The current year is almost over. That means another one is coming with new games. Many games are released in critical seasons like Summer or the Holidays, but in 2023 we can expect some very anticipated games as soon as January.
Thankfully, 2023 seems packed with top-anticipated games that have been years in the making, such as Starfield, and probably instant hits like Diablo IV. These games are expected later in 2023, but there’s no need to wait: great games are coming sooner.
Best Windows games for the first quarter
These are some of the most anticipated games for Windows systems from January to March. The first quarter isn’t typically littered with new releases, but there are still noteworthy titles that’ll help you endure those long winter nights or summer days, depending on where you are. Below are the highlights.
Forspoken – 24 January 2023
This is a new franchise from Luminous Productions and Square Enix. In case these names aren’t familiar, Square Enix is responsible for nothing less than the Final Fantasy franchise, which started in 1987, whose games became some of the most popular JRPGs of all time. Luminous Productions is a subsidiary of Square Enix, whose biggest hit is Final Fantasy XV.
In this case, they aim to recreate Final Fantasy’s success with a new proposal. In this case, you play a young woman from New York who somehow gets into a magical realm. As you can imagine, the story is king here, since it’s very well developed, at least as far as the preview allows us to check.
Another important feature is combat. Since you’re in a magical realm, you soon find out you have special powers. In fact, there are more than 100 spells, many of them with different attack modes which work just like regular weapons.
Hogwarts Legacy – 10 February 2023
Isn’t Harry Potter so 2000s already? That’s the notion Hogwarts Legacy tries to combat. First of all, the action develops in the same universe as the Harry Potter books, but with different characters. The story unfolds about 100 years before the books and has you attending classes to, later on, deal with a major menace.
This is a third-person action game where you learn spells at Hogwarts and later use them against enemies or solve puzzles. You can also create potions and, apparently, go on a dark path for some interesting character development. There are many NPCs to interact with, but there’s no multiplayer.
Avalanche Studios is behind the game, and they clarified JK Rowling wasn’t involved in any aspect of its development. Among Avalanche’s biggest hits are Rage 2 and the Just Cause franchise.
Wild Hearts – 17 February 2023
Wild Hearts is poised to be “the” 2023 monster hunting game. Clearly inspired by the Monster Hunter series, this EA game expands the concept in many ways. This game has incredible graphics and a distinctive combination of gameplay elements. You can hunt, craft, and build aside from exploring a vast world.
The setting is also intriguing since it incorporates a lot of elements from feudal Japan, something that’s not very common in action games, and gives it a unique feel. Even though combat is immensely satisfying, the other major innovation is a Fortnite-like ability to create items instantly and use them in combat.
Aside from this, it features up to three players in coop-multiplayer mode. The best of all? It’s cross-platform, so you can play with your PS5 or Xbox friends in the same session.
Skull and Bones – 9 March 2023
This Ubisoft game is hotly anticipated by a lot of players since it had many development problems. It’ll finally set sail in March, and it’s looking up to be a great pirate simulator.
In Skull and Bones, your task is to rise from being an outcast to the terror of the seas. You have nothing, and through your deeds must build a fleet to dominate the Indian Ocean. It’s set in the Golden Age of Piracy, between 1650 and 1730, with an open-world setting.
Unlike its main competitor Sea of Thieves, you control all functions in your ship such as crew management and combat, instead of individually making use of your ship. You need to ensure your ships are in top shape, as well as your crew’s morale since you’ll be competing with other players in this multiplayer-only experience.
Star Wars: Jedi Survivor – 17 March 2023
This incredibly anticipated sequel to Fallen Order continues with the adventures of Cal Kestis. Following its predecessor, your task is to survive Order 66 to kill all Jedi. Even though it’s a sequel, there are novelties as well.
These novelties include five new fighting stances, new characters, and new traversal mechanics that make exploration easier. The new story still doesn’t change the game’s main genre, an action-adventure title.
Like Fallen Order, this title is a single-player experience, boasting incredible graphics and effects. The new fighting stances make lightsaber combat more satisfying than ever.
Resident Evil 4 Remake – 24 March 2023
Resident Evil 2 had a remake and it was a success, so why not remake Resident Evil 4? This Capcom game differs, however, in its approach. While Resident Evil 2 Remake was a major one, here it’s more nuanced, trying to bring this 17-year-old game to current times.
Graphics received a major update, and scenes now feel a lot more haunting even though the events play out almost the same. Combat is very similar, but has some important changes. One of them is the ability to move while you aim. You can also crouch now, which allows for new ways to deal with old problems.
However, the developer was wise enough to include many small elements that will surprise original fans, such as going to a previously safe place only to find it’s not safe in this version, or cows catching fire.
Other games to look forward to
The rest of the year is also packed with important titles. Here’s a list of what to expect from April onwards.
- Dead Island 2
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
- Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League
- Street Fighter 6
- Diablo IV
- Final Fantasy XVI
- Redfall
- Starfield
- The Wolf Among Us 2
- Exoprimal
- Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
- Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
- Alan Wake 2
- Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora
