2023’s Overlooked PC Games You Should Check Out

Continuing the theme of looking back at games you probably missed out on, as we did with indie titles just a few days back, is a delightful new list of 2023's overlooked PC games. Coming from AA devs and publishers from the most part, these games thrilled us with their awesome combat loops, delightful graphics, or just an overall fun factor that can't rightly be quantified.

If that's the sort of thing you've been looking for - this is definitely the place to be.

We won't dawdle too much, then. Down below, we've assembled a lovely list of PC games that simply didn't get their time in the spotlight, this time focusing on smaller-scale publishers and lower-end AAAs, rather than just indies. If indies, specifically, are what you're after, though, don't forget to check out the appropriate article!

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2023's Overlooked PC Games: A Must-Play Reminder

Inkulinati

Inkulinati is one of the most unique games on the market, bar none. And, yes, there's the visual style to take into account, but its uniqueness goes beyond that. It's a two-dimensional side-scrolling turn-based strategy! And yes, that is a niche of sorts, albeit one that's awfully rare to see.

What helps elevate Inkulinati beyond most other 2023 releases is its subject matter. As the player, you step into the shoes of one of the titular drawing masters, duking it out at the literal margins of classic medieval manuscripts. Do yourself a favor and pick this one up.

Sonic Colors: Ultimate

Another Sonic game? You bet! This one was mostly overlooked due to the fact that we got an awesome Sonic Frontiers adventure not long ago, but it's still a joy to play for fans of the franchise.

A classic 3D Sonic adventure, it's worth pointing out that Sonic Colors has a bit of a modding scene on PC, to boot. This means you can quickly and easily crank the game up to 11 and make it a true joy to play. As far as 2023's overlooked PC games go, this one's a must-have for platformer lovers.

Like a Dragon: Ishin!

Though there was an awful lot of hubbub surrounding the PC release of Ishin!, the excitement quickly died down afterwards. It's not hard to see why, either, with titles such as Hogwarts Legacy dominating the gaming discussion boards. And while we did love our time at Hogwarts, Ishin! is every bit as deserving of attention as that game was!

To that end, we've got a glowing recommendation for Like a Dragon: Ishin! It is, at its core, a phenomenal Yakuza game set against the backdrop of 1860s Japan, and it's a thoroughly unique experience from start 'till the very end.

Rainbow Six: Extraction

We're absolutely, positively sure that many will scoff at the idea of a sci-fi offshoot of a Tom Clancy franchise. Yet, for what it's worth, Rainbow Six: Extraction has more in common with classic R6 games of yore than Siege does! It's a tactical slow-burn where player choice matters the most. How do you handle the next round of infested creatures? Do you gun them down through walls? Do you sneak up on them? Do you rely on open gunfire, instead?

These are the choices you get to make in Extraction, and we'll be honest: it's a load of fun! Especially if you've got a pal or two to play with, which turns the game into something not unlike Rainbow Six: Vegas... to some extent. The game's Steam re-release did it some favors earlier this year, but it deserves more attention than it ended up getting.

Ship of Fools

How does a seafaring roguelite co-op multiplayer game sound? Fun? If not, it should! Ship of Fools is essentially a horror-themed version of Overcooked!, albeit with an awesome roguelike slant added into the mix. Players take up arms and oars aboard the Stormstrider and attempt to make their way across the immense Sea to prevent the Aquapocalypse from taking place.

Though solo playing is possible, Ship of Fools truly comes into its own when you've got someone to play it in local multiplayer with. A definitive recommendation if you've got a pet, partner, or family member to enjoy the game with!

SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake

A lovely follow-up to The Battle for Bikini Bottom, this game is THQ Nordic's first full-fledged SpongeBob game after the publisher acquired the IP. From our point of view, it's a huge success that proves we do, indeed, need classic 3D platforming adventures to keep on existing.

It's a genuinely fun experience that delights in its handling of the SpongeBob IP: expect lots of unique abilities, jokes, and opportunities for exploration to pop up along the way. Now, to be fair, it's not going to be to everyone's tastes, but fans of Ratchet & Clank, Jak & Daxter, and other classic 3D platformers should definitely check it out!

Stay Tuned for Updates!

And there you have it - our list of undeservedly overlooked PC games of 2023! However, note that we aim to keep this article updated as time goes on. Ideally, of course, we won't have much to add, but we'll see how things develop over the next six months.

In the interim, you may wish to check out some of our other content. Here are a few examples we had fun with:

• The State of Personal Representation in Gaming
• Total Warhammer 3's DLC Roadmap for This Year and Beyond
• Everything We Know About Aliens: Dark Descent

And, of course, be sure to open up the official 2Game store. Discounts and deals are available 24/7, and our Xbox repertoire, in particular, is a thing to behold.

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