2023 Games Ranked
Don't normally post this on Backloggd (I regularly make a tier list and call it a day), but decided this year, why not. Here's everything I've played this year ranked.
28 Games
#1
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 brought me out of a slump that I found myself in with the last few games I played back in 2022. An excellent conclusion to the Klaus Saga of Xeno games that combines the best parts of Xenoblade 1 and 2. Beautiful expansive landscapes, fun gameplay, a wonderful cast of characters, gripping and emotional story, and a great soundtrack. The only thing holding this monolith of a game back is the system that it was made for.
I've made it a goal to get through every other Xeno game now and hope to someday see it through.
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 brought me out of a slump that I found myself in with the last few games I played back in 2022. An excellent conclusion to the Klaus Saga of Xeno games that combines the best parts of Xenoblade 1 and 2. Beautiful expansive landscapes, fun gameplay, a wonderful cast of characters, gripping and emotional story, and a great soundtrack. The only thing holding this monolith of a game back is the system that it was made for.
I've made it a goal to get through every other Xeno game now and hope to someday see it through.
1
#2
Okay this may be recency bias as I quite literally beat this game like five days ago. I'll have a review of the game put out once I finish all the endings, but for now uh,
Robot, Sapphic, Silent Hill, Resident Evil, Metal Gear Solid (kinda), Evangelion, German, Dystopian, Cyberpunk, Lovecraftian Horror, Lesbian Adventure 2 Battle.
If you can hear me, please, Falke Signalis please save me. Please save me Falke Signalis. I'm asking you, please save me.
Playing this game makes me wish I was a girl. More at 11.
Okay this may be recency bias as I quite literally beat this game like five days ago. I'll have a review of the game put out once I finish all the endings, but for now uh,
Robot, Sapphic, Silent Hill, Resident Evil, Metal Gear Solid (kinda), Evangelion, German, Dystopian, Cyberpunk, Lovecraftian Horror, Lesbian Adventure 2 Battle.
If you can hear me, please, Falke Signalis please save me. Please save me Falke Signalis. I'm asking you, please save me.
2
#3
My Review:https://www.backloggd.com/u/Konic64/review/961714/
I'd been hyped for Street Fighter 6 since it's announcement, and it absolutely delivered. Even seven months later, I still hop on to play with friends and improve. It's filled with content, a fun and diverse cast of characters, a great and friendly community, and so much more. However, it's still not without it's issues. The monetary model of the game sucks. It sucks really bad. The Fighting Pass and overpriced skins are not cool. The Fighting Pass would not be so bad if the content received was substantial, but there is no excuse for some of the prices of character skins.
Despite this, the game absolutely deserved the Best Fighting Game Award it was given at the Game Awards. I know it's a pipe dream at this point, but I'd really love to see Capcom revive Darkstalkers in a similar vein as this.
My Review:https://www.backloggd.com/u/Konic64/review/961714/
I'd been hyped for Street Fighter 6 since it's announcement, and it absolutely delivered. Even seven months later, I still hop on to play with friends and improve. It's filled with content, a fun and diverse cast of characters, a great and friendly community, and so much more. However, it's still not without it's issues. The monetary model of the game sucks. It sucks really bad. The Fighting Pass and overpriced skins are not cool. The Fighting Pass would not be so bad if the content received was substantial, but there is no excuse for some of the prices of character skins.
Despite this, the game absolutely deserved the Best Fighting Game Award it was given at the Game Awards. I know it's a pipe dream at this point, but I'd really love to see Capcom revive Darkstalkers in a similar vein as this.
3
#4
The undisputed apex of the original Ace Attorney Trilogy. It is the game that goes over the lore of the main character Phoenix Wright, and his late mentor Mia Fey as well as some people from his and her past. It is the most enjoyable of the original trilogy, not having a single case I dislike. Great music, great cases, overall an amazing package. I will happily have Godot's children.
The undisputed apex of the original Ace Attorney Trilogy. It is the game that goes over the lore of the main character Phoenix Wright, and his late mentor Mia Fey as well as some people from his and her past. It is the most enjoyable of the original trilogy, not having a single case I dislike. Great music, great cases, overall an amazing package. I will happily have Godot's children.
4
#4
My Review:https://www.backloggd.com/u/Konic64/review/778628/
NEO: The World Ends with You, is an excellent return to Square Enix's cult classic. It's story is not as hard hitting as the original but it expands on everything else having a much more accessible control method, a great graphical style and an absolute killer soundtrack. The story is fine, but there is an absolute abundance of dialogue, and the backtracking can get a bit much sometimes. Nonetheless, I still enjoyed my time with NEO: TWEWY and have been meaning to pick the game back up and go for 100%.
My Review:https://www.backloggd.com/u/Konic64/review/778628/
NEO: The World Ends with You, is an excellent return to Square Enix's cult classic. It's story is not as hard hitting as the original but it expands on everything else having a much more accessible control method, a great graphical style and an absolute killer soundtrack. The story is fine, but there is an absolute abundance of dialogue, and the backtracking can get a bit much sometimes. Nonetheless, I still enjoyed my time with NEO: TWEWY and have been meaning to pick the game back up and go for 100%.
5
#6
My Review: https://www.backloggd.com/u/Konic64/review/916691/
Tears of the Kingdom is one of the most expansive, free, open games I ever did play. However, I feel that a lot of the magic that comes with playing this game is seeing an abomination that you made come to life. Imagination and creativity are key. These are things I absolutely had as a kid, but not much of as an adult. I would've fell in love with this game had it come out about ten years ago or so, but here we are.
'Tears', is an extremely well crafted game (even if it is just 'Breath' again at the end of the day), and as I said in my review, it is that game times ten. But my personal enjoyment stopped around the fifty (out of a hundred) hour mark. I enjoyed Tears but a lack of creativity on my own end made some puzzles a bit difficult and I felt the game overstayed it's welcome. Both skill issues I know, but I don't care. It's my ranking.
My Review: https://www.backloggd.com/u/Konic64/review/916691/
Tears of the Kingdom is one of the most expansive, free, open games I ever did play. However, I feel that a lot of the magic that comes with playing this game is seeing an abomination that you made come to life. Imagination and creativity are key. These are things I absolutely had as a kid, but not much of as an adult. I would've fell in love with this game had it come out about ten years ago or so, but here we are.
'Tears', is an extremely well crafted game (even if it is just 'Breath' again at the end of the day), and as I said in my review, it is that game times ten. But my personal enjoyment stopped around the fifty (out of a hundred) hour mark. I enjoyed Tears but a lack of creativity on my own end made some puzzles a bit difficult and I felt the game overstayed it's welcome. Both skill issues I know, but I don't care. It's my ranking.
6
#7
A sweet tiny little game, and not in anyway comparative to the other Street Fighter games as it is not a fighting game. This ranking, on a game so simple by nature, is simply because of my own enjoyment. I would not have gotten through a lot of my psychology class without it, and I was able to introduce other fighting game fans to the game. It's a really fun time if you learn how the game works. I guess my one major gripe is there's actually a huge difference between good characters and bad characters and there's a real tier list system to the game. Morrigan is unfortunately not a good character in this game :(
A sweet tiny little game, and not in anyway comparative to the other Street Fighter games as it is not a fighting game. This ranking, on a game so simple by nature, is simply because of my own enjoyment. I would not have gotten through a lot of my psychology class without it, and I was able to introduce other fighting game fans to the game. It's a really fun time if you learn how the game works. I guess my one major gripe is there's actually a huge difference between good characters and bad characters and there's a real tier list system to the game. Morrigan is unfortunately not a good character in this game :(
7
#8
My Review:https://www.backloggd.com/u/Konic64/review/627799/
Super Mario 3D World was one of those games I always wanted as an adolescent, but never got because I never got a Wii U in it's hayday. So I was very happy to do a couch co-op play of the game in about eight hours or so. The game started to dry up near the end cause we were all tired and the levels were getting more difficult, but the game is still a very fun time. Extremely light on story, but has very tight controls, unique playing characters that go beyond appearance, a banger soundtrack and fun levels. I had a lot of fun playing the main campaign, but never got to Bowser's Fury as I do not actually own the game.
My Review:https://www.backloggd.com/u/Konic64/review/627799/
Super Mario 3D World was one of those games I always wanted as an adolescent, but never got because I never got a Wii U in it's hayday. So I was very happy to do a couch co-op play of the game in about eight hours or so. The game started to dry up near the end cause we were all tired and the levels were getting more difficult, but the game is still a very fun time. Extremely light on story, but has very tight controls, unique playing characters that go beyond appearance, a banger soundtrack and fun levels. I had a lot of fun playing the main campaign, but never got to Bowser's Fury as I do not actually own the game.
8
#9
Portal is one of those essential, must play video games and I'm kind of angry I didn't get to it sooner. It's a short but very charming game that really enables the player to think outside the box to progress. If you like video games as a medium, absolutely play this as soon as possible. You can usually find on sale for pennies.
Portal is one of those essential, must play video games and I'm kind of angry I didn't get to it sooner. It's a short but very charming game that really enables the player to think outside the box to progress. If you like video games as a medium, absolutely play this as soon as possible. You can usually find on sale for pennies.
9
#10
Freedom Planet is one of those types of games I've wanted to play since it's inception. It's a really fun sonic-like platformer with great character designs, beautiful stages, and great music. I could honestly do without the story in game. I didn't feel that it added too much to the game and the voice acting had weird differences in loudness. A lot of it wasn't terrible but it wasn't fantastic either. The bosses are not fun to fight in the slightest as well. I'll get to Freedom Planet 2 sometime, and I should replay this game without the story as well soon.
Freedom Planet is one of those types of games I've wanted to play since it's inception. It's a really fun sonic-like platformer with great character designs, beautiful stages, and great music. I could honestly do without the story in game. I didn't feel that it added too much to the game and the voice acting had weird differences in loudness. A lot of it wasn't terrible but it wasn't fantastic either. The bosses are not fun to fight in the slightest as well. I'll get to Freedom Planet 2 sometime, and I should replay this game without the story as well soon.
10
#11
My Review: https://www.backloggd.com/u/Konic64/review/735183/
Unbeatable is a rhythm game, that gathered my attention because of it's amazing user interface and stylish visuals. As I said in my review, It reminds me a lot of Studio Trigger works such as Kill La Kill, Brand New Animal, and Promare. The songs provided in the game are all bangers on their own, and the story is emotional and somewhat depressing.
The game is unfinished so far, but what is presented here is extremely promising. Cannot wait for the full release.
My Review: https://www.backloggd.com/u/Konic64/review/735183/
Unbeatable is a rhythm game, that gathered my attention because of it's amazing user interface and stylish visuals. As I said in my review, It reminds me a lot of Studio Trigger works such as Kill La Kill, Brand New Animal, and Promare. The songs provided in the game are all bangers on their own, and the story is emotional and somewhat depressing.
The game is unfinished so far, but what is presented here is extremely promising. Cannot wait for the full release.
11
#12
The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog is a passion project made by the social media team at SEGA and you can feel it. Every single aspect of this little two hour puzzle visual novel is filled with quality. For an April Fool's joke they really put a lot of effort into this. I wish the Sonic Team games were as good as this.
The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog is a passion project made by the social media team at SEGA and you can feel it. Every single aspect of this little two hour puzzle visual novel is filled with quality. For an April Fool's joke they really put a lot of effort into this. I wish the Sonic Team games were as good as this.
12
#13
Justice for All is considered by most to be the most filler Ace Attorney game. However, this does not make the game bad at all. It's just, middling. It does expand on what the original game introduced with it's brand new Psych-lock system making the game a bit more difficult. It also introduces Franziska von Karma who I would genuinely kill to marry. Franzy my beloved. Anyway the game is alright. We've gotten about halfway through this list now so these won't be as extravagant.
Justice for All is considered by most to be the most filler Ace Attorney game. However, this does not make the game bad at all. It's just, middling. It does expand on what the original game introduced with it's brand new Psych-lock system making the game a bit more difficult. It also introduces Franziska von Karma who I would genuinely kill to marry. Franzy my beloved. Anyway the game is alright. We've gotten about halfway through this list now so these won't be as extravagant.
13
#14
Azure Striker Gunvolt 2 is a sequel to the original Gunvolt. The games are basically Mega Man X, but more anime. This game introduces new character Copen to the playable characters. Think of him like the Zero to Gunvolt's X. I thought the levels were fun to play, but did not like playing much as Copen. To be honest there's not much to say here. I enjoyed what I played. It's more Azure Striker Gunvolt. I'll get to the third game sometime.
Azure Striker Gunvolt 2 is a sequel to the original Gunvolt. The games are basically Mega Man X, but more anime. This game introduces new character Copen to the playable characters. Think of him like the Zero to Gunvolt's X. I thought the levels were fun to play, but did not like playing much as Copen. To be honest there's not much to say here. I enjoyed what I played. It's more Azure Striker Gunvolt. I'll get to the third game sometime.
14
#15
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion is a remaster of the PSP original. I have a particular opinion when it comes to prequels. I think they are fine, but ultimately not needed in the grand scheme. This game does not do much to change that.
The game tells Zach's story, who did influence the world of Final Fantasy VII, but I'd really recommend just playing that game first and then coming back to this if you want. The gameplay has been altered to fit more into Remake's gameplay and the visuals have been given a major overhaul. Some of the music has been remixed, but other tracks have been left untouched which is odd. You cannot choose between the remixed tracks and the original soundtrack which is stupid. However it was fun to realize the same person that did Twewy's soundtrack also did this game.
I enjoyed what I played of this game, and know that it means a lot to some, but it just did not hit the same. Also we need to eradicate Zach's new VA. I just do not feel his voice fits the character.
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion is a remaster of the PSP original. I have a particular opinion when it comes to prequels. I think they are fine, but ultimately not needed in the grand scheme. This game does not do much to change that.
The game tells Zach's story, who did influence the world of Final Fantasy VII, but I'd really recommend just playing that game first and then coming back to this if you want. The gameplay has been altered to fit more into Remake's gameplay and the visuals have been given a major overhaul. Some of the music has been remixed, but other tracks have been left untouched which is odd. You cannot choose between the remixed tracks and the original soundtrack which is stupid. However it was fun to realize the same person that did Twewy's soundtrack also did this game.
I enjoyed what I played of this game, and know that it means a lot to some, but it just did not hit the same. Also we need to eradicate Zach's new VA. I just do not feel his voice fits the character.
15
#16
Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 is not a game I played much of this year, but what I did play I enjoyed. Morrigan my beloved. Yeah that's it.
Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 is not a game I played much of this year, but what I did play I enjoyed. Morrigan my beloved. Yeah that's it.
16
#17
Behind the Frame: The Finest Scenery is a very charming, feel-good, puzzle game. The game's visual style is very much inspired by Studio Ghibli's works and it shows with it's warm colors and somewhat cutesy, somewhat realistic design. It's a very serene experience only brought down by the occasional crash.
Behind the Frame: The Finest Scenery is a very charming, feel-good, puzzle game. The game's visual style is very much inspired by Studio Ghibli's works and it shows with it's warm colors and somewhat cutesy, somewhat realistic design. It's a very serene experience only brought down by the occasional crash.
17
#18
F-Zero 99 was the major surprise of the year from Nintendo for me. I've played the original F-Zero before and I thought adding 99 other people would make playing the game a nightmare, but it's actually really fun. There is not much else in the game though.
F-Zero 99 was the major surprise of the year from Nintendo for me. I've played the original F-Zero before and I thought adding 99 other people would make playing the game a nightmare, but it's actually really fun. There is not much else in the game though.
18
#19
https://www.backloggd.com/u/Konic64/review/1207041/
Most of my major thoughts on Popful Mail are highlighted in my review, but I'll try to condense it here. Fun Platformer/RPG with not great gameplay, but funny/cheesy dialogue, great characters and detailed worlds and a banger soundtrack. Mail my beloved.
https://www.backloggd.com/u/Konic64/review/1207041/
Most of my major thoughts on Popful Mail are highlighted in my review, but I'll try to condense it here. Fun Platformer/RPG with not great gameplay, but funny/cheesy dialogue, great characters and detailed worlds and a banger soundtrack. Mail my beloved.
19
#20
My Review: https://www.backloggd.com/u/Konic64/review/1150178/
There isn't really much more I can say about Vampire Survivors than I've already mentioned in my review. They added Among Us into the game. That's pretty cool right? Do people even play Among Us anymore? More people know it now based off the brand of the game rather than the game itself. It's a funny haha meme. Kinda similar to how Sonic is doing. It's kinda wild and really makes you think. I'm vying for space now though so let's move on to the last few.
My Review: https://www.backloggd.com/u/Konic64/review/1150178/
There isn't really much more I can say about Vampire Survivors than I've already mentioned in my review. They added Among Us into the game. That's pretty cool right? Do people even play Among Us anymore? More people know it now based off the brand of the game rather than the game itself. It's a funny haha meme. Kinda similar to how Sonic is doing. It's kinda wild and really makes you think. I'm vying for space now though so let's move on to the last few.
20
#21
The first game I played of 2023 when my older sibling decided to pick up a PlayStation 5. It's a fun tight platformer with lots of Sony fanservice. It was nice hearing the PS2 and PS3 startup sounds again. It's pretty nostalgic. Wish they would actually bring back some of those older games though.
The first game I played of 2023 when my older sibling decided to pick up a PlayStation 5. It's a fun tight platformer with lots of Sony fanservice. It was nice hearing the PS2 and PS3 startup sounds again. It's pretty nostalgic. Wish they would actually bring back some of those older games though.
21
#22
Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn is an MMORPG that I have heard lots of thanks to the community of the game. I tried to play it back in 2021, but around the time I did a new expansion came out, and I was put in a waitlist and stopped caring.
I've since then repicked up the game and enjoyed it. Who woulda thought the guy that likes Xenoblade likes FFXIV. I did fall off after some time though, but I enjoyed what I played. The story was a bit boring but I liked the busywork as weird as it sounds.
Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn is an MMORPG that I have heard lots of thanks to the community of the game. I tried to play it back in 2021, but around the time I did a new expansion came out, and I was put in a waitlist and stopped caring.
I've since then repicked up the game and enjoyed it. Who woulda thought the guy that likes Xenoblade likes FFXIV. I did fall off after some time though, but I enjoyed what I played. The story was a bit boring but I liked the busywork as weird as it sounds.
22
#23
Samurai Showdown (2019), is a revival to the Samurai Showdown games made by SNK. Rather than trying to rack up the combo counter is a much more defensive, footsies based game. It's honestly a great introduction into fighting games as it teaches great fundamentals, but it's not as fast as other games. And that's the point, but it wasn't my cup of tea. It's still a good game though.
Samurai Showdown (2019), is a revival to the Samurai Showdown games made by SNK. Rather than trying to rack up the combo counter is a much more defensive, footsies based game. It's honestly a great introduction into fighting games as it teaches great fundamentals, but it's not as fast as other games. And that's the point, but it wasn't my cup of tea. It's still a good game though.
23
#24
My Review: https://www.backloggd.com/u/Konic64/review/1164884/
I press the Y and X buttons and I win wahoo. Once again, most of my major thoughts are out in the review. I think this game is better than most Warriors games, but I got burnt out of this one rather quickly. It just kept going on and on.
My Review: https://www.backloggd.com/u/Konic64/review/1164884/
I press the Y and X buttons and I win wahoo. Once again, most of my major thoughts are out in the review. I think this game is better than most Warriors games, but I got burnt out of this one rather quickly. It just kept going on and on.
24
#25
Final Fight is the progenitor of all Beat em Ups. Similar to Street Fighter 2, it created a genre but is not much fun to come back to.
Final Fight is the progenitor of all Beat em Ups. Similar to Street Fighter 2, it created a genre but is not much fun to come back to.
25
#26
Soul Guardians (2023) is an action-platformer RPG, similar to MapleStory, famously known on this website by literally only two people. Maneko and I. There was a mobile game by the same name a long time ago that was bustling with users, and it was a really fun game. However this game is still in very early access, with some text being untranslated, some voice clips not being removed and an overall, unfinished feel. It is not yet done, so consider it unranked in this list.
Soul Guardians (2023) is an action-platformer RPG, similar to MapleStory, famously known on this website by literally only two people. Maneko and I. There was a mobile game by the same name a long time ago that was bustling with users, and it was a really fun game. However this game is still in very early access, with some text being untranslated, some voice clips not being removed and an overall, unfinished feel. It is not yet done, so consider it unranked in this list.
26
#27
My Review: https://www.backloggd.com/u/Konic64/review/671807/
Nikke is a game made in 2021 and it shows. Gacha video game with a full female cast of characters made to appeal to the lowest common denominator. Boobs jiggle and asses shake constantly. I don't mind some fanservice when it comes to character designs, but for a game with an age rating of 12+ on the Google Play Store, kids are just being exposed to softcore porn at this point.
I only got this game because of a Chainsaw Man collab where you could get Himeno, for free, as a character. I played it for a little bit after, and fell off thanks to a story I didn't care about, and characters that weren't that interesting to me. But you didn't download Goddess of Victory: Nikke for any of that anyway.
My Review: https://www.backloggd.com/u/Konic64/review/671807/
Nikke is a game made in 2021 and it shows. Gacha video game with a full female cast of characters made to appeal to the lowest common denominator. Boobs jiggle and asses shake constantly. I don't mind some fanservice when it comes to character designs, but for a game with an age rating of 12+ on the Google Play Store, kids are just being exposed to softcore porn at this point.
I only got this game because of a Chainsaw Man collab where you could get Himeno, for free, as a character. I played it for a little bit after, and fell off thanks to a story I didn't care about, and characters that weren't that interesting to me. But you didn't download Goddess of Victory: Nikke for any of that anyway.
27
#28
My Review: https://www.backloggd.com/u/Konic64/review/1148936/
Sonic Frontiers: The Final Horizon was my personal most disappointing gaming experience in 2023. I know very well that they have "fixed" it now, but I feel no need or desire to come back to this. It's a collectathon where you play a half-baked bastardizations of Sonic's main friends and retcon the events of the last few hours in the main game. It was a frustrating experience and a waste of time that I wish I could get back. That is all I have to say about this that isn't iterated in the review. This last update really put a sour taste in my mouth on the game and I'm thinking of replaying the game to affirm my worst thoughts.
My Review: https://www.backloggd.com/u/Konic64/review/1148936/
Sonic Frontiers: The Final Horizon was my personal most disappointing gaming experience in 2023. I know very well that they have "fixed" it now, but I feel no need or desire to come back to this. It's a collectathon where you play a half-baked bastardizations of Sonic's main friends and retcon the events of the last few hours in the main game. It was a frustrating experience and a waste of time that I wish I could get back. That is all I have to say about this that isn't iterated in the review. This last update really put a sour taste in my mouth on the game and I'm thinking of replaying the game to affirm my worst thoughts.
28