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The best games of 2023 you haven’t played
3K View2023-12-3020 games listedFrom ’80s isekai to dinosaur rock bands, these are some of the best games of 2023 you probably missed. Don’t forget to share your favorite underappreciated games in the comments!
[List written by TapTap editor Ndi]
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What’s better than a cottagecore adventure? How about a cottagecore adventure that also happens to be a survival horror game? Little Goody Two Shoes is equal parts adorable and terrifying, and that mix of sweet and scary is impossible to resist.
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Mindhack is a truly bizarre adventure game set in a strange dystopian world. You play as a doctor with a mysterious power: You can hack into the minds of evildoers, erase all the nasty bits, and turn them into upstanding citizens. The visuals are stunning, the story is fascinating, and the choices are absolutely gut-wrenching. Mindhack is still in early access, but when it’s finished, it could be a legitimate masterpiece.
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There are tons of roguelike deck-builders that take inspiration from Slay the Spire, but Cobalt Core mixes things up by adding in elements of FTL, along with a pinch of Star Fox. The result is a charming, addictive game with a combat system that’s much deeper than it seems.
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Have you ever wondered what would happen if you played a city builder in reverse? You can find out in Terra Nil, an eco-themed terraforming game that’s about bringing the planet back to the basics. Bringing barren wastelands back to life feels incredibly satisfying, and if you just want to chill out and plant stuff, you can always play on gardener mode.
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Imagine waking up in a weird version of the 1980s where you can use tape decks to collect monsters. That’s what you get in Cassette Beasts, a weird and wonderful monster taming game that’s filled with amazing creatures. There are quite a few alternatives to Pokémon out there, but this is one of the very best.
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Tchia is a physics-based sandbox set in a tropical paradise. Not only does this open world game let you swing from vines and sail across the sea, but it lets you traverse the world in some truly wacky ways, like turning yourself into a tire or a coconut. Add in a touching story, and you’re left with a must-play game.
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This fantastical adventure game feels like a spiritual successor to Danganronpa. You play as Yuma, an amnesiac detective-in-training that gets caught up in a surreal noir adventure. Even though the setting is a little over-the-top, the mysteries are right out of an old-school detective novel!
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This incredibly cozy idle game lets you decorate an abandoned island and collect as many adorable bunnies as you can. The gameplay is very similar to Neko Atsume, so if you enjoyed that game, hop to it and try this one too!
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Time travel isn’t possible, but you can still take a trip back to the 2000s in Videoverse, a game inspired by Miiverse and video game forums. I grew up posting on these kinds of communities, so Videoverse was a nostalgia overload. Even if you can’t remember the Y2K era, this is a welcome blast from the past.
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Shadows of Doubt might be a sci-fi noir game, but it’s one of the funniest titles I’ve played all year. It offers a virtually unparalleled level of freedom, which meant I could get into some serious mischief. I spent some of my playtime solving mysteries, but I also stalked strangers, slept for a week, and threw donuts in people’s faces.
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Broadway music, murder mysteries, and Greek mythology don’t seem like things that belong together, but Stray Gods proves they’re an excellent mix. This interactive music has fantastic songs, a mesmerizing story, and beautiful hand-drawn visuals. What more could you ask for?
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Sick of spending all your money on rent? In Luck Be a Landlord, you can use slot machines to earn cash, pay bills, and break free from the shackles of capitalism. There’s no actual money involved, but this unconventional deck-builder still scratches that gambling itch.
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Working as a late night radio talk show host seems like a pretty sweet gig, but giving advice is a lot less easy when there’s a murderer on the loose. In Killer Frequency, it’s your job to guide callers and help them avoid becoming the slasher’s next victim. If you’ve ever yelled at the screen during a horror movie, this is the game for you.
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Void Stranger is a game where you move blocks to solve puzzles, but it’s also much, much more than that. It’s one of the strangest puzzlers I’ve ever played, with secrets and surprises lurking behind every corner. It can be pretty punishing, but if you push through its challenges, you’ll be well rewarded.
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This freewheeling action platformer feels like a spiritual successor to Jet Set Radio, with just a pinch of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater. That said, it’s awesome enough to stand on its own. The controls are solid, the visuals are fantastic, and the soundtrack is packed with jams.
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Japanese Rural Life Adventure is exactly what it sounds like: a cozy adventure in the Japanese countryside. While it’s similar to Stardew Valley, it’s heavily influenced by Japanese culture. It also has a much slower pace than your typical farming game, and those laid-back, peaceful vibes make it incredibly relaxing.
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Roguelike deck-builders and inventory management are two of my favorite things (no, seriously), so I immediately fell in love with Backpack Hero, a game about exploring dungeons and organizing your trusty backpack. The concept won’t appeal to everyone, but if you like shuffling around items to free up extra space, you’ll fall for this one too.
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Are you struggling to find time for gaming? Microcivilization combines 4X strategy gameplay with incremental clicker mechanics, resulting in a game that basically plays itself! You can build massive empires in minutes, which feels like a pretty great use of your time!
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Afterimage is one of the most gorgeous Metroidvanias I’ve ever seen. Its fantasy aesthetic and hand-drawn visuals are breathtaking, but this game has more to offer than looks. The combat is fast-paced, the controls feel seamless, and there are tons of options for character builds. It’s a must-play for fans of the genre.
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Goodbye Volcano High manages to make a story about teenage dinosaurs feel incredibly relatable. This visual novel captures the anxiety of growing up in a world where your dreams might not be able to come true. The whole thing is backed by a soundtrack you’ll want to keep listening to even after the credits roll.
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2024-01-03
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