The first quarter of 2023 has wrapped up, with 13 games earning particularly high raise from critics. Brand-new video games are released on a weekly basis, but there are certainly some games that stand out among the pack.
Review aggregate sites compile professional reviews for games and come up with their average score. When it comes to review aggregate site OpenCritic, games are then organized into different categories to better underscore how they've been received. Games that earn an 84 or above rating are categorized as "Mighty," denoting the best of the best when it comes to new video game releases.
So far, 13 games in 2023 have been released that have earned the Mighty rating. Three of these games have even managed to crack the elusive 90 or above, with Metroid Prime Remastered sitting at a 94 overall, the Resident Evil 4 remake having a 92 overall, and 8-Bit Adventures 2 earning an impressive 90 overall rating. Four games just barely missed the 90 or above mark, with Path of the Midnight Sun, Hi-Fi Rush, the Dead Space remake, and Vernal Edge all having 89 overalls.
Best Games of 2023
- Metroid Prime Remastered - 94
- Resident Evil 4 - 92
- 8-Bit Adventures 2 - 90
- Path of the Midnight Sun - 89
- Hi-Fi Rush - 89
- Dead Space - 89
- Vernal Edge - 89
- Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania - 87
- Theatrhythm Final Bar Line - 86
- Octopath Traveler 2 - 86
- A Space for the Unbound - 84
- The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure - 84
- Hogwarts Legacy - 84
While Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania is technically DLC and not a full-fledged game release, it has still earned widespread acclaim, enough to get it an 87 rating. Following behind it are two Square Enix-published titles in Theatrhythm Final Bar Line and Octopath Traveler 2, which both earned 86 ratings. The final three games on the list are A Space for the Unbound, The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure, and Hogwarts Legacy, all of which have 84 ratings.
It's clear from the list that 2023 has been a fairly strong one when it comes to video game releases, though some may be turned off by how many remasters and remakes are topping the list. Metroid Prime Remastered made a number of improvements over the original GameCube release that are worth celebrating, but it still doesn't change the fact that it's not truly a new game experience.
There is still plenty of time for brand-new 2023 releases to topple Metroid Prime Remastered, but it remains to be seen if that will ever happen. Fans will have to wait and see how the other big new video game releases of 2023 stack up as they are launched throughout the year.
Source: OpenCritic