The new year is upon us, which means it’s time to take the calendar in hand and circle the most important game releases of 2023 with a red marker.
1. Forspoken
Release: January 24
Platforms: PC, PS5
Action RPG in an open world. The main character Frey finds herself in a mystical land – Atia, where cruel dictators rule. To return home, a girl has to use a lot of spells, properly pump up her superpowers and fight with hundreds of demonic creatures. The main gameplay’s features are fast movement on the ground and so called “storms”, when the girl will have to withstand the attacks of the whole waves of opponents. Demo version is already available and the technology of Forspoken really feels like a next-generation project. New console review here.
2. Dead Space Remake
Release: January 27
Platforms: PC, PS5, XSX
A remake of the 2008 horror film of the same name, which was a huge success. The plot of the original will remain unchanged: engineer Isaac Clarke finds himself on a ship Ishimura captured by mutated dead (Necromorphs). And now the unfit for combat repair engineer has not only to fix the ship, but also to save the rest of the crew, giving battle to the dead. The world of Ishimura has become even darker, and the necromorphs are scarier and more realistic. It will be difficult to kill them – you will have to dismember the bodies, saw off the bones and shoot off the limbs. Once a successful storyline combined with modern graphics and combat will provide the fans of tickling their nerves a lot of pleasant moments.
3. Dead Island 2
Release: February 3
Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, XBO, XSX, NS
Long-suffering zombie action, announced back in 2014, very soon goes to gold, that is, in release. The action takes place a few months after the events of the first part. An outbreak of the zombie virus in California will force the player to make every effort not to get infected, and show the skills of close combat, the ability to handle firearms and build cunning traps for zombies. In terms of features, Dead Island 2 will feature Alexa Game Control voice control for the first time.
4. Hogwarts Legacy
Release: February 10
Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, XBO, XSX, NS
RPG with an open world in the Harry Potter universe. Fans of the franchise will be able to feel like students of the famous school of witchcraft and wizardry: choose a department, attend classes on potions, spells, protection from the dark forces, etc., visit familiar locations like the Forbidden Forest and Gringotts Bank, pre-tuning your gender, appearance and even voice. The morality system will affect the development of the story and the character’s abilities. Whether the prank is successful we’ll find out on February 10.
5. Atomic Heart
Release: February 21
Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, XBO, XSX
This first-person action film tells an alternate Soviet story in which the Union was the leader in robotics for all sectors of the economy. The plot’s starting point is a robot uprising, which the player will investigate. In the role of Intelligence Major, you go to Enterprise 3826, whose facilities are scattered across the map and connected by railroads. It’s up to you to decide where to go and how to move through the story, along the way fighting with numerous rebellious robots and constructing weapons for yourself from everything you can get your hands on. Atomic Heart is being developed by domestic game studio Mundfish.
6. Skull & Bones
Release: March 9
Platforms: PC, PS5, XSX
Another long-suffering project, which survived several postponements and a complete change of development course. Skull & Bones is an open-world tactical adventure where you have to stand at the helm of a pirate ship and cross the Indian Ocean alone or compete with other players. During the journey, you can seriously expand your pirate fleet frigates, brigantines and other combat ships equipped with mortars, cannons and other weapons. You can climb up and watch the horizon with a spyglass, board enemy ships or ram the enemy with the wind and pirate spirit of adventurism.
7. Resident Evil 4 Remake
Release: March 24
Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, XBO, XSX
Remake of the 2005 horror film of the same name, telling the story of a U.S. agent who must save the president’s daughter from a godforsaken village under the oppression of an ancient, violent cult of a dangerous parasite. The locations and the overall impression of the original remain, but the game will be darker, scarier and more realistic. Worked on the psychology: lively dialogue and facial expressions of characters will add color to the narrative. The combat system based on close-in fighting and searching for the vulnerable spots of the enemy changed a little, but the skills of the character were considerably extended.
8. Crime Boss: Rockay City
Release: March 28
Platforms: PC
An online action film with a stellar cast that reveals the backside of life in the booming metropolis of Rockay where redistribution of territory and influence of criminal gangs is in full swing. You too will have to find accomplices and fight for your place under the sun, simultaneously pulling off daring scams and robberies while engaging in combat with rival gangs. March 28th will be released on PC, the exact date for the console versions is not yet known.
9. Spider-Man 2
Platforms: PS5
The sequel to the 2018 game and Spider-Man: Miles Morales promises us a new encounter not only with Peter Parker and Miles Morales, who will now fight side by side, but also Craven, Venom and other Marvel heroes.
10. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2
Platforms: PC, XSX
First-person shooter with elements of horror and RPG in an open world, which will continue the story of the adventures of artifact seekers stalkers in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, which in 2006 underwent another disaster, which gave rise to many anomalies. Should we expect the game’s release in 2023? It is rumored to be released this year, which we are all looking forward to.
