Phenixx Gaming’s GOTY Staff Picks 2023

As is tradition, the staff at Phenixx Gaming has come together for the usual rundown of our personal picks for Game of the Year. The criteria here is that the game had to be released in 2023, it could not be currently in Early Access, and it could not be DLC. Since Phenixx Gaming is built on a myriad of opinions, we detail each staff member’s pick, rather than settling on one. Without further ado, here are Phenixx Gaming’s staff picks for the 2023 Game of the Year.

Alexx – Baldur’s Gate 3

Due to all the great games that were released in 2023, I had a hard time picking my Game of the Year. However, when I really settle on a game that blew me away, I’d have to pick Baldur’s Gate 3. I haven’t enjoyed a cast of characters like BG3’s this much since I played Dragon Age: Inquisition for the first time.

Between the endless replay value, the great quests and characters, and the incredible attention to detail, Larian Studios hit it out of the park this year. I can easily see Baldur’s Gate 3 being a game people still play even into the next console generation, whenever that may be.

Keiran – DREDGE

Despite laying my guts across the briny waters, I loved my time with DREDGE. From its Resident Evil 4 inventory management, its simple gameplay loops, and the four horrors from beyond, I can’t help but think about it constantly. While other games might try and throw together survival mechanics, in-depth crafting, and several thousand button prompts, DREDGE has such a tight set of mechanics that work well with its story. Sure, you can break the story if you ignore it and play without concern, but the point of it is to be cautious.

Literally a psychological horror in a gaming world full of jump scares, DREDGE wants you to be cautious and aware of the horrors. If you play cautiously, try to avoid the monsters, and play solely during the day and sleep at night, then DREDGE has won. A beautiful piece of fiction that plays with the medium it is in, I think it is one of the few Lovecraftian-inspired pieces of horror I’ve really enjoyed in a long, long time. Just don’t play with your foghorn at night.

Mike – Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

Growing up with a different Spider-Man 2 and discovering what it meant to roam an open world doing whatever I wanted, imagine my delight to relive this satisfaction almost 20 years later. Web-swinging across New York feels like a dream come true, further enhanced by magnificent visuals and clever DualSense haptics.

Character work is a tall task for the webslinger’s rogue’s gallery, but every ally and foe are fleshed out and bolstered by emphatic voice acting. With a jaw-dropping climax and twists that will leave players in turmoil, this is the whole package that I will revisit in no time.

Taylor – The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Nintendo somehow topped Breath of the Wild and was able to best a generational game with an even better game. Tears of the Kingdom allows you room to explore the skies and the world below, pairing each with unique parallels to the mainland world. Story-wise, the end of the game is the best ending Nintendo has written in its illustrious game library. Not to mention, you can hit triple digits in playtime and still have dozens of hours of content left to complete. There were some great games released in 2023, but Tears of the Kingdom is the best all-around video game and easily a top-three game of all time.

Edward – The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

As a lifelong Zelda fan, I feel I can’t justify another title for me this year. Though Tears of the Kingdom still isn’t quite a perfect 10/10 for me, it improved exponentially on what was offered by Breath of the Wild. The shrines are much better this time around, the dungeons are back, and the world is even more fleshed out.

However, by far my favorite aspect is the sheer level of exploration offered here. There are three entire maps to explore, with the addition of sky islands and the dark depths. I’ve lost hours upon hours traversing Hyrule, discovering secret areas, gathering rare items, and raiding monster encampments. Add in some wonderful stylistic elements and some of my favorite fantasy tropes and you’ve got a winner here.

Matthew – Hogwarts Legacy

Of all the games that came out in 2023, no game drew me into its world as much as that of Hogwarts Legacy! While this game is not a perfect RPG in any sense of the word, there is a genuine sense of joy that I get from Hogwarts Legacy that I have rarely felt with the amazing titles we have received this year. Even on my third playthrough of the game, I am still discovering new things so I have no doubt that Hogwarts Legacy will keep me busy for a long time.

With that list out of the way, Phenixx Gaming wishes all of you a Happy New Year! We’ll keep on going in 2024, so let’s see what great games come our way! Comment and let us know what you think about our picks, along with predictions on what we might pick next year.