Eric Van Allen’s favorite games of 2023
Well, that’s a wrap on 2023. It was, by all accounts, a strange year.
On the game release side, there were some pretty incredible ones launched this year. And on the games industry side, it was historically fraught, as thousands have lost their jobs. Even the media side felt rough this year, as we saw outlets cut staff and close doors.
For me personally, I managed to do some writing I’m proud of, but it’s still been tough. My hope is that 2024 doesn’t have this stark contrast at the end, but only time will tell. I certainly feel games like Metaphor, Rebirth, and Dragon’s Dogma 2 are already set up to make a big splash.
On the games front though, it was absolutely stellar. 2023’s games got me through a lot. I’m certain we’ll be talking about them for years to come, ranging from the titanic AAAs to the smaller projects. This is a year where my no. 8 could fight for a top spot any other year, it’s just been that good. Let’s get into it.
From the outset, Paranormasight is already my kind of jam. It’s a mystery adventure game, where several people are pulled into a supernatural death game. Each one has been bestowed a curse, and told that if they kill enough of their fellow curse-bearers, they can bring someone back to life. Already great.
But what really locked Paranormasight in for me is how smart its puzzles are. Director Takanari Ishiyama brings some expertise to this area, having a less-known-in-the-west history with detective games. At several points, Paranormasight rips the rug out from under you, or asks you to meaningfully engage with its systems—all of its systems.
These “a-ha” breakthroughs felt tough, without ever feeling like too much. It’s maybe a testament to how much I liked Paranormasight that I wish it were
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