crim's extremely late Top...just about 10-ish or so games of 2023

[crimson_tide]

OK, finally have a moment and before I start my next big summer game, I wanted to get this done. First, honorable mentions:

Immortals: Fenyx Rising - So I keep going back to this on my Steam Deck after having tried again last summer. I kinda love it now. The humor is...something but I like the overall lighthearted tone. I am hoping to have it done by the end of the year.

Hot Wheels Unleashed: I am currently toying with the idea of buying the second one because the only issue with this game is there is no actual story mode. It's very much just racing. I need a hook and goals to hit. But i really like it a lot.

DQ Builders 2: If you don't own this or haven't played it, do that. NOW. This game is ****ing delightful! I keep meandering away from it because RGG puts something else out and I HAVE to play those. But this is one of the first games I think of when people say 'charm'. I don't Minecraft or craft at all but I will in DQ Builders 2.

Soul Calibur 6 Libra of Souls: Alright, you just pick things off a map, watch little dialogue that's not particularly well written and have a bunch of fights. It's not great but I do love it and go back to it all the time.

Shadowrun Returns: Another game saved by Steam Deck. It just clicked on that system. I think the touchscreen and mouse controls help immensely. I am about a third through and it's been a much better ride than on PS4.

Save Room: I almost forgot this game! I got the platinum almost by accident but I can't place it fairly on the list. It's the last game I played with my cat You before she passed. It's a special memory just having her chill on the couch watching me play. But I really dug this puzzle game based exclusively around the attache case from RE4 and wanted to shout it out even though I ain't ranking it.

Main event time:

10) Cosmic Star Heroine: I found this entire game to be insufferable. The main character really grated me for some reason. All of the good guys are just too cool and it's not effortless and natural. They say cool things and bully the bad guys because clearly the creators want you to think their cool but no. It's like Drake or Anderson Paak, I know chucklehead nerds when I see them. There's no hiding it. Also it's really easy and uninteresting. I don't get the indie love for this game. It's not good. It's an easy 2 out of 5 stars. It's competent. That's all I'll give it.

9) TMNT 3 The Manhattan Project: It's too long. Me and the kid sat there playing this thing and it took well over 90 minutes. It just got boring. It wasn't snappy like the actual arcade/16 bit games or Shredder's Revenge (which the kid LOVES even though it's even longer). It should have been under an hour. This just dragged on and the kid got super bored because it was extremely repetitive. I can see from a craft standpoint why people like this but I won't be going back.

8) Batman Return to Arkham: I think I now like Asylum better now. They both have meh boss fights which is really disappointing (I used to think Freeze was cool in City but not this playthrough). Great atmosphere and combat throughout. I didn't install Knight. I don't like that game. **** that stupid car.

7) The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog: Of course this is the first game I beat in on my Steam Deck! It's basic but cute as **** and has a bunch of fan service nonsense. It's short but a real treat throughout. I enjoyed my short time with this free game.

6) Pocket Fighter: The kid LOVES this game. It is the most requested and makes the list purely as the mechanism I can teach her fighting games through. Also, it's all kinds of adorable.

5) Turtles in Time SNES: Oh this is one big beefy boy that did not miss a beat. The kid loved throwing foot soldiers at the screen and the ease of the controls. I loved the varied boss fights and dumb time travel theming. A good time was had by all!

4) Vampire Survivors: This MIGHT have actually been the top of the heap in most other years. I LOVE this game. I play it on and off all the time and it was the only game I played on my Steam Deck for about 2 weeks before I really tried anything else (save The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog of course. I played this once I finished playing that. Was a good Xmas). It's got a great, easy to follow loop and requires none of your attention and all of it at the same time. Homeboy with the knives is my main. This is a definite stranded island style game.

3) Like A Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name: Another top of the pile any other year but JUST missed it. It was a tough year, lots of bangers! I cried like a goddamn baby at the end of this. It hit me so hard! I just wanted to jump into the tv and hug it out with Kazuma. It's a very short Yakuza style game and the sidequests are basic (save for one with some special guest stars). The gadgets are fine. The tournament and pleasure boat ideas are cool. Dressing Kazuma up is hilarious. I really loved Joryu's commitment to the bit (which actually gets touched on in Infinite Wealth, my man's word is his bond). The story is good and ties nicely into the original Like A Dragon. All in all, a solid little entry.

1) Huntdown: No, I didn't skip one. I just refuse to choose. I love both of these games in two totally different ways. Huntdown is just Gunstar Heroes with the ultraviolence of 80's action movies with the aesthetic of Blade Runner. The levels are fun, enemies varied (there are 4 main bosses and the enemies are themed after them). The bosses are the high point. Apart from the final boss who quotes The Last Dragon, the Unholy Goalie is a real standout. It's literally just the Ultimate Warrior as a hockey player and I picked up everything this game was putting down. I want a sequel so bad...just like I would like for...

1) Marvel's Midnight Suns: I put so much time into this game. I loved it. There is literally ONE bad line in this game that I have no idea how it got in there (the main character bumps into someone in NYC and the person retorts 'Yo, I'm walkin' here!' which has never ONCE happened in this city). After that ONE line, this deck builder is just aces. The writing in this game is so, so, so GOOD! Which is great because you will be talking to Marvel superheroes A LOT. The deck building combat is great but the character building bits are great as well. The game was paced to my liking so I can focus on getting good at the combat or go plan a surprise birthday party for Magik then attend Captain America's book club to watch the burgeoning romance of Blade and Captain Marvel. It all clicks! Even the DLC has its own smaller story that compliments the larger narrative. Almost 120 hour later, I was mad it was over. I love this game.

Well, that's my 2023 list! Spoiler for 2024: It's all Mega Man and Infinite Wealth at the top, hands down, full stop.

[jfissel]

Nice list! I haven't played a lot of games you mentioned, but keep at Immortals: Fenyx Rising and DQ Builders 2. Glad to see Like a Dragon Gaiden up there.

[isthatallyougot]

OK, finally have a moment and before I start my next big summer game, I wanted to get this done. First, honorable mentions:

Immortals: Fenyx Rising - So I keep going back to this on my Steam Deck after having tried again last summer. I kinda love it now. The humor is...something but I like the overall lighthearted tone. I am hoping to have it done by the end of the year.

Hot Wheels Unleashed: I am currently toying with the idea of buying the second one because the only issue with this game is there is no actual story mode. It's very much just racing. I need a hook and goals to hit. But i really like it a lot.

DQ Builders 2: If you don't own this or haven't played it, do that. NOW. This game is ****ing delightful! I keep meandering away from it because RGG puts something else out and I HAVE to play those. But this is one of the first games I think of when people say 'charm'. I don't Minecraft or craft at all but I will in DQ Builders 2.

Soul Calibur 6 Libra of Souls: Alright, you just pick things off a map, watch little dialogue that's not particularly well written and have a bunch of fights. It's not great but I do love it and go back to it all the time.

Shadowrun Returns: Another game saved by Steam Deck. It just clicked on that system. I think the touchscreen and mouse controls help immensely. I am about a third through and it's been a much better ride than on PS4.

Save Room: I almost forgot this game! I got the platinum almost by accident but I can't place it fairly on the list. It's the last game I played with my cat You before she passed. It's a special memory just having her chill on the couch watching me play. But I really dug this puzzle game based exclusively around the attache case from RE4 and wanted to shout it out even though I ain't ranking it.

Main event time:

10) Cosmic Star Heroine: I found this entire game to be insufferable. The main character really grated me for some reason. All of the good guys are just too cool and it's not effortless and natural. They say cool things and bully the bad guys because clearly the creators want you to think their cool but no. It's like Drake or Anderson Paak, I know chucklehead nerds when I see them. There's no hiding it. Also it's really easy and uninteresting. I don't get the indie love for this game. It's not good. It's an easy 2 out of 5 stars. It's competent. That's all I'll give it.

9) TMNT 3 The Manhattan Project: It's too long. Me and the kid sat there playing this thing and it took well over 90 minutes. It just got boring. It wasn't snappy like the actual arcade/16 bit games or Shredder's Revenge (which the kid LOVES even though it's even longer). It should have been under an hour. This just dragged on and the kid got super bored because it was extremely repetitive. I can see from a craft standpoint why people like this but I won't be going back.

8) Batman Return to Arkham: I think I now like Asylum better now. They both have meh boss fights which is really disappointing (I used to think Freeze was cool in City but not this playthrough). Great atmosphere and combat throughout. I didn't install Knight. I don't like that game. **** that stupid car.

7) The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog: Of course this is the first game I beat in on my Steam Deck! It's basic but cute as **** and has a bunch of fan service nonsense. It's short but a real treat throughout. I enjoyed my short time with this free game.

6) Pocket Fighter: The kid LOVES this game. It is the most requested and makes the list purely as the mechanism I can teach her fighting games through. Also, it's all kinds of adorable.

5) Turtles in Time SNES: Oh this is one big beefy boy that did not miss a beat. The kid loved throwing foot soldiers at the screen and the ease of the controls. I loved the varied boss fights and dumb time travel theming. A good time was had by all!

4) Vampire Survivors: This MIGHT have actually been the top of the heap in most other years. I LOVE this game. I play it on and off all the time and it was the only game I played on my Steam Deck for about 2 weeks before I really tried anything else (save The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog of course. I played this once I finished playing that. Was a good Xmas). It's got a great, easy to follow loop and requires none of your attention and all of it at the same time. Homeboy with the knives is my main. This is a definite stranded island style game.

3) Like A Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name: Another top of the pile any other year but JUST missed it. It was a tough year, lots of bangers! I cried like a goddamn baby at the end of this. It hit me so hard! I just wanted to jump into the tv and hug it out with Kazuma. It's a very short Yakuza style game and the sidequests are basic (save for one with some special guest stars). The gadgets are fine. The tournament and pleasure boat ideas are cool. Dressing Kazuma up is hilarious. I really loved Joryu's commitment to the bit (which actually gets touched on in Infinite Wealth, my man's word is his bond). The story is good and ties nicely into the original Like A Dragon. All in all, a solid little entry.

1) Huntdown: No, I didn't skip one. I just refuse to choose. I love both of these games in two totally different ways. Huntdown is just Gunstar Heroes with the ultraviolence of 80's action movies with the aesthetic of Blade Runner. The levels are fun, enemies varied (there are 4 main bosses and the enemies are themed after them). The bosses are the high point. Apart from the final boss who quotes The Last Dragon, the Unholy Goalie is a real standout. It's literally just the Ultimate Warrior as a hockey player and I picked up everything this game was putting down. I want a sequel so bad...just like I would like for...

1) Marvel's Midnight Suns: I put so much time into this game. I loved it. There is literally ONE bad line in this game that I have no idea how it got in there (the main character bumps into someone in NYC and the person retorts 'Yo, I'm walkin' here!' which has never ONCE happened in this city). After that ONE line, this deck builder is just aces. The writing in this game is so, so, so GOOD! Which is great because you will be talking to Marvel superheroes A LOT. The deck building combat is great but the character building bits are great as well. The game was paced to my liking so I can focus on getting good at the combat or go plan a surprise birthday party for Magik then attend Captain America's book club to watch the burgeoning romance of Blade and Captain Marvel. It all clicks! Even the DLC has its own smaller story that compliments the larger narrative. Almost 120 hour later, I was mad it was over. I love this game.

Well, that's my 2023 list! Spoiler for 2024: It's all Mega Man and Infinite Wealth at the top, hands down, full stop.

Nice list and reviews crim! I am curious about The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog, even though I'm a complete noob relative to the series. I added it back when it released, but I have a feeling I would be completely lost.

Nice to see you enjoyed Huntdown so much. It has been on my wishlist, but never picked it up. Good to know it's so excellent.

Also, I know argyle also really enjoyed Vampire Survivors, and I have it in my backlog, but for whatever reason I only recently fired up Halls of Torment, which many have compared to VS apparently. I have read that there are some significant differences, art-style aside, but it has overwhelmingly positive reviews on Steam and I can see why. That ish is digital crack, apparently like VS, lol. If you have a hankering for another entry in this genre, keep it on your list. I've already put close to 5 hours in it, and I just started yesterday (or the day before - time guts fuzzy in my aging brain. ) Anyway, *super* fun game, although I'm not sure about the longevity. It's a make numbers-go-up power fantasy, but the window dressing on that structure is really compelling. It's in early access for a couple more months it seems, but there is a ton of content prior to 1.0 from what I've read.

[canedaddy]

Well done!

I just added Huntdown to my wish list. Sounds fantastic.

Supposedly Vampire Survivors is headed to PS4/PS5 this year. Cannot wait to check it out.

I need to get back to DQ Builders 2. I was loving it but got pulled away by Ghost of Tsushima.

[argyle]

Awesome pics, and yes - Vampire Survivors slaps. It's one of those games I'll play constantly for a couple weeks or so, put it down, then go back to it a few months later & do it again.

[isthatallyougot]

For my pc bros (I guess just argyle and crim) who enjoyed Vampire Survivors, you really ought to give Halls of Torment a look. I haven't fired up VS yet, but I will. I have heard many that feel this compares favorably to that. I know there are differences. (apparently you can't aim in VS? for one thing) Anyway, it's an audio visual feast for the senses and just a really fun time. Here's a few screens from some recent runs:

[crimson_tide]

Depending on the character and weapon, you can aim but you don't press anything to attack. Everything is on cooldowns you don't see. Sounds annoying as hell but it's actually pretty damn fun to turn everything but movement and picking upgrades over. I will look into this game, thanks izzy.