My gaming experience in 2023 was a wild ride that I did not expect. I started the year excited about Fire Emblem Engage but dropped it halfway through when the kid wasn’t a fan of tactical combat. They were five-and-a-half. I realized early on that the year would be dictated by what games we could play together. This realization made for a wonderful and expansive year in gaming.

A four-panel image with Star Rail, Diablo IV, star field and Lego fortnite

Text on top reads Broximar’s 2023 gaming year in revieww

Me: I don’t have time for video games

Correction: I have no time to play games made for adults

At the end of the year, I finished a lot more games than I ever expected to in 2023. The kid became a fantastic gaming partner. They also led me to games I may never have played and discovered how bonkers Kirby lore truly is.

The games we completed playing together:

Pokémon Scarlet
Ratchet & Clank (PS4)
Ratchet & Clank: A Rift Apart
Kena
Spider-man + DLC
Miles Morales
Luigi’s Mansion 3
Kirby and the Forgotten Land
Super Mario Odyssey (Multiple Times)
Legend of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom
Paper Mario (N64)
Paper Mario: The Origami King
Astro’s Playroom
Kirby Star Allies
Teal Mask DLC
Spider-Man 2
Kirby Return to Dreamland Deluxe

I am proud of this list and all the games we played together. But, of course, this isn’t the whole story for me.

The Other Gaming Moments

At the end of April, I started playing Honkai: Star Rail. It immediately became my main game. It sucked me in more than no other game has in a very long time. The humour, gameplay, and characters all grabbed me, and never let go. It is the game I play every morning. I have put 800+ hours thanks to this being cross-platform with mobile and PC into this game and have enjoyed every moment.

The arrival of Honkai: Star Rail also led me to fall out of interest in MMOs like World of Warcraft and The Elder Scrolls Online. I still visit, but I cannot see myself returning to them full-time again. There are too many games and not enough time for me to devote to these types of games. 2023 is the end of an era.

The Best Trailer

Everything about this trailer is perfect.

The Hidden Gem

Please play Venba. It isn’t a long game to finish, but it is worth your time. It really hit the feels.

The Biggest Letdown

I tried hard to like Diablo IV, but it felt like a chore. The campaign was worth playing, and the cinematics were gorgeous. However, I never felt a connection to the story. If I hadn’t been recording it for YouTube, I don’t know if I would have finished it.

The Biggest Comeback

Cyberpunk 2077 is why I never want to completely give up on a game. (also why I don’t want to give up on Diablo IV). The 2.0 update and Phantom Liberty transformed the game into the one we expected. It is an absolute must play now.

The Fun Surprise

LEGO Fortnite is the game that brought me back to streaming. I needed to take a five-month hiatus and was unsure how to return, and then this game made streaming fun for me again. I ultimately did not expect it, and I am thankful it exists.

The Game that got Away

I had so much anticipation for Starfield, and then shortly after it was released, I ended up in the hospital. By the time I had recovered, the urge to play had diminished, but I know I will get to playing it in 2024.

My Game of the Year

It is The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. It was everything I wanted it to be and more. I cried at the end. It all felt perfect to me. The game connected with me like no game has in a long time.

2023 was a banner year for me when it came to gaming. I completed more games in 2023 than I had in the previous five. I am pretty excited about what 2024 has in store.

Here’s to another year!