Now that most people are back from the holiday break, it seems like a good time to reflect on the gaming year that was. And what a year it was. In putting together our annual five-category awards (we like to keep things short and sweet), you’ll notice an absence of the likes of acclaimed Super Mario Bros. Wonder, and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, simply because competition was so fierce. For the record, you can find our 2022 GOTY feature and 2021 edition here.

Whose opinions will you find below? We managed to assemble the same roster of gaming journalists and commentators (past and present) as last year.

Once you’ve read everyone’s lists below – which were created without discussion, and based on games released in the period 1 January to 31 December 2023 – comment with your personal picks.

1. Biggest surprise of 2023

Darryn – RoboCop: Rogue City / Hi-Fi Rush

You know what’s great about RoboCop: Rogue City? It’s that this game revels in its source material and incorporates the good with the bad, OCP be damned. Make no mistake, RoboCop handles like a drunk whale, the pacing is all over the place, and it looks like a remastered PS3 game. But there’s a beauty in mediocrity, a low-stakes pleasure in playing an imperfect game that excels at what it aims to do. Rogue City nails the power fantasy of being RobocCop, and there’s genuine love for the franchise on display here from Teyon, resulting in a game that feels just right.

Honourable mention must also go to Hi-Fi Rush, a surprise drop of the needle from out of nowhere. 2022 was a terrible year for Microsoft on the first-party front, but 2023? For the first time, it finally felt like the next generation of gaming on Xbox Series X|S consoles had begun, all thanks to the surprise opening act of Hi-Fi Rush, a blast of harmonious action. It’s Scott Pilgrim meets Devil May Cry and fused with the energy of a Saturday morning cartoon that makes for an infectiously good time.

Noelle – En Garde!

You ever feel like a game has, somehow, been specifically made for you? Action adventure En Garde!, the debut title from Fireplace Games, was that for me. Eschewing the dark intensity of so many games in its genre, En Garde! embraces the spirit of its swashbuckling source material. It’s colourful, saturated in quips, and rewards flamboyant combat as you play as Fourth Wall-breaking 17th Century heroine Adalia de Volador. En Garde is far from perfect, but it’s loads of fun and actually doesn’t skimp on challenge. Also, it’s pretty damn gay.

At this point, let me also give a shout out to the indie devs waving the rainbow flag in their work as on-screen LGBT+ representation is culled left, right and centre by streamers and networks. Narrative mystery This Bed We Made is especially memorable for its well-researched and Easter egg-loaded look at life in conservative 1950s North America.

Matty – Cocoon

Cocoon casually appeared on my social feeds one day, with people raving about its ingenuity and “Day One Xbox Game Pass” status. The opening minutes had me thinking it was just a casual, clever puzzle indie. By the time I rolled credits four or so hours later, however, it was clear that I had experienced a true masterwork of game design. Cocoon exudes raw “big brain” energy, all the while maintaining a contrasting, delightful simplicity that really left a lasting impression.

Cavie – Alan Wake 2

Video games, to my knowledge, have yet to attempt a “cinematic universe” equivalent until Remedy’s latest title came along and smashed it out the park. Highly ambitious, cinematically gorgeous, deliciously wicked, Alan Wake 2 hit hard and made such an impression on me that it was almost my favourite game this year, and I can’t even pretend to have seen it coming. 

Miklós – Dave the Diver

I’ll be honest: if this game hadn’t repeatedly popped up on website discussions, I wouldn’t have even known it existed. Its nomination for Best Independent Game at the 2023 Game Awards certainly raised a few eyebrows and kicked off some heated debates around the definition of “indie developer” (the game was published by Nexon – an enormous South Korean video game publisher). Whatever the case, Dave the Diver is a pixelated delight to play jam-packed with varying mechanics, mini games, and characters that are all drip-fed to you over hours of gameplay. It’s worth the price of admission and will charm the neoprene wetsuit right off your butt.

2. Favourite game played in 2023

Darryn – Turbo Overkill / Hitman Freelancer

The last couple of years have seen the rise of boomer-shooters on the market–slick love-letters to the years of Doom and Quake on ye olde MS-DOS–and this new generation builds on that run-and-gun gameplay with nostalgic visuals and fast-paced action. Turbo Overkill is an adrenaline-fueled rush, a vulgar display of power where every problem can be solved with a diving chainsaw-powered dropkick, and a shotgun to the face. It has more energy than an ’80s Wall Street stock trader on a dozen lines of Colombian marching powder, and it features a creative flourish that blends the past with the present. The result is an ultraviolent smoothie of bullets, blood, and apocalyptic levels of carnage.

My other favourite game played in 2023 is Hitman Freelancer. I’ve been singing the praises of IO Interactive’s soft-rebooted Hitman for almost a decade now, and in 2023, the series got even better. As part of a major update that led to the modern trilogy being wrapped up into one convenient World of Assassination collection, Hitman introduced a new roguelite mode called Freelancer. It’s a remix that makes Hitman that much more challenging, as it removes the careful art of planning and replaces it with a series of escalating trials where one small mistake can spell doom. Hitman at its purest, and the ultimate test for any Agent 47 veteran, this perfectly executed standalone mode adds a riveting new layer to the Hitman series.

Noelle – Marvel Snap

It’s not a 2023 release but if I were to choose my favourite game of the past 12 months on the basis on time spent playing, it has to be collectible card battler Marvel Snap. Hands down. I don’t traditionally enjoy CCGs, tabletop or digital – probably because I’m traditionally bad at them – but Marvel Snap sucked me in with the speed of play, the continual evolution of strategy thanks to its monthly season updates, the way it’s vastly expanded my knowledge of lesser-known Marvel characters. Fourteen months of play later and I’m still investing hours into Marvel Snap every week in my quest to claim all the cards for my catalogue.

Honourable mention to Thirsty Suitors, En Garde! and Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy for the consistent flow and surprises and smiles, which brightened my gaming in 2023. Humour is arguably the hardest thing to get right, and all these devs nailed it with their sharp writing and other creative choices.

Matty – The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

The games I remember most are those I typically associate with big moments in my life (and vice versa). The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is an excellent sequel, somehow improving on the already stellar Breath of the Wild. More importantly though, it was a constant gaming companion throughout 2023, gifting me over a hundred hours (and counting) of gaming bliss against a backdrop of boxes and clutter in South Africa, on a plane to the United Kingdom, and now, on countless bus and train commutes in my new norm. It may sound silly, but there’s something special about Link’s latest sandbox adventure running parallel to my own in the real world.

Cavie – Lies of P

A new IP from a relatively unknown game developer, and it’s the best soulsborne of the year – how is that even possible? Lies of P is an evolution of the Dark Souls formula that takes it to interesting new places with the dark twist on a popular children’s tale, refreshingly ideas, and an absolutely wonderful gameplay loop that feels rewarding and challenging in equal measure.

Miklós – The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

In 2017 Nintendo released Breath of the Wild, which went on to take over the gaming landscape for the entirety of that year. And the next, and the next, and the next as people continued finding new things to do in the game. The follow-up, Tears of the Kingdom, perhaps didn’t make as big a splash when it landed, and that could be because you’re essentially playing in the same open-world? (Spoiler: you kind of are, but also it’s more than twice the size if you include the new underground and sky-based locations).

Is it as good as Breath of the Wild? I’d say better thanks to the astounding building mechanic they’ve added. I can hop into this game at any moment, and I WILL find something new. And I WILL end up on a massive adventure just by walking from point A to B. Every. Time.

3. Favourite character

Darryn – Torgal (Final Fantasy XVI) / 808 (Hi-Fi Rush)

Clive Rosfield. Chai. Ada Wong. These are just some of the great characters who made 2023 such a highlight on the gaming calendar. And I’d happily push all of them into a volcano if it meant spending five more minutes with the real MVPs of last year, Torgal and 808. Final Fantasy XVI’s finest hound is a lone wolf who’ll move you to tears when you find out just how loyal this lovable ice-flinging killing machine really is. I mean, sure, he’s technically just a bunch of pixels brought to life by talented software developers but dammit he’s real to me!

And then there’s Hi-Fi Rush’s 808, a mechanical cat who provides a handy beat to kick ass to, and exists to remind you that Microsoft can do a hell of a lot better than Master Chief when the time comes for the aging supersoldier to take the longest of hiatus naps. 808 is adorable, helpful, and won’t claw your face off when you dress it up in people clothes, unlike my own cat who’ll swipe at me for merely existing. Am I projecting with my choices here? Maybe. But dammit, if a floating spherical feline wearing a collar containing a Metallica-styled kanji symbol can’t be nominated for one of the best characters of the year, then it’s time for me to hop off of this crazy rock and find a new home in the cosmos!

Noelle – Thirsty Suitors ensemble

I’m going to bend the rules a little here and name the entire cast of Thirsty Suitors, from Outerloop Games and Annapurna Interactive, as my favourite character(s). Next to Baldur’s Gate 3, the genre-blending Thirsty Suitors features arguably the best collective of the year, earning itself a gold star for representational diversity. In conversation, even the figures who initially seem present solely for comedic value become fleshed out, encouraging players to re-evaluate their opinions on a multitude of matters. The Mean Girl disowned by her family for being gay. The masculine presenting character who struggles to be seen as non-binary. The adorable LGBT ally dad who talks frankly about his previous lack of courage in standing up for the queer people in his life. It’s impossible not to become attached to these characters, who challenge your preconceptions as much as they make you laugh out loud.

Honourable mention to En Garde’s playful protagonist Adalia de Volador, and FBI agent Saga Anderson in Alan Wake 2. To be honest, I much preferred spending time with level-headed Saga as opposed to the returning title character.

Matty – Clive and bonus pick: good boy Torgal (Final Fantasy XVI)

Final Fantasy XVI is a flawed game, no doubt, and yet, I was hooked through my entire playthrough, thanks largely to the grand tale and its colourful cast. Sure, Cid stole the spotlight whenever he was on screen, but Clive, the protagonist, was a genuine constant, and in a very un-Final Fantasy move… wildly likeable (almost from the get-go even). Ben Starr breathed a comforting warmth and compassion into the character, who captivated me for the entire story.

Cavie – Karlach (Baldur’s Gate 3)

I know all the girlies love Astarion, and I get it, I totally do, but Karlach has the most golden retriever energy I’ve ever seen in a videogame, while simultaneously being shredded out of this world, the spawn of literal hell, and hitting like a truck in combat. It makes for such a wonderful contrast, and she provided some of my favourite and most refreshing character moments in ages.

Miklós – Karlach (Baldur’s Gate 3)

Sure, Astarion is GREAT as well, but Karlach is the most lovable Tiefling Barbarian with a heart that’s literally on fire and about to explode. I absolutely adored her. Once she joined my party in Baldur’s Gate 3, she never left it. Her commentary, battle quips, and story arc are superb, and she could be one of the best characters we’ve ever seen in a video game. Exceptionally well-written and nuanced in her character development, it’ll be some time before I find a video game character that I find so wholly compelling. Huge credit must go to Samantha Béart, who brought Karlach to life with an incredible voice-acting performance.

4. Biggest disappointment

Darryn – Forspoken

I don’t want to smugly point at something that came out last year and declare it the worst of 2023. I look at my biggest disappointment, and I look at a game that could have been so much more if it was given a proper chance. And sadly, that game is Forspoken. On the surface, this should have been a slam-dunk victory, a dazzling display of magical might anchored by incredible visuals. But instead of a triumph, Forspoken is simply…boring. Its story is half-arsed, its world is never properly fleshed out, and its big twist has all the force of trying to knock down the Berlin Wall with a budgie.

And yet, there’s so much good stuff under the surface that deserves praise, like a kickass selection of magic, a protagonist who got done dirty by trailers that only focused on her brief moments of snarkiness, and an open-world parkour system that is a ton of fun to experience. I doubt that we’ll ever see a Forspoken sequel, but hopefully all of the hard work by developer Luminous Productions will be reused in a future project published by Square Enix. If you see it on sale, just remember that Forspoken isn’t a great game. But it’s not a terrible game either, and it deserved better than it got.

Noelle – Layers of Fear (2023)

Looking back at all the games I played in 2023, it was more a case of encountering minor let-downs than duds. It was redeemed and reinvigorated by what followed, but Fortnite Chapter 4 Season 4 felt dull. Assassin’s Creed Mirage was solid enough as a throwback AC experience but the ending fell flat (especially if you were unfamiliar with Basim’s plotline in Valhalla). And, brace for it, I wanted to enjoy Alan Wake 2 more than I have so far. To date, I just haven’t found it as compelling as the original Alan Wake, one of my favourite games of all time.

This said, for biggest disappointment of the year, I’m going to go with Bloober’s Layers of Fear, a hybrid remaster-remake which unites the Layers of Fear games, and all their DLC, under the umbrella of a new overarching narrative, with some new content and gameplay additions. The problem is that while the original 2016 Layers of Fear has been elevated to the status of psychological horror masterpiece in this revisit, the Layers of Fear 2 component is a bloated and overwrought mess. Plus, after an exceptionally strong start, the new umbrella chapter, The Lighthouse, falls apart due to a frustrating refusal to actually clarify anything for the player, just leaving some discoverable vague implications to puzzle out over a disjointed timeline.

Matty – Forspoken

I maintain that Forspoken isn’t as bad as people make it out to be. It isn’t nearly as good as anybody hoped it would be, either. The original Project Athia trailer from 2020 gave us a glimmer of what next gen gaming looked like. The final product, unfortunately, is horribly rough around the edges, and miles below everything else released in 2023. It’s a shame really, given that Frey’s tale held so much potential.

Cavie – Starfield

What can be said about this game (loading screen) that hasn’t already been (loading screen) said. The exploration (loading screen) is pointless, the (loading screen) story is one-note, nothing (loading screen) about this game is enjoyable (loading screen) other than when I finally (loading screen) decided to uninstall it.

Miklós – Starfield

Fun fact: I took leave to play this game when it released. Second fun fact: I went back to work two days early because I was bored to death by Bethesda’s latest foray into the open-world RPG genre – a genre that they drove for decades. If ever there’s been a gaming developer that’s rested on its laurels, it’s Bethesda Game Studios. Starfield does nothing new to push the company forward in its crafting of game worlds and mechanics.

What Starfield has done is highlight how exceptionally good Bethesda is at marketing their games. It’s also hollowed out all excitement I have for The Elder Scrolls VI, but here’s hoping the criticism levelled at Starfield will push development of that fantasy sequel in new directions. As it stands now, however, Starfield (and Fallout 4 and Fallout 76) have made me very sceptical about what Bethesda Game Studios puts out in future.

5. Best game of the year 

Darryn – Final Fantasy XVI

A sequel in name only, Final Fantasy XVI is the ballsiest reinvention I’ve seen since sliced bread 2.0. It contains themes that resonate with me, the best boy of the year in the form of Torgal, and razor-sharp combat that is downright exhilarating when you master it. But beyond those easy selling points, Final Fantasy XVI convinced me of its GOTY status by being a complete game that ends on its own terms. No superfluous DLC, no adverts to remind you to invest in a quarterly season pass, no brief teaser for a sequel at the end.

Once the end credits rolled, that was it. The story of Clive Rosfield was over, my heart was shattered, and my journey had come to an end. But what a journey it was – what a masterpiece of storytelling backed up by incredible performances, magical art direction, and a kickass score that made every Earth-shaking Eikon battle feel like a clash of the titans. That sense of finality is beyond satisfying in an industry where every big-budget game is designed to create a trilogy and sell you some extra content. That’s something that you rarely see in the current gaming climate, making for a game that leaves a lasting impression.

Edit: Square Enix announced that Final Fantasy XVI is getting two expansion episodes after I’d written this. Some of you will wonder if this renders my analysis above moot. I don’t care, because more Final Fantasy XVI time with Torgal and my current digital crush Jill makes me far too happy. Is it essential DLC for an already captivating game? There’s only one way to find out, and I volunteer myself as tribute.

Noelle – Alan Wake 2

I haven’t finished it yet, and I can’t say it’s actually my favourite game of the year, but I can appreciate the unquestionable artistic brilliance of Alan Wake 2. Thought provoking, all-round experimental, ambitious and visually striking – that really is what you want from a Game of the Year, and Remedy’s Alan Wake sequel ticks every box… at the same time it gives you a migraine from its meta explorations of what is real versus what is written into existence. Bonus points for leaning hard into its Twin Peaks quirkiness and those terrible puns, largely courtesy of the Koskela twins.

Matty – Alan Wake 2

I liked Alan Wake 1 well enough, but not so much that I was exactly clamouring for a sequel. It’s unfair to say I didn’t expect a masterpiece from Remedy, though, because I know they’re more than capable of making fantastic games (hello, Control). Alan Wake 2 is on a whole different level, however, and something I certainly didn’t expect to love as much as I do. It’s gorgeous, enthralling, captivating, intentional, frightening, and finally, home to one of the coolest segments I have ever experienced in video games – something that, quite frankly, could never have worked outside the gaming medium. Take a bow, Remedy!

Cavie – Baldur’s Gate 3

One thing about Larian Studios: they know how to make a good RPG. I think it’s testament to just how well they achieved this with Baldur’s Gate 3 that it scared other game developers into coming out and calling it lightning in a bottle, saying it’s an unrepeatable feat, and not to expect other games to be able to follow suit. What more do I need to say when that’s the industry sentiment? Baldur’s Gate 3 is lightning in a bottle. It is a phenomenon, and it stood head and toes above every other game this year for me.

Miklós – Baldur’s Gate 3

Hey, remember when I said that Elden Ring was “unequivocally the best video game I have ever played”? Well, it’s not anymore. This probably means two things: 1) I’m a fickle little bitch when it comes to choosing my favourite video game; and 2) developers are getting so good at making amazing games that it’s become impossible to laud a game as your “favourite game ever made” for longer than 365 days.

About a month or so to the final release of Baldur’s Gate 3, excitement and discourse around the game had reached such a fever pitch that I decided to check out the Early Access build. I’ve never been a fan of turn-based combat, and D&D has always been rather intimidating. I was quickly sucked-in by what Larian Studios had spent the last six years working on, and 150+ hours later I rolled credits on the most impressive and impactful games I’ve ever played. I cannot recommend this game enough. Even if you’ve never attempted a CRPG, or you don’t know your Owlbears from your Bugbears, play this game – I could not put it down and have no intention to as I start a new character for an evil playthrough.