Don't get me wrong, 2023 has been and can continue to be a great year for new releases. But all the massive releases so far haven't exactly lined up with my preferences. Don't get me wrong, I am very happy for everyone who is enjoying the new Zelda and Diablo 4, etc. It's just not my thing.

I was feeling very catered to in 2022. I'm still playing the crap out of Elden Ring, and Victoria 3 was my big release for the second half of the year (despite its very real shortcomings). Then there were various indie releases like Cult of the Lamb, and Dwarf Fortress finally came to steam with tons of QoL. 2023 has some stiff competition if it wants to be an even better year.

That said, 2023 still has some great potential. I'm on the fence about getting Starfield. If the release isn't a disaster, and it's as cool as the marketing makes it look to be, that could be awesome. And of course, the sequel to one of my favorite games of all time is finally coming out after ~8 years. Helldivers 2 is going to be something of a genre shift, moving to a 3rd person perspective, but I have a lot of faith in Arrowhead to deliver an amazing co-op experience. Hopefully 2023 delivers.