This was a very competitive year, like balls to the wall when it came to releases of various genres and archetypes. It wasn't perfect, but I expected things to be much worse, the 3-years of turmoil, 4 years in the next few months from now. Whoever survived, you should know it was worth it.
Yeah, the game awards this year was a bit on the depreciating end. Like countless ads, Geoff telling award receivers to wrap up their speeches, odd celebrity representatives because now Hollywood wants the big pie, and further deconstruction of the game awards as always.
But we have to look past that, because releasing so many enjoyable games in 2023, that's no small feat either. It took a lot of work to get here, and I speak for my dusty wallet now when I say, they greatly did effect us. Helped us overcome such immense grief in the most of dire times, because for most of us seeing less prospects in the future, we needed the distraction.
I did a lot this year, I also went through plenty of emotional turmoil as well. I had this goal to finish 50 games in one year, took me a year and half longer to get there. But the last few games I've played like Cocoon and Alan Wake 2, were quite the roller coaster ride to that finish line.
And I am aware that I tell multiple times here that I won't be putting much time into my hobbies, but rather into finding work, and creating more job skills. Sadly I couldn't do either of those, and play enough games. Yet on a slow year, I got what I could out of it.
Horror Benchmark
Man though, this year's horror releases were almost everywhere. Like, some developers knew this was going to be the year horror games would peak, and so many to mention here. A bevy of titles like the Dead Space and Resident Evil 4 remake, Amnesia Bunker, Alan Wake 2, and the indie darlings like World of Horror, and Lethal Company, the latter which took to mainstream by a storm.
I am currently trying to purchase my Steam copy of LC. But looking back at the adult diaper warranted horror experiences that delivered on terrifying experiences, this year had some gems worth playing. There are people doing NG+ runs on Dead Space R, which is even more horrifying.
Amnesia fully changed the paradigm by implementing shooting mechanics and throwables to survive, World of Horror makes me want to read Junji Ito again, and Alan Wake 2 revitalized atmospheric horror games in the mainstream with obvious influences from Twin Peaks.
Developers were going full cylinders here with everything they could muster and give, like fully embracing that creative force, putting so much passion into a market that not many would get into. Because horror games don't really sell that well. Especially in particular games like DSR, and AW2, the latter no thanks to Epic's distribution ideas is struggling to sell somehow.
But seeing the success that Lethal Company has, and knowing that certain horror games becoming cult classics go a long way with their success, it means a lot to me that there will be more to see in the future. Maybe Monolith Prd will do a Condemned sequel or remake, hopefully?
Lots of GOTYS
When I saw Baldur's Gate 3 taking 6 awards, I was absolutely stunted. Like I know people are praising this game nonstop, but I played so many good games this year, including the next big thing Nintendo brought for the Switch. Tried buying the game, but I haven't bought that many this year.
It sucks my wallet didn't have enough to purchase the GOTY, heck I borrow accounts from friends, and this is the one I wanted to play so badly, yet never got around to playing it. As new year approaches, I am hoping that changes. Provided that's before the 4th of Jan or in March.
Seeing the awards show, just the guys talking about how much they cared about the fans, speaking for the people they've lost on the way, the journey of early access, where this one could have potentially foiled comes to be a breakout success and their second game to do so. It also sucks that Keighley kept telling everyone to wrap it up, that's not cool man. Come on.
It's not that I needed awards to tell me how good it is, it just added more pressure because now I really want to get this game. And I missed out on the hype. Seeing the stuff that's coming out next year, more tumbleweeds and dust for the wallet. I'll have to live on coupons to eat.
And speaking of awards, how is it that FromSoftware keeps winning? No one foresaw their new Armored Core game winning any awards this year, and yet it did for best action adventure. They won last year GOTY for Elden Ring. I have a good feeling the expansion's up next.
Indie Bonanza
And what's a celebration of this year without mentioning the indies that came out. Some of them really stood out compared to any ones that came before it, and I wish got around playing it too. Pizza Tower was terribly snubbed I think by a really good title, yet not even comparable to this.
Certain games have created a new kind of addiction, while others like Dredge got me into the cosmic by constantly managing my boat, dredging up items from the sea, collecting fish, doing all that but when things get spooky at night. And of course, trying to decide if I should wake up Chtulhu or not. Dredge was a unique standout among the others. Last year for me was Signalis and Citizen Sleeper.
Sea of Stars was nothing short of a surprise, but I got to really hand it out to Cassette Beasts, Jusant, and American Arcadia. Of course, I would mention Dave The Diver if it wasn't for the fact the game was somewhat published by Nexon.
Some I haven't checked out like A Space For The Unbound, Chants of Sennaar and of course, Pizza Tower. Some time later I will. If only I wasn't so down on myself and my mental state didn't a giant hit through the cranium. Honestly speaking, there were less of the bad games that came out.
Tragedy Followed
Not all was good somehow. We lost people, a lot of people we've grown into appreciating their work and presence on the screen. People who made their most creative work to fruition from hard work. And it kind of sucks that we never got around to enjoy them longer.
If you know who the person from the image is, then yeah you've figured what happened. If not, then click on the image link. Not only him, but James McCaffrey, Kamar De Los Reyes, The psychologist from Terminator films, Annie Wersching, Paul Reubens, Matthew Perry, the list is too big and depressing to read. Knowing what happened to these people, can't look forward for the future.
It's just hard, that, and the list of developers that also passed. Including the few people that have worked on Baldur's Gate 3, that, again if Keighley gave the developers taking the award more time to speak about, we'd know about. I like games, but I do want people to live as well.
And for those who are still kicking, well they now have to deal with getting kicked in the gonads by their employers in respected game companies laying them off, en masse. Gotta get that quarterly bonus for the CEOs, nothing says more money like firing people do.
There should have been a protest even about this, why is it only limited to screenwriters and actors throwing boycotts and protest? This is a highlight for the many reasons why game developers need to unionize badly. I don't think the major companies will be much merciful in the next year either, and I shutter to think what they'll pull next even. But moving on from the bleak to the positive.
If you're still in the living, well, chances are you get to experience more cool games to play in the next round. Also, I forgot to mention one of my favorite games this year, Hi-Fi Rush. Do check that out when you can. See you next year, Happy 2024.
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