Hit remakes, sequels of iconic games, and original indie projects. We have compiled the top most important video games of 2023, which was filled with notable releases.
Baldur’s Gate 3
To make a sequel to Baldur's Gate — two excellent, gigantic, and smart RPGs to this day — both because of the complexity and because of the old age of the original games released in 1998 and 2000 was, frankly, a job for kamikaze. Larian Studio approached the task with appropriate enthusiasm: it developed the third part for six years, animated hundreds of characters in almost all dialogues using motion capture, and added a million details.
The game that turned out in the end is not perfect. But neither the battles slowing down and simplifying by the end nor the operatic passions in the plot, which the further they go, the more they give off operetta, are able to spoil the overall impression of Baldur's Gate 3. This multi-ton imperfect game, with its wildly fascinating battles, branching dialogues, and inventive approach to completing tasks, unmistakably hits those very areas of the brain that beat classic RPGs. At the same time, thanks to a wasteful approach to expensive material, captivatingly realistic beauty, and naturalistic interaction with the world, Baldur's Gate 3 is felt among party role-playing games (and role-playing games in general) like a breath of fresh air.
Perhaps Larian Studio will not be able to manage the success of its game properly, and new opportunities and budgets, as has happened more than once with ambitious developers, will burn out these guys' minds, consciences, and talent forever in five years. But the discs from Baldur's Gate 3 will remain and will stand in the same place where all decent people now have discs from Baldur's Gate and Baldur's Gate II.
Alan Wake 2
The passage of Alan Wake 2 can be compared to watching the third season of Twin Peaks — you involuntarily feel the unreality of what is happening and realize that the long-term wait was worth it. Remedy has made its ultimate game, which has no analogs in the modern AAA segment. Alan Wake 2 impresses with its staging, keeps the suspense worse than the latest Resident Evil and tells a confusing story in which you want to disassemble every reference. Perhaps the team of screenwriter Sam Lake will no longer be able to take their soul away like that, so fans of the author's games should seize the moment. And you can also pay attention to Alan Wake 2 for those who think that the sequel games of recent years are too similar to the originals.
Hi-Fi Rush
The main character of Tango Gameworks' new hit emphasizes that rhythm is the crux of everything. Indeed, Hi-Fi Rush motivates the player to adjust his actions to the rhythm in which the game world exists. The fact is that at the beginning of the story, a boy who dreams of becoming a rock star is undergoing surgery, and his heart accidentally replaces the player. From now on, the whole environment pulsates to the beat of the music, and the game turns into a comedic rhythm slasher. Performing attacks in time with background compositions will greatly facilitate the confrontation of the villainous corporation, which the hero will have to endure.
Not only does the combat system make the game truly musical - each action here corresponds to a certain sound, which means that the player controls a whole arrangement of levels—tracks. Coupled with excellent animation, humor, and a retro vibe, this makes Hi-Fi Rush one of the most enjoyable and fun games of the year.
Hogwarts Legacy
Hogwarts Legacy can be blamed for many things: an empty plot, tiring gameplay, and smoothing out sharp topics (all Slytherins suddenly became tolerant of wizards from Muggle families). But its main goal — to give those who wish a virtual tour of Hogwarts and its surroundings — the game performed flawlessly. Here is the toilet, which contains the entrance to the Secret Room. The luxurious prefects' bathroom, where Harry wandered into the Goblet of Fire. The astronomical tower where Dumbledore met his fate. And many other memorable places.
All these hundreds of locations have been recreated with great love and attention, which makes traveling around the castle so pleasant. Hogwarts Legacy has every chance to become a game that is as pleasant to return to as it is once again to arrange a Harry Potter marathon for the New Year. If only for the opportunity to go shopping in Hogsmeade in the middle of winter once again.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
The new Insomniac Games game about Spider-Man is expected to become a sales hit. Within a day, its circulation exceeded 2.5 million copies, which made Marvel's Spider-Man 2 Sony's fastest-selling game. The journalists were delighted, and the players, apparently, too; the average score of both is somewhere around 9/10. At the same time, Marvel's Spider-Man 2 does not offer anything new, and the game is made as professionally as it is predictable.