The Best, Worst and Blandest of 2023 | Fully Ramblomatic

[@SecondWindGroup]

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[@kar12894]

Yahtzee should really check out the game Darkwood, it's right up his alley. And yes i know his taste by now, been following the lunatic since his first zero punctuation.

[@Surkai25]

and yet almost all games recommended to him are not played or not reviewed....@@kar12894

[@rocko7711]

❤❤

[@DamnedSilly]

I've got an idea for the Patreon tiers... how about adding one that makes the list of names _shorter_ or at least faster. I don't think even the people on the list read it.

[@SecondWindGroup]

Counterpoint, we're damn proud of that list and every single person on it.@@DamnedSilly

[@argnator]

There were so many potential contenders for each category in 2023. It wasn't just a year of extremes, even the middle ground of just passable "good enough" games was fully stuffed with exemplary yawns of wasted time. Truly an impressive year.

[@typemasters2871]

A year of balance you could say

[@freedomscale2957]

I was thinking he should temporarily expand the worst list for all the things he railed on this year.

[@Shorty_Lickens]

Yup for me and anyone looking for some mental stimulation this was the year of depressing releases. Its like going to fast food for a whole year and wondering why your body and brain are mushy. The junk food of games. I wont even list all the titles but you obviously know what I'm talking about. Thank good for Talos Principle 2. It was like a big wonderful 4 course meal by comparison.

[@KillahMate]

@@Shorty_Lickens Anyone looking for mental stimulation in 2023 could find it to overflowing among the vast river of indie releases. The big budget titles might not have been as clever, but to be honest it's barely noticeable on the whole.

[@Texelion]

So bland and forgettable that I'm trying to remember their names, and I can't. Come on brain, a little effort... uuuugh. Atlas something something ? Immortals of Vacuum ? So Long Dynasty Heroes ? Rockay City Texas Ranger ? Wild hearts or Atomic hearts or something like that... They'll probably be on Gamepass or free on Epic some day.

[@jcace13]

Well that’s the most prestigious award Starfield is ever going to get.

[@Guymanbot97]

Don't forget it got "Innovative Gameplay" for Steam awards. An award system I am convinced is just a giant meme.

[@Darkprosper]

@@Guymanbot97 Honestly I wouldn't be surprised if a good portion of those votes weren't for the meme. It's just such a chronically online gamer thing to do.

[@tomshraderd4915]

@@Guymanbot97 It was absolutely just for the meme. Starfield is currently sitting at "Mostly Negative", so it's not like Steam users are particularly fond of it.

[@ichijofestival2576]

@@XFGHL78E I'd like to introduce you to the human race. That kind of petty tribalism exists in politics, sports, music, and even between rural shitholes with schools that need someone to look down on. (I can personally attest to that last one.) And yes, that includes PC gamers too; there is no shortage of people that have unironically adopted Yahtzee's sarcastic "PC Master Race" label, and sling mud at console gamers for their childish, mud-slinging "console wars." Again, absolutely no sense of irony to any of it. That's just how people are. I guarantee you're that way too with one thing or another, as I most certainly am as well.

[@gwen9939]

It's also the most mention Chugbarf Pregnancy is going to get an awards show

[@bottomlefto]

Ah, finally. A worthy award for Hi-Fi Rush. I used to alternate between DMC5 and Bayonetta whenever I wanted something adrenaline-pumping.. now Hi-Fi Rush has been added to that rotation.

[@jurtheorc8117]

It's very heartening to see the character action or hack-and-slash or whatever-is-the-title-this-very-nanosecond get more attention thanks to a breakthrough featuring an amputee small-time slacker with dreams the size of a rock 'n roll neon anglerfish's big colorful f*bleep*-off gob. You read that in Yahtzee's voice, didn't you? Kidding aside, on multiple fronts Hi-Fi Rush is something to be celebrated. My personal favourite newcomer in the character action genre in recent years has actually been Soulstice, my favourite on the front of Rhythm-and-*insert game genre here* was No Straight Roads (3D boss rush) though Deathbulge: Battle of the Bands (RPG) and Charlie Murder (Beat-em-up RPG) were also cool. But for the sake of a game that's colorful, well-written, technically solid, great in presentation on ALL fronts of visuals and sounds, accessibility, and... well, kinda everything, from the looks of it, PLUS being a 3D hack-and-slash/character action game (which is a very underfed genre these years) it more than deserves all the attention. I hope it helps in making positive changes in the industry and perhaps even get a sequel, as well as lead to people explore and appreciate the other instances of devs making slashy character games. From aforementioned recent Soulstice to older ones like The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile (though that's 2D), and to upcoming ones like Genokids (rock band fighting off an alien invasion) and Enenra (cyborg ninja). And Slave Zero X too, if that one hasn't released yet.

[@ThisThingEaten]

I see you are a man of culture as well....

[@__8120]

I'd recommend metal hellsinger for that rotation too

[@jurtheorc8117]

@@__8120 I keep forgetting about that one where it concerns Hybrid Rhythm (Hybrythm?) games. Or at least games with a throughlying music theme. My mind's been more at the likes of No Straight Roads, Deathbulge: Battle of the Bands and God of Rock for that one. Charlie Murder and the upcoming Genokids as well, though that's more because the main characters form the titular bands of their games rather than mixing with rhythm gameplay. Good games though. Or at least interesting, in the case of God of Rock.

[@Buznik_]

You should also consider Metal Gear Rising, it isn't as mechanically deep as DMC but it does spectacle even better and the soundtrack is AMAZING

[@GiftOfKnowledge-np9vg]

Oh does hearing the praises sung for Hi-Fi Rush feel so bittersweet now. "Do more of this, games industry. Remind me more of how it was before you made everything go to shit." "Whats that? close the studio so drive away talent that might make more games like this? Well funny you should ask, that was just on the docket."

[@superstimulatedminotaur3681]

It's so crazy. I have an Xbox, and was subscribed to Game Pass. Hi-Fi Rush was on there, and by far the most fun I've had with recent games (across all platforms). So of course Microsoft shuts down the company behind it. Why not let Tango make more great games to drive people to subscribe to Microsoft's service? It doesn't make any sense.

[@GiftOfKnowledge-np9vg]

@@superstimulatedminotaur3681 Oh I think I heard why it makes sense to the guys running Microsoft. You want to hear it? It's infuriating, you're gonna hate it, but I can tell it to you. So the rumors go; Tango was actually pitching a sequel to Hi-Fi Rush, being that the first game was such a massive hit, and were asking Microsoft for permissions and money to go ahead with that. And Microsoft looked at this, and considered this prospect from the viewpoint of -a tumor- I mean...businessmen. Single-player games are big investments with only one big payoff years down the line. And Tango, having just released their Hi-Fi Rush and rewarded their last big investment, I guess didn't have anything else in their pipeline (or at least not much). So rather than just make another big investment that won't pay off for years when they have quarterly earnings to worry about, they decided it'd be no fuss to just shut down the studio.

[@superstimulatedminotaur3681]

@@GiftOfKnowledge-np9vg That wouldn't surprise me. Microsoft will surely be the architect of their gaming division's demise...

[@sandwich2473]

​@@superstimulatedminotaur3681 there's no potential for exponential profit

[@sandwich2473]

And it's not just Microsoft that's doing it, it's the incentive for every publicly traded business run game studio and publisher

[@SomeAdam]

Having Yahtzee not awarding Baldurs Gate 3 anything because it already got GOTY is peak hipster behavior

[@SarcyBoi41]

Especially after he just explained why he thinks games should be ranked/categorized based purely on how they made us feel. Excluding a game for winning at TGA feels on contradiction of that, but you can't be a hipster without a little self-contradiction I suppose lol

[@filipkastelik]

Go back to his rewiev of hogwards legacy (on zero punctuation), he says he doesnt understand hype: its a good game, with good story. thats it

[@AlluMan96]

Not like I saw him doing that anyway. Back when he did his review, it's not like he was super taken by the game. In fact, he sounded much more enthused and positive during a review of Street Fighter 6, a game that also didn't make the cut. So I think that line was just a joke, honestly.

[@addex1236]

I mean do you need someone to suck off baludurs Gate 3 like I freaking love the game but yah you don't need everyone to give it game of the year

[@drew1564]

It's just a bit of fun my guys

[@TimeBucks]

The proper game award ceremony.

[@ShanowarhossainShobuj]

Wow

[@TheBrianJ]

Oh no Yahtzee has complimented his Nice Hat with a Nice Bow Tie, he's unstoppable now.

[@Michael-bb1cw]

I like the bow tie, it’s wonderful that he dressed up for the occasion!

[@GriffinPilgrim]

As a great man once said, bowties are cool.

[@HenshinFanatic]

@@GriffinPilgrim how long until he upgrades the hat to a fez?

[@Penguinmanereikel]

*complemented

[@Metrion77]

@@Penguinmanereikel Nope. Compliment is to say something nice. Complement is to add upon or complete.

[@aussiematt4517]

As of this comment Microsoft has shut down the studio responsible for High Fi Rush in an effort to *checks notes* get more awards. The games industry heard yahtzee's praise and went the complete wrong way. RIP Tango Gameworks.

[@burnsyburger]

@@aussiematt4517 Good News! The guys who built PUBG, Krafton, bought Tango and are interested in keeping the series alive!

[@44Quantum]

I'm so glad this series is continuing.

[@jesenjin8467]

What series? This is brand new content ;) No one has done it before ;)

[@TheOneSeer]

I know I was worried we wouldn't get it at all!

[@Simplebutsandy]

I hope we get an equivalent of Special Moments In Gaming History.

[@fernandoc4841]

A good news in 2024

[@GerinoMorn]

Yes, the series comes back after 10 years or so of hiatus :D

[@thegigahebrew3154]

Yahtzee: "Do more of this, games industry. Remind me of how it was before you made everything go to shit." Microsoft: "Wait, Hi Fi Rush reminded you of better times? Fuck, we can't have that" and promptly puts both barrels in Tango Gameworks's mouth.

[@pauloandrade925]

Wait what happened to them??? Hopefully they can do a sequel or something like that

[@somethingmaybe3858]

@@pauloandrade925 They were shut down. Hi Fi Rush 2 will never happen, and if it does it'll suck ass

[@pauloandrade925]

@@somethingmaybe3858 thats so sad

[@Mathtriqueur]

About tango...

[@thegigahebrew3154]

@@Mathtriqueur Words cannot describe my joy

[@RollMeAFat1]

“Post dad game” I love that dad game has become an era defining term like modernism in the art world

[@Rusty_Spy]

More like it's become a Yahtzee defining term since, ya know, he's a dad now

[@kveller555]

@@buckrodgers1162My impression at least is that it wasn't used all that much until fairly recently.

[@Shorty_Lickens]

@@buckrodgers1162 Also Grognard games, if you even remember those. I am guessing many people havent even heard of them.

[@nathanmarshall745]

I've used the term for all the deer hunter games my dad had installed on our windows 98 pc back in the day

[@cattysplat]

Was inevitable since dad gamer age is now the largest group of gamers by demographic.

[@rlsamuel117]

I’m glad to see HifiRush here. It is a gem that deserves all of the praise it gets.

[@reillyobrien4372]

I agree that the gameplay is solid, but the writing is so bad I couldn't get more than two hours in before the sheer force of cringe became life-threatening. The main character is so fucking obnoxious and unrelateable because I don't have any nostalgia for the rockstar era.

[@troydavidson4631]

@@reillyobrien4372 The writing grew on me the more I played it. It’s cheesy but also very self aware and I grew to like the characters by the end. Also the level design and bosses get a lot more interesting in the 2nd half.

[@WertzMS]

@@bigjohnsbreakfastlog5819it’s only cringe if you let it be

[@troydavidson4631]

@@bigjohnsbreakfastlog5819 They don't casually murder people, they kill a few evil people who are trying to kill them. All the non boss enemies are robots so you're not just killing random henchmen or anything like in a lot of games.

[@vinceb.8363]

​@@troydavidson4631 still much as i love this game i admit i had a bit of a "wait did we just fucking kill her?" After the 1st boss. It just passed with so little fanfare i wasnt even sure if she was dead or not

[@billydrink]

Seeing hi fi rush win the yahtzee awards 2023 honestly warms my heart. This game completely won me over for combining my two favorite genres, combo based action games, and rhythm games. From the gameplay to the artstyle to the dialogue, everything really felt like a game made for me. It honestly feels so good to finally see it recognized somewhere, as it deserves.

[@TheMinecraftMan757]

This year had some extremely good games throughout, but I'm still a bit miffed that Hi-Fi Rush didn't get much attention during these award events.

[@rundown132]

He literally nailed it saying its a game you'd expect from the old PS1/PS2 games. Original ideas, original thoughts, new IP, new mechanics. It's fantastic. Plus the soundtrack is a banger

[@wipeout770]

"The Besties" gaming podcast were very complimentary of Hi-Fi rush when it came out.

[@ED-gw9rg]

​@@MakusinMeringueI got Pizza Tower, Octopath Traveler 2, and joined Deep Rock Galactic just in time for the official Maintenance Update! Free gun skins, just for shooting bugs with guns! Also I don't understand how Octopath 1 got a ton of coverage but there's just...Nothing on Octopath 2. Nothing! It's such a small scene even though I think it's just as great as Hi-Fi Rush in different ways.

[@gwen9939]

I felt the same seeing Shadows of Doubt. It's such an interesting game the way it presents problem solving as sort of realistic rather than isolated and story-driven. It being still in early access I'm hoping for more life sim stuff you need to balance alongside the actual murder mystery stuff, and for the world to feel a bit more immersive and alive, but it's already a very playable video game to mess around with.

[@baseddepartment9656]

Redfall should be moved higher up the shit list for the fact that it effectively killed a very talented studio by making most of the devs quit over the awful, unfitting project and management jerking them around constantly.

[@ashesofaranea]

@@scrittle plus the studio actually just straight up closed. Idk why they made a dev team mostly know for point and click and hidden object games try to to do a stealth 3d game

[@ismael9914]

Also Forspoken has lots of problems, but if you skip the early cinematics and bruteforce some of the early game stuff, the core gameplay is Fun. Ubisoft standard fun, with a little jank yes, but it doesnt deserve to be contending for worst game (I could accept blandest)

[@TarlukLegion]

Tbh saying that Gollum is the "worst game of 2023" feels like the cop-out answer, because nobody really gave a shit about it anyway. It's just a modern version of those 2005 licensed shovelware games. Redfall is not only even more broken than Gollum, but it's much more personally insulting. It made a complete mockery of one of the most renowned studios of the 2010s

[@KingOfElectricNinjas]

Gollum probably earns the spot for being IMPRESSIVELY bad, even when the context around it is a game that never really had much of a chance to be good. Like Ride to Hell: Retribution, it's the kind of trainwreck that fascinates people.

[@Heratikus1997]

@@ismael9914 Part of the issue with Forspoken is one of its selling points was supposed to be the narrative so it should by all means be scrutinised on that front instead of ignored (though I suppose the fact that it's POSSIBLE to ignore the bad writing by just playing the game with voices on mute is what puts it below Gollum on the shitlist).

[@Nugire]

I still can't comprehend how Starfield got the "most innovative gameplay" Steam award. Like, is it a trolling so secret that nobody heard of it yet?

[@EzraM5]

People there on the whole are INCREDIBLY stupid. Hell, Hogwarts Legacy got a "Best on Deck" award for some stupid reason. I think it was mostly because those fans were highly upset that there was going to be no mention of it at the Game Awards.

[@eater_of_garbage_]

It somehow beat fucking SHADOWS OF DOUBT

[@insomniacryan9916]

I'm pretty sure it really was satire. Just a bunch of people all simultaneously making the same joke so hard it won.

[@seeinred]

I think it was one of 4chan funnies, to sabotage steam award. Some other abandoned instantly game got "best support post launch" i think.

[@DanGamingFan2406]

This is the only game awards show I'll ever watch. I'm glad it's not going anywhere. And I love that Yahtzee's giving so many lesser known indie titles the recognition they deserve. Also, I hope he and the rest of Second Wind have a great first full year.

[@watershipup7101]

Agreed

[@genjis5155]

So glad he mentioned Dredge.

[@thusnameddigital9397]

I know they'll be great.

[@Khaim.m]

What about Girlfriend Reviews' show?

[@Raida7]

I also watch the Video Game Accessibility Awards, those are interesting and I feel like every award have a REASON to exist other than just to put a ribbon on 'stuff the judges liked '

[@eldibs]

I love how literally everyone in the tech and gaming communities are shitting on The Game Awards. And I, too, am heartened to see everyone hating Live Service garbage.

[@MrTHotz]

That's nothing have you seen the Steam award winners for 2023?!

[@bloodbrawler1438]

@@MrTHotz Dont remind me. Fucking Red Dead for Labor of Love?! The only labor and love in those games is the forced labor of the developers, programmers, and artists to crunch their asses to still have a job and/or paycheck, and the love of Rockstar for more money to siphon out of the walking hemmorhaging wallets we call players.

[@eldibs]

@@bloodbrawler1438 I voted for Vampire Survivors on Labor of Love.

[@Colopty]

@@MrTHotz To the Steam Awards credit, it managed to be an actual award show even if it turned into something of a popularity contest. Meanwhile The Game Awards barely bothered with the award part, shooing out any winners the moment they got on stage so they could get back to the ads and celebrity endorsements.

[@DevilSlayr]

Kinda funny that Yahtzee spent more time talking about Baldurs Gate 3 than Redfall in its own section!

[@iamaniamsdog]

It's truly vindicating seeing games which actually push the medium winning the awards they deserve. It's only a shame that most every winner in the video was shunted in other 2023 showcases.

[@theomegajuice8660]

Side-eyes Starfield's "Most innovative game of the year" Steam award... and Red Dead 2's labour of love award for it's dedicated... zero updates during the entire year

[@SandraNLN]

@@theomegajuice8660 I just saw that today too! Ooof! It got an audible "are you serious??" out of me. Like...do the Steam bro voters know what the word "Innovative" actually means?? I also was confused about RDR2, but maybe they were referring to RDR online? Since I havent played in a long time, idk if that gets constant updates or events or anything.

[@leandervr]

@@theomegajuice8660 For real? The game that is a reskinned decade old game got most innovative? What an effing joke.

[@bakan117]

As with bogwarts best game on ateam deck, they fought hard for their awful games to get even one award no matter which.

[@SirCanuckelhead]

Steam awards are meme awards. That is why starfield and red won those awards. Because meme voting is funny to the internet. While I didn’t vote, I did get a good laugh seeing all those “winners”.

[@Soy309]

I feel so bad for the team that made Gollum. Probably because of the studio size, but it makes me feel pity over anger.

[@murrfeeling]

Sometimes people reach for the stars before slipping on the cat piss on the tile floor. Some bad media is to just be avoided like Gollum or The Room (which probably seemed good in Tommy Wiseau's daydreams) and some is worth hating on like every cynical, calculated EA sports micropayment flea market or Duck Dynasty.

[@FubukiTheIcyKing]

Same it's like seeing a two legged dog trying to bring you something...I just feel pity at that point.

[@mememachine-386]

Just like the actual character!

[@84jesterx]

If there was a game dev documentary that I would love Second Wind to do, it would be for something like Gollum. Surely at some point the devs were all "who asked for this? WHY are we still working on this?!"

[@jcohasset23]

I think with some polish the mechanics in Gollum could make a pretty nice parkour exploration/puzzle game. It was the choice of IPs for the project that was probably the thing that most people were scratching their heads over.

[@Shorty_Lickens]

Ahh good! I was seriously irritated with the Steam awards this year. Yahtzee is my tonic for a sick world of games.

[@USMC49er]

What? You didn't think Starfield was the most innovative game of the year?

[@ellemnist]

@@USMC49er that was a big whiplash for me.

[@somestupiddudewithayoutube4676]

@@USMC49erstarfield was innovative on how it manufactured an new and improved way to depress me

[@Shorty_Lickens]

@@USMC49erOh jesus do not even start with that!

[@TheBrianJ]

You mean you didn't like how the award for Best Soundtrack of 2023 went to a game released in 2020?

[@graemevaughey7432]

"Do more of _this,_ games industry: remind me more of how everything was before you went to shit." Ooof. Seeing the studio behind Yahtzee's _Game of the Year_ get shut down so that Microsoft can make more games akin to his _Blandest Game of the Year_ perfectly encapsulates the absolute state of gaming in 2024. The complete collapse of AAA cannot come soon enough.

[@FisherKing9633]

Looking good Second Wind. So happy to see the industry’s Highs, Lows and the terrifyingly banal Mediocrities brought out and given justifiable praise, appropriate punishment, and indifferent white noise.

[@CJusticeHappen21]

If you're wondering where Tears of the Kingdom is on this list, it was #4 Best Game in 2017.

[@MisterVercetti]

Heheheheh, I see what you did there.

[@michelvanderlinden8363]

Said it before but damn.. really loving the red background. So much easier on the eyes. Also wishing the best to Second Wind for this year!

[@theviniso]

Personally I just like how he mixes it up with green and blue backgrounds sometimes. It keeps us on our toes.

[@VakarisJ]

It's a lot better now than in the earliest SW videos. There the red was so red, that it was blinding.

[@The_Number1Candyman]

Yeah I've definitely preferred the backgrounds used in FR over ZPs blinding yellow, that's easily my favorite thing about the changes

[@TheSmart-CasualGamer]

​@@The_Number1CandymanMy favourite change is the the new theme. I started watching the old show that will remain unnamed in 2017, and couldn't hum you the theme. After just a few episodes, I can with Fully Ramblomatic...

[@CheshireCad]

@@theviniso - Clearly, Yahtzee learned an important lesson from Mass Effect 3.

[@MisterHanRPG]

How in the world these guys leave a corporate backed company, create their own group funded entirely by the community, and have cutaways(#5, #4, etc.) that look EVEN BETTER than they did at Escapist...Second Wind is first rate! I love it!

[@Blu3-Fir3]

Yahtzee was one of the only reasons most people still watched the Escapist, so I'm not even surprised that they were able to go independent so easily.

[@ayebraine]

I think these may be stock footage. They're over the top / tacky enought to be. Also Yahtzee makes a point of using random, clashing "found images" in his visual style.

[@CallanElliott]

The animation is also way better. Though I miss the imps and yellow backdrop. Amazing what you can do when you cut the bloat.

[@htmn_2]

This is like a game-related turing test. "Did you felt *random_feeling* while playing *specific_game*". Good/bland/bad being created by the feelings generated while playing it is an awesome concept. Happy new year!! Stay safe and sane. Happy to be a supporter of this one party. Keep on going SW, the stage is yours and yours only.

[@joshuahunt3032]

I’m gonna be honest, I’m quite happy to see Talos Principle 2 so high on the “good” section of the list. I’m still trying to finish the VR version of the first game, but I’m much further along since I commented on the Fully Ramblomatic regarding the second game. And the first game is already quite good.

[@Cool_Calm_Cam]

I bought the first game specifically because of Yahtzee's (and a friend's) recommendation of the *second* game.

[@Andyman620]

Not at all surprised hifi rush was #1. Absolute banger of a game

[@sludgewave4786]

Yeah you can't really top a game where you fight a giant mecha werewolf millionaire in Scrooge mcduck safe.

[@dashcak3]

@@sludgewave4786 TO BEETHOVEN !

[@S0RGEx]

​@@sludgewave4786 *suspiciously wealthy furry

[@THENAMEISQUICKMAN]

@@S0RGEx At least we now know who's commissioning that weirdly expansive amount of artwork of Star Fox characters the size of skyscrapers.

[@El-Burrito]

Shadows of Doubt deserved an award for something this year and I'm glad you're the ones to give it to them.

[@HourglassKeradon]

Okay... the graphics changes between categories getting a massive upgrade was one thing I didn't expect.

[@ender7278]

There's a clear trend of the blandest games (except for #4 and #1) all being entries in big multimedia franchises.

[@Darkprosper]

Unsurprising. When you can rely on name recognition, you're even more incentivised to avoid risks. New (or lesser known) IPs always need to do a bit more to prove themselves.

[@vinnythewebsurfer]

Ah, finally. The proper game award ceremony.

[@starmaker75]

If the games awards of insert games a few is out of touch elites, then yatzee game's awards is at least elists that atleast will read the room.

[@flummox3d]

Yes, finally, one more list that features Talos II. Criminally underrated.

[@blackdragoncyrus]

Really glad The Bunker got an award, it really is a neat little package of a horror game.

[@it2spooky4me79]

​@@FelipeKana1Yes, Amnesia does Survival Horror the best, RE4 is action horror, Alan Wake 2 is phycological, and Dead Space is horror it a little bit of "actiony" Amnesia The Bunker makes you feel helpless even with a gun, the gun is used as a tool, and the monster acts like the Xenomorph from Alien Isolation, and uses the Survival Horror aspect surprisingly well, and the atmosphere is perfect, it makes you feel like what being in a WW1 bunker was like, and the horrors of war and physiological damage of the soldiers.

[@TaylorRussell_TheAnimator]

I'm so happy that my feelings of "This game reminds me of the golden era of original PS2 and Gamecube and xBox games" for HiFi Rush are shared. It really did feel like going back in time to the days of "What if we just made a game that was fun and cool with a lot of passion?".

[@HatsAlEsman]

Hifirush godhand similarities: >arm replaced >jean vest and jean skirt girl companion >bosses include a big grappler, a smarmy creative, a THOT, a business demon, and you but with stick up bum >final battle on lightning tower for no reason I got more but this is what I remember

[@darkwater124]

It's nice to see Yahtzee finally step outside his comfort zone and include games on the list even if he didn't do a Fully Ramblomatic video on them

[@TheNewTerrific20]

Im glad these video series are still running. I thought it wouldn’t happen since almost the whole year was on ZP. I do hope the historical episodes will still be a thing on FR!

[@cranapple3367]

In a sense, FR's very existence is laughing at an industry that never learns anything tee hee hee.

[@joshuahunt3032]

I remember hearing it’s possible that the historical episodes may be on a substitute for The Stuff of Legends, rather than being episodes of Fully Ramblomatic, but I could be accidentally bullshitting, so I’m open to correction.

[@DanGamingFan2406]

I'm glad none of the mainstream contenders for best game of the year made iton this list. I love that Yahtzee's supporting genuinely good lesser known titles. Also, I hope he and the rest of Secon d Wind have a great first full year.

[@watershipup7101]

Very much agreed

[@jurtheorc8117]

Hoping here with you. In the meantime, anyone else can help shed light on cool lesser-known games from last year by just talking about them too. Be they recent, older, or yet to release. Who knows what folks may come across this comment section to see what the fuss is about, and then leave with some interesting titles. As a stranger on the internet, what's been some games in 2023 that you played that you think deserve more attention?

[@mrshmuga9]

The big games don’t really need the attention since they have huge marketing. Plus… they tend to e overhyped anyway. Virtually every AAA game people are excited about gets praised like they’re 20/10 even if they’re mediocre, simply because it has the skin of some5ing people recognize.

[@alfredosaint-jean9660]

I can't speak for Yahtzee, but I don't think he cares about the popularity of the games.

[@Leee275]

There were a lot of other games that would have easily made it into the GOTY nominees if they allowed more than 6, popularity has nothing to do with the list in the video.

[@CharlemagneGuy127]

Good to see even switching to a new show hasn’t slowed Yahtzee’s top 5 and even add a bit dissing the “official” game awards.

[@jenweatherwax7113]

🎉 so relieved to see Best, Worst, and Blandest. I look forward to it every year. The thought of not having it when everything went down was terrible. But now all is right with the world. Here’s to a wonderful year, Second Wind!

[@franciscosuarez4521]

God damn, Yahtzee really was holding up his vocabulary the last few years. Glad to see him at full power again

[@SandraNLN]

Also that ending ad felt like a breath of fresh nostalgic air. To be fully insulted by Yahtzee once more, it was an absolute New Year treat haha

[@90maducc]

I'm glad Yahtz finally gave Hellboy World of Wyrd the spot it deserved. Not that we didn't see it coming.

[@ToddBlackToddTalk]

I love that Starfield got the #1 bland game award...because it's so accurate...no matter how many times Bethesda pays Geoff Keighley to play their "it's a masterpiece!" ad...

[@RichardBatchelorComposer]

Wouldn’t be a best list without a game about a boat. You love to see it

[@thomasboys7216]

I ship it.

[@thomasdeguzman1149]

And next year, there's unfortunately a good chance that a boat game will be featured on the other 2 lists (Skull and Bones).

[@RichardBatchelorComposer]

I honestly forgot that was even coming out, it’s been delayed so many times I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s delayed again before release

[@HeadCannonPrime]

I really feel like Yahtzee is evolving into his role of post dad puzzle game fan.

[@josephpeters2619]

Starfield is well deserved. I have been trying to play it recently and it’s just so boring. It’s like they took all the most tedious parts of every rpg and simulation game and made a game that is nothing but that.

[@Xyler94]

​@@scrittle If you get swindled by any promotional, it's because you can't formulate your own opinions. Before CP2077's release, I was ridiculed for suggesting the game wasn't gonna be what it's hyped to be. And I was right. And plus, Starfield was what I wanted it to be. Bethesda RPG in space. I didn't expect anything other than that, and that's what I got. Just like Baldur's Gate 3. I expected it to be Divinity 2 with D&D 5e Mechanics, and that's exactly what I got. I don't understand why people hype themselves up with speculation on games that it isn't.

[@Horvath_Gabor]

@@Xyler94 Pretty much this. I mean, Starfield is a game that's been strangled by its core design cornerstone (read: "realistic" sci-fi set in our not-so-distant future, so no retro-futurism, no fantasy races, no wacky aliens, no magical super-tech, barren planets, and industrialist architcture), and everything just kind of cascaded down from there. It's a competent Bethesda-style RPG, but that's about it, and while I think the hate is overblown, it really feels like the whole game was kneecapped by some of the most baffling design decisions I've ever seen in a game.

[@Th3BadThing]

"Now get out of here, you fucking suck" Yahtz can deliver such wildly eloquent lines full of vivid descriptions, and still manage to deliver such a dry comment that makes it even funnier.

[@milos1967]

Every year I am continually impressed by the new visual motifs in the best, worst, and blandest awards. This one is particularly surprising, it almost feels too high quality for a ze-I mean, for a Fully Ramblomatic video. Also if you liked the horror of having your last hour of progress erased in Amnesia, then I highly reccomend you play Fear and Hunger or it's sequel, Fear and Hunger Termina.

[@lol2424242424]

I also love F&H and hesitantly say to maybe try it out, it is very much not for everyone.

[@milos1967]

​@@lol2424242424 That is definitely true. I didn't mention all the horrible stuff in them because the games themselves are plastered with content warnings, and Yahtzee doesn't seem like he has the most delicate sensibilities in the world. But yeah, they definitely aren't for everybody.

[@vinnythewebsurfer]

I appreciate the consistency of having the good games descending from the heavens, the bland games tumbleweeding in from the side and bad games rising from the toilet.

[@stephencowie696]

"i dont want it getting too smug" is the best reason to not give BG3 any awards.

[@KingOfDoma]

Congrats on the title card budget upgrade. Best, Worst and Blandest has never looked shinier!

[@williamgreci8219]

Not surprising that the Gollum game was ranked as worse than "Forspoken". While both games have a plethora of problems, "Lord of the Rings Gollum" is also tied to a franchise with so many installments that it can be compared to "Star Wars".

[@JarethS]

It makes me happy to see Talos Principle 2 making it up there. Hopefully this year treats all of you at Second Wind better than what you got in the previous!

[@CasualFox12495]

The production design skyrocketed this year. Bravo, guys.

[@theelike4302]

Even winning Yahtzee's coveted game of the year title could save Tango Gameworks from the corporate axe.

[@coolbad96]

I love how much more Yahtzee sounds excited and uncensored recently.

[@Cthooligan]

Wow, shots fired at Emeryville. There is in fact one more thing in that city, the Rudy's Can't Fail Cafe, which was partially owned by Green Day bassist, and carries Offspring vocalist's hot sauce, Gringo Bandito, as standard. However, it did in fact recently fail and was bought out by the workers and is now employee owned. Is directly across the street from Pixar.

[@TheSmartboy64]

Seeing Yahtzee give plenty of love to Hi Fi Rush is amazing. That game and Tango deserve it, and more, for being such an amazing experience and game.

[@shardinhand1243]

honestly cant belive id ever say this giving my long time fav games are typicly games like dark souls sonic or zelda like games but this year for me the top is easily slay the princess, a non euclidian eldritch horror... love story and visual novel... unbelivable, and it somehow works, it all works wondfuly hilariously in all its weird unique freaky glory. i love it. easy recomend for fans of the genre or fans of horror or dark comedys or just fans of dating monsterous nightmare god entities in waifu form.

[@neoqwerty]

Slay the Princess has had my attention and heart ever since its first demo dropped into AlphaBetaGamer's radar. It feels like a gamebook from the 80s more than the usual VN, but with a NG+ storyline

[@JacF6734]

"Do more of this games industry! Remind me more of about how it was before you made everything go to shit!" *Microsoft:* "Shut down the developers of Hi-Fi Rush, got it."

[@VinceTrousers4]

I'm really hoping this helps expose Talos Principle 2 to more people. It's an incredible game and sequel, and flew way too far under the radar due to the crazy amount of other quality games this year. Still in my top 3 as well despite all the others!

[@BenPyman]

I just picked up the first game for under €5 on PlayStation Store and the second one is also currently discounted. If anyone else is curious.

[@DMBLaan]

Going back to this after the shut down of Tango. I wonder what the Yatz of this video would have said, if he knew this whole mess was coming not even 6 months later.

[@lazydatebase4424]

I'd include Slay the Princess somwhere on the list. It was the second game after Oneshot that made a genuine world, erased 4th wall and made you feel like a God for me. Pretty under rated.

[@PJammaGod]

I played the thorn entangled, angry wraith screeching, john woo sword-in-arm fighting, dismembered head carrying existential heck out of Slay the Princess. Haven't been that engrossed in a game in ages.

[@vonriel1822]

Really amusing coming here after the Steam Awards dropped. And while I'm a bit sad he didn't wanna slob Larian's knob - I think they really did deserve it, even from a list that tries to highlight less mainstream titles - I understand why.

[@espio87]

The moment Yahtzee showed a brief glint of Starfield, I knew it was going to be the top blandest.

[@Witcherfalse]

Well that aged well! the studio behind Hi-Fi Rush is now closed.

[@magentaformula025]

I remember when people were guessing it was web of wyrd in the comments. It was the only thing that vaguely fit the description though.

[@JakePetrolhead]

I will tell absolutely anyone who will listen about just how good Shadows of Doubt is - a womderful concept, executed with care, in one of the most immersive settings I've ever experienced. Glad to see it made the top 5, its one of the few games I've played recently that has properly stuck with me.

[@mario7886]

Bold business decision on the part of the publishers of the Hellboy game to smother out the second to last chance for me to know the game even existed.

[@josephabrams8529]

6:07 sad rewatching this episode only to find out that tango game works has been shut down by Microsoft so we”ll never get a hi-fi rush 2; or something new of similar quality.

[@BIadelores]

Think again

[@VeritabIlIti]

Phew, was worried Dredge wouldnt pop up now that Yahtz is aware of his tendency towards seafaring adventures. Glad one thing is still consistent in this life!

[@UPSLynx]

Around a year ago, I got my dead car fixed and serviced, then drove it around town. I live in Emeryville, CA. 😭

[@sunlitsonata6853]

Tfw Bethesda managed to publish three games that all three lists and topped two of them

[@wanderlking8634]

I am shocked that Forspoken was 2023...it seems like a lifetime ago.

[@steveman9668]

The problem with star wars isn't that there's too much of it, but that it's all extremely boring. You had way more star wars games coming out during the prequel era, when lucasarts were giving the license out like candy, and it didn't cause this kind of fatigue because every product wasn't as tightly controlled as disney ones are.

[@Alucard-A-La-Carte]

I loved Dredge. A cozy horror game wasn't something I ever thought I needed, but I sure did!

[@darronperryjr.3171]

I've got an artist friend that worked on gollum. I feel so bad for her.

[@WardyLion]

Was happy to sign up to the Patreon as soon as you announced it. Here’s hoping for a very prosperous 2024 for Second Wind!

[@84jesterx]

I am overjoyed that at least this segment made it out alive from the Escapist. I was starting to get worried that I wouldn't get my End of the Year/Start of the New Year Snarky Reminisce Gaming tour with Yahtzee.

[@robo3007]

These are my top 5 of 2023! 1. Alan Wake 2 2. Baldur's Gate 3 3. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor 4. Lies of P 5. Marvel's Spider-Man 2

[@Dr_Jim57]

wrong .

[@TPrime85]

Re-watched every ZP GOTY before coming back to this one and Yahtzee still nails it. Here’s to another sixteen years, everyone 🎉

[@LGreymark]

It's such an absolute win that you guys already have 400K subscribers, I hope your freedom and enthusiasm keeps bringing you success.

[@Crocogator]

Yesssssss. YESSS! More love for Hi-Fi Rush. That game is absolutely fantastic and deserves a yearly replay for sure.

[@andersjjensen]

Don't ever change man! Keep ripping "make a game from a financial spread sheet generated checklist, and release it in alpha state"-games to confetti, and keep making hardened sailors blush in the process!

[@PaulDozierZZoMBiE13]

I'm still genuinely stunned about how Starfield turned out. I was so jazzed for it. So eager to play it. And then... BIG FAT MEH from the off. It just never hit a stride. And just to be clear here, I AM THE TARGET AUDIENCE. I love Bethesda's weird games. But it starts with a wet fart of an opening compared to other Bethesda offerings. In Skyrim you fight a dragon within the first hour, in Fallout 4 you literally begin at the end of the world, and in Starfield... you touch a funny rock and go wibbley. What the hell, Todd? How could you let this happen?

[@BAMFshee]

Yeah, a lot of people have been calling out BGS's refusal to evolve in how they make games, but in many ways they're actually *regressing* which is what I find most alarming. Like, in addition to the big iconic moments that you mentioned, people still talk about Skyrim's intro with the wagon and escaping from Alduin, finding Megaton for the first time in Fallout 3, that first moment you walk out of the Vault in Fallout 4... but I don't really remember hearing about *any* particularly special moment from their time with Starfield even from people who liked the game.

[@strain42]

2023 was such a bizarre year for sure. My GOTY ended up being an upgraded version of an old point and click flash game. I was happy to hear that Hellboy got officially called out. I remember hoping that would happen back when you reviewed "?"

[@tanarurgemer]

Man, those 3D introductions are really something. Good to know my hard-earned patreon dollars are finally paying for something fucking meaningful.

[@ChefAndyLunique]

I love these videos because spite knowing I rarely like the same games as Yahtz, I appreciate learning about games I may want to check out.

[@KingGameReview]

HiFi Rush and Bomb Rush Cyberfunk were my favorite games of the year.

[@jacobjudd2692]

As an Oakland resident who works down the street from Pixar, that dunk on Emeryville destroyed me.

[@DinJerr]

I'm so glad we're still getting this summary of the past year once again. Thanks man.

[@OfNoImport]

The only perks I need are - knowing that my money is helping you guys pump out stuff like this at a reasonable pace - seeing my name in the credits

[@andersjjensen]

Having a balls-to-the-wall, takes-no-bribes-and-tries-to-please-nobody review group reach a size where the gaming industry HAS to take them seriously is, to me, worth more than frequent uploads and seeing my own name.

[@williammatthews3667]

Talos 2 and HiFi Rush are also my top 2 games of 2023. Hoping this video will give them more attention.

[@avramnovorra]

Nice to see the tradition carrying on! I do wish Yahtzee tried Trepang², and whether or not it would have made this list, I'd kill to see him pick apart my fave of 2023

[@P2-D2]

Excellent work on the fart noise. It's just at that right pitch to give you a little laugh every time you hear it!

[@thatlegendarytrainer]

Hope you all do well in the new year!

[@arenkai]

One thing the shift towards the public being harsher on game releases is that it might hide something more sinister down the line. For example people that make a carrier telling their audience how dead the game's industry is while only focusing on the 2 or 3 major catastrophes of the year and actively taking away time from talking about the more deserving games.

[@jurtheorc8117]

That's why it's important to always keep talking about those titles that are not nearly as known, be they old, new or yet upcoming. From The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile, Charlie Murder, No Straight Roads to Clash: Artifacts of Chaos,Soulstice, Cookie Cutter, Deathbulge: Battle of the Bands, to Genokids, Enenra, Blud, Nine Sols and many more. Always important to keep on having the good in mind, and give all that which has potential a chance. Even if not for yourself, then others may jive with it more.