Although we’re just over halfway through 2023, we can safely say that this year has been going strong in the gaming department. Tons of indie gems and AAA titles have swayed both critics and hardcore gamers. And Sony’s next-gen console had its fair share of brilliant titles over the year. From inventive soulslike games to immersive RPGs, let’s check out some must-play PS5 games that came out in 2023.
Baldur’s Gate III
We kick off our list with a solid contender for best RPG ever. First released on PC, Baldur’s Gate III hit the PS5 a month later. Against all odds, this wet dream for all Dungeons& Dragons fans took the world by storm. The game’s phenomenal success was fairly unpredictable, as the Baldur’s Gate role-playing franchise had been dormant since 2000. This two-decade span might explain why developers at Larian Studios felt comfortable enough breaking new ground in their approach to that glorious love letter to tabletop adventures.
The studio’s magnum opus, Baldur’s Gate III is a generation-defining RPG. This sequel does everything right, from its storytelling depth to its engrossing setting and spellbinding soundtrack. Its interwoven stories and complex gameplay mechanics might feel daunting for players unfamiliar with the world of tabletop role-playing games. Still, this fantasy epic deserves each of its many 5-star reviews.
Like a Dragon: Ishin!
Formerly known as Yakuza outside Japan, the Like a Dragon franchise did not reach global success immediately. Yet, Sega’s mobster saga gained traction in recent years. Subscription services arguably contributed to the series’ increased recognition overseas.Nevertheless, the2023 release of a previously Japan-exclusive spin-off surprised even diehard fans. And Like a Dragon: Ishin! delivered on all accounts.
This samurai tale unfolds during the tumultuous Bakumatsu era. Samurai Sakamoto Ryōma, an advocate for the emperor’s restoration opposing the shogunate, finds himself ensnared in a conspiracy. Wrongly accused of murder, he’s determined to vindicate himself. In true Like a Dragon spirit, Ryōma makes his fists do the talking. Apart from hand-to-hand combat, players can engage in side quests and minigames throughout their exploration, ranging from bounty hunts to wacky chicken races.
Humanity
In 2022, the adventures of Stray’s cutesy cat protagonist wandering a post-apocalyptic world were all the rage in gaming circles. One year later, Humanity puts players in control of a Shiba Inu dog in charge of commanding massive crowds of people. This puzzle-platformer is all about getting these hordes to salvation across 90 stages filled with devious obstacles.
Strategic thinking is paramount to tackle new challenges and limitations at every turn. Indeed, Humanity never runs out of creative ideas. As starkly minimalistic as this one-of-a-kind puzzler is in the visual department, there is a powerful element of intrigue to these swarms of mindless bodies hypnotically tumbling into each other. Surprisingly enough, Humanity also weaves a thoughtful narrative tapestry.
Lies of P
Lies of P launched on the PS5 barely two weeks ago. But this inventive soulslike game already made waves in the gaming sphere. A spiritual successor to games like Bloodborne and Dark Souls, Lies of P is a demanding hack-and-slash title set in a bleak world of fiendish humanoid puppets. Players control a robotic puppet across the desolate city of Krat, whose human population has been decimated. A few survivors have found shelter in a hotel, but countless more are missing, including Pinocchio’s creator Gepetto, the only person capable of quashing the puppet revolt. With its steampunk aesthetics and atmospheric gothic world, this action RPG verging on the horrific is a fascinating take on the classic Pinocchio story.
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PlayStation 5 owners were deprived of acclaimed blockbusters like Tears of the Kingdom and Starfield in 2023, which landed respectively on the Nintendo Switch and Xbox. However, this year saw the release of equally outstanding games on the PS5. And the good news is, titles like Assassin’s Creed Mirage, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 are around the corner.