After a busy 2022 (well, for some platforms), 2023 arrives with a relatively quiet January. That said, it still looks set to kick off another packed year with dozens of impressive-looking big-budget, mid-tier, and indie titles on the way. Here are some of our picks for the video games of January 2023 with their latest gameplay trailers below:
Kandria (11/01/2023)
PC
You are an android, awakened in a ruined future. Explore vast underground caverns, parkour your way through hazardous terrain, and hack and slash through any obstacle that stands in your way in an open-world action RPG like no other. Or…just sit back and fish for a while, take in the atmosphere, and trade in your riches. The old world is gone – the future is up to you.
Children of Silentown (11/01/2023)
PS4/PS5/Xbox One/Xbox Series/Nintendo Switch/PC
Children of Silentown is a dark adventure game that tells the story of Lucy, a young girl growing up in a village deep into a forest inhabited by monsters. People disappearing is nothing uncommon in the village, but this time, Lucy is old enough to investigate on her own. Or so she thinks.
ONE PIECE ODYSSEY (13/01/2023)
PS4/PS5/Xbox Series/PC
During their voyage along the Grand Line, Captain Monkey.D.Luffy and the Straw Hat Crew are caught in a sudden storm at sea. When the storm subsides, they find themselves stranded on a lush, but mysterious island called Waford, becoming separated from each other in the process. The crew sets out on a new, daring adventure filled with marvels of nature, powerful enemies, and strange encounters with island locals. Join Luffy and work together with the Straw Hat Crew to set sail once again!
Persona 3 Portable (19/01/2023)
PS4/PS5/Xbox One/Xbox Series/Nintendo Switch/PC
Experience the iconic, critically acclaimed RPG that reinvented the Persona series, Persona 3 Portable, now newly remastered for modern platforms. Shortly after transferring to Gekkoukan High School, the protagonist encounters the “Dark Hour.” Unfamiliar stillness swallows the city, people turn into eerie coffins, and otherworldly monsters called Shadows swarm. When they are attacked by one of these Shadows and all hope seemed lost, the power of the heart, their Persona is awakened. With this newfound power, they pursue the truth of the Dark Hour and face the destiny that awaits them.
Persona 4 Golden (19/01/2023)
PS4/PS5/Xbox One/Xbox Series/Nintendo Switch/PC
The world-renowned Persona 4 Golden promises unforgettable adventures, meaningful bonds, and heartwarming experiences shared together with friends. They say your soulmate will appear if you stare into a television set on a rainy night… This strange rumor slowly spreads through the rural town of Inaba, the protagonist’s new home, just as a chain of mysterious murders begin. As the protagonist and his teammates chase after the truth, they find themselves opening the door to another world.
Fire Emblem Engage (20/01/2023)
Nintendo Switch
In a war against the Fell Dragon, four kingdoms worked together with heroes from other worlds to seal away this great evil. One-thousand years later, this seal has weakened and the Fell Dragon is about to reawaken. As a Divine Dragon, use rich strategies and robust customization to meet your destiny—to collect 12 Emblem Rings and bring peace back to the Continent of Elyos.
Forspoken (24/01/2023)
PS5/PC
Forspoken follows the journey of Frey, a young New Yorker transported to the beautiful and cruel land of Athia. In search of a way home, Frey must use her newfound magical abilities to traverse sprawling landscapes and battle monstrous creatures. Frey’s unique abilities allow her to fluidly traverse the open world with ease. Scale walls, vault across canyons, leap from dizzying heights, and dash through vast landscapes. This Magic Parkour also comes in handy when she comes toe-to-toe with the multitude of enemies lurking in the corrupted landscape of the Break.
World War Z: Aftermath Next-Gen Update and Horde Mode XL (24/01/2023)
PS5/Xbox Series/PC
Now’s your chance to play in glorious 4K60 on next-gen systems. Endure endless waves of increasingly difficult zombies in the new Horde Mode XL game mode – exclusive to PS5/Xbox Series/PC – featuring hundreds more zombies on screen than ever before possible. Horde Mode XL will arrive in a free post-launch update alongside further next-gen enhancements and support for PS5 and XSX|S console features.
Risen (24/01/2023)
PS4/PS5/Xbox One/Xbox Series/Nintendo Switch
Explore the mysterious volcanic island Faranga and the heavy tremors which bode ill for its inhabitants. As ancient temples have risen from the ground, they are bringing with them bizarre creatures that terrorize the area – are you brave enough to face the dangers? Find yourself caught amidst rebellion, tyranny, and mystic rituals. It is up to you to decide which way the pendulum of fate will swing. The new console port of the cult RPG offers full gamepad controls, reworked UI, and a fully seamless open world where every action has consequences. Divided into 4 chapters, you decide which side you will join and how to battle using weapons or over 20 different spells to choose from.
Dread Templar (26/01/2023)
PC
Become the scariest thing in hell and beyond, as you embark on your quest for vengeance in the intense, fast-paced FPS action of Dread Templar. The game is reminiscent of classics from the 90s, but with a modern twist, including gameplay mechanics like customizable skills, upgradeable weapons, and many Dread Powers to unlock. Mow down hordes of demons and bloodthirsty fiends in varied environments ranging from hell to frozen pirate ships rendered in retro, but surprisingly detailed pixel-art graphics style, accompanied by a head-banging original soundtrack.
ATONE: Heart of the Elder Tree (27/01/2023)
PS4/PS5/Nintendo Switch/PC
ATONE is a Norse mythology-inspired, hand-drawn game that blends interactive storytelling and complex puzzles with a rhythm game combat system. Inherit the role of a young warrior named Estra as she journeys through Midgard to unveil the truth behind her father’s death.
Dead Space (27/01/2023)
PS5/Xbox Series/PC
Prepare to unravel a thrilling mystery in the darkest depths of space in a remake that brings jaw-dropping visual fidelity, suspenseful atmospheric audio, and improvements to gameplay. When Isaac Clarke and the USG Kellion were dispatched to repair the USG Ishimura mining vessel, they had no idea how quickly a routine mission could turn into a complete nightmare. What did the Ishimura crew discover in the darkness? What happened to them? And what does this mean for the future of mankind itself?
SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake (31/01/2024)
PS4/PS5/Xbox One/Xbox Series/Nintendo Switch/PC
Wish-granting Mermaid’s Tears in the hands of SpongeBob and Patrick… What could possibly go wrong? Sure, the very fabric holding the very universe very together could come very undone, opening up portals into Wishworlds full of knights, cowboys, pirates, and prehistoric snails. But that’s nothing everyone’s favorite sponge can’t handle – with the right cosmic costume! Everybody do the Cosmic Shake!
My personal pick would be the Dead Space remake – especially given how buggy and underwhelming The Callisto Protocol turned out. Obviously, there are way more picks for the video games of January 2023 to consider so let us know in the comments below what you’re looking forward to.
