After so many game delays, it looks like the gaming drought is finally, finally, over. 2023 is prepped to be a massive year in gaming, with heaps already set to come out in the first half of this year. There’s so much to be excited about that it’s impossible to list everything, but these are our 8 most anticipated (most anticip8ed?) games of 2023!

08. Dead Space

January 27 (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC)

Dead Space looks like everything a true remake should be. Stunningly faithful to the original, but knows where to push to ensure the game is as fresh and frightful as when it first released. With a completely new sound system and AI director to keep each level unpredictable — not to mention the absolutely gore-geous graphics — the Dead Space remake is going to give veterans and newcomers of the franchise a ‘dismemberable’ experience that gives all the right thrills and chills.

07. Street Fighter 6

June 2 (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, PC)

So far, previews for the latest entry into the iconic fighting franchise have all been great, meaning that Street Fighter 6 will likely be the big fighting game of 2023.

The game is getting a heap of franchise-first features, with the biggest being a world-tour mode. Players will fight their way through an immersive single-player story mode using their own custom protagonist, travelling the world in search of the answer to the question, “What is strength?”, all while challenging the legendary fighters of the Street Fighter franchise.

Newcomers will also have a fighting chance thanks to optional Smash Bros. style controls. Although we expect true pros to still win the most rounds.

06. Hollow Knight: Silksong

First half of 2023 (Switch, Playstation, Xbox, PC)

We had this way back on our most anticipated of 2021 list, but it looks almost certain to finally be releasing sometime in the next six months.

The sequel to the Australian game, Hollow Knight, Silksong will elevate Team Cherry’s critically acclaimed metroidvania souls-like gameplay with a completely new and highly agile protagonist, Hornet. Of course, enemies will also be a lot faster and smarter to compensate, aggressively pursuing Hornet through new, even bigger environments.

05. Star Wars: Jedi Survivor

March 17 (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC)

Despite belonging to one of the world’s biggest franchises, Fallen Order still managed to be one of the surprise hits of 2019, with its incredible environments, enthralling story, expertly crafted ‘Souls-like’ gameplay, and terrifying fight against Darth Vadar.

Jedi Survivor picks up five years after the first game, with Cal’s desperate fight to keep the Jedi alive as the galaxy falls deeper into the dark side under the Empire’s rule. Players will have a suite of new force powers, and perhaps most importantly, both the ability to fully dual-wield lightsabers and no more ponchos!

04. Final Fantasy XVI

June 22 (PS5, PC in 2024)

The next instalment of the classic JRPG franchise will be returning to a more medieval-style world like older games in the franchise, stepping away from the tech-infused magic of more recent titles and unleashing massive new summons called ‘Eikons’. These Eikons will fight in massive Kaiju-style battles that use a unique battle system.

The story is focused on Dominants, the humans born with the ability to host the Eikons. The main protagonist is a Dominant with the most powerful name of all… Clive. Throughout the game, you’ll explore regions where Dominants are revered, and others where they are hunted down like unholy abominations.

03. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

Spring 2023 (PS5)

The complete sequel to one of the biggest hits of the last console generation, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 will bring the most beloved superhero of all time web-slinging back with both Peter Parker and Miles Morales. We don’t know too much yet about the game (please, Sony, give us a new trailer soon!) but any game with Kraven the Hunter, Venom, and TWO Spider-Men is already set to be massive.

02. Starfield

Expected half of 2023 (Xbox Series X/S, PC)

It was agonising choosing between the #1 and #2 slots for our list (you’ve probably guessed #1 now), but Starfield narrowly slides into second. We still don’t know a whole lot about Starfield, with what we’ve seen so.

After an unsurprising delay to 2022, Starfield will be releasing at a yet unannounced date this year (assuming it doesn’t get delayed again). It’s the first time Bethesda has attempted a space-themed sci-fi world, and they are not holding back. The developers have taken everything they’ve learned from creating The Elder Scrolls and Fallout franchises, and thrown it into a massive universe. There will be over 100 systems, with over 1,000 planets open for exploration. There will be a full suite of spaceship customisation and space battles. There will be alien animals, settlements, guns, quests and so much more.

There’s a lot riding on Starfield. It’s not only Bethesda’s first new IP in 25 years, but the biggest exclusive title since the company was acquired by Xbox. Will it mark the true end of Xbox’s exclusive drought? Will it be incredible enough to be remastered countless times like Skyrim? Only time will tell!

01. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

May 12 (Switch)

On any other year, Starfield would probably have taken the #1 spot, but even if it reaches all expectations, there’s one game that will probably still top all others in 2023.

After years of only knowing it only as ‘Breath of the Wild 2’, Tears of the Kingdom is only a few months away. We still know so little about it, but what we do know looks incredible. You could almost mistake it for a sequel to Skyward Sword, with plenty of adventuring on floating islands high above the clouds, and freefalling down to the world below. There may even possibly be a time travel mechanic — a classic element to the Zelda franchise.

Expectations for Breath of the Wild were pretty high before it released and it crushed them, becoming not just one of the greatest RPGs of all time, but one of the best games of all time. Knowing how high Nintendo’s standards are, its sequel is currently the most likely contender for ‘Game of the Year’. Not to mention that Tears of the Kingdom is the only major Nintendo-developed title announced for this year. Could the game possibly be leading into a Switch 2, or some other kind of Nintendo console?

Of course, no one’s list is the same. Are you more excited about Final Fantasy VII Remake instead of XVI? Is Redfall your most anticipated release? Let us know what games you’re most excited for in 2023 — especially those we missed!