The year 2022 is almost coming to a close, and while it delivered some amazing games and there are still a few big-name games set to arrive, like “The Callisto Protocol” and “High On Life” and more, it’s time to look beyond. 2023 is looking to be jam-packed with incredible games set to arrive across its twelve months, and while delays are something we should expect, it’s still looking pretty good. A quick disclaimer before we start: this list only consists of games that are multi-platform, which means exclusives like “Starfield” and “Marvel’s Spider-Man 2,” among many others, are left out. And while there are a great number of games coming out in 2023, we are focusing on a select few big-name titles that are sure to get a lot of love and attention once they are out. Let’s see what 2023 has in store for us, shall we?
Dead Space
It was a sad day when EA decided to shut down Visceral Studios and put “Dead Space” on the shelf, as that franchise was something special. “Dead Space” brings with it amazing survival-horror gameplay and a lot of gore, all packed in with an immersive and worth-experiencing story. As sad as it was, there’s no need to lament its loss anymore, as EA is finally bringing back “Dead Space” in the form of a full-blown remake of the first game. Being developed by EA Motive, “Dead Space” brings with it all-new character models, a gorgeous new lighting system, gameplay improvements, and new ways to dismember those freaky-looking Necromorphs. Again, it’s not a remaster but a full-fledged remake that follows the original story of Isaac Clarke with the original voice cast returning to reprise their roles, so expect minimum changes, if any. We like that, as the original game was a masterpiece through and through, and hey! If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, right? “Dead Space” arrives in just a few months, in January 2023, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
Hogwarts Legacy
Let’s face it; if any one of us ever gets the chance to go to Hogwarts, roam the castle, learn the mystic arts, and become a witch or wizard, we’d take that in a heartbeat, right? I mean, why wouldn’t we? After all, the world of Harry Potter is just so captivating and inviting! What if I were to tell you that it can be a reality? Well, in the form of a video game, at least. “Hogwarts Legacy” is a third-person, open-world RPG set in the Harry Potter universe where you get to create your own character, choose your house, and carve your own path to becoming the witch or wizard you want to be. You can explore Hogwarts Castle and the surrounding area and find all manner of secrets. You can attend classes and learn new spells and techniques that you can use in combat, or you can just immerse yourself in the world and play your own Harry Potter fantasy. There’s a lot to see, learn, and do in this world that developer Portkey Games has created, set across all four calendar seasons and with a chockful of things to discover, “Hogwarts Legacy” is shaping up to be a game to look forward to. “Hogwarts Legacy” arrives in February 2023 on PlayStation 5 and 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC.
Atomic Heart
It’s weird, to say the least, but by god, “Atomic Heart” looks crazy. I don’t even know how to describe this game. It’s in first person, is open-world, seems to take heavy inspiration from “Bioshock,” is set in some form of Soviet Russian techno future, and just looks insane and beautiful and very interesting to play. Developed by Mundfish, “Atomic Heart” is trying to make a name for itself and leave a mark in the world of first-person shooters with fast and frantic combat, crazy boss battles, elemental abilities hacking, and other weird stuff, and is just trying to be a cool and unique video game in general. While the gameplay and the shooting look really, really awesome, one thing that’s not gameplay has caught my attention. The game is being scored by Mick Gordon, you know, the guy who made music for “Doom” and “Wolfenstein,” and while I am not a metalhead, Mick Gordon’s tunes just turn me into one. Freakishly talented in his craft, his music alone is reason enough for me to be sold on this game. It helps either way that the game looks hella impressive on its own, too, don’t get me wrong. “Atomic Heart” is set to arrive in February 2023 on PlayStation 5 and 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC, and will also be available on day one on Xbox Game Pass.
Like A Dragon Ishin!
“Like A Dragon,” formerly known as “Yakuza,” has garnered a lot of love and attention outside of Japan ever since it went multi-platform. I myself am a newly baptized “Yakuza” fan, and you can take my word when I say that every last one of these games is a must-play. Yakuza Ishin! was originally released in 2014 and was exclusive to Japan with no localization support. That is finally changing. After years and years of fans demanding for the games to come to the West, developers Ryu Ga Gotoku are finally making their wish come true. “Like A Dragon Ishin!” won’t be a simple port, however, but a full-blown remake using new and improved assets and visuals, completely new voice work, and updated and refined gameplay. The game takes place in Kyo, Japan, in 1867 and follows the tale of the real legendary samurai, Sakamoto Ryoma. While the game is trying to tell a real story from Japan’s history, it’s far from being historically accurate and focuses more on spectacle and fun. You can expect to see familiar faces like Kiryu, Majima, Saejima, Daigo, Watase, Nishikiyama, Akiyama, Ryuji, and many more as the game uses the “Yakuza” and “Like A Dragon” characters to tell its story. I personally cannot wait for this one when it arrives in February 2023 for Playstation 5 and 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC.
Resident Evil 4 Remake
Capcom is firing on all cylinders when it comes to “Resident Evil” these days with amazing remakes for “Resident Evil 2” and “Resident Evil 3” and fantastic new games in the series like “Resident Evil 7 Biohazard” and “Resident Evil 8 Village.” Now, they are remaking “Resident Evil 4,” the most beloved game of the entire franchise, and from what they’ve shown so far, Wow. The remakes for the last two games were nothing short of brilliant, with incredible visuals and fun gameplay, and “RE4” is looking like it’s following suit. Leon Kennedy is back, and he looks better than ever this time around on his journeys across this weird, mysterious, and scary village. The game is a third-person survival horror experience with creepy zombies and monsters of other kinds tormenting you as you scavenge and make every bullet count. Gorgeous visuals, life-like facial capture, and immersive gameplay are what’s in store for you when “Resident Evil 4” arrives in March 2023 for Playstation 5 and 4, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
Dead Island 2
Announced all the way back in 2014, “Dead Island 2” literally went through hell and back to see the light of day. Originally developed by Techland, it shifted hands to Yager and then to Sumo Digital, and now, finally, Dambuster Studios are the ones to push it across the finish line. “Dead Island 2” is a first-person, open-world, zombie-slaying action game that doesn’t take itself seriously and is all about having fun killing zombies in a billion different ways. Set in Los Angeles, it looks as vibrant as it does hellish. “Dead Island 2” can be played solo or in co-op with 100s of weapons in your arsenal and some new and interesting technology that procedurally generates the layers of flesh on each zombie and tears them apart based on how and where you hit them. The game looks beautiful and fun, and it looks like the perfect candidate to blow off some steam when it arrives in April 2023 on Playstation 5 and 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC.
Alan Wake 2
Not much is known about Remedy’s “Alan Wake 2” other than the fact that it’s real, it will be survival horror this time, and we cannot wait to play it. The original “Alan Wake” was a must-play experience that presented itself like a TV show with an interesting mystery at its center. Since the game was announced during last year’s game awards, I think it’s safe to assume we’ll get more details this year. The game will be in the third person, just like the original, and will use Remedy’s in-house Northlight Engine to power itself, which means it’ll look gorgeous. I hope a song from Poets of the Fall sneaks into this one as well, as pretty much every Remedy game has one, and they are my favorite band. “Alan Wake 2” will come out sometime in 2023 on Playstation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, and we’ll make sure to share more details as soon as we get them.
Assassin’s Creed Mirage
“Assassin’s Creed” is one of the most popular and beloved franchises in all of gaming. Spawning sequel after sequel, each was taking us to a different part of our history. “Assassin’s Creed Mirage” is going back to the franchise roots and taking a break from the gigantic open-world RPG formula. The game will focus on stealth, assassinations, and parkour and will feature Basim as the main protagonist, showcasing his life before he met Eivor and the Raven clan during the events of “Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla.” Baghdad will be the setting this time around, and if the words of Ubisoft are to be believed, then this will be a dense, lived-in city more akin to Paris from “AC Unity” or London from “AC Syndicate,” and I am all the more excited for it. While I love the new RPG formula, these games are going for. It’d be nice to see a more compact and old-schooled experience once more for a change. “Assassin’s Creed Mirage” is set to release sometime in 2023 for Playstation 5 and 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC.
Star Wars Jedi Survivor
Respawn is hard at work on the sequel to “Jedi Fallen Order,” titled “Jedi Survivor.” A short teaser is all we have to go by as of right now that showcases the return of Cal Kestis and BD-1, ready to face a new threat. While we know nothing about this game, it’s a safe bet to expect third-person lightsaber gameplay with crazy force powers and a gripping canonical tale in the Star Wars universe. “Star Wars Jedi Survivor” is set to come out sometime in 2023 on Playstation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, and we’ll be sure to keep you posted as more details arrive.
Stalker 2 Heart of Chernobyl
For this last entry, I am sort of breaking the exclusivity rule here, as “Stalker 2” is set to arrive on PC and Xbox Series X|S first. I don’t even know what to say about this one other than the fact that it looks gorgeous, ambitious, and mysterious. Stalker games have always been one to dive into with crazy world-building, good first-person combat, and immersive storylines, all taking part in the Chernobyl exclusion zone or simply known as “The Zone.” “Stalker 2” seems bigger, better, and bolder than any of the previous entries in the franchise, and while the details regarding the plot are hard to come by, the gameplay and visuals speak for themselves. My heart goes out to every single developer from GSC GameWorld, and I hope they and their families are all safe in the situation in Ukraine. While they promise a 2023 release date for this one, take your time, guys, and be safe; we know you’ll rock it out of the park with this one.
Final Words
There’s a lot more coming out in 2023, and I’d like to apologize if I didn’t mention games like “Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League,” as I plan to cover it in a separate superhero games list, or something like “Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora,” as we don’t know exactly when that’ll drop. I hope you enjoyed this list, and I’ll make sure to make part two, considering how many games are left out of this one. But these have been some of the most anticipated big-budget games that are sure to come out in 2023.
See more: Upcoming Video Games From Xbox Game Studios In 2023 And Beyond
