Alyssa’s Personal Favorite Games from 2023
2023 was an absolute banger of a year for game releases. From small indie titles to big AAA games, we weren’t left hungry for choices in 2023. Which games shined the brightest for The Gaming Outsider’s resident overachiever (ok, I tied with our leader Scott)? Read on to find out!
Honorable Mentions
As I previously mentioned, this year was chock-full of quality titles. I struggled immensely with crafting my top ten list, and it hurt my soul not to have these on there. So here’s a special shout-out to those fantastic games!
–Final Fantasy XVI
-Saint Maker
-This Way Madness Lies
-Frank and Drake
Ok, now on to the official list!
#10 – Harmony: The Fall of Reverie
This visual novel from DON’T NOD immediately grabbed me with its rich, branching narrative and gorgeous graphics. I felt genuine regret and satisfaction with the choices I made, and I’d love to return to this world to make different decisions and see how that affects things. This further cemented my love for DON’T NOD as a developer and I’m psyched to see what unique games they release in the future.
#9 – Season: A Letter to the Future
I knew I would enjoy playing Season: A Letter to the Future; I didn’t realize HOW immersed I’d become in this apocalyptic world. Traveling around on my bike, taking pictures, and recording audio made me feel like I was crafting my own journal of the end of days. I quickly lost track of time while soaking in every detail this game offered me. Every player will come away with a different interpretation of this title, and it’s a refreshing change of pace from usual world-ending tales.
#8 – The Invincible
Based on an iconic science-fiction novel by Stanisław Lem, The Invincible gripped me from the moment the player character opened her eyes on the desolate planet Regis III. The gripping narrative, interactions with your ship’s captain, and multiple endings make this a must-play for fans of titles such as Firewatch and anyone who loves hard sci-fi.
#7 – Sea of Stars
What a surprise Sea of Stars was for me! Granted, I’m an RPG girly, but I had never encountered a combat system like the one that is utilized in this game. I instantly fell in love with it, though, and was soon pulling off more powerful attacks and quickly blocking incoming attacks like a pro. The endearing characters, stunning graphics, clever boss battles, and charming story grabbed my heart and refused to let go well until after the credits rolled.
#6 – Fire Emblem Engage
I’m not typically a fan of strategy titles, but the Fire Emblem franchise has always managed to grip me with every new entry. Engage is another incredible experience and feels more accessible to newcomers than the past couple of games have been. Even playing on what I refer to as “baby mode” (turning off permadeath and playing on casual) provided a rich tactical experience that I couldn’t get enough of. I also loved the premise of seeing characters from previous entries in the franchise returning as support units. It’s a sweet Easter egg for fans of Fire Emblem.
#5 – A Space for the Unbound
Fun fact: this was the first game I played and reviewed for The Gaming Outsider in 2023. Even now, I still ruminate on its unique story and characters. The way A Space for the Unbound respectfully represents depression, grief, anxiety, and friendship is absolutely beautiful. It even had me enjoying solving an algebra equation to finish a puzzle, for Pete’s sake. That enough should be a sign of the quality of the gameplay experience (I can’t do math to save my life). Any fans of point-and-click titles need to play this ASAP.
#4 – Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
I had a grand time thwipping back into New York in Insomniac’s sequel. The dual leads are both excellent and are different enough to provide a fresh gameplay experience when switching between them. I also had way too much fun completing all the side quests and trying to find as many Easter eggs as possible. The combat felt fluid and swift, while the story held my interest (for the most part). This is just a blast to play.
#3 – Dead Space
I’ve always loved the gory, disturbing horror of the Dead Space franchise. It had been many, many years since I had played the original game on PS3, so I was excited to check this remake out. Luckily, it felt like a fresh experience, with added features and improvements. I adored hearing Isaac speak this time around, and the zero-G segments were much appreciated. The new story elements were also brilliant. It’s also still scary as hell. I apologize to everyone who had to hear me scream and curse at every jump scare…
#2 – Resident Evil 4
If you’ve listened to the podcast for a while, you would know that I had never played the original RE4 (I can hear people gasping already). I don’t feel guilty adding this to my top ten, and so highly at that, since this was a brand-new experience for me. Exploring Spain and avoiding citizens who have been infected with the Las Plagas virus was a nerve-shredding journey. I never knew what to expect, and it was thrilling. It doesn’t hurt that I got to stare at Leon S. Kennedy, either… ahem, what was I saying? Oh, that this is a nearly perfect survival-horror game that I’m kicking myself for not playing sooner.
#1 – Alan Wake II
I’ve been enraptured by the world Remedy Entertainment has created since I played the original Alan Wake back in 2010 on my trusty Xbox 360. Thirteen years later, the sequel exceeded my expectations. I adored playing as Saga Anderson, one of the lead characters. I eat up detective stories, and traversing Bright Falls to solve the mysteries of a creepy cult and to save the titular character had me fully satiated. The story is expertly crafted, and I’m envious of how well all of these elements and universes are tied together. Two of this game’s set pieces made my list of favorite moments in gaming ever, and the eerily gorgeous graphics had me stopping and staring frequently. Even my minor frustration with playing as Alan couldn’t stop me from making this my top game of 2023.
This was an incredible year for gaming, full of impactful experiences, unique stories, and just sheer fun. I can’t wait to see what 2024 has in store and what tales grip me this coming year.
