GotY 2025 - Game of the Year

Here we are - 2025's Game of the Year according to our team here at Chalgyr's Game Room. We've talked about so many elements that make gaming worthwhile from memorable moments, to finding hidden gems we didn't expect to and showing our deep appreciation for visuals, music, characters and stories that touched us. It's an incredibly subjective thing, when you're talking about a Game of the Year, because we all interact with this media in our own unique ways. Still, when you're talking about the best of the best, there tend to be some common threads and excellence can be found in every team member's entry here. 

Thank you, our readers, for being a part of our video game journey in 2025. Here at CGR, we look forward to sharing our thoughts about this medium we all love next year in 2026 as well, and welcome any thoughts you've had about our entries this year in the comments section. We hope that you agree that it's been a fun ride in 2025, and we're appreciative that you made us a part of it. 

Nick: Clair Obscur Expedition 33

I mean, this game is probably my favorite in years. Years and years. The visual style is stunning, the music is beyond fantastic (the soundtrack has been a frequent flyer in my Spotify playlists and I have a reservation for the vinyl record release in early 2026) and the characters and narrative made me feel all sorts of things along the way. Also, and perhaps most importantly – the game was just a lot of fun to play. The mix of turn-based combat and timing combined with a rich world filled with reasons to explore, and this right here is my perfect mix for a Game of the Year. It's impressive really, that Clair Obscur is still landing in my social feeds this late in the year, given that it came out quite early in 2025. However, it's emotional impact and brilliant creativity can't be denied, which is why I believe no video game did it better in 2025. 

PY: Clair Obscur Expedition 33

I don’t think by this point there is anyone who hasn’t heard of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

This was an odd one for me personally. Having seen the game cover alone I pre-ordered it. Life being life, I cancelled it for the time being regretting it more because of FOMO than anything else. Then my brother messaged me saying PLAY THIS NOW. My brother plus single player games doesn’t happen often, so I booted it up out of Steam Family Share and promptly bought it on the PS5.

Is it perfect? No, but it could damn near be considered as such. The exploration gameplay is smooth and while mechanically is nothing new, each area comes with its own visuals, exploration music AND battle music. Lorien Testard deserves a memorable music article to him alone.

Then there was the actual combat that keeps you engaged like The Legend of Dragoon and Lost Odyssey where you have to hit at the right times to make a difference in your attack power. Upping the mechanics to not just be another feather in that cap, you also need to dodge, parry or jump to avoid or block enemy attacks. 

Finally there was the writing and the supporting voice acting that just sold the entire experience. Never taking the easy way out and being “cheesy”, everything felt just right alongside the music in which both live rent free in my head.

Susan: Blue Prince

Unlike everyone else on the planet, I didn't get a chance to play Clair Obscur and likely won't be able to do so until 2026. (Don't worry, I will play it!) Anyways, I made a rule a long time ago that I would only list games that I have actually played on my annual GOTY list. This year's game is 100,000,000% Blue Prince (which is interesting because it's also the game Alanah Pearce chose for GOTY :D ). 

So, we all know how much I love puzzle games and how they will always make it to the top of my list depending on what it does. Blue Prince knocked it out of the park and over the water into another continent. There are so many layers to this game that don't become obvious until you get into certain rooms or see something you didn't catch the first time. The amount of times someone said something so completely innocuous that tipped off another player to a solution is WILD. Imagine the phrase, "there are numbers" giving someone the push they need to solving a puzzle. Trust me, this game is just fantastic. And right from the start I knew there was something with the pictures in every room and I wasn't wrong. With each day you can uncover more and more information about what happened. I especially love the puzzle within the puzzle within the puzzle. 

Blue Prince floored me in so many ways. At first you think the game is just like an updated 7th Guest where there are puzzles to each room, but overall they don't seem to fit together. They are puzzles that are meant to be solved which leads to a key for another puzzle, but that's all they are - puzzles for the sake of being puzzles. In Blue Prince, each piece of information you find leads you to uncovering the story being told. People are missing, but why? You see? So many questions to be answered! I live for this kind of game.

Anyways, I have finished the game in terms of reaching the elusive room, but I still have a ton of puzzles to solve! The amount of gameplay time you get without staring at one puzzle for 6 hours is fantastic. (Although, I did stare at one puzzle for many hours. To heck with that damn room!) Anyways, each day is a new challenge and you can work on puzzles at your own pace.

What I'm saying is, this is hands down one of the most brilliant puzzle games next to Antichamber or The Witness or Talos Principle. All of them make you rethink your puzzle solving approach, and I love it. So, I can't talk about this game enough and yet I don't want to so that I don't accidently spoil anything! Do yourselves a favor and play Blue Prince. Trust me, it's worth it if you are a puzzle aficionado. 

Valerie: Blue Prince

Blue Prince made my GotY because of many factors and also many thanks to the friend who gifted it to me! You've heard above that it is reminiscent of 7th Guest, but the similarities definitely stop there. This game tops the list of puzzle games for the many factors of puzzles within puzzles, red herrings, obvious shots, and many 'back rooms' LOL (pun intended!).

I have yet to find that elusive 46th room, but everytime I pop back into the game a new clue presents itself. I have definitely invested tons of time in the screenshot taking just to keep a clue for the next time I run into a puzzle I have yet to solve. So many and sometimes so little time to play. I will keep coming back and I will up my count of puzzles solved as the new year rolls around!

The story in this game is slowly being revealed as I go along and I can't wait to get all the information needed to discover it all! 

If you love puzzle games as much as I do, get this one! You won't regret it! 

Richard: Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist

Sequel to Ender Lilies and a hell of a good metroidvania title, Ender Magnolia was a pleasure to play from start to 100% finish. I loved the gameplay, the art style, the soundtrack, the characters. Beautifully well done, and out of the titles I’ve reviewed so far this year, Ender Magnolia definitely takes it. Check out my review here!

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GotY 2025 - First Runner-up

First runner-up is an impressive accomplishment, even if the games in question didn't quite come out as our absolutely favorite video games of 2025. Why? Because they were so close, and that means they were still so very, very good. There's plenty to celebrate when you are talking about being among the best titles in a calendar year, and these video games did not disappoint. 

 

Nick: Tainted Grail: Fall of Avalon

This game scratched my Elder Scrolls itch with a creepy atmosphere, fun progression systems and a dark fantasy story that branched depending on choices I made along the way. There were technical hiccups (crashing being at the forefront), but man… when this game hit, it hit hard. A massive spectral stag walking across the plains to the first time night falls and the world seems to change before your eyes and more kept me heavily invested and exploring the many nooks and crannies of this world. I gleefully sunk dozens of hours into beating this game for my review, and suspect I’ll give it a second go sometime in 2026. 

PY: Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land

I really enjoy Gust’s Atelier Series and the latest mainline entry was no exception. In general, I’m not a fan of open worlds. They often feel empty and shallow with nothing between points A and B. 

Atelier Yumia found a sweet spot as Yumia and her party explore a land long untouched by regular humans. Making the world feel rich with life between monsters, resources and landscapes, at times meaningful quests help push those boundaries as you trailblaze ahead. Go ahead and check out my review if you don't believe me.

Susan: Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault

Okay, I know that Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault is in Early Access right now, but I absolutely love the game. I may not be the best at it because I was unsuccessful in playing the first iteration all that much. The first game was a little too punishing and it frustrated me often. In Moonlighter 2, the devs have made certain aspects less punishing like not losing all your relics if you die in the dungeon. Although, that's not to say that the game is flawless, just the next favorite game that I played this year. It has some things to work on which I mentioned in my review of the game, but honestly I have been having a blast with the game. You have a bunch of customization options, three different dungeons with relics for you to collect, and an interesting hook that brings you into the game. Visually it's beautiful and I love the chance to pick out of a couple weapons. There's a few upgrades to get which allows you to make your journey a little easier and there's a ton of quality of life updates that make things much easier. 

Die hard fans of the series might find this game isn't quite done yet, but that's fine. Your opinions are your own. Mine just happens to be that I absolutely love this game and can't wait to see what the Bloblet's do (which isn't fully completed in the Early Access version). 

Richard: Blade Chimera

Now this title was a bit of a surprise as well for me. I had it on my watch list for a while and thought it would be decent but not amazing. Showed me wrong. Blade Chimera is a cool metroidvania title with some neat time-based mechanics and a surprisingly in-depth plotline as well. Good story, good gameplay, very fun.

 

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GotY 2025 - Second Runner-up

The CGR Team felt that 2025 was a really, really strong year for video games. To have made it into any of our team's top three means that we felt the title was impactful in a number of ways. So while we are talking about the second runner-ups now, just because they didn't come out on top doesn't take anything away from how important we felt these games were this year.  

Nick: Dynasty Warriors: Origins

I reviewed this title when it was released early in 2025, but it has not been forgotten about by me. In fact, I am very much looking forward to playing it again when the large DLC package for it comes out in early 2026. Why? Because this took the fun and frantic action that the Warriors series is known for, ratcheting it up even higher while weaving in a narrative that made it feel more like my story than ever before. 

PY: Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion

I loved the original Daemon X Machina years ago but the sequel was the sequel I both wanted and needed. Changing up giant mechs for smaller more compact mech suits, Titanic Scion made open world exploration fun. 

Being able to fly around in your mech suit, fight against enemies of various sizes in both melee and long range was what my 2025 gaming needed. Topping that all off by being able to customize the hell out of my suit, and genetically modify myself for neat abilities? It was certainly worth the wait. 

Susan: Monster Hunter Wilds

Sooo, I know that a lot of people are salty about Monster Hunter Wilds particularly because of the performance issues. There's also a lack of certain monsters and difficulties that tend to grind people's gears about the game. But, I enjoy Wilds - except for Omega. Omega can die in a fire. There's several dailies and upgrades you can get, different monsters you can go and take on, and title updates that have been launched every couple of months to keep things fresh. I also love the seasonal content and hanging out with my friends as we get gigarocked at times. I think part of why I love this game so much is not because of its consistent crashing or super long shader load times, but because of the time I get to play with friends and my significant other. Most of the fights are soloable and I'm proud to say that I did almost all of the story fights by myself which I did by choice. And, I have played Wilds a lot more than I did World because I understand the game a lot better. So, because of my playtime and enjoyment of the game, despite the issues it has, I have to give it the second runner up. Don't judge me!

Richard: Fire Hero: Pixel Rescue

Ha, you thought it would only be metroidvanias? Think again! Fire Hero: Pixel rescue is a really neat 2-D retro style platformer where you are a firefighter trying to save people. Nifty premise, and stages are short and fun to work through. Definitely would recommend.

 

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GotY 2025 - Most Memorable

One of our team's favorite things about video games is not just playing them in the moment, but the lasting memories they make. We talk about these traits in several of our recurring articles such as Memorable Music in Gaming or Retro Reflections. What makes a game memorable? It comes down to the person and their experience. It can be a catchy song, a particularly poignant moment in the story or just the fan had experiencing the game with a friend or family member who was along the ride. It's not a binary criteria, but we know it when we see it and there were plenty of games in 2025 that might not have been true contenders for Game of the Year in our minds, but still became memorable in our hearts. 

Nick: Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

What I found most interesting about this title when I reviewed it, was how this title was an all-new story and a brand-new game, and yet somehow almost immediately familiar and comfortable to me at the same time. Kudos to the audio in particular, with Troy Baker’s take on Indian Jones having been fantastic and music that knew the right moments to swell or to take a back seat to more subtle sound effects. There were times this felt a bit like an older first-person Fallout game, while having newer mechanics like the whip adding agility and platforming to the well-established formula. As someone who grew up on the Indiana Jones movies, this video game felt like a better successor than some of the more recent movies. 

PY: Cronos: The New Dawn

The Bloober Team’s Cronos: The New Dawn has pretty much lived in my head rent free beside Clair Obscur. The treatment of the landscapes and the small bits of information in this dystopian post apocalyptic hell that you find yourself in was damned near flawless.

The general vibe was tension making me grip my controller tighter than I should have just to be ready when the music, or lack of music, shifted. With the only complaint being that monsters took too much ammo to take out at times, the rest of this horror-like adventure has me planning on coming back to it as I would love to play against knowing what I know now.

Susan: Escape Simulator 2

My significant other and I had a chance to play Escape Simulator 2 recently and it was a blast. We went through many of the levels together and it was fun to see how each level changes based on if the game is a solo one or a multiplayer one. We played this together because we played through the entirety of the first one and we had a blast with it. 

What makes Escape Simulator 2 the most memorable of the games I played this year is the fact that the solutions to a few of the puzzles were much harder to solve. One puzzle in the crypt of Dracula's Castle took me for a ride and while I knew roughly what needed to be done, I struggled so much on it. Another thing that made the game memorable is the delivery of the hints - if you use them. The game doesn't give you the answer, it gives you a cute little picture with a nudge in the right direction. And you can't get all of the hints right off the bat, you have to wait time before you can request for another.

I'm impressed by how much of a step up Escape Simulator 2 is from the original version. Though it only has three main level sets to begin with, players can try escape rooms that others in the community have designed. The graphics in this game have improved but it's difficult to explain how or why. There's something about being able to walk around a space but looking like you're in an augmented reality that stunned me. Some of the levels were incredibly fascinating and some of the puzzles were visually spectacular. And with the fact that Escape Simulator 1 has come a long way from where it started, I expect that Escape Simulator 2 will do the same and expand over time. Besides, this game also has several puzzles that can be completed in the main lobby area which is quite fun. Just be careful, some of the hardmode puzzles are brutal. Trust me.

Valerie: Blue Prince

Ah Blue Prince. From the first opening cinematic, to all the rooms one moves into, you have me in your clutches. This game reminds me of Botany Manor, but with oh so much more to it! A mystery to solve, many puzzles to complete, lots of nooks and crannies to discover, Blue Prince has it all. 

 

The music added that final touch to the experience and had me smiling when I would discover something new.  

Richard: Shuten Order

Good god the plot bombs were more tactical plot nukes. While the gameplay felt a little incomplete, I’m gonna remember the plot reveals for a long time to come.

 

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Games of the Year in 2025

2025 was a year with a number of very strong entries. Our team found themselves talking about many of the titles at length, and it was surprising how many strong candidates there were early in the year. That however, did not preclude great games from getting released throughout 2025.

The categories are largely the same as the last few years, but with one new inclusion - Favorite Remake/Remaster. There were so many of them this year, done so well, and there are so many more on the horizon that we feel like it's safe to say that remakes and remasters of old favorites are very likely to remain an important part of the gaming conversation going forward, and we want to recognize the ones done right. So here's what we'll be seeing this year:

• Biggest Surprise
• Most Memorable
• Guilty Pleasure
• Favorite Remake/Remaster
• Second Runner-up
• First Runner-up
• GOTY 2025

The types of games were varied as always. Whether your genre is RPGs, Action, Strategy, Adventure or something altogether different? 2025 had you covered on titles from publishers large, small, and indie. 

When each of the categories are posted, you will find them linked here as well. 

Again, Thank you for gaming with us this year!

- The CGR Team 

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Editor's note: We have all our Games of the Year all the way back to 2012 posted under the GOTY navigation button at the top of the Chalgyr's Game Room website. Enjoy!

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Game of the Year 2023

Few things in life are as subjective as trying to say something is the best. There are some objective things you can use as data points, such as graphical prowess, quality music and voice acting, responsive controls and more. Like our readers, the members of this team have different preferences and that fascinating variety of opinions and experiences means different things to each of us. Now that the year has ended, we want to share with everyone else what game meant the most to us overall and became our Game of the Year

NICK

Baldur’s Gate 3

I’ve been a tremendous fan of these Dungeons & Dragons games for a very long time now, having played the original Baldur’s Gate and its various ‘sibling titles’ many years ago. To say I was excited for Baldur’s Gate 3 would be an understatement – and somehow it still managed to exceed my already high expectations. Add to it that my youngest kid and several of her friends are hooked on it now as well, it is a title that is spanning generations and in our case, bringing family just a bit closer together. It’s hands-down my Game of the Year for 2023.

SUSAN N.

Talos Principle 2

Before I get hate mail for denying Baldur’s Gate 3 the top slot, let me just say that I debated for WEEKS on which game was going to make my game of the year. Is it the graphics? Replayability? Voice Acting? Dialogue? What makes a game of the year what it is? I debated the same concept last year with God of War versus Elden Ring. IMO, God of War should have won. They took EVERY OTHER CATEGORY but somehow Elden Ring took it? A debate for another time… Anyways, what makes a game of the year for me is not just the things I listed above, and it’s not an incorporeal concept like ‘it’s just fun’ (which is subjective and not helpful in rating a game), it is in fact the overall message or story. The Talos Principle isn’t just a puzzle game that you solve until there is no more. It’s a philosophical game. It asks questions that you may not be able to answer. The game makes you think about what makes us human, especially as you are playing a robot that exemplifies many of the same thoughts and fears as we do. It’s wild. It’s captivating. It’s BEAUTIFUL. And it made me cry and laugh and scratch my head at so many points. ‘Fun’ is not even on the radar for rating the game. The Talos Principle 2 scratches an itch that not many games seem to. And I wish I could do this explanation justice as I can barely get into words how and why it takes GOTY 2023. It’s almost unfair that I had to pick between The Talos Principle 2 and Baldur’s Gate 3, because if it wasn’t for Talos, the amazing Baldur’s Gate 3 would take it all. What is 2023, even? Seriously.

RICHARD

Legend of Nayuta

Here we are, the title I'd proclaim as my Game of the Year. Before you go saying anything, I'd like to point out that all the items in my lists are all titles I've reviewed. Even so, Legend of Nayuta still makes an extrememly good showing. I absolutely loved playing through Nayuta, from the gameplay, the characters, the boss fights, the music, I loved everything. A great action-adventure title from the great people at Falcom, Legend of Nayuta should be of instant interest if you like any sort of action-adventure type titles. If the game makes me want to beat it on the hardest difficulty not just for completion sake, but for the enjoyment as well as the bonus content from new game plus? Yes please, I'm all over that.

PIERRE-YVES

Sea of Stars

With all the AAA titles that I've played this year, new and backlog alike, there's an indie that stood among the rest and I've quiet literally only recently sat down to it. Ten minutes in I knew, this was what I've been looking for to wear this year's crown.

Sea of Stars is something that once I saw the original trailer years back I knew, this would be amazing, and it is. Great dialog, smooth exploration gameplay, awesome combat and loads of accessibility options for players of any skill to enjoy. It has it all on top of a great soundtrack to make an incredible experience.

While nodding to the greats like Chrono Trigger and Super Mario RPG where the influences are clear to see yet made their own, Sea of Stars easily stands alongside the last few years worth of greats such as Chained Echoes and Rise of the Third Power.

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Game of the Year 2023 - Runners-Up

Most of the time, there’s multiple games that resonate with people throughout the year. This one felt especially bountiful, with fantastic titles across all genres and studio sizes. It’s often challenging to define that one title that is simply ‘the best’. Even after we make that determination, there’s always some other game that was just inches away from that lofty perch, and we want to make certain they get their due as well.

NICK

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

The first Spider-Man when it released on PS4 was my favorite game from that year. The Miles Morales follow-up doubled down on so much of what I liked from the prior game and Spider-Man 2 really just continued that trend of focusing on what works best in these games while looking to improve on the weaker aspects. Traveling throughout the city is fast and fun, and being the wab-slinger makes open world exploration so much more fun than what most games can provide. Toss in a fun story and some truly awesome moments and this was a fantastic game.

SUSAN N.

Baldur's Gate 3

So, you may be wondering why Baldur’s Gate 3, which swept several awards this year, is a runner up. That’s a valid question. But, I gotta tell you, I had a hard time choosing. In my mind it’s still up there with GOTY. Though, you should know that Baldur’s Gate is not a game series I’ve had experience playing before (as it pertains to video games). I’m a long time TTRPG player and Baldur’s Gate is not unknown to me. As a video game, I had no idea what to expect, and let me just say that it decimated all my expectations. 

Previously, I had played other games within the D&D space and many of them didn’t hold my interest for long. Baldur’s Gate flipped that idea onto its head and impressed me with the HILARIOUS dialogue, the gameplay, and the attention to detail. I can’t let the voice acting go without mentioning that every single character that I’ve encountered has been embodied perfectly by the actors. Asterian, our one true vampire love, is absolutely on top. Karlach is quickly taking over. 

Each character feels unbelievably real in a way that I can’t describe. Regardless, everything about this game makes me smile, laugh, and cry. This game is perfect in so many ways and that isn’t something I say very often. You may still be wondering why it’s here and not at the top. Well, you see, I have an immense love of puzzle games and one in particular takes the coveted spot.

RICHARD

Silent Hope, GrimGrimoire Nevermore, Marl Kingdom Chronicles

So, for Runners Up I have three titles: a standalone, a localization we never got before, and a remaster. Let's start out with the lowest on the rung: the localization Marl Kingdom Chronicles. Now, this isn't the lowest in the Runners Up category because it's the worst, but rather because it's closer to a direct localization of two titles we never saw here in the west. Both great titles now available to you, but that's about it. The remaster is up next and we have GrimGrimoire Nevermore. An absolute masterpiece of a tower defense sort of game with a lot more depth added, enhanced settings, bonus content, and still keeping the best evil laugh I've ever heard in a video game before. Last up, and the title I'd rate highest in the Runners Up category, we have Silent Hope. This is an amazing dungeon crawler rogue-ish type game that's both easily accessible for newbies and with a lot of available content for more veteran players. With potential hours of fun, seven very distinct characters with their own unique playstyles, and an interesting take on base improvement and gear crafting, Silent Hope was a title I could hardly put down.

PIERRE-YVES

Spider-Man 2 / Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty

Running into some heavy hitters, both Spider-Man 2 and Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty were great. Spider-Man was everything a sequel should have been to it's predecessor. More refined gameplay and different scenarios in the same open world that we've already been in twice. We'll mostly twice since Miles' adventure was a trimmed down New York City.

And then there's Wo Long. This Soulslike was gold. Fast paced and super responsive, the level based spiritual sequel to Nioh 2 was epic. The more recent Lies of P was great, but it couldn't compare to Wo Long and how far Team Ninja have come.

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Game of the Year 2023 - Most Memorable

Most video games are designed to immerse you during your actual gameplay. They want you to enjoy the times you’re sitting with them, controller in your hand, absorbed by what is taking place on the screen. Every once in awhile though, there’s something about a game that sticks with us after we’ve turned off the television and put the mouse and keyboard away. Maybe it a song with a sticky quality in the back of your mind, or a character you adored or a story that meant so much more than just getting to the end credits These are the titles we want to celebrate here.

NICK

Fuga: Memories of Steel 2

The original Fuga surprised me when it came out. The art style and animorphic characters didn’t much appeal to me at the time. That being said, I finally played it and quickly found myself caring about the characters and enjoying both the music and setting while eating up the strategic gameplay. Fuga 2 really did not change up the formula much, but it didn’t need to as the things that I enjoyed so much of the original did. That being some, there were some pretty emotional character and narrative notes in the second game that stuck with me well after I finished playing it.

SUSAN N.

Oxenfree II: Lost Signals

Night School Studio splashed across my screen when I was watching a bunch of world premiers several months back and I shouted, “NO WAY. ARE THEY RELEASING ANOTHER ONE?!” I heard familiar audio and jumped out of my seat in excitement. 

Oxenfree II: Lost Signals takes place many years after the first game, though has ties to it. As I went through the story, I was shocked when I heard some familiar names. This instantly hooked me because I couldn’t contain my theory crafting about how and why this game would connect to the first. What it would all mean. Why are the spirits coming after us. Heck, on stream, I’m sure my viewers were confused because they didn’t know anything about the games. Hearing me prattle on about some of the characters, laughing at some references, and griping about certain events, must have been quite interesting without any context. Halloween was the perfect time to play the game and I had a blast. It sticks out in my mind as one of the most memorable and impactful games of the year for several reasons and I’m not ashamed to say that I love everything about it (even if the ending was a bit strange.) If you’re looking for a mind melting experience, go in without any preconceived notions and try it. It may surprise you!

RICHARD

Crymachina

Now, I was debating putting this in guilty pleasure, but it made its way here for a few reasons. First of all, it has a rather deep introspective into what it means to be human, and at what point do we either become or stop being human. Can advanced enough AI become human? What even is the defining factor of "what makes a human, a human"? Add to this a little bit of a meta requirement for getting the true ending, a bonus boss that was the first truly serious boss fight I've had in a while, as well as some interesting backstory on major enemies and the references they represent and it's a game that'll stick in my mind for quite a while.

PIERRE-YVES

Disgaea 7

While a new Disgaea is in and of itself a guilty pleasure, Disgaea 7 was memorable for multiple reasons. It was back to a lot of basics but it didn't sacrifice all the strides that the series has made over the years. It had a great cast of over the top characters which were fun to all see together dood, but may have needed more Prinnies. And as always, it had an addictive turn based strategy gameplay that just makes you want more.

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Game of the Year 2023 - Guilty Pleasure

Not every game sports AAA visuals and voice acting, or has the most intricate story or even the best systems baked into its gameplay. That’s okay. In the end, we just want games to be enjoyable, and while a Game of the Year has a tendency to do a lot of things at an incredibly high level, sometimes we just need a bit of video game comfort food to sit back and enjoy instead.

NICK

Antstream Arcade

As an old-timer gamer, this massive collection of old titles just appealed to me on every level. Sure, the interface could use some touching up, and the performance is not always ideal, but the games tend to rotate pretty frequently and it’s just an incredible variety to choose from. I’ve sunk so many hours in this title, and it’s often just in bite-sized play sessions.

SUSAN N.

My Time at Sandrock

Over the last couple of years, I’ve had the opportunity to participate in closed and open betas of My Time at Sandrock before it’s official release. The My Time series has always been a cozy game that I could enjoy building cool structures to help foster the town. It has elements of romance, ruin crawling, friendly competition, fantastic graphics, and an excellent story. The game also has a unique multiplayer mode that doesn’t conflict with the single player campaign! Your friends are encouraged to help build different features of the town and go ruin diving together. What’s cool is that there are community goals (for you and your friends) and there are personal goals. Even if you pick up commissions on your own, you can improve your skills without worrying about holding the others back. I’ve had a blast trying out various iterations of the game before it released, and I’m genuinely happy with how the game has developed. I play My Time at Sandrock (and Palia) off stream all the time. If you are into cozy games like Stardew Valley and such, I highly recommend giving this one a try. It’s a not-so-guilty guilty pleasure for 2023.

RICHARD

Akiba's Trip: Undead and Undressed Director's Cut

Alright, let's be honest here: stripping vampires in the middle of a busy street is surprisingly fun. Even moreso when the game barely takes itself all that seriously. With a wacky cast, a lot of customizable equipment, and some pretty hilarious finisher moves, Akiba's Trip: Undead and Undressed Director's Cut is definitely my guilty pleasure.

PIERRE-YVES

Final Fantasy Theatrhythm Final Bar

Ah guilty pleasures. We all have them and from a gaming perspective, Final Fantasy Theatrhythm was mine. Chibi-esque renditions of characters from every series, loads of musical tracks to listen to, and, andddddd, plenty of adjustable settings for players of every type. Want it to be easier? Done. Harder? Done. It doesn't lock anyone out of the fun.

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Game of the Year 2023 - Biggest Surprise

Admittedly, not all surprises are good. No one enjoys having a car breakdown with no notice, for example. However, there are plenty of times a surprise is a welcome thing, and when a video surprises us for all of the right reasons, it’s something to celebrate. Maybe you stumble onto a gem you never heard of but can’t put down. Perhaps you went into a game with low or moderate expectations, and it surpassed all of them. That’s what we’re talking about here – those pleasant surprises.

NICK

Fate/Samurai Remnant

This one was a surprise on several fronts. For one, I wasn’t even aware this was releasing. Secondly, while I’ve been pretty caught up on Fate/ games and anime in the past, this setting was a new one for me as well. Then when it came to the game itself, I found the improvements across the board a major improvement over the prior two titles in the series.

SUSAN N.

Sea of Stars

Earlier this year, I spied a neat indie RPG game that had all the makings of something I would enjoy reviewing. I wasn’t wrong. Sea of Stars grabbed me by my hand and took me on an epic journey. This brilliant game has excellent writing, combat, decent pacing, and a useful fishing mechanic! Unlike other games where you can hold all the potions and all the consumables to heal, Sea of Stars forces you to make critical choices in every fight. It even has a neat little mini game that I found myself oddly addicted to. Needless to say, I enjoyed absolutely everything about the game (except the somewhat slow beginning), and it was a pleasant surprise. Thus, here it sits in my list of 2023.

Cyberpunk: Phantom Liberty

The second entry to our category of the biggest surprise is none other than Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty. From the ashes came a phoenix in this DLC, which not only made people realize how good the game ACTUALLY IS, but it revitalized the company that dropped the ball so very hard on launch back in 2020. With the continuous updates, bug fixes, and complete overhaul of many features of the game (including the tech tree), CDPR knocked this one out of the park. (They also won best ongoing game at The Game Awards which is interesting because they canned the idea of multiplayer a while back - but I digress.) Recently, patch 2.1 dropped which included a ton of bug fixes, additional challenge to races and gigs, and some key features like ongoing romances, it’s safe to say that I’m 100% invested. Phantom Liberty itself added new characters, villains, a new area to explore, additional gigs, and tons more! It helps that the introductory quest to Dogtown keeps you at the edge of your seat. Not only keeping it interesting for experienced players, but hooking new players as well. I would almost have it competing with GOTY, but suffice it to say, the improvements that have been made to CP77 on EVERY level have pleasantly surprised me. I loved the game to begin with, but now I’m fully invested in a world that I had already dumped about 300 hours into. It is the definition of biggest surprise, in my opinion. 

RICHARD

Ripout

For Biggest surprise, I'm going to have to go with Ripout. While technically still in early access, and with a few bugs to iron out at the time of writing this, Ripout was an interesting title I wasn't really sure I'd enjoy the first time I picked it up. Luckily for me, and anyone else who snagged a copy of Ripout, I was pleasantly surprised. A weird sort of combination between horror, first-person shooter, and roguelite, Ripout was a fun trek through mutant filled space stations, with a lot of spooks, a few jumps, and a lot of bullets.

PIERRE-YVES

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

The latest entry into The Legend of Zelda series is always a big thing for me. Having grown up exploring Hyrule, there has always been an excitement whenever a new one is announced but this one came with a bit of doubt.

Direct sequels are a bit rare in this series and come with a big question. How do you honour the previous entry while not doing the same thing? This was my biggest concern as Breath of the Wild was the first open world experience for this series and I didn't want to do more of the exact same for a sequel. 

Well, taking a week off of work for the launch, sinking over 70 hours, I was pleasantly surprised that the two couldn't have been more different from the three planes of sky, ground and underground alongside the building mechanics with their intense physics. While contradictions are a plenty with it's predecessor, it was still loads of fun with plenty to do!

 

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