The Best Games Of February 2023, According To Metacritic
The video game industry is off to a heck of a start in 2023. While it is true that several games have unfortunately been shuttered in the early parts of this year, gamers have also been treated to some exciting new releases. In February alone, players received a few remasters of old favorites and some hot new titles years in the making. It's not often that gamers get this many bangers right out of the gate, but the momentum bodes well.
While a couple of the month's biggest titles have stirred up a good bit of controversy upon their release, February's best moments in gaming have instilled more confidence than ever that this is going to be a solid year for new games. As gamers look forward to the many exciting games still to come in 2023, let's take a look back at the month's five highest-rated games, as told by Metacritic.
Company of Heroes 3
"Company of Heroes 3" brings the long-running RTS series to new heights in a release that might earn the series some new fans. The title's multiple modes offer different ways to approach the action, including a meaty story campaign and the co-op Skirmish mode. There are only a handful of multiplayer maps at launch, but the title's solid gameplay and mod support mean that players will have a blast making this game their own from the jump.
NME's Jake Tucker praised "Company of Heroes 3" for being built in such a way that every action felt like it had real consequences. You can't just go bombing willy-nilly, lest your allies quickly become your sworn foes. The number of routes and strategies available to the player make "Company of Heroes 3" feel extremely replayable, even this early into its life cycle. Tucker concluded, "Quite simply, 'Company of Heroes 3' is probably the best RTS of the last decade ... a cinematic WW2 masterpiece that's essential for strategy games."
- Release Date: February 23, 2023
- Platforms: PC
- Genre: RTS
- Game modes: Single-Player, Online Multiplayer
- Metacritic Score: 82 (PC)
Hogwarts Legacy
"Hogwarts Legacy" has been a hugely divisive game, to say the least. Even before the title was released, many fans were worried about the final product and hurt by the words of "Harry Potter" creator J.K. Rowling. Some reviews of the game have indeed found it to be somewhat underwhelming, but other critics argue that the good outweighs the bad, at least in terms of the game itself.
Yes, there are some graphical glitches and a lack of enemy variety, as noted in many reviews, and it still seems ridiculous that there are no full-fledged Quidditch matches in the game. But at least those aforementioned enemies can be faced with a well-designed combat system. Ultimately, your enjoyment of the game may be largely dependent on how much fondness you have for the source material. Even so, "Hogwarts Legacy" was far and away one of the best-reviewed new games of February.
- Release Date: February 7, 2023
- Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
- Genre: Action, Adventure, RPG
- Game modes: Single-Player
- Metacritic Score: 83 (PC), 84 (PS5) 90 (Series X)
- SVG's Review
Octopath Traveler 2
If you enjoyed the first "Octopath Traveler" when it released in 2018, then you're in luck: "Octopath Traveler 2" is an ideal sequel that gives players more of what worked in the original. "Octopath Traveler 2" introduces players to a new world and eight fascinating main characters to learn about. Although these characters don't get to interact with one another in major ways — and the overarching storyline is still a weak point for critics — the gameplay loop is still extremely satisfying.
Each character comes with their own set of skills, best exemplified by the game's new Latent Powers, which kick combat up a notch. Add to that a day-to-night cycle that rotates out the enemy mobs and their power levels, and you have a sequel that does just enough new to warrant a return for veteran players. Never fear if you're new to the series, though, as the game's narrative and mechanics are designed in ways that make "Octopath Traveler 2" relatively easy to pick up and play for hours.
- Release Date: February 24, 2023
- Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
- Genre: JRPG
- Game modes: Single-Player, Multiplayer (up to 8)
- Metacritic Score: 84 (Switch), 86 (PS5)
- SVG's Preview
Theatrhythm Final Bar Line
The "Theatrhythm Final Fantasy" spinoff series charges players with leading a series of "Final Fantasy" characters through rhythm-based challenges built around some of the most memorable songs from the franchise. The newest installment, "Theatrhythm Final Bar Line," boasts an impressive 385 songs to unlock, memorize, and conquer, so players can be expected to sink several hours into the toe-tapping fun.
One of the only downsides to the game is the lack of an overarching story mode. While it might have been a lot of fun to find out how the developers might have tried to justify a crossover involving this many "Final Fantasy" characters (and their chosen instruments), it's hard to be too bummed out by this omission. "Theatrhythm Final Bar Line" is just too much of a good time to be concerned with things like "plot" or "logic."
Metroid Prime Remastered
"Metroid Prime Remastered" might be one of the best remasters in recent memory, as nearly every change to the original game has been solely in service of improving the overall experience for players. Simply put, the game looks, sounds, and plays like a dream, living up to everyone's memories of the first time they set foot on Tallon IV. Perhaps best of all, the new version opts for a more modern-feeling dual stick control scheme. This one fix alone makes aiming Samus' arm cannon more intuitive than ever.
Aside from a few minor design tweaks that have irritated some of the game's original developers, it's clear that "Metroid Prime Remastered" comes to us from people who still have a lot of love for the series. Brian Shea of Game Informer touted the new version of game as a masterpiece, writing, "everything looks and sounds so good, you could easily fool a less-knowledgeable player into thinking this is a new release for 2023."
It may not be "Metroid Prime 4," but "Metroid Prime Remastered" is definitely enjoyable enough to tide fans over for Samus' next adventure.
- Release Date: February 8, 2023
- Platforms: Nintendo Switch
- Genre: Action, FPS, Metroidvania
- Game modes: Single-Player
- Metacritic Score: 94 (Switch)