2023 is over, so the PS5 games once billed as the year’s most anticipated are no longer upcoming releases. Before launch, PlayStation Blog’s player poll put Hogwarts Legacy first among its named 2023-and-beyond picks, followed by Resident Evil 4, Marvel’s Wolverine and Assassin’s Creed Mirage. The year-end picture was different: Hogwarts Legacy led PlayStation Store’s US/Canada PS5 download chart, while Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 won PlayStation Blog’s PS5 Game of the Year vote.
Which PS5 games were most anticipated for 2023?
In its 2022 Game of the Year poll, PlayStation Blog asked readers to vote for games of 2023 and beyond. Among the named anticipated games, the order was:
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
007 First Light - Specialist Edition - PlayStation 5 | $69.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
MARVEL’S SPIDER-MAN 2 – PS5 Standard Edition | $44.75 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
MLB® The Show™ 26 – PS5™ | $39.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Marvel's Wolverine PS5 | $69.00 | Buy on Amazon |
- Hogwarts Legacy
- Resident Evil 4
- Marvel’s Wolverine
- Assassin’s Creed Mirage
This is a player-voted PlayStation Blog poll, not a critics’ consensus or a comprehensive forecast of every PS5 release. Its “2023 and beyond” framing also means it should not be read as a list of games that all launched during 2023. PlayStation Blog’s 2022 poll results provide the pre-release snapshot.
What did PlayStation highlight as coming later in 2023?
On July 26, 2023, PlayStation Blog published a curated selection of 13 games launching in the second half of the year. It is useful as a mid-year look at titles PlayStation chose to spotlight, but it is not a complete release calendar or a count of all games scheduled for that period.
#1 Best Overall
- ONLY AT AMAZON - SPECIALIST EDITION
- EARN THE NUMBER - Discover a new James Bond origin story, and the events that led a young maverick to become the best MI6 agent.
- A THRILLING ESPIONAGE ADVENTURE - Embark on missions in breathtaking locations, drive iconic vehicles, and dive into a cinematic adventure in pursuit of a rogue agent who’s always one step ahead.
- SPYING, YOUR WAY - Go silent or go loud. Whether fighting with fists or firepower, using gadgets to infiltrate, or bluffing your way past guards, the approach is entirely up to you.
Release dates and plans can change, so the roundup is best read as a dated selection rather than a definitive record of what ultimately launched on a particular day. See PlayStation Blog’s 13-game second-half selection.
How did anticipation compare with the year-end results?
Post-release indicators offer a different view from a pre-release poll. PlayStation Store’s annual PS5 download rankings, published January 23, 2024, separated the US/Canada and EU charts: Hogwarts Legacy topped the US/Canada ranking, while EA SPORTS FC 24 led in the EU. These are regional download rankings, not sales-unit figures or a global chart. PlayStation Blog’s 2023 download rankings show the two regions separately.
Rank #2
- Spider-Men, Peter Parker and Miles Morales, return for an exciting new adventure in the critically acclaimed Marvel’s Spider-Man franchise. Swing, jump, and utilize the new Web Wings to travel across Marvel’s New York, quickly switching between Peter Parker and Miles Morales to experience different stories and epic new powers, as the iconic villain Venom threatens to destroy their lives, their city, and the ones they love.
- An evolution of the Spider-Man story: The incredible power of the symbiote forces Peter and Miles to face the ultimate test of strength, both inside and outside the mask, as they balance their lives, friendships, and their duty to protect those in need.
- Experience two playable Spider-Men: Quickly swap between both Spider-Men as you explore an expanded Marvel’s New York. Experience Peter’s new symbiote abilities and Miles’ explosive bio-electric venom powers, and discover upgradeable, high-tech equipment that enhances the combat experience for extensive gameplay depth and variety.
- Battle iconic Marvel Super Villains: Fight against a variety of new and iconic villains, including an original take on the monstrous Venom, the ruthless Kraven the Hunter, the volatile Lizard, and many more!
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 also appeared in the annual PS5 download rankings and won PlayStation Blog’s 2023 PS5 Game of the Year vote. That award reflects votes in PlayStation Blog’s year-end poll; it is not the same measure as store downloads or pre-release anticipation. The 2023 PlayStation Blog award results list the winners across 18 categories.
| Measure | What it indicates | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Anticipation poll | Which games PlayStation Blog voters were looking forward to | 2022 poll covering games of 2023 and beyond |
| Mid-year release selection | Games PlayStation Blog chose to feature for the second half of 2023 | 13 selected titles; not a full calendar |
| Download rankings | PS5 games downloaded most through PlayStation Store | Separate US/Canada and EU charts for 2023; not sales units |
| Game of the Year vote | Games selected by PlayStation Blog voters in its annual awards | 2023 PS5 category and 17 other award categories |
How large was the PS5 game catalog by the end of 2023?
In a November 7, 2023 PlayStation Blog post, Sony Interactive Entertainment said that PlayStation Studios and third-party developers had introduced more than 2,500 PS5 games during the console’s first three years. This is Sony’s figure for the console’s catalog over that period—not the number of games released in 2023 alone. Sony’s November 2023 statement gives that context.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Marvel’s Wolverine is a new action-packed adventure from Insomniac Games
- Play as Wolverine and Ravage enemies with explosive brutality and unleash razor-sharp adamantium claws to deploy fast, fluid attacks and overcome impossible odds
- An Original, Emotionally Charged Story. Beneath Wolverine’s gruff exterior and violent temperament is a man fighting for a cause greater than himself
- A Global, Adrenaline-Fueled Journey where you slice into enemies across detailed locales such as the frosted Canadian Wilderness, the narrow streets of Tokyo, and the high and low districts of the island nation of Madripoor
Rank #3
- MLB The Show 26 Full Game on PlayStation 5
- Includes 5 The Show Packs
- NEW Road to Cooperstown & Expanded Amateur Years Career
- Build your ultimate fantasy team with a new Red Diamond rarity tier and World Baseball Classic player cards featuring elite game-changing players
- NEW Revamped Front Office Experience Play the nail-biting key matches and moments of your Franchise GM career with streamlined seasons and Custom Game Entry
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
