StaggerLee’s top ten games of 2023

Every now and again, a game comes along that feels so perfectly designed for mobile I wonder why it doesn’t come preinstalled on every phone. In 2023, that game was Madness/Endless. This fast-paced horror/stealth game introduced me to a world that was utterly grotesque, and I loved it! The creepy sound design, the pixel art, and the slingshot control scheme all came together to make this a must-play.

This fun puzzle game uses its unique concept so well that I couldn’t put it down. The concept is simple: I was a dog leading a group of people into the light. The execution was often much more difficult though! Humanity put my problem-solving skills to the test, and since it allows me to play through player-created stages, checking back in from time to time will never get old.

This Indonesian adventure game follows a teen who gets the power to dive into people’s minds and help them with their problems. The ’90s nostalgia packed into this game is compelling enough, but A Space for the Unbound also deals with themes like depression, romance, and anxiety in such a mature way. It’s all so heartfelt that I’m not afraid to it It got me a little misty-eyed.

I loved Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical for so many reasons. There’s the incredible hand-drawn animation. There’s the talented cast of actors pulled from both video game regulars and from Broadway. I mean, seriously, folks like Troy Baker, Laura Bailey, and Ashley Jonson got to mix it up with stage stars like Anthony Rapp.- But the best part by far for me was the fantastic music and the way my choices in the story affected the songs.

Getting lost in the world of a Nordic fairy tale in Bramble: The Mountain King was unsettling, dark, and exhilarating. The visuals made me feel like I was lost in a storybook, shifting from beautiful gardens to a witch’s terrifying cabin. It wasn’t just the platforming, puzzles, and visuals that made Bramble impressive, though. It was the worldview. I really enjoyed learning about Nordic myths and legends, and for that Bramble holds a special place in my heart.

It’s been a great year for fighting games, and though I loved both Street Fighter 6 and Mortal Kombat 1, it was Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising that really stood out to me. This feature-rich game has RPG mechanics that make it fun to upgrade and customize your character. The story mode also encomes the story from the first Granblue Fantasy Versus, so even though I didn’t play the previous title, I had no trouble jumping right in. The best part is going online, though. There are so many minigames—from soccer to Mario Party-style tournaments—that you can completely ignore the traditional fighting game stuff if you want!

When Resident Evil 4 first came out back in 2005, it presented such a different take on Capcom’s zombie-killing franchise that it was unforgettable. When they announced a remake, I wondering how they could even attempt to do that again. The answer? They didn’t fix what wasn’t broken. This remake is more faithful to the original than 2019’s Resident Evil 2 remake, and that’s what I appreciated. It’s everything I already loved about Resident Evil 4 with a fantastic 2023 glow-up.

Jusant’s unique approach to storytelling really makes it stand out—so much so that it made it onto the overall TapTap Game of the Year 2023 list! I went in not knowing what the hell I was playing or what to expect, and by the end of it, I was blown away. Jusant is a perfect example of show-don’t-tell storytelling, and I was impressed by its unique, understated approach.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is a worthy successor to the previous installment that lets players jump into the webbed boots of both Peter Parker and Miles Morales. It also introduces some great comic book characters to Insomniac’s video game universe, including Venom and Kraven. And on top of all that, the game is just massive; there’s so much to see and do that I’m still working through the main story campaign.

I waited thirteen years for this to be released, and despite all that time of building up hype, I wasn’t disappointed. Alan Wake 2 is such an incredible narrative and gaming experience that it’s worth playing even if you’re unfamiliar with the first game. Playing in a dark room in the middle of the night after drinking a cup of coffee might have contributed to making this one of the most intense survival horror experiences I’ve had this year. Even without the added stimulation, though, Alan Wake 2 had me at the edge of my seat, dying to get to the end.