Top 5 games I played in 2023

It's time to reveal the top five favourite games I got around to playing in 2023. As you may know, I didn't get around to a Top 5 list last year, as I didn't complete much. While this year hasn't been particularly productive game-wise either, I've at least played 11, which is a vast improvement on 4! Mostly played through games with a narrative focus this year, as that's what I found myself in the mood for a lot of 2023. It's...been another mixed year for me. Anywayyy...

Before I go on, I should note that while I played Baldur's Gate 3, I didn't get far into it. As with many games in the past, I fell into a funk, so I didn't feel like continuing (through no fault of the game itself). I liked what I played, though. If I finish it, it'll appear in a future end of year list!

...Oh, and Starfield befell the same fate.

List items

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  1. Resident Evil 4

  If you know me, you'll know that the original Resident Evil 4 is one of my favourite games of all time. I'd been looking forward to the remake for quite a bit.

  As you can see, it didn't disappoint, as it claims top spot! I really like how it kept a lot of what made the original great, while adding some fun new features. A lot of the sections were also elaborated on, which was appreciated. I feel like it's a good example of how you should do remakes.

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  2. Potionomics

  This wasn't the kind of game I'd normally go for, but as I liked the look of the character design, and I needed something different at the time, I decided to go for it. It proved to be a good decision. I found the mechanics and cycle easy enough to get into, and all the characters had their own charm, which pushed me to keep playing. I found the animation was very endearing, too. I'd be genuinely interested in a sequel.

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  3. Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical

  I thought it was very well done. It promised a musical narrative game, and that's exactly what it was! What's more, you have some direction over how some of the songs will go, which effects the outcome of certain relationships. While there's a lot of serious moments, there's a good amount of humour thrown in. All in all, a very enjoyable experience!

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  4. Penny Larceny: Gig Economy Supervillain

  I loved both of the Arcade Spirits games, so Penny Larceny was naturally on my radar. The fact that it dealt with superheroes/supervillains was a bonus for me. It was a nice twist on the format they had with their previous games. There was multiple routes, each involving working for different 'supervillains'. I completed all routes, as it had a handy 'fast-forward' feature for conversations/jobs I had already done. I loved the humour in the game, as it made a lot of swipes at the 'Right'. The music was awesome, too!

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  5. Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly

  Another short, but sweet, narrative game. There's something about games where people just have conversations. It's nice to get to know the characters, and see them interact with each other (while serving them drinks, of course!). The music adds to the cosy atmosphere. I'd happily play more like it.