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Game Of The Year Editor’s Pick, 2023 - Axel Bosso
My Game of the Year lists are always exemplary. My two previous Games of the Year since joining TheGamer wereBefore Your Eyesand TheGamer’s overall2022 GOTY Citizen Sleeper, two games that I still recommend to anyone who will listen. This year, however, things are a little different. The fact I’mhorror-averseandPS5-lessmeans I’ve missed a lot of big hitters this year, so expect an indie sweep.
With that being said, let’s start with a small, relatively unknown studio calledNintendo.
Note: If you want to really see how much more taste I have than my colleagues, check out all their listshere. Do the maths if you want to figure out which game will be democratically crowned TheGamer’s Game of the Year. Or wait, like, three days and read it in Stacey’s round-up, I’m not your da.
10. The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom
At the end of 2022, I fully expectedTears of the Kingdomto be my Game of the Year the next year. I’m a huge Zelda fan and thought Breath of the Wild was spectacular. Unfortunately, I just didn’t gel with the sequel. However, I’ve jumped back in over the past month, taking my time, and have grown to appreciate some of its areas, most notably the Sky Archipelago and the sandbox physics, which are nothing short of genius considering they work perfectly on the Switch’s tired hardware.
With all that said, Tears of the Kingdom makes this list purely thanks to the Sky Temple and the route to it, which is some ofthe most exciting and innovative Zelda dungeoningI’ve ever played.
9. Viewfinder
This truly was the year of physics games, huh?Viewfinderhas an incredibly clever core mechanic that was perfectly executed. I have no idea how the developers made this game work so flawlessly, and I only wish there was more of it.
8. Bomb Rush Cyberfunk
Bomb Rush Cyberfunktook the Jet Set Radio Future blueprint and ran with it (or should that be skated with it?). Great movement, a fun story, and the strongest sense of style of any game this year immediately put this on my list. It’s a shame it was hardly acknowledged during awards season, but it wouldn’t be a true Jet Set Radio spiritual successor if its greatness was immediately recognised, would it?
7. Chants Of Sennaar
A creative language puzzler with stunning Sable-esque graphics,what more could you want? Immaculate design and head-scratching hieroglyphic puzzles giveChants of Sennaaran instant win in The Ben Awards.
6. The Invincible
invincible
Firewatch but make it sci-fi.The Invinciblewas practically made for me, and I’ll forgive any minor drawbacks to soak in its retrofuturist vibes for a minute longer.
Honourable mentions (AKA games that look like a bit of me but I didn’t get a chance to play):
5. Cocoon
I always thinkCocoonshould be spelled with two Cs between the Os, but it looks really weird, so the devs made the right call spelling it correctly. Another entry into the ‘vibes puzzler’ genre that’s hitting all the right notes on my digital tastebuds,Cocoon marries clever platforming and interesting boss fights with stunning visual design.
Worlds-within-worlds and orb-based level design make backtracking a treat, and every squelch and ooze of the semi-natural space you inhabit draws you further into Cocoon’s wordless world.
4. Dredge
Dredgeis the perfect amount of horror for me, in that there’s none really. It’s spooky and tense with its chthonic influence worn proudly on its sleeve, and hauling up foul abyssal sea creatures is never not exciting. I haven’t dove into The Pale Reach DLC yet, but I’m excited to explore more of this carefully crafted world.
My favourite part of Dredge is how every mechanic interacts with every other to ramp up that tension like you’re reeling in a mutated stingray. The slow click of your rod pulling something from the depths, the splutter of your engines, the soft descent of night, and the spectral sea creatures nibbling at your hull all combine to create an inimitable sense of seafaring dread.
3. Cassette Beasts
This is the game I wantPokemonto make. Beautiful pixel art, meaningful characters, interesting progression, terrifying boss fights –Cassette Beastshas everything. I just want to take this opportunity to shout out all the developers who seemingly made games specifically for me this year, you’re the real heroes.
2. Dave the Diver
Put simply,Dave the Diverwas the game I found mostfunthis year. The diving is deluxe, the sushi serving suitably stressful, and the myriad minigames so discordant that they can’t help put a smile on your face. The recently-announcedDredge crossover DLCis just the icing on the cake.
1. Baldur’s Gate 3
Was it ever going to be anything else? I’ve got two concurrent playthroughs ofLarian’sgenre-defining RPG and the sheer number of choices, options, and allowances for creative thinking make this the ultimate virtual D&D experience. I’ve already got two more playthroughs planned, and I can’t wait to slurp up every morsel ofBaldur’s Gate 3across the inevitable more that follow.
When I say that I fully expect to name this as Game of the Decade in six years’ time, I mean it. Baldur’s Gate 3 is just that good.
