2023 was one of the hottest years in recent memory. It’s not often that so many high-profile and well-received releases come out in a few months in a row, but this year seems to have given us an endless string of AAA blockbusters and small games with impressive ideas at their core. For this ranking, the BRAZY team considered games that received a score of 8 (our “excellent” opinion) or higher.
There are five games on this list that have received the extremely rare 10/10 rating on major review sites. The list we have compiled also inspires with a variety of games that will surely appeal to most of our readers.
So, let’s summarize the top 5 best and hottest games of 2023, both in terms of realization and rumors, according to BRAZY.
Alan Wake 2
Opening our top is the legendary Alan Wake 2, the best game from Remedy Entertainment. No small feat for a developer that has created all-time classics like Max Payne, Control, and the original Alan Wake, but this sequel builds on those successes to create a masterpiece of scares and storytelling. With a killer combination of complementary dual campaigns, a fan-pleasing storyline rhythm, and a mix of multimedia ideas that push the series into survival thriller territory, Alan Wake 2 is a thrilling experience for the ages.
Baldur’s Gate 3
Some of the most ambitious games don’t boast of giving their players an unprecedented level of freedom, but Baldur’s Gate 3 rolls a D20 for this concept and gets a critical score for its execution. It’s this focused approach to giving players the tools they need to become the best adventurer they can be, along with a memorable cast of characters, unique gameplay, fantastic combat, and at least one instance where you’ve beaten a squirrel to a bloody pulp, that makes Baldur’s Gate 3 so impressive.
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
Phantom Liberty brings a sense of closure to Cyberpunk 2077, a game that has come a long way to redeem itself in the years since its initial release in far from the best of condition. With this expansion, Cyberpunk 2077 goes out in triumph as developer CD Projekt Red begins work on its sequel, and the result is a gripping story within a tightly constructed spy-thriller adventure. Phantom Liberty is Cyberpunk 2077 at its best, a complete reworking of the original game that leaves a lasting impression until the credits roll on a gripping tale of espionage and violence.
Resident Evil 4
We frankly feel sorry for any developer who wants to remake a classic video game, because remaking Resident Evil 4 is a difficult act to follow. The original game holds a permanent place on any list of the best games of all time, but it may have to give way to a stunning remake that doubles down on the survival-action aspects of its predecessor and masterfully rebuilds the gaming experience into a genre-defining adventure. Respectful of its past and infusing it with new and well-executed ideas, Resident Evil doesn’t get any better than this.
Dead Space
The original Dead Space still stands as one of the best sci-fi horror games of all time, and EA’s Motive could easily put a new coat of paint on it in 4K and put a stop to it. Going above and beyond, Motive’s comprehensive remake not only retained the seat-of-your-pants horror of the 2008 horror savior, but also built on it with thoughtful updates, a constant sense of dread that keeps you on your toes, and gritty graphics that will make you want to keep a bucket nearby.
Play, enjoy and hang out with the best — Be with the BRAZY team!
