He sent us back Game of the year The articles allow our amazing team of writers to share their personal PS5 and PS4 picks for 2023. Today, it's news reporter and reviewer Khayl Adam's turn.
Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader is the newest game on this list, and I'm still digesting it, but it's an exciting step forward for developer Owlcat Games. For my money, the studio is still second only to Larian Studios when it comes to the CRPG space. But Rogue Trader demonstrates and advances the lessons Owlcat learned in developing its Pathfinder series. A well-written, intimate 40k RPG, and the first game to do a dark setting justice.
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty takes the current definition of Souls-Like in a new direction, instead of focusing on arcade action and gameplay with some of the routine mechanics that this subgenre is known for. Team Ninja takes combat to new heights, highlighting how far the studio has come since the early days of Nioh.
I was expecting Lies of P, but I never expected it to get the reception it did. Pinnochio seemed like a gimmick, but Neowiz Games took that concept and ran wild with it, crafting a familiar combat system in a new setting. It ends on a compelling note, and since FromSoftware apparently has no interest in revisiting Bloodborne, they've scratched that particular gothic itch, and I'll be eagerly awaiting what comes next.
Aliens: The Dark Descent was my biggest surprise this year. I had high hopes, and I exceeded them, starting a whole series of rewatches along with the excellent campaign, which manages to make the real-time tactics truly terrifying. The sustained tension and exceptional sound design make it an exhilarating ride from front to back, and I'd recommend it to any fan of the IP.
Baldur's Gate 3 isn't just the best game I've played this year; It's the best game I've ever played in my life, even displacing its legendary predecessor in my mind. More than a mainstream breakthrough or an innovative RPG, Baldur's Gate 3's most remarkable legacy is the benchmark it sets, and one that other developers will chase for years to come… a fertile ground in which the delicious fruits of role-playing may flourish.
What do you think of Khel's personal picks for the best game of the year? Feel free to agree wholeheartedly, or scold relentlessly in the comments section below.
