Japanese video games have proven themselves in recent years, offering players unique and entertaining experiences. But what are the best Japanese video games released in 2023 ? And which ones have disappointed players and critics' expectations ? Discover our selection of the tops and flops of Japanese video games of the year !
List of the Best Japanese Video Games Released in 2023 !
2023 has been an exceptional year for Japanese video games. Many quality titles have been released, some of which have been acclaimed by both critics and players. It's worth noting that this year has been dominated by timeless franchises like The Legend of Zelda and Final Fantasy. Here are the titles that have lived up to the expectations placed on them in 2023 :
The Legend of Zelda : Tears of the Kingdom
The Legend of Zelda : Tears of the Kingdom is the sequel to The Legend of Zelda : Breath of the Wild, which was one of the most acclaimed games of all time. Tears of the Kingdom maintains the same formula as its predecessor but introduces many new features, such as a larger world, an improved combat system, and new powers for Link. The game has been praised by critics and players and is considered one of the best games of 2023.
Street Fighter 6 - One of the Most Anticipated Games of 2023
Street Fighter 6 is the latest installment in the famous fighting game series. The game introduces a new game engine, a fresh combat system, and new characters. Street Fighter 6 has been praised by critics and players and is considered one of the best fighting games of 2023.
Final Fantasy XVI
Final Fantasy XVI is the latest installment in the renowned role-playing game series. The game is set in a fantasy medieval world and follows the story of Clive Rosfield, a young man on a quest to avenge his father's death. Final Fantasy XVI has been acclaimed by critics and players and is considered one of the best role-playing games of 2023.
These three games are just a few of the many excellent Japanese video games released in 2023. 2023 has truly been an exceptional year for Japanese video games, and it's certain that the years to come will be equally promising. Of course, you can still add other titles to this list. You might also look forward to the latest entries in the Pokémon franchise or Star Ocean 6 (Divine Force).
The Flops of New Japanese Video Games in 2023
The year 2023 hasn't been a complete success for the Japanese video game industry. Several highly anticipated games have turned out to be flops, receiving negative reviews and failing to achieve expected sales.
Project Triangle Strategy (Nintendo Switch)
Project Triangle Strategy is a tactical RPG developed by Square Enix and published by Nintendo. The game was announced in 2019 and was supposed to be released in 2022, but it was delayed to 2023. Project Triangle Strategy received mixed reviews, praising the graphics, music, and gameplay, but criticizing the story, characters, and length. The game also fell short in terms of sales, selling fewer than a million copies worldwide.
Babylon's Fall (PlatinumGames)
Babylon's Fall is a cooperative action game developed by PlatinumGames and published by Square Enix. It received negative reviews concerning the story, characters, and loot system. Not much else to add, except that the game also failed to achieve expected sales, selling less than 100,000 copies worldwide.
Forspoken (Square Enix)
Forspoken is an action-adventure game developed by Luminous Productions and published by Square Enix. The game was announced in 2021 and was supposed to be released in 2022, but it was delayed to 2023. Forspoken received mixed reviews, with critics praising the graphics and gameplay but criticizing the story, characters, and open world. The game also fell short in terms of sales, selling fewer than a million copies worldwide.
These titles were highly anticipated and were expected to be successful, but they fell below critics' expectations. Only time will tell if the Japanese video game industry can make a strong comeback with the upcoming games in late 2023 and 2024.
It's worth noting that Super Mario Bros will be released at the end of the year. This title is among the most anticipated games of 2023.