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0 2022 offered up a healthy serving of amazing games from Elden Ring, God of War Ragnarok and Horizon Forbidden West. We now look to 2023 and what games have got us excited. Already it’s looking like it will be better than 2022 with the sheer variety and quality of games to be released.
2023 is Going to be an Exciting Time for Gaming!
What game are you excited about in 2023? This a hard question, for me at least, with so many games announced to be released this year. Let us know in the comments below your choice. We put this question to Thumb Culture’s writers, check out their choices below:
Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name
Developer: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
Release: TBC 2023
Vinno Squires – Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, from Sega developer Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, is an action-adventure spin-off of the Like a Dragon (formerly Yakuza series) which promises to bridge the gap between Yakuza 6, Yakuza: Like a Dragon and Like a Dragon 8. The ending of 6 never sat right with me, personally, but nonetheless, I look forward to seeing what Kiryu ahem, Joryu has been up to before making his grand reappearance in Yakuza: Like a Dragon. Will Kiryu finally get closure with his kids, even if it could put them in danger? Who knows, and remember, tiger drop negates all damage, except emotional.
Between Horizons
Developer: Digitales Interactive
Release: Late 2023
Tony C – DigiTales Interactives follow up to indie gem Lacuna is my most anticipated game of 2023. Lacuna took me by surprise when I played it in 2022 and was arguably my favourite game of the year. Between Horizons is set aboard the Zephyr, humanity’s first-generation ship en route to another star. You assume the role of Stella, who was born on the ship twenty-four years ago and recently inherited her father’s post as Chief of Security. I look forward to seeing how the Dev team evolves this game type after the success of Lacuna.
Assassins Creed – Mirage
Developer: Ubisoft Bordeaux
Release: August 2023
Mal Keenan – Being a massive fan of the Assassins Creed series fan, Assassins Creed Mirage, Ubisofts upcoming installment, is on my radar. It follows on from the hugely popular Valhalla and is set in ninth-century Baghdad at its height following the origins of Basim, a character from Valhalla. Ubisoft possibly is going back to the game’s roots, simplifying the game which some consider overburdened by RPG elements and repetitiveness. I for one hope they take the best from old and new and create something special. It’s tentatively been given an August 2023 release, but with trouble at Ubisoft with stocks going down due to sales and game releases being cancelled, it’s got us fans nervous. Fingers crossed!
Marvel’s SpiderMan 2
Developer: Insomniac Games
Release: Autumn 2023
Iain Culverhouse – For me, it has to be Marvel’s Spiderman 2 on PS5. Insomniac Games have done a superb job with the franchise and it is a console seller. When I thought about the opportunity of a sequel to both Miles Morales and Spiderman I wanted bigger and better, and most of all Venom. The introduction of Venom into the MCU has been slow and it seems like we may be getting our wish. Having earnt platinum trophies on both Spiderman and Miles Morales, Spiderman 2 is a day-one purchase for me.
The Excavation of Hobbs Barrow
Developer: Cloak and Dagger Games
Release: 25th January 2023
Oliver – As a Switch owner, Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom would be the obvious choice for my most anticipated game of 2023, but there’s another game closer to release that has me equally as excited. Unavowed (Wadjet Eye Games) was one of the biggest surprises of last year for me. In the past, I’d mostly found point-and-click adventure games a little hard to get into, and a little obtuse in their logic and storytelling, but Unavowed was the opposite—it was an enjoyable, rewarding, well-written, and immensely playable experience. The Excavation of Hob’s Barrow (by Cloak and Dagger Games, published by Wadjet Eye Games) promises to hit a lot of the same sweet spots. What’s more, I’m a massive fan of folk horror and Hob’s Barrow has caught my eye as a game that embraces the genre. It looks great, and the PC reviews have been positive. Technically it came out late last year, but I’m excited to play it when it comes out in January on the Switch.
Starfield
Developers: Bethesda Game Studio
Release: TBC 2023
Mark Hudson – I’m looking forward to Starfield because it will be nice to see Bethesda do something slightly different from their usual work, a whole new universe and take on the genre. I remember my first proper console being the 2001 Xbox, making my first RPG experience with Bethesda’s The Elder Scrolls: Morrowind (2002). I’ve been hooked on Bethesda RPGs ever since… Playing games like Pirates of the Caribbean (2003), Oblivion (2006) and Fallout 3 (2008). I also grew up in what I’d call the Star Wars golden era. Games like KOTOR (2003) / KOTOR II (2004) and Battlefront (2004) – are some of the greatest Star Wars ever made. So for me, Starfield plays on both of my favourite genres… RPGs and space-exploration games. An open-world space-exploration RPG game developed by Bethesda? It sounds right up my street.
Skull & Bones
Developers: Ubisoft
Release: 9th March 2023
Jason – Although recently delayed, Skull & Bones should hopefully see the light of day in ’23, and is the game I am looking forward to. I thoroughly enjoyed Sea of Thieves, and while this is far from the cartoon-style graphics, I enjoy most things to do with pirates and also co-op play. With a large emphasis on crafting, customisation, navigation, strategy and of course, treasure, I can’t wait to set sail with my mates to see what lies ahead. Graphically it looks beautiful, so I am hoping that Skull & Bones becomes an immersive title to lose myself in. It also gives me an excuse to don my pirate outfit, possibly treat myself to a rum, and maybe host a stream or two!
PGA Tour
Developer: EA Sports
Release: March 2023
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