The global games industry nowadays is as vast as it is diverse and while thats good news for the adventurous gamer, it can sometimes mean that it can be tricky to find the hidden gems among the mountain of shovel-ware knock-offs out there.
No matter what device youre playing on, there are new services and platforms popping up all the time that provide compelling gameplay experiences you wont find anywhere else. Below were going to take a look at the very best of these for 2023.
Thinking Different
Of the leading names in big tech, one Apple, has always been conspicuous in its lack of interest in gaming. Amazon owns Twitch and is building out its cloud gaming platform, Luna; Microsoft is the brains behind the Xbox; Facebook is investing billions in into its VR gaming ambitions; and Google has tried (and failed) to assert itself in the cloud gaming space with Stadia.
Apple, on the other hand, once saw its off-handed attitude to gaming as a badge of pride, associating the industry with the kind of frivolity that Microsofts more sophisticated rival had no time for. Of course, all of that is changing now, in no small part due to the fact that the global games industry is worth $220 billion, something that Cupertino can no longer ignore.
Apples big new venture in the gaming space is Apple Arcade. This subscription service started life as a curated selection of the App Stores greatest hits, and was bundled with cross-play support across the entire Apple hardware ecosystem.
But Apple Arcade has started to grow into something much more interesting its effectively Apples new in-house game studio. Exclusive titles are being released at a steady rate on the platform, often with the help of big names. Sega has signed on to create some Arcade exclusives, and legendary creator of the Final Fantasy series, Hironobu Sakaguchi, has brought a new JRPG to the platform in Fantasian.
Ace in the Hole
One of the major stories of the past decade is the rise of digital variants of many of our most beloved physical games. From board games like Settlers of Catan, to popular game of strategy like chess virtually everywhere you look, developers are devising inventive ways to bring these classics into the modern world.
Another game that has become strongly associated with online play in the 21st century is poker. Much of this can be laid at the feet of the work of reputable platforms such as PokerStars, which has helped renovate this endlessly compelling game for a new generation.
Its client is a leader in the space thanks to the comprehensive features including the ability to form clubs, compete in on-demand tournaments, and access rich statistics to chart your progression. With cross-platform support for Mac, PC, iOS and Android, its also one of the most accessible platforms out there today.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
Microsoft have been building up their Game Pass service for a number of years at this point, and with its cloud gaming segment (formerly known as xCloud) finally due to leave Beta, theres never been a better time to explore what the fuss is about.
The services top subscription tier, Ultimate, gives players instant access to over 170 different games, and not only Xbox titles. There are some truly great PC games in the mix, and a nice selection of touch-optimised mobile games.
Game Pass represents incredible value to players who want to sample a wide range of games and, thanks to its cloud compatibility, many of these can be played on the go on any internet-connected hardware of your choosing.
The ability to play triple-A titles like Halo: Infinite on your smartphone is a truly novel step forward for gaming, and as the platform continues to gather steam and offer a wider selection of titles, it may well eventually supplant the need for owning a physical Xbox altogether.