It’s the Media Boat 2023 Year-End Wrap-Up! Today we’re taking a look back at the year in Video Games! First we’ll recap the year in news, choosing one story that defined the year. Next, we’ll give our individual Top Five Games, followed by choice for Media Boat’s Game of the Year!

Matt’s Top Five Games of 2023

I am a strong believer that the best possible medium is the music video. What’s better than a visual interpretation of music? I guess I can extend this out to musical theater, concert films, and, now, games like Hi-Fi Rush. It’s certainly not the first game to combine rhythm gameplay with another genre, but the sheer amount of effort and artistry that went into this project is staggering. The animation, story, and vibe are just immaculate, and it’s all paired with a really fun combat platformer.

I’m kind of breaking my own rule by including this, but if The Game Awards can do it, why can’t I? The remake of Resident Evil 4 takes a great game and makes it even better. It might be a remake, but it feels modern in so many ways– it’s beautiful, plays like a dream, and includes just enough quality of life improvements to feel modern. It’s just pure, goofy fun obscured by gothic horror window dressing. Don’t believe me? Wait until the mine cart level.

I’m a fashion designer now, folks. At least, it feels like I am; I design outfits for people every day, one hour at a time. Several of my designs have been tried on by hundreds of real people. Fashion Dreamer does what it says on the box: It’s a great way to imagine yourself as the center of the fashion world. Sure, it’s not perfect– I’d love more structure and more design options, but for a game about dressing yourself and others in cute clothes, it’s very, very good.

A Super Mario Bros. game in 2023? Surely this was going to be great, but the reasons why it’s great are the real surprise. The online mode is a modern marvel, taking cues from Death Stranding and Dark Souls (!). The art direction is surprising and inventive throughout. And its flexible difficulty options create a warm and inviting atmosphere. While Tears of the Kingdom felt like the Nintendo Switch’s last great epic, Wonder feels like its love letter to the fans.

Sorry Mario, you were so, so close– but of course I’m going to pick a narrative game! And what a narrative it is. Goodbye Volcano High appears to be a simple teenage coming of age story against an apocalyptic backdrop, but ends up feeling like way more than that. The characters feel natural and relatable, the world feels lived-in and cozy, and the themes are incredibly poignant. A story about a Middle Eastern queer teen whose world is about to end hits even harder since the game’s release, as you might imagine. The game acts as a reminder to cherish what you have and work with your community, not against it. Oh, and its rhythm mechanic is fun, too!

Mike’s Top Five Games of 2023

It’s Disney characters in a kart racer. The concept is simple, but the execution is so much more. Each race may last only 3 minutes, but the variety of tracks and amount of racers to unlock keeps the grind of daily goals easily achievable. Add in the ease of a cross-platformer and you get yourself a game to race anywhere. Now if only the mobile version was released, then I would always be playing.

In a year of stacked gaming, this slot was going to be Jedi: Survivor or Hogwarts Legacy and I ultimately went with the one that told a better story. This sequel expands on traditional platforming mechanics in favor of an open world setting with a twisted story to tell. Unlike other games where your power resets, this one starts you with amazing Jedi powers and then expands your combat arsenal and fluid movement across the galaxy. And just like Jedi: Fallen Order, this sequel sets up yet another sequel where the trilogy looks to cap off an impressive feat in Star Wars lore.

I love me some puzzles and doing so as a Shiba Inu makes it so much more delightful. Shepherding the faceless humanity figures across various chasms, road blocks, and attackers forces creative teamwork to make this dream work. Even after finding all the golden statues and platinuming the game, Humanity gives you the freedom to create and play new puzzles from the active community.

One of my most anticipated games of 2023 did not disappoint as Spider-Man 2 had the task of being a sequel to 2 games. Insomniac took its lessons from Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart and applied them here by utilizing the power of the PS5 to expand the map, add instant warping, and improve the dynamic movement having us fly across the city. Playing as both Peter Parker and Miles Morales provides different styles that keeps each challenge unique against a story that feels fresh. Themes of power, legacy, and symbiotic relationships weave a tale as big as the city it shares while also feeling the danger close to home. Staking the claim right now that Marvel’s Spider-Man 3 will be my 2026 game of the year.

When I Platinum a game, it’s because I enjoy the core mechanics and world that the game has brought me into. When I spend 120+ hours in a game, it’s because I want to explore everything the game has to offer. Final Fantasy XVI provides open environments with fast action combat intertwined with a story of brothers, redemption, and fate. The multitude of themes running throughout the game and how they build upon established tropes from previous Final Fantasy games makes this a worthy entry in the long running series. I will continue to praise all of the highlights that make Final Fantasy XVI my game of the year.

2023 Year-End Wrap Up: Video Games

Matt’s Top Five Games of 2023

Mike’s Top Five Games of 2023