This year has seemed like a tale of two halves. In one sense it has been a truly astounding year, with games like Baldur's Gate 3 that have pushed the medium forward. We have also seen many other successes such as the redemption of CD Projekt RED, who can now finally say they fixed Cyberpunk 2077. 

Yet for PC gaming, especially in the early months, it seemed like there was a competition to see who could drop the most broken PC port. It's at times like this you inevitably start to see the old ‘Is PC gaming dying’ articles appearing. Of course, this is complete piffle, but I hate it when silly ideas get oxygen from unnecessary situations. I think that is where I've landed on the whole situation, PC gaming is a forge of almost unlimited potential to game developers, but only if they put the effort in.

So please come with me and have a look at five of the best games this year, followed by my game of the year. 

Five of the Best

Dead Space remake

In the last few years, remakes seem to have been very popular and have stirred the debate over their worth. Of course, it does come down to many factors such as, how old the original is and what price gamers are being asked for? It is clear the Dead Space remake isn't just a texture upgrade but a full remake from the ground up. The developers have also added new gameplay sections, systems and content which enhance the prior game. I like the fact it isn't just a few rooms bolted on here and there, but many additional improvements that have been expertly woven into the fabric of what was there before. My only complaint is that I think they should have given owners of the original game a nod with some type of discount. However, this is EA we are talking about so nobody really expected the folks who also own the Sims to be giving anything away for free.

So is this new version worth your time? Absolutely. It is possibly the best remake I have ever seen and goes well beyond what I expected when it was first announced. The ideal situation now is that Motive remakes the second game with as much care and passion on display here. Then take on the third game but fix the issues it had and completely remove all the mess EA put in when that was initially released. 

Everspace 2

This is how you make a game in early access. Even from the very first build I got my hands on, the game was rock solid. With this firm foundation in place, the developers then worked their way across the systems, adding meat to the bones. Even with the first two systems playable in early access (thanks to Rockfish for the code), there were easily thirty-plus hours to blast through. Now with eight full systems to enjoy, this game has an absolute tonne of content, all bolstered by a huge level of replay value. 

One of the biggest factors that make this game work so well is how cohesive each element is. Every system overlaps with the others perfectly. Inertia makes the ship feel good to fly and this promotes a great feeling when exploring. Wonderful physics make puzzles fun to try and good artistic direction ties the whole thing together. There is also enough space sim in there to make this more than just an arcade space shooter. For example, you can flick a switch to turn the inertia dampeners off which completely changes how you fly. 

While there are borders that separate the play spaces and wider universe, these are masked with a deft touch. Yes, this is a looter shooter at its core. However, other aspects of the gameplay are so fleshed out they add a depth that is both surprising and welcome. I am sure the comparisons to No Man's Sky will be made but they really are two very different games. Ultimately, Everspace 2 has elements from a few games I have mentioned but then elevates each one to make this one of the best space games we have seen in years. 

The Last of Us Part 1

Every autumn as the trees start to turn golden and the nights draw in I start my journey. The Last of Us is such an important game to me. The first time I played it something just struck a chord with me and I have been replaying it every year since. When details of the Last of Us remake started to surface, I was both nervous and excited. I didn't want them to mess with the original game I loved but at the same time, a version of the game with the same visual chops as Part 2 was a tantalising prospect.

As it turns out, the Last of Us remake did not change any gameplay elements from the original, apart from some better AI pathing for enemies. The result was a game that retained what made the first iteration so captivating, but now looking so good it even rivalled Part 2.  I initially played it on PS5 and was very happy with what Naughty Dog had done, as it also now brought the two games together as a more cohesive body of work. 

The announced PC version seemed like an easy win. All this new visual beauty combined with higher resolution textures, better lighting and silky smooth fps: that was the dream. Unfortunately, the game was released in a broken state and if you read my review you will see I was livid with all involved. Since launch, we have seen some solid patches and after my recent run through all the games, I can confirm the PC version is now running well, looks stunning and not a crash in sight. With the announcement of a ‘remaster’ (they should really not call it a remaster) of Part 2 I am anticipating a PC port arriving in 2024. I pray to the gods they make a better job than they initially did here and do NOT give it to Iron Galaxy.

Hogwarts Legacy

Hogwarts Legacy is the Harry Potter game we have been waiting for all these years. Just the fact that we can now wander around such a beautifully realised Hogwarts is an incredible thing and I want more. This game has made Warner Bros a lot of money and I think it is a given we will see a sequel. Maybe they could use the base game as a launch pad for some significant expansions, exploring other locations such as the Ministry or out in the Muggle world. Maybe even chart the events of the books: the potential here is limitless.

Unfortunately, it is another member of the bad PC port club of 2023. Like The Last of Us Part 1, it arrived with some serious graphical issues such as RTX shimmering and stuttering. Also like Part 1, over this year there have been some substantial patches that now make the game run a hell of a lot better, especially in Hogsmeade!

My only criticism of the game design is it feels like a missing morality system was an oversight. As it stands you can run around blasting everyone with Avada Kedavra and nobody blinks an eye. I also found it disappointing that I could help a poor woman who has lost her husband and then (with no consequences) break into her house for some extra loot. However, these niggles aside Hogwarts Legacy is a truly wonderful game that is a credit to the source material.

Rain World Downpour

I can wholeheartedly recommend you pick up Rain World on the proviso that you understand (and accept) the challenge it lays at your feet. It can be very easy to get conditioned to expect no consequences for death in the games we play. But then if there is no punishment for death where is the incentive to survive?

Rain World is an exquisite game that deserves far more praise than it has seen over the years. The team at Videocult have clearly poured their heart and souls into bringing this visceral and striking world to life. There are so many clever systems and programming at work here, that bring the screen to life. These include a procedural animation system that makes creatures look so alive. The AI that runs these animals is often surprising and can catch you off guard. Downpour is a feature-packed expansion that offers new slugcats and many new ways to play. If you are tired of playing cookie-cutter platform games or run-of-the-mill survival romps then take a look at this title.

Game of the Year 2023

Baldur’s Gate 3

I have been gaming since the dark days when a ZX Spectrum was considered state of the art and have played many excellent RPGs over the years. So I don’t say this lightly: Baldur's Gate 3 is the best RPG ever created.

The people who made it are D&D fans and gamers to the bone (and it shows). This wasn't a game fashioned from a need to make shareholders happy or to prop up some vapid live service scam. There are no exorbitantly priced skins or wafer-thin battle passes to squeeze gamers for some extra poke. It is a game as games used to be: honest and pure. Just by existing it highlights just how disingenuous and exploitative many of the big developers/publishers are these days.

Every aspect of the journey from the beautiful character creation to the final conclusion has been polished to a fine sheen. This is a once-in-a-generation game that, to the chagrin of some, has elevated the bar for immersive RPGs into the stratosphere. The panic running through many developer circles has been palpable and it has been very interesting to see this be expressed on social media. Many claim they can’t be expected to compete with this kind of quality: I say, why not? I think the more honest statement would be ‘We won’t make games of this quality because it takes too much effort and in the long run cheaper games are significantly easier to churn out’. 

Even around the game, there are so many good things to celebrate, like how there is absolutely no DRM at all. Or their humble reaction to the game's stellar reception, these are good people and deserve every ounce of the success they are enjoying. Baldur's Gate 3 is an absolute triumph and so this year I'm over the moon to crown it my Game of the Year.