It’s that time of year again where we all look back to appreciate the good things of 2022, but also start looking forward to the brand new year ahead, full of video game releases and surprises. And yes, when we think “2023” and “video games”, we know that an obvious answer comes to mind: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdomthe long-awaited and hyped sequel to High Heaven breath of the wild.
But you already know that we’re excited about Zelda, so we asked the Nintendo Life team to find out what other is on our wishlists for 2023…
Kate Gray, Editor
Perhaps to no one’s surprise, many of my most anticipated games are the indie games that seem to be really special. This includes games like fairy farm, Venbaand Storyteller — one is a farming game, the other is a cooking game and the other is some kind of… point and click story generation puzzle game? Honestly, I don’t know what to expect from Storyteller, but I know it’s my jam, and I wonder if it’s going to have a similar vibe to Thinkone of my non-Switch GOTYs this year.
A special dedication to The brave squire, which is a particularly appealing eye candy that seems to dominate video game discussion when it comes out in 2023. There’s this really wonderful 2D-3D hybrid stuff, with a storybook art style that I think i will love. Also, Demonic schoolwhich is, just, UGH, so gorgeous. I wrote about it hereso go read my practical opinions!
In the AAA corner, it’s games like Pikmin 4, Story of the Seasons: A Wonderful Life, and… uh, that’s about it. I honestly don’t play a lot of the big releases in their launch year so I’ll probably end up playing one of the GOTYs from years past like Red Dead Redemption 2. Oh and Baldur’s Gate III! Buuuuut it’s not coming on Switch. However, it could be that one day…
Ollie Reynolds, personal editor
I have to admit I had to research exactly what’s on the horizon for the Switch in 2023 because right now, like many others, there’s a tears of the kingdom tsunami shaped looming in the distance and that’s all I can think of.
That said, once I remember what’s to come, I’m pleasantly surprised at how many games I plan to add to my collection. At the top of the list is probably Persona 4: Golden, a game I haven’t played since I (unfortunately) sold my PS Vita several years ago. I did not pick up Persona 5 Royal because I already own it on the PS4, but you can bet I’ll be downloading Persona 4 when it launches in just over a month.
Elsewhere, I can’t wait to see what Hogwarts Legacy is all about, though I probably won’t get that one on the Switch given the severe downgrades it will almost inevitably be subjected to. Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider looks like a fantastic retro game that’s sure to make the list, and like Kate, I have my eye on Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life, having spent countless hours playing the original on the GameCube at the era.
Finally, in the interest of manifesting some long-awaited news, I am also very much looking forward to Metroid Prime 4. Come on, Nintendo!
Alana Hagues, Writer
Friends, 2023 is Stacked and I’m a little scared. Even discounting Tears of the Kingdom and the big non-Nintendo release of the year, Final Fantasy XVIfor me, in the first six months alone, there’s so much coming out that it’s all going to compete for my attention.
February a Octopath Traveler II and Theatrical final measuring line, two titles in which I am ridiculously jazzed up. I didn’t expect to get a direct sequel to Octopath, and I really want to see if the sequel has improved the Theatrhythm character, however, this is my dream sequel – can’t believe we’re finally getting another Thearrhythm game. I love video game music and Final Fantasy music, so this is going to be my companion for the year I think.
As a Trails fan, I’m going to be spoiled in 2023. Trails to Azure came out in March and can’t wait to see the final half of the Crossbell arc, then Trails into Reverie came out this summer! phew. sea of stars and Chronicle of Eiyuden: One Hundred Heroes both are also coming out in 2023. And I’m definitely catching Persona 3 Portable – I played FES but not this version!
Moving away from RPGs, however, there’s plenty to do. Mineko Night Market and Snufkin: Moominvalley Melody are just two of the cutest video games I’ve seen, A space for the unrelated is utterly beautiful to watch and looks like it’s gonna make me cry, and i can’t forget Pikmin 4, can I? And hey, song of silk is supposed to come out before July 2023, right? It’s going to be released at the same time as Zelda or FFXVI, isn’t it…
Jim Norman, personal editor
Once we have Tears of the Kingdom and the remasters of Wind Waker HD and Twilight Princess HD (both are definitely, 100% happens) 2023 is still looking… ridiculously busy.
My year will undoubtedly start with Fire Emblem Engage – a game we’ve probably heard of too now but one that I’m still really excited for nonetheless. Much like Alana, I’ve been following Sea of Stars for many months now and it still seems to be one of the best looking Switch games going. I also played owl for the first time this year and I fell completely in love, so you know that the next game from D-Pad Studio, Vikings on trampolines, has be on my mind.
Then there are titles like Bomb Rush Cyberfunk and nuclear fire, which I can’t wait to see more footage of because from what I’ve seen so far, I’m sold. And obviously, Pikmin 4 will arrive and again take up a good few weeks of my playtime.
Generic choices go to Advance Wars 1+2: Reboot Camp and Marvel’s Midnight Suns. I hope both manage to make it to Switch in 2023, really. The former looks like we’re going to have a release date any day now, while the latter might be more of a pipe dream at this point…
What are you most excited about in 2023? Check out our new swish poll where you can type the game you want to vote for and let us know your most anticipated games!
