The best games (and other stuff) of 2023

The Nugget

  • 2023 was a year full of incredible video game releases, but the top spots go to "Tears of the Kingdom" and "Baldur's Gate 3."

Key quotes

  • "Sometimes you experience something so significant that when you try to put it into words, all that comes out is nonsense."
  • "In 2023, the top two video games, Tears of the Kingdom and Baldur's Gate 3, are both masterpieces in their own right."

Key insights

Tears of the Kingdom

  • Tears of the Kingdom is a complete overhaul of Breath of the Wild with a different design philosophy, creating a world full of puzzles, side quests, and secrets, unlike its predecessor.
  • The Sky Isles and The Depths in the game offer challenging puzzles and a unique exploration experience that diverges from the main game's structure.
  • The Ultra Hand building system in the game is revolutionary, impressing even veteran game developers with its flexibility and sophistication.
  • Tears of the Kingdom is a technical marvel, excelling in voice acting, writing, combat mechanics, and world-building, showcasing a level of quality that few games achieve.

Baldur's Gate 3

  • The game features an exceptional voice cast, expansive writing, diverse combat mechanics, and a deep gameplay sandbox, offering a rich and engaging experience.
  • The dungeon master-like narration and detailed combat system highlight the game's complexities and narrative depth.
  • Exploration, customization, and dialogue interactions in the game present a vast array of choices, building a diverse and immersive gameplay experience.
  • Balancing probability in dice roll mechanics and managing a silent protagonist in a world filled with voice and personality add unique elements to the gameplay experience.

Make it stick

  • 💡 Tears of the Kingdom's Ultra Hand building system showcases unparalleled flexibility and sophistication in game design.
  • 💡 Baldur's Gate 3 delivers a rich narrative, diverse combat mechanics, and a unique dice roll system, setting a new standard for RPGs.
This summary contains AI-generated information and may have important inaccuracies or omissions.