There are plenty of other games released in 2023 that we loved, too.
Narrowing a list of all the games from a given year into a list of what we feel are the 10 best is never an easy task. The list is meant to distill the overall GameSpot team's thoughts on the very best games, which invariably means we all end up with games not making the cut that we were individually passionate about. That might be because not enough people played a certain game or because something just really connected with a particular person. But that doesn't mean these games aren't worth highlighting, and with that in mind, we asked the GameSpot staff to talk about the game that they most loved from this year that didn't make our list of the 10 best games of 2023.
Bomb Rush Cyberfunk
Available on PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S I remember when I first bought Dreamcast's Jet Grind Radio in 2000 and how much it meant to me. This game filled with graffiti, hip hop, and rollerblading, and its cel-shaded graphics stood out beyond the Tony Hawk trend of the time. It was something wholly original, a bold statement, and became a part of who I was. Fast forward to 2002, and Sega was releasing Jet Set Radio Future--filled with superior graphics, a higher emphasis on fluid grinding, and another batch of incredible songs by Hideki Naganuma. And then… nothing. In some ways, Sega faded away after the death of the Dreamcast, and so too did some of its best franchises. 21 years later, enter: Bomb Rush Cyberfunk. Indie developer Team Reptile stepped up to fill in the gap left in Jet Set Radio's wake, and they did it in style. Bomb Rush takes everything that made the Jet Set games so good and adds more. You can choose if you want to rollerblade, skateboard, or even BMX. In a brilliant move, the game adds manuals--meaning I can suddenly string together my grinds for a non-stop massive combo-fest. Maybe it's because I enjoy skateboarding, was a b-boy, a tricker, and enjoy graffiti art (all of which this game includes), but it feels like Bomb Rush was made for me. Team Reptile understood what made Jet Set Radio tick and made a love letter to the series. Every stage becomes a playground, and stringing together tricks to master that playground is simply a joy. -- Dave Klein
Cocoon
Available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, PC I often find that, for as much as I love games, I'm not often compelled to finish them--I play a chunk, and even if I'm enjoying it, I get the point and am generally ready to move on. It's a testament to Cocoon that I not only finished it, but I did so in a single sitting. Certainly, being a five-hour experience makes that an easier task, but it speaks to the consistently fresh and inventive ideas Cocoon introduces from beginning to end. The basic conceit involves traveling into orbs, each of which contains a world to navigate and puzzles to solve. Where its genius comes is that orbs can be moved into and out of other orbs, each of which grants its own unique ability that allows for the game's puzzles to be solved. The introduction of new abilities and combinations of ways to make use of the orbs--and the need to transport orbs inside of other orbs to get them past certain obstacles--leads to a truly mind-bending set of challenges, culminating in a set of circumstances that had me stop playing for a moment to exclaim, "No way!" to myself. The puzzle and level design is Cocoon's greatest strength, though it also has a terrific visual style and intriguing world that leaves you to map your own narrative interpretation to it. For those reasons, Cocoon stands out as one of the year's absolute best games, and one that will linger in my mind for a long time to come. -- Chris Pereira
Dredge
Available on PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch Dredge was pitched to me by my friend Ralph (aka SkillUp) as a "Lucy-ass game." What does that mean, exactly? Well, for starters, it's got some kind of a cozy element to it: a relaxing gameplay loop involving something like fishing or farming. Check. In Dredge, you play as a fisherman washed up on the shore of a mysterious archipelago, and with your boat wrecked, you need to fish in the local waters to pay back your repairs. Other common elements of a Lucy-ass game include a satisfying, gradual improvement to your wares. In Dredge's case, that includes dutifully saving up to buy new engines, rods, and expand storage for your boat. A painterly art style and deliberately obtuse NPCs go a long way too. But the real mark of a Lucy-ass game? Eldritch horror. You see, not all is as it seems on the water in Dredge. Relaxing, slow-paced fishing and exploration quickly becomes anxiety-inducing when the sun goes down, and terrifying creatures begin to chase you in the darkness. Your pitiful lamp barely lights the way forward to safe harbor, and being caught means losing much of what you've worked for. The monsters come out at night time, but the spoils are worth the risk. Dredge masterfully balances it all to become one of the true standouts of 2023. -- Lucy James
Final Fantasy 16
Available on PS5 There's a spirit of reinvention that defines the best entries in the Final Fantasy series, and with a more action-packed take on gameplay, darker themes, and mature characters, Final Fantasy 16 embodies the best of the franchise while boldly forging its own identity. Sure, the Moogles, crystals, and powerful Eikons have a nostalgic air about them, but at the same time, Final Fantasy 16 breaks the rules of tradition with a grand story of rebellion. Rebellion against enemies at the gate, celestial puppet masters, and the ideas that have defined Final Fantasy for generations. And even if those ambitiously meta themes of fighting back against the status quo go completely over your head, you're still in for a treat as Final Fantasy 16 goes all in on its new direction. The combat is an approachable mix of power and challenge, the sheer scale of the Eikon battles would make Godzilla sweat, and the story knows exactly when to dial things back so that the cast can breathe during more tender moments. Final Fantasy 16 is a blockbuster, a riveting adventure anchored by an incredible cast of voice actors, breathtaking visuals, and monsters trading blows to the tune of one of the best soundtracks of the year. -- Darryn Bonthuys
Fortnite
Available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, PC, Mobile I never expected Fortnite to blow me away in 2023, but it did. I am a lapsed Fortnite player. I hadn't played the battle royale game since 2019 before I booted it up again this December to check out Season 5, Chapter 1 and the three new games--Lego Fortnite, Rocket Racing, and Fortnite Festival. I never had much fun or enjoyed much success with Fortnite's main battle royale mode, due in part to the frenzy and overwhelming nature of building. So I was happy to be able to enjoy the battle royale experience in Zero Build and try my hand at any number of the incredible fan-made modes like Fortnite's take on Battlefield and a D-Day simulator where I stormed the beaches of Normandy with Peter Griffin, Spider-Man, and Master Chief by my side. I do not have a creative bone in my body, but the Fortnite Creative community definitely does, and I am enjoying trying my hand at the numerous and varied modes and maps that players have come up with. And with the recent introduction of Lego Fortnite, Rocket Racing, and Fortnite Festival, Fortnite absolutely looks and feels like an entirely new and more impressive game than ever before. Epic says it's trying to create a metaverse-style platform that offers a number of distinct experiences tailored to whatever you might be in the mood for. And now, six years after Fortnite released, I am seeing the first steps in a game that offers me something fun and new each time I log in. Long live Fortnite. -- Eddie Makuch
Marvel's Midnight Suns
Available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S Marvel's Midnight Suns was unceremoniously released in December--too late for most 2022 award consideration, but so early it has been left out of the 2023 conversation. That's a shame, because Firaxis' latest is a fantastic strategy game that pays loving homage to a more magical and cosmic corner of the Marvel universe. Though it clearly sports XCOM DNA at its heart, Midnight Suns is its own unique take on the strategy genre that finds clever ways to make you feel appropriately superpowered. Grunts can be taken down with ease, and much of the positioning emphasis is about flinging enemies into each other or other structures like you're a grumpy Hulk. Meanwhile, these powerful abilities are carefully balanced by a card system, which lets you manage your "deck" while also keeping your suite of abilities slightly random at any given time. Individual heroes have specialized, flavorful powers, like Blade's cards focusing heavily on Bleed abilities, or Captain Marvel's ability to go Binary. By the time you reach the end, you've become intimately familiar with each of your heroes, their unique strengths, and how they can trigger and chain off each other. It feels incredible. On top of that, Midnight Suns has a great story based on an underrated comic arc, great reimaginings of famous Marvel characters corrupted by the villainous Lillith, and most of all, tons of heart. The story stands well on its own, but it's secondary to the amount of time and care given to team-building with your crew and watching the heroes butt heads, come together, and then butt heads again. It all feels very organic and real, which is a remarkable achievement for a game about jumpsuit-wearing demigods battling a demon mother. With loads of DLC that has extended the game into 2023, this was one of my favorite experiences of the year. -- Steve Watts
RoboCop: Rogue City
Available on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC RoboCop: Rogue City is so RoboCop it's like they found an unreleased film in MGM's archives. It even has Peter Weller back to voice! Taking place between the events of RoboCop 2 and 3, you are tasked with cleaning up the streets as the titular RoboCop. You've got desk duty, tickets to hand out, doors to break down (with warrants), and of course, a duty to uphold the law. The developers opted to insert RPG mechanics rather than simply offer a linear FPS, and it fits the RoboCop mold to a tee. Who would have thought unlocking skills and upgrading chip efficiency went hand in hand with cyborgs? The game has some issues around the edges, notably including some visual problems (at least on the Xbox Series X), but the love, care, and dedication that went into making this the RoboCop experience is clearly there. It's a gorgeous rendering of locations from the film with little details for fans of the films sprinkled in. Is that the Dinosaur from the SUX 6000 commercial graffitied on the wall? You bet it is! Is that a complete copy of NUKEM the board game? Hell yeah! All I can say is, "I'd buy that for 50 dollars!" -- Will Crosby
Sea of Stars
Available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch Striking a perfect balance between older-game nostalgia and modern systems' capabilities is a tricky task, but Sea of Stars makes it look easy. A love letter to Chrono Trigger and other 16-bit games from the SNES era, Sea of Stars' combat provides a contemporary element to the experience that will satisfy players looking to scratch a retro itch without the fear of running into outdated mechanics. The Solstice Warriors--Valere and Zale--along with their companions, face off against their foes in turn-based battles. But rather than simply selecting an attack and calling it a day, Sea of Stars asks for specific timing in order to boost your abilities. Whether it's getting to use Valere's Moonarang, a crescent arc of energy that you can continually deflect by pressing the attack button at the right moment, or Zale's Sunball, where keeping the attack button pressed until the last possible second increases the move's damage, running into enemies always feels exciting rather than tedious. This modern sensibility extends to other parts of the game as well, such as traversal, incentivizing you to explore its world by climbing and clambering, finding hidden loot and characters as you do. Coupled with gorgeous design, a fantastic soundtrack, and a rock-solid story of adventure and friendship, Sea of Stars is a must-play for 16-bit RPG lovers and newcomers alike. -- Tom Caswell
Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew
Available on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S The swan song for the veteran tactics studio Mimimi Games is also an incredible example of what it did so well. Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew puts you in the swashbuckling boots of a crew during the golden age of piracy, in a fantastical alternate reality where Inquisition zealots are keen on wiping out all pirates. As a gang of cursed pirates, you have an array of slightly spooky powers to draw on, from diving into the watery nether to tossing out overgrown brush as cover. Each matey's power feels well-differentiated and lets you approach the wide-open stages however you'd like, as you meticulously pick apart Inquisition forces one by one. The story has you seeking the lost treasure of the former captain of your Ghost Ship, so you get to know your crew as well as the living ship itself throughout the adventure. Carefully planning and then executing a string of powers to carve your way through a stage feels thrilling like few other games this year, and it's a tactics experience that shouldn't be missed. -- Steve Watts
Solace State
Available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC Solace State is my favorite Xbox console exclusive of 2023, exploring power dynamics and queer love in an incredible cyberpunk story. You delve into these topics through the perspective of Chloe, a genetic anomaly born with the innate ability to hack into people's minds, allowing her to access their thoughts and influence their perceptions. It's a fascinating ability, especially one to give to a queer person of color, as misinformation and manipulation are often used as weapons against marginalized voices, cyberpunk setting or otherwise. To be given that weapon as a tool against oppressors immediately begs the question: Is it just to incorporate these tactics if you believe you're fighting for a good cause? And even if so, how does this power make you any better than the corporations, religious institutions, and armed forces that utilize similar methods? Solace State broaches these subjects and other intriguing conversations with a deft hand, telling a branching story that continues to stick with me months later. There are 38 endings to Solace State, each spiraling from the decisions you make as you search a dystopian city for a missing friend, fan the flames of rebellion, go to war with a cult, and contemplate making deals with morally ambiguous institutions in your fight against morally bankrupt corporations. Solace State is the only game this year that often left me pacing back and forth, sometimes even putting the game down for hours, just to think through the ramifications of my actions. And however I ultimately decided, my choices were always honored. Solace State is the type of game that will dig into you, in a way that not many cyberpunk games have been able to. I urge you to play it if you haven't yet had the pleasure. -- Jordan Ramée
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S My favorite genre is horror, but until recently I'd not found a horror multiplayer game I could really commit myself to. Friday The 13th was fun, but its servers are coming down. Hunt Showdown is immersive, but the community is quite intimidating for new players--and this is even truer for Dead By Daylight. Finally, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre gives me the horror multiplayer game I've been waiting for. TCM pits players in unique 4v3 matches set in the oppressive heat of Texas backyards, junkyards, and soon-to-be graveyards. It turns the iconic house from the milestone horror movie into an unforgiving multiplayer map--and adds several more maps for variety, of course. It takes Leatherface and the unforgettable Slaughter family and turns them into playable characters that to this day still unnerve me so much that I can't often play the game for long. Despite that, the game is one of my most played of 2023, because I find myself returning to it every day whether I'm cast as a ruthless killer or a hapless victim. It's equally exciting to narrowly escape with my life or to round up all four would-be survivors and set them on meat hooks. The game pulls few punches in trying to live up to the original movie, which above all else is why it works so well. TCM is balanced in such a way that every single round feels like a horror movie, and being the Final Girl (or Guy) is as unlikely here as it was for Sally way back in 1974. -- Mark Delaney
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