Posted in: Games, Indie Games, Video Games | Tagged: christmas, gaming

Bleeding Cool's Belated 2023 Buying Guide To Video Games

Not sure what video game to get for Christmas? We ran down a ton of them that we've played/reviewed in 2023 for you to pick from.

Are you one of those parents who know that your kid likes video games, and that's it? Did you genuinely forget to get them a game they might like? Or hey, maybe you need a present for a friend and you don't know what to get them. Do you also have zero interest in going to the store and just remembered that video games can be purchased digitally? Well, you're in luck. We rarely make lists around here, but after seeing several posts on social media the past week about how no one knows what the hell to get anyone as a last-minute gift, we decided to give you a few suggestions.

Every year, we get tons of video games sent our way to preview, review, and just play so we know what they're about. We combed the list of stuff we received this year and, in no particular order, decided to write up a bunch of the more popular games and interesting titles (along with our own personal notes as to what we think about them) that we think might be a good get for that gamer friend/relative/child as a last-minute gift that looks like you care. Chances are most of these are currently on sale as of when we're writing this because almost every company on the planet has reminded us they're having a holiday sale, so at least you're not paying full price for most of this. Plus, you can download most of these in a couple of minutes to a couple of hours and surprise people.

Side Note: We are NOT covering every game released this year. That's a list of 700+ titles, and you wouldn't read a list that long if we did.

Starfield

Remember Skyrim? This is a sci-fi version of that by the same people who made Skyrim. But in space. It's long, it gets you involved, it can be tedious on occasion, and it will force you to try. If you've ever wanted to see what life would be like in space if we just keep going the course we're going and not attempt to have a Star Trek future, this is it. The ability to go off and do anything you want in space, with the added necessity of having to buy a ship and work your way up in the process. If you have a love for space exploration, RPG grinding, and discovery, as if you were playing a better version of No Man's Land, this is a pretty good choice.

Alan Wake II

Alan Wake II is what would happen if someone finally decided to make House of Leaves into a video game. And I make the reference knowing that many of you reading this own that book and have never read it. The game breaks the fourth wall so many times, it will either leave you laughing or just simply questioning your own reality. You get a perfect blend of a world-bending mystery storyline mixed together with horror survival. It's the right amount of creepy you didn't know you needed in your life, with a cast who perfectly bring it to life as if you just sat through a horror miniseries. A perfect choice for those who love horror titles or just like something so out of the box, to the point where you'll wonder if there was even a box to begin with. Now go read House of Leaves instead of just keeping it on your shelf to look cultured.

Oxenfree II

Every couple of years, someone asks, "What if Twin Peaks was a video game?" And while there have been titles made of the TV show, there are also games that clearly channel the spirit of it with their own story. The original Oxenfree did a masterful job of that, and the sequel does a great job of capitalizing on the original as you shift not just through time, but apparently across dimensions. This game tells a fantastic story that will keep you guessing as to what is really going on all the way until the end. If that's your thing, snag this one.

Baldur's Gate III

What the hell could I possibly write here that would do this game justice in a paragraph? It has already won awards and recognition from practically the entire industry for being the ultimate Dungeons & Dragons video game at the moment, perfectly capturing what it is like to play the TTRPG in a digital format with a unique story and familiar settings to those who know the Forgotten Realms. Even if you're not into D&D, this is still high fantasy with enough memes about what characters will do with their powers after dark to last us a decade. If you're looking for a fantasy game that doesn't require a subscription every month to play, this is worth your time. However, it is going to take up a good chunk of storage space.

El Paso, Elsewhere

If you're looking for weird, but "cool weird," not "uncomfortable weird," then we highly suggest El Paso, Elsewhere. This was one of the breakthrough indie titles of the year, as the game clearly channels the Max Payne franchise and puts a vampire spin on things as you attempt to stop your ex from destroying the entire world. The game will make you feel like you're fighting in The Matrix but redesigned to be on the verge of destruction. It's got depth, it's got a cool lead character, it's got vampires, and it's easy to grasp. Graphics may not be what you're looking for, but who cares? It's just a cool game you might enjoy.

Mortal Kombat 1

Do you like fighting games but you need more blood and gore than what Street Fighter 6 has to offer? Then Mortal Kombat 1 is here for you. Aside from maybe having a little knowledge of what happened in Mortal Kopmbat 11, this game starts all of the characters you know and love off on a new timeline with Liu Kang as the God Of Fire and Raiden as his chosen champion. It's a complete reset of the story, so even if you're a once to the series, you don't really need to know much to get into it. And if you don't care about the story, it's still a hard-hitting mess with fatalities, DLC characters from pop culture, and just senseless fun to have with friends.

Street Fighter 6

Do you like fighting games but aren't into the blood and gore Mortal Kombat 1 has to offer? The Street Fighter 6 is here for you. Unlike MK1, Street Fighter 6 has decided to advance its timeline by a few years. So you see some familiar faces with wrinkles and scars, while new faces are trying to make a name for themselves on the streets. It has a story mode, but depending on who you ask, it's either brilliant or a time waster. The real action is in a lot of the online modes they have made for players to dig into. And, of course, fighting with your friends using a new roster is always fun. If you're looking to see what Capcom is planning to do with the series, moving forward, this will be the title to pick up.

Moving Out II

Are you in search of a multiplayer game that's fun and will also drive you insane? Moving Out II does a great job of making you work like a team while also finding out who in your group of friends can't figure out how to move a bed to save their lives. This game is best when it's four players because then you get the maximum amount of help moving furniture around from place to place. Plus, you can play online if you can't drag three people over to your place.

Thirsty Suitors

A late addition to the list that has been unfairly overlooked because it came out in November, this has been a captivating game for us ever since it was announced. This game is a turn-based RPG that mixes in music, romance, family, and just the complete awkwardness of trying to be a human and do the right things that's best for you while under pressure from all sides. You straight up deal with disappointment on a scale that will make you feel seen, while also trying to figure out who you are in the world. You also get some artwork, some skateboarding, some cooking, and a few other fun things in here. If you've ever properly wanted to break up with an ex and stick it to your family, this is the game for you.

Dead Space

Do you like horror remakes that are even more terrifying than the original? Electronic Arts decided to take one of the all-time great survival horror titles and remake it for a modern audience, complete with all of the jump scares and gore of the original, minced in with a few surprises. This is a game that needs to be played in the dark with the volume up, and it makes for one of the more intense atmospheric systems we've seen this year. But the best joy you can ever get out of the game is watching someone else play and then doing your own jump scare when they're just trying to walk down a hallway. Oh, and it has New Game Plus with an alternate ending, so this is the cheap way of pretending you're getting two games at once.

The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood

Do you like tarot and wish that your cards actually had the magical ability to have an everlasting effect on the people to give readings to? This game will let you live out that fantasy a little. One of the gems from Devolver Digital this year, the game has you playing a banished witch who decides to call out to a long-forgotten deity in search of power through a new deck. The game lets you build your own cards with various symbols and patterns to tell a story as you're basically scrapbooking together a powerful deck to escape from the prison you're confined to, in more ways than one. It's the perfect game for those who dig the lore of witchcraft and tarot.

Final Fantasy XVI

Do you have a PlayStation 5 and are constantly angry there aren't enough exclusive titles to brag about to your friends? Well, Final Fantasy XVI might scratch that itch. PC players aren't going to see this game for another year, and Xbox basically confirmed this will never see the Xbox Series X|S. So PS5 people, this one is all yours as you continue the franchise with an all-new adventure. With an ever-winding plot that's both epic and occasionally bewildering. Some have called the game repetitive with a number of plot holes, but if you're just looking for an RPG to take your mind off things as you grind away at leveling up and eventually taking on a boss you have no business facing on multiple occasions, then this is for you.

Lies Of P

Lies of P is basically what would happen if Bill Willingham was given the chance to make a Soulslike title. The game puts you in the role of Pinocchio, but a version of him that was clearly carved from the image of a boy band poster from the early '00s. The story is convoluted as there's been a dark force that takes over a town with a great puppet uprising, but like a lot of games of this genre, the plot doesn't matter all that much when you're just trying to survive the insane designs the developers made out of enemies that look like they came from an acid trip. The action is fun, nonetheless, and is a challenge for anyone who enjoys the genre.

Resident Evil 4 Remake

Do you like killing zombies and also wish it was two decades earlier? Capcom has continued their series of remakes from the Resident Evil series with what is hands-down the best version of Resident Evil 4, with a ton of bonus content that will occupy you for hours, and probably frustrate you along the way. Does it have a convoluted story? Absolutely! Because why was the President's daughter in Spain to begin with in a world where there are zombie breakouts happening all the time? Why does Ada Wong keep showing up where Leon just happens to be?

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

We're in an amazing time where there's a lot of Star Wars! We're also in a tragic time where there's a lot of Star Wars gatekeepers, haters, and people who clearly have their own idea of what the franchise should be. Shockingly, very little of that dispair hit Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, as the game takes on you an action RPG adventure that is an amazing follow-up to the original. This game has various modes going for it, as you can play the game on easy where you're basically just watching an interactive Star Wars series where you get to block a blast with your lightsaber on occasion, to extremely hard mode where you better learn how to be a Jedi real quick because everything will kill you, including the Stormtroopers for once. Its a challenging mix with a growing universe and an interesting story that's worth experiencing. As long as you're not hung up on the idea that there's little to do with the Skywalkers in this one.

Party Animals

Remember how we talked about party games where you work together? How about one where you work together until you absolutely don't need to? Party animals is a cuddly competition title in which you join up to 10 friends to fight against each other in various party games. You can do teams, groups, or everyone for themselves in challenges. This entire game is just dumb fun. Its a thing to do with friends when you're tired of every other competitive multiplayer game out there. Do you really need to spend 12 hours a day playing a MOBA or an FPS? Or can you take a couple of hours with the same friends and do something silly? We vote strongly for the silly!

Blasphemous 2

Do you enjoy being punished over and over again for the simplest mistakes? Then you'll probably get a kick out of Blasphemous 2. Unlike other games where you die from the tiniest thing and then come back to try again, this one actually makes you feel like you're progressing each time instead of just constantly running into a wall of pain. The character from the first game has been awakened yet again to find the world altered, as you must seek out answers and kill everything in your path to find out what brought you back from the dead. Hey, there are people out there who are glutons for punishment. Just ask anyone who has ever played Elden Ring. This is their type of poison.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder

Super Mario Bros. Wonder is a perfect example of someone saying, "What if we made a Mario game that wasn't a Mario game?" For the first time in a long time, the heads at Nintendo let one of their teams go off the rails and basically made a video game that was both familiar and unique at the same time. There are some mechanics here that, if you happen to play ROM hacks or any of the popular Kaizo titles out there, you'll recognize some of them real quick. But for a lot of players who stick to vanilla Nintendo titles, this is all brand-new territory! Not a lot of complaints about this one; only annoyance that some of the hardest of the hard challenges gave us a twitchy eye.

Goodbye Volcano High

There are certain games that tear a hole into you and plunge you into feelings you thought were long buried. Goodbye Volcano High is one of those games as it serves to be a narrative adventure that explore the lives of teenage dinosaurs in their last year of high school, all while they look above at the impending doom that is a comet hurdling toward them. Is the plot silly? Sure. But the story behind it is one that a lot of people will be able to relate to, as you're taken on a journey of emotions. They explore topics like drugs and alcohol, queer life, sexuality, and even death. If that feels like a journey you want to take, we highly recommend checking it out.

AEW Fight Forever

Remember when you were growing up, and you loved playing games like WWF No Mercy or WCW/nWo Revenge? The odds 50/50 with that question because only a certain generation had their hands on an N64 and actually enjoyed it. That spirit was revitalized with AEW Fight Forever, which, to be very blunt, is a wrestling game you don't need to think about. Now, that may come off as petty or insulting, but seriously, compare this to WWE 2K23. We're not saying the WWE title is a bad game, but how many systems do I need to learn in order to not lose a match? There's a big difference between learning a game and being forced to learn a game. AEW Fight Forever cuts a lot of that out and takes it back to just picking a character and beating up your friend's character, with modern wrestlers. If you're a pro-wrestling fan looking for simplicity, this is it.

Fire Emblem Engage

On occasion, the Fire Emblem series manages to do something that feels different. This time, they went down the tactical RPG route and created a system that, while in many ways feel like previous games of the same genre, also feels like an entirely new experience tied to this IP. And maybe that's all it really needed. A different coat of paint on a car you've been driving for years. The story is kind of so-so, it's not one of their more epic adventures, and at times can feel a bit boring and repetitive. But Fire Emblem fans seem to forgive it because the gameplay is pretty dope.

RoboCop: Rogue City

RoboCop: Rogue City is the game we should have had a decade ago, but it probably wouldn't have looked as good, and we'd be making fun of it today while also wishing for a remake. Sometimes you have to wait for something this fun to come around. This is a straight-up first-person shooter arcade game in which you play the iconic '80s action hero in the middle of the biggest crime wave Detroit has ever seen. It's not the most perfect video game out there, and that's fine because it's meant to be cheesy and bloody and very '80s by design. Just sit down, shut up, play the first few chapters, and tell us you don't want to see how the story plays out.

Hi-Fi Rush

Hi-Fi Rush is the game you should be praising and putting into Game Of The Year talks, but you haven't because everyone practically forgot this thing existed after February. Seriously, Bethesda created a winner that came out of nowhere and looked like one of the best games of the year. And then they completely dropped the ball on promoting it because they immediately dove into hyping up Starfield. It literally felt like a flash-in-the-pan game that should have been a much bigger deal. The game has you playing as a wannabe rockstar and his friends, taking on hordes of robots to awesome musical numbers. It's basically Scott Pilgrim if you replaced the relationships with an evil corporation.

Viewfinder

We like to believe Viewfinder was created in the middle of a very long psychedelic session. Like how people used to write issues of Doctor Strange on LSD. The game bends reality with the help of a camera that allows you to take pictures at certain angles and depths of view to create new pathways and connecting points. It's the artistic thinker's puzzler, and we're very happy it exists. If you're looking for a brainteaser on an epic level, this is your game.

Cocoon

This game is a trip as you're essentially playing the Russian nesting dolls version of parallel worlds. You just constantly dive into different worlds where you get smaller and smaller to solve puzzles, then go back to the bigger worlds to solve more puzzles that unravel themselves as you progress. Every world has something new to test your problem-solving skills, and the best part is that it never gets dull. Repetitive, yes. But never dull. This is one of those brain-teaser games where you know you're learning problem-solving skills in a unique way, but you don't tell people that because its a video game and learning in a game isn't supposed to be cool. (It is, but we pretend it isn't.) It's a good game to get for people who love mental challenges.

Venba

Venba isn't the longest game on the list. It's not the most in-depth on the list. It's not even the biggest indie game on this list. What it is, however, is an exploration into the life of a family where cooking brings them together. Once in a while, you need a game that brings a little warmth to your heart. The story is great, the cooking challenges are fun, and the feelings you get from this game will last with you for a while.

Diablo IV

The Diablo title everyone was screaming about for a decade finally came out this year, despite Blizzard being in the middle of three different controversies and dealing with an acquisition. They managed to pull it off in pretty decent fashion. There's been some stumbles along the way, but it doesn't make the game any less fun. It's about as demonic, gloomy, and terrifying as you would expect from the series, all created with a modern look that brings some familiar dreadful faces to life. But ultimately, you're either into Diablo IV or you're not. You know which friends and family dig this kind of game, and you know whether you like it or not. It's fun to jump into, but not fun to force on people who just don't care if Lilith bleeds the world dry and plunges it into neverending fire.

Star Trek Infinite

There are a few good Star Trek titles out there right now. But for those of us who grew up during The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, and Voyager era of the franchise, this game hits home. An era where the Klingons were warry allies, the Romulans have returned, the Cardassians are of a dying empire, and everyone is in fear of The Borg and The Dominion. You get to take one of the four main factions of the Alpha Quadrant as you play out an alternative timeline that uses the same characters but in different ways. It's a good action strategy simulator with nostalgia mixed in.

Chants of Sennaar

Every now and then, you get a really artistic game that you look at and think shouldn't be a game. It should be living art hanging up somewhere, showing people what you can do with a video game. Chants of Sennaar falls right into that category. Sometimes, when you play this, you forget you are in a game. You're in a village where people no longer communicate with each other, but like all cursed places, there is a prophecy that you're now uncovering to see if you can break the silence. The different colors, music choices, and settings all make this an amazing game worth checking out.

WarioWare: Move It!

Do you like being commanded by a crazy guy in a hat with his first initial on it? While I wouldn't call this the best game in the series, WarioWare: Move It! is still fun by a long stretch compared to many other games. And it's one of the few that actually makes use of the joy-cons as individual controllers. Seriously! How much time did Nintendo put into hyping up the idea that these controllers would bring about a new wave of gaming ingenuity? Only to have about 95% of the titles they produce use a regular controller configuration. At least they made titles like Nintendo Switch Sports, Everybody 1-2-Switch!, and Ring Fit Adventure, all of which utilize the joy-cons being separated from the system. But here, it feels like a genuine use of the mechanics and a real competition between friends.

Dredge

This is the fishing simulator game for Lovecraftian fans. It is a warped title in which you go look for fish that are beyond this world, sell them to people for money, and damn the consequences of horror you have wrought onto the world in the process. The game is deranged fun as, at a certain point, you know the horror you're bringing back to shore. But who cares? Daddy needs a new boat, a better fishing line, better bait, and other tools to bring home an angler fish that can see through dimensions. It's one of the best weird titles of 2023 and worth the time to check out.

Octopath Traveler 2

Sometimes, you just need a classic RPG to dive into for four to six months and just get lost in the story and the grind. Octopath Traveler 2 did a good job of taking the original format and turning it on its ear a bit for a brand-new story. It comes with all of the tropes you've come to expect from RPG titles since Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy VI, but with a hint of modernism and an art style that still makes us smile. Go find an area with water and just bask in the wonder of how they made it look realistic within that setting without trying too hard. Definitely worth getting if you're an RPG lover.

House Flipper 2

There is a large chunk of the gaming audience who love simulator games, specifically games where you get to make something over. It's what made PowerWash Simulator a hot title last year, and continues to make it a hot title this year as it moves into VR. But there is a diehard fanbase for House Flipper, and the amount of attention this game got when it was being talked about all the way to release was stunning. Especially in an economy where none of us can afford to own a home, let alone rip one apart for resale. But hey, you can live out your fantasy of taking some decrepit shack, putting a fresh coat of paint on it, and charging $800k for it like you're renovating San Francisco.

Dave The Diver

We could not praise this game enough when it dropped for being so original and off-the-wall. Picture this: By day, you're a rotund diver who gets exotic fish, and by night, you cut those fish up and serve them at a sushi restaurant boat with your friends. Oh, and there are a lot of madcap adventures in the middle of all this, like finding treasure, battling exotic underwater creatures, and even finding a hidden world under the sea that looks nothing like The Little Mermaid. This game has six genres attached to it, and none of them do it justice when describing it. Just dive into it and let the water guide your chubby flippers where they may.

Jackbox Party Pack 10

Jackbox Games have found their formula. Every year, they make four new games, bring back one from the past, and package them into a new Party Pack that comes out every Fall. Everyone has their favorite number because there are certain titles that just stick with you. JPP10 feels like one of those that will stick with you a bit longer, primarily because they brought back Tee K.O. with a new sequel that gives you better options. Plus, the chance to put some of the foulest design combinations you and your friends come up with on a shirt that you can print and have shipped to you to wear. It's like you own TeeFury.

Armored Core 6

Do you like mechanized warfare but don't have time to wait for the new MechWarrior game to come out? Armored Core 6 was THE mech game this year, but holy crap, was it hard as hell. Taking more of a Soulslike influence than ever before, the game basically has enemies that punish you over and over for even making the smallest bit of progress. The story is intriguing, the characters are cool to interact with, and the plot of you being a random cog in the wheel that no one expected to encounter is amazing. Not to mention the gameplay that almost gives you an open world to explore in every mission with tons of destructible areas was a chef's kiss. But this isn't for the faint of heart. You gotta be willing to put up with a lot and be dedicated to figuring out every enemy's starts and weak points. If that's your cup of tea, sip away!

Pikmin 4

Once every few years, people ask for a new Pikmin title. They don't get one, and then suddenly they do, and it's a whole new way to fall in love with the series again. Depending on who you ask, this is either a pinnacle of achievement in the franchise, or it's the same 'ol thing with new mechanics and a new pet. Either way, it's basically designed to be silly fun with a familiar system and some fresh things to experiment with. Some of it works, some of it doesn't, but it's not boring, and it fits into the family title realm. Just in case you're looking for a game you all can play.

The Legend Of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

The fact that a sequel can overshadow the original so much that it makes players actively say they will never play the first game ever again is one hell of an achievement. But that's what The Legend Of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom did to people. For months, those who were playing this multi-layered, multi-faceted, multi-constructive title were comparing the two and were pontificating on how glorious this game is by comparison. Nintendo managed to achieve greatness in the franchise just by taking a game they already had, building more on top of it and underneath it over the course of five years, and telling a new story with this particular tale's origins of Ganon. It's one of the best Zelda games ever made, but its also looooooooooooooooong. So, be ready to dive into this for the next several months.

Marvel's Spider-Man 2

Remember what we said about PS5 owners complaining they don't have enough exclusive titles? You guys got a banger in Marvel's Spider-Man 2 that we won't see on PC and Xbox until next Christmas. Stop complaining about it. The real complaints should be aimed at the story, which at times doesn't make a whole lot of sense and will drive people who thrive on the canonical comic book adventures insane. However, as Ruby Rhod once said… "BUT WHO CARES?!" The game lets you swing around as Spider-Man in Manhattan, times two as you get Peter Parker and Miles Morales. This is the comic book game of the year. …if you have a PS5.

Super Mario RPG

And to end this list, nostalgia. Because there's been plenty of nostalgia in this list with remakes, so we might as well end on one people have been screaming to get for years. Well, kinda. What we were actually asking for was to just get the original 1997 title on Nintendo Switch Online. (Which, as of when this is being written, Nintendo STILL hasn't done. How did we get Mario's Super Picross before Super Mario RPG?) That said, it was both shocking and delightful to know we'd be getting a modernized version of the game, following in the same footsteps as The Legend Of Zelda: Link's Awakening. It has some cool additions and some weird ones, but for the most part, the game is practically the same, even including the super-secret boss we won't tell you about if you don't know. If you want nostalgia with a spit-shine to it, this is your game.

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