I’m pretty pessimistic for an optimist, so just about every year of mine is a tumultuous year. I got diagnosed with chronic pain which sent me into a nasty depression and had me writing way less than I’d like. But I also got to play some great games in 2023, so maybe it’s a wash. I got to play some really bad games in 2023 but also some really awesome ones, and I think we’ll just focus on the awesome ones today. I love playing games that evoke emotion and make me feel something but I’m also a stupid baby that loves watching numbers go up. So enjoy this list of narrative masterpieces and Japanese Role-Playing Games.

5. Cocoon

Weird to start off my list with a game that is neither a narrative masterpiece (debatable) or a Japanese Role-Playing Game (objectively) but Cocoon is a truly excellent exception to the rule. I have strong roots in point-and-click adventure games and by extension, puzzle games. Cocoon not only is a stunningly beautiful game, it’s also an extremely well-designed game. I blasted through Cocoon’s admittedly short playtime over the course of a single day and found myself unable to put the game down. Puzzles that were simple enough for me to understand but also requiring enough thought that some trial-and-error was involved was the perfect blend of brain bending. Likewise, the structure of the game’s puzzles to slowly introduce you to concepts before having you execute them and think outside of what was shown is what makes the design of Cocoon so masterful.

4. Theatrhythm – Final Bar Line

I always thought the mixing of video game music with a rhythm game made way more sense than something like Guitar Hero: Van Halen. Since its inception on the 3DS, Theatrhythm has always been an exceptional blend of rhythm and RPG strategy. Unfortunately, with its arcade game roots in Japan, Final Bar Line centers around versions of songs that circle around three minutes long. Fortunately, boasting over 400 tracks, you’re likely to find quite a few of your favorites in a very playable format. Music aside, each track contained challenges for your party to complete while you slapped at buttons on your controller, adding a little passive-strategy to your rhythm playing. Even the online multiplayer which seemed silly and pointless at first, was incredibly fun and enjoyable to play. Despite its flaws, Final Bar Line is the ultimate Theatrhythm experience and consumed a considerable amount of my time in 2023, both on and offline.

3. Oxenfree II: Lost Signals

Hot off the heels of their first game, Night School Studio dropped their follow-up in 2023 taking place on the mainland as opposed to the spooky Edwards Island. Like the first game, Oxenfree II: Lost Signals takes place over the course of a single night that reveals fears, doubt, and the ongoing and very human struggles of all the characters involved. While erecting radio transmitters across the coast, Riley, our protagonist, and her local guide Jacob experience a dimensional portal opening up above the aforementioned Edwards Island. Attempting to set up the rest of the radio transmitters, Riley and Jacob run into several teens trying to amplify the dimensional portal, connected with a cult that one of the teen’s guardians started. Dealing with the teens, putting up the radio transmitters, and figuring out what the heck is going on in Riley’s hometown of Camena is a thrilling ride that’s a worthy sequel to one of my favorite games from 2016.

2. The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood

Deconstructeam has a way of tapping into very human emotions and experiences and doing fantastical things with them. I had been eagerly anticipating The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood after reviewing Essays on Empathy for Monstervine and feeling like I was truly experiencing something novel. The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood starts out simply enough, a witch has grown bored after being in exile for several hundred years and makes a pact with a demon to allow her to see her friends and begin practicing the fine art of tarot card reading again. Throughout the game you’ll learn so much about the characters, the world of witching, and snippets of what’s happening on earth. More importantly, you begin to understand the importance of sisterhood and sacrifice. I haven’t been impacted so heavily by a video game’s narrative since What Remains of Edith Finch. The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood is a genre-defining game and one of the most exciting games I played in all of 2023. I also reviewed it if you want to check THAT out.

1. Star Ocean: The Second Story R

Short of giving a Japanese Role-Playing Game the Final Fantasy 7 Remake treatment, Star Ocean: The Second Story R is the gold standard by which all remasters should be judged by. Not only is the game absolutely stunning with reworked art and art assets, but the quality-of-life functionality takes this game out of the 90s and places it against its modern peers. I really admire Tri-Ace as a developer for being willing to go with some truly experimental experiences in their games. While Star Ocean: The Second Story R is more inline with an attempt to make the first game better, I have to say they succeeded. Not just in iterating against their first title but also making a fresh and interesting version of the original game. Once I started playing Star Ocean: The Second Story R, I couldn’t put it down. Do yourself a favor and experience this title if only to experience what remasters of older games SHOULD be. I will say, personally, I got all the PS trophies for Star Ocean: The Second Story R, it wasn’t super difficult but it did require maxing out the levels for a few characters, which is level 255, and getting the best gear/abilities. Not that I shy away from that stuff regularly, but it was such a fun experience I was almost bummed when I was done.

So there you have it, Nick’s picks for 2023. I think I’m pretty consistent and if you read any of my writing none of these should be too much of a surprise. I did want to make a few honorable mentions though, games that I thought were exceptional but didn’t quite make the cut. First, the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster collection for Playstation and Switch. I picked them up for Playstation and played through them all, it was a really fun way of getting to revisit those titles. Goodbye Volcano High was another game I really enjoyed. The writing in Goodbye Volcano High is really excellent and they managed to capture the attitude, feelings, and disposition of a couple of high schoolers in that situation. Tails: The Backbone Preludes, you can read my thoughts on that in my review but basically, like its predecessor, it’s a really tight and engrossing point-and-click adventure game. The art is absolutely stellar as well, hats off to the team over at EggNut. Finally, the LISA collection put out by Serenity Forge. I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for Lisa: The Painful and I’m really glad it was brought to modern consoles. It’s a great game and if any of my top 5 for 2023 resonates with you, check it out.

I have high hopes for 2024, kicking off we’ve got some great RPGs coming out already with Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, and Unicorn Overlord. I’ve been playing Granblue Fantasy: Relink and thoroughly enjoying it. It’s truly a shame we’re getting some incredible games in the years that massive video game development layoffs are happening with 2024 in February already eclipsing 2023 entirely. Still, I hope you join me in expressing solidarity with those that have lost their job and those looking to unionize. I look forward to bringing you more reviews in 2024.