2023 Game Directory: E – Everyone
Baby Shark: Sing and Swim Party
PUBLISHER: Outright Games
GENRE: Party, Rhythm
RELEASE: 09.15.2023
SYSTEMS: Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, PS4
MULTIPLAYER: Local
ABOUT THE GAME Baby Shark: Sing & Swim Party is a cooperative rhythm-focused game based on the popular adventures of Baby Shark. As the Shark family heads off on a vacation to the Fin-Tastic Festival, up to four players can team up to take on a wide variety of skill- and rhythm-based challenges. 30 songs are featured, including the blockbuster hit “Baby Shark,” with the game especially focused on helping develop better psychomotor skills in players ages 3 to 6. The members of the Shark Family are also customizable using unlockable costumes and skins.
ESRB CONTENT DESCRIPTORS No Descriptors
Detective Pikachu Returns
PUBLISHER: Nintendo
GENRE: Adventure
RELEASE: 10.06.2023
SYSTEMS: Switch
MULTIPLAYER: None
ABOUT THE GAME A sequel to the 2018 Nintendo 3DS game Detective Pikachu (which inspired a Hollywood movie of the same name), this follow-up once again pairs up a talking, crime-solving Pikachu with his human partner, Tim Goodman, in Ryme City, where people and Pokémon coexist. Rather than catching and battling ’mons like the main series, you’re instead exploring, searching for clues, and talking to witnesses to get to the bottom of mysteries. The central case this time is a biggie, too: the disappearance of Tim’s father and the origins of Detective Pikachu himself.
ESRB CONTENT DESCRIPTORS Mild Fantasy Violence
Disney Dreamlight Valley: Cozy Edition
PUBLISHER Nighthawk Interactive
GENRE Adventure, Simulation
RELEASE 10.27.2023
SYSTEMS: Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, PS4
MULTIPLAYER: None
ABOUT THE GAME In this mix of life sim and adventure game, you travel to Dreamlight Valley, a once peaceful land where Disney and Pixar characters live in harmony. At least, they did, until that peace was upended by an evil called The Forgotten. Go on quests, explore the world, and interact with a wide variety of beloved characters to bring magic back to the world again. In the Cozy Edition, you’ll receive additional customization items, an exclusive poster and sticker sheet, and 14,500 bonus Moonstones to use for in-game items or to help speed up your progression along the Star Path.
ESRB CONTENT DESCRIPTORS No Descriptors
Disney Illusion Island
PUBLISHER: Disney Electronic Content
GENRE: Platformer
RELEASE: 07.28.2023
SYSTEMS: Switch
MULTIPLAYER: Local
ABOUT THE GAME This 2D platformer finds Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy on an adventure on the whimsical island of Monoth, where they’ve been summoned to help recover three magical tomes and save the day. Unlike many classic platformers, there aren’t separate levels, with all the action set in one interconnected world. Plus, there’s no combat, so it’s all about using your abilities to avoid hazards and move forward. With support for up to four players, local co-op plays a large focus, as do options making the game accessible—like a setting for infinite health.
ESRB CONTENT DESCRIPTORS Mild Fantasy Violence
EA Sports FC 24
PUBLISHER: EA Sports
GENRE: Sports
RELEASE: 09.29.2023
SYSTEMS: Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, PS4
MULTIPLAYER: Local, Online
ABOUT THE GAME For decades, EA produced the world’s most popular soccer game, the FIFA series, in collaboration with the sport’s official governing body. This year, however, the publisher has decided to go it alone, cutting licensing deals with individual teams and leagues rather than the association as a whole. Practically speaking, not too much has changed—players can still take to the pitch as some of the biggest clubs in the world and enjoy a variety of modes, including the popular Ultimate Team, club management and player careers, and online and offline multiplayer.
ESRB CONTENT DESCRIPTORS No Descriptors
EA Sports PGA Tour
PUBLISHER: EA Sports
GENRE: Sports
RELEASE: 04.07.2023
SYSTEMS: Xbox Series X/S, PS5
MULTIPLAYER: Local, Online
ABOUT THE GAME After almost a decade away, EA Sports PGA Tour is finally back with a new golf sim. An exclusivity deal means the game is the only way to play all four of the PGA Tour’s majors—the Masters Tournament, the PGA Championship, U.S. Open Championship, and The Open Championship—with 30 different courses from around the world recreated in virtual form. You can create your own golfer or pick from a roster of playable PGA pros including Tony Finau, Scottie Scheffler, and Jordan Spieth, as well as LPGA players like Lexi Thompson and Nelly Korda.
ESRB CONTENT DESCRIPTORS No Descriptors
Everybody 1-2-Switch!
PUBLISHER: Nintendo
GENRE: Party
RELEASE: 06.30.2023
SYSTEMS: Switch
MULTIPLAYER: Local
ABOUT THE GAME 1-2-Switch was, without question, the weirdest Nintendo Switch launch game, with a variety of quirky minigames designed to take advantage of the Joy-Con controller’s motion tracking capabilities in novel ways. This sequel ups the ante with even more minigames, this time inspired by material as varied as jumping rope, samurai sword fighting, and musical chairs. If you want to get really crazy, some of the minigames allow up to 100 people to play simultaneously on a single system by connecting up their smartphones—but you may need a bigger living room for that.
ESRB CONTENT DESCRIPTORS Alcohol Reference, Mild Violence
F1 23
PUBLISHER: EA Sports
GENRE: Racing
RELEASE: 06.16.2023
SYSTEMS: Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Xbox One, PS4
MULTIPLAYER: Local, Online
ABOUT THE GAME The latest entry in the long-running series of official Formula One video games does pretty much everything you would expect. All the official courses, drivers, and teams from this F1 season have been recreated for the game, allowing you to live out your own fantasy of chasing glory at 220 miles per hour. Major additions and changes for this year include overhauled driving physics, a revamped UI designed to better match F1 broadcasts, and the next chapter of a story-driven campaign called “Braking Point,” which mixes racing rivalries with off-track drama.
ESRB CONTENT DESCRIPTORS Mild Language
F1 Manager 2023
PUBLISHER: Frontier Developments
GENRE: Simulation
RELEASE: 07.31.2023
SYSTEMS: Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Xbox One, PS4
MULTIPLAYER: None
ABOUT THE GAME If you’re a big fan of racing, but not as much of a fan of actually getting behind the virtual wheel, F1 Manager 2023 might be the game you’re looking for. Rather than focusing on the experience of driving a Formula One car, this series lets you become the driving force behind an entire Formula One team. Your decisions on which drivers to hire, the design of your team’s car, and your strategy for individual races will determine whether you climb to the top of the rankings or fall to the bottom of the pack and miss out on the points.
ESRB CONTENT DESCRIPTORS No Descriptors
Fashion Dreamer
PUBLISHER: XSEED Games
GENRE: Simulation
RELEASE: 11.03.2023
SYSTEMS: Switch
MULTIPLAYER: Online
ABOUT THE GAME In the spirit of Nintendo’s Style Savvy series, Fashion Dreamer lets you create your own virtual self known as a Muse, then head off into an amazing world of fun and fashion. Collect over 1,000 patterns and 1,400 customizable items in order to put together the perfect ensemble that is sure to help set new fashion trends. Check out (and borrow) the outfits of both in-game characters and other real players, participate in photo shoots, and build your personal brand, all as you attempt to become the world’s top influencer.
ESRB CONTENT DESCRIPTORS No Descriptors
Forza Motorsport
PUBLISHER: Xbox Game Studios
GENRE: Racing
RELEASE: 10.10.2023
SYSTEMS: Xbox Series X/S
MULTIPLAYER: Online
ABOUT THE GAME Despite the rebooted title, Forza Motorsport is actually the eighth entry in the hardcore racing sim series, but it’s the first to be available exclusively on the Xbox Series X/S. The game makes use of that extra horsepower to deliver what its developers call “the most technically advanced racing game ever made.” The visuals are stunning thanks to real-time ray tracing and physically based lighting, and the racing physics are so sophisticated they even account for minute details like changes in the temperature of the track over the course of a race.
ESRB CONTENT DESCRIPTORS No Descriptors
Hot Wheels Unleashed 2 – Turbocharged
PUBLISHER: Milestone S.r.l.
GENRE: Racing
RELEASE: 10.19.2023
SYSTEMS: Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, PS4
MULTIPLAYER: Local, Online
ABOUT THE GAME As you might expect from a game based on Mattel’s iconic toy car line, the Hot Wheels Unleashed games take a lighthearted approach to racing, light on realism but big on fun. This sequel ups the ante with new modes, features, and even more cars to collect. As you race tiny vehicles—now expanded to include motorcycles and ATVs—in memorable, giant-to-you settings like an arcade, backyard, and mini golf course, you’ll be able to make use of over-the-top moves like Double Jumps and side-swiping Lateral Dashes alongside the returning Drift and Boost abilities.
ESRB CONTENT DESCRIPTORS No Descriptors
Just Dance 2024
PUBLISHER: Ubisoft
GENRE: Rhythm
RELEASE: 10.24.2023
SYSTEMS: Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Switch
MULTIPLAYER: Local, Online
ABOUT THE GAME Ubisoft’s long-running dance series keeps on jiving with Just Dance 2024. Players earn points by matching the moves of the dancers on screen, with their motions tracked either by the controller (Nintendo Switch only) or a smartphone app. The trippy, neon soaked music videos encourage you to shake your groove thing to recent hits from BTS, Sam Smith, and Blackpink, classics from Whitney Houston, Destiny’s Child, and Britney Spears, and a whole lot more. In total, this year’s game includes 40 new tracks, with an optional online subscription adding over 200 more.
ESRB CONTENT DESCRIPTORS Mild Lyrics
Madden NFL 24
PUBLISHER: EA Sports
GENRE: Sports
RELEASE: 08.18.2023
SYSTEMS: Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Xbox One, PS4
MULTIPLAYER: Local
ABOUT THE GAME Madden NFL 24 is the latest football sim from EA. As always, this year’s version updates the rosters and ratings for every team and player in the league, alongside some improvements and tweaks to gameplay. Defense is a major focus this year, with improved blocking AI and more than 1,700 new or adjusted animations for the hitting and tackling system. Be warned, however, that many of the new upgrades and even some game modes are only available on the current generation of consoles, so the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions will play a bit differently.
ESRB CONTENT DESCRIPTORS Mild Lyrics
MLB The Show 23
PUBLISHER: Sony Interactive Entertainment
GENRE: Sports
RELEASE: 03.28.2023
SYSTEMS: Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, PS4
MULTIPLAYER: Local, Online
ABOUT THE GAME This year, Sony’s flagship baseball series shines a light on an oft-overlooked corner of the sport’s history with a new mode called Storylines, which centers on the Negro Leagues. The experience highlights big moments in the careers of eight players, including Jackie Robinson, Buck O’Neil, and Satchel Paige. Of course, Sony has also polished the on-field gameplay, expanded the fantasy-inspired Diamond Dynasty mode, and implemented this season’s real-world MLB rule changes to keep the experience authentic.
ESRB CONTENT DESCRIPTORS No Descriptors
Monster Energy Supercross – The Official Videogame 6
PUBLISHER: Milestone S.r.l.
GENRE: Racing
RELEASE: 03.08.2023
SYSTEMS: Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Xbox One, PS4
MULTIPLAYER: Local, Online
ABOUT THE GAME Monster Energy Supercross – The Official Videogame 6 offers up the riders and bikes from the Monster Energy Supercross 2022 season across eight different modes. In addition to all of the racings thrills from prior games, new this year is the Supercross Park, a massive free-roam area that’s the perfect place to relax alone or with friends. Along with added local split screen, online play now works together across all consoles. And, for those who could still learn a thing or two, racing legend Jeremy McGrath will help mentor you along your journey.
ESRB CONTENT DESCRIPTORS No Descriptors
Moving Out 2
PUBLISHER: Team17
GENRE: Party, Puzzle
RELEASE: 08.15.2023
SYSTEMS: Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, PS4
MULTIPLAYER: Local, Online
ABOUT THE GAME This lighthearted game casts players as a Furniture Arrangement & Relocation Technician for the Smooth Moves moving company. The goal is to pack up the contents of a location—be it a house, castle, laboratory, or fantastical emporium made of edible treats—and move them to the target area in as little time as possible. To succeed, players will need to think strategically and contend with the wobbly, silly in-game physics. While the game does support solo play, much of the appeal comes from playing cooperatively as a team of movers either locally or online.
ESRB CONTENT DESCRIPTORS Crude Humor
NBA 2K24
PUBLISHER: 2K
GENRE: Sports
RELEASE: 09.08.2023
SYSTEMS: Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, PS4
MULTIPLAYER: Local, Online
ABOUT THE GAME 2K’s premier basketball simulation is back. Like many cross-gen sports games, the biggest upgrades are exclusive to the newest consoles, but players on Xbox Series X/S and PS5 will be able to enjoy more realistic animations thanks to ProPLAY technology, which uses footage from actual NBA games to more authentically capture players’ signature moves. Another big focus this year is the legacy of the late Lakers legend Kobe Bryant. The Mamba Moments mode, available on all platforms, lets players recreate some of the most memorable moments and performances of Kobe’s career.
ESRB CONTENT DESCRIPTORS No Descriptors
Park Beyond
PUBLISHER: Bandai Namco
GENRE: Simulation
RELEASE: 06.16.2023
SYSTEMS: Xbox Series X/S, PS5
MULTIPLAYER: None
ABOUT THE GAME A theme park builder in the tradition of RollerCoaster Tycoon, Park Beyond includes the standard gameplay you expect from the genre. Players can build rides (including roller coasters that you can design custom tracks for), concession stands, and other less thrilling amenities. Business concerns matter too, as players will need to make sure they’re attracting visitors and earning enough to keep the lights on. The big twist, however, is that you can also research “impossification,” a specialty that lets you build attractions that bend the laws of physics—and even defy gravity.
ESRB CONTENT DESCRIPTORS Crude Humor, Mild Language
Paw Patrol World
PUBLISHER: Outright Games
GENRE: Adventure
RELEASE: 09.29.2023
SYSTEMS: Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, PS4
MULTIPLAYER: Local
ABOUT THE GAME Paw Patrol World sees the pups of the Paw Patrol taking on a whole new open-world adventure. As Mayor Humdinger plans to disrupt the Paw Patrol Day Festival, Ryder and his team must complete a variety of missions to ensure things go off without a hitch. You can control each member of the Paw Patrol, with every pup having their own unique abilities and usable vehicles. Track down a wide variety of collectibles hidden throughout Adventure Bay, and unlock special Flashback Missions that recreate situations from the TV series.
ESRB CONTENT DESCRIPTORS No Descriptors
Samba de Amigo: Party Central
PUBLISHER: Sega
GENRE: Rhythm
RELEASE: 08.29.2023
SYSTEMS: Switch
MULTIPLAYER: Local, Online
ABOUT THE GAME Sega’s classic rhythm game series returns on the Nintendo Switch in Samba de Amigo: Party Central. Now, instead of complicated specialty peripherals, all of the maraca-shaking fun is enjoyable using a pair of Joy-Con controllers. Play solo, battle it out with friends locally, or compete online as you hit notes in time to the rhythm. Groove to 40 hit songs from artists such as Pitbull, The Jonas Brothers, Carly Rae Jepsen, and Ariana Grande, or snag DLC packs to add additional music such as beloved Sega tunes, Japanese and Korean pop, and more.
ESRB CONTENT DESCRIPTORS Mild Lyrics
Sonic Origins Plus
PUBLISHER: Sega
GENRE: Action, Platformer
RELEASE: 06.23.2023
SYSTEMS: Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, PS4
MULTIPLAYER: Local
ABOUT THE GAME Serving as an upgrade to the original 2022 release, Sonic Origins Plus once again refreshes four classic Sonic games with modern features and remastered visuals. New to Plus is the ability to play as Knuckles in Sonic CD, as well as, for the first time ever, the inclusion of Amy Rose as a playable character in all four games. Also included are a slew of new unlockables, along with all 12 Sonic games released for the Game Gear, including a few that have never previously seen release in the United States.
ESRB CONTENT DESCRIPTORS Mild Fantasy Violence
Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life
PUBLISHER: XSEED Games
GENRE: Simulation
RELEASE: 06.27.2023
SYSTEMS: Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Switch
MULTIPLAYER: None
ABOUT THE GAME A remake of the classic GameCube and PlayStation 2 farming RPG, Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life whisks you away to the quiet life of Forgotten Valley. There, you’ll need to learn how to raise crops, tend to your livestock, and make money off of your hard work to bring your farm back to its former glory. New to this remake are a much larger array of storyline events, a wider variety of crops and animals, and much expanded options for finding that perfect person to start a family with.
ESRB CONTENT DESCRIPTORS No Descriptors
Super Mario Bros. Wonder
PUBLISHER: Nintendo
GENRE: Platformer
RELEASE: 10.20.2023
SYSTEMS: Switch
MULTIPLAYER: Local, Online
ABOUT THE GAME Mario once again returns to his 2D roots with a new side-scrolling platformer. Players control either the portly plumber or one of his friends—Luigi, Peach, Daisy, Toad, Toadette, Yoshi, or Nabbit—on an adventure in the Flower Kingdom, where magical Wonder Flowers can dramatically alter reality. These “Wonder Effects” can do everything from transporting your character into space to transforming them into a Goomba enemy. The game also introduces a handful of new power ups to collect and use, including one that transforms Mario and his pals into elephants.
ESRB CONTENT DESCRIPTORS Mild Fantasy Violence
Super Mario RPG
PUBLISHER: Nintendo
GENRE: Adventure, RPG
RELEASE: 11.17.2023
SYSTEMS: Switch
MULTIPLAYER: None
ABOUT THE GAME First released for the SNES way back in 1996, Super Mario RPG remixes Nintendo’s iconic plumber and his extended cast of friends and foes into a turn-based RPG in the vein of Final Fantasy. (In fact, that series’ developer made the original.) In addition to a major graphical overhaul, this Switch remake introduces new mechanics, like team-up attacks, the ability to damage all enemies on the field by perfectly timing your attacks, an easier difficulty setting, and the chance to fight more challenging versions of bosses after you’ve completed the game.
ESRB CONTENT DESCRIPTORS Mild Fantasy Violence
Super Mega Baseball 4
PUBLISHER: EA Sports
GENRE: Sports
RELEASE: 06.02.2023
SYSTEMS: Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, PS4
MULTIPLAYER: Local, Online
ABOUT THE GAME The Super Mega Baseball series offers a lighthearted take on America’s pastime, with cartoonish players sporting oversized heads and a roster of fictional teams and players with silly names like Hog Porker and Bugsy Snugs. For the fourth entry, however, developer Metalhead Software has brought in some real-life baseball history in the form of nearly 250 retired players, including Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, David Ortiz, and Vladimir Guerrero. In addition, more player traits and a team chemistry feature offer more depth to players who like to customize their own rosters.
ESRB CONTENT DESCRIPTORS Alcohol Reference, Comic Mischief, Mild Violence
TT Isle of Man: Ride on The Edge 3
PUBLISHER: Nacon
GENRE: Racing
RELEASE: 05.11.2023
SYSTEMS: Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, PS4
MULTIPLAYER: Online
ABOUT THE GAME Based on the most dangerous annual motorcycle race in the world, TT Isle of Man: Ride on the Edge 3 lets you speed through all 37 miles and more than 200 turns of the deadly course from the safety of your couch. With officially licensed teams and drivers, 32 circuits, and two different bike classes—Superbike and Supersport—the game aims to recreate the thrill of the actual race while remaining approachable to racing newcomers. The biggest addition in this version is a full open-world Isle of Man map that you can explore between events.
ESRB CONTENT DESCRIPTORS No Descriptors
UFO Robot Grendizer: The Feast of the Wolves
PUBLISHER: Microids
GENRE: Action
RELEASE: 11.14.2023
SYSTEMS: Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Xbox One, PS4
MULTIPLAYER: None
ABOUT THE GAME Based on one of the early anime franchises to see success outside of Japan, UFO Robot Grendizer: The Feast of the Wolves lets you relive (or live for the first time) the events of the TV series’ first story arc. Play as main character Duke Fleet as you take control of the mighty robot Grendizer to save the Earth from a wide array of enemies—including, of course, a host of evil giant robots. The game promises not only to recreate the intense action of the 1970s anime, but also its character drama as well.
ESRB CONTENT DESCRIPTORS Fantasy Violence
