If you play on the PC, you can rub your hands this year: nowhere else will you be offered so many new releases from so many genres! Countless creative indies, elaborate exclusive titles, high-quality console conversions and now and then a really nice hardware eater promise a great gaming year. We haven’t even mentioned the countless mods and fan projects that will definitely surprise us again and again. But of course there is a catch: the overview is regularly lost on the PC. On Steam alone, the games are now rushing in every minute, so many a highlight is really lost. For our annual outlook, we have therefore screened quite strictly and only included those games that are either certain or at least likely to be released in 2023. So we deliberately left out a few eagerly awaited games, such as the visually stunning Hellblade 2, Age of Mythology Reloaded, Vampire: Bloodlines 2, Dragon Age: Dreadwolf or the next Frostpunk. Of course, release dates aren’t set in stone, so if something important changes, you’ll find out about it here on pcgames.de. And of course we’re looking forward to your opinion: Which PC game are you particularly looking forward to this year? Did we forget a title? Or has something important changed? Write us!
PC games 2023: The big view in the video
Don’t feel like reading? Here you will find our annual outlook for PC games 2023 as a video. (We hope you brought some time with you!)
Aliens: Dark Descent
Tindalos Interactive | 2023
Many have tried to live up to the legacy of James Cameron’s cult film Aliens (1986), mostly without success. But Aliens: Dark Descent makes something and promises an interesting mix of action and real-time tactics. In the single player game, you experience a brand new story and command a multi-person team through a lunar base that has been overrun by aliens, facehuggers and other abominations. You must explore carefully, making far-reaching decisions along the way, leveling up your team, unlocking shortcuts, conducting research and keeping your soldiers not only alive but sane. In one word: promising! First impressions of the game can be found on Steam, among others.
Aliens: Dark Descent
Source: Focus Entertainment
Alone in the dark
Pieces Interactive | 2023
Over 30 years ago, Alone in the Dark redefined our understanding of survival horror. Now the forefather of the genre returns in a complete reinterpretation. As Edward Carnby or Emily Hartwood you have to carefully explore the spooky Decreto estate, uncover dark secrets, solve puzzles and of course fight one or two monsters. The developers promise an oppressive atmosphere and a gripping story with goose bumps guaranteed. There is a lot more information in our preview.
Ark 2
Studio Wildcard, Grove Street Games | 2023
Six years ago, the first Ark turned out to be an amazing success – and the developers want to build on that. In Ark 2 you are once again stranded on an exotic world where humans and dinosaurs fight for survival. The developers want to deliver an epic story with Vin Diesel in a leading role, as well as extensive modding, crisp Souls-like combat and extensive crafting. According to the Steam product page, the game is only played from the third-person view, the first-person perspective has apparently been eliminated. Technically, the whole thing is based on the modern Unreal Engine 5. It all sounds good at first, but we would also like to see some gameplay slowly – after all, the game has been announced for this year.
Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon
FromSoftware | 2023
Most Armored Core games have mediocre ratings and it’s been ten years since the last installment. Nevertheless, From Software (Dark Souls, Elden Ring) is returning to its traditional Mech series and wants to release the 16th part (!) with Fires of Rubicon this year. Details are not yet known and there were no game scenes either. So far we only know that From Software wants to completely revamp the action-oriented gameplay and bring in its not inconsiderable experience of the last few years. For example, the mech game is being directed by Masaru Yamamura, the former lead designer of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. So there are professionals at work again.
Assassin’s Creed Mirage
Ubisoft | 2023
What feels like the hundredth Assassin’s Creed is subtitled Mirage. This time it is set in Baghdad in the 9th century and thus takes place in the middle of the heyday of Islam. The action-adventure tells the story of Basim Ibn Ishaq (known from Assassin’s Creed Valhalla), who develops from a simple street thief to a skilled assassin. Assassin’s Creed Mirage was originally planned as a DLC expansion, but then blossomed into a standalone game. This is also why it should be more linear and significantly smaller than the last parts, which were simply too extensive for some fans with their huge worlds and role-playing elements. Mirage, on the other hand, will take 15 to 20 hours to complete, and it’s set to return more of a focus on stealth-heavy gameplay and assassination, the features the series started with.
TIP: There are even more highlights and recommendations in these specials:
Atlas Fall
Deck 13 | 2023
After the really good The Surge 2, Deck 13 apparently felt like doing something different: With Atlas Fallen, the talented Frankfurt-based designers are designing a brand new fantasy universe in which you can casually ride over sand and explore an expansive world full of treasures and can explore mysteries. Not much is known about the gameplay yet, but the developers promise gripping battles, motivating character development and even a co-op mode with which you can also experience the adventure for two. In contrast to their last games, Atlas Fallen is not supposed to be a typical Souls-like one, instead the developers are more likely to compare their new work with games like God of War or Horizon: Zero Dawn. Tip: You can read our big review of The Surge 2 here.
Atomic Heart
Mouthfish | February 21, 2023
Atomic Heart has been traded as some kind of Bioshock Infinite clone for years. And now, after umpteen postponements, the complex shooter with its crazy, alternative Soviet setting should finally appear soon. The developers promise state-of-the-art graphics, crazy enemy design, intense fights, lots of weapons, and a captivating, dystopian game world – nobody knows whether it’ll be fun in the end, but at least it looks fantastic!
Atomic Heart
Source: Mundfish
Baldur’s Gate 3
Larian Studios | Aug 2023
Baldur’s Gate 3 has matured in Early Access for almost three years, accompanied by enthusiastic previews and very good user ratings. Larian Studios has taken a lot of time to clean up the tactical D&D roleplaying game and ensure the game depth that you have come to expect from the team behind Divinity 2. And the effort seems to be paying off: If the game is released as planned in August 2023 and then really turns out to be as brilliant as the Early Access version suggests, we can expect another masterpiece.
Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden
Don’t Nod | 2023
After story heavyweights like Life is Strange, Tell Me Why or Twin Mirror, Don’t Nod is back with the next game: Banishers will be an action RPG in which you slip into the skin of two ghost hunters. You make momentous decisions and beat the undead into the afterlife. Will the gameplay be good? No idea. But with Don’t Nod at work, story fans are sure to get their money’s worth again.
Blue Protocol
Bandai Namco | 2023
Are you in the mood for a decent action role-playing game with a high-quality anime style? And best of all still online? Then make a note of Blue Protocol, an MMORPG that wants to score with an epic story, dynamic combat and extensive character customization. The game is being developed by Bandai Namco and Amazon Games, which has already gained a lot of experience with New World and Lost Ark, was able to win the publisher. Blue Protocol relies on a Free2Play system and should be ready this year. You can already check out the official website register for the closed beta.
