TIME’s 2023 ranking puts Alan Wake II first, followed by Baldur’s Gate 3 and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. The ten games span horror, role-playing, superhero action, open-world adventure and platforming—but this is TIME’s editorial selection, not a universal consensus. Here’s what each game offers, how to choose among them, and how the list compares with BAFTA’s longlist and Metacritic’s critic-score ranking.
TIME’s top 10 games of 2023
TIME published this ranking on November 29, 2023. Its order reflects the publication’s favorites at that time; it should not be read as a current availability guide or as a ranking shared by every critic and awards body. TIME’s full list provides the basis for the descriptions below.
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Alan Wake II
TIME’s number-one pick is a psychological survival-horror game built around two intersecting investigations: FBI agent Saga Anderson’s case and writer Alan Wake’s struggle. Its focus on writing, fiction and reality makes the narrative premise part of the horror itself. Choose it for a story-led, unsettling experience that shifts between two perspectives.
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Baldur’s Gate 3
At number two, this Dungeons & Dragons-based fantasy role-playing game centers on turn-based party combat, relationships and choices that can change how quests play out. It supports solo and multiplayer play. TIME describes a playthrough as well over 100 hours; that is the publication’s estimate, not a guarantee of how long every player or completion style will take. It suits players looking for a substantial, choice-driven adventure.
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Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
TIME ranks this PlayStation 5 game third. Peter Parker and Miles Morales share the playable role, while web wings and changes to traversal and combat expand the series’ movement. It is the list’s superhero-action choice, especially for players who want to move quickly through a city and switch between two heroes.
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The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
TIME places this Nintendo Switch adventure fourth. Link explores Hyrule, including caverns and sky islands, using new abilities in a game that puts discovery at its center. Pick it for an expansive adventure built around exploring places and experimenting with what the game’s abilities make possible.
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Resident Evil 4
The fifth-ranked game is a remake of Leon Kennedy’s rescue mission, with updated combat and map design. TIME says the remake leans more toward action than the original, making it a survival-horror option for players who want danger and tension alongside more action-forward encounters.
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Dead Space (Remake)
At number six, Isaac Clarke explores the infested USG Ishimura in a survival-horror remake. TIME highlights the role of sound and lighting, as well as the tension created by resource checks. Choose it for a space-set horror experience where managing limited resources is part of the pressure.
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Super Mario Bros. Wonder
TIME’s seventh pick is a side-scrolling Mario game for Nintendo Switch. Wonder Flowers can alter stages, and local multiplayer supports up to four characters. It is the most straightforward fit here for players who want colorful platforming and the option to play locally with others.
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Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Ranked eighth, the sequel returns to Cal Kestis, with customizable combat stances and fast travel. TIME emphasizes its story and challenging encounters. Consider it for a story-focused Star Wars action adventure with demanding fights.
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Diablo IV
TIME ranks this class-based dungeon crawler ninth. Its loop of fighting through dungeons and improving loot is suited to flexible, pick-up play, though TIME also notes criticism of repetition. It may appeal to players who enjoy building a character through repeated combat and gear upgrades.
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Dredge
TIME’s tenth pick begins with fishing and boat upgrades, then draws the player into Lovecraftian horror, exploration and side quests. TIME singles out its art direction and sound. Choose it for a more unusual blend of fishing, exploration and creeping unease.
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Which 2023 game should you play?
Rank can narrow the field, but genre, platform and play style are more useful when choosing one game. This quick guide compares the options described in TIME’s list; platform details are included where TIME identifies them.
| Choose this game | Best fit | Play style or platform detail |
|---|---|---|
| Alan Wake II | Psychological, story-led horror | Two intersecting narrative perspectives |
| Baldur’s Gate 3 | Choice-driven fantasy role-playing | Turn-based party combat; solo or multiplayer; TIME estimates well over 100 hours for a playthrough |
| Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 | Superhero action and fast traversal | PlayStation 5; Peter Parker and Miles Morales are playable |
| The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom | Exploration and open-world discovery | Nintendo Switch |
| Resident Evil 4 | Action-forward survival horror | Remake of Leon Kennedy’s rescue mission |
| Dead Space (Remake) | Resource-focused, atmospheric survival horror | Set aboard the infested USG Ishimura |
| Super Mario Bros. Wonder | Side-scrolling platforming, including local group play | Nintendo Switch; local play for up to four characters |
| Star Wars Jedi: Survivor | Story-driven action and challenging fights | Customizable combat stances and fast travel |
| Diablo IV | Loot progression in flexible sessions | Class-based dungeon crawler; repetition is a noted criticism |
| Dredge | Fishing, exploration and Lovecraftian horror | Boat upgrades and side quests |
For a Switch game, Tears of the Kingdom favors exploration, while Super Mario Bros. Wonder offers side-scrolling stages and local multiplayer. For horror, the four entries take distinct approaches: Alan Wake II emphasizes psychological storytelling; Resident Evil 4 leans toward action; Dead Space builds tension around atmosphere and resources; and Dredge mixes fishing and exploration with creeping horror.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How TIME’s ranking compares with BAFTA and Metacritic
These sources answer different questions, so their results should not be combined into one supposedly shared ranking method.
- TIME’s list is editorial. It orders ten selected games according to the publication’s 2023 favorites.
- BAFTA’s longlist is a member-selected awards pool, not a ranked top ten. BAFTA said over 1,200 members selected 60 games from 257 entries for its 2023 longlist. The eligible release window ran from December 10, 2022, through November 24, 2023. BAFTA CEO Jane Millichip described the longlist as “the longlist for next year’s Awards, as voted for by games industry professionals,” intended to inspire festive gameplay. BAFTA also said members decided the Best Game and British Game nominations, while juries decided nominations in the other 15 categories. Read BAFTA’s announcement and selection details.
- Metacritic’s Metascore aggregates critics’ ratings. Its currently consulted 2023 ranking labels the release-year filter as 2023 and displays 487 results. The page shows a Metascore of 96 for both Baldur’s Gate 3 and Tears of the Kingdom, 94 for Metroid Prime Remastered, 93 for Resident Evil 4, and 92 for Super Mario Bros. Wonder. These are displayed scores on the page consulted in 2026, not a timeless measure; scores and rankings can change. See Metacritic’s 2023 ranking.
- Metacritic’s awards tracker records wins and nominations. Its categories and tracked awards provide another kind of recognition, distinct from critic-score aggregation and editorial ranking. The tracker was updated through April 11, 2024. View the 2023 awards tracker.
Together, these are useful cross-checks rather than interchangeable verdicts: TIME offers a ranked editorial selection, BAFTA shows a broad member-selected longlist, and Metacritic records aggregated critic ratings and tracked awards.
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What this top ten says about 2023
The list’s strongest feature is its range. Its horror games alone span psychological mystery, action-driven survival horror, resource management and an unsettling fishing adventure. Elsewhere, turn-based role-playing, superhero movement, open-world discovery, platforming, loot progression and a Star Wars story offer quite different reasons to play.
That breadth is more useful than treating the first-place game as the only correct choice. A player choosing for local group play may prefer Super Mario Bros. Wonder; someone seeking a long, choice-heavy role-playing adventure may gravitate to Baldur’s Gate 3; a horror fan can choose based on whether narrative, action, resource pressure or exploration sounds most appealing.
TIME’s list remains one publication’s retrospective, BAFTA’s 60 titles represent an awards longlist rather than a ranking, and Metacritic’s scores reflect an aggregate that may change. Use the form of evidence that best matches your question, then choose the game whose platform and style suit you.
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