Alright, Gameflip family. While you process your Thanksgiving food and strategically plan out your gift purchases for the following weeks (which can be a little easier with our Black Friday guide), we're going to give you something else to chew on in the lead-up to 2024.
We will be going back through the game releases of 2023 to bring you the very best of each console, starting with Sony's powerhouse living room obelisk, the PlayStation 5. Whether you're a proud PS5 owner already or hoping to be one come Christmas Day, check out the following list of must-play games from this year.
And hey, if you stick around till the end, there might even be some helpful information on how you can play all of these games before the year is out, as cheaply as possible! This is Gameflip, after all.
Note: Some of the games on this list are PS5 exclusives, but many of them are multi-platform releases that can be played elsewhere. While these experiences are largely comparable across platforms, we did our best to include games that are best played on PS5 on this list.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Cal is so much more powerful in Survivor. (Image Source: EA.com)
Release Date: April 28th
Metacritic: 85
Star Wars is a name you can trust to sell, well, just about anything. When it comes to video games, it's a brand that tends to stand tall, even if the actual product itself isn't all that great.
Thankfully, that wasn't the case with Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. After it picked itself up from what was admittedly a pretty rough launch full of bugs and performance issues, we got to see what Respawn Entertainment has been working on since Fallen Order. Which, in short, i760s an awesome action-adventure game that expands the Star Wars universe and the character of Cal Kestis in interesting ways.
Top-tier level design, setpieces, and thoughtful customization options round out the experience. This one hit us early in the year so it might get lost in the melee of awards season this year, but it is absolutely worth your time.
Hogwarts Legacy
Even the world beyond Hogwarts is explorable in Hogwarts Legacy. (Image Source: Hogwarts Legacy.com)
Release Date: February 10th
Metacritic: 84
A game that allows you to freely explore Hogwarts and have the full Wizarding World experience as a student felt like it was a long time coming, but Hogwarts Legacy finally delivered on that much-requested concept.
And boy, did it pull it off.
Taking classes, wandering through winding halls, and getting up to all kinds of mischief just feels great, and given the immense success of the title, we might be seeing much more Wizarding World gaming content sooner than it took to release Hogwarts Legacy. If you ever wanted to be a magic user to fling spells at people, interact with dragons, or... just take classes at a prestigious place of learning, Hogwarts Legacy is worth a look.
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty
Team Ninja are masters of action gameplay, and they proved that once again in Wo Long. (Image Source: TeamNinja-Studio.com)
Release Date: March 3rd
Metacritic: 81
If a game has monsters, intense combat, and Soulslike mechanics, you best believe that we have our eye on it.
We got a pretty awesome take on that mix of features at the beginning of this year with Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty. If Sekiro, Dynasty Warriors, and Demon's Souls had a baby, it would be Wo Long, and let us be the first to tell you - that's one cool-ass baby.
As a Koei-Tecmo project, you can expect a certain level of quality, and Wo Long definitely didn't disappoint us. Hardcore gamers and Souls fans - if you haven't played any of this one, you're really missing out.
Diablo IV
The loot grind begins anew with sinister dungeons and demoniac world bosses. (Image Source: Diablo4.Blizzard.com)
Release Date: June 5th
Metacritic: 88
Did you put hundreds of hours into Diablo 3? Or perhaps even thousands? Don't worry, you're definitely not alone. But get ready to throw all of that progress away, because Diablo IV is here, and it's another hellish good time.
This is another one that has come under fire for some questionable practices and head-scratching content changes, but the core game is still undeniably Diablo. As long as you enjoy that intoxicating combination of dungeon crawling and the ever-persistent quest for awesome loot, you're going to have a great time here.
If you're looking for a game with some considerable bang for your buck, look no further. Diablo IV is pretty meaty in its base form, and it will also be supported continuously with new content as time goes on. What a deal! Especially if you're part of the Gameflip community...
Street Fighter 6
Getting the gang back together. (Image Source: StreetFighter.com)
Release Date: June 2nd
Metacritic: 92
Look, Street Fighter doesn't need an intro. Ryu? Chun-Li? ZANGIEF? Ever heard of 'em?
Well, they're all back for a few more rounds in this year's Street Fighter 6, and they aren't alone. An epic roster full of new and classic characters on top of a fully-fledged character creator that you can make some real nonsense in are the beating heart of Street Fighter 6, but even that is just scratching the surface of this latest entry to a legendary franchise.
The fighting game genre has been on an uptick the past few years, and they got a massive boost from SF6. Members of the FGC, wannabes, and casual fighting game enjoyers alike all meet online, and that's where the real magic happens. If you want to be the next world champion or just have Chun-Li kick you in the face for old-time's sake, Street Fighter 6 is a must-play, and it might just be the best fighting game of this year.
Horizon Forbidden West - Burning Shores
You think Hollywood is a mess now? Check this out. (Image Source: PlayStation.com)
Release Date: April 19th
Metacritic: 82
This one might be a bit of a reach since it's technically a DLC expansion, but the PS5 didn't have a ton of exclusives launch this year, so we're gonna roll with it.
It's the Burning Shores DLC for Horizon Forbidden West, the best post-apocalyptic/techno-future/robo-dino hunting game of 2022. Forbidden West notably took you to the west coast of a ruined America for all kinds of action-packed setpieces, and Burning Shores somehow ups that ante.
A ruined Los Angeles, active volcanoes, flying robo-dino riding, it's all in there, and it. Is. Awesome.
Oh, and if you played Forbidden West on the PS4, you're out of luck on this one. Burning Shores in PS5-only, but the DLC really benefits from the extra graphical grunt. Horizon is still trying to find its way as a franchise, but Burning Shores will likely be a critical chapter in Aloy's story going forward.
Maybe Guerilla won't launch the Forbidden West follow-up alongside industry-changing mega releases.
Note: For context, Horizon Zero Dawn came out around the same time as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and Horizon Forbidden West was released the week before Elden Ring, of all things.
Baldur's Gate 3
Goblins aren't the only things not happy to see you in Baldur's Gate 3. (Image Source: BaldursGate3.game)
Release Date: September 6th
Metacritic: 96
Let's face it: Baldur's Gate 3 is probably going to end up being the Game of the Year.
There has obviously been some stiff competition from other entries on this list as well as exclusive releases on other consoles, but BG3 has been just an absolute juggernaut since its release. And for good reason - this game is incredible.
It spent several years in early access, but all of the feedback from that time has allowed Larian Studios to craft the biggest, deepest, most freeform video game experience of this year, and maybe even ever. I know that sounds like hyperbole, but if you've played even an hour of this game, you'll know the feeling.
We went from romancing a red woman to stumbling into an underground area where a Beholder killed us in one shot, and there's no other game that can scratch that itch. Just... Just play Baulder's Gate 3 if you haven't. It's an all-timer, and it plays great on the PS5.
Final Fantasy XVI
Giant. Monster. Fights. (Image Source: NA.FinalFantasyXVI.com)
Release Date: June 22nd
Metacritic: 87
Now, where to start with Final Fantasy XVI...
Well, how about this: It has kaiju fights. Like, actual giant monster fights that are as epic as any Godzilla film. Oh, and if turn-based strategy games aren't your thing, don't worry. FF16 is the most action-forward final fantasy yet. If you wanted to play it like a straight hack n' slash game, you absolutely could.
Pack that on with an awesome story, a powerful soundtrack, and those signature Final Fantasy characters that are designed to make you fall in love with them, and Final Fantasy XVI has all the right ingredients for a killer game. Oh, it'll also hold you over until you can get your hands on the next part of Final Fantasy VII Remake.
That alone is worth something.
Resident Evil 4
Ominous forests have never looked so good. (Image Source: ResidentEvil.com)
Release Date: March 24th
Metacritic: 93
Sometimes you just need a good scare, and the Resident Evil franchise has consistently produced the best survival horror games in existence.
So, when Capcom went back through the archives to bring those first Resident Evil games into modern times with full, loving remakes, we were HYPED.
The Resident Evil remakes of the past few years have been fantastic experiences, but we all knew it was just prep for the main event. The game that Capcom keeps returning to and releasing on different platforms over a decade after its release: Resident Evil 4.
It was one of the best games of its time, and guess what: it's also one of the best games of the current time!
The entire Resident Evil 4 experience looks and plays better than it ever has, and the DLC content Separate Ways brings back Ada Wong as a playable character. If you played Resident Evil 4 back in the day, RE4 Remake is awesome. If you've managed to somehow never play it, this is the definitive version of a genre-defining survival horror game.
Spider-Man 2
Experience the true power of the symbiote. (Image Source: PlayStation.com)
Release Date: October 20th
Metacritic: 90
Is having Marvel's Spider-Man 2 at the top of our list of best PS5 games of 2023 recency bias? Perhaps, but it's also one of those games that people will be talking about for a long, long time. At least until Insomniac Games' next Marvel game hits us, which could be Wolverine as soon as next year.
For the moment, Marvel's Spider-Man 2 is the pinnacle of Insomniac Games' work. Combining everything they learned from the previous Spider-Man games as well as Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, they have made a triumphant superhero sequel that adds so much yet never feels bloated or unnecessary.
The game's story is a gut punch of a high-stakes emotional rollercoaster, combat is just as fast and fluid as previous titles, and swinging through New York City once again puts many other open-world games to shame. There's no multiplayer mode and it's only marginally longer than previous games, but it's still a must-have for Sony's latest PlayStation console.
How to Get the Best of the Best with Gameflip
Odds are that our handy little list here has at least a few games that you missed out on this year. It's ok, it's tough to keep up when there's a banger new release every other week. It'll be a while before we see another year like 2023, so it's not a bad idea to get as many of the must-play titles from this year as you can.
And that can get pretty expensive.
UNLESS you're a Gameflip member. Then, the entire world of video games across PS5, Xbox, Switch, and PC open up to you with awesome deals and discounts you can't get anywhere else. Seriously, we have the best deals on gift cards for digital stores like:
That covers at least 97% of all your gaming needs, but if you're a collector who needs those physical games on your shelf, we have your back with major retail gift cards as well, such as:
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and many more!
We at Gameflip believe that everybody should have access to awesome games, and we're bringing that to you one deal at a time. Check out our marketplace, become a member, and see just how great gaming can be with Gameflip.
