After a stellar few years of growth and development, the gaming industry isn’t disappointing when it comes to new releases so far in 2023. The year is already shaping up to be an excellent one, and an array of fresh gaming experiences are just around the corner. With the promise of exhilarating new IP and long-awaited sequels, there’s a whole host of brand new games to choose from, whether you prefer playing on a PC, a cutting-edge console like the PS5 or are committed to older-gen systems.
With so many games already in the market and set for releasing the coming weeks, it can be tricky to know what to focus on. That’s why we’ve put together this list of essential games for summer 2023.Â
Firstly, however, let’s preface this list by stating that you don’t have to go out and download the latest gaming releases in order to access a world of entertainment and riveting gaming content. It’s simply impossible to keep up with all the games that have been released in recent months, while there are still nue,rous titles from years past that are more than enough to get a gaming fix.Â
The Games Already on The Shelves
Harry Potter Hogwarts Legacy
The bestselling game of 2023 to date, selling over 12 million copies and pulling in sales of over $4.6 billion since its launch in February, Hogwarts Legacy is the definitive open-world RPG of the year. Although set in the universe of Harry Potter, it does; ‘t feature the globally popular boy wizard. Instead, Hogwarts Legacy places you, the gamer, at the heart of the action.
This is a game that will keep you captivated over the summer months as you immerse yourself in Hogwarts Academy and discover all there is to know about mastering magic.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of The Kingdom
Although this title is currently a Nintendo Switch exclusive, it’s still a must-have game for the summer. With a release date of mid-May 2023, the game is still brand new at the time of writing, but it’s already garnering significant praise from gaming communities and the industry alike. A fine instalment in this iconic gaming series, Tears of The Kingdom sees Link returning to the kingdom of Hyrule to quite possibly take on his most deadly adventure yet.
PokerStars Casino
This real money gaming platform is well-established in the iGaming world — as we’d expect coming from such a renowned operator. While it may not be as fresh on the market as some of the other titles featured here, PokerStars Casino is still very much an essential part of summer gaming.
For instance, the platform is jam-packed with exciting digital versions of traditional casino games like blackjack, including Classic, High Roller and Premium variants. Plus, for anyone new to casino gaming, it features plenty of learning resources and how-to guides that cover everything you need to know.
New Games to Look Out For
Street Fighter 6
Beat ’em ups always make for excellent summer games, with longer evenings providing plenty of opportunities for extended PvP sessions with your crew. And, when it comes to classic fighting games, nothing can top the Street Fighter franchise. The good news for fans of the genre is that Street Fighter 6 will be unleashed in June 2023.
As well as the old-school action we know and love in Fighting Ground, the 6th instalment in the series introduces a brand new campaign mode — World Tour — as well as multiplayer action in the Battle Hub.
Final Fantasy 16
It’s officially been announced that Final Fantasy 16 will indeed be dropping during summer 2023, with a scheduled release date of June 22nd. Set in the Mothercrystal-studded world of Valisthea, the game tracks the adventures of Clive Rosfield as he learns to harness his magickal gifts to overcome the dark destiny awaiting him.
Counter-Strike 2
eSports fans will no doubt rejoice at the news that the follow-up to Valve’s phenomenally popular first-person shooter will be landing in summer 2023. Counter-Strike 2 promises to introduce a host of exciting new elements, as well as improved visuals and UI enhancements in existing maps. What’s more, the game will even be available as a free upgrade for CS:GO.
