Best Games of 2023: Highest rated games of the year so far

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is not only a frontrunner for best game of 2023, but it’s potentially one of greatest games of all time. Continuing on from the beloved Breath of the Wild, the sequel plonks you back into the immersive world of Hyrule but with several curious modifications such as floating islands and underground caverns to explore. 

The biggest change for Tears of the Kingdom can be found with Link’s new powers, allowing him to build both weapons and vehicles, using only materials found in the wilderness. This builds upon the excellent survival mechanicals of its predecessor, while also making the weapon degradation less frustrating. 

We noted in our review that Nintnedo has reinforced all of Breath of the Wild’s greatest strengths with more interactions with the dynamic world, a bounty of puzzles to solve and simple but rewarding combat. The story is excellent too, as Link and Zelda have to deal with the emerging threat of the Demon King, all told via cinematic cutscenes. 

If you own a Nintendo Switch, then The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is a no-brainer purchase whether you’re a Zelda fan or newcomer to the series. It’s difficult to imagine any game topping it before the end of the year. 

Reviewer: Ryan Jones
Full Review: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Review

Horizon Call of the Mountain is the only PSVR2-exclusive on this list, meaning that you will need to own both a PS5 and PSVR2 to play along. Putting the system requirements aside, Call of the Mountain is an incredibly immersive title, with our reviewer noting that the robot monsters looked incredibly imposing inside your headset, with crocodile-like Snapjaws lurking in the water while towering Tallnecks shake the ground as they walk above you.

Not only that, but you can interact with almost everything in this VR world; pick up rocks and mugs to throw into the distance or start drumming on abandoned musical instruments. Instead of pressing down on a button to pluck arrows from your quiver, you can reach behind your shoulder and press down on the controller’s trigger, creating an immersive and incredibly realistic experience. 

As fun as the combat mechanics are, we actually thought that the climbing segments stole the show. The more climbing you engage in, the more climbing gear you unlock, allowing your character to use pickaxes to smash into the rocks and rope casters to swing across ravines. 

Overall, we think that this is one of the best VR games we’ve ever had the pleasure of reviewing. Despite the limitations of needing to own a PS5 and PSVR2, this is a fantastic game and a must-play for anyone who already owns the hardware. If you want a unique and thrilling experience that takes what VR can be to the next level, then Horizon Call of the Mountain is definitely for you. 

Reviewer: Ryan Jones
Full Review: Horizon Call of the Mountain review

Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe is a fantastic game for youngsters and adults alike, boasting an incredibly cute art style that’s very easy to appreciate. HAL Laboratory opted for a rounded and soft aesthetic that will definitely appeal to a younger audience, but our reviewer also loved it, noting how every level has another cute enemy or well-designed cutscene that made the game very easy to get into. 

Not only is the art style charming, but you can also play this game with up to three more friends via local play. Although the lack of online play does limit its accessibility, we found that it worked very well as a multiplayer title. Since you are not competing, it becomes a mad rush to see who can discover each collectable first, with anyone playing as Kirby getting to use the various copy abilities that are littered throughout the game. 

Our personal favourite abilities were Sword and Leaf, with the former turning Kirby into a Link-like character with a massive sword to take down enemies, and even a green cap for good measure. There are also amped-up versions of these copies that truly let you bombard your way through the level; slash through entire parts of the stage with a massive Sword, or take the form of a giant snowball with the Ice copy and barrel through enemies and props. 

The main missions may be a little too easy for some, with the puzzles not requiring a massive amount of brain power; but not only does this make this the perfect game to play with any youngsters in your family, our reviewer still felt very accomplished finishing each stage, with the immense amount of collectables giving you more than enough reason to come back for more. If you’re looking for something that’s playable on the Nintendo Switch and has a bit more of a challenge, we recommend you check out either Metroid Prime Remastered or Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes.

Reviewer: Gemma Ryles
Full Review: Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe Review

While the core game design of Metroid Prime hasn’t aged too well, Metroid Prime Remastered brings in a new sense of atmosphere and visuals that the franchise has never seen before, making it a very easy recommendation for Metroid fans as well as newcomers. We thought that the atmosphere is its greatest asset, with everything from Samus’ suit to the alien creatures that lurk around each level being clearly so thoughtfully designed to the point where they haven’t become derivative in the current sea of first-person shooters, even 20 years later. 

The ability to switch between the classic GameCube-era controls or the motion controls featured in the Metroid Prime Trilogy for Nintendo Wii was very welcome, as you can pick and choose which style works best for you. We also found that the core progression system at the heart of Metroid Prime is very addictive, tasking you with reclaiming all of Samus’ abilities following a devastating fight. Knowing that continuing on for another 15 minutes could nab you an invaluable upgrade keeps you hooked throughout and makes you continually want to come back for more. 

This game is set on Talon IV, an alien planet filled with antagonists and collectables. Our reviewer noted how unique this planet was, with snowy mountains, sand-filled ruins and lava pits located throughout. This furthers the eccentric style of this title and sets it even further apart from all the other first-person shooters on the market. 

It’s worth noting that this game encourages a lot of backtracking, which we were not a big fan of. If you’re looking for a more linear FPS, titles like DOOM Eternal or Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (2022) may be a better fit. But overall, Metroid Prime Remastered is a fantastic game and a great excuse to revisit this iconic franchise, with an amazing and distinctive art style to boot. 

Reviewer: Thomas Deehan
Full Review: Metroid Prime Remastered Review

Fire Emblem Engage feels like a love letter to all the loyal fans of the Fire Emblem series. There is a lot of nostalgia here thanks to the inclusion of classic Fire Emblem heroes like Marth, Roy, Ike, Byleth and many more.

Engage doesn’t stray too far from the series’ iconic combat system, playing out like an elaborate game of chess with a grid-based arena and a great variety of unit and class types. We felt that the rock-paper-scissors system was very captivating, with spear units weak to axes, axes vulnerable to swords and swords ineffective against spears. This adds a lot of strategy to the game and requires players to keep an eye on their team to ensure that they will finish each battle victorious. 

Moreover, this game provides a great level of accessibility via its difficulty tiers. Keeping an easy or normal difficulty gives you the ability to reverse time an unlimited number of times during battle, so you won’t have to worry about a fatal mistake ruining your run. You can also choose if you want Permadeath activated for an extra level of tension and real consequences for your actions, even if it is frustrating to see all your time levelling up a character going down the drain. 

Due to the nature of this game, it may be a little too intimidating for newcomers. While you can still definitely enjoy Engage with no prior knowledge of the series, the inclusion of classic characters and the relatively simple story may be a little off putting. However, any fans of the series will definitely want to check out Fire Emblem Engage as it holds up as a fantastic option within the turn-based RPG genre. 

Reviewer: Ryan Jones
Full Review: Fire Emblem Engage