We’ve also made a handy list of upcoming releases scheduled for the year ahead. Click here to skip ahead to the titles coming in 2023.

1. Forspoken

Available on PC and PS5 from Tuesday 24 January

Gamers were absolutely spoilt last year by the masterful open-world RPG Elden Ring. But did you ever think, while whacking a goblin on the bonce, that the whole experience could have been made even better with a bit of parkour thrown in? Enter Forspoken, where twirls, spins and somersaults mid-battle are the order of the day. And you don’t even have to dress like a Noughties nu-metaler to enjoy it! 

2. Dead Space (remake)

Available on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S from Friday 27 January

Poor old Isaac, eh? The protagonist of the famed sci-fi horror franchise has had to deal with those pesky necromorphs three times already. And now, he’s being forced to revisit his epic first outing all over again! He’ll be able to enjoy massively improved visuals and next-gen limb-cutting technology as he fights to survive this time around though, which is nice.  

3. Dead Island 2

Available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S from Friday 3 February

First-person zombie smasher Dead Island was lauded for its scrappy combat and advanced melee weapons system. Here the combat system has been upgraded to be more tactical, with players fighting off the hordes via clever use of environmental attacks and gory finishers. Tool yourself up and enter the fray in singleplayer, or bring two friends along for co-op fun.

4. Hogwarts Legacy

Available on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S from Friday 10 February

With the above video garnering 30 million views and counting, you could say people are a bit excited about this one. You’ll cast spells (including dark ones, should you so wish), tame wild beasts and make your magical way around Hogwarts itself and the wider wizarding world. By foot. By broom. Or even by Hippogriff (so long as you bow properly!).

5. Atomic Heart

Available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S from Tuesday 21 February

We’ve been champing at the bit to sink our teeth into Mundfish’s retro-futuristic shooter ever since the first trailer dropped back in 2018. The game has come on massively in size and scope since then, with players traversing a huge alternate Soviet world filled with mechanical dangers. The latest trailer featured an explosive boss battle with a giant steel ball like that seen in The Incredibles, which gets a huge tick from us!

6. Company Of Heroes 3

Available on PC from Thursday 23 February

The popular Second World War real-time strategy series returns! Set in Italy and North Africa during key moments of the country’s respective campaigns, you’ll need all your strategy caps on to both plan ahead and react quickly to adapt to the changing tide of battle.   

7. Skull And Bones

Available on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S from 9 March

Grab ya grog and give your best “yo-ho-ho” – we’re going pirating! Long in development, Ubisoft’s online, open-world naval simulator set during the Golden Age of pirating sees players swabbing decks and manning the cannons amid the Indian Ocean. Take into account ship positioning, wind speed and the finer points of jaunty hat-wearing to earn your stripes.

8. Resident Evil 4 (remake)

Available on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S from 24 March

Touted by fans as among the series’ best efforts, Resi 4 was the first in the franchise to introduce more dynamic movement and targeting, yet with the same sense of threat and dread (who can forget those relentless villagers?). Improved character designs and enhanced backgrounds await, plus improvements to enemy AI. Feel the fear!

9. The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom

Available on Nintendo Switch from Friday 12 May

The first BOTW was a, well, Breath of fresh air for the legendary Zelda series. The first truly open world instalment in the adventure game franchise is quite simply one of the best games ever made. Details are scant at present, though it’s been hinted that the setting has been expanded to include “the skies above Hyrule”. Come on Nintendo! Link. Us. Up.

10. System Shock

Coming to PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S in March

A remake of the revolutionary 1994 classic, System Shock has been a long time in the remaking. With the closest release in tone and style in recent memory being 2017’s masterly Prey, fans have been clamouring to once again explore the sci-fi setting and cyberspace altverse of the one that started it all.

11. Forza Motorsport

Coming to PC and Xbox Series X/S in spring 2023

The top-tier racing simulator returns in 2023 with a host of details to get excited about. In addition to a fully dynamic world and hyper-realistic weather effects, Motorsport features in-race ray tracing, something even fellow genre grandaddy Gran Turismo 7 doesn’t offer, promising sumptuous visuals that’ll bring every smoking tyre and sunrise to vivid life.

12. Final Fantasy XVI

Coming to PS5 in summer 2023

The 16th entry in the mainline RPG series is upon us, and we’re still not tired of it. Following the truly excellent boyband-roadtrip-monster-slaying of FFXV, FFXVI features a more traditional medieval setting. Valisthea is a peaceful land powered by a mountain full of Mothercrystals. Fight tactical battles in real time through a combination of sword attacks and magical abilities, and expect a super whacky story, as is tradition.

13. Silent Hill: Ascension

Available TBC

Of all the Silent Hill IPs out this year, this one has caught our eye with its hugely original approach. It’s a narrative-based, branching-choice, cloud-streaming experiment, streamed by Konami live and only once. Players decide the actions and fate of certain characters as the story progresses, essentially creating their own Silent Hill canon.

14. Avatar: Frontiers Of Pandora

Coming to PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, date TBC

After a series of games that failed to live up to the standards set by the film (and now sequel), players are hoping this will be the Avatar experience they’ve been waiting for. And going by the trailers and announcements released thus far, it looks like their prayers have finally been answered. Take control of the Na’vi and journey across the Western Frontier of Pandora to push back the evil RDA forces that threaten its lush lands.

15. Ark 2

Coming to PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, date TBC

One of the biggest and best MMO survival games, Ark was a dino-filled delight on release and its community remains ferociously active. Good news then, that the ferocity of its dino encounters has been upped in this sequel, which promises advanced traversal mechanics, cross-platform modding and fierce, Souls-like melee combat. 

16. Diablo 4

Coming to PC, PS4, PS4, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S, date TBC

The hugely popular loot-em-up dungeon crawler is back and bigger than ever. Take to the dark and obtain stronger equipment by gradually defeating stronger enemies. Five classes have been announced, including the Barbarian, Sorceress, Druid, Rogue and Necromancer. And where Diablo 3’s story didn’t hit the spot for many fans, the developers have promised that Diablo 4’s will be given a stronger focus, responding to game events and your choices within it.

17. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth

Coming to PS5, date TBC

The second part of the three-part remake of fan favourite, Final Fantasy VII picks up where the excellent part one left off. Step once again into the embattled shoes of ex-Shinra soldier Cloud Strife as he leaves Midgar behind in pursuit of the elusive mega-villain Sephiroth.

18. Minecraft Legends

Coming to PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, date TBC

Pick up your pickaxe and prepare to embrace all things cube-shaped once again in this action strategy game set in the Minecraft universe. The world’s geometric beauty is under threat from a rogue Piglin force, and you’ll need to draw on all your tactical know-how to overcome many battles and restore peace to the land. If you have kids, then this is all they’re going to be playing in 2023.

19. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

Coming to PS5, date TBC

PlayStation’s critically acclaimed Marvel’s Spider-Man saw players living out their Spidey dreams in an immaculately crafted city. Details on the much-anticipated sequel are few at this stage in time (apart from a glimpse of long-time Spidey nemesis/occasional frenemy Venom in the reveal trailer), but you can expect to be swinging, swooping and shooting as before in a new adventure that will no doubt eclipse the near-perfect original.

20. Street Fighter 6

Coming to PC, PS4, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, date TBC

Hadouken! The sixth entry in the illustrious fighter series is set to bring smiles and sprained fingers to fans around the globe in 2023. Featuring three overarching game modes: Fighting Ground, World Tour, and Battle Hub. While the former and latter offer the usual punchy-kicky affair, World Tour sees players embark on a single-player story mode with action-adventure gameplay. 

21. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

Coming to PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, date TBC

Set five years after the expectation-defying Jedi: Fallen Order, we catch up with square-jawed justice warrior Cal Kestis continuing to help keep Force-sensitive children safe from the Empire. Developed by the veteran team at Respawn Entertainment, Jedi: Survivor will feature more of the epic action and exploration of Fallen Order, while expanding on iconic stories from the Star Wars universe.

22. Starfield

Coming to PC and Xbox Series X/S, date TBC

Described as “Skyrim in space”, Starfield is the first new franchise developed by Bethesda (they of Elder Scrolls and Fallout fame) in over 25 – yes, 25 – years. But all things considered, it looks well worth the wait. Create your character and take to the stars with unbridled freedom aboard your own ship, then land on planets and space stations seamlessly. Beam us up, Scotty. 

23. STALKER 2: Heart Of Chernobyl

Coming to PC and Xbox Series X/S, date TBC

Inspired by the book Roadside Picnic and the art-house film adaptation Stalker, the first game in the FPS series took players deep into the Zone, an irradiated area beset by mutants and alien phenomena. Scavenge, craft and fight your way to the mysterious centre of the Zone, where untold riches are rumoured to lie.

2023 video game releases

• Forspoken (PC, PS5)
  
  
• Dead Space (remake) (PC, PS5, Xbox X/S)
  
  
• Dead Island 2 (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S)
  
  
• Hogwarts Legacy (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S)
  
  
• Atomic Heart (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S)
  
  
• Company Of Heroes 3 (PC)
  
  
• Skull And Bones (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S)
  
  
• Resident Evil 4 (remake) (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X)
  
  
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom (Nintendo Switch)

• System Shock (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S)
  
  
• Forza Motorsport (PC, Xbox Series X/S)
  
  
• Final Fantasy XVI (PS5)
  
  
• Silent Hill: Ascension (TBC)
  
  
• Avatar: Frontiers Of Pandora (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S)
  
  
• Ark 2 (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S)
  
  
• Diablo 4 (PC, PS4, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S)
  
  
• Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (PS5)
  
  
• Minecraft Legends (PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S)
  
  
• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (PS5)
  
  
• Street Fighter 6 (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S)
  
  
• Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S)
  
  
• Starfield (PC, Xbox Series X/S)
  
  
• STALKER 2: Heart Of Chernobyl (PC, Xbox Series X/S)