2023 is nearly at its close, prompting many of us to pause and reflect on the year that's been. It's been a mixed bag, filled with moments both good and bad. Yet, in gaming, the landscape has been predominantly positive, with some amazing titles hitting the shelves this year. This has led us, in collaboration with our friends at CCL, to wonder though: which among these releases reigns as the absolute best?
And so the CCL x Gfinity Game Of The Year award was created, and you can have your say by voting for your favourite from an outstanding selection of nominees below.
We wouldn't ask you to vote without there being something in it for you though. By getting involved, you'll have the chance to win a free copy of one of the nominated titles and a 165Hz iiyama 24” G-Master Red Eagle gaming monitor to team with your console or a Chillblast gaming PC, for example - check out the Chillblast Apex as a specific option. Also, take a look at the Horizon Ryzen 5 5600 RTX 4060 Ti Gaming PC and the Horizon 5 Upgrader Pro Gaming PC Bundle. Simply have your say and who knows, you might end up with some pretty awesome loot courtesy of CCL in return.
How to vote
Voting closes on 22nd December, so make sure you make your opinion count before then and select your favourite.
All nominated games
A long list of games can be pretty daunting to vote on if you're not entirely familiar with them all. No need to panic - we've broken down all the nominees below...
Baldur's Gate 3
Winner of The Game Awards Game Of The Year 2023, Baldur's Gate 3 is a party-based RPG set in the realm of Dungeons & Dragons that takes character customisation and story-driven gameplay to a whole new level, giving you complete control over your narrative with literally thousands upon thousands of endings.
It's a huge game, one that needs a bit of beast like this HP Omen 40L or Horizon gaming PC to run it, but it has received rave reviews thus far, including our own, and the aforementioned GOTY title, making it a very strong opening contender for the CCL x Gfinity award.
Alan Wake 2
Alan Wake 2 revived a series from its 13-year hiatus earlier this year with this thrilling action-adventure horror following two heroes in two separate realities, fighting to overcome supernatural darkness.
There's a lot to this game, with a rich narrative, excellent graphics, regardless of whether you're on Xbox, a PS5, or PC, and multiple mysteries to solve that'll keep you entertained for hours on end. With such a compelling story behind it, it's without doubt one of the best games of 2023.
Final Fantasy XVI
Everyone has heard of the Final Fantasy series, but the 16th standalone title took the RPG franchise in a darker direction as Eikons, the most powerful beings in Valisthea, take over.
Playing as Clive Rosfield, First Shield of Rosaria and guardian of his younger brother Joshua, you're placed right in the heart of the conflict, putting you in multiple scenarios where you must fight using the game's excellent combat system to overcome the odds.
Forza Motorsport
Turn 10 debuted a rebooted version of Forza Motorsport back in October, with the game featuring more than 500 vehicles, 800 upgrades, and 20 newly built tracks, making it a sim racing fanatics dream.
That is, of course, if you play on Xbox seeing as it's exclusive to the console. However, the game stands out thanks to some clever opposition AI and a redesigned Career Mode that has you working your way through the Builders Cup, giving that extra element of competition needed to sink hours and hours into this game.
Resident Evil Village VR Mode
Resident Evil Village first came out in 2021. However, the introduction of a VR Mode earlier this year allowed fans of the series to experience the horrors of Mother Miranda and her followers in a completely new way.
Playing as the game's main protagonist Ethan Winter this up close and personal on a PlayStation VR2, for example, took the fear factor of Resident Evil to a whole new level. So, while it may not have been a new game, its virtual reality makeover in 2023 breathed new life into the series.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Tears of the Kingdom is another hit in The Legend of Zelda franchise which follows in the success of the open-world action-adventure from Breath of the Wild by allowing you to play as Link once again in Hyrule, although this time in the sky and the Depths on your Nintendo Switch.
There are multiple quests to complete as you explore these new areas and battle monsters and enemies until you reach the game's conclusion, making it a game you can play for hours upon hours and still find things to do.
Street Fighter 6
Street Fighter 6 brought with it a return to form for the series upon its release this year thanks to its three engaging game modes, including World Tour, Fighting Ground, and Battle Hub, and the sheer replayability of that beloved fighting style.
The introduction of the Drive System was a refreshing addition too, adding complexity and uniqueness to interactions, an area where Street Fighter V perhaps fell short, and yet Street Fighter 6 succeeded this year.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder
Everyone loves Super Mario, but that love was cemented even further for most people this year once they played Super Mario Bros. Wonder. It redefined yet captured the essence of what made the original 2D platformer so popular, with its retro gameplay and interesting level designs really stealing the show.
Everyone knows the plot of Mario and his ongoing feud with Bowser, so we won't go into too much detail here. Simply put, if you haven't played it yet, pick yourself up a Nintendo Switch and add Wonder to your game library.
Marvel's Spider-Man 2
Insomniac's Spider-Man series took its next step back in October as Marvel's Spider-Man 2 hit the shelves, allowing anyone who brought the game to join Peter Parker and Miles Morales as they teamed up to take on a whole host of exciting new adventures.
With an open world filled with exciting quests and a killer main storyline, plus a revamped and improved combat system, Spider-Man 2 really made its mark this year, especially for fans of the friendly neighbourhood superhero.
Diablo IV
It's been a stellar year for RPGs it would seem as Diablo IV debuted with some strong reviews behind it back in June, bringing with it all the fun, mystery, and adventure from previous Diablo titles as you fight for Sanctuary 50 years after the events of Diablo III.
Diablo IV stands out as it also added proper cross-play, meaning you can game on a laptop such as the HP Omen 16 or 16-N0003NA alongside your friends on their consoles. It also offers cross-progression and controller support to the series, helping the franchise move forward into a whole new realm of gaming.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Finally, we come to Star Wars Jedi: Survivor and the continuation of Cal Kestis' story in his battle against the Empire. This time, though, you team with mercenary Bode Akuna to infiltrate the Imperial capital world of Coruscant.
To any Star Wars fan, this is all pretty exciting. However, even to non-fans of the franchise, the improved combat, tricky platforming, and excellent narrative can keep you entertained throughout, making it a strong nominee as we round off our list.
Make sure you have your say and vote for your favourite. You could win a pretty awesome prize if you do! Stay tuned for our announcement of the winner too, and join CCL's Never Game Alone community on Twitch and Discord to chat about everything gaming, enter giveaways, and find exclusive deals.