Next year is already full to bursting with the promise of new game releases. From revisiting classic games in the form of remakes to journeying to amazing worlds in daring new titles, 2023 has it all. Of course, we wouldn't be your favorite source of gaming news and entertainment if we didn't have opinions on what we're most excited about.
We've asked TheGamer's staff what upcoming game is their most anticipated, and as you can see, we have a variety of answers. (You should expect nothing less from a site that's debated what Pokemon tastes the best.) Read on to check out our most anticipated games of 2023!
Updated January 23, 2023: We've updated this most comprehensive of lists with our very own video summing up what games TheGamer team is most excited about this year.
Diablo 4
Vaspaan Dastoor
Diablo 2 was responsible for getting me hooked to loot systems. As a kid I was in wonderment about how one player in one game could use so many weapons and pieces of armour. Considering that's a major part of the series, I expect Blizzard to up the ante. A neat mechanic this time around is the open world filled with strongholds and bosses. While this Far Cry formula has been done to death, it will be the first time it will be implemented in a Diablo game.
There's also the fact that Lilith is now Diablo, a major shift from what we've been used to over the decades. If the TGA 2022 trailer was anything to go by, she's going to own the role by just standing and smoldering at us.
Minecraft Legends
Dan Lipscombe
Minecraft has been a large part of my gaming diet for many years. It's a game that I've stuck with since the Java Alpha, a game that brings comfort, and one I play with my daughters. While Dungeons didn't hold my attention in the same way as the mainline game, it was great to see the franchise branch out.
Legends looks like it might end up a bigger hit than Dungeons due to the tactical strategy of the new genre. Minecraft, with its myriad biomes and mobs has the content for such a game, and I can't wait to stomp around and cause chaos in this beautiful world.
Fire Emblem Engage
Jack Webb
My favourite Fire Emblem game is Echoes: Shadows of Valentia. Ever since playing this game, I’ve wanted older Fire Emblem titles to be remade in this style, so when I heard Fire Emblem: Engage is going to feature a bunch of Lord characters from previous games, I couldn’t contain my excitement. While the setting is looking increasingly like a departure from a typical Fire Emblem in favour of a more anime style, I’m still extremely excited to see what it adds to the series.
There’s an argument that Engage should stand on its own instead of being propped up by the previous Lords, but I think the core systems of Fire Emblem will shine through. Everything I’ve seen about Engage, from the hub to the world map, the battles and the characters, makes me think it will deliver on all aspects I adore about Fire Emblem. Not to mention, it looks like plenty of swords come with unique scabbards attached to your characters when equipped, which always elevates a game for me.
Story Of Seasons: A Wonderful Life
Branden Lizardi
There's nothing more effective at cultivating anticipation than a remake. Sure, new IPs by trusted developers are something to look forward to. But with a remake, there's a dangerously potent mixture of expectation, familiarity, and nostalgia. This is exactly where I am with Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life. The original game (back when the franchise was still called Harvest Moon) was tremendously formative in my interests, both in and out of gaming culture.
More than just that, I've played numerous other Harvest Moon and Story of Seasons games since then, and I still think back to what made A Wonderful Life different. It took risks and introduced new ideas, ideas that I loved and wished they would bring back. I want to age; I want to see my child grow up; I want to have to manage my cow's pregnancies and tend to newborn calves. It's my favorite game in one of my favorite genres. And with their success regarding the Mineral Town remake, I have confidence they'll do fantastically with this one.
The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom
Rebecca Phillips
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With Nintendo teasing us with information about The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom little by little, my excitement for it grows all the more. I’m doing my best to temper my expectations, but with each new trailer, and as the release date draws ever closer, it’s becoming increasingly more difficult to do so.
I simply can’t wait to explore Breath of the Wild’s Hyrule again, and see where the next adventure takes us. I’m hoping Zelda plays a bigger role this time (not just stuck somewhere for the entire game, please), but I know I’ll also be happy just to go on another heroic journey with Link again.
Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League
Josh Coulson
As has been the case for quite a few people this year, what was my most anticipated game of 2022 has now become my most anticipated game of 2023. Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League was supposed to be here by now, but I'm okay with the fact that it's not. Lessons have clearly been learned from games that have launched too early these past few years. Even though I feel like I've been waiting an eternity to wallop an evil Superman with Harley Quinn's bat, I'd rather wait for the best version of that than a rushed one that will ultimately let me down.
Rocksteady has never steered me wrong before when it comes to DC games, hence my anticipation for its next one being even higher than it is for Spider-Man 2 and Wolverine. I'm a simple man. You put a superhero in a game, and I'm almost definitely going to buy it, so the next few years are probably going to be pretty hard on my wallet. All of that being said and as willing as I am to wait, I really hope Kill The Justice League doesn't also become my most anticipated game of 2024.
The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom
Jacqueline Zalace
The first Breath of the Wild 2 trailer dropped in 2019, and I’ve been excited for it since that moment. Maybe I have Legend of Zelda-tinted googles on, but I will never not be in awe over the series. I’ve been playing Zelda games since I was a kid, starting with A Link to the Past on my red Game Boy Advance.
Now that we have an official name and tentative release date of May 12, 2023, my excitement has exponentially gone up. I have no doubt that Tears of the Kingdom will have an amazing story and beautiful graphics, but even just hearing the soft piano from the trailer gives me goosebumps. I am fully ready to devote hundreds of hours to saving Hyrule and catching bugs.
Street Fighter 6
Seth Parmer
I thought I couldn’t be more excited for Street Fighter 6 when it was announced, but then I played the Beta and want to play nothing else for the rest of my life. Capcom finally nailed every aspect of a Street Fighter title for the first time since what feels like 3rd Strike, and I’m here for it. The new Drive mechanic offers a unique risk and reward system that can make crucial moments tense and exhilarating, making every decision matter in determining the match's outcome.
The roster is also incredible. I’m a Chun-Li main myself, and her new stance mechanic, mixed with her classic charge attacks, make for dangerously fun and rewarding gameplay that will have me labbing for days on end trying to perfect. Out of all the heavy hitters of next year, Street Fighter 6 is my most anticipated by a mile, and I cannot wait to get my hands on it again!
Resident Evil 4
Ben Jessey
With all the fresh new exciting titles set to launch in 2023, it feels weird to pick a remake as my most anticipated game for the year. What makes the choice even stranger is that I was initially one of the people who questioned whether Resident Evil 4 even needed to be remade. After all, I replayed the game only a few years ago and thought it held up pretty well.
But while watching the pre-release footage of the new RE4, I immediately felt a tinge of excitement at the idea of getting to experience one of my favorite games all over again in a new way. It helped that the said footage looked amazing. Plus, Capcom has a good record of Resident Evil remakes thus far. 2019’s RE2 was particularly brilliant, and while this remake isn’t likely to receive as many changes, it’ll be interesting to see how it differs from the original. Hopefully, the dialogue remains as cheesy as ever.
For TheGamer's take on Capcom's RE4 Remake footage, check out our preview here!
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
Avery Feyrer
When it was announced that the Final Fantasy 7 remake was going to be split into three parts, I thought what a terrible idea that was for Square Enix. It took the studio six years to launch the first installment; it would be decades before the final part launched. But after playing the first part and seeing the intricate detail that was put into Midgar, how the world was brought into a new light, it was just incredible.
Square Enix was able to take the first ten hours of the original and make it into a full-fledged game without unnecessary fluff. Final Fantasy 7 is my favorite game of all-time, and I don’t think it’s blasphemy to say the remake is on track to surpass it. And with the controversial ending, I can’t wait to see what’s next for Cloud and the rest of Avalanche in the fight to save the planet.
Dead Space
Amanda Hurych
January can’t come swiftly enough. The original Dead Space is one of my favorite games to replay. I’ve got the jump scares and shop locations forever imprinted in my memory. And while the game has aged like the finest of wines, I am still pumped for the remake. Because like it or not, I have admittedly become a bit inured to the horror of it all.
That initial sprint to the elevator, the first time an “Infector” Necromorph jabbed its needle-thing into a corpse’s head, and those haunting renditions of “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” no longer hold the same impact for me as they used to. I still love Dead Space in its entirety, but I’m no longer sweating pit stains the size of a bison anymore. Hopefully, come January 23, my T-shirt will be drenched in sweat once again.
Starfield
Harry Alston
I’m excited for Bethesda’s next huge open-world game, whoopdeedoo. My excitement comes in three packages. One, I’m a guide writer at heart, and games like Starfield are the reason I even exist at all. Two, I have never been properly involved with the first couple of weeks of excitement around an open-world game like this. Throughout my entire gaming life, I’ve been too busy sweating it in various FPS games to ever turn up when everyone’s shouting about their new obsession. By the time I get to it, no one else cares, so neither do I.
Now I’m old, and my fingers hurt if I play Apex for too long; Starfield might sort that game-induced loneliness out. Three, I kinda hope it sucks a bit to begin with, because some of Fallout 76 was the funniest shit I’ve ever seen.
Park Beyond
Helen Ashcroft
Part of me is sad that Park Beyond has been pushed to 2023, since I wanted to play it immediately after getting my hands on the recent demo. It combines theme park building and management with a new physics-defying element that allows me to indulge my desire to send roller coasters flying into the sky. You can research and design all kinds of weird and wonderful additions to traditional theme park rides to make them all as over-the-top as a theme park of your dreams should be.
It’s everything I want in a theme park builder and looks set to also be so much more. However, I also know that it will almost inevitably become one of my most played games, so I would much rather wait for the team to finish it properly so the gameplay is as well-rounded and enjoyable as the concept, without crunching to do so.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
David W. Duffy
I must admit, FF7 Remake had me flipping back and forth between extreme hype before release to indifference after making it through to the Shinra building, but a lot of that was down to the terrible timing of repatriation and not being able to focus on games generally.
It took me a long time to want to pick it up again, but playing through it start-to-finish recently for the Steam Deck test reignited that fire and gave me a much greater appreciation for it — not only for how it revolutionises the original game, but potentially Final Fantasy as a whole going forward. Rebirth also sees the transition to the post-Midgar open-world part of the original game, so I’m incredibly curious to see how they pull that off. From the Midgar Zolom to more of Sephiroth’s delusions of godhood, this game is going to be huge.
Street Fighter 6
Axel Nicolás Bosso
While we still don’t know exactly when the next entry of this classic series will come out, and we have only seen a few characters of an apparently big roster (at least according to leaks), there’s a good chance we’ll be fighting with the sexiest version of Ryu during the first quarter of 2023. Street Fighter 6 is my most anticipated game at the moment for a couple of reasons, but to make it short, it’s my favorite fighting game series ever. I love playing some Guilty Gear, Tekken, and other titles, but it was my man Ken who made me fall in love with the genre.
Although Street Fighter 5 was pretty underwhelming during its first seasons, I cannot express how excited I am for 6. I played the reveal trailer way too many times when it first came out, even crying a bit. The new systems seem to have a high-risk/high-reward equation in mind, the brand-new characters look amazing, and the general art direction is gorgeous, to say the least. Let’s hope Street Fighter is finally back to reclaim its throne.
Final Fantasy 16
Quinton O’Connor
I don’t have any tattoos, but if I did, there’d be at least three celebrating my love for Final Fantasy and JRPGs in general. Even so, it took me until 2020 to give Final Fantasy 14 a chance, not because I thought the hype would prove to be overblown, but because I’m just that allergic to MMOs. My allergy has been all but completely cured. I still can’t deal with the endgame raid stuff, but man, do I love this story, this cast, and this world.
When the news hit that Naoki Yoshida’s team, AKA the FF14 team, had been chosen to deliver the next mainline single-player installment, my jaw dropped. And just when I had very nearly lifted it back up from the floor, June’s incredible trailer shoved it right back down to the ground. There are a ton of games I’m looking forward to next year, but man, Final Fantasy 16 takes the cake. I’ve even got a character in 14 now whose surname matches FF16’s protagonist’s, which will either age quite well or quite poorly per audience reception to the dude.
Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2
Andrew King
Will it ever come out? I don’t know, but until it does (or gets an official cancellation) Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 will be my most anticipated game. Though it would be an understatement to say that the long-anticipated sequel to the 2004 cult hit RPG has had a rocky development, I can’t give up hope that 2023 will be the year that it actually comes out and is actually good.
The original game, set in four disparate parts of turn-of-the-millennium Los Angeles, is one of my all-time favorite role-playing games and a masterclass in mood. That game was incredibly buggy at launch, but has since been patched by dedicated fans. My fingers are crossed that, despite the behind-the-scenes drama, Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 won’t need that treatment. Who knows? It could still be great.
Alan Wake 2
Joshua Robertson
Being a massive fan of anything Remedy, there’s gonna be very few games that come along next year that get me more excited than Alan Wake 2. I can remember finishing the first game (which is an underrated gem by the way) and trawling through forums and social media for answers back when working in the games industry was just a twinkle in my eye.
The idea of getting answers to an incredibly engrossing story that ended on a cliffhanger over 12 years ago is definitely enough to get me looking forward to it, but Sam Lake explaining that Alan Wake 2 is more “survival horror” than “psychological thriller” this time around has elevated my excitement to new heights. It’s also Remedy we’re talking about here, and anything that team touches is a slam dunk.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Lu-Hai Liang
I was a big fan of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. In fact, I argued that it has one of the best stories set in the Star Wars universe since Rogue One. I was deeply involved in Cal Kestis’ story and especially that of his companions. It was a gritty, dark, and compelling narrative. As for the gameplay, I am not a fan of Soulsbornes, but I appreciated the twisting levels and lightsaber combat of Fallen Order.
So I am awaiting its sequel with great anticipation. I hope the visuals will be suitably improved for the power of the current gen, and I hope the spaceship improving “mini-game” is expanded on. Also, I look forward to seeing Merrin again and how the former Padawan’s story continues.
Slitterhead
James Troughton
Making me pick one game for my most anticipated of 2023 is a bit cruel, frankly.
We're sorry, James.
Minecraft Legends, Stalker 2, Redfall, Spider-Man 2, Aliens: Dark Descent (yes, another RTS), and Lies of P all spring to mind. But picking between them and the many, many other games that are definitely-not-getting-delayed next year is a tall order. Push come to shove, I’d probably say Slitterhead. Horror is making a comeback but so much of that has been remakes — Resident Evil 4, Dead Space, The Last of Us, and even the rumoured Silent Hill 2. But Slitterhead is a wholly original world, carving out its own identity from the brain behind Silent Hill, Keiichiro Toyama, and I’m excited to see what horrifying nightmares he conjures up. I’m gonna grab a blanket and hide under it while people’s mouths turn into facehuggers, thanks.
Homeworld 3
Matt Arnold
Missing out on the original Homeworld games back in the early 2000s was a huge mistake. I knew the games would be incredible, I just never got around to playing them. With Homeworld 3 finally coming in 2023, I don’t intend to take a third strike.
For the unfamiliar, Homeworld is legendary among RTS fans for its breathtaking space combat and three-dimensional gameplay. Managing dozens of units is hard enough on a plane — throwing in the Z axis quite literally adds another dimension to all of your strategies. As of right now, Homeworld 3 doesn’t have an official release date, but it’s expected in the first half of 2023. Hopefully, I’ll have gotten this year’s most-anticipated strategy threequel, Victoria 3, out of my system by them.
Dragon Age: Dreadwolf
Belle Huston
Am I allowed to have hope? I’ve been playing Dragon Age games since I was young enough to be writing fanfiction on paper, so needless to say, I’m attached. When I sat down to play Dragon Age: Inquisition for the first time and gasped as the Conclave exploded, I could have never imagined what my life was going to be like the next time I got to play a brand-new Dragon Age game.
I’m not holding my breath that we’ll actually get Dragon Age: Dreadwolf in 2023, and I’d much rather that BioWare spends their time on it, doesn’t force their workers to crunch, doesn’t launch a game that’s a buggy nightmare, and fights EA on whatever weird multiplayer mechanic they’re surely trying to add in…yet, even the smallest, itsiest bitsiest sliver of hope I’m still fostering is enough to set me ablaze with excitement.
Chants Of Senaar
Issy van der Velde
Tickling all the right parts of my puzzle-loving brain, Chants of Senaar is a stunning indie inspired by the Tower of Babel myth. Do I think I’m better and cooler than everyone else on this list for picking an indie? Yes, yes I do. I played the demo at Gamescom, and out of everything I saw there, it’s what has stuck with me the most. All I want is to get back into that tower and climb through all of its secrets. You gradually piece together different languages to progress, and the satisfaction of unclouding the doubt behind the meaning of words is unparalleled.
STALKER 2: Heart Of Chornobyl
Joe Parlock
The original STALKER games hold a dear place in my heart, being some of the first games I played on my first-ever gaming PC. From their exquisitely bleak atmosphere and learning about the endless threats of the Zone, to the fine-tuned and tactical gunplay and survival mechanics, I regularly head back to Shadow Of Chornobyl and Call of Pripyat to see what else I can find.
It’s been 13 years since Call of Pripyat launched now, and nothing since has come close to offering what STALKER does. Intense and engrossing, while also giving you a sandbox of a radiated ecosystem to play with, I am so excited to venture into an updated, modern take on the Zone in Heart of Chornobyl.
Forspoken
Jerel Levy
I can remember exactly where I was and how I felt when the first trailer for Forspoken dropped. The elation at seeing a high fantasy title from Square Enix featuring a Black woman as its lead got me completely hooked into what Forspoken was all about. Later trailers showed even more women of color within the realm of Athia, and the game became almost a dream realized for myself and many other Black gamers. Seeing Ella Balinska celebrate and understand the impact of her casting on her Twitter gave me high hopes for Forspoken.
Though it's been mired in a bit of controversy for its portrayal and writing, I'm expecting the best. Luminous Productions seem capable enough, and the gameplay seems like it's tightening up. The fact that I get to ride a magical surfboard, cast spells in a gorgeous atmosphere, banter with a witty cuff, and parkour across the world while exclaiming, "Is that a motherfucking Dragon," has me hoping the beginning of next year will be the realization of dreams coming true.
Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes
James Kennedy
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Suikoden is a series that has always been near and dear to my heart. So it was pretty damn hard to watch it die a slow, and painful death. It has been well over 15 years since the last mainline game was released, and it has become abundantly clear that there is little hope for the series. Which is why Eiyuden Chronicles is so damn exciting. The key figures who created the Suikoden series have all banded together to create a spiritual successor to the beloved franchise. And it looks INCREDIBLE!
Not only is the sprite-based art style on point, but the gameplay looks like it is going to deliver that same dynamic, speedy, turn-based combat the Suikoden series was known for. And with Murayama writing it, the script is surely in sturdy hands. There is every reason to feel hopeful about this one. I believe in my heart of hearts that this is going to be an all-time great RPG. I can feel it in my bones!
The Wolf Among Us 2
Meg Pelliccio
The Wolf Among Us was my favourite out of all the Telltale games to date, and despite the studio undergoing death and a new rebirth, I have high hopes that the sequel could be something equally good. In fact, if I’m being really optimistic, perhaps even better.
There’s something particularly gratifying about pairing up a detective-style game with Telltale’s graphic adventure style. The Wolf Among Us is based on the Fables comic book series, where all your favourite fairy tale characters have been forced into the human world and try to live normal lives in Fabletown. However, rather than just rehash the stories already told on paper, the games are set 20 years prior to the comics. I fell in love with the noir-esque elements and vibrant characters so much that I became an avid Fables fan after playing and bought every graphic novel in the series just to see more of them. And for the same reason, I can’t wait to see the return of Bigby Wolf and Snow White next year.