• Minecraft Legends
• Diune: Spice Wars
• Age of Wonders 4
• War Hospital
• Men of War II
• Homeworld 3
• Stargate: Timekeepers
• Metal Slug Tactics
• Terminator: Dark Fate – Defiance

Minecraft Legends

• Release date: 18 April 2023 (Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5)
• Developer: Blackbird Interactive/Mojang Studios
• Publisher: Xbox Game Studios/Microsoft Studios

Minecraft Legends is an innovative game that combines elements of strategy and action in the popular Minecraft universe. Players embark on an extraordinary adventure to defend the land of Overworld from the deadly threat of the Piglins, invaders from the Nether who seek to bring chaos and destruction.

Throughout the game, players will be able to take on the roles of different characters, exploring the vast and varied world of Overworld, gathering resources and building fortifications from a third-person perspective (TPP). A key aspect of the game, however, is making friends, forming strategic alliances, recruiting powerful armies and participating in dynamic and spectacular battles.

Minecraft Legends is built around three main gameplay modes. The first is an expansive story campaign that immerses players in a compelling storyline and allows them to explore the mysteries of the world. The second mode is co-op, where players can team up with friends to overcome adversity together. The final mode is multiplayer, where players can go head-to-head and compete in strategy and combat.

Diune: Spice Wars

• Release date: Early Access – 26 April 2022, full launch expected in 2023 (PC)
• Developer: Shiro Games
• Publisher: Funcom

Dune: Spice Wars is an advanced real-time strategy game with distinct 4X elements, set in the iconic universe of Frank Herbert’s science fiction novel ‘Dune’. The game takes place on the distant planet of Arrakis, which is rich in the precious resource Spice, which allows interstellar travel and prolongs life.

Players lead one of the factions, taking on the role of Duke Leto Atreides, Baron Vladimir Harkonnen or other well-known characters, in an attempt to take control of the planet and its precious spice deposits. Gameplay focuses on exploration, mining the spice, upgrading headquarters, improving technology and recruiting powerful armies.

Dune: Spice Wars requires not only strategic thinking, but also diplomatic and political skills. Decisions made throughout the game will affect relationships with the Emperor and other factions. Players will also have to contend with the dangers of the Arrakis Desert, including titanic sand worms that threaten units and infrastructure.

Age of Wonders 4

• Release date: 2 May 2023 (PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S)
• Developer: Triumph Studios
• Publisher: Paradox Interactive

Age of Wonders 4 continues the turn-based strategy series set in a fantasy world, offering both a story-driven campaign and an extensive builder that allows players to create their own stories. Players aim to build a powerful empire by exploring and conquering new territories, managing resources and fighting a variety of opponents.

Battles are turn-based, requiring tactical planning and the use of special unit skills. The story event system and unit morale add dynamism and variety to the gameplay. Age of Wonders 4 combines an immersive storyline, unlimited possibilities to create your own worlds, and elements of 4X strategy to create an unforgettable experience for genre fans.

War Hospital

• Release date: 31 August 2023 (PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S)
• Developer: Brave Lamb Studio
• Publisher: Nacon/Bigben Interactive

War Hospital is a real-time strategy game with RPG elements set during the First World War. The player takes on the role of a doctor, Major Henry Well, who runs a field hospital on the French front. The gameplay focuses on rescuing wounded soldiers, making decisions about their treatment, managing resources and upgrading equipment. The player must also manage the morale of the rescuers and surviving soldiers, which affects the overall effectiveness of the hospital.

Choosing the right treatment methods, responding quickly to emergencies and making difficult moral decisions are key aspects of this game. War Hospital offers a gripping story campaign and the opportunity to experiment with different hospital management strategies in a challenging wartime environment.

Men of War II

• Release date: 2023 (PC)
• Developer: Best Way
• Publisher: Fulqrum Games/1C Entertainment

Men of War II is the second instalment in the World War II-set RTS series, developed by Best Way and published by 1C Entertainment. The game features two story campaigns, with players commanding the Allies on the Western Front or the Red Army on the Eastern Front. From a bird’s-eye view, you will command infantry, vehicles and air forces with 45 battalions and more than 300 machines.

Men of War II requires the development of individual tactics that take into account terrain, buildings and other factors. The game features advanced AI, frontline combat and Direct Vision, which allows you to take control of a single unit. Men of War II includes single player modes, fast-paced skirmishes, extensive multiplayer, modding tools and a level editor.

Homeworld 3

• Release date: 2023 (PC)
• Developer: Blackbird Interactive
• Publisher: Gearbox Publishing

Homeworld 3 is the third part of the space RTS series. The action takes place in space, where we have to create our own fleet and then manage it properly to conquer more areas of the galaxy. Picking up exactly 100 years after the events of Homeworld 2, the game continues some of the storylines left unresolved at the very end of the previous game, such as Karan S’jet unlocking the Great Network of Hyperspace Gates.

Crucial to the campaign is the skilful recruitment of your own army, which you use in three-dimensional battles. In addition to single-player, Homeworld 3 features full multiplayer, available exclusively over the Internet. Players will also appreciate the high-quality graphics and advanced physics engine.

Stargate: Timekeepers

• Release date: 2023 (PC)
• Developer: CreativeForge Games
• Publisher: Matrix Games/Slitherine

Stargate: Timekeepers is an RTS set in the Stargate universe. The game begins during the Battle of Antarctica, where a squad led by Eva McCain supports Earth’s forces against the armies of Lord Anubis. Players will lead their team as they travel through time and space, fighting system overlords, supporting humanity’s allies and helping civilians in need.

The game focuses on tactical missions across different planets and time periods. It is important to use the right strategies and tactics to defeat an increasing number of enemies. Players will also need to manage their units, taking into account their skills and equipment to get the most out of them on the battlefield.

Stargate: Timekeepers also features role-playing elements, such as developing character skills and upgrading equipment. Players will also have to make important decisions that will affect the game’s storyline and the fate of the characters they meet.

Metal Slug Tactics

• Release date: 2023 (PC, Nintendo Switch)
• Developer: Leikir Studio
• Publisher: Dotemu

Metal Slug Tactics is a tactical RPG with roguelike elements, a spin-off of the classic shooter. The plot of the game focuses on the fight against Donald Morden, a villain who is building up his power. Players lead a squad of familiar characters including Marco, Eri, Fio and Tarma in turn-based combat encounters.

Characters have different abilities and equipment, and gain experience by developing stats, skills and weapons. The game encourages simultaneous attacks on a single target and the use of the adrenaline bar for special techniques. During battle, you can call in support, such as artillery fire or a Metal Slug tank drop. The game features a single player mode.

Terminator: Dark Fate – Defiance

• Release date: 2023 (PC)
• Developer: Cats Who Play/Matrix Games/Slitherine
• Publisher: Matrix Games/Slitherine

Terminator: Dark Fate – Defiance is a real-time strategy game set in the world of the Terminator movies. The game is a prequel to the Terminator: Dark Fate and tells the story of the beginnings of a resistance movement in a post-apocalyptic future. The player commands a group of human survivors, recruits new members and forms an army against the artificial intelligence Legion.

The game mechanics focus on fighting the main enemy and other factions using a variety of weapons, drones and vehicles. We develop soldiers, unlock equipment and use the destruction system of machines and the environment. The game offers a story campaign and a multiplayer mode with 1v1, 2v1 and 2v2 variants.

The post Which strategy games are most anticipated in 2023? appeared first on K4G blog.

• Resident Evil 4 Remake
• Ad Infinitum
• Dead Island 2
• Amnesia: The Bunker
• The Day Before
• Alan Wake 2
• S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl
• The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria
• Layers of Fears
• Alone in the Dark

Resident Evil 4 Remake

• Release date: 24 March 2023 (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S)
• Developer: Capcom
• Publisher: Capcom

Resident Evil 4 is an updated version of the 2005 cult horror game. The storyline does not really differ from its predecessor – during the game we play as Leon S. Kennedy, a former Raccoon City police officer and now a secret agent for the US government. The protagonist is tasked with finding the president’s missing daughter. The case leads him to a mysterious city in Spain that has been overrun by the Los Iluminados sect.

During the adventure, we will come face to face with monster humans infected with the Las Plagas parasite. The remake will feature several improvements and a refreshed art style, but will retain the ominous atmosphere of the original.

Ad Infinitum

• Release date: 20 April 2023 (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S)
• Developer: Hekate
• Publisher: Nacon/Bigben Interactive

In Ad Infinitum, the debut production of Berlin-based studio Hekate, we play a German soldier who survived the First World War. His life is no longer the same as it was before the conflict – he suffers from hallucinations, post-traumatic syndrome and nightmares.

Hekate’s production is a first-person psychological horror focused on exploration, hiding from enemies and solving puzzles. During the game, we explore war trenches and battlefields distorted by the protagonist’s trauma. His fears are represented by terrifying monsters from which we must hide. From time to time we also come across puzzles that fit the historical period of the game.

The world we explore changes as a result of our choices. Also worth mentioning is the soundtrack, which adds to the dark and overwhelming atmosphere of the game.

Dead Island 2

• Release date: 21 April 2023 (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S)
• Developer: Deep Silver Dambuster Studios, YAGER, Sumo Digital
• Publisher: Deep Silver, Plaion

Dead Island 2 is a combination of action and survival horror. The game begins shortly after the events of the first part of the series. A virus has reached California, turning people into zombies. The military, unable to control the situation, finally withdrew from Los Angeles. The metropolis was quarantined and the inhabitants were left to fend for themselves.

Turns out the virus does not affect everyone in the same way – some people get special skills from the virus. We start the game as one of them, and our goal is to learn more about the epidemic, find its source, and discover the truth about ourselves.

Amnesia: The Bunker

• Release date: 16 May 2023 (PC, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S)
• Developer: Frictional Games
• Publisher: Frictional Games

The fourth in a series of first-person survival horror games, Amnesia: The Bunker introduces several new features to diversify gameplay. The game offers more freedom, as well as the use of firearms and grenades. As the game progresses, we take on the role of French soldier Henri Clement, who finds himself in a World War I-era bunker. There are monsters and a very dangerous monstrous beast that reacts very dynamically to all the player’s actions.

The goal is to survive the confrontation with the boss, which will not be easy due to the game’s semi-open world, the passage of time and the unpredictable consequences of our decisions.

The Day Before

• Release date: 10 November 2023 (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S)
• Developer: Fntastic
• Publisher: MyTona

The population of the post-apocalyptic world of The Day Before, a survival MMO game, has been decimated by a mysterious disease that turns people into bloodthirsty monsters. As the game progresses, we take on the role of one of the survivors, searching for answers to the mysteries surrounding the disease and helping to rebuild the world. The creators of the game have prepared a vast area in which we will find, among other things, a huge city, wild areas and a military outpost.

While exploring, you will have to be constantly on your guard – hostile players can appear at any time. If you engage in combat with them, you risk attracting the attention of hordes of the living dead – defeating them will not be easy.

Alan Wake 2

• Release date: 2023 (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S)
• Developer: Remedy Entertainment
• Publisher: Epic Games

Alan Wake 2 is a survival horror game that continues the story of the titular author. Not much is known about the plot, but according to information provided by Remedy, the main character will undergo a psychological struggle, just like in the first game.

Fortunately for new players interested in this Alan Wake 2, Sam Lake, the game’s developer, has stressed that knowledge of the first part is not required to enjoy the game. As with Quantum Break and Control, the new production will use the Northlight engine and will be a third-person perspective game.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl

• Release date: 2023 (PC, Xbox Series X|S)
• Developer: GSC Game World
• Publisher: GSC World Publishing

The second part of the cult series from Ukrainian studio GSC Game World takes us back to the post-apocalyptic area, but this time we will be able to enjoy a vast open world. The Chernobyl Zone has been enriched with warring factions, murderous mutants and deadly anomalies. 

The game puts us in the role of a hero called Skif, who decides to uncover the secret of a mysterious energy source that appeared in the centre of the Zone. All of our decisions will have an impact on the subsequent story – the game has a non-linear structure and requires us to make difficult choices.

Unlike the previous game in the series, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Chornobyl uses Unreal Engine 5 technology. The change was made partly because of technical problems with the resource-intensive and buggy X-Ray engine. The game also boasts high-quality visuals and the use of modern solutions, including ray tracing.

The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria

• Release date: 2023 (PC)
• Developer: Free Range Games
• Publisher: North Beach Games

Survival game set in the Lord of the Rings universe created by J.R.R. Tolkien, in the Fourth Age of Middle-earth, just after the events known from the trilogy. In the game, we play as dwarves who arrive at the titular mine at the summons of Lord Gimli Lockbearer. Our task will be to reclaim the underground metropolis and recover the treasures. Of course, it won’t be easy – Khazad-dum is full of dangers.

The heroes fight mainly with axes, but nothing prevents us from equipping more sophisticated tools. These can include swords that glow when orcs are nearby. Speaking of Orcs – although they are our main opponents, there will be plenty of opportunities to cross axes with larger and more dangerous enemies. While skirmishes are an integral part of our mission in Moria, many of them can be avoided by keeping within a certain noise level.

As well as a complex crafting system, the game features a procedurally generated Moria, meaning that each adventure is different from the last.

Layers of Fears

• Release date: 2023 (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S)
• Developer: Bloober Team, Anshar Studios
• Publisher: Bloober Team

The new game from the Bloober Team studio builds on the foundations of the first two games in the series, but presents a completely new story. The developers have approached familiar themes in fresh and sometimes surprising ways, expanding some plots significantly. Heavily inspired by 19th-century painting and architecture, the story follows artists enslaved by obsessions and terrifying visions.

Gameplay consists of exploring dark corridors and interacting with various objects. Combat itself is not possible – the player cannot use weapons, so must find another way to defeat the protagonist.

Layers of Fears was developed using the cutting-edge Unreal Engine 5. This allowed it to implement ray tracing, HDR imagery, 4K resolution, and the Lumen system for an immersive and deeply moving gameplay experience.

Alone in the Dark

• Release date: 2023 (PC, PS5, Xbox Seiries X|S)
• Developer: Pieces Interactive
• Publisher: THQ Nordic, Nordic Games

Alone in the Dark is a reboot of the cult horror series first released in 1992. In the game, we play as Emily Hartwood, whose father has disappeared under mysterious circumstances, and Detective Edward Carnby. Our mission is to solve the mystery of Emily’s father’s disappearance.

We arrive at Decreto Manor, which has been overrun by sinister forces that manifest themselves in the form of terrifying monsters. They are the ones who turn our stay there into a battle for survival. As the game progresses, we will solve a series of puzzles and gradually uncover the secrets hidden within the mansion.

The post Most anticipated survival and horror games, we are waiting for in 2023 appeared first on K4G blog.

• Hogwarts Legacy
• Darkest Dungeon II
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
• Diablo IV
• Final Fantasy XVI
• Sea of Stars
• Baldur’s Gate 3
• Starfield
• Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes
• Lies of P

Hogwarts Legacy

• Release date: 10 February 2023 (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC); 5 May 2023 (PS4, Xbox One) 25 July 2023 (Nintendo Switch)
• Developer: Avalanche Software
• Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment

Avalanche Software’s game based on the Harry Potter universe created by J.K. Rowling is already available to many players – those lucky enough to own a PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. But any fan waiting for the premiere on older-generation consoles and Nintendo Switch will not be disappointed, judging by the flood of positive feedback about the game.

Hogwarts Legacy is a fantasy RPG game that features beautiful settings, memorable characters and fantastic battle scenes. It’s set in an open, third-person view of the 19th century Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. During the course of the game, the player takes on the role of a young adept on his way to becoming a great wizard, while trying to cope with the chaos created by the unlikely alliance between goblins and warlocks.

Darkest Dungeon II

• Release date: 8 May 2023 (PC)
• Developer: Red Hook Studios
• Publisher: Red Hook Studios

Darkest Dungeon II continues the RPG released in 2016, which was well received by players. This time we are a group of 4 heroes on a quest to save the world from the apocalypse. The salvation seems to await on a far away mountain, but the road there is really long and full of dangers. Whether the protagonists will manage to reach it, as well as how they’ll go about doing it, depends on our decisions.

Each of the heroes has their own abilities and class. There are some we know from the previous part, but the team has added a new one: Runway, who specialises in fire attacks. Battles take place in side-view turn-based mode.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

• Release date: 12 May 2023
• Developer: Nintendo
• Publisher: Nintendo

Let’s leave aside the debate about whether or not The Legend of Zelda can be called an RPG. Tears of the Kingdom is the next part in a series that began in 1987 and is described as an action-adventure game with RPG elements. It is also a direct sequel to Breath of the Wild, the 2017 hit.

The main storyline offers at least several dozen hours of fun. In the game, we will meet Link, well known to fans of the series, who will once again have to stand up and fight for the kingdom of Hyrule. There will be a huge open world to explore, puzzles to solve and enemies to fight. As you progress through the game, you will unlock new weapons, skills and gadgets.

Diablo IV

• Release date: 6 June 2023 (PS4, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC)
• Developer: Blizzard Entertainment, Vicarious Visions
• Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment

Let’s forget for a moment about Diablo Immortal, which received a cool reception from gamers, because here comes a new game from Blizzard. Diablo IV promises to give players the unforgettable experience of the second part of the series, while keeping the good things from the third. Fans of the Diablo series will be thrilled to see a truly open world and return to a pure, dark climate.

Diablo IV is a classic hack’n’slash role-playing game in which players choose one of many heroes, each with their own fighting style, unique skills, and ability to evolve. The game focuses on exploring the world, collecting items, completing quests and, most importantly, fighting hordes of enemies with different weapons and special abilities.

Final Fantasy XVI

• Release date: 22 June 2023 (PS5)
• Developer: Square Enix
• Publisher: Square Enix

Final Fantasy XVI is the sixteenth game in Square Enix’s successful RPG series. This time we travel to the fantastic world of Valisthea, a land filled with large crystals capable of producing a magical substance called Aether. As protagonist Clive Rosfield, First Shield of Rosaria and guardian of his younger brother Joshua, we will embark on a dangerous path of revenge.

As in the fifteenth part of the series, the battles are dynamic and require us to show dexterity, reflexes and skilful use of the protagonist’s combat abilities. We will eliminate our enemies in melee combat, from a distance and with the help of a wide range of magical attacks. As you progress, your hero will evolve, allowing you to face new challenges over time.

Sea of Stars

• Release date: 29 August 2023 (PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, PC)
• Developer: Sabotage Studio
• Publisher: Sabotage Studio

Sea of Stars is an old-school RPG prequel to The Messenger, a game that was well received by many players. Despite retro style and pixel art, it features modern effects, in particular dynamic lighting.

The action in Sea of Stars takes place long before the events of The Messenger. At the start of the game, we choose two heroes from a total of 6 different characters, each with unique abilities. They travel by boat through a vast world of islands and once they reach the shore, they are free to explore the land.

In the meantime we are faced with various platforming sections that require us to jump over pits and avoid traps. We are also going to engage in turn-based combat, in which we are going to use different types of damage. Thanks to the synergy system, which allows us to combine attacks in effective combinations, hits are really dynamic and powerful.

Baldur’s Gate 3

• Release date: 31 August 2023 (PS5, PC)
• Developer: Larian Studios
• Publisher: Larian Studios

The third part of the popular RPG series will soon be coming out of Early Access and we will finally be able to enjoy the full story. The story of Baldur’s Gate 3 takes place 100 years after the events of Baldur’s Gate II: Throne of Bhaal. You will be able to play alone or with your friends using local or networked co-op for up to 4 players.

The game’s storyline is less linear than in previous parts – quests can be completed in a number of different ways, and their outcome has an impact on the story. The future of the presented world depends on the decisions of the players, as well as on the rolls of the dice.

What promises to be interesting are the detailed character models and locations, and the advanced turn-based combat, based on the rules of fifth edition D&D.

Starfield

• Release date: 2023 (Xbox Series X|S, PC)
• Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
• Publisher: Xbox Game Studios

Do you dream of becoming a space traveller? Then Starfield, a RPG game set in a science fiction universe, is something you should be looking forward to.

The action takes place in the distant future, in the year 2330. Twenty years earlier, a bloody conflict between the United Colonies and the Freestar Collective broke out in the settled systems. The war ended in an uneasy peace, but it has left this part of the Universe dangerous and threatened.

As a participant in Constellation, an organisation dedicated to exploring the Milky Way and uncovering its secrets, you will be challenged to learn about humanity’s greatest mystery. Your spaceship journey will take you through more than 100 planetary systems, where you will discover more than 1,000 globes.

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes

• Release date: 2023 (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PC)
• Developer: Rabbit and Bear Studios
• Publisher: 505 Games

Eiyuden Chronicles: Hundred Heroes is the spiritual heir to the Suidoken series, created by its veterans. The game features a turn-based combat system, a hundred characters to recruit, and mechanics for expanding the city that serves as a fortress for the player’s army. The game’s attractive graphic design is also worthy of note. Despite its modern look, it retains the atmosphere of 32-bit JRPGs.

The action takes place on the continent of Allraan, where wars between humans, elves, beastmen and the desert people have been raging for years. The game involves exploring the world, completing quests, developing characters and fighting battles – in short, a classic of the genre. The game also features mini-games that focus on fishing and cooking.

Lies of P

• Release date: 2023 (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC)
• Developer: Neowiz
• Publisher: Neowiz

The classic story of Pinocchio was written for children. The tale of the wooden puppet shows us how long and difficult the road to becoming a good person is. Lies of P, an RPG based on the story by C. Collodi, takes us on a much darker journey than the one we know from our childhood. It is a Pinocchio story with strong, dark accents that will give many players a shiver.

The game, realised as a soulslike production, takes us on a journey to the dark city of Krat. The main character is a mechanical puppet named Pinocchio, whose main task is to find his creator, Geppetto.

Lies are a characteristic element of the game. Based on them, the game procedurally generates tasks for the main character to complete. These affect both the plot and Pinnocchio. The more often he tells the truth, the more human he becomes, losing his mechanical abilities.

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