The highly anticipated video games set for release in 2023
Last year delivered some major winners for gamers, but 2023 has delivered some impressive releases that are only getting better as we speed through the year.
With heart-stopping horror, high-impact war games and plenty of nostalgia, these are the ones you need to pre-order and buy now.
NOTE: Prices are accurate at time of publishing.
EA Sports FC 24
Release date: September 29, 2023
Everyone around the world has caught football fever thanks to the FIFA Women's World Cup. Get into the action yourself with EA Sports FC 24. You'll be able to play as one of 19,000 players in over 700 clubs and 30 professional leagues as well as build your own professional career as a player or a team manager. You also have the ability to blend teams and play with both male and female players in the same match.
Don't know about you but we'll be playing (and winning) as Sam Kerr.
Cross-play with other gamers is available when playing on the PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 and Xbox Series X/S. This feature is not compatible if playing on the Nintendo Switch.
Assassin's Creed Mirage
Release date: October 12, 2023
Basim is the newest protagonist in the Assassin's Creed gaming franchise in Assassin's Creed Mirage – the thirteenth instalment of the game following 2020's Assassin's Creed Valhalla. While past players can expect the typical aspect they've come to know and love, there are some new options in playing.
In this action adventure game, characters can Parkour through the cityscape, which has been inspired by the design of The Golden Age of Bagdad (roughly between around 600AD to 1250). They'll also be able to collect clues, receive contracts from Assassin's bureaus, perform stealth kills with graphic demises and work with the largest quantity of tools seen in an Assassin's Creed game so far.
Alone in the Dark
Release date: October 25, 2023
This release of the survival horror game Alone in the Dark is a new reimagining of the original game from 1992, and the eighth game in the series. Set in the 1920s in the deep south of America, Emily Hartwood and Edward Carnby explore Dercato Manor – once a home for the mentally ill – after Emily's uncle had gone missing. This game is set to be a throwback to old-school horror games, with players set to come across lingering patients, strange sounds and occurrences and dangerous monsters and creatures during their time in the manor.
Marvel's Spider-Man 2
Release date: October 20, 2023
The newest edition in Marvel's Spider-Man gaming franchise is an open-world game where players get to choose between controlling Peter Parker or Miles Morales and switch between the characters at any moment. Both characters have their own unique abilities and story arcs as they juggle saving New York while managing their everyday lives.
Players will be able to explore an enhanced and expanded New York as well as Coney Island, Brooklyn and Queens as they try and defeat classic Spider-Man villains. You will have access to new equipment and combat which can be upgraded in-game and experience the game from Spider-Man's perspective as the game utilises all the sensations provided by the PS5's DualSense controllers like haptic feedback and adaptive triggers.
Can't wait until the release date? You can buy and play Marvel's Spider-Man Miles Morales for $85.95 or the Ultimate Edition for $98.
Final Fantasy XVI
Now available, released June 22, 2023
Set in a dark fantasy world, the next instalment in the Final Fantasy saga, Final Fantasy XVI follows the adventure of Clive Rosfield. He is a warrior who has sworn revenge on the powerful Dark Eikon Ifrit after a grave injustice and tragedy. It's up to you to decide his fate and the fate of the world around him.
Diablo IV
Now available, released: June 6, 2023
The demon Lilith has returned to the world of Sanctuary where a battle between the High Heavens and Burning Hells is ensuing. In this open-world game, you will be able to customise your character, learn new skills and abilities for battle and customise your character to be a part of five main groups: Barbarians, Necromancers, Rogues, Sorcerers and Druids.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Now available, released May 12, 2023
Link is ready for a whole new adventure, and Tears of the Kingdom is set to take him there. Exclusive to the Nintendo Switch, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is the sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. You'll be able to see Hyrule from a whole new perspective.
READ MORE: Nintendo Switch new releases we can't wait to play
Redfall
Now available, released May 2, 2023
After a scientific experiment gone wrong, the island city of Redfall, Massachusetts is now under attack by a group of psychic vampires who have blocked off the sun and any access off the island to any remaining survivors. It's up to you to combat these creatures and save the city.
This open-world action shooter game can be played by a single player or up to four players in multiplayer mode. Each player can choose their own hero – with each character having their own strengths and abilities to best cater to the fighting. Make the right decisions and you might become a hero yourself.
Dead Island 2: Day One Edition
Now available, released April 28, 2023
Dead Island 2 is the sequel to the highly praised Dead Island, released in 2011, and is the third instalment in the series. While the previous game was action-packed, this one is set to take it to a whole other level.
The game explores the city of HELL-A, which was previously known as LA or Los Angeles. The reason for the name change – a zombie invasion. Choose between a cast of six unique characters to take on the undead enemies and take back the city.
The game highlights some of the most iconic landmarks in the city, but now under a zombie invasion, oh source. On top of this, players will also get to play as their protagonist in a first-person viewpoint. If you're into action games and can stomach a bit of intense imagery, Dead Island 2 should be at the top of your list.
Minecraft Legends: Deluxe Edition
Now available, released April 18, 2023
It's a classic game with a whole new story. The Overworld is being attacked by the villainous piglins. It's your chance to defend and protect your cubic world and be the Minecraft hero you know you can be. This Deluxe Edition comes with the base Minecraft Legends game, but with an additional six in-game skins to use. Now let the battles commence!
Resident Evil 4
Now available, released March 24, 2023
Originally released in 2005, the game has been remade and remastered with upgraded graphics to revise the game for the modern gaming era.
Players can play as one of eight characters and take control of their journey in the third-person vantage point, like the original edition.
Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe
Now available, released February 24, 2023
One of the most recognisable characters in gaming, Kirby has decided to take on a new adventure. Learn new skills as the character, battle against enemies and take on various missions alone or with up to four players.
Wild Hearts
Now available, released February 17, 2023
A new creature known as the Kemono has taken over the land, using the power of the nature around them to grow and change. Players must learn how to harness the power of the land around them to develop their forces and energy and combat these new beasts. The game is set in a fantasy world inspired by feudal Japan and can be played individually or in a group of up to three players.
Hogwarts: Legacy
Now available, released February 10, 2023
Dig through your wardrobe and pull out your house colours, because the Wizarding World has entered a new era. Your 11-year-old dreams are about to come true as you enter Hogwarts and become a witch or wizard in Hogwarts: Legacy.
This open-world game will allow you to freely explore Hogwarts as well as other familiar locations including Hogsmeade and the Forbidden Forest. Your character will be sorted into a house (you'll hope isn't Slytherin) and learn spells, potions and how to tame magical beasts and make valuable friendships along the way.
Uncover deep, dark secrets from the building's past, as well as fight against threats like goblins, trolls and other villains. This is going to be the game of the year for any Harry Potter and wizarding world fanatic.
Hogwarts: Legacy has been released for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC. Nintendo Switch players will have to wait until November 14 for their copy.
Wanted: Dead
Now available, released February 14, 2023
Combining the slasher and shooter game franchises, Wanted: Dead takes players to a dystopian Hong Kong where they must play as part of an elite squad in the police force. Their main goals are to combat zombies and uncover the conspiracy happening around them.
The game has a focus on '90s cyberpunk in its themes, style and design that will bring a hint of nostalgia to fighting games of the past.
Dead Space
Now available, released January 28, 2023
While originally released in 2008, the remake of the sci-fi horror favourite Dead Space has updated the visuals and audio for an entirely new and immersive gaming experience.
The narrative of the game expands on the original, with players set to unearth the hidden secrets on the USG Ishimura while discovering the fate of the crew on board and dealing with the lost survivors as protagonist and engineer Isaac Clarke. Whether you're a fan of the original or are wanting to take a bite out of the horror genre, this is an excellent choice.
Forspoken
Now available, released January 24, 2023
In this mystical open-world game, young New York woman Alfre 'Frey' Holland has been transported to an entirely new world known as Athia. She has discovered she now possesses magical powers but not all is good in Athia, as Frey will find out, with many strange challenges and fierce beasts to come up against. The player must help Frey find her way back to New York safely.
Fire Emblem Engage
Now available, released January 20, 2023
The newest game in the Fire Emblem game series, Engage welcomes previous heroes of past games, as well as enemies, in the battle to hold the 12 Emblem Rings. If you're new to the series, the premise is to collect Emblem Rings in battle against other in-game competitors. Once you have collected an Emblem Ring, you can summon unique characters and their powers to use in battles, who you can also bond with and develop skills together.
Atomic Heart
Now available, released February 21, 2023
What was originally a perfect world has now come crumbling down. Robotic technology has become a force of evil and has mutated into disastrous beings taking vengeance against their creators. It is up to the player to fight against the artificial forces and take back their world.
Taking place in an alternate reality of the 1955 Soviet Union, this role-playing game creates a strange and frightening glimpse if our current world takes technology too far. Players can adapt their weapons and develop their skills to take on their opponents and find out what really went wrong behind the scenes at Facility 3826.
Like a Dragon: Ishin!
Now available, released February 21, 2023
Developed by iconic gaming brand Sega, Like a Dragon: Ishin! was originally released in 2014 only in Japan. It has developed a strong following and fan base to the extent that makers have decided to upgrade the game and release it globally. Designed as an epic samurai tale, the game has expanded from the original with new gameplay, remastered visuals and graphics.
This fierce fighting game will allow players to explore and learn four unique combat styles: swordsman, gunman, wild dancer and brawler. These skills can all be developed using different weapons within the game to fight including feudal-era guns and swords. These fights and battles take place in the historical context of the samurai and in the Japanese cities of Tosa and Kyo (now known as Kyoto).
Skull and Bones
Release date: December 31, 2023
Set towards the end of the 17th century, Skull and Bones will have players climb the ranks from social outcast to legendary pirate. In this game, players will have to grow their reputation from the ground up, developing relationships and communication with vendors and kingpins across the seas and how they go about collecting and maintaining their resources.
They're also set for an adventure, as they can sail across the seas to lands like Africa and East Indies, taking advantage (or disadvantage) of their environment and ecosystem. They'll also be able to take part in large, chaotic and potentially catastrophic naval battles using unique guns and weaponry.
Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League
Release date: February 2, 2024
Combining well-known and loved characters from the DC universe including Harley Quinn, Deadshot, King Shark and Captain Boomerang with a third-person shooter game, you'll be taken on a ride filled with action and adventure around Metropolis in Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League. This open-world game can be played solo or co-op with up to four players online – maybe you might be able to form your own squad.
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