Sammy'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 editor Sammy Barker.

To be fair, PSVR2 had a strong end to the year, but the headset undoubtedly lulled following its exceptional launch. I’m not really sure what Sony’s plan is for the peripheral, but it did blow me away on day one. Horizon Call of the Mountain, alongside Polyphony Digital’s excellent free Gran Turismo 7 update, truly helped demonstrate the capabilities of the device at launch. This game, with its emphasis on rock climbing and outrageous scale, had my jaw on the floor at times – and while I don’t necessarily think it’s the best title in an unprecedentedly strong year, paired with the power of PlayStation’s new headset, I think it helps serve as a reminder of what’s possible with virtual reality when the investment is there.

I like that we’re getting to a point where developers aren’t afraid to share their culture. There are multiple titles this year that are indicative of a time and place, like the wonderful Tchia for example – but A Space for the Unbound just so happens to be the one that I managed to squeeze into my busy schedule. Set in Indonesia during the 1990s, this slower-paced action adventure is both magical and poignant – and while I would have preferred a truly grounded story, I think it manages to blend its superpowers with a relatable plot that doesn’t pull any punches. Pair all that with pitch-perfect pixel art, and you have a game that truly elevates itself above its peers in an increasingly crowded indie space.

While I enjoyed the first few Harry Potter games on PS1 and PS2, I always felt the franchise was ripe for a big budget open