“Games coming out in 2023”
1. Super Mario Bros Wonder
“Super Mario Bros. Wonder” is coming for Nintendo Switch, and this is the next big, 2D Mario game with 3D graphics, and it looks pretty out of this world. I like the modern 2D Mario games, but I think they’ve needed a refresh for a while, and 
2.S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl
Now, next, over at number 24, we have “S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl”.We’ve talked about this one a lot already, but this game, hopefully, finally releases this year after a long, long development cycle, and I think it deserves all the time in the world
because it’s like the follow-up to the classic “S.T.A.L.K.E.R.” series, one that, for PC players, kind of birthed the new genre or subgenre. These games are incredibly unique. It’s not just a first-person, post-apocalyptic survival shooter. It’s just got a different feel, a different vibe to it. It’s a little brainier, and it seems like those elements are carrying over to “S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2” here, with a lot of investigation, scientific elements, discovering and really figuring out anomalies, as well as, of course, just shooting bad guys and gun customization and all that stuff. This one has a ton of potential, and as of right now, it’s slated for December.
3.Bomb Rush Cyberfunk
Now, next, over at number 23, we have “Bomb Rush Cyberpunk”.
This is like the spiritual successor to the Jet Set Games, “Jet Set Radio”, and stuff like that, and we couldn’t be more excited because look at this thing. If you’re a gamer from, like, the early Xbox days or the Sega Dreamcast days, you know what this is about. They know what they’re doing here, and not even just as like a nostalgic, throwback type of thing, like, this is a genre. This is a type of game that we don’t get a lot of today, so this release could actually feel pretty fresh and new to younger players or players who never experienced this type of awesome game. This is releasing August 18th. Next, over at number 22, we have “Payday 3”.
4. PAYDAY 3
This was recently announced, and as of right now, details are still pretty scant on it, but there has been a new “Payday” in the works for a while, and it seems like this year, we’re finally gonna be playing it. We know it takes place in New York. The legendary “Payday” crew is kind of back in action after retirement. Something pulls ’em back in, and you’re doing crime heisting, “Payday” stuff cooperatively with friends, getting apparently more loot, more money this time around, and bigger levels. In the New York levels that we have seen highlighted, there is some gameplay floating around out there. Seems really cool. There really isn’t an online shooter like the “Payday” series,
so we’re curious to see what they do with this one. They’re selling it at a lower price, which is pretty cool, and it’s dropping on September 21st, 2023. Now, next, over at number 21,
5. Cities: Skylines II
Now, next, over at number 20, we have “Cities: Skylines II”.
This is the follow-up to the original, incredible “Cities: Skylines”.
That game was a fantastic city builder that really, like, kicked “SimCity’s” ass, and that’s hard for me to say as an old-school “SimCity” fan, but “Cities: Skylines” is something else, especially with the mod community and all the support the developers gave it over the years, and it seems like they’re doing the same thing with “Cities: Skylines II”.It just seems like a bigger, worse, crazier city builder, and, you know, that’s what the doctor ordered. This is releasing, as of right now, on October 24th, 2023.
Next, over at number 19,
6. Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora
we have “Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora”.The “Avatar” franchise is absolutely huge. Even though some people make fun of it, it is one of the bigger, more popular franchises for a reason, and it’s ripe for a video game. I mean, it practically is a video game, so this totally makes sense, and what Ubisoft is essentially doing here is applying some of their “Far Cry”, first-person shooter, open-world stuff to “Avatar”.You play as a Na’vi who was born on the planet but was ripped away from their home world and trained as a soldier, and then escapes and goes back to rediscover their roots.
, essentially, that means you are a native Na’vi who knows how to use a gun because then it wouldn’t be a video game or an “Avatar” thing. So, you’re using guns. You’re also using your bow.
You’re embracing your abilities as a Na’vi. You’re running faster, you’re jumping higher, and you’re also riding mounts. You’re flying through the air. You’re riding across the planes of this new territory of Pandora we haven’t seen before, and it seems like this could be pretty cool. Pandora’s just a cool planet, and I would like to experience it. Very curious to see how Ubisoft actually handles this whole thing. I mean, Ubisoft has received a lot of rightful criticism in the past, but the tactical, blue, native, alien people are cool. So, we get to experience this game, seemingly, December 7th, 2023. It’s gonna be the last big game of the year
if that release date sticks, of course.
7.Super Mario RPG
Super Mario RPG
Nintendo is really going buck wild this year, but they are also very much doing a remake, re-release type of thing, which, love it or hate it, seems like a good one. It’s for the original Super Nintendo, “Super Mario RPG”, an incredibly unique game from Nintendo, and now it’s got a completely new coat of paint. It looks absolutely gorgeous. It seems like they’re sticking to the gameplay fundamentals, but not enough people have experienced this one,
so this is gonna feel completely new to a lot of people, and we hope it’s successful because we’d love to see more Mario RPG-style games. I mean, it’s been a minute, and that is dropping on November 17th, 2023.
8. Forza Motorsport
They’re dropping the numbers and just going with “Forza Motorsport”, and this is, of course, the mainline franchise for the “Forza” games. This is the more simulation-heavy, racing-focused game, and is not really centered around open-world shenanigans or racing culture.No, this is just about the cars and the racing and the precision, and this time around, of course, surprise, surprise, the graphics are even crazier, but they’re also rethinking the progression loo and how, essentially, cars are gonna be built, not bought, in this game. You’re gonna progress, you’re gonna earn points, and you’re gonna spend them on making your cars better, and then eventually earning new cars. Instead of having a lot of freedom, this game is gonna make you appreciate the cars individually, which I think the “Forza” series has kind of lost sight of in the past,
so this is a cool change-up. We’re curious to see how this one actually goes down when it releases on October 10th.
Next, over at number 17, we have “Super Mario RPG”.
9. Remnant 2
Now, next, over at number 16, we have “Remnant 2”.
“Remnant: From the Ashes” was great, and “Remnant 2” seems to really be running with that, better melee, more guns, more character customization, and, most importantly, more randomly-generated scenarios and encounters. These games are a blast to play alone, but really, with friends.
10.Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
This is the big expansion for “Cyberpunk 2077″Yes, “Cyberpunk 2077” had a rough launch, and the developers took a long time fixing it,
but now the game is solid, and we’re getting a big, proper expansion for it. A new bit of story in a new region called Dogtown, new characters, and more stuff for V to deal with, but also totally overhauled system mechanics, RPG mechanics, and gameplay enhancements. We’re excited to see how big of a deal this one actually is.
It’s releasing on September 26th, 2023.
11.Sea of Stars
Next, over at number 14,
if you’re looking for a bit of a throwback, we have “Sea of Stars”.This is an old-school style, turn-based RPG.
it is clearly wearing its influence on its sleeve.
when it releases on August 29th.
12. Lords of the Fallen
This is a follow-up to the “Lords of the Fallen” from a few years ago, the Soulslike game, that was really good, but, you know,
really change the world or anything. This one, though, looks absolutely crazy. It’s like they’re going buck wild this time around with crazy monsters, cool lore, and over-the-top characters, I’m okay with that, no notes, and as of right now,
“Lords of the Fallen” is releasing on October 13th.
13. Assassin’s Creed: Mirage
we have “Assassin’s Creed Mirage”.
This is the one that’s billed as kind of like a throwback to the original games, you know, the Altaïr, Ezio-style games, because it’s centered around, essentially, one city and a surrounding area, and it’s got social stealth, single assassination missions, and simple parkour. It’s not an endlessly vast, huge, open-world RPG, like the more recent “Odyssey” or “Valhalla”.This is going a little bit back to basics. Now, I’m curious to see if it can do anything with that formula and, like, shake it up a little bit and make a reason for it existing other than just,
“Hey, all you weirdos who still like the original “Assassin’s Creeds”,
we just want your money again.”I will admit, I am one of those people. by bringing it back to basics, I think this has the potential to be, like, a good shakeup for the franchise, especially for specific types of fans like us, but we’ll have to see for sure when the final product releases.
It’s dropping this fall, October 12th.
14. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
we have “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre”.
This is another horror movie franchise centered around an asymmetrical multiplayer game,
where you’re playing as the gross, creepy family, and you’re also playing as the survivors.
and this game is releasing, as of right now, August 18
15. Atlas Fallen
feels kind of like a throwback to something from the mid-2000s, something like a Darksiders-style game because it’s like this cool, open-world, magical, fantasy adventure, with badass combat and big monster slaying and cool-looking, edgy characters and surfing on the sand.
“Atlas Fallen” is releasing on August 10th, 2023.
