Like many gamers, you don’t necessarily have an unlimited budget to explore all the games released this year. And suffice it to say, there was an election in 2023! As Christmas approaches, we present to you the three mainstream AAA games that, in our eyes, deserve to end up under the tree.
Photo credit: Sony
Photo credit: SonyAs you know, the end-of-year holidays are fast approaching and like many gamers, you are probably treating yourself or someone to a video game under the Christmas tree. Only and how many Your budget is not unlimited And you don’t necessarily have to spend hundreds of pounds to play all the major titles coming out in 2023.
And suffice it to say that this year there was a choice between The Legend of Zelda: Tears of The Kingdom, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, Starfield, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, FIFA 24 or even Alan Wake 2, Mario Wonder or Resident Evil 4 Remake. And again, these few titles represent a fraction of video game releases in 2023.
But then, Which game to choose if your bank account doesn’t allow you to play more than one? After our list of the three best portable consoles and our selection of the best independent games on a budget, you will find them in this file The three must-play mainstream AAA games this year.
The ultimate superhero game: Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Price : €79.99
platform : PS5
lifespan : between 8 p.m. and 30 p.m
Photo credit: Sony
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 undoubtedly remains one of the big releases at the end of 2023. With the new title from Insomniac Games The PS5 gets another impressive exclusivity. Yes, this sequel takes the solid foundations of the first part and the spin-off Miles Morales, but improves on this formula in all respects: more generous, more spectacular, more beautiful, better written, more demanding in the fights…
And if we think of New York as our playground again, the Big Apple has never been so vibrant. Thanks to the power of the PS5, the city is full of NPCs going about their business, the traffic is finally realistic with hundreds of cars on the screen… In short, New York is the star of this Spider-Man 2. And what about the movement mechanics? Exciting in the first episode, they reach a higher level thanks to the Delta webs, A type of wingsuit that allows you to fly between skyscrapers at lightning speed. As for the clashes, they have increased in intensity and difficulty thanks to more numerous and varied opponents and new entertaining combat techniques (parries, symbiote powers, new gadgets, etc.).
For players who:
- I want to take on the role of Spider-Man
- love spectacular games
- are looking for a calibrated but highly effective experience
The last great game on the Switch: Zelda Tears of the Kingdom
Price : €59.99
platform : Nintendo Switch
lifespan : Between 25 hours and 10 years (it’s up to you)
Credits: Nintendo
If you own a Nintendo Switch and haven’t yet discovered Link’s latest adventures, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of The Kingdom is a must-have for the Nintendo console. If we do indeed find Breath of The Wild’s open world, this episode marks the difference by offering something to explore the sky, but also the underground of Hyrule. Above all, the title offers a extraordinary freedom of actionthanks to brilliant features like Emprise, a power that allows you Glue the items together.
You only have to watch a few videos on YouTube to see the extent to which Nintendo’s system allows this the craziest creations. Do you want to create a mecha to defeat this goblin camp? It is possible. Want to build an impregnable Mad Max-style tank with spikes and flamethrowers? It is possible. In addition, there is an immense pleasure in exploring, a soundtrack to die for and some truly original gameplay ideasand you have one of the best games released on Switch, period.
For players who:
- are looking for a great adventure game with a huge world to explore
- like to let their creativity run wild
- are not afraid to invest hundreds of hours into a game
The best Star Wars game in a long time: Jedi Survivor
Price : €79.99 for PS5/Xbox Series X, €69.99 for PC
platform : PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC
lifespan : between 8 p.m. and 30 p.m
Credits: EA
After a promising Jedi Fallen Order, the teams at Respawn Entertainment have released a sequel to the adventures of Jedi Cal Kestis. This episode was rated 4.5 out of 5 stars in our columns and ticks all the boxes for an excellent sequel: nicer, bigger, more spacious, simply better. In addition to revisiting the strengths of the first work, Jedi Survivor has the luxury of addressing its predecessor’s few shortcomings (Fast travel, real cosmetic rewards, further customization).
For newbies, we play as Jedi Knight Cal Kestis, who tries to fight the Empire as best he can after surviving Order 66. In Jedi Survivor, You have to travel across the galaxy To find traces of a mythical planet that could very well serve as a home for all the oppressed. The title stands out as an excellent adventure game that combines both Exploration, clever puzzles, platforming and combat absolutely intoxicating thanks to the powers of the Force. The ultimate Jedi experience for all fans of the Star Wars universe.
For players who:
- I want to play a skilled Jedi Knight
- who are fans of the Star Wars universe
- Have a desire for exciting and challenging fights
Recognitions
Of course, other mainstream games also deserve their place in this ranking. We are thinking in particular of the very good remake of Resident Evil 4, the brilliant Alan Wake 2 from the Finnish studio Remedy or even Hogwarts Legacy, the open-world Harry Potter game that ruined everything in early 2023. Here’s why you’ll find some honorable mentions:
- Alan Wake 2 (€59.99): Horror adventure game on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S
- Hogwarts legacy (€59.99 or less, depending on platform): Open-world adventure game in the Harry Potter universe on PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4/PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One
- Resident Evil 4 Remake (€69.99): Horror action game on PS4/PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC
- Armored Core 6: Fire of the Rubicon (€69.99): Mecha game on PS4/PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC
- Super Mario Wonder (€59.99): Mario’s extravagant return to the 2D platform, available exclusively for Nintendo Switch
- Baldur’s Gate 3 (69.99 €): the new essential CRPG reference from Larian Studios for PS5, Xbox Series X (soon to Series S) and PC
Please note that the prices shown may vary greatly, especially due to the numerous special offers on Black Friday or the end of the year holidays.