This text is a part of Dot Esports’ Recreation of the 12 months 2023 collection. The Dot Esports group have voted for his or her favourite video games this 12 months throughout a variety of genres, together with sports activities, indie, and preventing video games. You possibly can take a look at the opposite winners right here.
This 12 months has been an unbelievable one for video games. In 2023, we traveled the galaxy, romanced questionable NPCs, sliced and diced our approach by Sanctuary, and had been morally challenged over our fishing practices. However which recreation has had us hooked greater than the remaining?
The Dot Esports group has voted and the outcomes are in. Right here is Dot’s official Recreation of the 12 months 2023.
Dot Recreation of the 12 months 2023: Baldur’s Gate 3
Probably coming as a shock to nobody, Baldur’s Gate 3 is Dot Esports’ official Recreation of the 12 months 2023.
Following an early-access interval, Baldur’s Gate 3 totally launched for PC on Aug. 3 to crucial acclaim. It’s no simple feat to recreate DnD in online game kind, however Larian Studios proved it was as much as the duty, delivering a wealthy world and story the place gamers are in command of their journey.
Baldur’s Gate 3 gives an abundance of alternative, from how your character seems to be and performs to how they work together with these they encounter on their travels, making it good for many who need a true role-playing expertise. No two playthroughs will probably be the identical, with every choice making a butterfly impact that ripples by the sport: your decisions will both assist or hinder you.
And that’s a big portion of the enjoyable. Perhaps you wish to lean into the Darkish Urge and be a top-notch arse to everybody you come throughout, together with your individual companions. Or perhaps you’ll tackle extra of a Robin Hood position, serving to each downtrodden NPC you’ll be able to and smooth-talking your favourite companion. Or perhaps you merely wish to throw the rule e-book out the window and do what feels proper at that second for you. The selection is yours.
Whereas there are (after all) parameters to this, BG3 doesn’t really feel restrictive. You are feeling just like the grasp of your individual future, and the characters you meet have a depth to them hardly ever seen in fashionable RPGs. The writing is elegant, so it’s simple to turn out to be emotionally invested within the recreation’s many story threads and characters. This immersion is pushed additional thanks to forcing and personable voice performing. All of this makes a few of the decisions you must make far more difficult, and the overarching narrative far more charming.
This DnD RPG understandably had us hooked this 12 months. On the time of writing, Baldur’s Gate 3 is the ninth most-played recreation on Steam of all time, sitting comfortably beside the likes of Elden Ring and Cyberpunk 2077 within the prime 10. Fairly a feat for a recreation from an impartial studio.
This success is rightfully earned, nevertheless. Baldur’s Gate 3 pushes the boundaries of the RPG style and is a must-play for DnD and non-DnD followers alike. Simply don’t blame us for those who make some… questionable decisions.
Honorable mentions
Baldur’s Gate 3 could also be our total Recreation of the 12 months winner, however two different video games had been shut contenders for the highest spot.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
It might not have gotten the highest spot, however Tears of the Kingdom remains to be among the best video games of 2023. The sequel to 2017’s Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom, masterfully excels in each particular person side of recreation manufacturing: gameplay, graphics, sound, and narrative. Its double whammy of riveting storytelling and modern gameplay really makes it tough to ever return to Breath of the Wild—the general betterment proving to be each a blessing and a curse. Our GOTY vote went elsewhere, however make no mistake, Tears of the Kingdom will transcend generations and would’ve received this award in nearly every other 12 months.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Spider-Man, Spider-Man, only a few video games can do what Spider-Man 2 can. Our music was terrible, however Insomniac’s eagerly anticipated sequel to the smash-hit 2018 debut is just not. Spider-Man 2 is one other eerily acquainted instance of taking one thing that works and reshaping it into one thing that embodies all of the qualities of its predecessor, however every little thing it throws on the wall sticks—like an internet. Its setting could be the identical, sure, however it’s simple to miss this minor fault if you’re virtually dual-wielding Spider-Males. Kraven is a compelling dangerous man, the introduction of Symbiotes is a game-changer, and Spider-Man 2 wasn’t far off swinging our favor.
