It’s a new year and a chance for new beginnings. In our January 2023 Game Releases article, we list down 12 our most anticipated games that are scheduled for release in January 2023. As usual, we cover a varied list including Indie games, remakes / remasters, major downloadable content expansions, and AAA releases.
List of Top January 2023 Game Releases
A Space for the Unbound
Release Date: January 19, 2023
Genre: Slice-of-Life, Puzzle, Adventure
Platform: PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
One of the most anticipated games to come out of Southeast Asia, A Space for the Unbound is a pixel-art slice-of-life game set in 90s rural Indonesia. The game tells the story of overcoming anxiety and depression with a boy and girl with superpowers to live a normal life. There’s been a lot of talk about this game as its launch date approaches, and it’s from our neck of the woods, so it’s definitely worth keeping track of.
Monster Hunter Rise
Release Date: January 20, 2023
Genre: Action, RPG
Platform: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
First releasing on Nintendo Switch and then on PC a while later, Monster Hunter Rise will release digitally on PlayStation and Xbox consoles next month. The latest game in the storied Monster Hunter franchise, Rise picks up the pace and raises the steaks as the endless battle for territory continues. This entry is worth mentioning just cause it’s Monster Hunter Rise. Unfortunately, the console folks will have to wait a little longer to get Sunbreak.
Aquatico
Release Date: January 12, 2023
Genre: City builder, Colony Sim
Platform: PC
Aquatico is one of the more visually interesting city buildiers that take place under unique conditions. We’ve been keeping an eye out for this game since it was first announced and we were thrilled that it got a release date. Gameplay aside, it’s just so relaxing to see how our little people continue to live life under the sea, albeit through glass domes. It’s no Frostpunk 2 but we’ll take it.
Superfuse
Release Date: January 31, 2023
Genre: Action, Fighting, RPG
Platform: PC
Essentially a top-down superhero video game, Superfuse allows you to create your own hero and live your own comic book story. What we love about this game is that the action is nonstop and the visuals are straight out of a comic book. The various gameplay options appear to be deep as well. We can’t wait to define our playstyle of choosing.
One Piece Odyssey
Release Date: January 13, 2023
Genre: Turn-based RPG
Platform: PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
As part of its 25th Anniversary celebration, One Piece Odyssey brings back classical JRPG turn-based combat along with its own story arc. The story goes as Luffy and Straw Hat crew get caught in a storm and end up stranded on a mysterious island. Luffy’s adventure begins with finding the gang and just rolling with the punches until they resolve the island’s crisis. Pretty much on par to one of the anime’s arcs.
Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life
Release Date: January 26, 2023
Genre: Farming, Life Sim
Platform: PS4, PS5, PC
Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life is a remake of Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life. If you’re wondering why they couldn’t call it Harvest Moon, it’s because the developers of the game no longer have the rights to that name. Anyways, some of us grew up with the original Harvest Moon and we are over the moon when this title was announced.
This technically should be #2 on our list but it’s only the Japanese version on the Nintendo Switch that’s coming out on January with the Western release slated later that Summer. Regardless, we really want this game to succeed so we’re starting to spread the word as early as now.
Fire Emblem Engage
Release Date: January 20, 2023
Genre: Tactical RPG, Adventure
Platform: Nintendo Switch
Fire Emblem Engage is one of the more anticipated titles in the series. It brings together iconic heroes from past Fire Emblem games to do one thing: to defeat the great evil that is the Fell Dragon. We don’t think there needs to be a deep reason to bring these past heroes together. We’ll be having our fun either way.
Forspoken
Release Date: January 24, 2023
Genre: Third-person, Fantasy, Adventure
Platform: PS5, PC
Details are still scarce about this game’s story but Forspoken’s gameplay and traversal look impressive so far. The only reason why this game isn’t higher on the list is because we played the demo. Our biggest complaint was that the controls were more complicated than it needed to be and for a demo, it did not give us anything about the game’s direction. It was more like a glorified sandbox with more style than substence.
Hopefully, the team at Square Enix can do something to make it more appealing. Heck, we don’t mind if gets delayed again to address more concerns.
Season: A Letter to the Future
Release Date: January 31, 2023
Genre: Third-person Atmospheric Adventure
Platform: PS4, PS5, PC
Starting with our top 5 picks, we have Season: A Letter to the Future. The game doesn’t try to be flashy or over the top. It is a deep story about a young woman’s journey to chronicle the lives of the people she comes across before their world is wiped out. Just goes to show that there’s room for this kind of experience in the gaming space and we are looking foward to it.
Persona 4 Golden
Release Date: January 19, 2023
Genre: Role-Playing Game, Life Sim
Platform: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC
We have fond memories of Persona 4 back in the day. That’s pretty much the reason why this is so far up on our list. Before Persona 5 and Phantom Thieves took the world by storm, Persona 4 was there, laying the ground work for what would be the series’ high point. It also helped that it quickly became a cult classic with themes and unintentional comedic elements. We know we can get it right now, but something tells us the next-gen upgrades are worth the wait.
Spongebob Squarepants: The Cosmic Shake
Release Date: January 31, 2023
Genre: Action-adventure, Platfomer
Platform: PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
To those who might not know, Spongebob Squarepants: The Cosmic Shake is a brand new adventure and not a remake of an old game. Essentially, the developers did a good job on the Battle of Bikini Bottom. So much so that they got the “Crash 4 It’s About Time” treatment. We’re fully expecting wackier times for Spongebob and crew. Much to the dismay of grumpy ole Squidward.
Dead Space Remake
Release Date: January 27, 2023
Genre: Third-Person, Horror
Platform: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
Despite everything that’s happened during the release window of Callisto Protocol, we are adamant that the Dead Space remake is going to be really good. So much so that we’re willing to bite the bullet and roll it back to have it be our most anticipated game of January 2023.
We may have tempered our expectations somewhat after learning about some of the changes. We, at the very least, are expecting the visuals to be doing much of the heavy lifting. Dead Space is special to a lot of people, including our guys here. We really hope this one releases as well as it did back in the Xbox 360/PS3 era. Though that seems like asking a lot nowadays.
For our secret number 13, we have Persona 3 Portable. It is set to release on January 19, 2023 on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
And that’s it for our list of Top January game releases 2023. Check back with us for more news of surprise releases as the month progresses.
Check out this video from Youtuber MOB-X Game where he talks about his list of 15 best upcoming January game releases 2023 for PC and console.