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31.12.2023 - 00:16 / pushsquare.com / Star Ocean / Best
Our Game of the Year coverage continues with the Best PS5, PS4 Art Direction of 2023, of which a top four has been put together by the Push Square editorial team. Here we'll highlight titles that pushed the boundaries of game visuals, whether that's through near photo-realism, a stylish look, or unique artistic elements. These games are a joy to look at just as much as they are to play.
Octopath Traveler II brings the HD-2D art style Square Enix has coined to PS5, PS4, and it looks stunning. The lovely pixel art makes this JRPG shine no matter which of the many characters you're playing as, and the locales they explore provide beautiful colour to their journey. It's proof you don't need photo realism to create a jaw-dropping game; even the styles of old can be made to look brand new again.
At its cinematic best, Final Fantasy XVI is comfortably one of the most eye-popping games on PS5. But what really makes Clive's adventure stand out is its superb art direction. From immaculate character designs to incredible-looking bosses and monsters, it's often a joy to behold — particularly in terms of detail. Square Enix leans into darker fantasy territory with Final Fantasy XVI, and on a visual level, it pays off in spectacular fashion.
Lies of P from Round8 Studio might have one of the most unique setups in gaming this year: it's a dark re-telling of the Pinnochio story that plays like a Dark Souls. The South Korean team leans into this to sublime effect with animatronic enemies and bosses patrolling the city of Krat while a full moon shines down overhead. The game never lets up, with a healthy serving of environments and animated robots to take down, all up to a good graphical quality. The game itself is great, but it also looks wonderful, with unique designs and takes on established concepts. And yes, your nose can grow longer — but not where you might think.
Alan Wake 2 isn't just a video game; it's also an FMV title and a musical all rolled into one unforgettable journey. Rarely has a game so seamlessly blended the three types of media into an experience that makes total sense. With frequent visual jump scares on top, Remedy keeps you guessing as to what happens on screen next. And even when it's not pushing the boundaries of what it means to be a video game, Alan Wake 2 looks outstanding, from the dark, moody streets of the Dark Place to Saga's quest to solve the murders at play. A visually stunning experience, Alan Wake 2 pushes the barrier for video game art.
Honourable Mentions: Bomb Rush Cyberfunk, Chants of Sennaar, Cocoon, Sea of Stars, Star Ocean: The Second Story R, and Street Fighter 6.
What was your favourite PS5, PS4 art direction of 2023? Place a vote in our poll and then explain your
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Our Game of the Year coverage continues with the Best PS5, PS4 Puzzle Game of 2023, of which a top four has been put together by the Push Square editorial team. In this new category, we're highlighting the best games that make solving puzzles their main gameplay element. These titles will test you in creative ways, resulting in a ton of satisfaction once solved.
Our individual Game of the Year articles allow our lovely team of writers to share their own personal PS5 and PS4 picks for 2023. Today, it's the turn of assistant editor Robert Ramsey.
Our Game of the Year coverage continues with the Best PS5, PS4 Developer of 2023, of which a top four has been put together by the Push Square editorial team. Here we'll crown the best studio of the year and recognise teams that have gone above and beyond for their titles, from releasing lots of games within the 12-month period to those supporting them after launch.
All throughout 2023, we saw plenty of people asking whether the year would go down as one of the best ever periods for new game releases. Indeed, it was an objectively stacked 12 months — and we're not even thinking about non-PlayStation platforms when we write that.
Our individual Game of the Year articles allow our lovely team of writers to share their own personal PS5 and PS4 picks for 2023. Today, it's the turn of editor Sammy Barker.
The time has come to unveil the best PS5 and PS4 games of 2023… according to readers of Push Square! As is tradition, we presented the community with a shortlist of 50 PlayStation titles near the end of last year. Readers were asked to vote for up to five of their favourites.
The UK's final weekly chart of 2023 for physical games is here, and it's Hogwarts Legacy that takes the top spot as the year comes to a close. However, WB Games' open world Harry Potter title has achieved more than that — as reported by GamesIndustry, it's the UK's best-selling boxed game of 2023 overall. Usually, that title goes to EA Sports and its annual football game, but Hogwarts Legacy won out over EA Sports FC 24, ending a 10-year streak.
Eagerly anticipated ghost-hunting game Phasmophobia was a hit on Steam, and the wait for it to come to PlayStation has been torturous, plagued by repeated delays and at least one fire. Developer Kinetic Games posted a development roadmap, which still doesn't give us a date but does promise that the console release, when it does arrive, will benefit from gameplay reworks and performance upgrades.
CD Projekt Red has provided a quick update on the commercial success of Phantom Liberty — the big Cyberpunk 2077 expansion that released back in September of last year. The DLC launched alongside the game's 2.0 Update, which once again propelled the open world RPG back into the spotlight.
Manhwa initially originated in South Korea but shares stark similarities with manga. However, that doesn’t imply that Manhwa doesn’t have its charm. With engaging narrative and immersive characters, it captivates audiences with its stellar visuals and constantly growing fanbase.
Our Game of the Year coverage continues with the Best PS5, PS4 Story Game of 2023, of which a top four has been put together by the Push Square editorial team. This category highlights the best adventures you can venture on from a narrative perspective on PS5 and PS4. With an intriguing main plot, wonderful characters, and fun distractions of the core path, they'll keep you engaged with their story no matter how long it takes to roll credits.