2023 was a year full of games, and even though it didn’t end just yet, it looks like we can start wrapping things up when it comes to the best games of the year.
The year is closing with almost ten thousand games released on Steam, and so we decided to compile what users agree are the Top 5 Best Games of 2023 available on the platform.
Below you can view the list according to Steam user ratings, keeping in mind that this list doesn’t necessarily imply all of those games are exclusive to Steam. Enjoy:
5- Pineapple on Pizza
Starting off with a really weird one, Pineapple on Pizza is a walking simulator that takes roughly 10 minutes to complete.
Dripping with dark humor, the game takes place in a lively island inhabited by dancing natives, where an active volcano looms in the horizon.
The first half of the game is spent roaming around the island, watching the natives dance or interact with each other, while the second half is spent watching them all slowly get swept up in a sea of lava.
It’s both a comedic and sadistic experience to watch the natives slowly die, as the game is filled with gags and horrifying deaths for the player to experience firsthand.
Pineapple on Pizza is available for free on Microsoft Windows (through Steam).
4- Dave the Diver
Dave the Diver took the world by storm with its enchanting underwater environments and casual exploration.
Divided between restaurant management simulation and aquatic RPG sections, Dave the Diver managed to enthrall players with its simplicity, solidifying itself as an approachable and casual roguelite.
The game’s mixture of 2D and 3D art during its underwater sections is breathtaking, and props the game up as one of the most aesthetically pleasing releases of 2023.
Dave the Diver is available on Nintendo Switch and Microsoft Windows (through Steam).
3- Baldur’s Gate 3
In a surprisingly low position, we have Baldur’s Gate 3, the RPG that set an insane standard for upcoming titles.
The party-based RPG developed by Larian Studios is a strong contender for Game of the Year, with some people outright considering it the game of the decade.
Featuring an intricate cast of characters and a deep combat system, Baldur’s Gate 3 does everything right at a scale that hasn’t been seen in the modern generation of gaming.
Larian Studios’ work on story-heavy RPG titles like the Divinity series gave them a great edge when it came to building the world of Baldur’s Gate 3, making it one of the most detailed games of 2023.
Baldur’s Gate 3 is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, Mac operating systems, and Microsoft Windows (through Steam). If you want to know more about the game, consider reading our review for it.
2- Pizza Tower
Inspired by the Wario Land series and 90’s cartoons, Pizza tower is an energetic 2D platformer with a heavy emphasis on going fast.
Players are put in the shoes of Peppino Spaghetti, a neurotic Italian chef who seeks to destroy the Pizza Tower, alongside everything that stands on his way.
The game’s unique art style and incredibly tight controls have made it an instant classic amongst the indie genre, and the comedic nature of its characters propelled the game into internet culture at maximum speed.
Pizza Tower is gorgeous in motion, and despite having seemingly been made in MS Paint there was a lot of work put into the character’s animations, with a high focus on making them as kinetic and satisfying to look at as possible.
Pizza Tower is available on Microsoft Windows (through Steam).
Special Mention- HoloCure
While technically a 2023 Steam release, HoloCure is still in its 0.6 version, meaning that it sits in some sort of early access state. That hasn’t stopped it from being one of the most positively-reviewed games of 2023, though.
Featuring Hololive’s talent as playable characters, HoloCure is a Vampire Survivors-inspired bullet hell game, where players are tasked with surviving a set amount of time in each stage.
The amount of love and care that went into HoloCure is easy to see, as the game features some incredibly deep references to all of its characters, showing a lot of respect for the source material.
HoloCure is possibly the biggest game based on HoloLive to be released yet, even surpassing some of Cover’s official releases.
HoloCure – Save the Fans! is available on Microsoft Windows (through Steam). If you want to read more about HoloCure, consider reading our Vampire Survivors-likes spotlight.
1- Resident Evil 4
Resident Evil 4 Remake is possibly some of Capcom’s best work yet, and solidifies RE4 as the golden child of the Resident Evil series.
Both Resident Evil 2 and 3 remakes have been slightly criticized for their changes, but it’s hard to find any flaws in RE4R, as it manages to be an accurate modernization of a classic.
The game has been given a gorgeous new coat of paint thanks to the RE Engine, and is possibly one of the best-looking games in the series.
The game’s treatment of Ashley this time has also managed to completely shift the public opinion on her character, making people more sympathetic towards her this time.
Resident Evil 4 is another strong contender for Game of the Year, as it remains an undisputed classic.
Resident Evil 4 is available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Microsoft Windows (through Steam). If you want to know more about the game, consider reading our review for it.
