Source:
Insomniac
Games
/
Marvel’s
Spider-Man
2
/
2023
Video
Game
Wrap-Up
2023
was
an
embarrassment
of
riches
for
gamers,
thanks
to
an
endless
supply
of
video
games
dropping
monthly.
Like
we
always
do
this
time,
HHW
Gaming
breaks
down
the
year
in
gaming
while
sharing
our
favorite
games
we
picked
up
the
sticks
for
this
year.
2022
was
a
strong
year
for
video
games
thanks
to
titles
like
God
of
War:
Ragnarok,
Sifu,
and
Elden
Ring,
so
you
would
think
it
would
be
hard
to
top
a
year
full
of
heat.
Welp,
2023,
said
hold
my
beer,
as
it
seemed
like
we
got
banger
after
banger,
leaving
gamers’
backlogs
looking
ridiculously
full.
But
there
was
other
news
in
the
gaming
space
this
year,
so
let’s
quickly
recap
what
went
down.
Xbox
Finally
Had
A
Solid
Year
Source:
JUNG
YEON-JE
/
Getty
Xbox
Series
S
|
X
owners
finally
had
a
reason
to
turn
on
their
consoles
consistently
thanks
to
titles
like
Starfield,
Forza
Motorsport,
Hi-Fi
Rush,
and
other
games
landing
on
Xbox
Game
Pass.
Phil
Spencer
and
his
crew
also
finally
bolstered
its
lineup
by
closing
the
Activision
Blizzard
King
acquisition,
bringing
the
gaming
giant’s
catalog
of
games
into
the
Xbox
library.
We
have
yet
to
see
the
fruits
of
the
deal,
with
Call
of
Duty
still
being
available
on
other
platforms,
an
assurance
it
had
to
make
to
get
the
deal
approved.
While
Call
of
Duty
is
still
a
cross-platform
title,
Xbox
exclusivity
in
the
future
is
still
on
the
table.
There
was
also
the
big
Xbox
Showcase
that
HHW
Gaming
had
the
pleasure
of
attending,
and
based
on
what
was
shown,
the
future
seems
bright
for
Xbox
stans.
It’s
only
up
from
here.
We
hope.
With
new
Xbox
hardware
on
the
way and
games
like
Senua’s
Saga:
Hellblade
II
possibly
coming
in
2024,
the
future
is
bright
for
Team
Green.
PlayStation
Continued
Its
Dominance
Source:
NurPhoto
/
Getty
It
was
another
solid
year
for
PlayStation
and
the
PS5
console.
Thanks
to
its
robust
library
of
exclusives
like
Marvel’s
Spider-Man
2
and
more
leading
to
the
next-gen
console
topping
50
million
sales.
PlayStation
also
launched
a
slimmer
model
of
the
PS5
console
right
on
time
for
the
holiday
season,
the
companion
accessory,
the
PlayStation
Portal,
and
other
accessories.
Source:
Sony
/
PlayStation
5
As
far
as
continuing
that
energy
in
the
new
year,
we’re
not
sure
2024
will
be
as
dominant,
but
maybe
games
like
Final
Fantasy
VII:
Rebirth
can
help
keep
the
momentum
going.
Layoffs
&
Leaks
Source:
Rockstar
Games
/
GTA
6
While
we
can
celebrate
all
the
great
games
that
came,
it
was
not
a
great
year
for
those
who
made
them.
Throughout
the
year,
studios
shuttered,
and
developers
saw
their
jobs
disappear.
There
was
also
the
issue
of
those
pesky
leaks.
Rockstar
Games
and
Insomniac
Studios
were
the
biggest
victims.
Both
studios
are
pretty
good
at
keeping
their
upcoming
slate
of
video
games
close
to
the
chest,
but
hackers
got
their
hands
on
GTA
6
and
the
forthcoming
game
in
Wolverine data
and
leaked
it
on
the
web.
What
a
bummer.
We
hope
that
2024
the
leaks
and
layoffs
will
cease
to
a
minimum.
HHW
Gaming’s
Game
of
The
Year
Source:
Insomniac
Games
/
Marvel’s
Spider-Man
2
Now
that
we
have
the
year
in
games
recapped,
let’s
focus
on
the
games.
Before
we
hop
into
the
list,
we
will
do
something
we
have
not
done
before
and
pick
our
favorite
game
of
the
year.
It’s
pretty
obvious
where
our
choice
is
going,
and
it’s
none
other
than
Marvel’s
Spider-Man
2.
Insomniac
Games
has
again
shown
how
to
make
a
next-gen
video
game.
With
Marvel’s
Spider-Man
2,
the
studio
utilized
one
of
the
world’s
most
popular
comic
book
characters
to
showcase
the
power
of
the
PS5.
Source:
Insomniac
Games
/
Marvel’s
Spider-Man
2
We
got
a
glimpse
of
what
Insomniac
could
do
with
the
arrival
of
Spider-Man:
Miles
Morales
when
the
PS5
first
arrived,
but
little
did
we
know
what
exactly
they
were
cooking
up
with
Spider-Man
2.
Expounding
on
the
first
two
games,
Insomniac
delivered
a
fantastic
story,
featuring
not
one
but
two
friendly
neighborhood
Spider-Man
as
they
each
deal
with
their
private
issues.
Source:
Insomniac
Games
/
Marvel’s
Spider-Man
2
We
can’t
forget
that
this
game
gives
us
the
definitive
Venom
experience
and
a
moment
with
the
anti-hero
that
will
leave
you
yearning
for
more.
So,
we
tip
our
hats
to
Insomniac
Studios.
They
understood
the
assignment,
and
we
can’t
wait
to
play
Wolverine.
The
rest
of
the
games
we
enjoyed
this
year,
hit
the
gallery
below.
—
Photo:
Getty
/
Insomniac
Studios
1.
El
Paso,
Elsewhere
Take
a
one-way
trip
and
buy
the
modern
slow-motion
masterpiece
El
Paso,
Elsewhere
on
PC
and
Xbox.
Neo-noir
never
looked
so
good–and
you
don’t
have
to
take
our
word
for
it.
2.
Dredge
DREDGE
is
a
single-player
fishing
adventure
with
a
sinister
undercurrent.
Sell
your
catch,
upgrade
your
boat,
and
dredge
the
depths
for
long-buried
secrets.
Explore
a
mysterious
archipelago
and
discover
why
some
things
are
best
left
forgotten.
3.
Dead
Space
(2023)
Prepare
to
unravel
a
thrilling
mystery
in
the
darkest
depths
of
space.
When
Isaac
Clarke
and
the
USG
Kellion
were
dispatched
to
repair
the
USG
Ishimura
mining
vessel,
they
had
no
idea
how
quickly
a
routine
mission
could
turn
into
a
complete
nightmare.
What
did
the
Ishimura
crew
discover
in
the
darkness?
What
happened
to
them?
And
what
does
this
mean
for
the
future
of
mankind
itself?
4.
RoboCop:
Rogue
City
Welcome
to
Detroit;
crime
runs
rampant
as
the
city
lies
on
the
edge
of
ruin,
people
fighting
for
scraps
as
others
live
extravagant
lives
of
luxury.
Control
of
the
Detroit
Police
Department
is
given
to
the
Omni
Consumer
Products
corporation
in
an
attempt
to
restore
order.
You
are
that
solution,
RoboCop,
a
cyborg
tasked
with
protecting
the
city.
5.
Final
Fantasy
XVI
“We
don’t
need
your
salvation.
We’ll
save
ourselves.
And
we’ll
do
it
on
our
own
terms.”
Clive
Rosfield
and
his
allies
fight
to
take
back
control
of
their
fate.
What
salvation
can
they
bring
to
Valisthea,
a
land
blessed
by
the
light
of
the
Mothercrystals?
6.
God
of
War
Ragnarök:
Valhalla
Embark
with
Kratos
to
Valhalla
on
a
deeply
personal
and
reflective
journey
towards
a
future
he
never
thought
possible.
Master
challenges
of
mind
and
body
on
an
unraveling
adventure
that
blends
the
beloved
combat
from
God
of
War
Ragnarök
with
brand
new
elements
inspired
by
the
roguelite
genre.
7.
Jusant
Jusant
is
DON’T
NOD’s
highly
anticipated
action-puzzle
climber,
out
on
October
31st,
2023,
on
Steam,
Xbox
Series
X|S,
and
PlayStation
5.
Play
it
day
one
with
Xbox
Game
Pass.
Watch
this
new
gameplay
trailer
to
see
more
climbing,
more
biomes,
and
more
breathtaking
environments.
Enjoy
meditative
vibes
in
Jusant,
an
action-puzzle
climbing
game.
Scale
an
immeasurably
tall
tower
and
ascend
to
new
heights
alongside
your
watery
companion.
Master
your
climbing
tools,
find
your
way
up
through
diverse
biomes,
and
piece
together
the
tower’s
past.
8.
The
Legend
of
Zelda:
Tears
of
The
Kingdom
An
epic
adventure
across
the
land
and
skies
of
Hyrule
awaits
in
The
Legend
of
Zelda™:
Tears
of
the
Kingdom
for
Nintendo
Switch.
The
adventure
is
yours
to
create
in
a
world
fueled
by
your
imagination.
In
this
sequel
to
The
Legend
of
Zelda:
Breath
of
the
Wild,
you’ll
decide
your
own
path
through
the
sprawling
landscapes
of
Hyrule
and
the
mysterious
islands
floating
in
the
vast
skies
above.
Can
you
harness
the
power
of
Link’s
new
abilities
to
fight
back
against
the
malevolent
forces
that
threaten
the
kingdom?
9.
Avatar:
Frontiers
of
Pandora
Become
Na’vi
and
explore
the
Western
Frontier
in
Avatar:
Frontiers
of
Pandora.
You’ll
play
as
a
child
of
two
worlds,
born
Na’vi
but
raised
by
the
RDA.
Fifteen
years
after
your
abduction,
you
are
free,
and
must
reconnect
with
your
lost
heritage.
Meet
new
Na’vi
clans,
learn
their
ways,
and
join
them
to
protect
Pandora
from
the
RDA.
Set
after
the
events
of
the
first
Avatar
film,
you’ll
embark
on
a
journey
across
the
Western
Frontier,
a
never-before-seen
continent
of
Pandora,
as
you
join
other
Na’vi
clans
to
protect
Pandora
from
the
formidable
forces
of
the
RDA. Created
in
collaboration
with
Disney
and
James
Cameron’s
production
company,
Lightstorm
Entertainment,
you
will
experience
a
first-person
open-world
action-adventure
game
exclusively
developed
to
maximize
the
power
of
new-gen
consoles
and
PC.
10.
Assassin’s
Creed
Mirage
In
Assassin’s
Creed
Mirage,
you
are
Basim,
a
cunning
street
thief
with
nightmarish
visions,
seeking
answers
and
justice.
After
an
act
of
deadly
retribution,
Basim
flees
Baghdad
and
joins
an
ancient
organization
–
The
Hidden
Ones.
As
he
learns
their
mysterious
rituals
and
powerful
tenets,
he
will
hone
his
unique
abilities,
discover
his
true
nature,
and
come
to
understand
a
new
Creed
–
one
that
will
change
his
fate
in
ways
he
never
could
have
imagined.
11.
Mortal
Kombat
1
Welcome
to
the
New
Era.
Will
you
fight
for
peace
or
embrace
the
khaos?
It’s
In
Our
Blood.
Discover
a
reborn
Mortal
Kombat
Universe
created
by
Fire
God
Liu
Kang.
Mortal
Kombat
1
ushers
in
a
new
era
of
the
iconic
franchise
with
a
new
fighting
system,
game
modes,
and
Fatalities!
12.
Street
Fighter
6
“Fighting
is
an
art.
And
this
is
our
masterpiece.”
Street
Fighter
6
brings
in
a
new
era
for
the
iconic
series
complete
with
a
diverse
roster
with
new
and
returning
characters.
Enter
the
Fighting
Ground,
your
classic
fighting
game
experience
with
innovative
features
for
all
players
to
thrive
in.
Begin
your
World
Tour
with
a
customizable
avatar
in
the
single-player
RPG-like
story
mode
where
you’ll
carve
your
own
legacy
through
your
bonds
and
skills.
Step
into
the
Battle
Hub
where
you
can
play
matches
against
other
players,
further
style
your
customized
avatar,
and
engage
in
new
ways
in
this
interactive
hub
built
for
the
community.
Your
Moment.
Your
Fight.
It’s
almost
time
for
you
to
hit
the
streets!
13.
Resident
Evil
4
Survival
is
just
the
beginning.
Survival
horror
reimagined
for
2023.
14.
Forza
Motorsport
Out-build
the
competition
in
the
all-new
career,
race
your
friends
in
multiplayer,
and
compete
in
500+
cars
on
world-famous
tracks
with
cutting
edge
AI
and
advanced
physics.
See
you
at
the
starting
line.
15.
Aliens:
Dark
Descent
In
Aliens:
Dark
Descent,
you
command
a
squad
of
hardened
Colonial
Marines
as
you
attempt
to
stop
a
terrifying
new
threat
on
Planet
Lethe.
Led
as
one
unit
with
intuitive
controls
on
keyboard
&
mouse
as
well
as
on
controller,
the
squad
takes
on
real-time
combat
against
iconic
Xenomorphs,
rogue
operatives
from
the
insatiable
Weyland-Yutani,
and
a
host
of
horrifying
creatures
new
to
the
Alien
universe.
16.
Diablo
IV
Hell
arrived
this
year!
17.
Star
Wars
Jedi:
Survivor
The
story
of
Cal
Kestis
continues
in
STAR
WARS
Jedi:
Survivor™,
an
epic
new
adventure
that
will
push
Cal
further
than
ever
as
he
fights
to
protect
the
galaxy
from
descending
into
darkness.
Picking
up
five
years
after
the
events
of
STAR
WARS
Jedi:
Fallen
Order™,
Jedi:
Survivor
is
a
third
person,
narrative-driven
action-adventure
game
from
Respawn
Entertainment,
developed
in
collaboration
with
Lucasfilm
Games.
18.
UFC
5
What
makes
an
MMA
fight?
It’s
the
stakes,
technique,
drama,
and
pure
reality
of
the
moment.
UFC
5
captures
that
in
more
authentic
detail
than
ever
before,
from
next-generation
graphics
upgrades
that
give
gameplay
animations
new
life,
damage
systems
that
marry
the
brutality
and
strategy
of
the
fight
game,
gameplay
updates
that
make
the
action
feel
even
more
fluid
and
realistic,
and
much
more.
19.
Super
Mario
Bros.
Wonder
It’s
time
to
jump
into
the
unexpected!
A
brand-new
world
of
wonder
awaits
in
the
Super
Mario
Bros.
Wonder
game.
20.
Dead
Island
2
Explore
HELL-A
–
Dead
Island
2
takes
players
across
the
most
iconic
locations
of
the
City
of
Angels,
now
stained
with
horror,
in
an
exciting
pulp
journey
from
the
verdant
suburbia
of
Beverly
Hills
to
the
quirky
promenade
of
Venice
Beach.
21.
Baldur’s
Gate
3
The
narrative-driven
RPG
from
Larian
Studios
set
the
gaming
world
ablaze.
22.
WWE
2K23
2K’s
WWE
2K
franchise
came
back
even
stronger
this
year.
23.
TChia
Join
Tchia
on
a
breathtaking
adventure
of
self-discovery
in
a
picturesque
open
world
inspired
by
the
tropical
paradise
of
New
Caledonia.
Unlock
new
abilities,
make
friends
and
foes,
and
explore
the
beautiful
landscape
in
this
once-in-a-lifetime
adventure.
24.
Hogwart’s
Legacy
Hogwarts
Legacy
is
an
immersive,
open-world
action
RPG
set
in
the
world
first
introduced
in
the
Harry
Potter
books. For
the
first
time,
experience
Hogwarts
in
the
1800s. Your
character
is
a
student
who
holds
the
key
to
an
ancient
secret
that
threatens
to
tear
the
wizarding
world
apart.
25.
HI-FI
Rush
As
wannabe
rock
star
Chai,
you’ll
fight
back
against
a
sinister
robotics
enhancement
conglomerate
using
rhythm-amplified
combat
where
everything
–
from
the
motion
in
the
environment
to
the
blows
of
combat
–
is
synced
to
the
music.
Raise
your
guitar
high
and
feel
the
beat
in
this
utterly
all-new
title
from
Tango
Gameworks,
the
team
behind
The
Evil
Within®
and
Ghostwire®:
Tokyo.
26.
Starfield
The
next-generation
immersive
RPG
from
Bethesda
Game
Studios,
Starfield,
finally
arrived.
27.
The
Crew
Motorfest
Ubisoft
Ivory
Tower
took
a
big
swing
with
the
Crew
franchise
and
knocked
it
out
of
the
park
with
Motorfest,
bringing
the
racing
action
to
the
beautiful
island
of
Hawaii.
28.
Alan
Wake
2
Play
as
the
writer,
Alan
Wake,
and
the
FBI
agent,
Saga
Anderson.
Explore
two
beautiful
and
terrifying
realities,
and
solve
a
deadly
mystery
before
it’s
too
late.
