I played a lot of games in 2023. I also made the decision to keep a log of every game I played every day, (loosely ranked by how much I enjoyed each game that day). I've kept a 'diary' of games I've played before where I semi-regularly wrote a sentence or two about games I enjoyed (or really hated.) But this was the first time I've kept a log of everything.
This was a terrible idea, I was able to extract very little useful information at the end of the year. And attempts to quantify the data were even more confusing and just muddled up mediocre time-fillers I played several times ahead of superb games I binged in one night. In the end it just sapped almost all motivation to write about the games enjoyed,
Needless to say I probably won't repeat it in 2024. I'll have to give some thought to what I'll replace the log with.
Anyway, in order from best to worst...
Top 10
Void Stranger
A Sokoban-esque puzzle game that sneaks in a captivating plot, a challenging and interesting meta-game layer, three other secret sokoban-esque puzzle games, multiple sh... cough
Beyond the novelty of the above sentence, it's genuinely one of the most novel and interesting games of the last few years.
Myhouse.wad
Folder of the year. Myhouse is a package of images and word documents that also includes one of the most highly polished, intriguing, and inventive Doom wads ever.
Mediterranea Inferno
The boys are back in town after two years of Covid enforced seperation. And then there is the sex, drugs, hallucinations and toenail clippings.
A Space For the Unbound
A narrative driven game set in an Indonesian high school where the protagonist's girlfriend suddenly gains the ability to alter reality, and is also cursed by reality alterations not of their own making. Very good setting and story, with a hell of a conclusion.
Baldur's Gate 3
You know all about this. For all it's flaws, it's one of the rare games that feels like the world always reacts to your actions.
Corru.Observer
In a world where Aliens have made first contact and started interacting with human society. And then one day they left and everyone just kind of forgot about it. Why? Enter this living memory cyst and find out.
Coffin of Andy and Leyley
Fucked up in many ways and then some. Also hilarious, and the weird narrative is surprisingly interesting.
Slay The Princess
Love to be ripped apart by my thousand knife GF.
Battlebit Remastered
Simple graphics, complicated shooting, high player counts, maximum fun.
RAMP2023
(Disclaimer: I contributed one map to this.) Nearly 300 Doom maps from the very basic to the obscenely brilliant. And There's a surprisingly detailed meta-game connecting them.
Novelty and Other Awards!
Best Frog Fractions Cinematic Universe Content
Gordy And The Monster Moon
No bizarre secrets. But a short fun pico8 adventure.
Best Maker
I Wanna Maker
Super Mario Maker, but for I wanna be the Guy. Super Cool
The Immortality Pentiment Memorial Inability to Stick The Landing Awards
The Talos Principle 2
Saltsea Chronicles
Underwhelming for polar opposite reasons.
Longest Game
Time Bandit Part 1 - Appendages of the Machine
Metal Gear Solid at Animal Crossing pace. I complained a lot about the technical issues with this game, but those seem to be mostly ironed out. If you want a game that takes a few minutes a day spread over weeks/months, give it a try.
Most Disappointing
Harmony - The Fall of Reverie
This game has a compelling premise; A variety of interesting, fully-realized, and well-acted characters; Incredible animation in parts; And a great soundtrack. Somehow Dontnod managed to turn this into a confusing, boring and barely playable mess. Quite an achievement for a visual novel.
Meet Your Maker
Worst Maker.
Storyteller
10% of a good game.
11 More Good Games You Probably Haven't Played
- Boneraiser Minions
- Midnight Scenes: From The Woods (Play the other Midnight Scenes first. All of them combined are like 2 hours total.)
- Picayune Dreams
- Shadows of Doubt
- Path of Achra
- Sorry We're Open
- The Sirena Expedition
- Buckshot Roulette
- Shards of God
- 24 Killers
- Beton Brutal
