2023 anticipated games

There are certainly still several high-profile video game releases left for 2022, especially with God of War: Ragnarökfinally locked in for this November, but the 2023 slate is already looking incredibly promising. Delays are unfortunately very commonplace in the gaming industry, so it isn't yet clear whether all of these games will hold the current release windows.

Nonetheless, the games coming next year span an impressive variety of genres. Major RPGs from Square Enix's Final Fantasyfranchise and Bethesda's open-world sci-fi endeavor are taking the spotlight, as well as exhilarating action-adventure games like Insomniac's highly-anticipated Spider-Man 2.

Final Fantasy XVI

Game producer and designer Naoki Yoshida and his team are largely credited for the spectacular turnaround of the MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV after its initial rocky launch, and now this creative team and more are taking the reigns for the next mainline numbered entry in the JRPG titan. Final Fantasy XVI is poised to take things back to a proper fantasy setting, this time with a flavor of dark fantasy.

Trailers so far have demonstrated the game's high-octane Devil May Cry-like combat system and the gripping character and political drama to come, as well as the importance of the Eikons (summons) to the story. It has the potential to be one of the best Final Fantasy games to date, and it launches for PlayStation 5 in summer 2023.

Starfield

In terms of western RPGs, developer Bethesda is finally set to release its long-awaited original sci-fi IP Starfield. Like with many of the studio's games, it's been an agonizing wait for fans -- especially with the delays -- but they've at least been treated to proper looks into the game's world, story, and gameplay.

Players will take on the role of a member of Constellation, an organization of space explorers, in the aftermath of a war between The Settled System's two largest factions. Exploring the countless locales of The Settled Systems, the main questline, the myriad side quests, and the various role-playing mechanics to shape one's adventures in a rich Star Trek-like universe will be major draws. Starfield is set to launch sometime in the first half of 2023 for Xbox Series X|S and PC.

Spider-Man 2

Insomniac's 2018 Spider-Mangame was released to strong critical reception and quickly became one of the best modern superhero games available, making a sequel an inevitability. Its compelling, heartfelt storytelling was praised for being a loving homage to the character's Marvel Comics mythos, the traversal was thoroughly liberating, and the combat was excitingly acrobatic.

That leaves Spider-Man 2 with a lot to live up to, especially after Mile Moralesput the new titular Spider-Man in the spotlight. The reveal trailer promises a thrilling bout against Venom and Kraven the Hunter, and players will get to experience this new story for themselves sometime in 2023 for PS5.

Resident Evil 4 Remake

The original Resident Evil 4is commonly regarded as one of the best survival-horror games ever made, and while that's a high standard to meet and clear, Capcom's string of successes in recent years suggests that fans should be in for a treat with the upcoming remake.

Longtime fans will certainly have their expectations. But given the fact that the original game was remastered and ported several times faithfully, it should be exciting to see the remake take a more "horror" approach in a similar vein to the critically acclaimed Resident Evil 2remake from 2019. The recent trailer showed a taste of this terrifying new direction along with a brooding Leon Kennedy, and fans won't have to wait long reveal-to-release since the remake releases on March 24th, 2023 for PS5, XSX|S, and PC.

Dead Space Remake

Resident Evil isn't the only survival-horror franchise making a splash in early 2023, as developer Motive Studio and publisher EA will be reviving a beloved modern classic in the form of Dead Space. The series has been dormant since the more divisive 2013 Dead Space 3 for the PS3 and Xbox 360, and it will hopefully pave the way for an EA "redemption" akin to Capcom's aforementioned praises.

The game will aim to be a top-to-bottom yet faithful remake of the original when it comes to the narrative structure while taking full advantage of the current generation of gaming technology. The Dead Space remake launches on January 27th, 2023 for PS5, XSX|S, and PC.

Street Fighter 6

Another tentpole Capcom title, the publisher/developer's flagship fighting game series will return with Street Fighter 6next year. It looks to be the most ambitious entry in the mainline series yet, with Street Fighter 6 retaining and building on its various staple gameplay features as well as a new story-driven mode.

Complemented by a colorfully vibrant new art direction, players will be able to take part in traditional local, online, and arcade game modes and a World Tour mode that implements action-adventure mechanics where players navigate 3D environments to advance the story. The Drive Guage looks to be a new core gameplay component that challenges players to get creative and prioritize between five different special techniques. Street Fighter 6 will launch sometime in 2023 for PS4, PS5, XSX|S, and PC.

Diablo IV

The Diablo series has been one of the most iconic and defining games in the action-RPG subgenre, and Diablo IVis finally around the corner following III's initial 2012 release. Set after the events of the Reaper of Souls DLC expansion, the Nephalem protagonist will embark on a quest to defeat Lilith, the demonic daughter of Mephisto, after cultists summon her back into the Sanctuary realm.

Gameplay-wise, Diablo IV will make the jump to expanding the gameplay formula into an open-world setting with procedurally-generated dungeons, player-vs-player gameplay, and a range of side quests. It all sounds tantalizing on paper, and hopefully, Diablo IV will satisfy and avoid the pitfalls of Immortalwhen it releases sometime in 2023 for PS4, PS5, XBO, XSX|S, and PC.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth

Fans understandably have their reservations whether Final Fantasy VII Rebirthwill retain its current release window, as prior Square Enix delays and releases have burned them before. It sounds too good to be true since that would imply both FF XVI and VII Rebirth will release within a year of each other, but the anniversary stream was great news nonetheless for veteran fans.

The stream showed off a trailer teasing the unraveling story and how Cloud, Sephiroth, Aerith, and Zack will develop in it, especially since this Remake series will be taking bold new narrative decisions from the original. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is set for a winter 2023 release on PlayStation 5.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Orderproved to be one of the best Star Wars games in recent memory that fans had been waiting for since EA spent so many years squandering the license in gaming. It provided an immersive new story and cast of characters to fit into the universe's canon, along with a creative blend of lightsaber-focused action, Souls-like, and Metroidvania-like gameplay elements.

The inevitable sequel has long since been one of the industry's most poorly kept secrets, but Star Wars Jedi: Survivorhas been formally revealed and will take place five years after the events of its predecessor. Not much else is known about the game, but fans are optimistic that developer Respawn Entertainment will capitalize on the goodwill from Fallen Order and flesh Cal Kestis out into a more compelling protagonist. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor will release sometime in 2023.

Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League

Rocksteady is widely known for its revered Batman: Arkhamseries that revolutionized the Dark Knight and the wider superhero genre in gaming, but the developer hasn't released a major title since 2015's Arkham Knight​​​​​​. After many rumors and speculations, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leaguewas finally revealed to be the studio's next major game.

Within the same Arkhamverse, players will take on the roles of the titular task force (Harley Quinn, King Shark, Deadshot, and Captain Boomerang) formed by Amanda Waller to stop Brainiac's invasion and the League members that he's brainwashed. The game will also feature co-op gameplay as well, with the game settled to launch in the first half of 2023.

NEXT: 10 Best Video Games To Play This Month