Gaming renaissance: Unveiling the top PC gems of 2023

It’s all well and well to start another daring round of PUBG, a new 100-hour Football Manager save, or another The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim adventure, but there are plenty of new PC games that will more than satiate your gaming desire. 

• Diablo 4

Diablo 4 is the site’s first 10/10 in a long time, but as news editor Lauren puts it, “Diablo 4 embodies the essence of what makes Diablo so great, taking the best elements of its predecessors and sewing them together to create an ever-changing, ever-evolving chimaera that we can’t wait to play for years to come.”

• The Outlast Trials

If you want to play a horror game with your buddies, The Outlast Trials is the ultimate co-op experience for a horrifying and disturbing look into the events before the original Outlast games. As you travel to a covert facility with the promise of a better future, that swiftly disappears as you are compelled to participate in mind control and brainwashing studies.

To escape the facility and rejoin society, you and up to four pals must complete a series of trials and tasks that include escaping terrifying monsters and making ethically dubious decisions – all in the service of science.

• System Shock Remake

Though not much distinguishes it from the original, the System Shock remake improves the game’s aesthetics and playability, giving it a slight edge and making it a fully fun FPS game. Though some System Shock remake review discusses the remake’s outmoded mechanics, there’s still a lot to adore for newcomers to one of the best PC games of all time as you combat cyborgs in a chaotic race to save Earth.

• Street Fighter 6

This is a game that welcomes novices; if you’re not familiar with this fighting game, now’s the time to get started. Our Street Fighter 6 review emphasises how much the game has learnt from past iterations, and how it has created an in-depth campaign with a control system that caters to newcomers while challenging fighting game veterans. If you want to try it out, here’s our Street Fighter 6 tier list and Street Fighter 6 roster.

• Honkai Star Rail

Hoyoverse, the studio behind Genshin Impact and Honkai Impact 3rd, has released a new anime game, this time taking us to space with turn-based tactics and a slew of new characters. Honkai Star Rail, as a Trailblazer, boards the Astral Express, a spacecraft that explores the universe in this open-world game packed of new opponents and places to explore.

• Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

Though the Star Wars game had a shaky start, we found a lot to love in our Star Wars Jedi: Survivor review, which deepened the Jedi power fantasy and expanded on the universe. Because of the open-world sections and all-new Jedi Survivor bosses, there are plenty more hours to invest into Survivor than its predecessor. Begin with our Star Wars Jedi Survivor tips & techniques, all possible lightsaber colours, and all Cal Kestis cosmetics and outfits.

• Dredge

Dredge, a surprise new indie smash, blends both the calm sport of fishing with the terror of the open seas at night. With engaging characters and a solid narrative running throughout, you’re entrusted with collecting fish and fulfilling tasks for the villagers while travelling to different islands to learn more about the creepy archipelago’s past.

Though there are peaceful periods in Dredge, the threat of the clock ticking in the background, the edge of night draws in, and you’re frequently left abandoned in the sea with lurking monsters and haunting apparitions of haunted ships.

• Age of Wonders 4

If you’re looking for a strategy game, new fantasy game Age of Wonders has received glowing reviews, particularly our own Age of Wonders 4 review: “With top-tier exploration, combat, and diplomacy, as well as a rewarding and dynamic customisation system, this is without a doubt the best 4X game I’ve played in years.” It’s little surprise that Age of Wonders 4 has dominated the Steam charts, thanks to better customisation and faction features, as well as engaging exploration, battle, and diplomacy systems.

• Resident Evil 4 Remake

Resident Evil 4 is the most recent Capcom remake, and it does an excellent job of capturing the magic of the original game. Many Resident Evil 4 Remake online review states, “This is the sweet spot between action and horror that Resident Evil has always strived to locate – Resident Evil 4 Remake in fact does it even better than RE4 (the first one).”

• Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty

If you appreciate the action and expansive open world of Souls games but don’t like the popular hack and slash game Dynasty Warriors, you’ll love Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty. Some of the Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty bosses are based on Luo Guanzhong’s Romance of the Three Kingdoms, so be ready to encounter famous warriors and demonic beasts as you go through the dark fantasy game as an unknown soldier during the Yellow Turban revolt.

According to some of the Wo Long Fallen Dynasty review, it’s “a thoroughly enjoyable Soulslike with intensely fun combat mechanics.” Whether you want to take on Wo Long Fallen Dynasty, here are the best spells to use, as well as the system requirements to see whether you can run it.