eXputer’s Game Of The Year 2023

The year has come to an end, bringing the curtains down on one of, if not the most, bittersweet times in gaming. Before we crown eXputer’s Game of the Year for 2023, it must be acknowledged that these last twelve months have graced us with several phenomenal titles. However, at the end of the day, there can only be one winner.

We took the biggest releases of 2023 and conducted an internal voting process to determine the victor via majority opinion. While the results came close to being predictable, they ultimately ended up surprising even the people tallying all those votes. 

With that out of the way, here are the runner-ups for eXputer’s Game of the Year 2023.

Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon

• Release Date: August 25, 2023
• Developer: FromSoftware
• Genre: Action, Shooting, Mecha

FromSoftware revived its legacy mecha IP and graced us with AC6 halfway through the year. It retained the core aspect of the franchise while improving on practically all of its elements providing a seamless mech experience to the player. Most importantly, it benefitted immensely from mountains of knowledge FromSoft accrued in the last decade that culminated in 2022’s Game of the Year—Elden Ring.

Armored Core 6 dropped the open-world element in favor of vast, linear maps with top-notch level design giving off the feeling of being in an expansive area despite the obvious absence of it. Furthermore, it featured high-octane gameplay that was fully capable of being catered to individual playstyles. An impressive variety of build options, extensive visual customization, and premium quality-of-life features made for a fantastic game.

Unfortunately, AC6 wasn’t able to come out on top and win our Game of the Year despite all of its offerings. It needs to be mentioned that this does not detract from its quality. 

Hi-Fi Rush

• Release Date: January 25, 2023
• Developer: Tango Gameworks
• Genre: Action-rhythm

Hi-Fi Rush was announced at the Xbox & Bethesda Direct in January of this year, shocking critics and players worldwide when the title was confirmed to come out within a few hours while simultaneously being on the Xbox Game Pass.

Word-of-mouth spread fast due to the extensive reach of Microsoft‘s subscription service, the game’s quality experience, and a fantastic Metacritic score. It even managed to generate more revenue than Forspoken despite being priced lower. Given that Hi-Fi Rush managed to be such a success even though it was shadow-dropped & was not a AAA blockbuster with astronomical budgets, it rightfully earned a spot in our Game of the Year list.

Sadly though, it just wasn’t enough to win the label of 2023’s Game of the Year at eXputer as the competition this time was simply too strong. Nevertheless, Hi-Fi Rush is fondly remembered by many even as 2024 rears its head proving that the game left a solid impression on the gaming landscape.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

• Release Date: October 20, 2023
• Developer: Insomniac Games
• Genre: Action-Adventure, Open-World

In 2018, Insomniac Games restored Spider-Man to glory after years of mediocrity. In 2020, it proved that this wasn’t a fluke with the Miles Morales spin-off. This year, the studio managed to continue the streak with Marvel’s Spider-Man 2.

Expanding the map of NYC with two new Burroughs, introducing faster travel by utilizing the power of the PlayStation 5, and more upped the ante in this sequel to the greatest Spider-Man title ever allowing it to compete in our Game of the Year race.

The addition of web-wings was another fantastic element. Insomniac used them to provide us with a means of travel that was faster than Spider-Man’s trademark web swinging. Here’s where it all began to get disjointed. Then there’s the story. There’s an entire narrative weaved around prominent names and elements such as the symbiote, Kraven, Harry Osborne, Venom, Mary Jane, Miles Morales, Martin Li, and Peter Parker himself.

Beyond that, you have lore implications that felt unfinished. For what it’s worth, the devs did well coming up with this plot but it was overloaded & fell short of being greater. Being a wonderful experience nonetheless allowed it to swing into one of our slots for potential Game of the Year.

But to win such a title, a game must deliver something truly exceptional; that’s something Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 did not accomplish.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

• Release Date: May 12, 2023
• Developer: Nintendo EPD
• Genre: Action-Adventure, Open-World

2017 was a year to remember after Breath of the Wild changed the meaning of open-world games. It broke the confines of generic and formulaic maps that used cluttered UIs to keep the player on a linear path while placing them in an expansive realm. This was only one of its myriad accomplishments and it went on to win several Game of the Year accolades.

Tears of the Kingdom went above and beyond in every way to deliver a familiar yet unknown experience. It does a lot of things right but the one thing to come out of it that truly left an impression on us was Ultrahand. We’ve all seen the things this ability made possible in addition to the overall improvements from the first game. While it offered more of the same, Tears of the Kingdom’s new abilities left their mark in a way that easily made it a contender in our Game of the Year race.

It’s one of the four games that received the majority of the votes, managing to tie with two of the other titles that got the same level of engagement. If not for some unpredictable events, this might have been our Game of the Year.

Alan Wake 2

• Release Date: October 27, 2023
• Developer: Remedy Entertainment
• Genre: Survival Horror

Over a decade since the first game, Remedy finally delivered a sequel to one of the seventh generation’s cult hits with Alan Wake 2. There was a lot of competition for this title and people talked about how the existence of Resident Evil 4’s remake will impact AW2. After some interesting comments and thoughtful reconsideration, Remedy even decided to delay the game to lower any negative results.

After hitting the shelves, Alan Wake 2 threw it out of the park as it rose to the occasion and delivered a masterful experience in every aspect. Crafting a mix of exceptional visuals, incredible storytelling, excellent worldbuilding, and great gameplay, AW2 easily made its way into the race for 2023’s Game of the Year. 

In fact, it’s one of the three games that tied with each other when we tallied our votes. If it wasn’t for some unpredictable factors, things would have been far more difficult for us. 

Baldur’s Gate 3

• Release Date: 3 August 2023 (Windows), September 6, 2023 (Consoles)
• Developer: Larian Studios
• Genre: Fantasy RPG

What’s there to say about Baldur’s Gate 3 if it isn’t the fact that it’s one of the, if not the greatest RPGs of all time? A lot, actually but this piece is too short for that. After almost 3 years in early access, Larian managed to evolve the experience to a point where it was mandatory and encouraged to start anew as doing so was justified due to the magnitude of the change.

While the devs believed that Baldur’s Gate 3 peaked during its early access period, its astronomical success rate came as a surprise. Even so, it was somehow predictable and understandable given the amount of content in the game, the quality of its presentation, excellent CRPG gameplay, extensive replayability, and much more. 

It’s the third game that received huge support in the voting process, tying alongside Alan Wake 2 and Tears of the Kingdom. Had it not been a matter of a certain game gaining an ever so slight edge in votes, we would’ve probably initiated a re-vote to determine the winner out of these few contestants.

So prepare yourself for something out of left field because we will now declare the winner of eXputer’s Game of the Year 2023. 

Game Of The Year – Resident Evil 4 (2023)

• Release Date: March 24, 2023
• Developer: Capcom
• Genre: Survival/Action Horror

You’re probably thinking about how this ended up happening and honestly, we were as shocked to see Capcom’s legendary remake come out on top when facing off against this year’s competition. That said, Resident Evil 4 does hold a great level of significance despite being a remake. It’s not just the improvements Capcom implemented, it’s about how well this project went considering the weight behind it.

The original Resident Evil 4 is a near-perfect game that still holds up to this day. It has a legacy and there are countless people out there who hold it in high regard. We’ve also seen it ported on every console since its launch in 2005. Given the stigma around game remakes and the fact that Capcom had the monumental task of not ruining RE4’s legacy, players weren’t happy at first with the idea of its remake. 

Fast forward to the release, Resident Evil 4 surprised everyone with its graphics, gameplay, new mechanics, redesigned boss fights, content adjustments, and story. Capcom managed to uphold the legacy of a game with near-legendary status and elevate it even further, setting a new standard for all video game remakes.

Honorable Mentions

While these games couldn’t grab a spot in the race for our Game of the Year, they’re still very much worth looking into.

Hogwarts Legacy

The game stands out as one of the finest Harry Potter games thus far, if not the absolute best. It boasts a compelling narrative enhanced by captivating characters, a meticulously designed world, and outstanding combat mechanics.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

Whether you enjoy third-person action-adventure games or are simply a devotee of the Star Wars universe, there’s something in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor for everyone. This exceptional sequel not only makes numerous enhancements to an established formula but also nearly achieves perfection, making it a must-play for enthusiasts.

Lies of P

Engage in a thrilling journey of deceit and revelation, as Lies of P offers a unique and gripping experience that is sure to leave a lasting impression. Lies of P delivers an exhilarating gaming experience, seamlessly blending a captivating narrative with intense gameplay inspired by the Soulsborne games.

Final Fantasy XVI

Final Fantasy 16 transforms the series by introducing a fresh take on gameplay and an enthralling dark storyline that captivates from start to finish. The combat system is a visual spectacle, and the storytelling skillfully balances intense political intrigue with a compelling character-driven narrative. Despite these innovations, the game retains the beloved charm of Final Fantasy, reminiscent of its golden days that fans have cherished for years.

Street Fighter 6

Street Fighter 6 resurrects the franchise, restoring it to its rightful place on the throne. Excelling in the realms of fighting and pure action, it propels the series to unprecedented heights, marking a triumphant return to form. Being accessible for newcomers while maintaining the skill ceiling for veterans is what makes the latest Street Fighter a must-have for series’ fans and genre enthusiasts.