Best Video Games of the Year: 2023

For Laura Ordoñez, Head of Digital Content & Curation, a year of big new releases in long-running franchises like Assassin's Creed and the Legend of Zelda highlights just how great it is to be a gamer. From providing engaging challenges to fueling the imagination, video games can be both great escapes and learning tools for kids and families. Use this list as a guide to your next download or purchase, and don't miss the rest of our favorite media picks from 2023, linked below.

Check out the rest of our Best of 2023 favorites: Movies | TV Shows | Books | Podcasts | U.K./International Films

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Super Mario Bros. Wonder boxshot, featuring elephant Mario emerging from a pipe.

GAME

Super Mario Bros. Wonder

age 7+

Nostalgic game encourages teamwork and sharing.

Platforms: Nintendo Switch (2023)

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Blanc pack art featuring hand-drawn wolf cub and fawn from the game

GAME

Blanc

age 8+

Heartwarming hand-drawn adventure best shared with friends.

Platforms: Nintendo Switch , Windows (2023)

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Cover of MLB The Show 23 with Miami Marlins second baseman/shortstop Jazz Chisholm as the cover athlete.

GAME

MLB The Show 23

age 8+

New mode brings fantastic historical focus on pastime.

Platforms: Xbox Series X/S , PlayStation 5 , Nintendo Switch , Xbox One , PlayStation 4 (2023)

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The box cover for Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon features a young Cereza dancing while Cheshire, her large stuffed demonic cat, glares in the background.

GAME

Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon

age 10+

Fantastic origin story highlights teamwork, cooperation.

Platforms: Nintendo Switch (2023)

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The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom box shot featuring the elf-like protagonist Link looking over a cliff.

GAME

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

age 10+

Brilliant adventure encourages creativity and imagination.

Platforms: Nintendo Switch (2023)

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GAME

Minecraft Legends

age 10+

Complex real-time strategy comes to Minecraft franchise.

Platforms: Xbox Series X/S , PlayStation 5 , Nintendo Switch , Windows , Xbox One , PlayStation 4 (2023)

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Sea of Stars box shot, featuring a light-skinned young woman and a slightly darker skinned young man.

GAME

Sea of Stars

age 10+

Retro role-playing game has strong theme of teamwork.

Platforms: Xbox Series X/S , PlayStation 5 , Nintendo Switch , Windows , Xbox One , PlayStation 4 (2023)

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The box for Sega's Sonic Superstars. On the cover, Sonic the Hedgehog is looking at the camera, while other characters in the game are in the background.

GAME

Sonic Superstars

age 10+

Family-friendly game delivers thrills, but some spills, too.

Platforms: Xbox Series X/S , PlayStation 5 , Nintendo Switch , Windows , Xbox One , PlayStation 4 (2023)

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Terra Nil package artwork

GAME

Terra Nil

age 10+

Restore nature's balance in this Zen-like strategy builder.

Platforms: Windows , Mac (2023)

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Tchia Cover: Features Tchia, a brown-skinned girl, in a tropical setting surrounded by her father, friend, and some of the fabric-based enemies she encounters.

GAME

Tchia

age 11+

Adorable, cozy adventure game emphasizes grand exploration.

Platforms: PlayStation 5 , Windows , PlayStation 4 (2023)

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Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Game: Cal Kestis stands with his lightsaber drawn, with his droid BD-1 next to him

GAME

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

age 12+

Excellent, exciting space adventure has sci-fi violence.

Platforms: Xbox Series X/S , PlayStation 5 , Windows (2023)

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Hi-Fi Rush Cover: Features Chai, an excitable, smiling twentysomething in the air with his guitar in-hand. To Chai's left is 808, a robotic black cat. To Chai's right is Peppermint, a young, brown-skinned woman holding a futuristic stun pistol.

GAME

Hi-Fi Rush

age 13+

Stylish game mixes action/rhythm, creating absolute magic.

Platforms: Xbox Series X/S , Windows (2023)

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Mahokenshi cover features the four playable characters representing a different clan.

GAME

Mahokenshi

age 13+

Strategy card battler is a perfect mix of challenge and fun.

Platforms: Windows (2023)

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Marvel's Spider-Man 2 box cover with two versions of Spider-Man slinging webs.

GAME

Marvel's Spider-Man 2

age 13+

Teen-friendly superhero game is exciting and inclusive.

Platforms: PlayStation 5 (2023)

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Storyteller package artwork

GAME

Storyteller

age 13+

Remix classic tales in this story based puzzler.

Platforms: Nintendo Switch , Windows (2023)

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Wild Hearts cover art featuring a hunter facing off against a mythic beast

GAME

Wild Hearts

age 14+

Fantasy adventure brings big game hunting to new heights.

Platforms: Xbox Series X/S , PlayStation 5 , Windows (2023)

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Assassin's Creed Mirage box shot, featuring a close-up of the hero Basim looking at the camera.

GAME

Assassin's Creed Mirage

age 16+

Historical action game is both educational and bloody.

Platforms: Xbox Series X/S , PlayStation 5 , Windows , Xbox One , PlayStation 4 (2023)

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