When the video game industry looks back at May 2023, this month will most likely be remembered for just two things: thefailure ofRedfalland the launch ofThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.Redfallwill serve as a cautionary tale about the industry embracing its worst impulses, whileTears of the Kingdomwill likely be considered one of the best games ever made and serve as a North Star for video game design for the next several years, likeThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wildbefore it. Still, this month was about a lot more than that.
With this roundup, we hope to paint a broader picture of all the great games that were released over the course of May 2023; no single game can paint the picture of the entire industry. FromTears of the Kingdomto some of PlayStation VR2’s best releases to beautiful indies to a game Nintendo temporarily blocked from release over a TikTok joke, these are the best games of May 2023.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
To get the obvious out of the way: yeah,The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdomis a really good game. We already consideredBreath of the Wildto be one of thebest games ever made, butTears of the Kingdom‘s evolution of that game’s open world and mechanics makeBreath of the Wildfeel like a beta. Not only do players have two new open worlds to explore with the Sky Islands and underground Depths, but systems like Fuse and Ultrahand ask players toembrace their creativityto solve puzzles and traverse around the open world.
“So long as you’re willing to meticulously survey Hyrule like an archaeologist digging for fossils,The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdomis an engrossing sequel full of mysteries to solve and experiments to conduct,” Giovanni Colantonio wrote in hisfour-and-a-half star review of the game. “It’s a digital laboratory that I imagine will still be producing unbelievable discoveries 10 years from now.”
Details big and small impress acrossTears of the Kingdom, and at times it feels like this is the closest we’ll get to the ultimate video game experience. Its complex controls do take a bit of getting used to, but those who get the hang of it will be able to enjoy one of the most impressive games ever made.The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdomis available now for Nintendo Switch, and this is the last time I’m going to mention it in this article. On to some other fantastic games!
In a year that’s proving to be relatively light in terms of compelling PlayStation console exclusives,Humanitystands out as both a fantastic puzzle game and a solid PSVR2 title. Players control a little Shiba Inu dog as it directs massive hordes of humans to end portals across intricately crafted levels. It’s aTetris Effect-like sensory experience that’s partCaptain Toad: Treasure Trackerand partLemmings. Those feelings are all only heightened if you decide to try the game in VR, which we highly recommend if you’re desperate to play something new on your PSVR2 headset.
“Whether you enjoy complex puzzle games or just want a good excuse to use your PSVR2,Humanityis one of 2023’s few ‘can’t miss’ games,” Colantonio wrote in an article about howHumanityis the best PS5 game he’s played. “What starts as a straightforward game about directing rows of marching people quickly turns into an insightful, challenging, and at times dark meditation on humanity’s ability to evolve and organize.”
Another Fisherman’s Tale
If you’re looking for more good new games to play on your PlayStation VR2, Vertigo Games releasedAnother Fisherman’s Tale.While this is technically a sequel, you don’t need to have played its 2019 predecessor in order to enjoy it. The main gameplay conceit is that players can detach their limbs and control them, whether they’re attached to their bodies or not. This opens up quite a few interesting puzzle situations, whether that’s simply detaching your hand to have it go pull a lever in another room or controlling your hands and body independently of your head in order to put your body back together. All of this is tied into a pretty heartfelt story about a daughter recounting her father’s tall tales.
After acouple of months with VR, I’ve found that my favorite experiences are ones that allow me to be a bit more of a manipulator and observer, likeHumanity, rather than intense shooters.Another Fisherman’s Talefinds the sweet spot between both styles of VR games. It allows players to do the cliché first-person actions we’ve all come to expect from VR games, but occasionally forces them to do so from a mind-bending perspective. It’s a fairly short game that shouldn’t take you more than three to five hours, but it’s worth checking out for those who are looking for new and experimental VR games.Another Fisherman’s Taleis available now for PSVR2 and Meta Quest 2.
Convergence: A League of Legends Story
In April,The Mageseeker: A League of Legends Storyshowed just how great Riot Forge’s indieLeague of Legendsspinoffs could be. AndConvergence: A League of Legends Storycontinues that trend. This game follows Ekko, the time-manipulating Champion you might recognize from the Netflix showArcane.Convergencegives us a deeper look into the character and his life in Zaun as he fights to protect the people of Zaun’s Undercity. It once again shows the deep story potential of Runeterra, even with characters that are already featured in other expanded world media. What’ll keep you coming back toConvergence, though, is its smooth gameplay and animation.
Convergenceis a fairly standard combat-focused Metroidvania, but it has one key hook: Ekko’s Zero Drive gives him the ability to rewind time. As such, if you get hit or miss a jump, you can rewind a certain number of times and get another shot at whatever you were trying to do. Some ofConvergence’sfights can get quite tough too, so this is a mechanic that you’ll be using a lot. Essentially, if you’ve ever wondered howPrince of Persia: The Sands of Timewould work in a game likeSuper MetroidorHollow Knight, Convergencegives you just that. And consideringThe Sands of Time’sremake isin development hell, this is probably the closest you’ll get to that experience for quite a while.
On top of all that, this game features silky smooth animation that makes the whole game a joy to look at. WithThe MageseekerandConvergence, Riot Forge has proven that fans of indies and the world of Runeterra shouldn’t ignore its games.Convergence: A League of Legends Storyis available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Nintendo Switch.
Sunshine Shuffle
At a glance,Sunshine Shufflelooks like a cutesy Texas Hold ’em sim featuring cute animals, but the more you play, the more it becomes clear that there’s a deeper meaning to all of it. Turns out, this is also a visual novel about a group of animals playing poker after a heist went wrong, and you’re there to learn more about what actually happened. It’s 2023’sPoker Night at the Inventory, with an even weirder premise and better writing.
ColantoniocallsSunshine Shufflea “smart, hilarious, and at times strangely emotional little indie gem,” which uses its solid Texas Hold ‘Em gameplay “to tell a funny, but poignant story about risk-taking.” Sunshine Shuffleis available now for PC. It’s available for Nintendo Switch too, but Nintendo of America initially blocked its release due to a misunderstanding over whether or not the game actually promotes gambling to children. It’s a wild story, and you should check out developer Xalavier Nelson Jr.explaining how it all went downto Digital Trends.
Planet of Lana
Those who are fans of sci-fi and Playdead’s classic 2D puzzle platformersLimboandInsidewill want to check outPlanet of Lana. This game follows the titular Lana as she works with a cat-like creature to save her sisters after giant mechanical aliens start to take over her planet. An adventure with simple puzzle platformer obstacles and some beautiful, colorful, and chilling sci-fi vistas ensues.
“Planet of Lanadoesn’t bring much new to the table thematically, but it doesn’t really need to,” Colantonio said in histhree-and-a-half starPlanet of Lanareview. “Instead, its focus is on capturing a feeling — and that’s something it nails. Like the Studio Ghibli films that look to have inspired its art and tone, it finds peace within an apocalyptic premise. Its focus is on immersing players in a relaxing world that’s worth saving rather than wallowing in dystopian cynicism. It makes for a hopeful little adventure that always has its heart in the right place.”
Planet of Lanahits all of the right notes if you’re looking for an atmospheric 2D platformer experience. The game is available now for PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X and is part of Xbox Game Pass.
Star Trek: Resurgence
Dramatic Labs is one of the developers that popped up in the wake of Telltale Games’ closure, and its first game is based onStar Trek. TitledStar Trek: Resurgence, this game follows the crew of the USS Resolute as they initially try to settle a conflict between two feuding alien races. The narrative and dialogue-focused Telltale formula is an excellent fit for the ethical and philosophical subject matter thatStar Trekis at its best dealing with, and the result is something that may be the most faithfulStar Trekgame of all time.
“Rather than creating a big action game filled with blaster battles, Dramatic Labs delivers an engrossing game about diplomacy,” Colantonio said ofStar Trek: Resurgencein an article about somegreat sci-fi games that released recently. “Impactful, difficult dialogue choices show the challenges of keeping peace, both in international affairs and personal ones. That makes for a gripping sci-fi story that feels correctly aligned with the cerebral nature ofStar Trek.”
This game has flown under the radar a bit because it was released during such a crowded period, but it goes to show just how solid of a month May 2023 was for gaming. StarTrek: Resurgenceis available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
