Hot Gamer’s Only’s Game of the Year 2023
It’s time ladies and gentleman to reveal our official Game of the Year for 2023. Over the past three weeks we have all listed our favorite games to come out this year, and if you haven’t had a chance to already you should definitely check that out to get all of our full thoughts on each game! But now its time for something… arbitrary.
We’ve compiled everybody’s rankings to determine which game theoretically rises above the rest. For our full thoughts, along with our official awards for over a dozen other categories, check out our annual Hot Game Awards show on YouTube on the 1st of January below (we’ll update this page!), but for a small teaser of what’s to come, read on!
3. Final Fantasy 16
Image Credit: Square Enix
A hotly anticipated title, we (mostly) fell in love with Final Fantasy 16 and the world it created. Filled with incredible performances, a beautiful and some flashy if simple combat, Final Fantasy 16 is a great entry for both newcomers and returning fans alike. It may start to drag in the final act, but FF16 weaves a strong fantasy narrative with engaging characters and gigantic set pieces. Here are some of Ethan’s thoughts on the game:
“There is still plenty to love about FF16. Benn Star is a gem who deserves all the awards. The gameplay is simple but always satisfying to pull off, and there are some truly wonderful side quests and adventures to have. I just wish I could love the whole game as much as I loved that first half. My overall impressions are still quite high, and heck given a couple of years I may look back on FF16 even more fondly. But given my current conflicted emotions, it lands a tad lower than I would initially have liked it to.”
3. Resident Evil 4
Image Credit: Capcom
We had a tie for 3rd place! Our other bronze medalist is the fantastic Resident Evil 4 Remake, a game that managed to do the impossible: please both old and new fans alike. We all adored our time with Resident Evil 4, with its slick combat, intense encounters and camp but well crafter story. Here’s an excerpt on Kyle’s thoughts below:
“This game is the perfect example of how to properly do a remake. Modernize the controls, keep what people loved about the original, and trim down or remove the stuff that didn’t really work the first time around so that the experience is as smooth as possible. I really think that this game managed to check all of the right boxes, and could easily be played by anybody thanks to its accessibility options (mainly aim assist). Newcomers to Resident Evil can jump in and have a good time, while people like myself who only played the recent remakes will feel right at home as well.”
2. Baldur’s Gate 3
Image Credit: Larian Studios
Baldur’s Gate 3 is a game none of the team saw coming, and would probably be our game of the year if Ethan had time to play it! This immersive RPG took the concept of a video game version of DND and created one of the best, well polished experiences we have seen in years. Filled with wonderful characters, an expansive narrative and dozens of memorable moments, we really loved our time spent in Baldur’s Gate three. Here’s some more of Kyle’s thoughts:
“During my playthrough of Baldur’s Gate 3, I realized that I was playing something special. While I was going through with my Dragonborn Paladin build (his name was Grimlocke), I began to have thoughts about what repeat playthroughs could look like. “What if I played a Rogue class?” “What if I played a fully evil character?” “What if I sided with some villains?” When you think about what you could do on your next playthroughs while you’re still in the first act of your first playthrough, that’s when you know that you’re playing something special.”
1. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Image Credit: Nintendo
Our arbitrary winner of out official game of the year by three points in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. From it’s incredible world to the creative tools at your disposal, nothing hit quite for us this year like the newest entry in the Zelda series. Ultrahand is a crazy mechanic, and everything Tears adds to the already solid gameplay of Breath of the Wild feels methodical and satisfying to use. There’s never a dull moment in Tears of the Kingdom, and we’re happy to claim it as the arbitrary HGO Game of the Year 2023! Here’s some of Hunter’s closing thoughts:
“Ever since I beat Breath Of The Wild I had been saying that I think the eventual follow up will be even better. I’m pleased to report that I was right. The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom exceeded pretty much every expectation I had for the game.
No game this year struck me quite like Tears Of The Kingdom did this year. Everyday I played the game felt like an adventure well spent. I’d be at work the following day fondly reflecting on what I got up to the previous night. I played the game for around three weeks straight and it never felt like it was overstaying its welcome. The last bit of gameplay in Tears Of The Kingdom is my favorite moment in a game this year. And it was the perfect finale to what was by far my favorite experience with a game this year.”
With that those are our favorite games of 2023. Thanks for keeping up with all the posts, and if you haven’t already be sure to check out the full Hot Game Awards on our YouTube channel. See you in 2024!