These days, you will see several articles appear from our team, with their Best Games of 2023. We thought it would be a fun idea to ask our Patrons and some of our faithful readers to tell us their favourite games for the past year. Let’s see what they had to say!
Alexandra
Pikmin 4 is a fantastic game for several reasons. Firstly, its blend of strategy and exploration offers a unique gaming experience, challenging players to manage resources and strategize their actions while exploring diverse environments. The game’s charming visuals and endearing characters, like the Pikmin creatures themselves, add a delightful touch (including Oatchi, which resonates with me since I have a dog as well). It makes the gameplay immersive and enjoyable for a wide range of players. Additionally, Pikmin 4’s clever puzzles and intricate level design keep players engaged, fostering problem-solving skills and encouraging creativity in overcoming challenges. Overall, Pikmin 4 deserved to win the Best Sim/Strategy Game of 2023 like it did!
Mitch
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom was one of my most favorite and memorable games of 2023. I’ve always been a Zelda fan, but I really fell in love with it again, starting with Breath of the Wild. Not only is the story great in the game, but TotK kept me entertained with its amazing puzzles and vast world exploration. While I enjoyed trying to complete the main quest line, I was so immersed in the game’s world that I just spent much of my time exploring and mapping out all the different areas. Plus, adding the ability to construct pretty much anything with Ultra Hand made this game the absolute best Zelda and one of Nintendo’s best titles.
If you haven’t played The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom or are on the fence about a Zelda game altogether, you should give this game a try. It’s unlike any other Zelda experience out there!
Lynne’s Gaming Buddy
I have played some great games this year. My top three, in reverse order, are
3. Super Mario Bros Wonder: It’s a wonderful game for platforming and collecting. I like the talking flowers and the effects from the wonder flowers, which turn the course crazy!
2. Sonic Superstars: I like fighting Eggman and the Eggman Bot, as they look cute and I like seeing the different inventions Eggman creates.
1. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is my top game of 2023! I like the combat and the fact that you can rematch nearly all of the bosses. There is lots to explore, especially in the depths.
Kris
I’m sure I’m not the only follower of Ladies Gamers who has a huge backlog of recommended titles. There are games on my queue from 4 or 5 years ago! I’m only just now getting around to playing The Wild at Heart (which is very enjoyable). I just need to play faster, right? So, unfortunately (?), the only game that I played this year that came out this year is The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
What can I add to thoughts on The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom that hasn’t been said already? Not much. What stuck with me most was its use of “unfinished business” as game-play. When you put your Switch on standby from a play session with TOTK, you leave a bunch of things in limbo. You have to get back to it soon to work on that quest you were working on, or get that Korok you just spotted, beat up that Flux Construct to build a weapon from its body parts you might need, or get shot out a tower like a cannonball to unlock more map, or… You get the idea. There are a million things to do in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. It could easily become your second life!
