Anyone who has visited this little blog before, may notice that I haven't posted anything for a very long time. In fact, I think this is the first post I have made in about a year or so, which is kind of disappointing if I say so myself. There's no dramatic reason behind the absence, and there's no incredible story to act as an excuse; other than the very real fact that life got in the way.
I'll get onto the GOTY stuff proper in the next section, but I just wanted to highlight that I would have loved to post more, and I plan to post more as time rolls on. The whole reason I started this blog was to have a small reason to practice writing and expressing myself a little more, and I am still in need of that practice. So thank you for dropping by, dear reader, as I aim to continue writing these silly posts about games and I hope you continue to enjoy reading them.
Plus, what better way to get back in to the swing of it all than by delving into a very belated Game of the Year rant?! Strap yourselves in, as there's been some real bangers released... albeit a while ago...
2023 was a fun gaming year for me, as I delved into the depths of Microsoft Game Pass more than ever before. There are a number of games on my list of completions that I wouldn't have played if it hadn't been for a subscription service, so it was nice to really get my money's worth. Of course, these services are not without issue, but that's a discussion for another day.
Last year was also shaped by a bunch of co-op multiplayer, which is something I haven't focused on for a long time. I learned a lot about how gaming experiences can change when you throw in other players who may or may not work well together. That and it became clear that a massive achievement like Baldur's Gate 3 might not be the second coming everyone said it was. In fact, it may only hold up for a short time before it starts dramatically falling apart and breaking into a chaotic and buggy mess.
I think my GOTY choices show that this was a fun year with some truly creative and unique experiences. We were offered a host of excellent titles that proved there's more to life than the usual blockbusters and small indie experiments. I'm loving the growth of this "double A" tier of the gaming industry, who are not only able to produce top quality games, but still have that indie spirit of trying something a little more creative and interesting.
Thus, without further delay, let's get stuck in and have a quick chat about what I thought were the best releases of 2023.
LIES OF P
Sometimes a game comes along that feels like it was specifically made for you and you alone, and for me, Lies Of P was without a doubt that game. Everything from start to finish felt as though it had been plucked directly from my personal wish list of what I want from a video game. The setting, the gameplay, the writing, the characters... this may be as close to a perfect game that I've seen in recent years.
To a different player, this could easily be relegated to the pile of Souls-bourne clones that already exist, and they wouldn't be wrong. The combat and general mechanics are taken straight from the Dark Souls playbook and have been repackaged with a snappy new wrapper. Oh, but what a wrapper! For my money, this gothic take on classic Pinocchio lore goes a long way to provide depth and intrigue throughout the excellent story; all while draped in a delicious veneer of industrial revolution brutalism.
This is a game that only tells you what you need to know, and hints at a number of paths to take. The world is fascinating to discover and thrilling to be a part of, while its inhabitants are varied and equally interesting to encounter. I loved how every aspect of this game wept with style and a dark uneasiness that followed the player every step of the way.
At time of writing I haven't dedicated a post to Lies of P, but I plan to delve deeper into this impeccable game sometime in the future. For now though, I'm finding it hard to accurately sum up such a wonderful experience within a few mere paragraphs. Suffice to say that my love for this game is immense, and if a gothic style, souls-like game with an interesting story and exciting characters sounds like it could be your jam; then you simply must play Lies Of P.
JUSANT
This first runner-up could have easily taken the top spot if it wasn't up against the perfect storm. Jusant manages to deliver something creative and new, while essentially being a game about climbing a mountain. Thankfully though, there's an engaging narrative and the mechanics have that magical blend of challenge and satisfaction. I never would have guessed, but I had a brilliant time picking my way across rocks with pitons, ropes, and a plethora of different tools and abilities.
Perhaps unsurprisingly though, it's the way that this game manages to tell its story that really hooked me, as the environment and pacing do a lot of the heavy lifting. While climbing higher up the mountain, we work our way through the history of the people that used to live there, uncovering stories along the way. By literally moving through history we're able to understand the world, and what happened to its people in a visceral and memorable way.
Jusant is a wonderful game that combines understandable and interesting gameplay, with a unique and creative world. Climbing the side of the mountain takes thought and consideration, but is rewarding and worthwhile as you overcome each obstacle. It's a particular kind of surreal to learn a world's history while climbing towards the sky, but happily it worked, and really managed to get its hooks in me and keep me pushing through every step of this fascinating journey.
COCOON
Another highly creative and unique game that almost took the top spot. If I had to choose between these runners-up, I'm not sure I would be able to. Cocoon is another brilliant piece of creativity that stretches our understanding of what a video game is capable of. I'm still trying to get my head around some of the systems and mechanics that are central to the experience, but that's what makes it so darn good.
This is a weird little puzzle game that initially feels a bit straight forward and simple, but quickly begins twisting and bending your brain in unexpected ways. Don't get it wrong though, this is a straight forward puzzle game; it's just done in the best way where it confuses the hell out of you before the penny drops and you're able to reprogram your brain to make it work.
The way that this game lets you move from one world into another, then take that world and carry it into yet another world, before jumping into that original world while still within the new world... well it does my head in. The recursive puzzle design coupled with silky smooth animations and a stellar soundtrack makes this a must-play for just about everyone.
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
I always like to include a few extra picks that I feel any gamer should be aware of. The following are some other standout games from the year, even if they didn’t make it to the top spots.
VENBA
Personal indie games like this one always remind me why I love story-telling as an art form. Venba invites us into a different world and asks us to learn what it must be like for others humans to live their life. The art is beautiful, the writing is excellent, and the gameplay is joyful and poignant in equal measures. Don't sleep on this wonderful narrative heavy game that throws in a good slice of cooking and culture to help it all go down.
BALDUR'S GATE 3
The game that topped all the other GOTY lists for 2023, but one I found lacking in many ways. I played the entire game in co-op with friends, and the further we went, the more the game fell apart. By the end it was a buggy mess that we had to constantly reboot and reload in order to continue playing at all. However, there's no denying that this is a huge achievement and a lot of work has gone into what is ultimately the closest thing to digital Dungeons and Dragons we may get. It's just a shame the wheels fall off and the engine conks out right after that impressive opening.
DANGERESQUE: THE ROOMISODE TRIANGULATE
This collection of three small Strong Bad themed point and click puzzle adventures may be some of the best licensed IP implementation I have ever encountered. As a long standing fan of everything Strong Bad has ever done, I was blown away with how incredibly entertaining this collection was. Sure it might not land for anyone unfamiliar with the original material, but for any fans like me, these games are faithful adventures that follow the Strong Bad logic with the expected humour and absurdity. In short, these games nail it completely... and it looks like we're gonna have to jump!
ROBOCOP: ROGUE CITY
Speaking of games that respect their IP and manage to deliver something that fans are actually excited to play, this one managed to do Robocop proud. It might not be the best game ever made, but considering how poor these sorts of games tend to be, I was blown away with just how much I felt like Robocop as I played. Not to mention all the sweet movie references and lore that are peppered throughout the straight forward, yet entirely satisfying campaign.
THE LIST
2023 might not have been the most bombastic year for gaming in my world, but there were certainly some standouts that are worth experiencing. The games I have picked here for this GOTY post all sparked my creativity in one way or another, which is why they stood out. There were plenty of big budget titles released throughout the year, but most of the creative and surprising work was found in that mid-tier of game development. The games that are small enough to do their own thing, but large enough to come with all the quality of life touches that elevate them a little higher.
As always, I can't wait to see what happens in 2024, which by the time this gets posted, will already be just about complete. Hopefully I'll get back to regular posting again and spend more time talking about all the wonderful games we get to play. Whatever happens, and whatever happens to this blog, I hope everyone who stops by here will find something interesting to check out that they might have otherwise passed by.
For now, there's just one last thing to cap off this post: the big list of all the 2023 releases I managed to play and had to consider for this year's GOTY picks.
Baba Files Taxes (Win)
Hogwart's Legacy (PS5)
Berry People (Win)
Atomic Heart (Win)
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty (Win)
Looking Up I See Only A Ceiling (Win)
Tchia (PS5)
Storyteller (Win)
Terra Nil (Win)
ToriDori (Win)
The Last Case Of Benedict Fox (XBSX)
Redfall (Win)
Golden Idol Mysteries: The Spider Of Lanka (Win)
Humanity (PS5)
Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun (Win)
Projekt Passion (Win)
Glass Masquerade 3: Honeylines (Win)
Return To Grace (XBSX)
Sandtrix (Win)
Dordogne (XBSX)
Cats Hidden In Paris (Win)
Crime O'Clock (Win)
The Anglerfish Project (Win)
Venba (Win)
Baldur's Gate 3 (Win)
Dangeresque: The Roomisode Triangulate (Win)
Sea Of Stars (PS5)
Folder Dungeon (Win)
Golden Idol Mysteries: The Lemurian Vampire (Win)
Chants Of Sennaar (XBSX)
Starfield (Win)
Nour: Play With Your Food (PS5)
Lies Of P (Win)
Super Adventure Hand! (Win)
Find All 4: Magic (Win)
Underground Blossom (Win)
Cocoon (Win)
Assassin's Creed: Mirage (PS5)
Love Is All Around (Win)
Poems & Codes (Win)
Conquistadorio (Win)
Cities: Skylines II (Win)
Jusant (Win)
Looks Good (Win)
RoboCop: Rogue City (Win)
Thirsty Suitors (Win)
Milfy City (Win)
An Arcade Full Of Cats (Win)
Cats Hidden In Jingle Jam (Win)
SteamWorld Build (Win)