Strolling through memory lane in 2026, it's impossible not to marvel at how 2023 shaped the gaming landscape. One editor at TheGamer spent that year playing more games than ever before—old and new—and after much deliberation, they crafted a top ten list that still holds up today. Narrowing down the avalanche of releases was no easy task, but the final selection became a snapshot of a truly special twelve months. Let's revisit those picks and see why they left such a lasting impression.
10. WrestleQuest
2023 was the busiest year for wrestling games in decades. WWE titles finally found their footing again, and AEW joined the fray, yet this editor's favorite suplex-heavy experience had zero connection to either franchise. After devouring nearly every wrestling game under the sun for 25 years, a retro-style RPG called WrestleQuest rekindled a childlike wonder for the squared circle. With its charming pixel art, turn-based combat, and a heartfelt love letter to wrestling history, it became the summer obsession nobody saw coming. Even three years later, its blend of nostalgia and creative role-playing still feels fresher than most annualized sports sims.
9. Pikmin 4
Before 2023, the editor's only brush with Pikmin was whacking foes as Olimar in Super Smash Bros. Little did they expect that a game bought for their son would blossom into one of the year's most delightful surprises. Pikmin 4 transformed everyday gardens into vast alien worlds, tasking players with amassing an army of plant-like critters and a helpful space dog named Oatchi to hunt for treasure. The serene strategy, the squeaky chorus of tiny followers, and the sheer joy of exploring every mossy corner made it an unforgettable journey. In 2026, the game still stands as a masterclass in blending accessibility with depth, proving that Nintendo's quirky series can enchant anyone.
8. Disney Illusion Island
Gamers were spoiled for choice when it came to 2D platformers in 2023, yet a Disney Metroidvania swooped in to steal hearts. Disney Illusion Island offered a lush, hand-drawn island filled with gentle hazards and joyful co-op antics, starring Mickey and friends without any combat—just pure, fluid movement and exploration. The editor confesses to ranking it even above a certain blue hedgehog's side-scroller that year (a choice that still causes inner turmoil). Looking back, the game's whimsical art style and stress-free adventure feel like a warm hug, the kind of experience that matures beautifully as the industry leans ever harder into high-stakes intensity.
7. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
"It’s Turgle time!" became an inside joke for anyone who encountered the bumbling, lovable frog-like alien in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. But beneath the meme-worthy NPCs lay a stellar action-adventure that expanded on everything fans adored about Cal Kestis' first outing. The game delivered sprawling semi-open worlds, refined lightsaber combat, and a deeply personal story that resonated with Star Wars lore. In 2026, after multiple patches and a thriving speedrunning community, the journey of a Jedi on the run remains a testament to Respawn's ability to craft cinematic single-player experiences that don't need live-service hooks to endure.
6. Final Fantasy 16
If ever a loyal canine companion deserved a battle cry, it was Torgal. Final Fantasy 16 pivoted the series toward a dark, action-oriented fantasy epic, and while some fans debated the shift, this editor fell hard for its blockbuster spectacle. The massive Eikon clashes felt like playable kaiju movies, and Clive Rosfield's revenge-driven saga provided genuine emotional weight. Three years on, the game's bold departure is now seen as a vital turning point for Final Fantasy—proof that reinvention can breathe new life into a decades-old franchise while still delivering unforgettable companion moments (and howls).
5. Jusant
Zero interest in rock climbing. That was the editor's starting point before Jusant's meditative trailers cast a quiet spell. The game turned out to be the single most mesmerizing experience of 2023—a wordless voyage up a colossal desert tower where every handhold told a story of a vanished civilization. Played from start to finish in one sitting (a feat not accomplished since Britney's Dance Beat), it captured a sense of vertical solitude and mystery that few games have matched. In the years since, its influence ripples through indie climbing sims and environmental storytelling, yet the original remains an untouched peak.
4. Super Mario Bros. Wonder
A lifelong Sonic fan admits something shocking: Super Mario Bros. Wonder almost made them switch allegiances. The game’s boundless creativity—turning pipes into living creatures, dropping Wonder Flowers that warp reality, and introducing Elephant Mario—felt like Nintendo had injected pure joy directly into a cartridge. Released the same week as Sonic Superstars, it starkly highlighted the gap in innovation. After countless replays even into 2026, Wonder’s anarchic level design and co-op chaos have cemented it as not just the best 2D Mario in years, but perhaps one of the finest platformers ever made. Sorry, Sonic.
3. Tchia
Unlike some other surprises on this list, Tchia's early trailers didn't grab attention—but its availability on PS Plus at launch invited a curious try. What unfolded was a sun-drenched, soulful adventure set in a New Caledonia-inspired archipelago, where the protagonist could "soul-jump" into any animal or object. The freedom to become a bird, a crab, or even a coconut, combined with a heartfelt story and a soundtrack soaked in local culture, made it impossible to put down. This editor laments that too many players overlooked it in 2023; by 2026, a growing cult following has finally started giving Tchia the love it always deserved.
2. Spider-Man 2
For many, Spider-Man 2 was the most-anticipated game of 2023, and it absolutely delivered. Insomniac didn't just add web wings to an already perfect traversal system; they wove a darker, dual-protagonist tale that pushed Peter Parker and Miles Morales to their limits. The symbiote suit felt viciously satisfying, and the set-piece moments rivaled big-budget movies. The editor still hadn't found all the Spiderbots when the credits rolled—a lingering promise of a mind-blowing secret that, even today, remains a cherished memory. In 2026, it’s still the benchmark for superhero power fantasies.
1. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
And so we reach the peak. The editor started 2023 about ten hours into Breath of the Wild, ready to abandon Hyrule altogether. But Tears of the Kingdom changed everything. From the moment Link dove from the sky islands, fusing bizarre weaponry and building contraptions limited only by imagination, the game left one awe-struck after another. Hours melted away exploring caves, solving shrine puzzles with absurd contraptions, and just watching the sun rise over the Gerudo Desert. Even with 2026's technological advances, few games have matched that intoxicating sense of freedom and wonder. The editor gushed about it to anyone who'd listen then, and they'll still happily bend your ear today. While they eventually intend to play Baldur's Gate 3, deep down they know nothing could dethrone this almost perfect Zelda—comfortably the best thing they played all year, and a timeless masterpiece.
Looking back from 2026, this eclectic top ten captures a moment when games dared to be whimsical, emotional, and wildly inventive. Whether you’re rediscovering these gems or playing them for the first time, the magic of 2023 lingers. Which one would top your personal list?