2023 is almost behind us. With four days left to it, we’ve decided to share our GOTY 2023 list. And we know, a lot of you are waiting for our Top 10 Optimized PC Games list. This will come out, most likely, on December 30th or December 31st. Until then, you can find below the games that pirovashMX, Spencer and John enjoyed the most.

pirovashMX – Resident Evil 4 Remake

Resident Evil 4, an iconic title that defined the survival horror genre, has been resurrected in the form of a stunning remake. Capcom’s latest rendition of this survival horror masterpiece successfully marries nostalgia with modern gaming technology, providing both long-time fans and newcomers an unforgettable experience.

The game’s atmosphere, a critical element in any Resident Evil title, remains as oppressive and suspenseful as ever. The lighting effects, enhanced by modern rendering, create an immersive and chilling ambiance that keeps players on the edge of their seats. The sound design, which has always been a strength of the series, receives a boost with reimagined audio that further intensifies the horror
experience.

Gameplay enhancements in Resident Evil 4 Remake are a double-edged sword. On one hand, the refined controls and improved aiming mechanics make for a smoother and more accessible experience. On the other hand, some purists may argue that the original’s deliberate, tank-like controls added to the tension
and fear, which has been somewhat diminished in this iteration (I prefer the latter). Nevertheless, the updated controls allow for a more seamless transition for players accustomed to contemporary gaming standards.

One of the standout features of the remake is the revamped enemy AI. The once predictable adversaries now showcase more dynamic behavior, adding an extra layer of challenge to the already tense encounters. The adaptive difficulty system ensures that the game tailors its intensity to the player’s skill level, maintaining a constant sense of threat without becoming overwhelmingly difficult.

In conclusion, Resident Evil 4 Remake is a triumph in revitalizing a classic while introducing it to a new generation of gamers. With its breathtaking visuals, refined gameplay, and a commitment to preserving the essence of the original, Capcom has successfully breathed new life into a title that has left an indelible mark on the survival horror genre. Whether you’re a seasoned Resident Evil veteran or a newcomer to the series, Resident Evil 4 Remake is an essential experience that pays homage to the past while embracing the future of gaming.

Spencer – Atomic Heart

According to Steam Replay, this year 14% of my games played were 2023 releases vs. 9% for the overall Steam audience. Last year I was at 8% for current year releases and as regular readers might already know I usually play older content but 2023 was an absolutely stacked year, particularly on PC and on Nintendo’s aging Switch platform. I couldn’t help myself so I spent quite a bit of time on games like Atomic Heart, Diablo IV, Sonic Superstars, Company of Heroes 3 and Warhammer 40k Boltgun among some other new releases. However, I have yet to get my hands on some other heavy hitters released this year like Baldur’s Gate 3 or Hogwarts Legacy so with that in mind: My game of the year, truthfully, came down to Company of Heroes 3 or Atomic Heart and I ended up leaning towards Atomic Heart. Atomic Heart came out pretty early in the year and was surrounded by a controversy I didn’t quite understand so I won’t really discuss or cover it here. Company of Heroes 3 seems to be surrounded by a similar controversy to Company of Heroes 2 when it launched, it eventually recovered. I didn’t really get involved in either because I am here for single player campaigns when it comes to my RTS games and Company of Heroes 3 checks those boxes.

Anyways, Atomic Heart is essentially a Bioshock-lite that was incredibly well optimized, the game looks gorgeous on a Steam Deck and I played about three quarters of the title on Valve’s wunderkind handheld. Eventually I switched to my desktop because the game became too hard for me on Normal with dual analog controls and that’s when I realized it was probably one of the most keyboard and mouse biased first person games I had played in a while. Atomic Heart’s dodge system on dual analog just kind of sucks… In a weird way it was nice to play a first person game that was so heavily biased in favor of the superior way to play them. The combat feels genuinely smooth on keyboard and mouse. As for the rest of the package? I honestly found it impressive: an interesting setting, great visual design (it’s currently nominated for Steam’s Outstanding Visual Style Award and I’d say it deserves it), fun weapons with interesting mods and upgrades, good gameplay (excluding the open ended areas — I did not enjoy those), sound design and music are similarly high quality. The lead character can be a bit annoying at times and some character designs seem somewhat out of place but Atomic Heart is Mundfish’s first outing and while the game is very much imperfect and has some traditional small-time PC dev jank, these guys are absolutely a developer to watch heading forward. I struggle to think of another developer with a comparable freshman effort in recent years. Check it out.

John “john2gr” Papadopoulos – Wo Long – Fallen Dynasty

At the start of 2023, I was almost certain that a Yakuza game would have been my GOTY. After all, I’m a huge fan of this series. However, The Man Who Erased His Name really let me down. While it has an amazing ending cut-scene, its story is among the most boring ones I’ve ever experienced in 2023. That was a big shock as most of the previous Yakuza games had incredible stories. Hell, even the game’s side stories are nowhere close to what other Yakuza games have achieved. On the other hand, Like a Dragon: Ishin! was great but that was a remake of an older title so I can’t really let it get the award from a brand new game release.

As said, I’m mostly a story-driven player. Baldur’s Gate 3 is an amazing game but I’m not a big fan of this type of RPGs (I know, I know, shame on me). Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, Alan Wake 2 and Hogwarts Legacy were great but not candidates for my GOTY. I also enjoyed Diablo 4, Atomic Heart, Dead Space Remake and Hogwarts Legacy. However, the games I played and enjoyed the most were Lies of P, Remnant 2 and Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty.

What’s really funny here is that I’m not a big fan of the Souls genre. Despite that, Lies of P was so much fun. Remnant 2, which is Dark Souls with guns, was also an incredible game. But my GOTY was definitely Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty.

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is a Sekiro-inspired game, and its gameplay mechanics are even better than those of it. The challenge in this game is reasonable, and you have a pretty wide window to parry the enemy attacks. Parry plays a huge part in this game and it works incredibly well. What makes Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty so great though is its fluid character movement and combat mechanics. Team Ninja has created something special here. Not only that but I never felt that the enemy bosses were “cheating” me (a big issue I have with most other Dark Souls games). Its Chinese theme was also fascinating (although its story is a bit chaotic and all over the place). I cannot stress enough how much fun I had with it (and that was at launch, without any of the boss buffs that Team Ninja brought to it)!