For those who love all types of video games, 2023 was one of the best years for gaming we’ve ever been blessed with. Incredible horror games, shooters, remakes, soulslikes, RPGs, platformers, and so much more. We even got our hands on some of the best indie games we’ve had in a while (Shoutout to my favorite indie title and one of the best games of last year, Sea of Stars). But did you know there were even more great games than you realized? A few studios released excellent, high-quality games during 2023 that flew under the radar. Unfortunately, not everyone has the marketing budget of ActiBlizz and Riot, so the average person isn’t aware that many smaller studios’ games exist. We’re here to tell you that these titles are worth playing, and there really is something for everyone.
1. Roboquest
Roboquest is not just underrated, but one of the best games of 2023 in my opinion. Do you like DOOM? Do you like fun? Not nearly enough people have talked about this game, and just how good it is. It’s a DOOM-like roguelike first-person shooter with platforming mechanics. While that is certainly a mouthful, if you’re a fan of any of those types of games, you’ll be in love.
Oh, did I mention you can play it in co-op with a friend? Wait, there’s more! It’s also available on Xbox Game Pass. RyseUp Studios gave us Roboquest in 2023, which is now on Xbox One, Series X, Series S, Microsoft Windows, and Steam.
It’s an extremely fast-paced shooter that feels like DOOM but with sliding, jumping, and rail-grinding mechanics. Since it’s a roguelike, it offers a unique experience with each run, difficult bosses, and both temporary and permanent upgrades the more you play.
Moreover, players can unlock new classes to play with, which include a robot that can teleport, another that can summon drones to help out, one that can turn invisible, and a few more. Each offers a unique way to play the game, in addition to the many guns, weapons, and upgrades you’ll find along the way. Each class also has its own melee, like a javelin, a head-bonking hammer, or a dagger.
Oh, speaking of head-bonking, you can jump on all enemy heads to kill them like you’re Super Mario. Roboquest also includes tons of secrets like hidden items (bring your shovel!), locations, and gadgets you’ll find the more you play.
2. System Shock (Reboot)
Have you ever heard of the original System Shock games? Often considered the beginning of immersive-sim games, they were, unfortunately, very outdated. As someone who tried to go back and play the original System Shock games, the controls, graphics, and some other parts were so old it just felt unplayable at this point. We’re so used to modern control schemes and high framerates that it’s really difficult to go back. Fortunately, this reboot came out in 2023, and it delivered on all fronts.
System Shock takes place completely aboard a ship in space, and the story is told through the environment, audio logs, and a talking AI named SHODAN. SHODAN is the main antagonist and is often considered one of the best villains of all time. If you’ve never heard of System Shock or the immersive-sim genre, think about games like Arkane’s Prey (2017), BioShock 1, 2, and Infinite, and Dishonored 1 and 2. System Shock keeps the player in control at all times, while telling a detailed, interesting, and surprising story.
The gameplay is fun, combat is difficult, and there are plenty of secrets and puzzles along the way. If you’re looking for a single-player experience to get lost in for a while, this could be exactly what you’re looking for.
3. Gravity Circuit
Action, platformer, indie, pixel graphics, and 2D are the tags this game uses on Steam. And we think that sums it up pretty well. If you’re a fan of Mega Man, or any other classic console platformers and shooters, Gravity Circuit has you covered.
With Overwhelmingly Positive reviews all time on Steam, it’s one of the best 2D action platformers to release in a while. If you’re a Steam Deck owner, it’s a verified title and perfect for handheld gaming. The pixel art is beautiful, music is amazing, mechanics are unique and interesting but still take you back to those classic Mega Man days, boss fights are challenging, and it’s just fun all-around.
Supporting indie devs who make great games is always a good idea, and Gravity Circuit is top-tier if you like this type of game, and it’s only $16.99!
4. Immortals of Aveum
You might’ve heard some mixed reviews about Immortals of Aveum, if you’ve heard of it at all. While we certainly can’t say it’s perfect, this game is legitimately a great time. Especially if you’re able to wishlist it and buy it on sale sometime soon. Though it just came out on August 22, 2023, it already dropped in price to $29.99 during the Steam winter sales.
Now, are you going to boot this game up and say wow it’s a 10 out of 10 and better than Elden Ring? Certainly not. But it’s a first-person, magic shooter, and it’s a really fun time. Smaller, “double A” studios like this deserve support so they can continue to make the best games they’re able to in the future. Immortals of Aveum provides interesting and unique gameplay, difficult boss fights, a so-so story, and questionable dialogue. The music is actually pretty rad too, and the visuals are beautiful. Best of all, it’s a linear, 15-ish hour single-player experience, so you can buy it, beat it, and not be forced to devote your life to it.
If this game drops to or below $30 again for upcoming sales on all platforms, it’s definitely worth a look. By the way, if you don’t believe me, there is a roughly hour-long demo available so you can see if it’s your cup of tea!
5. WarioWare: Move It!
For those who’ve played a WarioWare game before, you know exactly what you’re getting into. But few people have talked about how this might be the best installment in the series. If you’re a Switch owner in serious need of a couch co-op/party game, Move It! is the answer to your problems.
It features loads of games, like way more than before, and they’re legitimately a really good time. It’s entertaining, funny, and will keep you busy for a while. If you’ve got friends coming over and need something to do, or you’re a parent with small children and you’d love something fun to play together, the newest WarioWare will get you up, moving, and keep you entertained.
It’s got a 75 Metacritic score, with an 8.6 user rating, which is excellent for a first-party, Nintendo, party game. It also retails for $49.99, but we’re sure it’d be the perfect game for the buy-two-get-one deals some big retail stores offer on video games every once in a while.
6. Planet of Lana
Planet of Lana is a puzzle-platform game developed by Wishfully Studios. It’s exclusive to Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S, but is also on Steam. A single-player game made with the Unity engine, it’s one of the most gorgeous games of the year. With a hand-painted art style, enchantingly beautiful music, and legitimately fun gameplay, it’s definitely worth a look. Steam users rate it as “very positive” with more recent results showing it as “overwhelmingly positive”. Additionally, Planet of Lana is only $19.99. If you find that too steep for a small puzzle platformer like this, we’d recommend wishlisting it and waiting for the next sale. Oh, did we mention you have a little animal companion that you can pet and it makes cute noises at you? That and the music are worth $19.99 alone!
How lucky were we to get such an excellent gaming year from 2023? As studios managed to overcome their COVID-era hurdles during this past year, there were an alarming number of excellent titles that hit shelves for the first time. While we all played Baldur’s Gate 3, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, and Counter-Strike 2, there were even more amazing options you might’ve missed. The beginning of 2024 represents a bit of a lull in huge game releases – at least for a few months – so if you’re searching for titles to add to your upcoming playthroughs, all of these are excellent options.
