3 Up, 3 Down – September 2023
September 2023 was such a good month for videogames! It also felt like the first month in a while that had a proper spread of release quality. Over the summer, it seemed like almost every game was in the 60-80 range, with a few exceptions. September will have games that scored 90 out of 100 that won’t be mentioned in this article. And we’ve got some real stink on these bad games too. We now present The Three Best (and Worst) Video Games from September 2023:
The Good
Mortal Kombat 1
***click here for our review***
Ever since the franchise reboot in 2011 that returned the series to its 2D plane roots, Mortal Kombat has been killing it. Mortal Kombat 1 is no exception. It has a beautiful cinematic story that directly follows the events of Mortal Kombat 11. There’s also an RPG-like mode called Invasion, in addition to its traditional arcade Towers. Mortal Kombat 1 also introduces tag gameplay for the first time in franchise history. All of these new features are well-executed, and add a ton of fresh paint to the series. Our reviewer concluded “Mortal Kombat 1 is a flawless victory”. It’s very deserving of a Good spot on The Three Best (and Worst) Video Games from September 2023.
Sea of Stars
***click here for our review***
Sea of Stars came out right at the end of August, and it was so good, that we wanted to highlight it in The Three Best (and Worst) Video Games from September 2023. It’s a JRPG that takes place in the world of The Messenger, which was an incredible Metroidvania platformer. Every aspect of it is near perfect, from its heartfelt story, to its vibrant visuals, and modernized turn-based combat. Our reviewer proclaimed “Sea of Stars is one of the best RPGs, nay, games I’ve ever played”. Everyone take note of this indie gem.
Starfield
***click here for our review***
Starfield is the new Bethesda-developed CRPG. It’s not Elder Scrolls or Fallout, but it’s definitely the spiritual successor to those two. The outer space setting is engrossing, and there’s a ton of content. Starfield does have the flaws of its predecessors though. The story is gripping, but doesn’t end well. The game can be too vast, and there’s a lot of long load times. But the sandbox Bethesda’s created will likely be millions of people’s favorite for years to come. Our reviewer also found “Starfield is Bethesda’s most polished game yet”, which has traditionally been the studio’s biggest shortcoming.