2023 has been an absolute rollercoaster of epic new releases that have kept us glued to our screens. In this blog, we look back at the best PC games of 2023 in each genre, as well as the best remakes and ports released this year. Let’s dive in!
Table of Contents
RPGs
Baldur’s Gate 3
Let’s start with the game that won “Game of the Year” and “Best RPG” (among others) at this year’s Game Awards and had us sitting in front of our PCs for far too many hours: Baldur’s Gate 3. It finally came out of Early Access in August, and it was well worth the wait!
Set in the universe of Dungeons & Dragons, this party-based RPG had us immersed in its vibrant world and rich story from the very first minute. From the extensive character creation to the stunning graphics, this game is a must-play for anyone who loves RPGs, strategy, and turn-based combat.
Hogwarts Legacy
This year, fans of the Harry Potter franchise got what they’ve been waiting for since they first read the books or saw the movies: their very own Hogwarts letter to attend the magical school! The open-world RPG Hogwarts Legacy immerses you in this fantastical world and leaves nothing to be desired.
Choose your own path, unlock secrets, and spend your days brewing potions, taming magical creatures, or mastering your spells – it’s up to you!
Starfield
Not everyone is a fan of Bethesda’s latest release, but we personally had a lot of fun exploring all the different planets in Starfield. If you enjoyed other games from the developer, such as Fallout 4, you can’t go wrong with this one.
The graphics are stunning, the open world is huge, and the missions are entertaining. We can’t wait for future DLCs!
Action
Lies of P
Who would’ve thought that mixing the story of Pinocchio with a Belle Epoque setting and souls-like gameplay would result in such an amazing game? Lies of P has definitely earned its place on our list of the best PC games of 2023 and is one of the most outstanding games we’ve played this year.
The unique weapon customization system offers a lot of options and variety. The story is gripping, the level design is brilliant, and the combat is as hard as any game in the genre. If you like Bloodborne or other Souls games, this one will not disappoint!
Remnant II
Speaking of souls-likes, let’s talk about another one that kept us hooked this year – Remnant II, the souls-like with guns. In this sequel to Remnant: From the Ashes, you must stop reality from being destroyed by an evil presence.
It’s even better than the first game in our opinion, which is a result of the stunning graphics mixed with cool weapons and interesting areas to explore.
STAR WARS Jedi: Survivor
If you’re a fan of the Star Wars franchise, don’t miss the continuation of Cal Kestis’ story in the third-person action-adventure Jedi: Survivor.
Granted, it was quite buggy when it first came out, but it has since been patched and offers so many enhancements in terms of story, mechanics, graphics, and combat compared to Jedi: Fallen Order.
Strategy/Building
Cities: Skylines II
Lovers of city-building games eagerly awaited the sequel to Cities: Skylines, Cities: Skylines II, which had been eight years in the making.
Compared to its predecessor, basically everything has been upgraded – traffic management is more refined, the road tool is amazing, zoning has evolved, the visuals are stunning, and the sheer scope of the game is insane.
Dungeons 4
If building a huge metropolis isn’t your thing, how about constructing a cozy dungeon for all kinds of creatures? Six years after the release of its predecessor, the Absolute Evil and the Dark Elf Thalya return in Dungeons 4.
For us, it’s one of the best PC games of 2023 and the best in a series that has only gotten better over the years. It looks great, is bigger than ever, and is a must-play if you like base-building, dark humor, and villains as protagonists.
Age of Wonders 4
Another fourth installment in a series that impressed us greatly this year is Age of Wonders 4. The game maintains the series’ signature blend of 4X strategy and turn-based tactical combat, and lets you create a fantasy world to design and rule.
If you’re new to the genre and the franchise, this game is the perfect place to start. The mechanics aren’t hard to learn, and Age of Wonders 4 rewards your creativity from start to finish.
The Best PC Games of 2023: Horror/Survival
Sons of the Forest
After five years, fans of the survival horror genre finally got early access to Sons of the Forest, the sequel to 2018’s The Forest. The first-person, open-world game puts you on a remote island that’s teeming with cannibals.
Developer Endnight Games is constantly updating the game, which means it’s only getting better. The survival and building mechanics are already fantastic, and the graphics and scenery are incredible. It’s without a doubt one of the best PC games of 2023!
Alan Wake 2
A sequel that has been 13 years in the making finally saw the light of day this year! We’re talking about Alan Wake 2, of course, in which you must investigate murders in a small town and escape from your nightmares.
The story is extremely compelling and the mechanic of switching between Alan and Saga as playable characters makes the gameplay varied and fun. It’s a superb sequel that completely exceeded our expectations and deservedly won multiple categories at the 2023 Game Awards.
Dead Island 2
The horror category in our list of the best PC games of 2023 is dominated by sequels this year, as the third game we want to mention is Dead Island 2. If you’ve always wanted to mow down zombies in Los Angeles, this is the game for you!
The easy-to-learn controls and mechanics make it a great shooter for beginners, and the setting, humor, and exciting story add up to an all-around great game that deserves its place on our list.
Indie
Dave the Diver
One of the indie games that took the gaming world by storm this year is Dave the Diver. In this casual adventure RPG, you’ll explore the ocean, manage your own restaurant, and uncover secrets.
The pixel graphics add to the charm of the game and we recommend Dave the Diver to everyone, whether you like relaxing gameplay, adventurous quests, or management games.
Dredge
Keeping with the theme of fishing and exploring the secrets of the sea, let’s talk about Dredge. If Dave the Diver isn’t mysterious enough for you and you’d rather play something dark and gritty, then Dredge is your game.
It’s a fishing game with a twist that will pull you in with its immersive atmosphere and scenery and won’t let you off the hook until you’ve solved every last mystery of the waters.
Sea of Stars
The third indie game that deserves to be on our list of the best PC games of 2023 is Sea of Stars, a turn-based RPG with beautiful pixel graphics inspired by classic titles of the genre. In this game, you must combine the powers of the sun and the moon to fight evil creatures.
The environments are varied, there are many different side quests and hidden areas, and the music adds to the nostalgic feeling of the game. There are several possible endings, so we will definitely play it more than once!
Best remakes or ports of 2023
Resident Evil 4
The remake of Capcom’s survival horror masterpiece Resident Evil 4 wowed fans and critics, earning a 93 on Metacritic! Half a year after its release in March, the DLC Separate Ways arrived just in time for the spooky season and made us fall in love with the world all over again.
The developer revolutionized the genre with the original game back in 2005, and reliving the story of Agent Kennedy as he tries to rescue the President’s kidnapped daughter was an absolute blast. The graphics are stunning and the gameplay is more fun than ever!
Dead Space
At the beginning of the year, we got another great remake of a classic survival horror game with a completely different setting. Dead Space brought us top-notch, immersive, next-gen survival horror with its atmospheric sound and beautiful visuals.
Being back on the USG Ishimura felt even more nightmarish than in 2008 thanks to all the updates. Hearing the monsters but not being able to see where they are hiding will send shivers down your spine.
The Last of Us Part 1
Not only did we get the TV show adaptation this year, but we PC gamers finally got to play The Last of Us Part 1, the remake of The Last of Us that was released on consoles ten years ago.
What can we say about this emotional masterpiece that follows the story of Ellie and Joel as they try to make it through a ravaged civilization alive? The story, graphics, and characters are amazing, and we can’t wait for Part 2 to make its way to PC!
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
After two years of waiting, we now get to do some dimension hopping on our monitors!
In the action-adventure Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, you go on an inter-dimensional journey to fight an evil entity from another dimension. The gameplay is extremely entertaining and the graphics look great, what more could we ask for?
System Shock
The last remake we want to talk about is the sci-fi FPS System Shock, originally released in 1994. Fighting to stay alive in the depths of space has never looked so good!
The visuals, controls, and interface have been updated, and new music has been added, but two things remain the same: the voice actor of SHODAN and the fun gameplay!
These are our best PC games of 2023! Which ones did you enjoy playing this year? We would love to discuss them with you in our forum or on Discord!
If you want to customize your games to make them easier or harder, check out our website and our YouTube channel.
Happy Gaming!
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