Video games have been popular since the 80’s, which makes sense, given the sheer variety of content the gaming world has to offer. Every year, a handful of games capture the public’s heart with heart-wrenching stories and superior graphics, even before they are released. So, what games have the biggest hold on audiences right now? Read on to find out!
In 2022 and 2023, gamers everywhere will soon be blessed with a mountain of new titles, from highly anticipated sequels and remakes to completely new content altogether. According to ScreenRant, some of the most highly anticipated titles include Street Fighter 6 and Final Fantasy XVI., 2023 releases that have stunned us repeatedly with trailers and sneak-peeks.
The buzz surrounding these games can be felt here at PHS, as well. Grace Hodgson, a member of PHS’ E-Sports team who plays Smash Brothers Ultimate, is optimistic about the upcoming Final Fantasy game.
“… I’ve played most of the final fantasy series and knowing the company I definitely have high expectations for the game.” she said.
The best part of it all, in my opinion, is that certain games, such as RE8’s Winters Expansion, which dropped on October 28, offer demos that give players a peek at what’s to come and keep them engaged. The demo shows off the new third-person mode that allows players to experience the main character Ethan Winters’ story from a new perspective.
And let’s not forget everyone’s favorite, God of War: Ragnarök, which launched November 9. While it may not have a demo per se, there have been a plethora of story and gameplay trailers that suck players in as if they were a part of it themselves. These can be found on IGN or on the Playstation website for a pre-purchase peek at the game.
In addition to sneak-peeks and demos, there have also been major gameplay improvements to optimize player experience. Of course, not everyone has been so transparent during the development process; according to USA Today, Insomniac Games, the developers behind Spider-Man 2, recently confirmed its 2023 release, as the lack of updates caused fans to worry that the game would be postponed to a later date.
Speaking of updates, the world will be reintroduced to Dead Space, remade for 2023, on January 27 of that year. The game will be playable on Xbox Series X, PS5, and PC, and is expected to have next-gen graphics and an awesomely gross amount of gore.
While remakes and sequels are receiving a lot of praise, there are also several new games entering the limelight in 2022 and 2023. Wild Hearts, a 2023 adventure game developed by Omega Force and Starfield, a 2023 action RPG developed by Bethesda Softworks, the creators of Skyrim and Fallout, are just two of many new releases coming to our consoles within the next year, as per The Independent.
Not everyone is impressed, however.
“I have no recent games I’m more interested in.” stated Michael Arnold of PHS’ Mario Kart 8 Deluxe E-sports team. Instead, he’s invested in Cuphead and Just Shapes & Beats, and he expressed his desire to wait to purchase games rather than buy them upon release. “I wait to purchase them (video games) because I want to see how well they fare, and I can save money buying used.” He said.
Whether you plan to cozy up with old favorites or buckle up for new adventures, the next year of gaming is going to be one of the best yet. As the gaming industry continues to evolve, I am excited to see what the future of video games has in store. Personally, I have my eyes on Dead Space and Street Fighter 6, and I’m interested to see what their developers have in store for audiences.
