With an outstanding lineup of additions to major gaming franchises such as Zelda, Final Fantasy, Resident Evil, and Diablo, along with innovative new titles like “Hi-Fi Rush,” the gaming industry is currently delivering one of the most remarkable and bustling years in this century.
The autumn release schedule is showing no signs of slowing down. Here, we present the most highly anticipated video games set to release for the remainder of 2023, listed in order of their release dates.
- Assassin’s Creed Mirage
- Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox, PC
- Release Date: October 5 After embarking on adventures spanning Egypt, Greece, and Britain, the Assassin’s Creed series is returning to its roots in urban stealth gameplay. In “Mirage,” players will assume the role of Basim, portrayed by Lebanese-Canadian actor Lee Majdoub, a mysterious thief in 9th-century Baghdad who becomes part of the ancient order of assassins. Ubisoft aims to recapture the formula that brought them success by steering away from the expansive open-world RPG format, which the series had previously ventured into.
- Spider-Man 2
- Platform: PlayStation 5
- Release Date: October 20 “Spider-Man 2” by Insomniac Games features both Peter Parker and Miles Morales in an exciting new adventure. The game introduces classic villains such as Kraven and Venom, with a central mystery surrounding Venom’s true identity, which diverges from the traditional Eddie Brock character in the comics. This installment expands upon the already impressive re-creation of Manhattan, offering even more boroughs to explore. While “Spider-Man 2” may not redefine superhero gaming like its predecessor, Insomniac Games, known for their excellence, ensures an enjoyable experience.
- Super Mario Wonder
- Platform: Nintendo Switch
- Release Date: October 20 “Super Mario Wonder” represents a significant departure from the classic 2D Mario formula, the first such change since 2006. While details remain scarce, players can expect new costumes, stage designs, and a fresh voice for Mario himself. The game also revamps the Mario aesthetic, drawing inspiration from the iconic artwork of Yoichi Kotabe, known for defining Mario’s look on Nintendo game covers and manuals in the 1980s. This aesthetic shift hints at a new design philosophy, a welcome change after the “New Super Mario” series began to feel repetitive with multiple releases and revisions.
- Alan Wake 2
- Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox, PC
- Release Date: October 27 Inspired by “Twin Peaks” and early Stephen King novels, the sequel to 2010’s “Alan Wake” returns to pure psychological horror, courtesy of Remedy Entertainment. Remedy, renowned for their mastery of action and mind-bending storytelling in “Control” (2019), once again delivers a gripping narrative. The titular character, Alan Wake, is a novelist trapped in a nightmarish reality of his own making in a small Northwestern town. Thirteen years later, FBI agent Saga Anderson arrives to investigate, only to become ensnared in Wake’s eerie predicament.
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III
- Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox, PC
- Release Date: November 10 “Call of Duty” is akin to “Star Wars” in its ability to draw millions of fans year after year. However, this year’s release offers an intriguing twist in its single-player mode, introducing player agency within sandbox environments, a departure from the series’ previous iterations. It’s a notable step for the industry’s most successful franchise, as it finally explores new directions within its multibillion-dollar formula.
As the gaming world eagerly awaits these titles, 2023 is shaping up to be a memorable year in the realm of video games, with both beloved franchises and fresh innovations taking center stage.
