31 NEW Best Adventure Games of 2023

Adventure games are by definition meant to be adventurous to their core. To take a person on a ride that they’ll remember, and in 2023, there are several games that make distinction.

#31 Disney Dreamlight Valley

Platform: PS4 PS5 Xbox One XSX|S PC Switch
Release Date: December 05, 2023

Steam | PlayStation | Xbox | Nintendo

Are you ready to head into the valley? Don’t worry; this isn’t a bad valley. This is Disney Dreamlight Valley! 

What’s that? Why, it’s a magical place where all sorts of wondrous things happen. Or, at least, it was until certain things happened to it. The characters of Disney and Pixar stories lived here, and they fled to their homelands when a spread of dark thorns wrecked the valley!

But that’s where you come in! You can help free the valley and bring the characters back to not only live in it but be your friends and traveling partners! Plus, the game is always updating with new content, so what’s not to love?

#30 Remnant 2

Platform: PC PS5 XSX|S
Release Date: July 25, 2023

Steam | Playstation | Xbox

Are you ready to once again help lead humanity against unbelievable foes? Remnant II follows up the hit co-op title that’ll put you and others in a fight for all of existence! We mean that literally as your foe wishes to destroy all of reality!

So yeah, you should probably stop them from doing that.

Whether you play alone or with others, you’ll outfit your character to be the best fighter they can be. Use new systems and a foray of weapons to take the fight to them. Don’t be afraid to mix and match what you can access, as it might be the key to taking down future foes!

#29 Metroid Prime Remastered

Platform: Switch
Release Date: February 08, 2023

Nintendo

Many games deserve the “remastered” treatment for one reason or another. But when it comes to Metroid Prime Remastered, it’s another story. This title was hailed as one of the best games of its generation when it came out on the Nintendo GameCube and the trilogy that it was a part of brought Samus Aran back into the limelight.

But now, with this remastered version of the game, you’ll get to see it at its peak on the Nintendo Switch and witness why this game still holds up to this day.

From the first-person combat to the exploration and story, you’ll feel everything Samus Aran does and fight to keep her alive.

#28 Like a Dragon: Ishin

Platform: PC PS4 Xbox One PS5 XSX|S
Release Date: February 21, 2023

Steam | Playstation | Xbox

Samurai stories aren’t just about the swordfights they partake in or the wars they are a part of. For many Samurai, the journey is most important in many respects.

In Like A Dragon: Ishin, you’ll partake in the journey of Sakamoto Ryoma. His journey will lead him to Kyoto in the 1860s. In this period of Japanese history, everything is teetering on the edge of a sharp knife, waiting for someone to send it in one direction or another. That could be you.

Your personal mission is to find the person who killed your father. But along your journey, you can bring justice to Kyoto in ways that those in power won’t.

#27 Hi-Fi Rush

Platform: PC XSX|S
Release Date: January 25, 2023

Steam | Xbox

If you haven’t heard about Hi-Fi Rush by now, you’re seriously living under a rock. This was the game from Tango Gameworks that shadow-dropped earlier in the year and amazed everyone with its vibrant world, clever combat, and unique setting.

The game puts you as Chai, a guy who goes in for an experiment and accidentally has his heart replaced with a music player! Oops.

Now, alongside some fellow misfits, you’ll need to take on the corporation that wronged you and defeat them while mashing buttons to the beat!

Yep, it’s a rhythm action title, and you’ll want to be right on cue so you can deliver the most damage.

#26 The Murder of Sonic The Hedgehog

Platform: PC
Release Date: March 31, 2023

Steam

What happens when one of the most beloved gaming icons ever is brutally murdered at a friend’s birthday party? You’ll have to find out in the point-and-click adventure epic known as The Murder of Sonic The Hedgehog!

Ok, not really. Well, it is called that, but it’s not as dramatic as we made it sound. The game was an April Fool’s joke, so bear with us.

Anyway, Amy Rose has her birthday party on a “murder mystery train,” and Sonic is the one who’s killed. That means you, a new character in the series, must figure out who “murdered” him! Good luck with that, and have fun!

#25 The Talos Principle 2

Platform: PC PS4 PS5 Xbox One XSX|S
Release Date: November 09, 2023

Steam | PlayStation | Xbox

Nearly a decade after the release of The Talos Principle, developers Croteam brought out a sequel. This puzzle adventure game takes place years after the first installment. It’s hard to offer the premise of this game without spoiling the first installment. So, if you haven’t played the first game, you might want to skip ahead of this point. However, the game takes place after the first game, where we see the first android to be awakened, Athena. You’re stepping into another android who is slowly unraveling the mystery behind a world humanity left behind, and now androids take control. But a large part of this game is all about puzzles. You’ll continue getting harder puzzles, some stumping you for hours until it finally all comes together. If you enjoyed The Talos Principle, then you’re going to get very much the same type of game in its sequel. But will you be able to avoid making the same mistakes that humankind made, or will a new, more prosperous world come from the choices you make?

#24 Jusant

Platform: PC PS5 XSX|S
Release Date: November 2023

Who doesn’t love a good adventure? Moreover, who doesn’t love a good adventure that lets you learn about the past of a certain area? In Jusant, you won’t be an “action hero” or a “destined one who must save the world.” You’ll simply be a young boy who wants to claim a massive tower in his world.

Climbing is literally the name of the game here, as you’ll be climbing up the tower and the areas that are a part of it and witness the various biomes and remnants of civilization you’ll find.

What will you discover as you reach the top of the tower? Play the game and find out!

#23 Bramble: The Mountain King

Developer: Dimfrost Studio
Publisher: Merge Games
Platform: PC PS5 XSX|S
Release Date: 2023

Bramble: The Mountain King is a game that taps into Nordic folklore. In this game, players are taking the role of a young boy named Olle, who is attempting to rescue his sister from a beastly troll. However, the world is full of dangers, and you never know just what will be lurking around. This is quite the atmospheric horror adventure game where Olle will have big and small monsters that will attempt to bring his demise. If you’re a fan of titles like Little Nightmares, Limbo, and Inside, this should feel right at home.

#22 Goodbye Volcano High

Developer: KO_OP
Publisher: KO_OP
Platform: PC PS4 PS5
Release Date: Aug 29, 2023

Those who want more of a story-driven adventure game with plenty of choices for players to decide on might be interested in Goodbye Volcano High. This is an adventure title centered around a group of anthropomorphic dinosaurs. Players here are taking the role of Fang, who is going through their last year of high school. The end is approaching, and it’s up to Fang to decide how they plan to go out this year. Connect with friends, strike up relationships, or simply write up some new songs with your band. It’s your choice on who Fang becomes and what their future may hold. 

#21 Oxenfree II: Lost Signals

Developer: Night School Studio
Publisher: MWM Interactive
Platform: PC PS4 PS5 Switch
Release Date: Jul 12, 2023

Oxenfree was a surprise indie adventure hit from the developers at Night School Studio, and after years of waiting, we finally have a sequel. This title is set five years after the first game’s events. While the first title followed a group of teenagers that accidentally opened a rift between realities, this game is centered around a cult seeking a means to open a rift for their own sinister plans. Players are taking the role of Riley, who is venturing back home and begins an investigation into the strange radio signals popping up. Unfortunately, she may get more than what she bargained for when her investigations start to unravel what’s really going on in her hometown of Camena. 

#20 Tintin Reporter: Cigars of the Pharaoh

Developer: Pendulo Studios
Publisher: Microids/Anuman Interactive
Platform: PC XSX|S PS4 PS5 Xbox One Switch
Release Date: Nov 7, 2023

You might know of The Adventures of Tintin; it’s an IP that’s certainly older than you and I. First started out as a comic strip back in the late 1920s, the series follows a young reporter, Tintin, and his faithful companion dog, Snowy. The duo would go on several epic adventures in search of the truth, and now we’re finally getting its first video game adaptation. Tintin Reporter: Cigars of the Pharaoh is an upcoming adventure game that follows Tintin and Snowy on a quest to investigate Pharaoh Kih-Oskh’s tomb. Although, his discoveries may very well lead him to uncover a massive drug trafficking network.

#19 Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened

Developer: Frogwares
Publisher: Frogwares
Platform: PC PS4 PS5 Xbox One XSX|S Switch
Release date: April 11, 2023

Frogwares is a development studio that has brought out several Sherlock Holmes titles over the years, and this year we have another one. This installment is crossing over Lovecraft as you’re taking on a new, unusual case. In this game, an unusual supernatural event happened across Europe and the United States. Several individuals have mysteriously vanished without a trace. With a dark cult seemingly linked to this event, Sherlock Holmes will have to carefully investigate this group and the mythos of an ancient god to pin down what really happened, hopefully. However, with no logical trails to investigate, this new mystery may cause Sherlock to grow mad.

#18 Layers of Fears

Developer: Bloober Team, Anshar Studios
Publisher: Bloober Team SA
Platform: PC
Release date: June 15, 2023

Bloober Team is known for delivering horror games, and one of their franchises that gained a massive following is Layers of Fear. This series has two installments, but now a remake of sorts is available. The game offers a remake of the first two installments as players slowly go through the maddening Victorian mansion to uncover the downfall of a painter through his past works. Being the daughter of this artists, you’ll be seeking out answers to your past but are you prepared for them?

#17 Horizon: Call of the Mountain

Developer: Firesprite / Guerrilla Games
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Platform: PS5
Release date: February 22, 2023

Horizon Zero Dawn was a surprise hit from Guerrilla Games, and so far, we have two mainline installments that follow the series protagonist, Aloy. However, there is a new VR spin-off game that launched this year. With this game, players are not taking the role of Aloy but instead a new character. Here you’ll step into the role of Ryas, a former Shadow Carja rebel that has been cast out from the tribe. With the only means to atone for his crimes, Ryas must go on an expedition to track down a new potential threat to the Sundom.

#16 Blanc

Developer: Casus Ludi
Publisher: Gearbox Publishing
Platform: PC SWITCH
Release date: February 14, 2023

Blanc is an cooperative multiplayer game. It’s a title about a wolf cub and a fawn that gets lost in a snowstorm. Left without their families, the duo must work together in order to locate where their loved ones might have gone. Each character will have their own unique strengths, making it impossible to reach their families without aiding each other along the way. Developers have expressed just how easy the gameplay mechanics are, which should allow anyone to grab a controller and play along. The entire gameplay mechanics are based around just two buttons along with movement. Likewise, the whole game is set in a beautiful black-and-white handcrafted world.

#15 The Silent Swan

Developer: Studio Circenses
Publisher: Gammera Nest
Platform: PC PS4 PS5
Release date: Nov 2, 2023

In The Silent Swan, you play as a man searching for his wife. His wife has seemingly entered a land that was struck by catastrophe, and the only clues to where she is are in handmade swans that she left behind for him.

You’ll weave your way through two cities that tie the past and future together. The more you search through these cities, the more items you’ll find. These items will help you piece together the truth and unravel all that has happened within them.

A tale of two cities and the two people tied to them is about to unfold. Are you ready?

#14 The Invincible

• Developer: Starward Industries, Stardward Industries
• Publisher: Starward Industries, 11 Bit Studios
• Platforms: PC, X/S, PS5
• Release: Nov 6, 2023

It should’ve been a simple exploration and discovery mission, but rarely do things like that ever go to plan, right?

You play as Yasna, who is part of a crew set to explore the planet of Regis III. The problem? Not long into your journey, your crew goes missing, and now you must search for them on a planet that isn’t quite what it seems. You’ll make stunning finds and have to face terrifying philosophical choices as you try and make sense of all that’s going on.

Who will you interact with? Who can you trust? What choices must you make? Get The Invincible when it comes out and discover the truth for yourself.

#13 Cocoon

• Developer: Geometric Interactive
• Publisher: Annapurna Interactive
• Platforms: PC, NS, XBO, X/S
• Release: September 29, 2023

To be clear here, this isn’t based on the movie of the same name from the 1980s. Just wanted to get that out of the way first.

But you should expect a rather unique adventure though, as the person who led Cocoon is the same person who helped make both Limbo and Inside, and those who have played those games will know how deep and dark those titles were.

In Cocoon, you’ll play as an entity that must carry a special orb on its back, and then literally jump to worlds within worlds in order to solve puzzles and figure out a cosmic mystery. There’s many entities and mysteries to unwind in this game, so be ready for it.

#12 Coffee Talk: Episode 2 – Hibiscus & Butterfly

• Developer: Toge Productions
• Publisher: Toge Productions, Chorus Worldwide
• Platforms: NS, XBO, PS4, PC
• Release: April 20, 2023

The original Coffee Talk game was one that was made in a time when we really couldn’t interact with one another. So any kind of interaction would do. It challenged you to listen as a barista in a coffee show whose clientele wasn’t exactly human at times.

Coffee Talk: Episode 2 – Hibiscus & Butterfly continues that unique story by putting you back in the shop and giving you all sorts of new faces, and familiar faces, to talk with as you serve them coffee.

The simulator is a mix of brewing drinks and helping people out via conversations. Serve them the right drinks to warm their hearts and potentially change their lives!

#11 American Arcadia

• Developer: Out of the Blue Games
• Publisher: Raw Fury
• Platforms: XBO, PS4, PC
• Release: Nov 15, 2023

To best compare it to something you might know, American Arcadia is a game that is basically the video game version of The Truman Show. Because in this alternate 70’s version of the world, you live in the city of Arcadia, which is the most-watched city in the world.

And by “most-watched”, we mean that its citizens are monitored 24/7 and the people don’t know about it. What’s more, if there’s a “drop in the ratings” for whatever reason, people can die for that.

You’ll play as two different characters who are trying to escape the reality they’re in, and have to do so via a variety of gameplay mechanics and “documentary-style” storytelling.

#10 Season: A Letter to the Future

• Developer: Scavengers Studio
• Publisher: Scavengers Studio
• Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5
• Release: Jan 31, 2023

Season: A Letter to the Future is very different kind of game. Mainly because it’s a bicycle adventure title mixed with mystery and wonder due to the fact that a “cataclysm” is coming, and you must collect the memories and knowledge of people in order to figure out the stories of this world.

Every person you meet will unlock a new story, a new memory, and share key moments of their lives that are worth recording. The more you get, the more you learn about everyone and the world, as well as determine what is coming…and why it is all ending in the first place.

#9 The Expanse: A Telltale Series

• Developer: Deck Nine, Telltale Games
• Publisher: Telltale Games
• Platforms: PS4, XBO, PC
• Release: TBA

Fans of the hit TV show will be excited that The Expanse: A Telltale Series is available, and will help expand the lore of the series even more.

The title actually serves as a prequel to the series as you’ll play as Camina Drummer on board the ship known as The Artemis where things start to go wrong and it’s up to you to try and find a way out of the situation, and figure out “what do to do with the truth”.

As per usual with TellTale Titles, your choices will affect the outcomes of not just conversations, but what happens next in the story.

#8 Shadows of Doubt

• Developer: ColePowered Games
• Publisher: ColdPowered Games, Sold-Out Software, Fireshine Games
• Platforms: PC
• Release: April 24, 2023

Welcome to a noir yet hyper-industrialized version of the 1980s. In the game, you’ll play as a private investigator who only gets money by solving cases, selling information, and getting special side jobs to help fill their coffers.

But when a serial killer arrives in the city, you might just hit the biggest score yet. However, what you find along the way might be even more valuable than catching them.

The city of Shadows of Doubt is massive, and it’s 100% “alive” in that every person has a life, job, home, purpose, and if you interact with them, great! If not, their life goes on.

Explore the city from top to bottom, find clues, secrets, and tidbits that could make the case, and make your life even richer.

#7 Hogwarts Legacy 

Release Date: 10 Feb 2023 | Platform: PC PS5 Xbox Series X|S
(PS4 Xbox One April 4, 2023) Switch (July 25, 2023)
Camera: Third Person
Multiplayer: No
Co-op: (Local: No | Online: No)
Genre: Open World, RPG, Fantasy, Action RPG

Steam | PlayStation | Xbox

Many have wanted to adventure in the wizarding world that birthed Harry Potter and his friends. To fly around on a broomstick or a Hippogriff, get a magic wand that perfectly matches you, and use spells on the regular. It was a nice dream that couldn’t be fulfilled fully, as previous games in the franchise couldn’t live up to expectations.

Until now, that is. Hogwarts Legacy allows you to “live the unwritten” and create your own story within the wizarding world. So create your character, pick your house, then set off to learn magic and use it how you will!

What kind of adventure will you craft for yourself?

#6 Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

Platform: PC PS5 XSX|S
Releease Date: April 28, 2023

Steam | Playstation | Xbox

The story of Cal Kestis continues! Set five years after the events of the first game, Star Wars Jedi Survivor sees Cal trying to do all he can to defeat the Empire and prove they’re not invincible. But new events will make him question his place in the galaxy and reunite him with old friends along the way.

Enjoy the classic style of lightsaber battles from before, mixed in with some new techniques, Force powers, and more. The galaxy far, far away has never looked more beautiful and has never been this expansive. So wander around and see what it has to offer you!

#5 Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

Platform: PS5
Release date: October 20, 2023

PlayStation

The follow-up to Insomniac Games’ massive hit on PS4, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 will continue the adventures of Peter Parker and Miles Morales. Now a unified “Spider Unit,” the two seek to protect New York City from numerous threats.

Such as what? Well, the arrival of Kraven the Hunter will put them to the test. He’s seeking the ultimate challenge and wants nothing more than to test himself against the Spider-Men and see if they’re worthy of the hunt.

But that’s not all! The Symbiote will get its claws into Peter, and Venom will soon emerge! Will the two be able to withstand the might of the Symbiote and the Hunter?

#4 Red Dead Redemption

Platform: PS4 Switch – August 17, 2023
Release Date: Xbox 360 PS3 – May 18, 2010

PlayStation | Xbox | Nintendo

Are you ready to saddle up, cowboy? In the newly rereleased/bundle version of Red Dead Redemption on Nintendo Switch and PS4, you’ll have multiple adventures awaiting you.

You’ll play as former outlaw John Marston, who the government has coerced to take down his old crew if he wishes to live peacefully with his family. That won’t be an easy task as they’re spread out across the country and in Mexico.

But take them on you will! You’ll ride around, have gun fights, and do various other tasks to complete your mission. But is there such a thing as a happy ending for an outlaw like you?

#3 Final Fantasy XVI

Platform: PS5
Release Date: June 22, 2023

PlayStation

Are you ready for the next grand adventure in Square Enix’s epic saga? If so, you’ll want to jump into Final Fantasy XVI as soon as possible!

The game takes place in a world full of political intrigue and backstabbing. But it’s also a place where a select group of people are the conduits for mighty beasts waiting to be unleashed!

You are Clive, one of those conduits, and it’s up to you to save the realm from threats both without and within. You’ll take on a new battle system and use various attacks to defeat your foes.

Will you be able to bring peace to the land? Or will you be the one that helps destroy it?

#2 Baldur’s Gate 3

Platform: PC – August 3, 2023
Release Date: PS5 – September 6, 2023

Steam | Playstation

Who’s ready for a classic RPG-style adventure in the realm of D&D? If so, then create your character and start your quest in Baldur’s Gate 3!

The game, which continues the grand legacy that came before it, will put you in the Forgotten Realms as a character of your own design! But just as important, you can embrace a dark power within you or fight it and do what you feel is best for those around you.

Once you make your early choices, you’ll gather up a party of characters and travel the land! You’ll fight evil, make choices that’ll affect the realm, travel to your heart’s content, and possibly romance some characters along the way.

#1 The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Platform: Switch
Release Date: May 12, 2023

Nintendo

It’s been a long time coming, but The Legend of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom has come. The game takes place not long after the fall of Calamity Ganon. Link and Zelda unleash the power of Ganondorf, and Hyrule is ripped apart as a result.

Separated from one another, Link must use new powers to travel across this new version of Hyrule and save the day!

The game will have many new gameplay elements to try and whole new layers to explore in Hyrule. What secrets are hidden in the Sky Islands? What awaits in the underground sections of the realm?

What is Ganondorf’s true plan? Play the game and find out!

Disclaimer: This article was updated on 11/3/23 as we continue to adjust this list with new entries or remove games due to delays or failure to captivate audiences.