Backloggd's Favorite 2023 Game
The end of the year is almost around the corner, and with the VGA happening in around two weeks and Backloggd's own GOTY being open until the end of the year, I thought it'd be fun for everyone to reminisce about their favorite gaming experience released in 2023 beyond casting a vote or watching an awards show, and this is what this list is about!
Feel free to share and rant about your favorite 2023 game and I'll add everything to the list, and please, if you reviewed said game and want to share your opinions once again, post the link and I'll also add it to your entry! Preferably, I would like for this to be a 2023 games/DLC only list, but if you haven't played any games released this year and wish to participate, share the best game you've played independently of the year! I want this to be a celebration, and even with some restrictions at place, I want to add every possible entry of anyone that wishes to participate.
Also, if it just so happens that later on you play a game released this year that you prefer over the one you shared here, you can also leave another comment mentioning and I'll also add it, but at least until December or after year ends, I'd prefer to keep it one submission per user, so keep that in mind.
Well, with all that out of the way, time to gush about videogaems!
Feel free to share and rant about your favorite 2023 game and I'll add everything to the list, and please, if you reviewed said game and want to share your opinions once again, post the link and I'll also add it to your entry! Preferably, I would like for this to be a 2023 games/DLC only list, but if you haven't played any games released this year and wish to participate, share the best game you've played independently of the year! I want this to be a celebration, and even with some restrictions at place, I want to add every possible entry of anyone that wishes to participate.
Also, if it just so happens that later on you play a game released this year that you prefer over the one you shared here, you can also leave another comment mentioning and I'll also add it, but at least until December or after year ends, I'd prefer to keep it one submission per user, so keep that in mind.
Well, with all that out of the way, time to gush about videogaems!
24 Games
Lordapop Game of the Year
Bigbrodo's Game of the Year
''Sludge life 2 is probably my favorite game I've laid my hands on this year just for the fact its a world that I feel understands fully the use of nitty and grittiness. Not to mention the way it handles corporate greed and anti-capitalistic undertones through the use of vandalizing things with graffiti and hip hop. That's my peak.''
''Sludge life 2 is probably my favorite game I've laid my hands on this year just for the fact its a world that I feel understands fully the use of nitty and grittiness. Not to mention the way it handles corporate greed and anti-capitalistic undertones through the use of vandalizing things with graffiti and hip hop. That's my peak.''
ZeusDeeGoose's Game of the Year
RoboticDevil's Game of the Year
curse's Game of the Year
''got a lot of small issues with it, but at the end of the day it's the only game I've played this year that really surprised me or felt completely alone in the space it occupies; a nesting doll style series of puzzles and puzzles-within-puzzles that tasks you with understanding a ruleset, understanding it even better, then either mastering it or breaking it down completely and learning to operate from outside and above its own laws and structures
soundtrack's ridiculous too''
''got a lot of small issues with it, but at the end of the day it's the only game I've played this year that really surprised me or felt completely alone in the space it occupies; a nesting doll style series of puzzles and puzzles-within-puzzles that tasks you with understanding a ruleset, understanding it even better, then either mastering it or breaking it down completely and learning to operate from outside and above its own laws and structures
soundtrack's ridiculous too''
moschidae's Game of the Year
''I absolutely loved Paranormasight, i haven't played a video game that unique and impressionable in a while. I sincerely hope that team goes on to make more games and recieve a larger budget cause ill buy pretty much anything they put out. Richter Kai is my best friend and greatest ally''
''I absolutely loved Paranormasight, i haven't played a video game that unique and impressionable in a while. I sincerely hope that team goes on to make more games and recieve a larger budget cause ill buy pretty much anything they put out. Richter Kai is my best friend and greatest ally''
LordDarias' Game of the Year
''Well, my fave has already been shouted out, so Im going to give it to Before the Green Moon. Its a narrative focused farm sim that eschews the usual gamified relationship systems of stardew valley for something that to me feels a lot more real. Its moody, but also funny, its understated but has a great atmosphere with its sound design and earthy artstyle. Its a game about getting to know people but also about not ever getting to know someone 100%. Its beautiful, honestly''
''Well, my fave has already been shouted out, so Im going to give it to Before the Green Moon. Its a narrative focused farm sim that eschews the usual gamified relationship systems of stardew valley for something that to me feels a lot more real. Its moody, but also funny, its understated but has a great atmosphere with its sound design and earthy artstyle. Its a game about getting to know people but also about not ever getting to know someone 100%. Its beautiful, honestly''
C_F's Game of the Year
PunnyPeace's Game of the Year
''Pseudoregalia rules and it's by far the most fun I've had with a game from 2023.''
''Pseudoregalia rules and it's by far the most fun I've had with a game from 2023.''
Detectivefail's Game of the Year
Review:https://www.backloggd.com/u/Detectivefail/review/599878/
''Chained Echoes' release at the tail end of 2022(back in Dec.) is still on my mind almost to the game's 1 year anniversary. And against all the other games I've played so far this year, I still consider it my personal GOTY of 2023. This is an Indie-Jrpg that has been in the works of a solo developer(+ 1 composer) for nearly 7 years. Doesn’t boast to wear its influences/inspirations of the best of the best Jrpg’s of the past on their Kickstarter/Steam page blatantly. And yet touches the ambitions of Xenogears without falling off its ledges, holds the Final Fantasy influences on its sleeves while cheekily taking the excellent pace of Chrono Trigger. Among other classic Jrpg influences here, enough to stand on its own without being a checklist to integrate non-stop references ala Ready Player One style. It excels in nearly everything I look for in a Jrpg and is filled to the brim with quality content without bursting at the seams full of filler. The story moved me deeply. RPG mechanics was deep enough to flex my build strats, the meaningful sidequests left me satisfied and worth it to complete to endgame. The gameplay loop of exploring, fighting challenging foes, finding hidden secrets and puzzles continued to pull my interest even to post-game. A serviceable mecha system and a diverse cast full of charm left me grinning from ear to ear. Great visual artstyle with no copy-paste from the environments, spells, enemies and characters. A strong OST filled my ears full of heart, passion and sheer strength. I was invigorated, pumped, shocked, and so many other wonderful feelings. It’s not perfect to me by any means. But, in my honest opinion it deserves to stand amongst the greats.''
Review:https://www.backloggd.com/u/Detectivefail/review/599878/
''Chained Echoes' release at the tail end of 2022(back in Dec.) is still on my mind almost to the game's 1 year anniversary. And against all the other games I've played so far this year, I still consider it my personal GOTY of 2023. This is an Indie-Jrpg that has been in the works of a solo developer(+ 1 composer) for nearly 7 years. Doesn’t boast to wear its influences/inspirations of the best of the best Jrpg’s of the past on their Kickstarter/Steam page blatantly. And yet touches the ambitions of Xenogears without falling off its ledges, holds the Final Fantasy influences on its sleeves while cheekily taking the excellent pace of Chrono Trigger. Among other classic Jrpg influences here, enough to stand on its own without being a checklist to integrate non-stop references ala Ready Player One style. It excels in nearly everything I look for in a Jrpg and is filled to the brim with quality content without bursting at the seams full of filler. The story moved me deeply. RPG mechanics was deep enough to flex my build strats, the meaningful sidequests left me satisfied and worth it to complete to endgame. The gameplay loop of exploring, fighting challenging foes, finding hidden secrets and puzzles continued to pull my interest even to post-game. A serviceable mecha system and a diverse cast full of charm left me grinning from ear to ear. Great visual artstyle with no copy-paste from the environments, spells, enemies and characters. A strong OST filled my ears full of heart, passion and sheer strength. I was invigorated, pumped, shocked, and so many other wonderful feelings. It’s not perfect to me by any means. But, in my honest opinion it deserves to stand amongst the greats.''
psychbomb's Game of the Year
Review: https://www.backloggd.com/u/psychbomb/review/648100/
''Hi-Fi Rush restored my faith in the industry with its complete refutation of everything that non-indie games are expected to be at a corporate level these days. No games-as-a-service awkwardly shoved into it, almost zero marketing before release day, feature-complete from day one, and plenty of unlockable outfits and game modes that any sane developer would save to sell as DLC rather than just giving to the player as a reward for playing well and completing the game. All of this serves only to bolster the incredibly fun and deceptively complex gameplay running through the whole thing, with every strike and dodge landing perfectly in time with the music by design. It's a game with a lot of heart in an era where the biggest players of the industry are trying to stamp that out, and I'm honestly not sure with the way things are going that we'll ever get something that defies convention like this from the non-indie space again.''
Review: https://www.backloggd.com/u/psychbomb/review/648100/
''Hi-Fi Rush restored my faith in the industry with its complete refutation of everything that non-indie games are expected to be at a corporate level these days. No games-as-a-service awkwardly shoved into it, almost zero marketing before release day, feature-complete from day one, and plenty of unlockable outfits and game modes that any sane developer would save to sell as DLC rather than just giving to the player as a reward for playing well and completing the game. All of this serves only to bolster the incredibly fun and deceptively complex gameplay running through the whole thing, with every strike and dodge landing perfectly in time with the music by design. It's a game with a lot of heart in an era where the biggest players of the industry are trying to stamp that out, and I'm honestly not sure with the way things are going that we'll ever get something that defies convention like this from the non-indie space again.''
STRM's Game of the Year
''I honestly didn't play many games this year but if I had to pick one It'd probably still be Clash: Artifacts of Chaos.
It's not the best game when it comes to controls, combat, traversal, and it's janky as all hell. But it has this majestic ugliness to it's world and character design that I fell in love with. The colored pencils art style can look breathtaking at points of the game and the story is genuinely good for what it is. I think the one part that stood out to me the most was how the game gave you the option to mess around with the game's artstyle, you could adjust how far apart the colored lines look on textures, you could make the lines wave in a way which made the landscape feel a lot more reactive and alive, and you could even change it to black and white but rather then it being a simple filter; but rather a complete change of the art style changing it into a more manga, it's just so fucking cool.''
''I honestly didn't play many games this year but if I had to pick one It'd probably still be Clash: Artifacts of Chaos.
It's not the best game when it comes to controls, combat, traversal, and it's janky as all hell. But it has this majestic ugliness to it's world and character design that I fell in love with. The colored pencils art style can look breathtaking at points of the game and the story is genuinely good for what it is. I think the one part that stood out to me the most was how the game gave you the option to mess around with the game's artstyle, you could adjust how far apart the colored lines look on textures, you could make the lines wave in a way which made the landscape feel a lot more reactive and alive, and you could even change it to black and white but rather then it being a simple filter; but rather a complete change of the art style changing it into a more manga, it's just so fucking cool.''
sleepytitan's Game of the Year
''Wasn't/didn’t know much of Armored Core before this but this game has really pushed me to get into the series even more now. The gameplay of AC6 is electrifying and the most addictive experience I’ve had this year next to RE4R. Genuinely feel like this is THE FromSoft game that clicks with me so hard and I can spend endless hours with it without the gameplay becoming too dull or infuriating after dumping a lot of time in it. The narrative absolutely rocks too and the new game plus runs feel so satisfying to unravel more of the threads and details of the world and characters. Wasn’t surprised to see this only get nominated for action at the VGAs, but it really deserved more in narrative, art direction, audio and possibly goty.''
''Wasn't/didn’t know much of Armored Core before this but this game has really pushed me to get into the series even more now. The gameplay of AC6 is electrifying and the most addictive experience I’ve had this year next to RE4R. Genuinely feel like this is THE FromSoft game that clicks with me so hard and I can spend endless hours with it without the gameplay becoming too dull or infuriating after dumping a lot of time in it. The narrative absolutely rocks too and the new game plus runs feel so satisfying to unravel more of the threads and details of the world and characters. Wasn’t surprised to see this only get nominated for action at the VGAs, but it really deserved more in narrative, art direction, audio and possibly goty.''
DeltaWDunn's Game of the Year
''Haven't played that many games released this year but I think Pizza Tower is probably one of the best released this year regardless. It's a really great example of what a spiritual successor should be, expanding and differentiating on its inspirations in fun ways. I've been looking forward to it since last year and I was surprised so many people ended up playing and enjoying it. I'm kinda disappointed that it wasn't nominated for Best Indie this year, but it's pretty much the opposite of an Oscarbait game so I wasn't too surprised.''
''Haven't played that many games released this year but I think Pizza Tower is probably one of the best released this year regardless. It's a really great example of what a spiritual successor should be, expanding and differentiating on its inspirations in fun ways. I've been looking forward to it since last year and I was surprised so many people ended up playing and enjoying it. I'm kinda disappointed that it wasn't nominated for Best Indie this year, but it's pretty much the opposite of an Oscarbait game so I wasn't too surprised.''
MegaTheRealOne's Game of the Year
AlphaOne2's Game of the Year
Review: https://backloggd.com/u/AlphaOne2/review/1017590/
''While not entirely so, it's mostly made by a single developer. Best way to describe it is that it's like watching every cyberpunk film on fast forward, only that it's a supercut of all the action scenes and scenes of intense violence. And in terms of character mobility, it's easily the fastest game I've ever played, to the point that it feels like you activated some sort of cheat code to achieve such speeds. Has a creative arsenal of weapons, a solid voice cast (with the Duke Nukeum actor playing a very not Duke Nukeum role as your A.I. buddy), and some of the most imaginative level design in the industry. More details in the review.''
Review: https://backloggd.com/u/AlphaOne2/review/1017590/
''While not entirely so, it's mostly made by a single developer. Best way to describe it is that it's like watching every cyberpunk film on fast forward, only that it's a supercut of all the action scenes and scenes of intense violence. And in terms of character mobility, it's easily the fastest game I've ever played, to the point that it feels like you activated some sort of cheat code to achieve such speeds. Has a creative arsenal of weapons, a solid voice cast (with the Duke Nukeum actor playing a very not Duke Nukeum role as your A.I. buddy), and some of the most imaginative level design in the industry. More details in the review.''
6PMinHell's Game of the Year
''I have to shout out Street Fighter VI. Fighting games have always been a very intimidating genre to me - with complex inputs and Cheesecake Factory menu-length movelists that seemed impenetrable. So when Street Fighter VI released with Modern mode, its simplified input method, it really opened the game up to fall fully into. By shifting the focus for newcomers away from individual move and combo execution, the game really opens up to show the breath of fun that lies within the character quirks and details. The launch roster is really fantastic, every character has its own sort of "goal", whether it's to maximize grappling with characters like Manon or Zangief, distance management with JP or Dhalsim, or just getting drunk with Jamie. Capcom did a great job balancing the roster so each character's goals and quirks seemed viable against most of the rest of the roster. I fell in love with fighting games and the fighting game community through SF6, and I can't say enough about how great it is for demystifying the fighting game black box.''
''I have to shout out Street Fighter VI. Fighting games have always been a very intimidating genre to me - with complex inputs and Cheesecake Factory menu-length movelists that seemed impenetrable. So when Street Fighter VI released with Modern mode, its simplified input method, it really opened the game up to fall fully into. By shifting the focus for newcomers away from individual move and combo execution, the game really opens up to show the breath of fun that lies within the character quirks and details. The launch roster is really fantastic, every character has its own sort of "goal", whether it's to maximize grappling with characters like Manon or Zangief, distance management with JP or Dhalsim, or just getting drunk with Jamie. Capcom did a great job balancing the roster so each character's goals and quirks seemed viable against most of the rest of the roster. I fell in love with fighting games and the fighting game community through SF6, and I can't say enough about how great it is for demystifying the fighting game black box.''
faea's Game of the Year
Review: https://www.backloggd.com/u/faea/review/1130485
''funny how my favourite game from 2023 is a remake of a game from a decade ago, but it's still one of the few roguelikes that really understands me. been too long since i've been willing to pour this much time into a game just for its own sake. couldn't be happier with this one''
Review: https://www.backloggd.com/u/faea/review/1130485
''funny how my favourite game from 2023 is a remake of a game from a decade ago, but it's still one of the few roguelikes that really understands me. been too long since i've been willing to pour this much time into a game just for its own sake. couldn't be happier with this one''
35 Comments
@Lordapop I will add it in just a moment, thank you for sharing! :D
I would appreciate it if you could add Tren (or Dreams with a note) as it was such a wonderful experience but flew under most people's radars and is hard to detect on this site as it doesn't have a proper page on IGDB (though there is a broken page here on backloggd, someone must have put it on IGDB before it was taken down). Here is my review (as a Dreams review) followed by a link to the broken page for Tren:
https://www.backloggd.com/u/tendog/review/986351/
https://www.backloggd.com/games/tren/
https://www.backloggd.com/u/tendog/review/986351/
https://www.backloggd.com/games/tren/
@tendog I'll add as soon as I can the Tren page itself so there's no confusion and link to your Dreams review about it, thank you so much for sharing! :DD
thanks!
GDR708
5 months ago