Hogwarts Legacy
Release date: February 10
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Windows
Developers: Avalanche Studios
Harry Potter stands as one of the most successful media sagas of the modern era. Books and films have poured immense value into its creators, yet video games in the universe have never fully realized their potential. Hogwarts Legacy changes that equation, serving as a major, high-budget entry into the wizarding world and signaling a significant leap for games based on the franchise.
The game unfolds long before the events of the books and films, so Harry Potter and his friends do not appear. Still, it is packed with fan services—elements that fans recognize from the pages and screen adaptations. Trailers already tease familiar locations, creatures, and cultural touchstones that spellbind the fan base.
The story centers on Hogwarts Castle, the iconic school many readers and viewers know well. The narrative also touches the Forbidden Forest, Gringotts Bank, and the village of Hogsmeade. Players take on the role of a novice wizard who must choose one of four faculties and learn magic, potion making, and other magical disciplines. Adversaries include dark wizards, goblins, and the perils of academic life itself.
Atomic Heart
Release date: February 21, 2023
Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Windows
Developers: Black Film
The debut premium Russian project crafted with intense production, Atomic Heart, is nearing its launch. This shooter unfolds in an alternate universe where the USSR never collapsed and scientists created autonomous machines as well as weapons of war.
In a world where robots cannot simply be trusted, the story follows KGB agent Sergei Nechaev as he travels to a clandestine laboratory where machines have deviated from party lines and where the underlying causes of the rebellion must be uncovered.
Atomic Heart blends nostalgia for the Soviet era with science fiction and quirky pop culture references. It is notable for being developed in Russia, a hub that has rarely produced blockbuster video games of this scale.
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League
Release date: 26 May 2023
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Windows
Developers: Rocksteady Studios
Suicide Squad, the 2016 film about antiheroes serving a higher good, had mixed reception. It nonetheless helped propel a new wave of antihero storytelling in cinema and gaming, a trend that continues today. Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League picks up that momentum and pushes it into a modern action game format.
Players command a squad of renegade villains under the orders of Harley Quinn, including Deadshot, Captain Boomerang, and King Shark. Tasked with taking on the Justice League under a hypnotic spell cast by a spacefaring antagonist, the team must navigate chaotic missions and moral ambiguity. Rocksteady, famed for the Batman: Arkham series, steers this title, aiming to translate comic book bravado into interactive spectacle.
Diablo IV
Release date: June 6, 2023
Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Windows
Developers: Blizzard Entertainment
Diablo has long stood as Blizzard’s flagship action role-playing game, driving the genre forward since the mid-1990s. The franchise pioneered a direct, loot-driven approach to character progression, combining narrative drive with fast, visceral combat.
Diablo IV returns to the darker roots of the series, reviving the grim dungeon-crawling experience with a focus on atmosphere, challenging enemies, and meaningful character development. The move follows Blizzard’s evolution of the franchise, balancing classic design with modern mechanics like expansive loot systems, shared world interactions, and a deeper open-world structure. Longtime fans and new players alike can expect a moodier, more brutal adventure that emphasizes exploration, gear collection, and boss encounters that demand strategic play.
Starfield
Release date: first half of 2023
Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Windows
Developers: Bethesda Game Studios
Bethesda is renowned for creating worlds players inhabit for years, often without relying on online modes. The studio’s legacy includes The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, a game that continues to captivate audiences over a decade after its release. Starfield sits in a similar lineage but shifts to a science fiction setting rather than medieval fantasy.
Starfield places players in the role of a space explorer, journeying between planets, discovering new worlds, and confronting threats along the way. Expect a wealth of weapons, armor, character interactions, and a broad skill set that fuels endless discovery. The game is described by many as Skyrim in space, reflecting Bethesda’s own framing and the enduring appeal of expansive, immersive worlds. Given the studio’s track record, Starfield is anticipated to remain a staple for years to come.
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Release date: first half of 2023
Platforms: Linux, macOS, Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Developers: Team Cherry
Indie games thrive on the passion of their creators, often delivering ideas unshackled by big publishers. Hollow Knight exemplifies this spirit: a refined metroidvania crafted by a small team that garnered broad acclaim for its tight design and atmospheric world.
Silksong continues the saga, guiding players as Hornet, a faster and more nimble protagonist, through the insect kingdom of Hollownest. The follow-up preserves the original’s challenging exploration and tight combat while introducing new mechanics and a different journey. Early impressions suggest Silksong stands shoulder to shoulder with its predecessor and could claim a top spot among 2023 indie releases.
STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl
Release date: December 2023
Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Windows
Developers: GSC Game World
STALKER 2 continues a landmark series that many players regard as a defining open-world adventure of the 21st century. The franchise blends exploration with a harsh, radioactive setting and a sense of pioneer grit. Players encounter abandoned facilities, nomadic factions, and dangerous mutants as they chart a lone path through a world marked by peril and mystery.
Details about STALKER 2 remain relatively scarce, but anticipation runs high. If the sequel captures even a fraction of the original’s atmosphere and immersion, it will stand as a standout experience. The Ukrainian studio behind it, GSC Game World, brings a legacy of storytelling and open-world design that fans eagerly await.