The ultimate PlayStation review of 2023

Boasting a breath-taking line-up of games, innovative new peripherals and a range of other amazing treats, 2023 was not just a great year on PlayStation - it was sensational!

2023’s best-selling games

A stellar line-up

2023 was an outstanding year for iconic characters and worlds coming to life on PlayStation, from the far-away galaxies of Star Wars to the bustling streets of Marvel’s New York.

Be Greater. Together

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

Spider-Men Miles Morales and Peter Parker swung back into action this autumn in the most anticipated PlayStation 5 exclusive to date. Taking place in an expanded version of Marvel’s New York, featuring new locations like Queens, Brooklyn and Coney Island, players took control of both Spider-Men as they faced down a slew of iconic Villains including Kraven the Hunter, Sandman and Venom.

© 2023 MARVEL

Restoring balance

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

Jedi Knight Cal Kestis returned in the spring on his mission to resist the rule of the Galactic Empire and restore the fallen Jedi order. A stunning visual tour-de-force, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor builds on the success of its PS4 forerunner, taking players on a galaxy-spanning adventure that includes iconic locations like Coruscant and new worlds like Koboh.

The Wizarding World

Hogwarts Legacy

Warner Brothers' highly anticipated open-world wizarding adventure finally landed on PlayStation 5 this spring. Set in the late 1800s, this brand-new chapter in the beloved franchise lets players loose in the world of Hogwarts, allowing them to stroll around the legendary School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the local town of Hogsmeade and lands far beyond.

2023's most popular games

Click on our interactive map to find out what the most played games on PlayStation consoles were this year.

Tap to zoom in and explore each feature

2023’s best new accessories

New ways to play

This year, PlayStation® introduced some incredible new PS5® devices, expanding the possibilities of play.

Expanding horizons

PlayStation Portal™ remote player

November saw the launch of a dedicated remote player¹ in select countries that allows gamers to play their PS5 console’s games library² on a convenient handheld device. With a crisp 8” display and built-in innovative DualSense™ wireless controller features³, you can effortlessly enjoy gaming from anywhere in your house you have Wi-Fi¹ without having the hog the TV!

Empowered Play™

Access™ controller

Designed in collaboration with the accessibility community to help players with disabilities play more comfortably for longer, this versatile controller kit features a wide selection of components and can be combined with other devices, like the DualSense, to allow high customizability and meet more of players’ unique needs.

Audio excellence

PULSE Explore™ wireless earbuds

In December PlayStation’s innovative new wireless earbuds were launched in select countries. Compatible with PS5, PS Portal, PC, Mac® and mobile they deliver extraordinarily lifelike sound via the use of planar magnetic drivers and the lightning-fast responsiveness of new PlayStation Link™ technology.

2023’s best role-playing games

Incredible fantasy epics

Fans of fantasy role-playing games had a fantastic year, from deep, table-top inspired roleplay to the nuanced character-building of action RPGs.

Roll for initiative

Baldur's Gate 3

Perhaps the year’s biggest breakout hit, Baldur’s Gate 3 is the third entry in the 25-year-old role-playing series Baldur’s Gate. Inspired by and set in the table-top roleplaying universe of Dungeons & Dragons (D&D to the initiated), Baldur’s Gate 3 was a critical and commercial mega-hit and stands as one of the most highly rated games on PlayStation 5.

Hell and back

Diablo IV

The highly anticipated fourth instalment in the Diablo franchise did not disappoint when it launched in the summer. Racking up masses of critical praise and an instant hardcore fanbase, it delivered all the classic character-building action the series is known for alongside a cutting-edge presentation and a devilishly dark new story arc.

Fire and fury

Final Fantasy XVI

The 16th mainline entry in the Final Fantasy series took a more grounded approach to its characters and storytelling than its predecessors, telling a medieval fantasy story of conquered nations, exiled princes and historic betrayal. This was paired with cutting-edge visuals, breath-taking boss battles and a fast-paced combat system that delivered an unforgettable adventure.

PlayStation VR2

A new level of immersion

This spring, PlayStation debuted its next-generation virtual reality headset, featuring stunning new software and an incredible range of slick features.

Climb to new heights

Horizon: Call of the Mountain

In the spring, developers Firesprite and Guerrilla managed the seemingly impossible by capturing the awe-inspiring scale and cutting-edge visuals of the Horizon franchise in virtual reality. As Ryas, players got to step inside the Horizon universe and walk among Tallnecks and Thunderjaws as they might in real life.

Get behind the wheel

Gran Turismo 7

Gran Turismo's critically acclaimed seventh mainline entry underwent a massive upgrade in 2023 to become fully compatible with PlayStation VR2. Every car, every mode and every track made the cut, in an evolution that put players inside the beloved racing franchise like never before.

Step into the horror

Resident Evil 4 VR Mode

One of the year’s most critically lauded horror hits can now be experienced in virtual reality with the power of PS VR2. Step into the shoes of Leon Kennedy, a special agent working directly for the US president, and fight off crazed hordes, chainsaw-wielding madmen and grotesque monsters with a terrifying new level of immersion.

2023’s best multiplayer games

Outstanding competition

Online competitors had some great opportunities to throw down with friends and rivals this year, from online shooters to cutting-edge fisticuffs.

Worldwide warriors

Street Fighter 6

Capcom returned this year with the sixth mainline entry in their iconic fighting game series, proving beyond doubt that the legendary fighter is in the best shape of its career. Bringing back classic characters with new looks, and brand-new modes to experience alongside its legendary online multiplayer modes, it landed the knock-out punch when it arrived in June.

Smooth operators

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III

Call of Duty returned this year with the next chapter in the Modern Warfare series, following mainstays Captain John Price and 'Soap' MacTavish in a new high-stakes mission for the members of Task Force 141. Call of Duty's signature multiplayer also returned with new maps, classic modes and a brand-new open-world take on the fan-favourite Zombies mode.

Prepare for kick-off

EA SPORTS FC 24

EA SPORTS ushered in a new era for their flagship football series this year with the release of EA SPORTS FC 24. Building on decades of innovation and authentic recreation of the 'World's Game', FC 24 delivered a technological tour-de-force, combining its cutting-edge HyperMotionV and PlayStyles technology with an enhanced Frostbite Engine to deliver the highest levels of sporting realism to date.

The best new and upcoming PS5 games of 2024

Discover the best PlayStation 5 games that you can look forward to playing in the year ahead.

Upcoming PS5 games for 2024

2023’s best survivor horror games

Chilling supernatural adventures

Those who’ve had a yen for classic survival horror gameplay have been well served this year, with iconic remakes and new series entries.

Stranger than fiction

Alan Wake 2

The long-awaited sequel to 2010’s Alan Wake, Alan Wake 2 dialled up the supernatural horror vibes in a new adventure split between original protagonist Alan Wake and new protagonist, FBI Agent Saga Anderson. Chilling, mind-bending and atmospheric, Remedy Entertainment’s latest instalment might just be the veteran developer’s best work to date.

Far from home

Resident Evil 4

Remaking one of the most beloved games of all time is no mean feat, but developer Capcom blew fans away in March with the latest entry in its series of critically acclaimed remakes. Thoroughly updating the 2005 classic with modern visuals and controls, Resident Evil 4 delivered the classic feel of the original games to a whole new generation of gamers.

Stranded and scared

Dead Space

The classic sci-fi survival horror of Dead Space returned in January, combining all the game’s original levels into a single continuous labyrinth filled with traps, puzzles and hundreds of bloodthirsty monsters. A truly edge-of-your-seat experience, guiding Isaac Clarke through the grisly corridors of the USG Ishimura is an unrelentingly tense gaming experience.

Editor's Choice

Check out the year's top picks from the in-house experts at PlayStation, including a huge selection of unmissable indie hits.

See the full Editor's Choice collection

2023’s toughest gaming challenges

Hardcore character action

Those who enjoy a real challenge in their gaming diet had plenty of options this year, including the return of a classic series from veteran developer FromSoftware.

Gothic fairy-tale

Lies of P

A stunning debut from Studio Round 8, Lies of P marries action-driven combat with deep RPG mechanics and channels it into a brutal and atmospheric recreation of Carlo Collodi’s Pinocchio tale. Featuring an incredible roster of bosses, grand locations and stacks of weapons and abilities to unlock, Lies of P was warmly received by critics and fans alike.

Intense mech combat

Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon

After a 10-year hiatus, FromSoftware’s long-running mech combat series bounced back into the video game scene with the series' sixth mainline entry. Fires of Rubicon delivered the same fast-paced, futuristic combat the series is known for, along with modern visual flourishes and a legendary level of FromSoft difficulty.

Otherworldly horror

Remnant 2

Building on the framework it established in Remnant: From the Ashes, developer Gunfire Games returned this summer with its bold and brilliant sequel, Remnant II. Harnessing the power of Unreal Engine 5, Remnant II features richly detailed environments, masses of enemies and bosses to overcome and dozens of different armour and weapons sets to collect.

1. PlayStation Portal™ Remote Player can stream compatible games installed on your PS5 console. PlayStation Portal™ Remote Player requires broadband internet Wi-Fi with at least 5Mbps for use. For a better play experience, a high-speed connection of at least 15Mbps is recommended. The quality and connectivity of your play experience may vary depending on your network environment. A PS5 console and account for PlayStation Network is required. The PS5 console must be connected to a broadband internet connection, powered on fully or in Rest Mode, and it must be paired with your PlayStation Portal™ Remote Player.

2. Games that require a VR headset (PlayStation VR or PlayStation VR2) or additional peripherals (other than a DUALSHOCK 4, DualSense, or DualSense Edge wireless controller) are not compatible. Games that must be streamed on PS5 using a PS Plus Premium membership are not compatible. Haptic feedback and adaptive trigger features available when supported by game.

3. Haptic feedback and adaptive trigger features are only available when those features are supported by the game being played.