My Top Ten 2023
It’s that time again when everyone is looking back and reflecting on the year, so I thought I’d jump in too and put together my top ten and a wrap up for 2023. I didn’t play many new releases this year and many that I did play were just new releases/remakes of older games. I have also been pulling back from buying new releases more recently but still managed to scrape together ten for this past year. Here is a little wrap up starting with my top ten games that I played for the first time in 2023, that didn’t release in 2023:
1. The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening (Switch)
2. Onimusha: Warlords (PS4)
3. Gran Turismo 4 (PS2)
4. Ikaruga (PS4)
5. Signalis (PS4)
6. Yakuza Kiwami (PS4)
7. Viewtiful Joe (PS2)
8. Valkyria Chronicles 4 (PS4)
9. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (Switch)
10. Gungrave G.O.R.E. (PS5)
Honourable mentions to: Valkyrie Elysium (PS5), Chivalry 2 (PS5), Ghost of Tsushima (PS5), OlliOlli World (PS5), Sackboy: A Big Adventure (PS5).
Biggest disappointment I played this year: Bayonetta 3 (Switch)
Finally the great games I revisited this year were: Resident Evil 4 (PS4 + Wii), Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii), Tony Hawks Pro Skater 3 (PS2), Gran Turismo 7 (PS5), Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Switch), Hell Let Loose (PS5) and Goldeneye 007 (N64). I also briefly dipped into many, many more great games to share with my kids.
1. The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening (Switch)
2. Onimusha: Warlords (PS4)
3. Gran Turismo 4 (PS2)
4. Ikaruga (PS4)
5. Signalis (PS4)
6. Yakuza Kiwami (PS4)
7. Viewtiful Joe (PS2)
8. Valkyria Chronicles 4 (PS4)
9. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (Switch)
10. Gungrave G.O.R.E. (PS5)
Honourable mentions to: Valkyrie Elysium (PS5), Chivalry 2 (PS5), Ghost of Tsushima (PS5), OlliOlli World (PS5), Sackboy: A Big Adventure (PS5).
Biggest disappointment I played this year: Bayonetta 3 (Switch)
Finally the great games I revisited this year were: Resident Evil 4 (PS4 + Wii), Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii), Tony Hawks Pro Skater 3 (PS2), Gran Turismo 7 (PS5), Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Switch), Hell Let Loose (PS5) and Goldeneye 007 (N64). I also briefly dipped into many, many more great games to share with my kids.
10 Games
I didn’t think this would end up being my Game of the Year and it is definitely not the most polished, high quality release of the year. But it was so much fun and so charming that I finished it five times. Absolutely a future cult classic/hidden gem, if it’s not already.
1
A little over 20 years later and still excellent. They did a great job with this remaster and hopefully Metroid Prime 2 will get the same soon.
2
This got a PS5 release this year so I’m counting this one. Just fun and the right kind of challenging, I think I am at nearly 10 run throughs and I still want to go back for more.
3
Bright, colourful, fun, joyful, charming, and highly polished and it’s been great playing it with my kids. However, underneath all that it’s, I don’t know, a bit flat.
4
This got a PS4 release this year so I’m counting it too. I never got around to playing this on PS2 or PSP. I’m glad I finally got to play it but I do want to try the other version as well. I enjoyed it quite a bit but not as much as Persona 4 or 5. Now with the remake on the way it might end up on my list next year too.
5
I have already written a lot about this one. Fun, highly polished and I enjoyed it enough to get the Platinum Trophy. But also not needed, safe, neutered, inferior and has microtransactions. Not a remake so it can’t replace or fit next to the original. Not a bold or different enough re-imagining to stand on its own like RE2 did. It’s back to the original for me.
6
Yep, another old game back again. I have good memories of the original so I was expecting to love this but I didn’t. I’m not sure if something was lost in the remake or if it’s just my problem. It’s still a great time though.
7
This one was a surprise. I picked it up after hearing some good things and seeing the cheap price. I was expecting it to be mediocre from a quick glance but it’s really good.
8
I have had plenty fun with this but my interest is waning more and more. C’mon Nintendo give us a new F-Zero or a remake and while you’re at it bring back Wave Race too.
9
I’m torn on this one. On one hand it’s rough, simplistic, overpriced, clearly didn’t get the effort it deserved and as a parent you want better than this. But on the other hand it does capture some of the shows charm and humour. Most importantly though it put a smile on the face of my youngest and we’ve had fun together.
10