Samiee "Gutterpunk" Tee's Top 5 Games of 2023

The thing about me personally, is that while I am aware of the absolutely phenomenal year 2023 was for video games, my actual option of acquiring the big hitters was out of the question. While it may be true that Baldur’s Gate 3 is the best thing since ultra-sliced bread, I simply don’t have funds for it. So when it comes to my Game of The Year, not only is it smaller, but dedicated to the more economically-averse hitters.

Cataloged here are some of 2023’s stunners for the penny pinchers, ones which aren’t just underrated but underseen. From left-field adaptations of French pulp novela, to isometric adventure games traveling through several dimensions, we’ve got it all! Unless it’s AAA experiences, in which case…

With that out of the way, let’s get to the games!

To Hell With The Ugly

With the best games of the year, a video game adaptation of a 1950s erotic pulp novella from controversial French author Vernon Sullivan, better known as Boris Vian, probably doesn’t crack the honorable mentions. Bearing that in mind, it should be stressed that the idea of doing such a thing to begin with is already a highlight in and of itself. To Hell With The Ugly, developed by La Poule Noire, goes one further however, by being a rather delightful toy box on top of that.

Mixing quaint quick-fire Paper Mario-esque gameplay with more rudimentary point n’ click elements, it’s the narrative which makes To Hell With The Ugly so enthralling. It’s shocking, perverse, full of twists, and as shockingly relevant now as it was 70 years ago. Its blazing noir art style is just another reason why it’s one of 2023’s most artistically realized titles.

The Bookwalker: Thief of Tales

If there’s one thing that made 2023 a gaming highlight for me, it was the variety of which my favorite games had. The Bookwalker: Thief of Tales from developer Do My Best Games is at one point a first-person mystery game, before evolving into isometric RPG battles and puzzle-box shenanigans, while also being a product of dry absorption. There’s a cold wit on display here, one which was uniquely satisfying to watch unfold.

Continuing with the challenging narrative Do My Best Games are known for, like 2016’s The Final Station, The Bookwalker is a game that can join the legacies of other brilliant Eastern European work. In the same way that Pathologic 2 is a companion piece to a title like Darkwood, The Bookwalker inherits the same respect a title like L.A. Noire would from the player. A wholly unique and undeniably brilliant game.

Venba

The sheer onslaught of brilliant games in 2023 meant that I had to turn my eye to more macro-cosmic experiences; short but insightful glimpses into different cultures and lifestyles. Visai Games' Venba is that, and so much more – not just a fascinating look into South-Indian cuisine and culture, but a sharply written and tightly paced work of family and what that bond represents.

Specific in execution and universal in scope, Venba’s cooking minigames are the cherry on top of its quick-fire slew of emotional narrative beats and well-directed cutscenes. It reminded me of Unpacking where a lot of the environmental storytelling can be delivered under-handedly to the player, and it all works in Venba’s favor, leaving you misty-eyed by the end of it.

Call your family. Tell 'em you love 'em.

Whitestone

I enjoy a bit of horror now and then, and when I heard that Hailstorm Games, developers of cult horror hit Claire, released another, I jumped at the bit to make sure that I’d play their new game Whitestone on day one. I was pleasantly surprised to find that not only the magic stayed with them, but the influences are no longer their whole suit.

While Claire was Silent Hill through and through, Whitestone’s inspirations have coalesced into something detached from its predecessors and is wondrous as an effect. Playing with their horror quirks still, the dungeon crawling and day-to-day mechanics of Whitestone are really quite absorbing. It’s an obvious routine, but that still doesn’t detract from the sharp writing and well-directed scares to keep you engaged.

Birth

In the wake of the COVID pandemic and a society that appears to be returning to a familiar, albeit mutated, sense of normalcy, those pangs of disassociation still creep up without warning. While not completely comparable to the utter horror that was the disconnect of a virus outbreak, Madison Karrh’s Birth taps into a similar vein of discomfort, demand, and possession of self. Not a heart-breaker, but something which seeks to fix.

Inspired largely by Madison’s time spent living in studio apartments, Birth has you completing puzzles to create a partner with which to communicate with, to be complete with. It’s a product of adoration, speaking to a universal language of longing, one which is ultimately affirming, and it reminded me of the ulterior motives of a title like GoNNER. It’s nice to be held, it’s nice to be loved, and Birth showcases that it’s possible, even when it feels like the walls are closing in.

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2023 was a whirlwind year for me, one which saw me largely playing for a crowd, while also struggling to find the time to showcase some true hidden talent. The objective of this list wasn’t just to put a spotlight on the underground hits, but also to (mostly) showcase titles didn't get the chance to be reviewed.

As 2024 starts to trundle on, a worrying thought has occurred to me that 2023 is now going to be a constant point of comparison for what happens this year. As layoffs continue and the state of a game's quality remains in a perpetual state of neutrality, people are always going to say, “well, why can’t more games be like x or y from last year?” which is wholly unfair. Games are hard to make! A notion which has been drowned out by a bittersweet onslaught of quality.

Find what you like, and I mean really search for it. Your preferences, what you look for, whether it’s killing time or a good story, discover as much as you can. There’s a good chance you’ll stumble onto untapped potential from an up n’ comer who’d appreciate your support.