21 great games you might have missed so far in 2023

Dead Island 2

Grab your trusty baseball bat/makeshift sword/rake and paint the sun-soaked town of Los Angeles a particular shade of red.

Let off some steam with the game’s satisfyingly tactile combat in over-the-top set pieces across the City of Angels’ iconic locations. Face the apocalypse alone or with up to two other players online.

Theatrhythm Final Bar Line

Build a party of your favourite heroes and villains from across the Final Fantasy series and battle through 385 rhythm-action song stages. You’ll be humming along to the nostalgia-filled soundtrack in no time. Co-op Pair mode, where two players are each responsible for half the notes, is a total joy too. 

A Space for the Unbound

Finishing high school sure can feel like the end of the world, but for sweethearts Atma and Raya, that is quite literally the case. Set in late '90s rural Indonesia, this lovingly crafted pixel-art adventure explores the challenges of teen angst, sorrow and supernatural powers. Did we mention you can pet every animal you meet?

Octopath Traveller II

Eight misfits from all corners of the fantasy world of Solistia are thrown together in this epic adventure. Building on the success of its predecessor, this game introduces eight entirely new characters, so there’s no need to have finished the original. A must-play for fans of classic JRPGs, yet accessible for newcomers. 

Wo-Long: Fallen Dynasty

Brutal melee combat? Embattled historical setting? Dark, supernatural overtones? Yup, Wo-Long: Fallen Dynasty has Team Ninja's fingerprints all over it. 

The Nioh developer returned in February with a brutal new action RPG adventure set this time in ancient China. Fluid combat, ferocious boss fights and tight level design make this a must for fans of hardcore action games.

The Legend of Tianding

A side-scrolling beat ’em up about the “Taiwanese Robin Hood” with slick combat that lets you parry bullets and steal enemy weapons. The story beats are expertly delivered in the style of a manga comic strip, while the climactic boss fights pack one heck of a punch. 

Final Fantasy I-VI Bundle

Okay, we’re cheating a bit here with six games in one package but, frankly, we wouldn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings by picking a favourite (though they are available individually).

Spruced-up visuals and soundtracks along with optional time-saving features make this the best way to experience these classics.

The Light Brigade

The stylishly minimal art style sums up what this PS VR2 roguelike is all about: challenging moment-to-moment gunplay that just feels so satisfying.

You’ll die; learn from your mistakes; upgrade your characters; chip away at the mysteries of the world and then realize you’ve succumbed to the game's moreish, just-one-more-run ­loop.

Convergence: A League of Legends Story

By focusing on just one Champion from League of Legends’ over 160-strong roster, developer Double Stallion tells a compelling story without you needing to know your “LoL” lore.

You play as Ekko, a young inventor whose time-rewinding abilities make for some creative 2D action platforming. Strong voice acting performances bring the story to life.

Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly

Take a moment to relax at Seattle’s Coffee Talk café, a place where elves, orcs and succubuses rub shoulders and talk about their feelings. 

As a barista, your skills at prepping the drinks and styling the latte art to suit your customers’ tastes will determine how characters’ stories unfold. Soothing.

Bramble: The Mountain King

Lurking around every corner of this unsettling adventure are myths and creatures from Nordic folklore that probably want to eat you.

The underlying sense of dread, striking visuals and impactful sound design might remind you of Inside and Little Nightmares – high praise that’s thoroughly deserved.

Before Your Eyes

Worthy of a place on any must-play PS VR2 list, the central ingenious mechanic of moving the narrative forward by physically blinking your eyes secured this title the Game Beyond Entertainment BAFTA.

Go in knowing as little as possible; just keep the tissues on standby.  

Moss: Book II

Not that you needed an excuse to replay the brilliant adventures of Quill, but the PS VR2 enhancements will make you fall in love with your adorable mouse companion all over again.  

You’ll see small details thanks to the 4K resolution, feel things differently with haptic feedback, and Quill even reacts to objects you’re looking at with eye tracking.