Okay, folks, gather 'round! It's 2025, and while everyone else is probably raving about whatever shiny new thing just dropped, I'm here taking a delightful stroll down memory lane to 2023. Why? Because picking my Game of the Year list is the ultimate power move. Forget the hype trains everyone else boarded! I ruthlessly ignore the big, noisy games that just didn't vibe with my soul and instead shower love on the titles that truly made 2023 a banner year for me. I'm notoriously picky with my gaming time, so if a game made this list, it earned its stripes through sheer awesomeness (or at least, my kind of awesomeness). Ready to see what made the cut? Buckle up! 😎

10. Final Fantasy 16

Phew, this one barely clawed its way onto the list! Honestly, if it weren't for that absolutely killer opening sequence and a few genuinely tense story moments that dragged me kicking and screaming through the rest, it might have been left in the dust. Yeah, the action sequences were fun, and there were these tiny, sparkling gems of storytelling buried deep within disturbingly boring side quests. And those boss battles? They actually tried new things! That combination just about managed to plunk Final Fantasy 16 into the number ten slot. Some folks out there will swear it's the best Final Fantasy ever made. Bless their hearts, they're objectively wrong. It’s not even the best Final Fantasy game on this very list! But hey, it was... pretty good. ¯\(ツ)/¯

9. The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of the Kingdom

Confession time: Massive open-world games like this take me a while to warm up to. It's like trying to befriend a particularly aloof cat. But when they finally click? Oh boy, the whole world just... opens up! (See what I did there? 😉) Sure, Tears of the Kingdom felt familiar to its predecessor, but there's a unique kind of magic in its sandbox. It truly, genuinely lets you do things your way. Did I ever manage to build one of those mind-blowing, physics-defying contraptions everyone posted online? Absolutely not. My creations looked like they were assembled by a drunk Goron. But you know what I did excel at? Playing dress-up with Link! Fashion is the true endgame, people.

8. Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries Of Honjo

HELLO?! VISUAL NOVELS ARE BACK, BABY! 🎉 And this one? Chef's kiss. Paranormasight hit me with an intriguing story full of twists and turns, plus these unexpectedly cool puzzle moments that had me feeling like a genius detective... sometimes. A huge shoutout to my fellow editors at TheGamer for shoving this gem in my direction. If you've ever lost yourself in titles like Danganronpa or the Zero Escape series, this is your next obsession. Get ready to flex those deductive muscles and unravel some seriously spooky mysteries in Honjo. Trust me, you won't be disappointed.

7. Theatrhythm Final Bar Line

Let's be real: Can you ever go wrong with a rhythm game? Nope. But can you go wrong with a rhythm game packed with bangers from some of gaming's most legendary composers? DOUBLE NOPE! Final Bar Line didn't just meet expectations; it soared over them, setting the bar incredibly high (get it? Bar? Rhythm? ...I'll see myself out). It's pure, unadulterated nostalgia bliss. Relive the most impactful, tear-jerking, and adrenaline-pumping moments of the Final Fantasy series while choosing your party and battling through stages. Major bonus points for including absolute bops from other Square Enix classics too. This game is a massive, joyful love letter to RPG music.

6. Resident Evil 4 Remake

Why is this game here? Simple. It's FUN. Remember fun? That thing video games are supposed to be? Having never played the original (I know, I know, shame on me!), I finally understood the decades of hype. It masterfully balances being pants-wettingly scary with delivering pure, unhinged action. If you haven't suplexed a zombie farmer into next Tuesday or executed a perfectly timed backflip away from a chainsaw maniac, can you even call yourself a gamer? Also, Leon Kennedy's one-liners? Pure, cheesy gold. "Where's everyone going? Bingo?" Iconic.

Honorable Mentions That Almost Made Me Cry Leaving Them Out

Okay, fine, these gems didn't quite crack the top 10, but they deserve a moment in the spotlight:

• Street Fighter 6: I never thought I'd put a fighter this high! But from beta to launch, SF6 proved why it reigns supreme. The Modern controls letting newbies actually play? Genius. Accessibility options? Awesome. The surprisingly fun World Tour story mode? Bonkers! It made fighting games feel welcoming again.

• Super Mario RPG: Look, Mario platformers? Kinda suck, honestly. Fight me. But THIS? This remake is pure, unadulterated joy. It's short, sweet, and packed with charm. RPG fans, Final Fantasy fans, Nintendo fans – everyone finds something wholesome to love here.

5. Street Fighter 6

Wait, didn't I just mention this? Yep! But it deserves its own numbered spot too. Seriously, I never expected a fighter to land so high on my personal GOTY list. SF6 is just that good. It took everything great about the genre and polished it to a mirror shine while throwing the doors wide open for newcomers. That "completely busted but wonderfully integrated" Modern control scheme? A revelation. It let me actually pull off cool moves without needing PhD-level execution skills. The World Tour mode was way more engaging than any fighting game story has a right to be. It made 2023 feel like a knockout victory for Capcom.

4. Super Mario RPG

Okay, I know I just dissed Mario platformers a second ago. But this? This is different! Super Mario RPG is a delightful little bundle of pure, uncomplicated fun. It’s bright, it’s cheerful, it’s got that classic JRPG turn-based goodness, and it respects your time by not overstaying its welcome. It’s like a warm hug in video game form. Whether you're an RPG veteran, a Final Fantasy fanatic, or just love all things Nintendo, this game has something wonderfully wholesome for you. Short, sweet, and utterly charming.

3. Fire Emblem Engage

While Three Houses remains the peak of the mountain for me, Engage kicked off 2023 with a serious bang and somehow knew it needed to bring its A-game for the year ahead. This game is a visual feast – bright, vibrant, and pushing the Switch to its absolute limits. Who knew the little console that could still had this much juice? The writing is sharp and witty, the voice acting is top-notch (Yunaka, I see you and I adore you! ✨), and the tactical gameplay? Arguably the best the series has ever offered. It’s slick, strategic, and satisfying. Also, huge props for actually including well-realized, dark-skinned Black characters – a rarity worth celebrating.

2. Octopath Traveler 2

Sometimes, a sequel doesn't need to reinvent the wheel. Sometimes, you just take an already fantastic formula, polish every single facet until it gleams, and add more magic. That's Octopath Traveler 2. New stories? Check. New characters? Check. New, clever mechanics? Check. An even more stunning soundtrack that somehow surpasses the original's masterpiece? CHECK! This game is JRPG comfort food at its finest. While I might hold a tiny candle for the first game's cast, every other aspect of OT2 screams perfection. The gorgeous HD-2D art style is breathtaking, the gameplay loop is addictive, and the character interactions are genuinely fun and well-written. If you love RPGs and haven't played this, what are you even doing with your life? Seriously, go play it. Now.

1. Baldur's Gate 3

Ugh, fine. I hate being that person. You know the one. The person who just slaps Baldur's Gate 3 at the number one spot like everyone else. It feels... predictable. But here's the thing: if you've played it, you get it. You understand the sheer, unmitigated brilliance. Playing through this epic adventure co-op was an experience I'll never forget. The sheer volume of meaningful choices? Mind-boggling. The writing? Consistently brilliant, witty, and surprisingly deep. The characters? I became attached faster than a Remnant to a wall, and the performances were absolutely stellar across the board. The true magic is in the unpredictability – no two playthroughs, no two stories are ever remotely the same. Games like Baldur's Gate 3 come along once in a blue moon. It's not just my 2023 Game of the Year; it's a landmark title that redefines what RPGs, heck, what games in general, can aspire to be. It sets a new bar. And looking back from 2025? That bar is still sky-high. Bravo, Larian. Bravo. 👏