Seems like PCG usually does an article on "The Most Anticipated Games of (year)", but I don't remember seeing one, and as we're nearing the end of 2022, I thought I'd ask what games you guys (just for definition, I often use the slang term "you guys" to represent everyone and is not exclusive to males) are anticipating (confirmed releases) or hopeful for (unconfirmed) in 2023.
It feels like a lot of games got bumped from 2022 into 2023, more so than in years past, and while it can seem disappointing at the time, I think it's better to delay a game than to release it in an unfinished state. Better yet, would be to not announce a release date at all until the game is as polished as possible. Games are so complex these days, so some bugs will always popup on new releases, and patches will be issued; there's no way around that, but a bit more refinement in the process would be appreciated.
There are often games, often Indie games, that pop into existence in any given year, but there's no way to anticipate them. I also don't buy many new releases during the course of any given year, but these are my most anticipated or hoped for releases that I know exist:
Confirmed releases (at this point):
Starfield
My most anticipated game since Skyrim, thousands of hours of gameplay await me. There will be bugs. I know & accept that, and there will be patches; plus Bethesda games have a huge and talented modding community to make the game even better.
store.steampowered.com
Baldur's Gate 3
Minsc is back! And so is Jaheira, so the game may feel more like a Baldur's Gate game and less of a Divinity game. I have a few concerns in that area, but I know it will be an excellent party-based RPG.
store.steampowered.com
Unconfirmed 2023 releases that I'm hopeful for:
Avowed
First person RPG set in the Pillars of Eternity universe. I have no idea where Obsidian is at in the development stage as we haven't heard much about it, but if they can make it as complex as POE 1 & 2, and less like Outer Worlds, it could be a great RPG in the vein of Skyrim. No Steam page yet, just a link to the Avowed page:
Avowed (obsidian.net)
The Wayward Realms
OnceLost Games studio is making an ambitious RPG (hopefully not overly ambitious) in the vein of the ES Arean & Daggerrfall, directed by the lead developers by the aforementioned games. If they can pull it off, it could be one of those sleeper RPG hits.
store.steampowered.com
Outcast 2 - A New Beginning
As a fan of the original Outcast, I'm really hopeful for this game, though I haven't heard much about it lately. The first Outcast was kind of a hybrid game; part RPG, part Action, part Adventure game. More of a cult classic with a dedicated following (much like the Piranha Bytes games are), but it was a really fun game.
store.steampowered.com
And the original game, though it's a remake and called Outcast - Second Contact:
store.steampowered.com
Cautiously Hopefuls, but with lingering concerns:
Gothic 1 Remake
The Gothic games from Piranha Bytes are some of my favorite hardcore RPGs from the past and I'm hopeful for the remake of Gothic 1. But as it's being made by a different studio, I have lingering concerns that they will capture the same feeling.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1297900/Gothic_1_Remake/
System Shock (Remake)
Supposedly set for release in March of 2023, but it's had so many delays over the years, as well as a lack of communication from NightDive Studios, that I approach this with extreme caution. I hope it ends up being great, but it's definitely one of those games that I'll have to read a few reviews first.
store.steampowered.com
It feels like a lot of games got bumped from 2022 into 2023, more so than in years past, and while it can seem disappointing at the time, I think it's better to delay a game than to release it in an unfinished state. Better yet, would be to not announce a release date at all until the game is as polished as possible. Games are so complex these days, so some bugs will always popup on new releases, and patches will be issued; there's no way around that, but a bit more refinement in the process would be appreciated.
There are often games, often Indie games, that pop into existence in any given year, but there's no way to anticipate them. I also don't buy many new releases during the course of any given year, but these are my most anticipated or hoped for releases that I know exist:
Confirmed releases (at this point):
Starfield
My most anticipated game since Skyrim, thousands of hours of gameplay await me. There will be bugs. I know & accept that, and there will be patches; plus Bethesda games have a huge and talented modding community to make the game even better.
Starfield on Steam
Starfield is the first new universe in 25 years from Bethesda Game Studios, the award-winning creators of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Fallout 4.
Baldur's Gate 3
Minsc is back! And so is Jaheira, so the game may feel more like a Baldur's Gate game and less of a Divinity game. I have a few concerns in that area, but I know it will be an excellent party-based RPG.
Baldur's Gate 3 on Steam
Baldur’s Gate 3 is a story-rich, party-based RPG set in the universe of Dungeons & Dragons, where your choices shape a tale of fellowship and betrayal, survival and sacrifice, and the lure of absolute power.
Unconfirmed 2023 releases that I'm hopeful for:
Avowed
First person RPG set in the Pillars of Eternity universe. I have no idea where Obsidian is at in the development stage as we haven't heard much about it, but if they can make it as complex as POE 1 & 2, and less like Outer Worlds, it could be a great RPG in the vein of Skyrim. No Steam page yet, just a link to the Avowed page:
Avowed (obsidian.net)
The Wayward Realms
OnceLost Games studio is making an ambitious RPG (hopefully not overly ambitious) in the vein of the ES Arean & Daggerrfall, directed by the lead developers by the aforementioned games. If they can pull it off, it could be one of those sleeper RPG hits.
The Wayward Realms on Steam
Under the direction of Ted Peterson and Julian LeFay, lead developers of the team behind the original Elder Scrolls, Arena and Daggerfall, OnceLost Games is creating a new open-world fantasy RPG where choice and consequence are experienced on a scale never attempted before.
Outcast 2 - A New Beginning
As a fan of the original Outcast, I'm really hopeful for this game, though I haven't heard much about it lately. The first Outcast was kind of a hybrid game; part RPG, part Action, part Adventure game. More of a cult classic with a dedicated following (much like the Piranha Bytes games are), but it was a really fun game.
Outcast - A New Beginning on Steam
Explore the breathtaking alien world of Adelpha, support the local Talans in their struggles and fight your way through fast-paced battles against invading robot forces in this 3rd-person, open world, action adventure sequel to the 1999 cult classic.
And the original game, though it's a remake and called Outcast - Second Contact:
Save 90% on Outcast - Second Contact on Steam
Outcast – Second Contact is the complete remake of the cult title which sparked the open world, action-adventure genre. Take off on an exploration of Adelpha, an alien world as beautiful as it is dangerous, where your heroic journey places the fate of two worlds in your hands.
Cautiously Hopefuls, but with lingering concerns:
Gothic 1 Remake
The Gothic games from Piranha Bytes are some of my favorite hardcore RPGs from the past and I'm hopeful for the remake of Gothic 1. But as it's being made by a different studio, I have lingering concerns that they will capture the same feeling.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1297900/Gothic_1_Remake/
System Shock (Remake)
Supposedly set for release in March of 2023, but it's had so many delays over the years, as well as a lack of communication from NightDive Studios, that I approach this with extreme caution. I hope it ends up being great, but it's definitely one of those games that I'll have to read a few reviews first.
System Shock on Steam
A first-person fight to the death in the depths of space!
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