December 25th 2023.
It's been a bumper year for video games and trying to make sense of the best releases of the last 12 months has been a daunting task. We've gone through a long list of games and it took a while to narrow down our top 20. It was actually a lot easier to decide on the top three, as any one of these could have been crowned the best in a normal year.
Although, we had a little bit of a dilemma when it came to deciding on the bottom half of the list. We had to make tough choices such as whether Blasphemous 2 is better than Hi-Fi Rush. We also had to stick to our policy of not including remakes, remasters, and expansions in our Top 20, so the superb Resident Evil 4 didn't make the cut.
We're sure that not everyone will agree with our list, but that's the beauty of gaming. At the end of January, everyone can have their say and help decide what the best game of the year is with the Reader's Top 20 of 2023.
The top 20 includes the charmingly clever Storyteller from Annapurna Interactive, which challenges players to tell a story using comic book style panels. Diablo 4 also makes the list, despite its live service structure. Hogwarts Legacy is an obvious inclusion, considering its success, as well as Remnant 2 for its varied world design and customisation options.
Hi-Fi Rush from Tango Gameworks is a great mix of Devil May Cry and a rhythm action game, while Blasphemous 2 is the best traditional Soulslikes of the year. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor also makes an appearance for its impressive plot and Force powers.
Marvel's Spider-Man 2 is a significant improvement on the original and Amnesia: The Bunker is the best horror game of the year. Dave The Diver is charming and inventive, while Pizza Tower is the best non-Nintendo platformer in years. Jusant is a surprisingly engaging mountain-climbing simulator and Asgard's Wrath 2 rounds off the list.
It's been an incredible year for video games - so much so that it's been difficult to make sense of it all. GameCentral has scoured through the year's releases and narrowed it down to the top 20 games. It was a hard task, with so many incredible titles released - anyone of the top three could have been crowned number one.
Rules have been set so that remakes, remasters, and expansions are excluded from the list - which is a shame as it means that the highly rated Resident Evil 4 isn't included. But the list is sure to spark debate, and the readers will have their own chance to get their say when we open voting for the Reader's Top 20 of 2023 at the end of January.
It's clear that 2023 has been a great year for puzzle games, with Storyteller at number 20. It's a charmingly clever title from Annapurna Interactive, requiring you to tell a story with limited comic book style panels. The concept is tricky but there are often multiple solutions - making you feel attached to your own story.
The hack 'n' slash role-playing game Diablo 4 was released this year, and it's been praised for its open world map and reimagined role-playing elements. It's best played in co-op, which helps to put worries surrounding monetisation and manipulation to rest.
At number 18, Hogwarts Legacy has been a welcome return to form for the Harry Potter series. It's a rock solid action role-player, with an impressively interactive Hogwarts to explore. It's been a huge hit and may end up being the best-selling game of the year.
Remnant 2 is at number 17 and it's one of the best 3D Soulslikes of the year. It makes sure to include a variety of weapons, interesting world design, and customisation options. It's best played in co-op and the storytelling is a bit thin, but it's still a great game.
Hi-Fi Rush, from Tango Gameworks, was a surprise entry to the list at number 16. It's a mix of Devil May Cry and a rhythm action game, with fighting in time with the music being the main highlight. Blasphemous 2 is at number 15 and it's the best traditional 2D Soulslikes since FromSoftware's originals.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, at number 14, is a vast improvement on its predecessor, with the addition of fast travel and a more compelling plot. Marvel's Spider-Man 2 is number 13 and is a significantly better game than the original, with an engaging set piece design and playing as two different Spider-Men.
Amnesia: The Bunker is number 12, and it's a welcome return to form for the Amnesia franchise. It's a straightforward horror game, with a terrifying unkillable monster that is afraid of the light and a non-linear story.
Dave The Diver, at number 11, is a charming and inventive game that outdoes the Wario Land franchise. It's a sushi restaurant sim, with the diver exploring the mysterious underwater world of the Blue Hole.
At number 10, Pizza Tower is an homage to Super Mario Bros. Wonder and is the best non-Nintendo platformer in years. Jusant, at number 9, is a mountain-climbing simulator with great visual storytelling and hidden journals. And finally, Asgard's Wrath 2 rounds off the list at number 8 - a Don't Nod game that is an engaging mountain-climbing simulator and a great addition to the year's releases.
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