his friends. But in the sco?pe of the overall story, this familiar trope takes on a new meaning.

Hikari doesn’t become a king because he wants to change the world. Instead, he believes in his comrades who can change the world. And though this comes at a relative sacrifice to himself, it’s something he tirelessly fights for regardless. Hikari is a?? leader but not a ruler, and it’s nice to imagine a world in which people like that held power. Perhaps that’s a dream all of its own.

Also, Hikari has a sick theme song and starts pushing 4-digit damage number?s before you even finish his prologue. What an amazing ga??me.

Smangaliso Simelane: Saga Anderson from Alan Wake 2

When Alan Wake 2 was announced, I was thrilled that the next chapter of the writer’s story was coming, and the revelation that it would be a survival horror game excited me more. When I discovered that the story would be split between Alan and ??this new character - Saga Anderson - I feared that I’d be getting less Alan. To my pleasure, not only does Saga’s rationally driven Mind Place beautifully complement Alan’s surreal horror, but she’s also one of?? my favorite characters overall in recent years.

Saga, played by Melanie Liburd, is a combination of two of?? my favorite storytelling elements: detective themes and mythology. Her role as an FBI agent investigating cult murders has her fearless and unrelenting, even when she realizes she is up against the supernatural. To make sense of things, she has an i??nternal Mind Place where clues are collected and connected.

Dig a little deeper into Saga, and you discover how several elements, from her name, to her connection to Odin, and ??much more are borrowed from Norse mythology. It’s a nice inclusion that gives her complexity and demonstrates just how much thought Remedy put into crafting this character.

But Saga’s more than just a fact-finding detective. She’s also a mother, wife, and a close friend to Alex Case??y. There’s always more to find out about her, whether it's about her job or her personal life.

Most importantly, her FBI jacket looks?? awesome and ??I want one.

Steven Mills: Clive Rosfield from Final Fantasy XVI

Let me start by saying this could have very easily also been Cid Telamon (voiced by Ralph Ineson), but since I had to choose one I ultimately decided to go with Clive. I've not really been a fan of main Final Fantasy characters in recent entries into the series—well, besides Final Fantasy XIV—but Clive will really go down as one of my favor??ites.

Of course, a lot of the appreciation I have for Clive is due to the incredible voicework of Ben Starr. If you want a little sample of what you can expect, just play through the Final Fantasy XVI demo. The roughly two-hour experience shows off Starr's incredible ability to give real character and emotion to Clive. I'm excited for more FF16 DLC to see Starr in action as Clive, but it's also made me excited to see Starr's work in the upcoming Warframe 1999.

Historically Final Fantasy protagonists usually have a sort of edginess to them. I'm not necessarily against that, but it's a real breath of fresh air that Clive is without a doubt the most realistic protagonist in the franchise. We see him deal with tragedy and loss front and center, and over the long narrative of FF16, we literally see him grow as a person.

There's a very powerful turning point in the story involving Clive and the other character I considered for this spot, Cid. The actions Clive takes after that turning point sums up his character and cements him as my favorite this year??. Overall, Clive is just a good dude, despite having such a tragic life.

He's also pretty badass with his ability t??o absorb the power of other Eikon's. What may be the fr?anchise's most powerful protagonist also happens to be its coolest. Nice work, Square!

The post Here are Destructoid’s favorite new characters of 2023 appeared first on Destructoid.

Well??, that's a wrap on 2023. I??t was, by all accounts, a strange year.

On the game release side, there were some pretty incredible ones launched this year. And on the games industry side, it was historically fraught, as thousands have lost their jobs. Even the media side felt rough this year, as we saw outlets cut staff and close doors.

For me personally, I managed to do some writing I'm proud of, but it's still been tough. My hope is that 2024 doesn't have this stark contrast at the end, but only time will tell. I certainly feel games like Metaphor, Rebirth, and Dragon's Dogma 2 are already set up to make a big splash.

On the games front though, it was absolutely stellar. 2023's games got me through a lot. I'm certain we'll b?e talking about them for years to come, ranging from the titanic AAAs to the smaller projects. This is a year where my no. 8 could fight for a top spot any other year, it's just been that good. Let's get into it.

Paranormasight

From the outset, Paranormasight is already my kind of jam. It's a mystery adventure game, where several people are pulled into a supernatural death game. Each one has been bestowed a curse, and told that if they kill enough of their fellow curse-bearers, they? can bring someone back to life. Already great.

But what really locked Paranormasight in for me is how smart its puzzles are. Director Takanari Ishiyama brings some expertise to this area, having a less-known-in-the-west history with detective games. At several points, Paranormasight rips the rug out from under you, or asks you to meaningfully engage with its systems�em>all of its systems.

These "a-ha" breakthroughs felt tough, without ever feeling like too much. It's maybe a testament to how much I liked Paranormasight that I wish it were longer; once the credits rolled on the true ending, I was hoping I'd somehow uncover another lead to chase. I really can't recommend this enough for horror and ?mystery fans.

Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty

Oh boy, Cyberpunk. A catastrophic launch, then months and months of patches, then Edgerunners debuts and everyone is teed up for the big question: is Cyberpunk good now? And honestly, the answer is yeah, it's really good now. The combined launch of Phantom Liberty and Cyberpunk 2.0 really brought this game together.

It's still the first-person RPG that mixes the open-world do-anything style of GTA with splashes of Deus Ex, Shadowrun, and other inspirations. Many of the foundational pieces, flaws and all, are still here. Phantom Liberty provides an exciting ??spy thriller with some strong performances; though I like Idris? Elba, I really need to emphasize that Cherami Leigh left it all on the field with her performance as female V. Truly award-worthy stuff.

Between making the skill progression more interesting, updating how different builds work, and adding new ideas and concepts into the world, this version of Cyberpunk 2077 feels like the closest CD Projekt Red can get the game to its most realized state. It's certainly got me keen on a 2078, or whatever you want to call it. Not without flaws, but even still, I love the new ending, and I'll never tire of simply? cruising around Night City??.

Slay the Princess

When I demoed Slay the Princess at PAX East 2023, it was a joy not only to see my own playthrough, but watch others play it too. This seemingly simple text game hid a web of narrative twists and turn??s under its surface, all responding to the ways in which players approached a single situation: you're in the woods, on your way to a cabin. A voice tells you that inside, there is a princess, and you need to kill her to save the world. So, what's next?

Suffice to say, the full game lived up to those expectations and then some. What starts as a single quandary with its own surprises and responsive outcomes becomes an entire experience about those interpersonal relationships. The ways in which little things, like leaving or taking the knife, or even being up-front about whether you have the knife, can distinctly alter the tone and outcomes with the Pr??incess i??s fascinating.

It all gives way to cosmic horror, terror, suspense, and some tearful moments. I think Slay the Princess is fairly open to a number of reads. For me, as I wrote in my review, it was about finality and the fleeting experiences we feel in life. But for others, it could be about love, loss, estrangement, death, grief, hope, despair, anything. It contains multitudes. And I think if any of that sounds appealing, you need to play Slay the Princess ASAP.

Final Fantasy XVI

What an interesting entry. I struggled with this one as, while I get why fans hoping for a more traditional RPG experience felt a little let-down here, I really enjoyed my time with Final Fantasy XVI. It?'s got a fascinating blend of action and RPG, trying to marry the two in ways that take a while to click together.

In fact, a lot of XVI starts to come together when you have more of its Eikon forms, and can start to really mold a playstyle around them. I loved patiently waiting and dodging in my Bahamut form, then setting off a massive Megaflare and unleashing a combo on its heels. The later forms like Odin arrive almo??st too late in the game. But ??combined together, they're a really fun set of tools to unleash. They're even more incredible in the boss fights, which were huge and a joy to blast through.

Where XVI shone for me most was the performances, though. Clive, Cid, Joshua, Jill, and Dion form a solid central cast. I like the dramatic moments, and I really, really clicked with the "brotherhood" story at the center. It's not all Final Fantasy fans' cup of tea, but f??or me, it was an attempt at somethi?ng fresh that stuck with me.

Chained Echoes

This is a December 2022 title, but since those games are often left by the wayside amid end-of-year talks, I'm letting Chained Echoes sneak onto my 2023 list. Because, f?rankly, it's an absolute banger. I think if I had finished it ??last year, it would've been a top entry.

Matthias Linda's RPG is certainly nostalgic for a certain era of the genre, but unlike others that fall into the trap of simple replication, Chained Echoes crafts something new from all its disparate parts. The ransom board, the heat and overdrive mechanics, even the way each character feels so distinct from one another is sincerely wonderful.

Its story is better than I think most give it credit for, too. I love a lot of the early Act 1 writing, and the eventual twists might be a tad predictable, but that doesn't mean they aren't enjoyable to watch unfold. The music is simply sublime too, and the side content was surprisingly fun to work through, without feeling like busywork. Linda's made an indie RPG that ??can box with the giants, and stood out in a stacked year for role-playing games.

Street Fighter 6

God, I cannot tell you how much I missed playing so much Street Fighter. I had some regular bouts whenever I would travel, but SFV felt more like "the best available option" than the actual best option. It left a lot of hopes on the shoulders of Street Fighter 6 to c??arry, and yet, Capcom's latest entry carri?es them well.

The roster is diverse, the gameplay changes are solid, and the new mechanics in SF6 work so well. Even just the straightforward punching-and-kicking of Street Fighter 6 feels great.? And the netcode has, in my experience, been very good. I wish the lobby and custom match systems had some better UI, but that's a minor gripe t??hat I'm used to with fighting games at this point.

Seriously, some of my favorite multiplayer moments of the year were playing SF6 with friends, either in-person or online. And watching others, who don't often play fighting games or felt a bit scared by the premise, get into SF6 was spectacular. This was the year everyone had a Street Fighter main again, and I love that.

Alan Wake 2

Man, just give Remedy a blank check for whatever they want to make next. There are other games, though not many, that I like more than Alan Wake 2. But none of them take the kind of risks, leaps, and creative liberties that Remedy does in this sequel. Even the premise alone, that Alan has returned to the real world after the same number of years it's been between AW1 and 2, is brilliant.

But Alan Wake 2, like its protagonists, continues to descend down, deeper and deeper. The story is filled with metatextual ??commentary and ties, but not in the annoying, Wiki-fodder way. Every line of red thread on the manic corkboard is additive, whether its pushing specific vibes or ratcheting up ten??sion.

It's not just story alone; Alan Wake 2 is also a solid survival horror game that gets a lot right with its ambiance and level flow, especially in the Saga sections??. There's a commitment to cohesive tone and creative drive, from the setting and mood through to the gameplay itself.

But Alan Wake 2 is still content to completely pivot in ways only Remedy could, like the infamous "We Sing" chapter. Seeing a company, of this scale, make a game like this, with this much budget? A wonderful note to end 2023 ??on.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

There was little doubt I was going to enjoy Tears of the Kingdom. I love when Nintendo gets weird, especially with its sequels, and boy did Nintendo get weird with this sequel. Creepy hands, gooey contraptions, and Link squirming his way through the ceiling to pop out the top? TOTK feels just as goofy at times as? it does dark ?and dreary.

But it also gets dark. I mean, The Depths are honestly one of the coolest ideas I've seen in a Zelda game. The first time I dove in, it felt like the wind got ripped out of me by the inky, yawning void sprawling out below me. The terror you feel, when you drop a light ?down a chasm and see it shrink as it plummets down, down, down is so good.

Yet Tears of the Kingdom didn't lose the pieces that made Breath of the Wild work for me. Much as I love the goofy fun of building anything I want, this Zelda duology has done some great stuff with its side que?sts. I loved being an ass??istant reporter for Penn, and reuniting the traveling band, and helping rig a mayoral race.

This Hyrule feels alive in a way Breath of the Wild's wasn't, as towns are rebuilding and their denizens returning. They're two distinctly different takes on the same world map. But Tears of the Kingdom stands on its own as a truly incredible experience. You'd think this would b?e higher too, but oh man, ??what a year we've had.

Octopath Traveler 2

Y'know, I really did not see this coming. Genuinely. The first Octopath Traveler was, to me, fine. When I picked up t?he sequel, I figured I'd probably feel similarly. In no way did I expect to not just get completely?? lost in this world, but also call it one of my absolute favorites of 2023.

Octopath Traveler 2 walks a fine line between addressing complaints about the original, like its too-disparate stories and slow pacing, while still maintaining the gist of what Octopath is trying to do: tell eight individual stories that, eventually, link up into one gran??d conclusion. But it works so well. Each character's story is great in its own right, from Ochette's quest to quiet an ancient evil and Castti's search for her memories to?? Temenos' murder mystery.

And Partitio? Well, he's upending capitalism with cash. It makes s??ense, I promise. The linked ??stories and skits provide a lot of narrative connections to keep the feeling that this party is adventuring together, even when one member is in the lead.

The battle system of Octopath 2 is excellent, always keeping the action moving while providing moments where you need to stop and think, planning out the next few rounds of battle. Path actions, especially with the day-night split, offer a ton of role-playing goodness. Want in that door? Knock out the guard??. Need some help in a fight? Hire a warrior's services. Think someone's sword skills are sick? Beat them up and take their powers. All of this is set to an incredible soundtrack, too. Maybe my favorite of the year.

Yet what kept Octopath Traveler 2 top of my list wasn't even just the thrilling, surprising conclusion that bring??s everyone together. It's the message of hope. It's the belief that all these characters share that, beyond the horizon, there is a dawn. Each traveler has to wrestle with some pretty significant demons, but even after loss and suffering, they emerge hopeful for a bright dawn and better tomorrow. Seriously, classic RPG fans need to be talking this one up way more.

Baldur's Gate 3

Yeah, so this was no surprise. I felt like I knew, the moment I rolled credits on Baldur's Gate 3, that this wasn't just a best-of-the-year game for me, but an all-timer. It is, in so many ways, that good. And we knew it was good, too. Ever since the Early Access kicked off years ago,?? I had an inkling that Larian was onto ?something.

I don't think I could have predicted how well they'd stick the landing, though. Baldur's Gate 3 is an incredible experience. First off, it starts with an incredible intro, having the player flee a nautiloid ship after being infected with literal brain-worms. Then, one crash-landing later, you're tasked with a r?eal problem to solve: get the tadpole out of your head, before it turns you into a mind-flayer.

This narrative push is also the glue that binds the crew together, when they would otherwise never meet, or maybe even just stab each other. But this common goal becomes the initial layer that starts to create a bond within? t?he camp, forming one of my favorite RPG parties in some time. Shadowheart, Lae'zel, Karlach, Wyll, Gale, Astarion, Halsin, even the more temporary camp companions, are all wonderfully fun to talk to, and adventure alongside.

The combat proves a little divisive, depending on where you stand. Some have found it too difficult, others too easy; some think it adheres too strictly to the rules, others not strictly enough. I've honestly seen every different take, but I think it's good, so there. I made Karlach hit a goblin with another goblin. You're going to tell me that's not peak gameplay?

The world of Baldur's Gate 3 is so wonderfully atmospheric and dense that I'm still finding new things on my second playthrough as the Dark Urge. And oh goodness, the Dark Urge. What an incredible way to meld Larian's Origin character system with a custom character creator, maintaining the bes??????????????????????????t of both worlds.

Everything about this game feels like it's firing on all cylinders. The dialogue is brilliant. The performances f?rom the cast are truly the year's best, across the board. Last night, I had to cast a Light spell to illuminate an area so Lae'zel could use a Mage Hand to hit a lever and open a door, an approach ??I hadn't tried my first run through.

Playing Baldur's Gate 3 feels like sitting down for a tailored, made-for-you campaign in the best way. And even still, my multiplayer campaign has been a beautiful, chaotic mess. This is an RPG we're going to be talking about for years. And it is, even in a year full ??of stiff compet?ition, my favorite game of 2023.

The post Eric Van Allen’s favorite games of 2023 appeared first on Destructoid.

The year is coming to a close, and so we're looking back at all the med??ia we've engaged with, in an effort to find the best, or maybe even our favorite. And today, we're looking at a list of our favorite anime from 2023.

Well, a selection of our favorite anime, managed by me. Hi, I'm Eric. I've been working on getting an anime beat going here, none of which would have been possible without the hard work of writers and contributors. It's an area that doesn't seem wholly outside our purview, and as games overlap ??even more with the medium, it only feels natural. And it only feels right to o?pen with a recognition of that work.

Throughout this year, we dabbled in ideas, whether those were listicles, news beats, or longer-form features. It's something we? hope to continue building up in 2024, but for those who have already been enjoying the pieces, thanks!

When it came to organizing a list, I bounced a few selections off the aforementioned motley crew of writers and considered what the standouts were. While this is by no means comprehensive—I promise, I'll get around to Vinland Saga at some point—I hope this list gives you an inkling of what's been good to watch this year, and maybe gives you something t?o watch over the holidays with loved ones. Or maybe just by yourself. Really depends on the vibe you're setting.

Oshi no Ko

I cannot stress this enough: if you know nothing about Oshi no Ko, you need?? to watch its first episode. Skip? the rest of this blurb, go boot up the feature-length introduction, and enjoy falling down the rabbit hole.

Doga Kobo's anime, based on Kaguya-sama author Aka Akasaka's manga,?? is a bright but bewildering plunge into the drama and intrigue of the idol industry in Japan. It effortlessly weaves a murder-mystery into a reincarnation story, into a full-blown look at the harmful effects of social media, popularity, idolization, and the tireless pursuit of one's ambitions over all else.

The first season adapts some fantastic material, and I'm curious to see what reception is like as we move forward into some big events in a likely second season. But either way, the first episode Oshi no Ko alone is not to be missed.

Hell's Paradise

There is a place called paradise, and there exists the secret to eternal life. There is a hell, and there resides monsters, ready to unspeakably curse and doom any who dare enter. In Hell's Paradise, these places are one and the same; and the unseen emperor decrees that several of the fiercest, most vicious criminals set for execution be sent ??to the island, along with a designated watch-dog executioner, to find him eternal life or die trying.

It's already an interesting set-up, but the core of Hell's Paradise is the duo of Gabimaru, ultimate wife-guy ninja who can withstand blades and blaze alike, and his appointed executioner, Yamada Sagiri. The way they learn to trust each other, while dealing with the horrors of Paradise, is compelling. And good heavens, the body-horror and art at work in Hell's Paradise is gorgeous.

Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury

Though it kicked off in 2022, this was the year where The Witch From Mercury brought it all home, and did so fairly well. There was a Fire Emblem: Three Houses-like divide, where we suddenly went from "school phase" of battles and Suletta accidentally falling into a chivalric knight role for her betrothed Miorine, to the more large-scale war we usually expect from Mobile Suit Gundam.

While it wasn't the easiest shift, I think the way Witch From Mercury tackles its various views on space politics and the threat of the ever-advancing arms race worked really well. If you ever wanted a show that could deftly juggle war?? with school-life drama, this is it.

Also, Suletta x Miorine is canon, the finale locks it? in, and we all know it.

The Apothecary Diaries

What if Sherlock Holmes had to solve cases using only medicine and intuition? I know I just described House, but it's also an apt description for The Apothecary Diaries, a mixture of drama and mystery set in a fictionalized version of 15th century China. Maomao, torn from her home and sent to work in the back palace for the emperor's concubines, gets drawn in?to court ??intrigue as her apothecarial talents are discovered.

The mystery and general setting are both highlights of the show. But I think The Apothecary Diaries really hooked me with how it uses those mysteries around the ailments to tell fascinating tales. It's the type of episodic mystery show I can get lost in, and Maomao makes for a very compelling lead to??o.

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off

When it was announced Science Saru would be making a Scott Pilgrim series, I was curious what that'd look like. The movie and comic seemed to cover the bases well enough. So it piqued my interest when I heard that, really, this was the Rebuild of Scott Pilgrim, to use an Evangelion metaphor.

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off starts off mostly beat-for-beat, until it suddenly shifts into an entirely different story. This might have felt jarring for those not expecting it, but man, it worked for me. This sudden shift, as well as centering multiple characters rather than just Sco??tt, works so w?ell. Rather than planets in Scott's orbit, each character gets incredible room to expand and grow in this new tale.

A highlight of the year for me is a jam session, between newfound bass player Knives and drummer Kim. It's simply a gorgeous piece of music and animation, centered around the feeling of unrehearsed, spontaneous collaboration that melds and flows together. It's a welcome new lens on the Pilgrim-verse, I think.

Pluto

Naoki Urasawa's Pluto would have been a gargantuan task for any anime studio. A classic from a storied author, Studio M2 was trying to take this reimagining of the classic Astro Boy storyline and turn?? it into a Netflix se?ries, preserving all of its melancholy, power, and emotion. And good heavens, they did it.

Pluto is a heavy watch, especially in this age. Urasawa explores the questions of life and individuality amid the robots being hunted, one-by-??one; the series dives into politics and conflict, flashing back to harrowing memories of overseas war that feel all too relevant today. It actively challenges so many of i??ts characters and beliefs.

Put plainly, Pluto is a must-watch, in my opinion. The technical achievement here is one thing, and I love the animation work. But everything, from the adaptation of the manga's themes to the way the frame moves through the space, really made Pluto a memorable end-of-year surprise for me.

Heavenly Delusion

I've frequently described Heavenly Delusion as The Last of Us meets the first season of Westworld. In one storyline, we follow Kiruko and Maru, a bodyguard and client searching Japan for "heaven" amid the post-apocalyptic ruins, of?ten haunted by "maneater" monsters. And in another,? we see the daily lives of children in an isolated school, grappling with everyday problems while pondering what might be outside their walls.

How do these link up? Do they link up? That's part of the fun of Heavenly Delusion. But to paint this as a Westworld-like story with suspense as its only pillars wouldn't paint the whole picture. Heavenly Delusion is also about the interpersonal relationships across both storylines. The schoolchildren, like Tokio, grapple with changing lives and feelings they don't understand. Kiruko and Maru cope with the horrors of the ?ruined world, while growing closer on their journey.

I do have to warn you, this particular series comes with a hefty dose of con?tent ?warnings for violence, gore, sexual assault, and more. It's very direct in how it displays the possible cruelties this world could inflict. But underneath that, there's a beating heart of compelling adventures and those who find strength in each other, even as the world falls apart around them.

Zom100: Bucket List of the Dead

Say hello to one of my biggest surprises of the year. When I first heard the pitch for Zom100, I thought it sounded novel, at th??e ??least: Akira Tendou is in his 20s and wasting away his life for a company that doesn't respect him. He works hard, but still receives constant verbal abuse and little to show for any part of his droll, lifeless, zombified existnece.

Then, a zombie outbreak happens. For everyone else, this is Hell on Earth. But for Akira, he's free. No more work. No more obligations. The collapse of society means society's pressures—to w??aste away as a cog in the machine—are suddenly gone.

In what can only be described as a??n explosion of joy and relief, he concocts ??a bucket list of things he wants to accomplish before succumbing to the plague enveloping the world. Over time, he gathers a band of friends, encouraging them all to experience the breadth of what life can offer now that its burdens have been lifted.

I was expecting a lighthearted, no-thoughts-head-empty zombie-action romp. While Zom100 is fun and filled with great action, it's also an incredibly energizing story about chasing your dreams. Heck, it's inspirational. Every episode reminds me that there's so much to do and experience in this life, and one should embrace that like Akira. I genuinely cannot recommend this show enough, to anyone who's ev?er felt burnt-out o?r zombified in their routines.

Frieren: Beyond Journey's End

Once I watched the first episode of Frieren, I knew this was an all-timer for me. Frieren, an elven mage, is returning home with her adventuring party after 10 years on the road, questing and eventually defeating the Demon King. For them, it's a significant chunk of tim??e; for her elongated lifespan, it's a blip.

T?he years keep going by, and Frieren is content to do wh?at she's always done: simply wander in search of new magic. But the passing of a close friend finally forces her to come to grips with mortality. Not her own, necessarily, but of the people she's come to care for. So, she starts a new journey, retracing the steps of her old party's trip, and helping others along the way.

Frieren can be both emotionally devastating and beautifully enlightening. Yes, it is a melancholic tale about the regrets we face when someone you care for is no longer here. It's also a reminder, much like other entries on this list, to cherish the moments you have wit??h those around you, now.

In so many ways, Frieren feels like it bucks a lot of what I would normally expect. It's high fantasy and certainly has s??ome outright in?credible fight scenes, but so often, Madhouse will simply let shots linger. Little motions are given so much weight. The animation alone, especially in a recent ballroom scene, is an achievement in its own right.

Can you make up for lost time? Or do you simply have to hold on to memories, carrying them with you, trying to honor who you can? Frieren explores these topics with nuance and depth, making for a long road-trip n??orth that I don't want to see end anytime soon.

The post Here’s some of Destructoid’s favorite anime from 2023 that you should watch appeared first on Destructoid.

It was, by all accounts, a strange 2023 for Xbox. Its games were all over the board, and the company itself spent most of the year embroiled in the process of getting Activision Blizzard into the figurative catcher's mitt.

So, fittingly, our Best Xbox nominees list wound up looking a little strange. Not only did most of us play Starfield on PC, but it's also where it felt best to play, if we were only opting for a single category. The nominees here that hit Game Pass feel like a testament to the service's strength, at least. Pick-ups like Sea of Stars and Jusant ar??e nice to see, and certainly made the Pass' library feel more diverse.

But Xbox did have one winner that emerged in our voting, an early-in-the-year earworm we just couldn't shake. I'm talking about Tango Gameworks' Hi-Fi Rush.

In a way, this shouldn't be a huge surprise. Just a few months before, Obsidian's Pentiment showed that these more focused, AA-esque projects from Xbox's studios could be a breath of fresh air. But Hi-Fi Rush?, in my? mind, cemented the impact that these kinds of efforts could have on Xbox's Game Pass strategy.

Hi-Fi Rush is a rhythmic brawler, certainly not the type of thing you'd associate with Tango. But its rel??ative length, effusive charm, and flat-out incredible playlist selection for the soundtrack all mixed to create a thumping, bumping, endeari??ng action game. The lovable cast of characters and general Saturday morning vibes I got from the story helped, too.

In a year where Xbox felt shaky on its AAA legs, the passion projects shone through. And I really hope that Pentiment and Hi-Fi Rush are?n't the end, either; I'd love to see more studios get the chance to just make something this exciting and fresh, outside their wheelhouse, and put it on the Pass.

While all the nominees brought something great to the table, I think Hi-Fi Rush's charm and?? sheer inventiveness, laid over an extremely well-crafted blend of rhythm and action, will be something to re??member. Hopefully it's the start of more to come, too.

Congratulations, and here's our nominees list, in case you forgot the field:

• Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
• Hi-Fi Rush
• Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty
• Wild Hearts
• RoboCop: Rogue City
• Sea of Stars
• Jusant

The post Destructoid’s award for Best Xbox game of 2023 goes to… appeared first on Destructoid.

It's always the ones you don't expect, right? In a year full of AAA powerhouses competing for the top spot, I'm actually not too surprised that Lethal Company managed ??to sneak in and steal hearts. Thousand?s of them, even.

It was actually a narrow competition this year for our newly founded indie game category. Intended as a way to get more independent games involved in the con?versations we have at the end of every year, we wound up with an intriguing mix of games.

Chained Echoes was a holdover from last December, but still retained more staying power than most early-year launches. And World of Horror's full launch finally arrived, leaving a mark on us. But Lethal Company's recent surge seems to be the not??e we're ending 2023 on.

The co-op horror might, at first, seem familiar. It reminded me of Phasmophobia, another indie breakout that's retained its following over the years. But Lethal Company has exploded in a way others haven't.

Maybe it's the theming, pitting players against an ever-present race against the clock to serve the Company as best they can. Or maybe it's the monsters, scarily effective and varied enough to keep you guessing with their SCP-esque designs. It could even be the mods that pushes Lethal Company over for some.

For me, what's made Lethal Company memorable has been the laughs. It is a genuinely funny, engaging game. The voice communications use distance and area so well, so you can hear someone's yells get louder and softer a??s they run by you. Even the noise a ladder makes, when it accidentally bonks?? a player on the head, is hilarious.

Still, it's hard to undersell how competitive this field was. While your Baldur's Gate 3s and Tears of the Kingdoms loomed large over the crowd, many indies were favorites this year, garnering nominations here and elsewhere. While one wins the vote, all of these nominees ar?e worth your time and attention:

• Lethal Company
• Chained Echoes
• Goodbye Volcano High
• El Paso, Elsewhere
• Slayers X: Terminal Aftermath: Ve?n??geance of the Slayer
• Void Stranger
• World of Horror

The post Destructoid’s award for Best Indie game of 2023 goes to… appeared first on Destructoid.

The?re are very few years that aren't "winners" for?? Nintendo. You can set your watch to the publisher putting out at least one Game of the Year nominee annually. Now, it's time to decide the best of 2023.

Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Obviously, all eyes are going to be on Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. As a follow-up to Breath of the Wild, it was expected to deliver: But I don't think anyone could have anticipated just how much it would iterate upon the fantastic framework we already got with the launch of the Switch in 2017. People may have been worried that Tears would?? operate like an "expansion pack" to the 2017 modern classic, but those fears were completely u?nfounded.

We also got a new Fire Emblem game, another Pikmin entry (which might be the best one to date), a slick remaster of a great Kirby title, a killer Xenoblade Chronicles DLC, and Paranormasight. 2023 was packed and succeeded in hitting us across the head with ?a steady stream of prior-delayed games at once.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder

Super Mario Bros. Wonder has been called "the best Mario game since Super Mario World" by many and is the perfect prescription for folks who have been burned by the constant deluge of the "New" subseries series. Although most Mario games are shoo-ins for nominat??ions, this one feels different.

Fire Emblem Engage

Any ?given Fire Emblem game is going to appeal to certain types of people, but this one grabbed me really early on. It helped that the DLC leaned into the whole "all-stars" angle, and brought multiple generations of the series together in one bright and accessible entry.

Pikmin 4

I can't say enough nice things about Pikmin 4. When I was pl?aying it, I couldn't stop. There's so much to do and explore, and just when you think it's over, the game completely opens up. Oh, and it's still incredibly cute.

Paranormasight

You can always count on Square Enix to surprise us, sometimes in the most unlikely way possible. One month I looked up and realized "wow, there are multiple Square-backed RPGs coming out this month, and I haven't heard about any of them for weeks." Paranormasight crept up on a lot of us but managed to leave an impact on most of the ?staff. Once this game gets running, it doesn't let up.

Kirby's Return to Dreamland Deluxe

Kirby's Return to Dreamland is low-key one of my favorite Kirby games, and I was happy to see it return, with some bells and whistles, in 2023. There's not much to say about Kirby that hasn't already been said: it's comfort food at worst, and in the case of Dreamland Deluxe, it's a high bar that hearkens back to the era of Kirby Super Star.

Xenoblade Chronicles 3: Future Redeemed

I have an entire room of my house that's littered with just Xenoblade pictures, and I really need to up my game and get some Xenoblade Chronicles 3 scenes in there. Future Redeemed was a fantastic bit of DLC that both continues the story of the third core entry and ties the entire universe to??gether.

Check out the nominees below,?? and come back next week for our full re??veal!

Here are the nominees for Destructoid’s Best Switch Game of 2023:

• Super Mario Bros. Wonder
• Pikmin 4
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
• Paranormasight
• Kirby's Return to Dreamland Deluxe
• Fire Emblem Engage
• Xenoblade Chronicles 3: Future Redeemed

Our final results will go live next week, starting on Decembe??r 18 with the winner of Best Indie. Stay tuned throug??hout this week for the rest of our nominees, as we build up to the Overall Game of the Year award on December 22!

The post Nominees for Destructoid’s Best Switch Game of 2023 appeared first on Destructoid.

As we head into one of the last holiday weekends of the year, we're wrapping up GOTY-related announcements with more nominees. This time, it's for Destructoid's best PC game of 202?3, and I reckon you already know it's a competit?ive bunch.

We've already hit the PlayStation and Xbox consoles, along with more specific categories like best indie and ongoing game. Looking back, I reali??ze 2023 is one of the toughest years for GOTY ch??oices I've had in ages, and I'm thankful this was a staff-wide endeavor; otherwise, this list would've taken until next year to shape up.

As always, our platform categ?ories don't mean the game only released on that platform. Plenty of the nominees here launched on both console and PC, but our formula still keeps games limited to one nomination in any given category. In the spirit of PC gaming, we approached this with more of a "Is this the? preferred way to play?" �same with consoles. Anyway, here's some really good games.

Starfield

Look, as far as I'm concerned, until we get mod support on Xbox then Starfield is a PC-only release. I'm joking (kind of), but Bethesda's modding commu?nity is too damn good to ignore. But on that note, perhaps put the open-world RPG on your wishlist any way you can, as our swiss-army knife of a staff writer Steven Mills ga??ve it the rare 10/10, making it one of Destructoid's "essentials."

In his review, Steven concluded:

"I wasn’t sure if it could be done, but Bethesda has managed to raise the bar for sandbox games even higher. In the end, Starfield is an epic sandbox open-world RPG with a beautifully immersive universe??, a captivating story, and fun and compellin?g gameplay the whole way."

Cocoon

Cocoon is among the year's major visual delights. Even as someone who long grew tired of more puzzle-focused titles, Geometric Interactive demands attention with Cocoon's bright pops of color and ?bizarre biomes. It's got this smooth balance in its gradual incline to the more difficult mysteries, and even for those of us who don't immediately rise to the challenge, it's satisfying to poke around and fail.

Perhaps it's no surprise, but the puzzler comes from the lead gameplay designer on Limbo and Inside Jeppe Carlsen. It's not nearly as grim as the two of those, but there's still a lot to the alien world that's haunt??ingly mysterious and loaded with "aha!" moments? of brilliance.

Slay the Princess

What a damn good year for indies, doubly so if you're into cosmic horror and visual novels. Slay the Princess delivers on all fronts, with a premise and art style just as striking as its name. In hindsight, ??my image choice makes this look like a very nice, to-the-point, Princess Peach rescue-style situation. It's not.

Usually, senior editor Eric Van Allen's tastes line up well with my own, so his word was enough for the sale. In Eric's review of Slay the Princess, he's got pl?enty of praise to offer, and sums it up with:

"It’s about the interpersonal relationships that can wound us, make us versions of ourselves we never imagined, yet teach us. It is a damn good s?tory, and one worth experiencing."

Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty

I'll say it right off the bat: I'm not in the camp of belief that you can't count Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty as its own thing or even as something that was ongoing. Expansions, add-ons, DLC �whatever, there's a whole valid debate there for next year on where we need to see new categories, but the RPG delivered on PC with more cleanup and intrigue in a "fitting swan song for Cyberpunk 2077."

Our senior editor's description fits, as CDPR's RPG, for real this time, just launched its last big update on December 5 with the Ultimate Edition. Whatever becomes of the series' future, Phantom Liberty was a good place t??o bookend our adventures in 2077's Night City.

BattleBit Remastered

It's always nice to find another gem playable on my ancient relic of a laptop. BattleBit Remastered low-poly massive FPS battleground is easy to pick up and put down for some satisfying chaos with friends or just 200-something strangers. It's a nice change from some of its massively online genre cousins, and even in the chaos of having way too many people around you in a firefight, BattleBit plays keeps up just fine.

This was one of those games that hit big in the year and somehow missed until the very end, but the arsenal of vehicles, combat role focus, and destructible arena scratch an itch I'm not getting from the more mainstream. Bonus points here for keeping anti-cheat woes top of mind; when I get a new Steam Deck, it'll (hopefully) join my very short list of multiplayer games where EAC didn't rain on the p?ortable? experience.

Baldur's Gate 3

If there were a "game with most characters Andrea would like to kiss" award, it'd go to Baldur's Gate 3. And while I really don't want to put words in their mouth, I think the sentiment rings true for all two of us named Andrea at Destructoid. Contributor of excessively good takes, Andrea Gonzalez, wrote about how BG3 is a delightful dating sim. Andrea Shearon approves.

Okay, okay �outside of all the love-dovey stuff, BG3 is the incredible culmination of a CRPG that spent years in early access, with developer Larian Studios tweaking the f??ormula with fan feedback along the way and delivering this massive, choice-driven adventure. It's also one I refuse to play on a console, so here we are.

Dave the Diver

I've always heard it's pretty damn hard to find?? success as a restaurateur, and Dave's experience here says as much. Developer Mintorocket's adventure RPG drops the pro Scuba diver into a cheeky journey with his friends opening a sushi business. At night, you'll deal with the restaurant. In the day, you'll fight underwater creatures like a half-crab, half-tractor (?) abomination.

It's all to keep the business going. The juggle between grinding for fish and managing the sushi spot was one Destructoid contributor Christine Choi adored. In her review, Christine mentions how she "can't put it down" as Dave the Diver aces the balance betwee?n gameplay styles and delivers something lighthearted, engaging, and easy to take at y?our own pace.

What’s next on Destructoid’s GOTY schedule

We're reaching the halfway point as Destructoid's nominee announcements draw to a close. Ne?xt week, on Decemb?er 18, check in again as we reveal this year's winners.

Destructoid’s Best PC Games of 2023:

• Starfield
• Cocoon
• Slay the Princess
• Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
• BattleBit Remastered
• Baldur's Gate 3
• Dave the Diver

The post Nominees for Destructoid’s Best PC game of 2023 appeared first on Destructoid.

There’s a certain "ick" t??hat comes with the term “live service game.�It immediately conjures up images of soulless, microtransaction-filled? cash grabs that many would rather not remember, let alone honor. Fortunately, the best titles in this field are (usually) exceptions to this norm.

When done right, a good live service game is like a second home. Ideally, these games are hubs where you can party up with friends and enjoy new content and features ??at a steady pace. If the presence of microtransactions and paywalls are kept in check, these titles can offer unforgettable experiences. Of course, I imagine some of you will argue that certain picks below don’t meet that bar. But that’s why we’re here t??o choose which ongoing game is the best of the best. After all, why should you invest your time in anything less than that?

Here's our list of nominees.

Fortnite

First up, we have Fortnite. And I know, I know, there’s a good chance you have a strong opinion on this game one way or another. That said, there’s no denying that Fortnite has become a cornerstone of gaming that continues to offer substantial updates every s?eason. Just this past month alone, we saw the inclusion of experiences like LEGO Fortnite and Rocket Racing that continue to expand Fortnite into new genres. Sometimes these new modes are pretty fun too! You don’t have to love ??it, but there’s certainly nothing else like it on the market.

Final Fantasy XIV

Coming up next is Final Fantasy XIV, and you do have to love it. That’s what the community behind gaming’s best free trial has told me, anyway. I kid, of course; Destructoid is full of Final Fantasy XIV nerds, myself included. This year has been unique for the game following the release of the explosive Endwalker expansion. The lack of a core story to wrap up let the subsequent patch storyline follow its own unique narrative, and we’ve seen the developers experiment with new types of content like the Criterion Dungeons. We’ve passed the 10-year anniversary of A Realm Reborn (AKA when Final Fantasy XIV really started), so it will be interesting to see how the game will grow heading into Dawntrail.

Genshin Impact

Shifting to what is technically a mobile game, let’s talk about Genshin Impact. HoYoverse has generally continued the game’s usual trajectory this year. That is to say, we saw a steady stream of updates alongside new characters, with some quality-of-life improvements thrown into the mix here and there. The main story continues to grow, as the launch of Version 4.0 of the game saw the addition of the new Fontaine region. There are certainly grievances to be had about Genshin Impact's monetization and tim??e-limited content. But for those who can at lea??st tolerate those aspects of the game, not many other titles can compete with this free-to-play open world adventure.

Path of Exile

Path of Exile has also kept its gears grinding this year. In fact, like Final Fantasy XIV, Path of Exile celebrated its 10-year anniversary in 2023. It’s honestly surreal that Path of Exile was originally hailed as an alternative to Diablo 3 at launch, and today fans continue to pitch it as an alternative to Diablo 4. On one hand, we’re a year away from the closed beta for Path of Exile 2, which will (hopefully) serve as a fresh starting point for new players. On the other hand, the original game is still going strong here, with new updates and leagues that continue to add new twists? to the game. Even if I’ve only ever dipped my t??oes into this one, I’m very curious to see what 2024 brings.

Warframe

Speaking of games originally released in 2013, Warframe has had an exciting year too. Back in April, The Duviri Paradox debuted in the multiplayer space ninja shooter sim. And regardless of your feelings on that expansion, we saw other tantalizing quality-of-life additions like the inclusion of cross-save. Heck, by the time you read this, the game’s Whispers in the Wells update should be out too. Warframe is one of those games that just keeps growing and growing, and it has been wild to see how far it’s come. I personally have my eyes on Soulframe, but that’s neither here nor there.

No Man's Sky

Did someone say “famous redemption arcs in gaming?�No? Well I’m going to pretend you did, because No Man’s Sky is next on our list. I’m sure you’re well familiar with how No Man’s Sky originally launched in a rough state, only to see update after update that has taken this space exploration adventure to heights no one ever originally expected. 2023 was a surprisingly robust year for the game in particular, as we saw the Fractal, Interceptor, and Singularity Expedition updates hit the game. Despite the announcement of Hello Games�upcoming Light No Fire, No Man’s Sky doesn’t show any signs of slowing down. It’s certainly ?come a long way since it was announced in�2013? Another 10-year anniversary? Was that just the year for better-than-average live service gam?es?

World of Warcraft Classic

Last but maybe not least, we have World of Warcraft Classic. Yes, once upon a time, World of Warcraft Classic was a fun nostalgia trip that convinced many lapsed players to return to the long running MMORPG. But now, with the Cataclysm expansion soon hitting the game with player feedback in mind, Classic has become its own entity. Notably, this year has closed out with the Season of Discovery, which reworks older content and focuses on a level 25 endgame. It’s an interesting pivot for World of Warcraft Classic, and it goes to show that you can never know what to expect from a live service game. For ??better or for worse.

The nominees for the best ongoing game of 2023

• Fortnite
• Final Fantasy XIV
• Genshin Impact
• Path of Exile
• Warframe
• No Man's Sky
• World of Warcraft Classic

The post Nominees ?for Destructoid’s Best Ongoing Game of? 2023 appeared first on Destructoid.

Nostalgia is a hell of a drug. We hold the games we played in our younger years dear to our hearts, which the gaming industry can often exploit for a quick buck. Fortu??nately, we saw some truly incredible re?makes in 2023 that actually do justice to their source material.

The distinction between a “remake�and “remaster�became especially blurred in 2023. In some cases, we saw some really comprehensive remakes. These titles rei?magined the games they're based on from the ground up, adding so much new stuff that even longtime fans had no idea what to expect. Conversely, we saw some remakes that felt more like very pretty remasters. These were games that worked overtime to feel as much like the original titles as possible, often focusing on visuals and music over sweeping gameplay changes.

And, of course, we saw many games that sat somewhere between those two extremes. Which approach should a remake take? Who knows! It’s all subjective, at the end of the day. But for better or for worse, we’re here to see which one takes the top slot in Destructoid’s o?wn popularity contest, so let’s see the nominees.

Resident Evil 4

Kicking off our list is the big one of 2023: Resident Evil 4. Leon “SmallSodaâ€?Kennedy’s tale of survival and horror has seen rerelease after rerelease after rerelease since its original launch in 2005. Even I found myself asking “is this remake even necessary?â€?with how well the original title holds up. But, once I played the game myself, I became a believer. While I'll always adore the camp of the original title, Capcom’s new take on Resident Evil 4 put a lot on the table for both veterans and newcomers to dig into. It might not do much for? you if you didn’t love the original, but Resident Evil 4’s mix of ??fresh and familiar seems to ??have resonated with gamers this year.

The Making of Karateka

In a complete change of pace, our following nominee is The Making of Karateka. Despite my snark about nostalgia above, this is one of the most exciting takes on a remake I’ve seen. Basically, take Jordan Mechner’s classic fighting game and GIF-inspiration Karateka, include a ton of behind-the-scenes footage and prototypes of the game, and slap a proper remade version of the game on top. The result is functionally an interactive documentary that our local retro enthusiast Zoey “Kick It With A Tasty Groove�Handley strongly recommends. Check it out if this on??e slipped under your radar.

Quake II

Next on our list is Quake II. And�look, I’m not going to pretend I grew up playing shooters like Quake II. I probably should have, but that’s neither here nor there. What I can tell you is that NightDive Studios has been knocking it out of the park with remasters this year. Even middling games like Turok III have gotten more love from the studio than many publishers give to their most memorable titles. And in the case of Quake II, NightDive went in and compiled expansions, restored cut content, and even improved the AI. You can read more about it in Zoey “Not A Boomer�Handley’s full review.

Metroid Prime Remastered

Metroid Prime Remastered. Oh, sorry, did you want some heads-up or introduction for this nominee? Nintendo stealth dropped this one back in February, so I felt it appropriate to just plop it on here too. Despite years-long rumors that we’d see a Switch port of the Metroid Prime Trilogy collection, Metroid Prime Remastered doesn’t disappoint. The visuals have received a surprisingly comprehensive overhaul, and you can choose to play the game with a control scheme that doesn't feel decades old. The fact that this launched at $39.99 helped its case too. Also, Metroid Prime is a really good game! Not to sound like a broken record, but our own Zoey “Prime Rib�Handley reviewed this as well.

Dead Space

Okay, so forgive me in how I’m going to talk about our next contender: Dead Space. The PS3/Xbox 360 version of the game came out a few years before I got into horror, and this year’s remake totally passed me by. Destructoid Senior Editor Eric “Celery Man�Van Allen did review it though, and he found that the sci-fi horror classic still holds up today. It sounds like EA Motive did justice to Visc?eral Games�origi??nal work.

Star Ocean: The Second Story R

Now, you know what I can talk about? Star Ocean: The Second Story R, our next nominee. I went my whole life with barely a person to talk about any Star Ocean game with, so it’s been nice to wax poetic about The Second Story with Destructoid’s Chris “Don’t Spell My Name With A K�Carter and Andrea “Have I Been Given A Funny Nickname Yet�Shearon. And for this crowd of Star Ocean nerds, The Second Story R sure did deliver. This is such an ambitious remake of the best game in the Star Ocean series. It retains what made the original game so special while adding a plethora of new minigames and mechanics to entertain longtime fans. In fact, Andrea “Now With Two Nicknames�Shearon gave this remake high marks in her review.

Super Mario RPG

And rounding out our list, we finally come to something I reviewed: Super Mario RPG. Folks, at this point I don’t know what to tell you. Super Mario RPG is a stone-cold classic title, and it’s been such a t?reat to revisit it with this remake. It does add its own twists to the SNES adventure, but for the most part, you’re playing this remake for the revamped visuals and the spectacular music. It’s a great remake of a fantastic game, and I personally rank it in the top 5 of games I played this year. I’m so happy to finally talk about something I reviewed here. It’s a good game!

The nominees for the best remake/remaster of 2023.

• Resident Evil 4
• The Making of Karateka
• Quake II
• Metroid Prime Remastered
• Dead Space
• Star Ocean: The Second Story R
• Super Mario RPG

The post Nomine??es for Destructoid’s Best Remake/Remaster ?of 2023 appeared first on Destructoid.

It's the end of the year, which means we're rolling out our nominations for the best-in-category for various different platforms and denominations here at Destructoid. Today, we're taking a look at our list of nominees f??or the Best Xbox game of 2023, and it's an interesting pack.

To reiterate our guidelines, we kept nominations to one apiece for each game. Meaning, if one game doesn't show up here, it can still show up in another. And our eligibility window runs from December to December. Sorry, Avatar.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor may have had some PC woes, but it was a generally enjoyable experience for our reviewer and other players on the console side. Even considering the technical troubles, fans do seem pretty positive on Respawn's follow-up to its single-player Jedi story.

Hi-Fi Rush

It's strange to think that Hi-Fi Rush, a music brawler from Tango, was one of the more notable launches from Xbox this year. But like Pentiment before it, the smaller?? and more focused projects from the Xbox studios have had a lot of charm to them. It could just end up being the standard-bearer this year.

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty

One of a few games that felt like it fell by the wayside this year, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty made some waves as the latest Team Ninja action game, tackling the Three Kingdoms setting. Several folks at Destructoid were ??positive on this one when it came time to talk end-of-year, and it's nice to see Team Ninja leaving that lasting impression with its signature action.

Wild Hearts

Wild Hearts was another that fell by the wayside, but our own Chris Carter particularly enjoyed it. A MonHun-style game from Omega Force, it was weird and interesting, and definitely put a unique spin on the monster hunting genre. We'll see if it makes?? the final cut!

RoboCop: Rogue City

Zoey's review of RoboCop: Rogue City was almost enough to make me, someone unaware of anything RoboCop, seriously consider giving it a go. Mixing the tank-like motions of the titular protagonist with a Deus Ex: Human Revolution vi??be outside t??he gunfights, it seems like one of the year's biggest surprises.

Sea of Stars

It was no surprise that Sabotage nailed the jump from action-platformer to RPG in Sea of Stars. This RPG captured hearts and minds alike, with both an interesting approach to combat and a p??articularly gorgeous world. Also,?? Garl. Garl is best boy.

Jusant

We round out our nominees with Jusant, another surprise, this time from Don't Nod. You wouldn't think the studio behind Life is Strange would tackle a climbing game that can seem both meditative and stress-inducing, but they did, and they got it right too. Jusant has been on??e of those late-in-the-year list-shifters for a lot of people, and might just make a dark horse run for the award here.

Our full list of nominees, in short, is:

• Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
• Hi-Fi Rush
• Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty
• Wild Hearts
• RoboCop: Rogue City
• Sea of Stars
• Jusant

Stay tuned this week for more categories, including other platforms and a f??ew special ones. Winners of our vote will be announced next week, and then our final write-in b??allot winner for Game of the Year will be unveiled on Dec. 22.

The post Nominees for Destructoid’s Best Xbox game of 2023 appeared first on Destructoid.

2023 is drawing to a close. The air is cold, the fires a??re lit, and now we gather 'round the digital hearth to celebrate the games we enjoyed throughout the yea??r. Let's talk about the best indies of 2023.

Since I have the honor of publishing first this year, welcom??e to Destructoid's end-of-year coverage! Throughout this week, we'll be?? revealing our nominees for our favorites in a variety of categories. Then, starting next week, we'll announce the winners, as chosen by our staff and contributors.

We do have a few ground rules, to clarify some questions y'all might have. First off, each game can only be nominated in one category. Also, our window of eligibility runs from December to December, to account for time spent to get to know these games. S??o games from December 2023 are not eligible, bu?t December 2022 games are.

So what's up for best indie this ??year at Destructoid? Let's take a look at the nominations.

Lethal Company

It's of little surprise that Lethal Company made our list. The co-op horror game about the terrors of space, and underappreciated scrap labor, has been making the rounds. It's fairly recent, but I feel confident in saying this isn't quite a flash-in-the-pan compared to other live service games. The mods alone show some significant longevity.

Chained Echoes

Remember that December rule? It's why Chained Echoes, a late-in-the-year 2022 entry, is here now. And boy, does it earn a spot. Chained Echoes puts a surprising spin on the RPG nostalgia trip, with fresh mechanics, ideas, and some really memorable moments. It's still one I can easily recommend to other ?RPG fans, without hesitation.

Goodbye Volcano High

Goodbye Volcano High is a curious one. We didn't get around to covering it here, but it's one that's come up in conversations since. A story about ??dino-school angst in the face of the end of everything. Even on pitch alone, it's pretty fascinating.

El Paso, Elsewhere

An obvious selection for us was El Paso, Elsewhere, a Max Payne-alike about dealing with your vampiric ex. It sounds like it's got both action and heart, and really seemed to make an impression on everyone that picked it up.

Slayers X: Terminal Aftermath: Vengeance of the Slayer

In a review calling it both "indispensable and unique," our own Zoey Handley makes the case for Slayers X: Terminal Aftermath: Vengeance of the Slayer as an indie GOTY contender. Indeed, it seems like a frontrunner for?? the kind of aggressive, visual-meltdown FPS that's become a hit these last few years.

Void Stranger

Void Stranger is a game that I am, frankly, too easily flustered to manage myself. The rich Sokoban-style puzzle game enamored me with its many hidden mysteries earlier this year, and watch??ing fans dig into it has been a joy. I may not see the bottom floor for myself, but it's a wonderful game that I'm glad exists.

World of Horror

And lastly, World of Horror hit its final release this year. In some ways, this felt like an overdue celebration. While the Ito-inspired, interface-laden throwback horror adventure has been around for ages, it's a good time to finally recognize just how well it captures a specific kind of experience. It is for a very specific group of people, but for those people, it lands.

These are the no?minees for this Destructoid's Best Indie of 2023.

• Lethal Company
• Chained Echoes
• Goodbye Volcano High
• El Paso, Elsewhere
• Slayers X: Terminal Aftermath: Vengeance of the Slayer
• Void Stranger
• World of Horror

Our final results will go live next week?, starting on December 18 with the winner of Best Indie. Stay tuned throughout this week for the rest of our nominees, as we build up to the Overall Game of the Year award on December 22!

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