by Jayce Ham
Hello, I am back. I took a long hiatus from the column as I was pregnant with my first child, baby Joel, born on November 16, 2023. However, that didn’t stop me from playing video games. Video games are a big part of how I survived pregnancy and the first couple of months of parenthood. I even brought my Switch to the hospital and played one of the games that will be mentioned in this article the day after giving birth. This is my favorite article I write every year for my column, my top five games of the year. I will start from my number five and end with the best for last, my number one game of the year.
Number five is a game that was released at the beginning of 2023 and one I have replayed multiple times since, Fire Emblem Engage. Fire Emblem is a popular Japanese tactics-style game series, with Engage being its latest iteration. As a big fan of the series, I was excited for this one more than almost anything that was released this year. The game did not disappoint and featured some of the best characters, combat mechanics, and romance options I have seen in a long time. I have played the game several times because it is just that much fun. It is addicting, to be honest. While some fans were not jazzed about the cheesy story, I believe cheesy stories are part of what makes some of the best JRPG’s there are to offer. I anticipate replaying this game many more times in the years to come.
Number four is none other than Persona 5 Tactica, which just so happened to release the day after I had my baby. Hence, why I brought the Switch to the hospital. Anyway, Persona 5 is my favorite game of all time and I eat up every single spin-off and sequel that comes out with these characters that I love so much they are practically like family to me. This game is another Japanese tactics-style game. I have really come to love tactics-style gameplay this last year, which is basically “danger chess”, as I so often describe it. Tactica features two brand new characters along with our amazing Phantom Thieves, this time in chibi art style. In the timeline, this game takes place near the end of Persona 5 Royal. The art style is adorable and like the previous game, the gameplay is addicting. I have already started a replay of it and the game only came out in November. If you love the Persona series like I do, you do not want to miss out on this amazing sequel.
Number three is Final Fantasy XVI, a game I had been looking forward to for years that was finally released in June of last year. Final Fantasy is a beloved JRPG series that typically features turn-based combat and heavy roleplaying elements. This installment however features action-style combat, with a creative twist of using elemental abilities on top of a sword. The developers wanted this to be a more mature direction for the franchise, which I appreciated as I found myself sobbing over the emotional and sometimes gruesome moments. The game truly moved me and I cannot wait for the next DLC this year. While some fans of the series criticized the combat style and depressing nature of the game, stating that it isn’t really Final Fantasy, I was absolutely in love with it and am still emotional when I think about some of the story beats and character moments.
Number two is probably the most surprising pick for me, Alan Wake 2. Alan Wake is a survival horror series that features a writer whose horrifying stories are becoming real. The sequel also features an FBI agent who is determined to solve all of the bizarre things happening. I normally like to watch horror, not play it, but I was drawn to this game from the first trailer. The game was gorgeous and the mystery setting intrigued me. I spent many times while terrified wondering to myself why I did this but in the end, I was grateful I did because it was truly an incredible experience. There is a particular chapter of this game that I will never forget and will go down as one of my favorite video game moments of all time.
Number one will be of no surprise to anyone as it won Game of the Year pretty much everywhere and that is Baldur’s Gate 3. Baldur’s Gate 3 surprised everyone when it was released as it was like nothing anyone had ever seen before. The gameplay, characters, story, setting, everything was so unbelievably incredible that the internet still can’t stop talking about it. The game is Dungeons and Dragons-style gameplay and setting. Because of this game I, and many others, became interested in DND and I am now a part of a campaign that my partner is the Dungeon Master of. Baldur’s Gate 3 is the perfect way to teach you how to play Dungeons and Dragons and has made it much easier for me to jump into my partner’s campaign without a high level of confusion. Not to mention, Astarion is the absolute love of my life and his romance route is one of the greatest things I have ever experienced in a video game.
2023 was an incredible year for video games, which made it very difficult to decide on my top five. Ultimately, I chose the games that I enjoyed the most, and that made me the happiest in 2023, a stressful and tiring year where I needed the comfort of video games the most.
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