2023 is full of upcoming video games, many of which are highly anticipated. Whether you play on console or PC, chances are there is a game releasing next year that you have been looking forward to playing for some time. For info on every game releasing next year, check out this curated list by Gabe Gurwin of Gamespot. Otherwise, here is a list of my own most anticipated games of 2023 (in order of release date).
Forspoken (PS5, PC) – January 24, 2023
As soon as I saw the first bit of gameplay for Forspoken, I was intrigued. Not only do I consider myself an avid fan of just about anything Square Enix touches, but Forspoken‘s gameplay showcasing beautiful landscapes, magic spells, and fantasy lore made me want to know more about the game.
Although I was a bit disappointed by my experience with the demo (you can read about it here), I am still hopeful the game will turn out to be more than the demo led us all to expect, as Forspoken‘s Creative Producer, Raio Mitsuno, in this interview with Gematsu, has defended the game claiming its demo is not representative of its full release. I, for one, believe him, but that may just be because I want the game to succeed. Nevertheless, Forspoken remains one of my most anticipated games of 2023, and if you have seen any gameplay, you can understand why.
Forspoken releases on January 24, 2023 for PS5 and PC.
Dead Space (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – January 27, 2023
What can I say about Dead Space? What can I not say about Dead Space? It remains, to this day, my favorite horror series among video games, and that’s why its remake of the first game is included in my most anticipated games of 2023.
The gaming community typically shudders at the sound of the word “remake” because of the tendency of developers and publishers nowadays to release unfinished cash grabs that no one asked for, but the footage we have seen for the Dead Space remake has so far proven to actually be a remake. Aside from a graphical overhaul, the remake features improved necromorph dismemberment, new side quests, new alternate fire modes for weapons, new puzzles, and more. It seems the quality of life improvements that came with each new Dead Space game have been thrown into the remake of the first, thus making it what should be a fresh experience for newcomers and veterans alike.
As the first Dead Space game released back in 2008, I already have this one pre-ordered. If it turns out the game is terrible, I don’t think I care. It has been almost 15 years since I played the first one, and I cannot wait to play it again.
Dead Space releases on January 27, 2023 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
Hogwarts Legacy (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – February 10, 2023
Although all things associated with Harry Potter have been plagued by plenty of controversy lately, it remains a universally beloved franchise and will undoubtedly continue to be that as time goes on. The world, its characters, and its story are admired by many, so it is very likely the upcoming game, Hogwarts Legacy, will be successful, dare I say, regardless of the game’s quality.
Set in the Wizarding World universe and based on the Harry Potter novels and film series, Hogwarts Legacy is an upcoming action RPG developed by Avalanche Software and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. Players will get the opportunity play as a student of Hogwarts who holds the key to an ancient secret that threatens to tear the wizarding world apart. Hogwarts Legacy features an immersive open-world, with discoverable areas like Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, the Forbidden Forest, and the surround Overland area.
As an avid fan of both Harry Potter and open-world RPGs, my anticipation for Hogwarts Legacy is through the roof. Although a part of me expects the game to end up being a mediocre adventure through the Wizarding World, I also have no doubts it will have elements that almost any fan of the franchise can appreciate and enjoy. I guess we will see. For now, if you’re a fan of Harry Potter, I’d put this one on your own list if I were you.
Hogwarts Legacy releases on February 10, 2023 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
Destiny 2: Lightfall (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC) – February 28, 2023
Say what you want, but I believe Destiny 2 is one of the best ongoing MMO games out there, and I say that with absolutely zero bias. Its developer, Bungie, continues to improve upon the game, even though they have not been able to do absolutely everything requested by its players. It has substantially surpassed its predecessor in too many ways to count, and its community retains consistent numbers throughout each season, so it is no wonder its fifth major expansion, Lightfall, releases in February.
Packed with fresh content, the new Strand subclass, and a new location, Lightfall might be Destiny 2‘s most ambitious expansion yet. The new expansion introduces the Neptunian city of Neomuna, which could be compared to a cyberpunk Atlantis at first glance. The Witness, the game’s upcoming antagonist who has seemingly been working behind the scenes for some time now, is preparing to bring an end to all things, and players must harness new rewards and Dark powers to overcome him. Just as in Destiny 2‘s most recent expansion, The Witch Queen, players will have an opportunity to play the entire campaign in Legendary mode.
I have personally played Destiny 2 for over 2,500 hours at this point across multiple platforms including Xbox One, PS4 Pro, and PC, so I think it goes without saying that I have already pre-ordered Lightfall and I plan to sink at least another several hundred hours into the game. With the new additions to the base game with this expansion, I am almost certain it will be a brand new experience, and it is an experience that I honestly cannot wait for.
Destiny 2: Lightfall releases on February 28, 2023 for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – March 17, 2023
There are plenty of Star Wars games on the market, so the question is not whether they exist; the question is whether they are worth playing. In 2019, EA and Respawn Entertainment surprised the world with the absolute gem of a game, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. Its story, combat, skill system, and acting were top-notch. The game was universally praised and appreciated, earning no less than a 9/10 score from most critics. Gamers had been waiting for a game with action-packed lightsaber gameplay that was true to form, and Fallen Order delivered exactly that. Now, here we are twiddling our thumbs, anxiously awaiting the release of its sequel, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor continues the story of the game’s protagonist, Cal Kestis, specifically five years after the events of Fallen Order. No longer a Padawan, Cal has become a formidable Jedi Knight equipped with more Force abilities and new lightsaber fighting styles. Survivor comes packed with new planets to discover, each with unique biomes, challenges, and enemies. Cameron Monaghan (Gotham, Shameless) also returns as the voice and face of Cal, who did an objectively fantastic job of acting in the first game, so we can undoubtedly expect a great performance again.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is one of those games that I will play, no matter how it turns out, simply because I love Star Wars, and I want to see where this story goes. I loved every bit of Fallen Order, so much so that I am planning to play through it again before the release of Survivor, so I am not worried at all about whether I will enjoy the sequel. Sadly, I’ll have to wait another few months to play it. Until then, may the Force be with you.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor releases on March 17, 2023 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Nintendo Switch) – May 12, 2023
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (BotW) is an enormous game that revolutionized the Zelda universe as we know it. BotW changed things so much in fact, to go back now would probably result in Nintendo’s headquarters getting razed to the ground by a mob of angry gamers. It introduced open-world exploration to the franchise along with some RPG elements, which were entirely uncharacteristic of any Zelda game before it. BotW took the world by storm, so much so that it wound up earning Nintendo a well-deserved Game of the Year award. Now, Nintendo is ready to capitalize on the massive success of Breath of the Wild with the sequel, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
Tears of the Kingdom (TotK) will continue Link’s adventure that began in BotW, and honestly…that’s about all the information we have at the moment. Nintendo is known for being cryptic about its upcoming games, especially its most treasured franchises, so we don’t have a lot to draw from right now. There is little doubt, however, that the game will even come close to failing. Even if TotK ends up being a copy-and-paste version of BotW, I don’t think too many people would be upset. If there is one thing I can tell you about BotW, it’s this: WE WANT MORE!
I logged hundreds of hours in BotW, and I plan to do the same with TotK (if I can pry the Switch out of my wife’s hands, that is). BotW is a game that requires a large investment of your time if you hope to experience all that it has to offer, so I’m sure we can expect the same with TotK.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom releases on May 12, 2023 exclusively for the Nintendo Switch.
Final Fantasy XVI (PS5) – June 22, 2023
If you were to ask me the question, “What is the game series you will always support, no matter how many games are released?” I would say, “Final Fantasy.” The worlds, the characters, the music, and the stories have always captivated me, and I’m sure they will continue to captivate me for years to come. I’m not even sure I’d be able to rank them in order of my favorites because they all offer something so unique that it would be too difficult to choose. That is precisely why I am looking forward to the release of the next installment in the series: Final Fantasy XVI.
Final Fantasy XVI is an upcoming action role-playing game developed and published by Square Enix, and though it’s not the sixteenth installment in the series as its title would suggest, the XVI makes this one a standalone title, which means new characters, a new story, a new world, and new gameplay mechanics. In Final Fantasy XVI, players will take control of Clive Rosfield, the “First Shield of Rosaria,” and along with a host of AI-controlled companions, they will travel across the game’s world of Valisthea to exact revenge on the dark Eikon Ifrit.
Final Fantasy XVI isn’t in my PS5 library yet, but it will be before long, I can promise you that. Even if I tried, I doubt I’d be able to convince myself not to play it. It’s a good thing I’ll have plenty of other games to tide me over until June, otherwise, I would likely go crazy.
Final Fantasy XVI releases on June 22, 2023 exclusively for the PS5.
Assassin’s Creed Mirage (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC) – TBA
I have always been an Assassin’s Creed fan. I will never not be an Assassin’s Creed fan, no matter how many haters emerge from the depths to tear each game to pieces. Let them hate. Assassin’s Creed continues to prove why it is such a beloved franchise, and that is why I am looking forward to the release of Assassin’s Creed Mirage in 2023.
In Assassin’s Creed Mirage, players take control of Basim, a cunning street thief with nightmarish visions seeking answers and justice. Mirage is a powerful coming-of-age story about a defiant young man who transforms into a Master Assassin with a conflicted destiny. The game’s website calls Basim “the most versatile Assassin in franchise history,” boasting seamless parkour and the “largest assortment of tools to date.”
At first glance, the gameplay looks more along the lines of old-school Assassin’s Creed, with stealth being once again emphasized before it began changing with the release of Assassin’s Creed Origins. I am personally looking forward to that, and I’m sure many others are. The new gameplay that the most recent Assassin’s Creed games offer has created a schism among fans, with some praising Ubisoft’s innovative approach and others tearing it down. I have fully appreciated it, although I was disappointed that stealth was all but entirely lost in the most recent installment, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. Nevertheless, Assassin’s Creed Mirage is a game that I will play and enjoy, regardless of its reception.
Assassin’s Creed Mirage‘s release date is currently TBA for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC.
Starfield (PC, Xbox Series X|S) – TBA
Skyrim in space? Yes, please. That’s what the game’s Director, Todd Howard, says anyway. What could be terrible about that? On a serious note, Starfield is Bethesda Softworks’ first new universe in 25 years, so we can expect to see something entirely different than what we have seen in the Elder Scrolls franchise. As a fan of pretty much everything Bethesda creates, I am expecting Starfield to be a masterpiece of a game and an unforgettable experience.
Starfield is an upcoming action role-playing game developed by Bethesda Game Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks. Set around the year 2310, the events of the game take place 50 light-years from the solar system in an area called The Settled Systems. The two main factions in the game, the Freestar Collective and the United Colonies, are engaged in a conflict called the Colony War, and players assume the role of a member of Constellation, an organization of space explorers.
If Todd Howard is calling Starfield “Skyrim in space,” we can not only expect a massive game but an award-winning experience as well. We are long overdue for a new Bethesda universe as the likes of Fallout and Elder Scrolls have been picked clean for the last two decades. I, for one, am looking forward to this experience, and if you have any sense in you, you should be too.
Starfield‘s release date is currently TBA for PC and Xbox Series X|S.
There are a lot of great games coming out in 2023, so I expect it will be an incredible year for developers as gamers of all ages and preferences throw cash at them for all their hard work. Many of these games have credible histories under their belt, leading me to believe most if not all of them will succeed in giving players the experiences they are hoping for.
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