As we step into 2023, the gaming landscape is set to transform, with the momentum of next-gen consoles like PS5 and Xbox Series X|S picking up speed. Unreal Engine 5 is anticipated to revolutionize the industry, and the roster of games expected to hit the market is nothing short of staggering. In this article, we’ll take a sneak peek into the gaming calendar of 2023, exploring some of the most hotly anticipated releases.
A New Generation of Gaming
As we wave goodbye to the last-gen consoles, 2023 promises to be the year when PS5 and Xbox Series X|S truly come into their own. With the support for Unreal Engine 5 gaining traction, gamers can look forward to a plethora of titles crafted exclusively for new hardware. Among these games are the likes of Starfield, Spider-Man 2, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, and Final Fantasy 16. However, owners of PS4, Xbox One, and especially the Nintendo Switch still have a lot to look forward to.
The year is set to bring forth the most exciting lineup of games since the advent of the new console generation in 2020. Our excitement has been channeled into this extensive list of the 44 most anticipated games of the year, listed in chronological order based on their release dates.
Please note that only games with officially announced 2023 release dates or windows have been considered for this list. For instance, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora (2023-2024) and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth (“next winter”) have release windows extending into 2024 and are hence excluded.
The Biggest Games of 2023
January Releases
Fire Emblem Engage
Nintendo kickstarts the year with the release of Fire Emblem Engage on January 20. This Switch exclusive game introduces a new protagonist, Alear, to the series.
Release Date: January 20 | Platform: Switch
Forspoken
Square Enix’s action RPG Forspoken is slated for release on January 24, after two delays in the previous year.
Release Date: January 24 | Platforms: PS5, PC
Dead Space
January 27 will see the release of a fully rebuilt version of the 2008 survival horror classic Dead Space, remade in EA’s Frostbite engine.
Release Date: January 27 | Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
February Releases
Hogwarts Legacy
Following two years of delays, Hogwarts Legacy, a Harry Potter fans’ delight, is set to launch on February 10.
Release Date: February 10 (PS5, XSX|S, PC), May 5 (PS4, X1), July 25 (Switch) | Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Wild Hearts
EA’s Wild Hearts, a potential Monster Hunter contender, is scheduled for release on February 17.
Release Date: February 17 | Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
Atomic Heart
The sci-fi-heavy first-person shooter, Atomic Heart, is set to hit the shelves on February 21.
Release Date: February 21 | Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC
Horizon Call of the Mountain
Horizon Call of the Mountain, a standalone PSVR 2 spinoff, is set for launch alongside PSVR2 on February 22.
Release Date: February 22 | Platform: PSVR 2
Company of Heroes 3
The acclaimed RTS series Company of Heroes returns with its third mainline entry on February 23.
Release Date: February 23 | Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
Sons of the Forest
Sequel to one of PC’s best survival-horror games, Sons of the Forest, is set to release on February 23.
Release Date: February 23 | Platform: PC
Kerbal Space Program 2 (Early Access)
The space-flight simulation sequel, Kerbal Space Program 2, launches into Early Access on February 24.
Release Date: February 24 | Platform: PC (PlayStation and Xbox versions to follow at a later date)
Octopath Traveler 2
The sequel to Square Enix’s 2018 HD-2D JRPG, Octopath Traveler 2, is slated for release on February 24.
Release Date: February 24 | Platforms: PS5, PS4, Switch, PC
March Releases
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty
Team Ninja’s Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, a soulslike set in a dark fantasy version of China’s Three Kingdoms period, is set for release on March 3.
Release Date: March 3 | Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC
Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon
The prequel to Bayonetta 3, Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon, is scheduled for release on March 17.
Release Date: March 17 | Platform: Switch
Resident Evil 4 Remake
Following Dead Space and Sons of the Forest, Capcom’s ground-up remake of Resident Evil 4 is set to release in March.
Release Date: March 24 | Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, PC
Crime Boss: Rockay City
March 28 will see the release of Crime Boss: Rockay City, an action-FPS starring an eclectic bunch of prominent actors.
Release Date: March 28 (PC), June (Consoles) | Platforms: PC (consoles at a later date)
Other Notable Q1 2023 Games:
- One Piece Odyssey (January 13)
- Like A Dragon: Ishin! (February 21)
- Kirby’s Return To Dream Land Deluxe (February 24)
- Darkest Dungeon 2 (February)
- Amnesia: The Bunker (March 2023)
- Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn (Early 2023)
- Killer Klowns from Outer Space: The Game (Early 2023)
- Layers of Fear (Early 2023)
- Season: A Letter to the Future (Early 2023)
- Witchfire (Early Access) (Early 2023)
April Releases
Minecraft Legends
Microsoft and Mojang’s Minecraft spinoff, Minecraft Legends, is set to release on April 18.
Release Date: April 18 | Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Dead Island 2
Dead Island 2, following an eight-year development journey, is set to finally see the light of day on April 28.
Release Date: April 21 | Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
The sequel to Jedi: Fallen Order, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, is set to launch on April 28.
Release Date: April 28 | Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
May Releases
Redfall
Redfall, the open-world vampire shooter from Prey developer Arkane Austin, is set to release on May 2.
Release Date: May 2 | Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PC
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Arguably the biggest release of the year, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, is set to hit the shelves on May 12.
Release Date: May 12 | Platform: Switch
System Shock Remake
System Shock, the 1994 first-person action-adventure game, is set for a remake release on May 30.
Release Date: May 30 | Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC
June Releases
Street Fighter 6
Street Fighter 6, the series’ first new entry since 2016, is set to release on June 2.
Release Date: June 2 | Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, PC
Diablo 4
Diablo 4, Blizzard’s legendary action-RPG series, returns with a release slated for June 6.
Release Date: June 6 | Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC
Final Fantasy 16
Final Fantasy 16, one of the year’s biggest third-party games, is set to release on June 22.
Release Date: June 22 | Platform: PS5
First Half 2023 Releases
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Hollow Knight: Silksong, the sequel to IGN’s pick for the best Metroidvania game of all time, is set to release in the first half of 2023.
Release Window: First Half 2023 | Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC
Homeworld 3
Homeworld 3, the long-awaited space RTS, is set to release in the first half of 2023.
Release Window: First Half 2023 | Platform: PC
Skull and Bones
Ubisoft’s pirate adventure Skull & Bones is expected to sail out of the rough waters of game development and launch early in the fiscal year 2023-24.
Release Window: “Early” in Ubisoft’s fiscal year 2023-24 (beginning April 1) | Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
Other Notable First Half 2023 Releases:
- The Last Case of Benedict Fox (April 27)
- Star Trek: Resurgence (April 2023)
- Atlas Fallen (Spring 2023)
- Planet of Lana (First Half 2023)
- Ara: History Untold (First Half 2023)
- Nightingale (Early Access) (First Half 2023)
Summer Releases
Pikmin 4
Nintendo’s Pikmin 4, the first home-console Pikmin game in a decade, is set for a summer release on July 21.
Release Date: July 21 | Platform: Switch
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, an asymmetrical multiplayer game, is set to release on August 18.
Release Date: August 18 | Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC
The Expanse: A Telltale Series
The Expanse, a choice-based narrative adventure set in the world of the acclaimed TV series, is set to release in the summer of 2023.
Release Window: Summer 2023 | Platforms: “Consoles,” PC
Fall Releases
Starfield
Starfield, Xbox’s flagship first-party release of 2023, is set to release on September 6.
Release Date: September 6 | Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PC
The Day Before
The Day Before, the open-world survival MMO, is set to release on November 10.
Release Date: November 10 | Platform: PC (PS5, Xbox Series X|S versions at a later date)
Games with a 2023 Release Window
Alan Wake 2
The sequel to the cult story-driven Xbox 360 game, Alan Wake 2, is set to release in 2023.
Release Window: 2023 | Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
Ark 2
Ark 2, a sequel to the hit sandbox survival game, is slated for a 2023 release.
Release Window: 2023 | Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PC
Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon
FromSoftware’s Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon, a sequel to the 2012 game, is set to release in 2023.
Release Window: 2023 | Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC
Assassin’s Creed Mirage
Assassin’s Creed Mirage, a return to the series’ more linear, stealth-focused roots, is set to release in 2023.
Release Window: 2023 | Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC
Hades 2 (Early Access)
Hades 2, the sequel to IGN’s 2020 Game of the Year, is set to hit Early Access sometime in 2023.
Release Window: 2023 | Platforms: PC (consoles at a later date)
Forza Motorsport
Turn 10’s Forza Motorsport, a new-gen-only reboot of its acclaimed racing sim, is set to release in 2023.
Release Window: 2023 | Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PC
Lies of P
Lies of P – a soulslike in which you play as Pinocchio – is set to release in 2023.
Release Window: 2023 | Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Sony’s biggest first-party game of the year, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, is set to release in the fall of 2023.
Release Window: Fall 2023 | Platform: PS5
Payday 3
Payday 3, following a long development phase since 2017, is set to release in 2023.
Release Window: 2023 | Platforms: “Consoles,” PC
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is set to release in 2023, after a long and challenging development process.
Release Window: 2023 | Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PC
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League
Rocksteady’s Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, a highly anticipated release, is set to hit the shelves in 2023.
Release Window: 2023 | Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, a sequel to the 2011 third-person shooter, is set to release in 2023.
Release Window: 2023 | Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
Other Notable Games with a 2023 Release Window:
- Aliens: Dark Descent
- Arc Raiders
- Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden
- Blasphemous 2
- Crash Team Rumble
- Everywhere
- Exoprimal
- Immortals of Aveum
- Like a Dragon Gaiden
- Lollipop Chainsaw Remake
- Lords of the Fallen
- Metal Slug Tactics
- Moving Out 2
- Oxenfree 2
- Pragmata
- Remnant 2
- Replaced
- Slitterhead
- Stellar Blade
- Super Bomberman R 2
Your Most Anticipated Game of 2023?
We would love to know which game you’re most excited about! Whether it’s The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Dead Space, Hogwarts Legacy, Atomic Heart, Resident Evil 4 Remake, Dead Island 2, Diablo IV, Final Fantasy XVI, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, Pikmin 4, Starfield, Star Wars Jedi Survivor, Street Fighter 6, or something else entirely, feel free to let us know in the comments below!
Stay tuned to our platform throughout 2023 for the latest on all these games and more.