Henry's Top 5 PS5, PS4 Games of 2023 | Push Square

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Our individual Game of the Year articles allow our lovely team of writers to share their own personal PS5 and PS4 picks for 2023. Today, it's the turn of contributor Henry Stockdale.

Dredge resonated in a way I didn't expect. Lovecraftian-esque horror has never been my bag and my adventures in video game fishing mainly occur through RPG mini-games but I didn't stop Dredge until I'd finished. There’s a palpable sense of dread that keeps exploration exciting while balancing risk vs reward, and a mysterious narrative weaves this together well. It's the most unique fishing game I've ever played, Black Salt Games nailed it.

What, you thought Robert's list would be the only place you'd see Trails? Think again. As someone who's thoroughly invested in Trails, I loved Trails into Reverie. Closing the series' first half after ten games isn't easy, yet Falcom's latest RPG delivers a fine epilogue for both the Crossbell and Cold Steel arcs. The world-building remains exceptional, the stakes are high and that's lifted by strong character writing. I'm ready to continue in Trails through Daybreak.

I'd say there aren't many games that can convince me to sink 70 hours into them these days, but my list quickly disproves that. Almost immediately, Final Fantasy 16 grabbed my attention through its political intrigue, then held onto it through an excellent combat system and a strong presentation. Arguably, it didn't need to lay on the side quests quite so thick, though they often deliver some great world-building. I won't forget my journey through Valisthea anytime soon.

As someone who loves VR gaming, February's PSVR 2 launch was exciting and I'd consider Horizon Call of the Mountain a strong start for the new generation. With production