Games That Will Blow You Away In 2023 And Beyond

2022 may have been a great year for video games, but believe it or not, 2023 is quickly shaping up to provide even more thrilling games across a variety of genres for modern consoles and PC. Filled with eagerly anticipated sequels and brand-new properties developed by acclaimed game studios, the new year is coming out the gate with impressive new titles. And the best part is that there's something for everyone, from terrifying survival horror to frenetic fighting game revamps.

The following titles are the biggest and best games slated for release in 2023 and beyond, which are either rapidly nearing their anticipated release dates or have been newly announced. Here's what we know about these games so far, including gameplay and overarching premises, their planned release dates, what platforms they will be available on, and what types of game modes have been confirmed. Let the hype commence.

Electronic Arts' "Dead Space" expertly blended hard science fiction with survival horror across an acclaimed series of games, but the franchise has largely remained dormant for the past decade. This extended hiatus comes to an end with the new year. January 2023 brings a remake of the original 2008 "Dead Space," taking full advantage of the technical capabilities and optimized gameplay available on modern consoles. Rebuilt from the ground up, the "Dead Space" remake is poised to improve upon the original while introducing the title to new audiences.

Set in the 26th century, spacefaring engineer (and main character) Isaac Clarke and his crewmates investigate a mining ship that has mysteriously gone missing. Once aboard, the rescuers find the ship overrun by hideously mutated monsters, forcing Isaac to scramble to save his friends and learn what went horribly wrong. Intensely atmospheric and fueled by a mounting sense of dread and tension, "Dead Space" will gain new undead life on modern consoles.

• Release date: Jan. 27, 2023

• Genre: Survival horror

• Game modes: Single-player

• Available on: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC

After developing the successful "Dynasty Warriors" franchise, Omega Force is turning its attention to the upcoming monster-hunting game "Wild Hearts." Set in the fantasy world of Azuma, inspired by feudal Japan, players hunt ferocious behemoths known as the Kemano across the countryside. In addition to traditional medieval weaponry, hunters also rely on a variety of steampunk gadgetry and weapons to help slay the beasts that terrorize Azuma.

In development since 2018 (per GameSpot), "Wild Hearts" offers a mix between melee combat and item-building/customization, with both a single-player mode and the option to play cooperatively online with up to two additional hunters. While there are certainly some superficial similarities with Capcom's "Monster Hunter" franchise, "Wild Hearts" stands very much as its own distinct game. A sweeping gameplay experience that plays an emphasis on constructed tech and combos during combat, "Wild Hearts" brings a fresh perspective to monster-hunting titles.

• Release date: Feb. 17, 2023

• Genre: Action RPG

• Game modes: Single-player, online multiplayer

• Available on: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC

"Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order" was a hit with critics and fans, and it receives a direct sequel in 2023 with "Star Wars Jedi: Survivor." Continuing the adventures of fugitive Jedi Knight Cal Kestis, "Survivor" is poised to provide an even more immersive and intuitive exploration into the iconic "Star Wars Universe." Like "Fallen Order," "Survivor" sees players approach combat with more strategy and patience than a typical hack-and-slash title as they face the full might of the Galactic Empire.

Set five years after the events of "Fallen Order," Cal is still pursued by Darth Vader's Sith Inquisitors as the villains lethally purge the Jedi Order. Through his mastery over the Force and his lightsaber, Cal must evade and battle through waves of enemies as he hides from Imperial authorities. With a more ambitious scope and refined gameplay, "Survivor" is set to surpass its predecessor and become one of the most thrilling "Star Wars" games in recent memory.

• Release date: March 17, 2023

• Genre: Action-adventure

• Game modes: Single-player

• Available on: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC

After successfully remaking "Resident Evil 2" and "RE 3" for modern audiences, Capcom is turning to the crown jewel in the franchise with a remake of "Resident Evil 4." Following the basic plot of the classic 2005 original game, Leon S. Kennedy is dispatched to Europe to rescue the U.S. President's daughter after she is kidnapped by a cult. However, Leon quickly learns he's in way over his head as he battles entire mutated villages and fearsome monsters to save his target.

"Resident Evil 4" is widely cited as one of the greatest games of all time, so there is a high level of expectation riding on the impending remake's ability to improve upon the original. Fortunately, Capcom has proven itself more than capable of remaking classic "Resident Evil" titles before, particularly in the case of 2019's "Resident Evil 2" remake. A gameplay trailer for "Resident Evil 4" hints at a darker and more visceral experience than the original, along with some noticeable gameplay updates to bolster Leon's abilities.

• Release date: March 24, 2023

• Genre: Survival horror

• Game modes: Single-player

• Available on: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, PC

2017's "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild" dramatically raised the bar for Nintendo's celebrated fantasy franchise and expanded what a "Zelda" game can be. After a lengthy development cycle, "Breath of the Wild" finally receives a direct sequel in 2023 with "The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom." Featuring much of the same development team as "Breath of the Wild," "Tears of the Kingdom" goes even more sweepingly ambitious as it expands the story's post-apocalyptic vision of Hyrule.

Trailers for "Tears of the Kingdom" revealsflight and exploration of the skies above Hyrule will play a major part in the game, with Link seen riding a stone bird far above the fantasy realm. Nintendo has kept details surrounding "Tears of the Kingdom" tightly under wraps, offering only glimpses of Link in action as he soars into action to take on a new threat. "Breath of the Wild" is the game that helped successfully launch the Switch and, with "Tears of the Kingdom," Nintendo is about to take the console to new heights.

• Release date: May 12, 2023

• Genre: Action-adventure

• Game modes: Single-player

• Available on: Nintendo Switch

Developer Rocksteady Studios has proved its superhero video game bonafides with its universally acclaimed "Arkham" trilogy, which concluded with 2015's "Batman: Arkham Knight." Rocksteady is changing things up considerably for its next DC Universe title, "Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League." As Brainiac invades Earth, he brainwashes the Justice League to unleash havoc and aid in his conquest. It falls upon the Suicide Squad, DC's motley supervillains vying for government-mandated clemency, to save the day by facing off against the biggest heroes in the world.

Set in an open-world map of Metropolis besieged by Brainiac and the mind-controlled Justice League, the game has players use the four-person team to stop Brainaic's plot. Players can either play alone, with AI controlling their teammates, or opt for up to four-person cooperative multiplayer. With each Suicide Squad member sporting their own gameplay styles and a boatload of DC references — not to mention iconic Batman actor Kevin Conoy's final performance in the role — "Kill the Justice League" marks Rocksteady's triumphant return after a lengthy hiatus.

• Release date: May 26, 2023

• Genre: Action adventure

• Game modes: Single-player, online multiplayer

• Available on: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC

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"Street Fighter" remains one of the most influential fighting franchises in the industry, boasting a diverse roster of characters and fast-paced combat that favors quick-thinking and mastery over the fighters. Capcom has set the sixth main installment of the "Street Fighter" franchise to launch June 2023, and the upcoming game aims to change up the venerable series like never before. Bringing back a whole set of classic characters along and a robust group of newcomers, fans of the series have a lot to look forward to in "Street Fighter 6" 

In addition to featuring the standard local and online 1v1 competitive gameplay, "Street Fighter 6" provides an expansive single-player experience in which players design their own custom characters and explore Metro City, learning moves from the game's famous fighters as they carve out their own legacy. "Street Fighter 6" has also optimized its online experience, making for a consistent celebration of the franchise's history and bold look into its future.

• Release date: June 2, 2023

• Genre: Fighting

• Game modes: Single-player, two-player local and online

• Available on: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, PC

Activision Blizzard's dark fantasy epic "Diablo" is launching its fourth main installment in the summer, marking a new era for the quintessential dungeon-crawler franchise. Featuring five fan-favorite character classes, "Diablo 4" both updates familiar facets of the series and breaks new ground. In a shift for the franchise, "Diablo 4" can only be played online, excluding a single-player offline mode for players looking to explore the fantasy world of Sanctuary.

Set in the aftermath of "Diablo 3: Reaper of Souls," the forces of Heaven and Hell have been depleted, and the demon Lilith has taken advantage of the chaos. Players must battle hordes of enemies to improve their skills and gain powerful weapons to confront Lilith and her angelic ally, Inarius. Judging from the game's alpha build, "Diablo 4" is quietly distancing itself from the controversies that marred 2022's "Diablo Immortal," returning the series to its roots.

• Release date: June 6, 2023

• Genre: Hack-and-slash

• Game modes: Online multiplayer

• Available on: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC

Bethesda Game Studios, the developer behind long-running action RPG series "The Elder Scrolls" and "Fallout," is back with "Starfield." An ambitious project that has been in various stages of development for years at Bethesda, the sci-fi action RPG sees players exploring new planets surfaces and the expansive cosmos. Although "Starfield" was delayed from its expected November 2022 release window to 2023 to give players an optimized experience, the game is shaping up to be worth the wait.

Set in the year 2310, approximately 50 lightyears outside of Earth's solar system, the United Colonies and Freestar Collective have reached a tenuous peace after years of devastating warfare. Players customize their protagonist and explore the planets in the area, all while carefully navigating the fragile peace agreement between the two human factions. "Starfield" is epic in scope, taking the exploration and adventure Bethesda is known for and applying it to a cosmic canvas for total immersion among the stars.

• Release date: Sept. 6, 2023

• Genre: Action RPG

• Game modes: Single-player

• Available on: Xbox Series X|S and PC

One of the most influential PC RPG series of all time, "Baldur's Gate" blends the fantasy aesthetics and stakes of "Dungeons & Dragons" with party-based exploration and combat. After nearly three years of early access, "Baldur's Gate 3" is finally poised to have its official launch in August 2023, providing fans with the full gameplay experience they've been craving. In a shift from previous installments, "Baldur's Gate III" utilizes a turn-based combat system that gives players more of a chance to plan moves and enjoy the game at their leisure.

Set over a century after the events of the previous game, "Baldur's Gate 3" sees the realm overrun by the monstrous mind flayers, who infect the player character with their spawn. As the player scrambles to find a way to purge the infection from their body before they transform into a mind flayer themselves, they team up with others afflicted by the creatures to work together. Offering both a sweeping single-player mode and the ability for players to join each others' parties online, "Baldur's Gate" marks the fantasy franchise's full-fledged and long-awaited return.

• Release date: August 2023

• Genre: RPG

• Game modes: Single-player; online multiplayer

• Available on: PC, macOS

"Street Fighter" isn't the only major fighting game franchise to get a new installment in 2023, as Bandai Namco's long-running "Tekken" series is also set to launch its eighth main title. Officially announced in September 2022, "Tekken 8" revolves around the longstanding feud between Jin Kazama and his wicked father Kazuya Mishima. "Tekken 7" completely revamped the fighting game franchise, selling over 10 million copies worldwide, and it looks like "Tekken 8" will continue the series' momentum.

In contrast to "Street Fighter" or "Mortal Kombat," "Tekken" offers a fighting game experience in a more 3D space, similar to "Soulcalibur" or "Dead or Alive." With a growing roster of fighters, players battle in frenzied, fast-paced skirmishes that favor strategic defense and punishing combos. The "Tekken" franchise is about to gain new life with its upcoming sequel, thanks to a significantly improved technical presentation on newer consoles.

• Release date: TBD 2023

• Genre: Fighting

• Game modes: Single-player, two-player local or online

• Available on: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC

PlayStation has a solid track record of impressive Spider-Man video games, and this remained especially true with "Marvel's Spider-Man" from 2018. While PlayStation owners received an excellent spin-off chapter in "Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales," the 2018 game's full sequel, "Marvel's Spider-Man 2," swings onto the console in late 2023. Among a growing sea of superhero games coming out this year, the sequel is one of the most anticipated games of the year, and developer Insomniac Games is back at the helm.

Plot details surrounding "Marvel's Spider-Man 2" remain tightly under wraps, though a teaser trailer has shown Peter Parker and Miles Morales in action before being approached by Venom. Both previous games in the series featured an open-world New York City, in which the web-slinging heroes fought all manner of crime and took time to help out the denizens of the city. Now with two superheroes teaming up, "Spider-Man 2" is poised to raise the stakes and the scope established by its predecessors.

• Release date: TBD 2023

• Genre: Action-adventure

• Game modes: Single-player

• Available on: PlayStation 5

After crafting the enormously successful and universally acclaimed fantasy hack-and-slash title "Elden Ring," developer FromSoftware is returning to its dormant "Armored Core" series. Officially announced at the 2022 Game Awards ceremony, the award-winning team's next major project is "Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon." In an interview with IGN, FormSoftware's Hidetaka Miyazaki revealed that "Fires of Rubicon" is intended to be a complex experience that's still inviting for new players to the series.

After the distant planet of Rubicon 3 is devastated by its own powerful fuel source, humanity attempts to harness its destructive power once again, leading to skirmishes of mechs battling in the ruins of the old world. FromSoftware's return to its roots is exciting for a number of reasons. After years of developing acclaimed dark fantasy titles, "Fires of Rubicon" marks an exciting aesthetic shift for "Armored Core" and FromSoftware alike, featuring punishing gameplay and a wealth of options for players to design and upgrade their own mechs.

• Release date: TBD 2023

• Genre: Action, Third-person shooter

• Game modes: Single-player, multiplayer

• Available on: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC

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"Dead Space" creative director Bret Robbins is pivoting from sci-fi survival horror to dark fantasy with upcoming first-person action title "Immortals of Aveum." Officially announced by developer Ascendant Studios at The Game Awards 2022, a teaser trailer unveiled a sprawling realm with darkened chambers and lush cityscapes under attack. Unlike many other fantasy action games, "Immortals of Aveum" will be played in first-person, providing an engaging and immersive gameplay experience. As the game's official site puts it, think of this as a "magic shooter."

The game's teaser hints at a world defended by champions known as Immortals, as well as a kingdom recovering from a devastating war that brought it realm to the brink. As the trailer's scope expands, an explosive conflict involving might and magic is displayed, with the player character tapping into their own magical abilities to save the day. Though Ascendant Studios and publisher Electronic Arts are currently keeping many details under wraps, "Immortals of Aveum" is expected to launch in 2023 for the latest consoles and PC.

• Release date: TBD 2023

• Genre: First-person shooter

• Game modes: Single-player

• Available on: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC

After years of rumors and speculation, "Alan Wake" is officially coming back in a new adventure that will push Alan to the brink. Back in 2010, psychological thriller "Alan Wake" provided gamers with an engrossingly atmospheric story that had more in common with "Twin Peaks" and the works of Stephen King than genre contemporaries like "Silent Hill." Following 2021's well-received remaster of the original game, "Alan Wake" is getting a full sequel in 2023, continuing the story of its haunted eponymous protagonist. In contrast to the first game's thriller sensibilities, "Alan Wake 2" is expected to lean more fully into the survival horror genre and give players a more visceral experience.

The first "Alan Wake" game followed a novelist as he searched for his missing wife in a small town in the Pacific Northwest, only to discover a story he'd written was coming to life. "Alan Wake 2" seems to be pitting Alan against an even more monstrous story that threatens to consume him.

• Release date: TBD 2023

• Genre: Survival horror

• Game modes: Single-player

• Available on: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC

After revisiting its iconic RPG "Final Fantasy 7" and rebuilding it from the ground for modern audiences with 2020's "Fantasy 7 Remake," Square Enix is ready to unveil the reimagining's next chapter. Titled "Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth," the upcoming action RPG continues the story of Cloud Strife and his friends as they face off against the villainous Sephiroth for the fate of his home Midgar. In contrast to the original "Final Fantasy 7," "Remake" and "Rebirth" feature real-time combat similar to contemporary "Final Fantasy" titles.

With a greater emphasis on cinematic storytelling, "Rebirth" provides fuller character arcs for its fan-favorite cast of actors, as well as plenty of new twists for folks who thought they knew where the story was going. As the middle installment in a planned trilogy of games remaking and diverging from the original "Final Fantasy 7" story, "Rebirth" is poised to be even darker and more intense than its predecessor. 

• Release date: Late 2023/Early 2024

• Genre: Action RPG

• Game modes: Single-player

• Available on: PlayStation 5

"Metal Gear" creator Hideo Kojima is of the most celebrated figures in the modern video game industry — and the visionary designer, director, and producer has quietly been keeping busy. After launching the cinematic and ambitious sci-fi action game "Death Stranding" in 2019, Kojima finally confirmed development on a direct sequel at The Game Awards in 2022. Announced under the working title "Death Stranding 2," the game's cinematic teaser trailer is packed with small details, revealing protagonist Sam Porter Bridges to be visibly older than when gamers last saw him. 

While Sam retired off the grid to raise Louise in the previous game, he finds himself back in action and seemingly on the run as the sequel picks up. No doubt featuring a surreal, complex story and all-star cast, "Death Stranding 2" continues Kojima's sci-fi vision with a new immersive adventure. As usual with Kojima, details are scarce, but fans of the first game will certainly be waiting with bated breath for the next chapter.

• Release date: TBD

• Genre: Action

• Game modes: Single-player

• Available on: PlayStation 5