Top 10 Games of 2023

What a year! Gaming in 2023 was incredibly crowded, with many long-delayed titles finally being released and some older games finally getting a full release after pro-longed early access. This month was not easy on our game time (or wallets!) with many games coming out the same week as others and loads of special editions crowding the space. It was also a huge year for video game adaptations with TV shows like The Last of Us and Twisted Metal defying expectations and delivering some of the best game-to-screen content ever produced. It was no different at the box office with Super Mario Bros. Movie becoming the highest video game movie ever made (and the second highest of the year!) Five Nights at Freddy’s defied expectations, becoming a juggernaut and earning itself a sequel after it over-performed at the box office and on Peacock’s streaming platform. It was a gigantic year for the gaming industry, and as fans, we feasted on the slew of incredible content that was served up.

Making a list of the top games of any year is difficult work, so the Novastream writers got together, submitted their lists and it made this one, purely based on what we played and loved in 2023.

1. Hogwarts Legacy

We were all shocked that this game finally got a full release on next-gen consoles. The long-awaited game set in the Wizarding World defied expectations with a full Hogwarts castle to get lost in and an engaging story we couldn’t get enough of. The character creation was spectacular and being able to ride a Hippogriff and explore the valley gave fans of the Harry Potter franchise everything they could ever want in a Hogwarts game. It is released on every console (including the Nintendo Switch!) allowing for everyone to be able to play.

2. Spider-Man 2

Insomniac Games came back with the third instalment in their Spider-Man franchise on the Playstation and raised the bar yet again. The introduction of Venom and being able to play as two Spider-Men elevated this game and the PS5 only upgrade saw the game unshackled from having to be released on an older platform resulting in a better experience. The story really built on the previous two games and although the campaign was much shorter than the first game, this was all quality and we can’t wait to see where the franchise goes next.

3. Jedi Survivor

After the greatness that was Fallen Order, this game had a lot to live up to and boy did it deliver! Propelling Cal further into the order and discovering its history was a risky move, but one that ultimately paid off. Some new stances and movies to master along with some excellent platforming saw this shoot up to the top of our list.

4. Super Mario Wonder

After the success of the film, Super Mario Wonder was waiting in the wings to pounce and deliver the next instalment of the franchise. With some seriously upgraded animations, transitions and the introduction of Elephant Mario, this addictive platformer had our team playing through multiple playthroughs with different characters and being able to play couch co-op with the joy-cons on the Switch console turned it into a party game as well.

5. Dinkum

The little Aussie game that could! Set in the Outback of Australia, this game feels like a mesh of Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing : New Horizons. You build and settle a new town and district with the addition of some beautiful Aussie animals. The character designs are unique and the gameplay is downright addictive. We kept coming back to this one all year round!