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Every year, the market is flooded with sequels, reboots, remakes, reimagining, and everything in between. While this can be great for fans of long running series, nothing can quite replicate the excitement of adventuring in a new world for the very first time. A new mechanic you have never seen before can be exhilarating, and the only way to get that feeling is with new IP. Here are our top five fresh game experiences of 2023.
Honorable Mention: Sea of Stars
Freelance Writer Julio LaPine: While big companies like Square Enix usually dominate the RPG world, we never imagined seeing something compete with the classics like Sea of Stars. We could see the clear inspiration in games like Chrono Trigger or Xenosaga. From the way the story is presented to the combat itself, this was a clear example of how to adapt old mechanics to a modern environment.
Combat is turn-based but adds player inputs to increase damage or add certain effects to your abilities, making it one of the most fun and engaging combat systems this year. Without a doubt, Sea of Stars is one of the best new IPs of the year, and we can’t wait to see what else the studio has planned with these heroes.
Fourth Place: Starfield
Reviews Editor David Rodriguez: While Starfield may not have set the world on fire right out the gate like Oblivion or Skyrim did, it’s still an impressive leap forward for Bethesda is many ways. The combat is far better than anything they’ve ever done before. Guns feel satisfying, and punching aliens in low gravity environments never gets old. While it may not be the most seamless sci-fi adventure around, it does have the same great faction stories and random hijinks you come to expect from the “Bethesda” DNA.
Starfield isn’t perfect, but with a long-term plan in place for it, and its creative take on the Nasa Punk aesthetic, it’s a great new IP to build a future off of in the coming months and years.
Third Place: Lies of P
Staff Writer Patrick Armstrong: Soulslikes often struggle to innovate, relying too much upon the FromSoftware formula to find their own identity. This year, Lies of P proved itself the rare exception. Though it drew upon the likes of Bloodborne and Dark Souls, it offered something unique. From its Art Nouveau aesthetic and weapon modding to its top-notch boss designs, Lies of P provided a Pinocchio experience better than any of us expected.
The story and Lie System drew us in and grounded us in the city of Krat, but it’s the combat that kept us there for dozens of hours. Lies of P stands beside Sekiro as one of the most interesting deviations from the Soulslike standard, emphasizing perfect blocks and sharp reflexes over spamming dodge rolls. In art as well as gameplay, Lies of P easily stood out as one of the best new IPs of the year.
Runner-Up: Dave The Diver
Guides Editor Ethan Webb: Besides complex farming sims like Stardew Valley, few games manage to fit the elements of different genres seamlessly into a single package, and Dave The Diver is the prime example of them all. Ocean roguelike-exploration, fishing, cooking, boss battles, farming, restaurant management, and even cute minigames—Dave The Diver has it all. Not only is the adventure fun in all the right ways, but no gameplay mechanic or element feels separate or disconnected from the overall experience.
It’s not just the combination of different parts that makes Dave The Diver engaging. The gameplay loop offers straightforward progression with just enough challenge to make your restaurant development all the more addicting. Whether you’re a few hours in or nearing the endgame, it’s not hard to see that MINTROCKET has made this indie gem with “soul.” From the exceptional pixel art and hilarious animations to the memorable characters you’ll come to love working alongside at your sushi bar, Dave The Diver is undoubtedly the best and most fun new indie IP of 2023.
Winner: Hogwarts Legacy
Freelance Writer Jordan Moyer: Hogwarts Legacy gave us our first in-depth look into the world of witchcraft and wizardry hidden behind platform 9 ¾. It’s absolutely stunning, and there are some seriously satisfying aspects that we could have only dreamed about before its release. However great you might think Hogwarts Legacy is at first sight, it just keeps on giving. You get a chance to dive into things that weren’t specified or given more than a mere mention in the books or movies and experience a whole new side of Hogwarts from a student’s perspective.
Whether it be flying around on a broomstick, solving a new puzzle, or even just getting to know your fellow classmates and helping them out with the various side quests offered, we had a great time in Hogwarts Legacy, and it’s our best new IP of 2023.
