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As most other outlets are doing their annual roundups of the best games of 2023, we thought we’d shine a little light on some games that our staff members played for the first time this year that released in a previous year (2022 or before). While our jobs as game journalists require us to keep up to date on the newest releases, that doesn’t mean that we can’t dip our toes into some good ole fashioned patient gaming! These are our staff picks for the best games of not 2023!
Nirav Gandhi – Fatum Betula (2020)
Retro, Adventure, Puzzle
A weird game that I highly recommend for weird people who are in a weird mood.
Available on Steam, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch
Mateusz Niewierowski – The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening DX (1998)
Puzzle, Action, Adventure
A beautiful story of a world of dreams and nightmares with some amazing dungeons and world design.
Available on Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo Switch (via Nintendo Switch Online).
Kate Mitchell Jewett – The House In Fata Morgana (2019)
Visual Novel, Gothic Mystery, Story-Driven
A haunting story of a spirit traveling across generations attempting to regain her memories.
Available on PC, PS Vita, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch.
Shaz Mohsin – Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (2003)
Classic RPG, Action, Choice-Driven
One of the most detailed and intricate RPGs ever, where your decisions really do change the story.
Available on PC, Mac, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Android, iOS, Linux, Nintendo Switch
Nima Dabirian – Alan Wake (2010)
Horror, Third-Person Shooter, Narrative-Driven
A haunting story for all fans of Stephen King and Twin Peaks with a coat of heart-pounding action.
Clare FitzPatrick – Sun Haven (2021)
Farming, Dating Sim, RPG
A relaxing world that you build out how you like, with plenty of amazing villagers to build relationships.
Nairon Santon de Morais – Psychonauts 2 (2021)
Puzzle, 3D Platformer, Comedy
Quirky quests, precarious platforming, and a brilliant story that’ll literally turn your head inside out.
Available on PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PlayStation 4.
Tim Jewett – AI: The Somnium Files (2019)
Puzzle, Narrative-Driven, Crime Thriller
A mind-bending jaunt through puzzles across multiple timelines to catch the sadistic Cyclops Killer, who carves a single eye from each victim as a trophy.
Available on PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch.
Jess Clayton-Berry – Yes, Your Grace (2020)
Simulation, Management, RPG
Manage your kingdom as best you can while attending to the needs of your citizens and trying to strike a balance to keep your kingdom running.
Available on PC, Mac, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
JP Dalton – Later, Alligator (2019)
Point-and-Click, Adventure, Comedy
A cute and jazzy romp through Alligator New York City in which you’ll fight 20s gangsters, find speakeasies, and maybe even sleep with the fishes – if ya ain’t careful, that is.
Available on PC, Mac, Linux, and Nintendo Switch.
Sarim Irfan – Indivisible (2019)
Action, RPG, Platformer
A game that encompasses a wide variety of genres and features amazing character designs, wonderful animation, and an unforgettable world.
Available on PC, Mac, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
Inanna Carter – Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky (2009)
RPG, Dungeon Crawler, Story-Driven
The most heartwarming and heartbreaking tale to come from the Pokemon universe, with unmatched dungeon crawling and hilarious banter.
Not available on modern platforms – you can only purchase this game on a physical Nintendo DS cartridge.
Jordan Dube – Ultimate Chicken Horse (2016)
Party Game, Multiplayer, Level-Designer
An unbelievably wacky party game in which you must constantly build platforming levels to out-stupid your friends.
Adam Michalzuk – Quantam Break (2016)
Action, Sci-Fi, Story-Driven
A time-traveling mind break that mixes live action and cinematic gaming for a totally unique experience in which you drive the story.
Available on PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
Gabriela Jessica – Persona 5 Royal (2020)
RPG, Turn-Based, Monster Collecting
Don the masks of the Phantom Thieves and travel into the metaverse by night with your friends to change the hearts of evil people the world over.
Available on PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
Austin Guyer – Jade Empire (2007)
Action, RPG, Adventure
This Wuxia-inspired adventure through a mythical Middle Kingdom China features flashy martial arts and a dip into a culture that has little presence in Western games.
Available on PC, Mac, Android, iOS, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
What was your favorite older game that you played for the first time this year? Let us know in the comments below!
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