2023 already has two bona fide Game of the Year contenders in Tears of the Kingdom and Baldur’s Gate 3, and many are starting to predict that come New Year’s Eve, we will have experienced a banner year in gaming. Here’s a guide to many of the big releases still to come!
Madden NFL 24 (August 18)
It’s Madden, what do you want me to say? I’m gonna use this space to shout out my friend Glenn for coming through yesterday when I needed some jumper cables. Thanks a bunch, Glenn. Really saved my ass.
Blasphemous 2 (August 24)
Here’s hoping some right wing weirdos get a hold of this game’s unadulterated levels of blasphemy and start accusing the developers of being baby eating Satanists or some shit. They could use the publicity for their very cool game!
Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon (August 24)
Come on. You’re either foaming at the mouth about this one, or scrolling right by because it’s “some of that robot stuff.” There is no in-between. I don’t feel like I need to say anything here.
Starfield (September 6)
Sleeper alert! This Starfield game has a whole “Skyrim in space,” vibe and comes out in just a few weeks. Sounds pretty major. I think this one snuck up on all of us!
Mortal Kombat 1 (September 19)
Did Ed Boon take our recommendation and include a new animation in the game where Goro smokes a bong while he plays a guitar solo? We’ll have wait until MK1 comes out to see, but god I hope so.
Payday 3 (September 21)
In addition to the bank heists the series is known for, Payday 3 will let users expand into white collar crime. Players can now corrupt politicians, defraud charities for personal profit, and conduct insider with up to three of their friends online.
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty (September 26)
Idris Elba on his starring role in Projekt CD Red’s new DLC: “It was fascinating to perform for a video game. I can’t wait to see the results. Hey, do you know why they put so many of those sensors on my penis?”
River City: Rival Showdown (October 11)
A rebooted classic from the ‘80s, this love letter to the original River City Ransom features a lot of features not possible in the 1989 original, including branching story paths, a fighting game mode, and the ability to import, distribute, and use cocaine throughout River City!
Assassin’s Creed Mirage (October 12)
After several sprawling installments, Mirage is said to get back to the core tenets of classic Assassin’s Creed gameplay: stealth, parkour, and bonking guys on their heads with huge mallets.
Alan Wake 2 (October 17)
That’s right, the game you’ve been meaning to play for 13 years’ sequel is about to come out. You better get on it, buddy.
Spider-Man 2 (October 20)
The sequel to the critically acclaimed original features an even more realistic New York City, with the Mary Jane’s sections reportedly focused on her trying to find a parking spot close to her place and trying to get her landlord to address a leak in her apartment’s roof.
Cities: Skylines 2 (October 24)
The sequel to the popular city-builder has promised fun additions like forest fires, deteriorating climates, and the ability to follow a citizen from birth to their death of old age. Sounds like a blast!
Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol 1 (October 24)
This collection gathers five games from the legendary series, and if you pre-order from the increasingly desperate GameStop, they’ll give you an actual wolf! Please be careful and remember to give your wolf lots of water if you take advantage of this great deal.
The Day Before (November 10)
This year’s thing with zombies that isn’t Call of Duty.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (November 10)
This year’s thing with zombies that is Call of Duty. In addition to a new Warzone map, Activision has finally caved into fans’ demands and included a ‘slappers only’ mode in this year’s installment of the wildly popular first person shooter.
