Our individual Game of the Year articles allow our lovely team of writers to share their own personal PS5 and PS4 picks for 2023. Today, it's the turn of news reporter and reviewer Khayl Adam.
5. Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader
Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader is the most recent game on this list, and I'm still digesting it, but it's such an exciting step forward for developer Owlcat Games. For my money, the studio is still a distant second to Larian Studios when it comes to the CRPG space. But Rogue Trader demonstrates the lessons Owlcat learned developing its Pathfinder series and delivers. A well-written, meaty 40k RPG, and the first game to do its grimdark setting justice.
4. Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty takes the current Souls-Like meta in a new direction, instead focusing on arcade action and playing with some of the now rote mechanics the subgenre is known for. Team Ninja takes combat to new heights, highlighting just how far the storied studio has come since even the early days of Nioh.
3. Lies of P
I'd been anticipating Lies of P, but I never expected it to receive the reception it did. The Pinnochio shtick seemed like a gimmick, but Neowiz Games took the concept and ran wild with it, crafting a familiar combat system in a novel setting. It ends on a compelling note, and as FromSoftware seemingly has no interest in revisiting Bloodborne, it scratched that specific gothic itch, and I'll be eagerly awaiting what comes next.
2. Aliens: Dark Descent
Aliens: Dark Descent was my biggest surprise this year. I had high hopes, and it exceeded them, kicking off an entire series-long rewatch alongside its excellent campaign, which manages to make real-time tactics genuinely terrifying. The constant tension and exceptional sound design make it an exhilarating ride from front to back, and I'd recommend it to any fan of the IP.
1. Baldur's Gate 3
Baldur's Gate 3 isn't just the best game I played this year; it's the best I've played in a lifetime of gaming, even unseating its legendary predecessor in my mind. More than breaking through to the mainstream or being an innovative RPG, Baldur's Gate 3's most incredible legacy is the benchmark it sets, one other developers will be chasing for years to come... fertile ground in which delicious roleplaying fruit might flower.
What do you think of Khayl's personal Game of the Year picks? Feel free to agree wholeheartedly, or berate relentlessly in the comments section below.
Comments 15
Nice list Khayl, can't say I have played anything in there unfortunately but good to see the variety. Fireteam put me off the new Aliens game but I might check it out & BG3 will be played once I get a physical copy!
It has been such a phenomenal year for games that I forgot Wo Long even came out this year. Thanks for reminding me that I need to go back and replay the game, and actually beat it!
N.i.c.e. Baldur's gate 3 is a masterpiece.and wo long fallen dynasty.and lies of p are excellent games.word up son
Good list, great read. First time I've seen Wo Long get a mention
Agreement!!! Cool to finally see Wo Long and Lies of P make a list here—both games in my too 5 for the year as well! Wo Long is just so dang fun to play; an excellent Team Ninja power fantasy. And Lies of P is just a fantastic world to play around in, with a great story and engaging, tactical combat.
Alien Dark Descent is on my wishlist for sure, and can’t wait for my physical of Baldur’s Gate III !!!
About time Baldur’s Gate 3 was number one on one of your top 5. Sensational game so far and I am STILL on Act 1.
Lies of p is just a superb game. I'll be picking up wo long soon and I'm intrigued by Balders gate even though I never play that particular game style so I'll pick it up when the physical edition is released.
Lies of p and bg3 are my top 2. Great list. I've heard good things about aliens and rogue trader.
Nice to finally see Lies of P on a list. It was my GOTY alongside BG3, though I haven’t finished the latter yet.
Never would've expected to see Aliens: Dark Descent so high on a Game of the Year list, but that's what I like about all the ones I've seen from the staff here this year. Quite a few surprising placements and lots of variety. Making me think about going back and doing more research on some games that got lost in the shuffle throughout 2023.
Awesome list, I'd like to try Warhammer and Aliens. I have BG3.
My wishlist is longer than my backlog which means my theoretical backlog is giant.
And I just spend Euro Dollars on new VR games.
Wo Long was a really great game. Team Ninja are the combat masters. Glad to see others enjoyed it as much as me
That is a fantastic selection. One that is very similar to my own...
Finally grabbed Wo Long in the sale there n Dark Descent. And finally got my portal running smooth Wo Long is the first game to lay testament to that 👌🏻 not gona be able to put it down now the combat has got me hooked. Lies of P I’ll get round to I reckon,,,
@Khayl I purchased wo long from the ps store after reading your review again and I've just arrived at that gorilla type beastie with an attitude problem..its just reopened the psychological trauma that the gorilla guardian in sekiro inflicted upon me many moons ago. Awesome game so far and I really do like it. Thanks for putting this back on my radar 👍
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