Four new star systems open up, with new weapons, puzzles, Okkar equipment, and more. You can also pilot the new Wraith Okkar fighter (which unleashes special abilities after destroying enemy ships), and take on fresh enemies and bosses. New side quests centered on the Okkar also open up during the campaign, but the meat of the expansion’s story occurs afterwards.

If all this isn’t enough, Rockfish Games also promises new music tracks for every aspect, including combat. More details will be revealed about Wrath of the Ancients in the coming months, so stay tuned. You can also learn more about the sequel’s shift to Unreal Engine 5 here.

Everspace 2 is available for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. Check out our review.

NOTE: All entries and rankings were decided by an internal vote held among the entire GamingBolt staff.

#12. DIABLO 4

Available on: PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Xbox One | Developer: Blizzard Entertainment | Read Our Review

Not counting all the controversy surrounding Blizzard Entertainment and former director Luis Barriga, Diablo 4 had a rough start when it launched in June. Despite praise for its open world, lore and overall presentation, its build-crafting was fairly simplistic, while the end-game was decent at best and grindy at worst. The pre-Season 1 patch also did no favors with its hefty nerfs.

Nevertheless, the development team stuck with it, making several much-needed improvements to classes like the Sorcerer, reducing the XP grind and quality of life changes like porting to Nightmare Dungeons directly from sigils. The variety of viable builds has gone up, and there are even tough end-game challenges like Abattoir of Zir (which still requires some fine-tuning). If you’re burned out on Diablo 2 or 3, can’t get into Path of Exile or just want a solid action RPG looter, Diablo 4 is in a much better state and worth checking out.

#11. LORDS OF THE FALLEN

Available on: PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS5 | Developer: Hexworks | Read Our Review

Announced nine years ago, Lords of the Fallen finally launched this year. Hexworks delivered a massive world five times larger than the original, introduced a dual-realm mechanic that impacted the gameplay and combat, and stuffed it with a memorable dark fantasy aesthetic. It also didn’t hurt that combat felt meaty and responsive, with a variety of spells and weapons to dip into.

Lords of the Fallen isn’t without its issues (like some rough encounters with too many enemies), but over two dozen patches, splitting PvE and PvP balancing, new spells, stability and performance improvements, and more have made it even more appealing to Dark Souls fans, even if it’s far from the best Souls-like experience this year (which we’ll get to soon).

#10. DEAD ISLAND 2

Available on: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS5 | Developer: Dambuster Studios | Read Our Review

If we had a dime for every title considered vaporware that miraculously released this year, we would have two dimes. Blah blah blah, you know the rest, but it still applies because Dead Island 2 is fantastic. Set in post-zombie outbreak Los Angeles, the first-person title emphasized combat and creative ways to slay over a deep story (though the lore is still interesting) or an open world.

Despite this, you can customize the six Slayers in interesting ways thanks to Skill Cards, customize weapons with different status effects, discover unique armaments and more. There’s a healthy amount of side quests, ranging from the straightforward scavenger quests to the bizarre (Body Art. Not even once). Most importantly, the combat is as strategic and visceral as you’d like while rewarding straightforward hacking and slashing.

#9. EVERSPACE 2

Available on: PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS5 | Developer: Rockfish Games | Read Our Review

It’s incredible how the Everspace series started as a rogue-lite space shooter, especially with the sequel offering in-depth action RPG mechanics and boatloads of handcrafted content. There are extensive systems to explore, allies to recruit (each providing unique perks) and tons of loot to discover, including unique ships.

While the story may not be for everyone, each system is packed with things to do, whether you jump into massive battles against capital ships or venture into endgame rifts. The incredible fidelity makes the space-hopping that much more endearing.

#8. WILD HEARTS

Available on: PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS5 | Developer: Omega Force | Read Our Review

Omega Force’s WILD HEARTS admittedly didn’t pass much muster when it was announced to be a hunting title in the vein of Monster Hunter. Thankfully, the gameplay spoke for itself, showcasing a unique approach to action RPG combat with some inventive combat. The Karakuri mechanic, which facilitated building different tools to explore and fight, added some spice to battles.

Each weapon, from the aerial brilliance of the Claw Blade to the unconventional Bladed Wagasa, is fun to use. Couple this with memorable Kemono to battle, massive regions to explore, and a sizable endgame to go with the campaign, and WILD HEARTS stands capably on its own.

#7. HORIZON FORBIDDEN WEST: BURNING SHORES

Available on: PS5 | Developer: Guerrilla Games | Read Our Review

A year after Horizon Forbidden West blew our expectations away with its gorgeous visuals, deep skill system, customization and combat, Burning Shores came along to remind us of its quality. Set in a separate region where lava streams and water meet, the expansion adds lots of new content, memorable new characters and quests, and one of the most epic final bosses yet.

Whether you’re venturing underwater or soaring through the skies, combing through new frankenclouds while avoiding lighting, Burning Shores further builds on the base game’s brilliance and offers some great development for Aloy’s character.

#6. LIES OF P

Available on: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS5 | Developer: Neowiz Games, Round8 Studio | Read Our Review

It’s 2023, and no Bloodborne remaster or remake. Not even a hint that it’s ever happening. Enter NEOWIZ’s Lies of P, a Belle Epoque-era action RPG based on the tale of Pinocchio. This time, however, you venture through the ruined city of Krat, battling killer puppets to find Geppetto and hopefully set things right.

The mood is already on point – it’s the combat and pacing where Lies of P shows its hand. Special attacks and Legion Arms, customizable and unique weapons, memorable encounters against challenging enemies – it had everything a Souls-like fan could want.

#5. CYBERPUNK 2077: PHANTOM LIBERTY

Available on: PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS5 | Developer: CD Projekt RED | Read Our Review

With how extensive update 2.0 turned out, Cyberpunk 2077 alone is a noteworthy RPG experience. However, Phantom Liberty does more than add new content, including courier missions to steal vehicles or Airdrops to claim loot before rival gangs can. It told a compelling story – a spy fantasy rife with intrigue and betrayal, where the good guys were never what they seemed, and your decisions profoundly impacted the characters.

Of course, for combat junkies, there are Relic abilities, from emergency cloaking to sending enemies flying with Gorilla Arms. If that weren’t enough, Phantom Liberty added over 100 new items, from weapons and vehicles to new Cyberware, and even offered a new ending to the main story. Altogether, it’s a fitting finale in Cyberpunk 2077’s redemption arc.

#4. FINAL FANTASY 16

Available on: PS5 | Developer: Square Enix Creative Business Unit 3 | Read Our Review

Final Fantasy means many different things to different people. Final Fantasy 16 may not have catered to every fan’s wish, especially those craving turn-based or ATB combat, but it certainly excelled with its story, characters and setting. The world of Valisthea and darker presentation fit the more mature tones well, even as Clive Rosfield’s journey morphed from revenge to redemption.

The combat is also incredibly on point, especially when you gain more abilities to diversify combos. Stunning environments and an incredible soundtrack round out the package, and while it could have used more extensive side quests, deeper role-playing mechanics and more complex dungeons, Final Fantasy 16 is still a fun and enthralling action RPG from start to finish.

#3. HOGWARTS LEGACY

Available on: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Nintendo Switch | Developer: Avalanche Software | Read Our Review

Despite the controversy, Hogwarts Legacy offered something most Potterheads have desired for years – a proper triple-A title to fulfill that wizarding fantasy. Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is captured in immaculate detail, coupled with memorable characters (with a select few offering some great side quests).

Shuffling between spells during combat, especially Avada Kedavra-ing someone into dust, felt great, but it was all the little things – from raising creatures in the Vivarium to riding a broom through the highlands – which really cemented the fantasy. All that’s needed is actual classes to attend, and Quidditch, and Hogwarts Legacy will be perfect.

#2. BALDURS GATE 3

Available on: PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS5 | Developer: Larian Studios | Read Our Review (PC | PS5)

Six years in development, with a lengthy period in early access, Baldur’s Gate 3 is a reminder of Larian Studios’ status as one of the best RPG developers in history. The range of customization, from the numerous classes and subclasses to the spells and actions, caters to the Dungeons and Dragons fantasy of letting you roleplay as who you want.

It’s bolstered by a strong story, decisions with far-reaching consequences, and incredible characterization that stays with you, even over a hundred hours in. There’s plenty to criticize, like Act 3’s performance, but Larian has been working hard to address other complaints, adding a hefty Epilogue to provide a more well-rounded conclusion based on your choices. Whether you started at launch or are jumping in today, Baldur’s Gate 3 is a masterpiece.

GAMINGBOLT’S BEST RPG GAME OF 2023 – STARFIELD

Available on: PC, Xbox Series X/S | Developer: Bethesda Game Studios | Read Our Review

Bethesda Game Studios’ Starfield is our role-playing game of 2023, narrowly beating out some stiff competition. Don’t get us wrong – several areas could be improved, from the user interface and variety of weapons to point of interest generation. Mods also needed to be added yesterday. However, for those who get into it, Starfield has a quiet appeal as you wander the desolate planets, create an outpost to either settle down or mine resources, and soak in the atmosphere.

The sheer range of stuff to do, from surveying and space battles to smuggling and bounty-hunting, is pretty solid and backed by some responsive shooter. Where it goes next is anyone’s guess, but Starfield is currently an intriguing sci-fi adventure with tons of content. It’s certainly not for everyone, but those who love it will swear by it.

Here are the best Xbox games of 2023, from the endearing and mindlessly fun to the peaks of artistic accomplishment.

NOTE: All entries and rankings were decided by an internal vote held among the entire GamingBolt staff.

#21. DIABLO 4

Available on: PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Xbox One | Developer: Blizzard Entertainment | Read Our Review

Diablo 4 was a long time coming for Blizzard, combining the dark aesthetic of Diablo 2 with more fluid gameplay from Diablo 3. With a large open world and new mechanics, results ranged from positive throughout the campaign due to mixed in the end-game, but things have improved. As it stands, it’s still one of the easier action RPGs to get into while still offering dozens of hours of fun.

#20. LIKE A DRAGON: ISHIN!

Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, PC | Developer: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio | Read Our Review

RGG Studio’s remake of Like a Dragon: Ishin! marks the title’s long-awaited debut in the West. Mixing a tale of revenge during the Bakumatsu with the series’ trademark side stories and wacky mini-games, Ishin! also offered some solid combat with its mix of swordplay, firearms and power-ups. Some aspects could use more significant improvements, but this is still Like a Dragon.

#19. LORDS OF THE FALLEN

Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC | Developer: Hexworks | Read Our Review

It’s a good year when not one but two solid Souls-like titles are released. Hexworks’ Lords of the Fallen evolves on the original game’s formula by introducing dual worlds, Axiom and Umbral, and the Umbral Lamp to traverse between them in creative ways. The Dark Souls style of gameplay remains, backed by incredible visuals and a great spread of classes, weapons and spells. While it may not overcome its inspiration, Lords of the Fallen is still a worthy enough tribute.

=#18. ROBOCOP: ROGUE CITY

Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC | Developer: Teyon | Read Our Review

After delivering the goods with Terminator: Resistance, Teyon turned its attention to another beloved action movie property in Robocop. Though it offers some investigative mechanics and decision-making, Rogue City is just a straight-up shooter where you slay gang members in extremely violent ways. And that’s all that counts, though capturing the property in all its retro-futuristic glory helped as well.

=#18. JUSANT

Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC | Developer: Don’t Nod | Read Our Review

For every climbing game that makes you question your sanity, DON’T NOD’s Jusant is a decidedly chill experience. Its responsive controls and meditative approach contrast with the mysterious summit and post-apocalyptic world ravaged by an environmental disaster. Gorgeous aesthetics and a wordless narrative with extensive lore made for an even more compelling journey upward.

#16. DEAD ISLAND 2

Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC | Developer: Dambuster Studios | Read Our Review

Dambuster Studios’ Dead Island 2 must feature Skill Decks, elemental damage and multiple mods for weapons, but at the end of the day, it asks some simple questions. Would you prefer your zombies dismembered or scorched? Exploded or electrocuted? Finding the answers to these questions resulted in some incredible fun with oodles of content to complete and secrets to uncover.

#15. EVERSPACE 2

Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC | Developer: Rockfish Games | Read Our Review

Embodying a more Freelancer-like gameplay loop over the original’s rogue-lite approach, Everspace 2 features a massive campaign, extensive side content, the same fast-paced action as the original and some stunning visuals. Space combat is as fast and fluid as ever, with more build-crafting options and companions offering more ways to customize one’s playstyle. It’s a dark horse compared to many other titles this year, but still worth your time.

#14. WILD HEARTS

Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC | Developer: Omega Force | Read Our Review

Sometimes, it’s not enough to hunt. Sometimes, you want to climb on a monster’s back and rip out Karakuri threads to make a giant bomb or hammer to smack it in the face. Koei Tecmo’s WILD HEARTS offered large environments, imaginative Kemono to battle and some wild weapons to master, complete with the typical hunting RPG armor sets and upgrades. It wouldn’t beat Monster Hunter, but it offers a strong alternative for those wanting something different.

#13. FORZA MOTORSPORT

Available on: Xbox Series X/S, PC | Developer: Turn 10 Studios | Read Our Review

Despite mixed receptions to its car leveling, not to mention various bugs, Forza Motorsport is a solid racer. Its streamlined approach returns to the series’ roots of learning each track in and out while tuning your cars to perfection. New tire physics, track temperature that affects conditions and realistic visuals place it above earlier titles, while the revamped multiplayer allows for more frequent competitions.

#12. LIES OF P

Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, PC | Developer: Neowiz Games, Round8 Studio | Read Our Review

Belle Epoque era aesthetics and architecture meet a gruesome take on Pinocchio in Lies of P. Fortunately, NEOWIZ’s Souls-like action RPG offered some solid gameplay with its gorgeous visuals on top of memorable bosses and a deep weapon system. Considering the sheer range of Souls clones that just don’t hit the mark, Lies of P is a revelation for fans and a strong title in its own right.

#11. CYBERPUNK 2077: PHANTOM LIBERTY

Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC | Developer: CD Projekt RED | Read Our Review

Memorable characters, a brand new district in Dogtown with gorgeous locales, and heaps of new weapons, cars and Cyberware to play with – Phantom Liberty is the perfect capstone to the journey of Cyberpunk 2077. It also didn’t hurt that the story was interesting while presenting some morally ambiguous choices with long-lasting effects.

#10. RESIDENT EVIL 4

Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PC | Developer: Capcom | Read Our Review

The remake to rule them all, Capcom’s Resident Evil 4 stuck close to the original’s gameplay, but did away with QTEs, added parrying and revamped entire sections in incredible ways. To say it was a success would be an understatement, as the remake polishes and reinterprets a classic for the modern generation to great success.

#9. STREET FIGHTER 6

Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PC | Developer: Capcom | Read Our Review

Capcom had its work cut out with Street Fighter 6 but still knocked it out of the park. Arcade Mode is back in all its glory, and the new Battle Hub channeled the arcades of old to provide a more socially competitive experience. Each character is tuned to perfection, with the Drive System adding extensive depth and incredibly hype moments, and even World Tour could be fun with its beat ’em up gameplay.

#8. STAR WARS JEDI: SURVIVOR

Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC | Developer: Respawn Entertainment | Read Our Review

Respawn Entertainment’s Star Wars Jedi: Survivor didn’t just offer better visuals than its predecessors. It also went bigger in pretty much every way. Bigger worlds, more Lightsaber styles, a darker story, more side activities – it had everything that fans of the original could want and more. Performance issues mired its impact out of the gate, but Cal Kestis’s struggle against the Empire still carried exceptional emotional weight.

=#7. HOGWARTS LEGACY

Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC | Developer: Avalanche Software | Read Our Review

With all the adaptations Harry Potter has seen through the years, it’s fun to fulfill one’s dream of being a student in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Of course, Hogwarts Legacy goes bigger, opening up the neighboring highlands for exploration with tons of quests and activities. The stellar combat and visuals are just the icing on the cake for what’s an enjoyable fantasy adventure.

=#7. HI-FI RUSH

Available on: Xbox Series X/S, PC | Developer: Tango Gameworks | Read Our Review

Hi-Fi Rush is more than just a drop-dead gorgeous character-driven action title with excellently implemented rhythm game mechanics. It was a clear message from Xbox at the start of the year that it could drop straight-up bangers out of the blue and give players what they want. Whether it’s the rocking soundtrack, stellar boss fights or the new Rhythm Tower mode, Hi-Fi Rush is a fast, fluid and fantastic title.

#5. DEAD SPACE

Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC | Developer: Motive Studio | Read Our Review

Inspired by Capcom’s Resident Evil 2 remake, Motive Studios’ Dead Space adapts the 2008 sci-fi horror for a new generation. It sticks with the same third-person gameplay but layers on more elements, like the Peeling system, revamped Zero G mechanics and random threats. Exploration is seamless, and the scary atmosphere is enhanced thanks to the remade visuals. While it may have been relegated in the face of so many other big games, Dead Space is still an excellent title and a welcome resurgence for the franchise.

#4. ARMORED CORE 6: FIRES OF RUBICON

Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, PC | Developer: FromSoftware | Read Our Review

FromSoftware had its share of expectations after delivering one of the best games of all time last year with Elden Ring. However, Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon chose to focus on the series’ strengths – extensive customization of mechs – while providing fast-paced action and challenging boss fights. The results speak for themselves as Armored Core 6 stands as the series’ peak and one of the best action titles this year.

#3. BALDUR’S GATE 3

Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC | Developer: Larian Studios | Read Our Review (PC | PS5)

Fans of Baldur’s Gate have been craving a sequel since the second game’s release in 2000. While it initially raised some eyebrows with its first gameplay reveal, Larian Studios’ epic RPG is everything that fans of Dungeons and Dragons could want and more. Excellent writing and characters, tons of quests with numerous outcomes, fun turn-based combat with broken combinations – the list truly goes on. Even if it may seem daunting, Baldur’s Gate 3 is a fantastic adventure and one of the finest RPGs ever made.

#2. STARFIELD

Available on: Xbox Series X/S, PC | Developer: Bethesda Game Studios | Read Our Review

With over 1500 planets – minus the ice and gas giants that you can’t land on – Starfield is a video game space odyssey of unimaginable scale. While its procedural generation tends to repeat in some areas, it still offers memorable sights and sounds, from exotic alien wildlife to stunning skyboxes and landscapes. Coupled with solid gunplay, fun space combat and a myriad of activities (from smuggling to space piracy), Starfield is certainly something, even if it isn’t for everyone.

GAMINGBOLT’S BEST XBOX GAME OF 2023 – ALAN WAKE 2

Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC | Developer: Remedy Entertainment | Read Our Review

It’s somewhat poetic that Alan Wake 2 should launch over 13 years after the original after numerous efforts by Remedy Entertainment and capture our hearts. Featuring two protagonists with wildly different viewpoints and gameplay, the sequel’s strength lies in its presentation and taut story-telling, employing live-action footage and surreal occurrences without skipping a beat. Its visuals and music are excellent, but Alan Wake 2’s unabashed presentation as art that should be savored and studied for a long time is perhaps its most endearing trait, making it our pick for Best Xbox Game of 2023.

RoboCop: Rogue City

RoboCop: Rogue City recreates the atmosphere of the classic 80s action flick while adding dollops of actual police work, like investigating crime scenes and patrolling around. However, its combat is straightforward. Walk towards the enemies, blast them to smithereens with a range of weaponry, get some upgrades, and repeat. It’s fun though, and fairly compelling as you evolve into a nigh-unstoppable killing – er, law enforcement machine.

Everspace 2

For all the talk about its multiple systems and extensive side content, Everspace 2 is a space shooter, first and foremost. There are several ship types suited for different needs, and the range of weapons, including EMP missiles, mines, gauss cannons, and much more, can get pretty ridiculous. Still, coupled with how natural the movement feels, it’s easy to jump in and destroy with impunity. Just don’t wander into a system with higher-level enemies by accident.

Resident Evil 4

The original Resident Evil 4 is already a masterpiece in terms of combat, and while the remake doesn’t fundamentally alter the formula, it does enhance it. With QTEs removed, you can now parry at will, making for some awesome moments like stopping an enemy’s chainsaw with a knife. Otherwise, the feedback from popping heads and kicking enemies into each other feels better than ever, and weapons get new Exclusive Upgrades to further enhance their capabilities.

Dead Space

Motive Studios put in significant work to revamp Dead Space’s graphics and exploration, and it’s certainly one of the most stunning games of the year. However, it went even further with the gameplay, introducing the Peeling system. This gave enemies layers, with different weapons having unique effects when targeting limbs, making combat more visceral. Of course, the improvements to the Zero-G sections, new rooms, and puzzles also didn’t hurt.

Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon

FromSoftware’s latest has an involving story, but if you’re in it just for the action, there’s plenty to go around. There is a plethora of weapons to choose from, including shotguns, missile launchers, beam rifles and plasma, and it can get somewhat overwhelming to fit it all into a single build. Still, the extensive customization helps, so if you want to be a glass cannon with insane damage or hover endlessly and rain fire down, you can do that. It also helps that there are so many bosses to test your builds on and provide a worthy challenge.

Quake 2: Enhanced Edition

The surprise release, developed in collaboration with Nightdive Studios, turned a classic into one of the more underrated shooters of the year. Along with enhanced visuals, it sported quality-of-life features like the Compass to more easily navigate levels, accessibility options and new attacks for enemies like the Berserker. With the base game, The Reckoning and Ground Zero, Quake 2 64, a new episode, Call of the Machine by MachineGames, and the id Vault, Quake 2: Enhanced Edition is an absurd amount of value and recommended for the id faithful.

Metroid Prime Remastered

After numerous rumors, a remaster of Retro Studios’ classic finally arrived for the Nintendo Switch. Shock of shocks, it’s still incredible, with the exploration, level design, puzzle solving and combat on point over two decades later. The revamped visuals garnered the most attention since they went beyond a simple remaster. However, the new dual-stick control scheme and narration options also make this a worthy revisit for fans. Even if you’re not a twitchy shooter fan, Metroid Prime Remastered is worth playing.

Starfield

There are a few things awkward about Starfield, but admittedly, its gunplay can be pretty fun. Iterating further on Fallout 4, the shooting – especially from first-person – feels more fluid and responsive. More weapon types are welcome, but taking threats down with old-school ballistic weapons or flooding them with Microgun fire is equally enjoyable. If you’re more about space shooting, shipbuilding can be fun, and taking your creation into space to obliterate anything and everything is cathartic.

Remnant 2

One of my personal favorites, Remnant 2 is everything about the first game turned up to 11. Its build-crafting is expanded thanks to the new Archetypes. The biome generation is also phenomenal, presenting wholly different worlds, bosses and enemies to fight in each run. Above all else, the shooting and movement are fantastic, mixing the tense Souls-like dodge-rolling with unique weapons that feel amazing.

THE FINALS

THE FINALS is more than just a gun game, mixing all-out environmental destruction and fast-paced movement with strategy and teamwork. Nevertheless, scoring a triple-kill with the pump-action grenade launcher or three-tapping someone with the revolver feels great. It’s this mix of free-flowing gunplay, seamless traversal and more unmitigated chaos, whether you’re chasing down a vault or guarding a bank with all the random nonsense you can muster, that makes THE FINALS so addictive.

Trepang2

Monolith Productions may never revisit the F.E.A.R. franchise, but thankfully, there’s Trepang2. Don’t let the cliché premise stop you – it boasts fast-paced action with all the slow-mo and brutality you could want. Sliding, using enemies as shields before tossing them, melee combat, and much more enhance the experience further, and the presentation is on point throughout.

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora

It’s weird to put Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora on a list of best shooters, given its focus on gathering, exploration, investigation, and peacefully co-existing with nature. However, when it’s time to hunt, the bows and spears feel great to use and are all the more effective on RDA AMPs and soldiers. The shotgun also feels nice and hefty, and chaining together slides and leaps to reposition and effectively slaughter your enemies is fun.

Turok 3: Shadow of Oblivion Remastered

Turok 3 is far from the best game in the series, focusing more on a linear campaign with underwhelming dialogue and little replay value. However, it’s still fun, thanks to Nightdive Studios’ remaster, with the environment, characters and weapons receiving hefty visual updates. The feeling of sniping enemies from afar or unleashing hell with the Cerebral Bore is also intact.

System Shock

Nightdive Studios had a much bigger shooter release this year with System Shock, a remake of Looking Glass’s 1993 classic. Everything about it is sublime, from the revamped visuals to the feedback from the weapons. It’s not your average run-and-gun shooter thanks to the scarcity of ammo, but that’s part of the appeal, and all the little improvements, including the revamped cyberspace, make for an immersive experience.

Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty

CD Projekt RED leaned in with the decision-making and consequences for Phantom Liberty, conjuring a memorably tragic tale. However, it also cooked well with the combat, partly thanks to the changes in Update 2.0 – from slide reloads and air dashes to finishers – but also due to the new Relic tree abilities. There’s nothing like launching an enemy into space with overpowered Gorilla Arms or launching multiple explosive shots from the arm cannon. With movement feeling more fluid than ever and new threats to tackle, Phantom Liberty represents the peak of the title’s combat.

THE CREW MOTORFEST

The change in scenery in The Crew Motorfest from mainland United States to the island of Oahu was easily one of its biggest strengths. The open world clearly takes a lot of cues from the Forza Horizon series, and honestly, it’s better for it. With plenty of environmental variety, gorgeous locales, and a festive vibe throughout the map, The Crew Motofest’s open world is a fun one to simply exist in.

SONS OF THE FOREST

We’re pivoting here and going from a festive location to an oppressively dire one, but Sons of the Forest absolutely deserves its flowers. Even in early access forms, it’s one of the most memorable experiences of the year. Struggling to survive in its hostile and horrific world, which is so densely laden with atmosphere, remains an enthralling experience no matter how much time you put into the game.

DIABLO 4

Diablo joined the ever-growing list of franchises making the switch to an open world format, and it did so in mostly successful fashion. Though Diablo 4 loses the trademark claustrophobia that the series has always been known for in going for an open world setting, it balances the scales with a large, desolate, gorgeously designed map, which it crams full of addictive, repeatable content.

LIKE A DRAGON: ISHIN!

The Yakuza franchise, now known as Like a Dragon, has always excelled at crafting small but dense semi-open world maps, and Like a Dragon: Ishin! benefits from those strengths as well. In addition to boasting a smattering of engaging side content – something the franchise has always been known for – Ishin also boasts the unique strengths of its wonderfully atmospheric period setting, which it brings to life expertly.

LORDS OF THE FALLEN

Lords of the Fallen’s semi-open world approach is very much focused on tighter and linearly designed interconnected areas in the fashion of the Dark Souls series, and it boasts a lot of the strengths that those games do as well. Slowly unlocking the world and consistently making it slightly less hostile to navigate always remains a rewarding experience, made all the more compelling by the game’s dual realm system.

DEAD ISLAND 2

Dambuster Studios’ decision to develop Dead Island 2 as a semi-open world experience with a lot of open and explorable maps, rather than as a full-fledged open world title, proved to be quite a smart one. The zombie slasher-basher is able to exhibit an impressive level of variety in locations throughout its runtime, and each of them not only does a great job of capturing the vibe and personality of an LA setting, but is also rendered in visually spectacular manner.

EVERSPACE 2

Everspace 2 took a big swing with its switch to an open world format, and it’s safe to say at this point that the risk paid off. Exploring the vast expanses of space is always an alluring prospect in a gaming experience, and that’s basically what the entirety of Everspace 2 is built around. Thanks to a strong environmental design and flying and combat mechanics that never lose their sharpness, exploring the game’s map always remains enjoyable.

LIES OF P

There was a lot to love about Lies of P, as is evidenced by the widespread acclaim it has enjoyed, and its atmospheric gothic horror Belle Epoque setting had a big role to play in that. It brings the city of Krat to live in excellent fashion, and exploring its ominous and dilapidated remains is a consistently engaging experience, not least because of the incredible design and art style the game exhibits across its entire world.

WILD HEARTS

Map design and traversal are probably among Wild Hearts’ biggest strengths. Each of its unique open world maps are not only sufficiently large, they’re also gorgeous, vibrant, and brimming with a ton of environmental detail and diversity. On top of that, exploration and traversal is always a blast, thanks in large part to Karakuri devices and the emphasis placed on on-the-fly crafting.

HORIZON FORBIDDEN WEST: BURNING SHORES

The Horizon franchise has always excelled at putting players in incredibly well-realized post-post-apocalyptic renditions of real-world locations, and that’s very much the case in Forbidden West’s expansion, Burning Shores as well. It looks gorgeous, as is expected of the franchise, and the imaginative and visually striking way in which it portrays its version of a half-destroyed, half-sunken, volcanic Los Angeles is hard not to be impressed by.

CYBERPUNK 2077: PHANTOM LIBERTY

Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty (in conjunction with Update 2.0) uplifts so much of the game in so many ways, including its open world. For starters, the new district of Dogtown is easily among the best areas in the entire map, and somehow manages to boast an impressive level of density and variety in spite of its smaller size. Beyond that, the underlying systems also see significant improvements, which breathes new life into all of Night City, even beyond the walls of Dogtown.

SEASON: A LETTER TO THE FUTURE

Given how dense and eventful 2023 has been for gaming, SEASON: A Letter to the Future has slipped under the radar for money, but those who’ve played it will gladly tell you how good it was. Exploration in the game is deliberately slow-paced and encourages you to take in its gorgeously rendered environments, memorializing them in anticipation of an upcoming catastrophe. With its stunning visuals to the melancholic vibe, SEASON leaves a lasting impression.

FINAL FANTASY 16

Final Fantasy 16’s decision to not have an open world setting may have proved controversial, but the game still placed plenty of focus on exploration. Traveling throughout Valisthea, Clive and his companions explore a variety of different locations, from forests and cities to deserts and wastelands, and though the level of freedom they offer can vary, overall, the game rewards exploration just enough to ensure that it remains an important part of the experience.

STAR WARS JEDI: SURVIVOR

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor obviously excels at being a Metroidvania game, build as it does on the solid foundations of its predecessors, but on top of that, it also expands significantly with semi-open world elements sprinkled in as well. The planet of Koboh in particular is particularly expansive, offering a massive amount of play space in which to navigate excellently crafted areas and discover all manner of optional content, secrets, and more.

HOGWARTS LEGACY

An open world Hogwarts game has been something many people have dreamed of for years, but Hogwarts Legacy proves equal to those lofty expectations. Iconic, memorable locations from in and around Hogwarts are brought to life with incredible authenticity and detail, and the game does an excellent job of thoroughly immersing you in its world. Meanwhile, exploring the vast areas around the castle itself – whether you’re flying through the air or remaining grounded – also never loses its charm.

THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: TEARS OF THE KINGDOM

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom’s open world perhaps doesn’t make the same kind of impact that its predecessor did, owing simply to its familiarity, but make no mistake about it- it’s a far, far better version of it. On top of retaining the incredible design and traversal mechanics of Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom also makes a number of smart and significant changes to the otherwise familiar Hyrule, while also adding in a staggering amount of new real estate in the form of the Sky Islands and, much more significantly, the unsettling Depths, which is an entirely new, mind-bogglingly massive underground map that you can spend dozens upon dozens of hours in.

BALDUR’S GATE 3

Baldur’s Gate 3 might not have a traditional, seamless open world structure, but you’ll struggle to find many games that place as little limits on players as Larian’s RPG does. There’s no shortage of large, open, freely explorable locations throughout the game, and each of them is brimming with engaging, incredibly designed, and expertly written quests that emphasize player agency and choice-and-consequence mechanics above all else. What’s even more impressive is just how organic exploration in Baldur’s Gate 3, how seamlessly and easily all the content available in the game seems to flow into each other, and how, no matter what you’re doing, you always feel like you’re headed in the right direction and making progress.

ALAN WAKE 2

Remedy Entertainment has always been associated with tight, linear design, and while Alan Wake 2 obviously still does exhibit those strengths, it blends them with a more open-ended structure. Across Saga and Alan’s stories, there are four large semi-open world hubs to explore, each bringing with it its own unique and incredibly crafted areas, with plenty of optional content and hidden rewards tucked away. That structure fits particularly well with the game’s more deliberate pacing as a survival horror experience.

PIKMIN 4

Pikmin has always placed a great deal of emphasis on exploration, but never has that been truer than in Pikmin 4. With the almost complete removal of time limits, the game allows players to explore all of its maps at their own pace, and boy is it a rewarding experience. With secret collectibles, hidden dungeons, optional battles, shortcuts to unlock, and more, each of its large and intricately designed maps remains a constant joy to explore, not least because of how the game contextualizes the scale and size of each of these locations.

MARVEL’S SPIDER-MAN 2

You’d think that having a third successive game set in the same open world New York map would be a bit boring, but Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 circumvents any potential issues in a number of key ways. For starers, the map is a significantly larger one, thanks to the addition of Queens and Brooklyn, while it also feels much more lived in, dense, and dynamic. More crucially though, making your way through the map is also more enjoyable than it has ever been, thanks to a combination of significant improvements made to the already excellent traversal mechanics.

STARFIELD

Bethesda Game Studios has always had an incredible knack for crafting immersive open worlds, and though Starfield’s open world structure is quite different from the studio’s past games, here at GamingBolt, we found it to be just as magical, and just as easy to get lost in. From the typically strong and captivating lore to the vast, endless amounts of content on offer, from the variety it exhibits across its four main locations to the absolute freedom the game affords to players, from being able to plant your flag on desolate planets and build massive outposts there to creating your own ship and flying it through space, Starfield’s open world had a grip on us in a way very few open worlds have managed in recent memory.

It won’t add Nanite or Lumen since current solutions offer better optimization. However, Unreal Engine 5 will allow the developer to future-proof its game, ensuring “less difficulty bringing updates and expansion content down the road” while supporting Everspace 2 “for a long time.”

Of course, it’s not an easy process – the shift has resulted in missing sounds, shifting quest markers, flickering lights being too bright, absent EMP missile trails and much more. It’s not to highlight the UE5’s issues but rather the work required to ensure a smooth rollout for the update.

The development team is quashing bugs, so stay tuned for more details when the update rolls out. Everspace 2 is available for Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and PC. Check out our review, where we awarded it a 9 out of 10 for its combat, controls and story.

X4: Foundations

X4: Foundations describes itself as a universe simulator, and that’s perhaps a really fitting description for such a game. Set against the backdrop of outer space, X4: Foundations lets players lose in a vast sandbox and lets them carve out their own lifepaths in a virtual space with customizable spaceships, dynamic economies, and crafting systems. It’s a complex game with a lot of moving parts and can be pretty fun to poke around.

As part of the new update, there is now a host of new gear for players to hunt down. Among other things, the update brings 10 new item sets, 2 new companion perks, 4 new ship perks for each class, 4 new catalysts for crafting, and 15 new Tier 4 wing modules to Everspace 2. For a complete list of additions and changes, check out the patch notes below.

With the Armed and Dangerous and the console release of Everspace 2 out of the way, Rockfish Games is now setting its sight on its next major update for the game, which is slated for release some time in Spring 2024. The update, titled Incursions, will bring with it new legendaries, front and engine ship modules, and a revamp to the game’s end-game content.

Meanwhile, Rockfish Games has also announced that Everspace 2 has sold over 400,00 copies on all platformers, and attracted over 1.1 million players on Game Pass alone.

Everspace 2 is out now on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. For more details, check out our review.

Features

• Added 10 new item sets (34 new items total)
• Added 45 new item bonus attributes
• Added 4 new catalysts
• Added new consumable: Combat Drone
• Added 4 new passives to each ship class, for a total of 36 new ship passives
• Added new Tier 4 wing modules
• Added “Randomize” function for ship colors and ship modules customization
• Added Quickload/Quicksave
• Added a special timed autosave within a location that is also written when collectibles are unlocked (not written during fights/missions – will be delayed)
• Added new Khala perk that reveals any remaining secrets in a location if most of the area’s secrets have already been discovered
• Added new Tareen perk that enables selling resources from the crafting inventory
• Added re-rolling of bonus attributes modify action
• [PC Only]Added “Hold To Enable” and “Hold To Disable” Inertia Dampeners control mode

Tweaks

• 21:9 aspect ratio HUD improvements
• Made sure that players coming from the demo retroactively get the “A New Home” achievement at a later point
• Increased average number of NPCs present during “Volatile Goods” jobs
• Renamed “Executioner” Scatter Gun to “Enforcer”
• Vindicator drones off-screen hud marker only show when in combat
• Castiel’s Protection legendary shield: improved the holograms’ ability to distract enemies
• Added option to switch off Elek’s “Fire Support” perk
• Ammo of secondary weapons is now filled up when starting an Ancient Rift
• The 5-cube secret in “Kheimon” has been given clearer clues and confusing symbols have been removed
• The Eclipse set buff will no longer reset its duration when switching weapons
• Integrated community suggestions for translation improvements from Crowdin
• The selected inventory sort mode will no longer reset when entering a new location
• Increased maximum item shop inventory size
• A 60 FPS frame rate limit now applies in the main menu, when paused or docked
• Balancing: Increased Scatter Gun base damage but reduced charge damage bonus
• Balancing: Increased Sentinel ULT “Static Overload” damage
• Balancing: Increased Vanguard Expertise base bonus but reduced scaling limit
• Balancing: Added more variance to individual Booster stats
• Balancing: Slightly increased Synchro Pulse energy consumption
• Balancing: Reduced Jaeger fire rate and range but increased base damage
• UI: Added icon marker for set items
• UI: Ship customization – More information about the number of unlocked modules
• UI: Ship dealer – Added additional price tag for trade-in, price colorization, and other improvements to the purchase process
• UI: Loot container – All looted items are now shown in the on-screen log
• UI: New HUD XP-bar appearance when max level is reached
• UI: Restricted item modification and changing map modes during a rift
• UI: Added missing (intro-) SFX playback on some menu screens and -pages
• UI: Improved item handling within loot container to avoid some previously available exploits

Bugfixes

• Fixed that all shields had a 5s recharge delay
• Fixed Redeemer Drone not shooting
• Fixed that remote controlling a drone did not correctly restore visibility of health/equipment HUD in 1st person mode if “hide HUD in 1st person mode” was enabled
• Fixed that transfer of needed item during “need repairs” type distress call was still possible while ship was exploding
• Fixed that sometimes a ship could not be bought despite having sufficient credits
• Fixed Outlaw Teleport Drone not firing missiles from a distance
• Fixed that menu options that open a context window for selection could be changed with “navigate left” and “navigate right” actions, but without effect
• Fixed Bomber not receiving the energy equivalent on secondary ammo refund
• Fixed Energy Orbs not providing weapon energy
• Fixed that Vanguard “device cooldown reduction for support devices” perk also reduced device duration
• Fixed that custom resolution scaling only worked right after changing the setting, not after changing locations or loading a game
• Fixed “Excessive Force” perk not re-initializing correctly after undocking
• Fixed that damage done by Gunship turret and sticky turrets did not count as player-instigated damage
• Fixed some buffs and debuffs not resetting correctly
• Fixed that the “Symphony of Destruction” perk would trigger when killing creatures
• Fixed a keybinding conflict regarding Spatial Bypass target location on map when having “OK” bound to “Space Bar”
• Fixed that changing nothing but joystick deadzone(s) in keybinding screen did not lead to changes being recognized and applied
• Fixed that HUD markers of single emitters for “trap” encounters were not immediately visible when too far away
• Fixed “Close Call” perk not regenerating when docking
• Fixed Time Extender not resetting correctly when leaving location while it’s activated
• Fixed ammo exceeding max ammo after replacing high-capacity catalyst on secondaries
• Fixed device cooldown reductions not being correctly displayed in HUD
• Fixed that plasma harvester states were not saved
• Fixed potential controller stick drift in supralight/photo mode
• Fixed that no standing/credits were deducted from “Ramen Delivery” jobs if drone was destroyed during 2nd or 3rd delivery
• [Windows] Fixed mouse wheel scrolling problems in Missions screen
• [Xbox|PS5] Fixed that on very first start the spoken language was not set to German when [Xbox|PS5]’s language is set to German
• [Steam] Fixed that language was not automatically set to Steam’s language on very first start after install
• [Steam] Fixed that game freezes when selling too many items at once
• UI: Fixed multiple issues when scrolling through savegame selection (mostly gamepad related)
• UI: Fixed HUD loot log when more than 10 items were looted at once
• UI: Ship customization – Fixed multiple smaller issues and inconsistencies regarding navigation and selection of menu entries
• UI: Fixed secondary item icons being displayed smaller than others in HUD log
• UI: Fixed multiple issues with buttons shown in footer of a different in-game menu tab
• UI: Fixed scrolling of item stat cards within a loot container
• UI: Fixed Data sub tab fade-in animation getting stuck in some cases
• UI: Fixed item log showing the available stack amount of crafting resources from shops instead of the purchased amount
• UI: Fixed multiple issues regarding the amount selection widget, some of which could ultimately lead to invalid item states

The studio has also released a new trailer for Everspace 2, showing off the accolades recieved by the game for its console launch. Check out the new trailer below, which gives us a look at some gameplay while highlighting the critical reception of Everspace 2.

Everspace 2 was released on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S back in August—just 4 months after the game’s original 1.0 release on PC back in April. The console release of Everspace 2 got the same updates that the PC version has seen since its release.

The game changes up the formula from its predecessor quite a bit. A major way the game differentiates itself from the original Everspace is by changing the entire structure of the game; rather than being a roguelike game, Everspace 2 instead focuses on having a large-scale open-world setting with a bigger emphasis on RPG mechanics, systems, and storytelling.

A new update has also been released for Everspace 2. Dubbed Armed and Dangerous, it brings new loot, perks, bug fixes, and more. Read more about it through here.

For more details, check out our review of Everspace 2.

The Armed and Dangerous update brings with it a host of new content to the game, including 10 new set items with 34 new item variants, 4 new catalysts, 40 new item attributes, the ability to reroll item attributes, a new Khala perk, and a new Tareen perk.

The update also brings with it new ship customisation options, including 15 new tier 4 wings, new ship colour randomisers, and a new ship module randomiser. The new content will be joined by a host of new quality of life improvements, like quicksaves and quickloads, Inertia Dampener customisation, and UI improvements.

Originally launched on PC, Everspace 2 made its way on to PS5 and Xbox Series X/S back in August. The game improves on its predecessor in a number of ways, eschewing the original’s roguelike structure to instead focus on a narrative with a large-scale open-world setting.

For more details, check out our review of Everspace 2.