Most Anticipated PC Games For 2023 And Beyond

Consoles may come and go, but PC gaming remains a fixed point of interest that's home to some of the most technically impressive titles on the market. For the rest of 2023 and beyond, PC gamers will be able to experience many of the same third-party experiences that are headed to Xbox and PlayStation consoles, as well as a few platform-exclusive games that should feel just right when played with a mouse and keyboard.

Of course, this is all dependent on your rig, but with new GPU technologies that allow you to get an impressive amount of bang for your buck--see Nvidia's DLSS and AMD's FSR for example--you don't need to drop too much cash on a system that can provide a high level of gaming freedom. For the rest of the year and beyond, some of the highlights include fascinating Victorian-era survival-crafting in Nightingale once it leaves early access, faces that only a mother could love when an icon from The Texas Chain Saw Massacre prepares his favorite power tool, and grand galactic strategy when Star Trek: Infinite warps into view.

On the AAA side of the gaming calendar, Starfield is one of the most highly anticipated releases of the year, Assassin's Creed Mirage looks like a gorgeous return to classical form for the series, and Alan Wake 2 brings a new level of action-packed horror to a PC near you. You can read more about these games and several other fascinating titles that have caught our attention. For more details, you can check out what the rest of the 2023 gaming calendar has in store for all platforms, or for more dedicated breakdowns, you can check out the most-anticipated games for PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch in the months to come.

After a few years of early access fine-tuning, Larian Studios is ready to release Baldur's Gate 3 in its complete form later this year. Return to the Forgotten Realms in a tale of fellowship and betrayal, unlock your inner mystical abilities, and choose your own path in this RPG from the creators of Divinity: Original Sin 2, as you loot, battle, and romance your way through the Forgotten Realms of Dungeons and Dragons.

Video games based on popular horror movies have been flourishing in the asymmetric multiplayer genre over the last couple of years, and in August, it's time for Leatherface and his family to rev up their engines and make a red splash on the scene. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre puts its own gory twist on the genre with 4v3 matches between killers and survivors, and as the latest entry in the library of that gritty slasher film, it's also going to extreme lengths to be an authentic representation of the franchise.

In a future world where self-styled graffiti crews equipped with personal boostpacks are battling each other for control of the streets, it's up to you to stake your claim to the pristine walls of the sprawling metropolis of New Amsterdam. Tagging fresh concrete canvases is easier said than done in this spiritual successor to Jet Set Radio, as with the cops in hot pursuit and rival crews scattered across the five main boroughs, you'll need to pull off some serious skateboarding, inline skating, and BMX tricks to stay a step ahead of the competition.

Famed developer From Software is taking a break from its usual dark fantasy gamess, as the studio's next game is a return to its sci-fi mech series Armored Core. The first new Armored Core game in many years, Armored Core 6: Fire of Rubicon revives the omni-directional battles and deep levels of mech customization from previous games, allowing players to define their approach when dealing with rival factions and powerful enemy bosses.

A turn-based RPG inspired by the classics of a bygone era, Sea of Stars tells the story of two Children of the Solstice who will one day combine the powers of the sun and moon to perform Eclipse Magic and defeat the monstrous creations of the evil alchemist known as The Fleshmancer. Sea of Stars is aiming to add a contemporary touch to classic RPG gameplay, evolving the genre's turn-based combat, storytelling, and exploration features for a modern audience. But not at the expense of veteran RPG fans, as this game still wants to offer a nostalgic slice of old-fashioned fun.

Bethesda's first new IP in decades, Starfield looks like a grand exploration of the cosmos. Amidst feuding factions, alien artifacts, and planets on the very edge of the galactic frontier, you'll be making your mark as you discover exotic locales and meet fascinating new faces along the way. With more than 1,000 planets to explore, Starfield is Bethesda aiming for the stars in a universe just waiting to be explored.

MORTAL KOMBAT! NetherRealm's bloody brawler is back for another round of ultra-violence and gruesome finishers, and this time, the game is taking place in a timeline that has largely been reset. While some elements remain a constant--like Shang Tsung clearly being up to no good--other characters have been completely reimagined in the new status quo. So far, the action looks like a familiar blast of fun, but new elements like the Kameo Fighters system shake up the formula with lethal opportunities to dish out some punishing offense.

Who says that crime doesn't pay? In Payday 3, the right plan, crew, and a perfectly executed bank heist can help lead you to an early retirement, provided that you can deal with a few surprises along the way. This sequel sticks to the cooperative FPS playbook of previous games, as the Payday gang reunites to take care of a new threat and strike it rich in New York City.

Cyberpunk 2077 is only getting a single expansion before CD Projekt Red calls it a day on the game--and focuses more resources on its sequel--but it's going out with a bang. Billed as an espionage-thriller, Phantom Liberty opens up Night City with a brand-new district to explore, the return of rebel without a cause Johnny Silverhand, and a new face in the form of Solomon Reed, an FIA agent brought to life by Idris Elba. More than just a slice of new narrative content, Phantom Liberty also revamps Cyberpunk 2077 entirely and leaves no part of the game untouched as its digital DNA is rewritten.

After years of what felt like exponential growth, Assassin's Creed Mirage could be a breath of last-gen air for anyone looking to go back to a simpler time in the series. A smaller sandbox, back-to-basics gameplay that emphasizes stealth over the all-out of recent games, and plenty of classic gadgets make for an old-school entry in the long-running series. With the crafty Basim from Assassin's Creed Valhalla also in the spotlight for this chapter, Mirage is shaping up to be a spin-off that feels comfortably familiar.

After years of waiting, Alan Wake is back for another battle against the forces of darkness. While the original game was a spooky descent into darkness, Remedy Entertainment is dialing up the horror for this sequel and weaving in some good old-fashioned detective work, updated action, and a second playable character in the form of Saga Anderson. There are two protagonists, seemingly unconnected, drawn together by a tale of ritualistic murders, nightmares, and separate realities. Trapped in a sinister horror story, Anderson and Wake will need to step up and become heroes if they want to avoid a dark fate.

Building a city from the ground up, block by block, is an underrated joy. In Cities: Skylines 2, you'll be able to experience that municipal thrill on a deep level, as you push your creativity for zoning and you flex your problem-solving skills to build on a gigantic scale. Every aspect of your city will need to be handled, from creating roads to establishing vital infrastructure, and with every decision having ramifications later down the line, you'll need to plan strategically as you juggle economic needs, city budgets, and the needs of your populace in a living world.

Sure, the first impression here is that Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora looks like a Far Cry game with an alien twist, but Ubisoft is remaining faithful to the source material in this open-world adventure, which takes place alongside the Avatar films. Set in the Western Frontier of Pandora, Ubisoft's Avatar game puts you in the metaphorical boots of a Na'vi who was abducted by Earth's RDA and trained to serve the group. After a 15-year power-nap, you're awake and ready to reconnect with your heritage and discover what it truly means to be Na'vi as you fight to reclaim Pandora.

The Chornobyl Exclusion Zone has seen better days, but after a second massive explosion in-game in 2006, this irradiated area is now home to violent mutants and lethal anomalies. If these radioactive monsters weren't bad enough, warring factions looking to make their fortune by plundering the zone of artifacts of unbelievable value add another layer of danger in this Stalker sequel that takes place in a massive sandbox that you can explore at your own leisure.

Rocksteady helped create one of the all-time great superhero franchises with Batman: Arkham Asylum and its sequels, and now it's returning to the world with a take on the antihero troupe Suicide Squad with Kill the Justice League. We haven't seen much from the game aside from a teaser, but we know that it centers around the four title characters--Captain Boomerang, Deadshot, Harley Quinn, and King Shark--taking on brainwashed superheroes like Superman and The Flash. It's set in the same universe as the Arkham games but takes place in Metropolis instead, so we'll get a very different view of the world Rocksteady created.

One of the games that developer Obsidian Entertainment has up its sleeve is Avowed, and it's intriguing considering the studio's track record (Fallout: New Vegas, The Outer Worlds). Avowed looks to be the first big RPG from Obsidian under the Xbox Game Studios umbrella, but all we know so far comes from the short teaser trailer shown off during the Xbox showcase from July 2020, which revealed it as a new first-person fantasy RPG set in the Pillars of Eternity universe.

All we know about The Elder Scrolls VI is that it's real and it's being worked on. We got a short teaser trailer with a title, and that's it. Here we are patiently waiting. Maybe we'll get another Skyrim remaster for new-gen consoles and PC in the meantime.

Everwild is a brand-new IP from Rare, and looks to be an adventurous game set in an expansive outdoors with a stunning art style. While we don't know exactly what to expect from Everwild, it seems like a marriage between the natural and supernatural world with interactions revolving around wildlife and your party of four, which is teased in its reveal trailer.

Gearbox's revival of the Homeworld franchise is markedly more connected to fan feedback than most. As a crowdfunded campaign, the studio invited surveys from investors on what elements or aspects of the original Homeworld games were most important to them. The project has brought on some key personnel from the original development studio, and studio Blackbird Interactive cut its teeth on the Homeworld Remastered Collection. After several delays, Gearbox is now targeting a 2024 release for the game.

We're still not exactly certain what we'll be doing in Fable when Playground Games eventually releases it, but thanks to June 2023's Xbox Showcase, we do know that we'll have at least one battle sequence against a giant who looks and sounds a lot like travel show host and occasional actor Richard Ayoade. Fable will be the first mainline entry in the series since 2010's Fable 3, which was followed up by the Kinect-focused Fable: The Journey spin-off, a card game, and almost Fable: Legends before that project was canceled.

That's right; a new Mass Effect is coming. Announced at The Game Awards 2020, the upcoming entry in the fan-favorite series still seems to be early in development, with Bioware at the helm. With only a teaser to go by, very little is known about the game. Many speculate that it may more directly tie into the original trilogy than continue from where Mass Effect: Andromeda left off. No release date has been confirmed, but if it's anything like the Dragon Age game in development, then it's likely still a while out.

After development at Ubisoft Pune and Ubisoft Mumbai on the Sands of Time remake was moved to Ubisoft Montreal, it looks like it'll still be a long time before the Prince makes his return. Ubisoft Montreal's take on the classic game is still in the very early stages of development as the studio looks to put a modern spin on Sands Of Time's signature mix of acrobatics, combat, and puzzles. On the plus side, fans can look forward to Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, a return to the 2D roots of the franchise.

Only a handful of videos for Senua's Saga Hellblade 2 have been released over the years that the game has been in development, but each new slice of content has been an impressive look at what developer Ninja Theory has been working on. So far, the game looks like a tech showcase for Xbox and PC gamers, as realistic facial expressions, impressive textures, and enhanced lighting are all being used to craft the next chapter in Senua's dark saga.

Development on The Wolf Among Us 2 has been delayed--for the right anti-crunch reasons--as Telltale Games continues to craft the new ongoing story of Bigby Wolf and the rest of the Fabletown gang. First revealed at The Game Awards in 2019, The Wolf Among Us is based on the hit comic book series Fables and stars Adam Harrington as Bigby Wolf. This game will be released episodically, but Telltale says it is still determining how it will release the episodes.

Survival-crafting under the gas light of a lantern, Nightingale is set in the mystical Fae Realms and features an elegant Victorian-era art direction. As an intrepid Realmwalker, you'll be able to explore, craft, build and fight across a a fantasy world. By navigating a web of trans-dimensional portals and growing gradually more powerful, the ultimate goal here is to reach the magical city of Nightingale, the last known bastion of humanity.

Sure, a video game adaptation of B-movie delight Killer Klowns from Outer Space probably wasn't on your bingo card when this game was first announced, but developer Teravision Games is going all-in on this goofy cinematic property. Like other games based on horror movies, Killer Klowns from Outer Space is an asymmetrical multiplayer experience in which you can play as either a homicidal clown or a human survivor looking to outwit the lethal jesters. The game has a unique approach to hide-and-seek gameplay and a few other interesting ideas for the online horror formula.

Lots of games can be described as ass-kicking adventures, but Anger Foot takes that concept and puts a literal stamp on it with a lightning-fast boot to the butt of anyone that gets in your way. While you'll be able to kick down doors, mobsters, and sewer scum in a game that resembles a first-person Hotline Miami, it's the lightning-fast hard bass-blast soundtrack that'll be guiding your bullets and boot as you leave a trail of shattered gangsters and broken bones in your destructive wake.

A narrative-driven RPG set in the most hostile frontier known to humanity--Australia--Broken Roads combines exploration and strategic turn-based combat with deep philosophical choices in a post-apocalyptic setting. The game features a classless system that offers "nearly unlimited character development options," according to developer Drop Bear Bytes, and with a novel morality system in the form of the Moral Compass, you can expect every choice to have meaningful consequences as you navigate through a harsh wilderness.

Usually, a Metal Slug game revolves around unleashing an absurd amount of ammo at anything that isn't you, but this return of the fan-favorite series is taking a more strategic approach to the regular run-and-gun action. A dynamic tactical RPG with roguelike elements, Metal Slug Tactics adopts a new perspective as you build up your adrenaline bar, unlock super attacks, and use them to level the battlefield. Spend your war experience after each battle, unlock weapons, grab bonus perks to upgrade your team's firepower, and prepare for an endless war in this spin-off.

SteamWorld games have been some of the best fun that you can have on PC, and in this new entry, you'll need to focus on escaping a dying planet by building a mining town to dig up vital, long-lost technology. Of course, some creatures lurking in the depths below will throw a spanner into your gears, but careful planning will keep them out of your mechanical hair. Build your own unique SteamWorld mining town, optimize increasingly complex resource chains, and experience another side to this series as you break new ground.

Not even apocalyptic global cooling can freeze humanity's burning passion, and as the age of steam and coal ends in Frostpunk 2, the age of oil kicks off in this societal survival game. The eternal winter continues in this sequel, in which civilization looks to the oil-extraction industry for salvation, and once again, you'll be forced to make some hard decisions as you deal with opposing societal factions and opinions in your quest to tame the frost.

A galactic strategy experience in which you lead one of the four major factions of the Alpha Quadrant, Star Trek: Infinite allows you to take the route of diplomacy, espionage, warfare, or a mix of all of these elements in your efforts to control the galaxy. As either the United Federation of Planets, Klingon Empire, Romulan Star Empire, or Cardassian Union, you'll be able to command fleets in gameplay that has been built upon the core systems of Stellaris, recruit iconic captains and officers to your side, and engage in cosmic warfare.

Mankind faces extinction as the endless Tyranid hordes devours entire planets and leaves ruined star systems in its wake. Are you ready to suit up in holy power armor and carve your way to victory with a chainsaw sword in your hand? If the answer is yes, then congratulations, as you've chosen a great time to defend the Emperor and the Imperium. Once again, you'll be able to embody the superhuman skill and brutality of a Space Marine as you wield deadly abilities and an arsenal of devastating weaponry in the face of galactic horrors.

The original Helldivers was a brilliant twin-stick shooter, but for the sequel, developer Arrowhead Games is shifting to a third-person-shooter viewpoint. In this sci-fi adventure, you'll be the boots on the ground that spreads the message of freedom, peace, and managed democracy to deadly alien civilizations who don't want to know more. You'll be able to team up with friends to wreak havoc on the alien scourge that threatens Super Earth in the fight for freedom that's definitely legally distinct enough from Starship Troopers.

A rocky development cycle and several delays later, and Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 still remains shrouded in mystery. What is known is that a new look at the game will be revealed in September, but for now, everything else remains unclear. Development has continued on Bloodlines 2 after it was almost canceled, but it's unknown which studio is working on the sequel to Troika Games' cult-classic pain in the neck.