TOP 20 Must-Play PlayStation Games 2023

With the PlayStation 5 now widely available and an ever-growing library of next-gen titles, 2023 is shaping up to be a standout year for PlayStation gamers. Here are 20 must-play PlayStation games releasing in 2023 that no PS5 or PS4 owner should miss out on.

Key Takeaways:

• Final Fantasy XVI leads a strong lineup of RPGs coming to PS5 in 2023.
• Highly anticipated sequels like Spider-Man 2 and Resident Evil 4 Remake arrive next year.
• The PS VR2 launches in 2023 with horizon Call of the Mountain as a flagship VR title.
• Blockbuster franchises like Street Fighter 6 and Suicide Squad also return in 2023.
• Indie darlings like Stray and Season: A Letter to the Future get sequels on PS5.

1. Final Fantasy XVI

The next mainline installment in Square Enix’s seminal JRPG series arrives as a PlayStation 5 console exclusive in summer 2023. Final Fantasy XVI promises a gritty, medieval-inspired setting and action-oriented real-time combat centered around Eikons, powerful summoned creatures. With production overseen by Final Fantasy veterans like producer Naoki Yoshida and composer Masayoshi Soken, FF16 looks to deliver an impactful story-driven adventure for solo players.

2. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

In one of 2023’s biggest PS5 exclusives, Insomniac Games brings back the web-slinging wall-crawler for an anticipated sequel. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 lets gamers step into the roles of both Peter Parker and Miles Morales as they confront Venom and other threats. It builds on the strong foundation of 2018’s Marvel’s Spider-Man with new abilities, an expanded map of Marvel’s New York, and a deeper combat system. The Spider-Man sequel promises to be a big PlayStation 5 exclusive in late 2023.

3. Resident Evil 4 Remake

Survival horror fans are eagerly awaiting Resident Evil 4 Remake, a full-on reimagining of the 2005 classic for modern hardware. Launching for PS5 in March, RE4 Remake has visuals built from the ground up using Capcom’s RE Engine. It remains faithful to the original story while expanding gameplay sequences and locations. With enhanced combat, puzzle solving and inventory management, RE4 Remake captures the essence of an iconic survival horror experience while adding new twists.

4. Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League

DC’s most dysfunctional supervillains take center stage in this anarchic cooperative shooter coming to PS5 in spring 2023. In Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, four players control Harley Quinn, Deadshot, King Shark, and Captain Boomerang as they take on an open-world Metropolis and battle corrupted Justice League members. With crazy abilities and weapons plus a fun banter between characters, the game promises chaotic squad-based gameplay in true Suicide Squad fashion.

5. Street Fighter 6

The king of fighting games returns with Street Fighter 6 in 2023. Launching as a PS5 and PS4 console exclusive for its first six months, SF6 moves the series forward with the new Drive System mechanic that lets you charge up special moves. The starting World Tour mode offers an immersive single-player experience while online play features competitive ranked matches. With its gorgeous new visual style, innovations like Real-Time Commentary, and returning fan-favorite characters, SF6 aims to be the next definitive Street Fighter experience.

6. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

A gripping single-player action-adventure, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor arrives on PS5 in March 2023. It picks up Cal Kestis’ story five years after the events of 2019’s acclaimed Fallen Order. With expanded Force abilities and lightsaber skills, Cal must stay one step ahead of the Empire’s constant pursuit as he unravels mysteries of an ancient civilization. Jedi: Survivor promises tense, tactical combat and Metroidvania-inspired exploration within the Star Wars universe.

7. Stray Blade

This upcoming action RPG lets you explore a beautifully realized fantasy world while mastering deep, satisfying combat. As the amnesiac hero Austry, you can freely traverse the continent of Cainus, taking on quests and learning more about your true nature. With strategic, stamina-based battles against giant enemies and armies, crafting, and cooperative play, Stray Blade aims to be an adventure mixing free-roaming exploration with challenging Dark Souls-esque fights when it hits PS5 in 2023.

8. Assassin’s Creed Mirage

The long-running Assassin’s Creed franchise goes back to its stealth-action roots with Mirage. Launching for PS5 and PS4 in 2023, it takes players to ninth-century Baghdad during the Islamic Golden Age. You play as the street thief Basim as he joins the Hidden Ones and becomes a powerful Assassin. With a renewed focus on parkour, stealth takedowns, and open-ended assassinations, Mirage looks to be an intriguing next chapter for the historical RPG series.

9. Stellar Blade

Previously known as Project Eve, Stellar Blade fuses slick action combat with an anime visual flair. As the titular Eve, you slash and shoot your way through dystopian cities and strange alien environments in this PS5 exclusive hitting next year. Made by South Korean studio Shift Up, Stellar Blade entices with challenging boss fights, unlockable skills, and stylish art design. It could be an under-the-radar action game to watch out for in 2023.

10. Dead Island 2

Over a decade after the original zombie survival hit, Dead Island 2 finally arrives on PS5, PS4, and Xbox next year. With chaotic first-person melee combat against hordes of the undead, you explore an open-world Los Angeles while rescuing survivors and uncovering the origins of the outbreak. Colorful characters, makeshift weapons crafting, and four playable heroes offer plenty of gameplay variety across the horror sequel’s darkly humorous campaign and cooperative modes.

11. Season: A Letter to the Future

The surprise indie hit Stray is getting a sequel in 2023 called Season: A Letter to the Future. This atmospheric adventure game has you recording a dying world through your travels and interactions. As the young girl Estelle, you ride your bicycle through quiet countrysides, abandoned cities, and mystical forests brought to life with painterly visuals. With its cyclical day/night seasons, light puzzles, and nature themes, Season aims to deliver a relaxing yet melancholy narrative-focused experience when it arrives on PS5 and PC.

12. Horizon Call of the Mountain

Sony’s flagship PlayStation VR2 launch game invites you into the world of Horizon. Launching alongside Sony’s next-gen virtual reality headset in 2023, Horizon Call of the Mountain puts you in the shoes of Ryas, a disgraced former Carja soldier. He embarks on a dangerous new journey across the majestic wilderness of the Forbidden West. Made specifically for VR, its mix of archery combat, climbing puzzles, and close-up machine encounters aims to be a killer app showcasing PSVR 2 immersion.

13. Assetto Corsa 2

Serious racing simulation fans are looking forward to Assetto Corsa 2, the sequel to the acclaimed original sim. Built for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, AC2 provides cutting-edge photogrammetry physics modeling for over 50 cars across different categories. Ray tracing support enables realistic lighting and reflections for gorgeous visuals. With tuning options, dynamic time/weather, and improved tire/suspension physics, Assetto Corsa 2 promises to be a go-to racing sim when it releases in 2023.

14. Starfield

Bethesda’s brand new space-set RPG finally touches down in the first half of 2023. As a space explorer in the year 2330, you journey through the Milky Way galaxy visiting procedurally generated worlds and completing missions. Starfield offers complete freedom to follow the main quest or forge your own path discovering new planets and civilizations. With next-gen visuals, an intricate branching dialogue system, space flight, and deep character customization, it aims to realize the ultimate single-player sci-fi fantasy.

15. Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League

DC’s most dysfunctional supervillains take center stage in this anarchic cooperative shooter coming to PS5 in spring 2023. In Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, four players control Harley Quinn, Deadshot, King Shark, and Captain Boomerang as they take on an open-world Metropolis and battle corrupted Justice League members. With crazy abilities and weapons plus a fun banter between characters, the game promises chaotic squad-based gameplay in true Suicide Squad fashion.

16. Fire Emblem Engage

Nintendo’s long-running tactical RPG franchise arrives on Switch with the epic fantasy adventure Fire Emblem Engage. Out January 2023, it features the returning strategy gameplay the series is known for along with expanded relationship-building mechanics. With the new Engage system letting characters fuse with past Fire Emblem heroes, Engage promises to intertwine new and classic elements for long-time fans and newcomers.

17. Forspoken

Square Enix’s ambitious open-world fantasy Forspoken summons magic and parkour. You play as the modern-day New Yorker Frey Holland who is transported to the beautiful yet dangerous land of Athia. With magic abilities, Frey must survive against mystical foes and traverse sprawling landscapes using her enhanced parkour mobility. Forspoken hits PS5 in January boasting a massive game world and thrilling magic combat amplified by PS5 features like DualSense haptics and 3D spatial audio support.

18. Hogwarts Legacy

Live out the fantasy of being a witch or wizard within the Harry Potter universe in this much-anticipated RPG. Releasing for PS5 in 2023, Hogwarts Legacy lets you create a customized student character and attend classes at the famous School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Learning powerful spells, taming magical beasts, broom flight, and duelling other students all help make for an immersive open-world experience set in the rich lore of the Wizarding World.

19. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth

The second game in the Final Fantasy VII remake trilogy focuses on the middle chapters of the original PS1 classic’s story. Square Enix hasn’t revealed many details about VII Rebirth yet beyond a 2023 launch window. Based on the first game’s polish though, expectations are high for its continuation of Cloud, Tifa, and company’s epic journey now with the power of Unreal Engine 5. More action-packed combat and stunning story sequences await in one of 2023’s biggest JRPGs.

20. Silent Hill f

The influential psychological horror series returns from its long slumber with multiple new Silent Hill projects in the works. The biggest is Silent Hill f, a main new instalment in the franchise helmed by original Silent Hill creator Keiichiro Toyama. Though details remain scarce, Silent Hill f promises to revisit the ominous atmosphere, disturbing creatures, and mature themes that defined the seminal early games. Fans are hopeful Toyama can recapture the surreal, scary magic of Silent Hill’s roots when f arrives in 2023.

FAQ

What are some of the most anticipated PS5 exclusives in 2023?

Some big PlayStation 5 exclusive games slated for 2023 include Final Fantasy XVI, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, Forspoken, and Horizon Call of the Mountain for PS VR2. Sony also has PS5 console exclusive periods for third-party games like Hogwarts Legacy and Street Fighter 6.

Will any major PlayStation IP get new games in 2023?

Yes, Sony has highly anticipated sequels planned for flagship PlayStation franchises like Spider-Man, Horizon, and Gran Turismo in 2023. Other popular PlayStation IPs like God of War Ragnarok and The Last of Us Part I also release on PS5 at the tail end of 2022.

What genres are represented in the top upcoming PlayStation games?

The top 2023 PlayStation games span a diverse range of genres like action-adventure, RPG, fighting, horror, FPS, open-world, racing sims, and more. Between first-party exclusives and third-party multiplatform titles, next year offers something for all kinds of PlayStation gamers.

Are any indie games coming to PS5 in 2023 worth looking out for?

Yes, standout indie titles coming to PS5 in 2023 include Stray sequel Season: A Letter to the Future, intense action game Stellar Blade, and unique cycling adventure Season. Smaller indie games offer some nice variety alongside the big-budget blockbusters in 2023’s impressive PlayStation lineup.

Will 2023 see PS5 games really take advantage of the new hardware?

With developers having had time to get accustomed to the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, 2023 should see more titles designed exclusively for next-gen hardware. Games like Forspoken, Starfield, Resident Evil 4 Remake, and Suicide Squad can more fully tap features like fast loading, ray tracing, 3D audio, and DualSense haptics without being held back by past platforms.

What are some day one releases to look for when PSVR2 launches?

Two of the biggest games slated to launch alongside PSVR 2 in 2023 are Horizon Call of the Mountain, a VR exclusive set in the Horizon universe, and Resident Evil Village, a full VR mode update of the popular 2021 survival horror title. More VR experiences tailored specifically to showcase PS VR2 capabilities are likely to be revealed before launch as well.

In conclusion, with tentpole exclusives, highly anticipated sequels, groundbreaking VR titles and more, 2023 is gearing up to be an incredible year for PlayStation gamers. From AAA blockbusters to immersive indies, the variety and quality coming to PS5 and PS4 next year keeps growing. For longtime fans or those just jumping aboard PlayStation with the PS5, 2023 promises to deliver amazing gaming experiences that shouldn’t be missed.