Video Games
Year in Review - 2023
The List
(new to me in 2023)
I spent more time watching games than playing games in 2023.
2023 was a continuation of a trend that has been taking place ever since I was a teenager.
Thinking back on my relationship to video games, I’ve gone through a series of distinct arcs. It’s hard to place the first video game memory, but I know that my love for games was instilled through a combination of playing Goldeneye at my cousin’s house, the copy of Backyard Baseball that was given to me for an early birthday, and the countless hours spent playing Pokémon on a Gameboy Advance. Games were both novel and hard to come by, so I was understandably obsessed with each game I came across, really squeezing out the most of each experience, helping to shape my tastes and preferences.
Roughly two decades later, I now occupy a world of abundance. I own a Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and a gaming PC, each with a hefty backlog of games that I have yet to play or complete. Video game media has evolved as well, with an entire industry built around tracking the release and development of new games across YouTube, Reddit, and Twitter. Again, it is hard to place exactly where my love of this media began, but I know that the Original Xbox Magazine and Kinda Funny’s launch in 2017 were big influences.
All that is to say that I am highly aware of the video game scene nowadays, but perhaps too aware - somewhat perversely I am now spending more time following video game news and watching video game news/reviews online than I am actually playing them!
I’d like that to change that in 2024.
Somewhere along the way, playing video games has sometimes felt like work rather than play. This was never the case when I was younger. I think this has happened for a few reasons: firstly, not every game, let alone genre, is novel, and I often know what to expect from the experience, which takes some of the joy from novelty away; secondly, games have gotten more complicated, requiring a greater investment of focus and investment to really get the most out of them, conflicting with my busy life; and lastly, my attention span has no doubt been hampered by allowing myself to be too “online”.
When I did sit down to invest myself in new games in 2023, I generally had a great time! There are so many brilliant and creative experiences still out there, and plenty of games that I would love to explore with Mara. My focus for 2024 is to focus on fewer, creative experiences, games that I know will challenge me.
And my 2023 Game of the Year is…
God of War: Ragnarok
Despite coming out in November of 2022, I only found time to play the God of War sequel in January of this year, during a much needed reprieve from school. Almost a year later, God of War was one of the games I was still playing, by virtue of its extremely impressive free DLC, Valhalla, which gave renewed life to an already brilliant game.
That says a lot about how good this game is. As a sequel, it expands and innovates on the original game, which had already set such a high bar. Playing this game was familiar - I knew the combat system and the storytelling framework - but consistently surprised with its innovations - new weapons, clever character arcs, jaw-dropping level design.
There are so many aspects of God of War: Ragnarok that truly blew me away while playing, but for the purposes of this reflection, there is one I want to highlight - world building. When I found out that Amazon had bought the rights to God of War for an eventual TV show, I was unmoved. I’m inherently skeptical of television or movie adaptations of video games (though a special shout out to The Last of Us which somewhat changed that narrative this year). After playing through the game, however, I was so impressed by the depth of the character writing, performances, and heft of the story’s moral dilemmas and wisdom that I came away stoked for the idea of an eventual tv show.
Simply put, the story and characters are so impressive, rich, and complicated. I’ve never been someone particularly into mythology, but the way this material is presented gives such a compelling weight to these Norse and Greek mythologies that I would gladly watch an adaptation that paid reverence to the game’s unique fusion of fantasy, mythology, and introspection.
The best part? There will be yet another successor game in this series, which means I am far from done getting to roam the brilliant worlds and incredible storytelling that God of War is sure to deliver.
What I’m Most Excited For in 2024…
Frostpunk 2
PC
The original Frostpunk is one of my favorite resource management games. The gameplay is simple and compelling, but what really stands out about the experience is how connected the game makes you feel to your settlement. This one' has been in development for a while, so I’d hope the developers have plans to extensively expand on the lore of the world, and the strategic and moral decisions the player has to make.
EA Sports: College Football (Untitled)
Multi-Platform
I was obsessed with NCAA 13, one of the last games in this series to come out before it was stopped for licensing reasons. I and many others have long been awaiting its return, which is all but confirmed for next summer. I also just miss sports games, it’s been a long time since I’ve gotten sucked into a full season run through.
Hades 2
Multiplatform
Admittedly, I never beat the original Hades, though I did really enjoy the time I spent with it. I’m hoping to find time to try and beat the original before the sequel comes out later next year, but I am sure the sequel will provide surprises and improvements on an already great formula. All that and roguelikes are probably my favorite genre now.
Baldur’s Gate III
PS5
Like many in this era of gaming, I’ve had a Bioware sized hole in my heart for some time. I grew up on games like Dragon Age: Origins, and the Mass Effect trilogy of games are some of my all-time favorites. Though I’ve never been particularly into D&D, I am very excited about a game that I know will deliver incredible storytelling no matter my choices or playing style. I am in awe of how many awards this game has won, and very excited to treasure my time with it.
The Last of Us: Part II
Remastered
PS5
When this first came out in June of 2020, I played it straight through the weekend, not stopping until the credits rolled. I left that experience emotionally and physically exhausted, but amazed at the power of the storytelling. Beyond simply experiencing that again, and preparing myself for a new season of the brilliant television adaptation, I am particularly excited about the new roguelike mode they’ve been working on. And all that for a $10 upgrade!