With 2023 now being here, this means now is as good a time as any to highlight some of the most anticipated video games of this year to look forward to.
Hogwarts Legacy
It’s been quite some time since we’ve had a licensed Wizarding World video game, so it was a refreshing announcement way back in 2020 when we caught wind of Hogwarts Legacy, a fantasy RPG game set within the Harry Potter universe, albeit set several decades prior to the film franchise.
As of now, we only have to wait less than two months until we can get our little muggle hands on this surely massive open-world adventure game.
With character creation, spells, mythical beasts, and familiar Wizarding World locations, in addition to previously unseen locations, Hogwarts Legacy is a game that is no doubt on everybody’s radar at the moment.
Hogwarts Legacy is currently set to be released on February 10, 2023 for Xbox Series S/X, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch.
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Starfield
Fans of Bethesda Game Studios have been waiting over seven years for the next Single-Player Open-World RPG ever since the release of 2015’s Fallout 4.
Starfield looks to fill the massive Bethesda-shaped hole that gamers have been left with over the years.
Set in a brand-new universe, Starfield throws players into enormous space-themed world centuries into the future, teeming with factions, quests, and environments to be explored.
Those familiar with The Elder Scrolls and Fallout games will know the sort of thing to expect: you go out on an adventure to liberate the world from an antagonistic force whilst taking on side quests and exploration along the way.
Based on Bethesda’s track record with Single-Player RPG’s, Starfield could easily be one of the biggest games of the decade so far. Let’s just hope that it doesn’t get delayed again.
Starfield is currently set to be released in the first half of 2023 for Xbox Series S/X and Microsoft Windows.
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Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League
A strong departure from Rocksteady’s usual formula, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League takes place in the same universe as the much-loved Batman: Arkham games and follows DC supervillains Harley Quinn, Captain Boomerang, Deadshot, and King Shark as they set out on a suicide mission to wipe out a brainwash Justice League.
As of writing, no gameplay has been released, however, what is known is that players can take on any of the four main characters and will likely follow a similar combat style to that of its Arkham predecessors.
The late Kevin Conroy will also return to his iconic portrayal as Batman for one last time.
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is currently set to be released on May 26, 2023 for Xbox Series S/X, PlayStation 5, and Microsoft Windows.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
It’s crazy to think that it has been almost six years since the release of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and yet, its spiritual sequel is right on our doorstep.
Following in the visual and mechanical footprints of its 2017 predecessor, Tears of the Kingdom will follow heroic franchise protagonist Link on his next quest to protect the land of Hyrule from whatever obstacles are thrown his way.
Expect new abilities, environments, and dungeons to explore in what will surely be one of Nintendo’s biggest video games of the decade so far.
We’ve already seen Link soar between floating islands similar to 2011’s Skyward Sword, so who’s to say what other returning mechanics await.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is currently set to be released on May 12, 2023 for Nintendo Switch.
Dead Island 2
After infamously being in development hell for several years, it seems almost impossible to believe that the zombie action game Dead Island 2 will finally be released in 2023.
Set over a decade after the events of 2011’s Dead Island, Dead Island 2 stands out from its predecessor by taking place in the major city of Los Angeles which has been quarantined due to a zombie outbreak.
In terms of gameplay, trailers and footage have shown a resemblance to the original game, with first-person shooting and slashing that made the original famous back with stunning new visuals and gruesome gore, alongside new mechanics introduced such as a “rage” and crafting system.
Variations to weapons seem to have hit a new high with electrified katanas and bear claws that show clear inspiration from Dying Light taking centre stage.
Dead Island 2 is currently set to be released on April 28, 2023 for Xbox Series S/X, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Windows.
These are just some of the many games to look forward to in 2023.
Tweet us @platformonline to let us know what game you’re most excited about!
Lead image: Sean Do on Unsplash