The gaming industry is continuously evolving, and with the advent of new platforms, technologies, and genres, the most popular video games are constantly changing. As we move into 2023, we have curated a list of the top games everyone should be playing, featuring timeless classics as well as fresh releases. These games span various platforms, including PC, consoles, and mobile devices. So, without further ado, let’s dive into the most popular video games in 2023.

1. Fortnite

• Genre: Survival, battle royale, sandbox
• Developer: Epic Games
• Publisher: Epic Games
• Metacritic score: 83

One of the most successful battle royale games, Fortnite, remains a dominant force in the gaming world. Developed by Epic Games, this free-to-play title has attracted millions of players with its exciting gameplay, vibrant graphics, and regular updates. Fortnite’s addictive nature and strong esports presence have solidified its status as one of the most popular video games in 2022.

Key Features:

• Battle Royale mode with up to 100 players
• Regular content updates and seasonal events
• Cross-platform play across PC, consoles, and mobile devices
• Massive esports tournaments and celebrity collaborations

2. PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG)

• Genre: Battle royale
• Developer: PUBG Studios
• Publisher: Krafton, Microsoft Studios (Xbox One), Tencent Games (mobile)
• Metacritic score: 82

Pioneering the battle royale genre, PUBG continues to draw substantial attention from gamers worldwide. With its realistic graphics and intense gameplay, PUBG offers a more mature and tactical experience compared to its competitors. Regular updates, new maps, and a dedicated esports scene contribute to maintaining its position among the most popular video games.

Key Features:

• Tactical and realistic gameplay
• Variety of maps and weapons
• Esports tournaments and competitions
• Available on PC, consoles, and mobile devices

3. Among Us

• Genre: Party, social deduction
• Developer: Innersloth
• Publisher: Innersloth
• Metacritic score: 83

Initially released in 2018, Among Us gained immense popularity in 2020, thanks to its simple yet engaging gameplay. This multiplayer party game challenges players to work together while identifying the impostors among them. Its cross-platform availability and low system requirements make it accessible to a wide audience, making it one of the most popular video games in recent times.

Key Features:

• Deceptively simple gameplay mechanics
• Customizable settings and game rules
• Cross-platform play between PC and mobile devices
• Active community and user-generated content

4. Minecraft

• Genre: Survival, sandbox
• Developer: Mojang Studios
• Publisher: Mojang Studios
• Metacritic score: 93

As one of the best-selling games of all time, Minecraft has captivated players with its limitless sandbox world and creative possibilities. Despite being released over a decade ago, the game continues to enjoy widespread popularity, thanks to its regular updates, thriving modding community, and educational applications.

Key Features:

• Endless sandbox world with procedurally generated terrain
• Creative mode for limitless building possibilities
• Survival mode with crafting, resource gathering, and combat
• Active modding community and custom servers

5. Call of Duty: Warzone

• Genre: Battle royale, first-person shooter
• Developer: Infinity Ward, Raven Software
• Publisher: Activision
• Metacritic score: 79

Call of Duty: Warzone is a free-to-play addition to the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare title, offering an exciting battle royale experience. With its large-scale maps, diverse weapon loadouts, and intense gameplay, Warzone has quickly become one of the most popular video games, attracting millions of players worldwide.

Key Features:

• Intense battle royale gameplay within the Call of Duty universe
• Large-scale maps and diverse weapon loadouts
• Regular content updates and in-game events
• Seamless integration with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare multiplayer mode

6. League of Legends

• Genre: MOBA
• Developer: Riot Games
• Publisher: Riot Games
• Metacritic score: 78

League of Legends (LoL) remains one of the most popular video games globally, thanks to its deep strategic gameplay and ever-growing roster of champions. This multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game has attracted millions of players and boasts a massive esports scene, with prestigious tournaments and competitions.

Key Features:

• Deep strategic gameplay with a diverse roster of champions
• Constant updates, balance changes, and new content
• Massive esports scene and professional leagues
• Free-to-play with optional cosmetic purchases

7. Grand Theft Auto V

• Genre: Action-adventure
• Developer: Rockstar North
• Publisher: Rockstar Games
• Metacritic score: 97

Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto V continues to be a fan favorite, offering players a vast open-world environment, engaging storylines, and an extensive online multiplayer mode. Despite being released in 2013, the game remains one of the most popular video games, with ongoing content updates and a dedicated player base.

Key Features:

• Expansive open-world environment with limitless possibilities
• Engaging single-player campaign with memorable characters
• Online multiplayer mode with regular content updates
• Active modding community and custom servers

8. Apex Legends

• Genre: Battle royale, first-person hero shooter
• Developer: Respawn Entertainment
• Publisher: Electronic Arts
• Metacritic score: 79

Respawn Entertainment’s Apex Legends has made a name for itself in the crowded battle royale genre with its unique blend of fast-paced gameplay, diverse character abilities, and team-based tactics. Set in the Titanfall universe, this free-to-play title has attracted millions of players and continues to be one of the most popular video games in 2022.

Key Features:

• Fast-paced gameplay with unique character abilities
• Team-based tactics and strategy
• Regular content updates, including new characters and maps
• Competitive ranked mode and esports tournaments

9. Valorant

• Genre: Hero shooter, Tactical shooter
• Developer: Riot Games
• Publisher: Riot Games
• Metacritic score: 80

Riot Games’ entry into the first-person shooter genre, Valorant, combines tactical gun play with unique character abilities, offering a fresh take on the competitive shooter experience. With its emphasis on precise aiming, teamwork, and strategy, Valorant has quickly gained popularity among gamers and has established itself as one of the most popular video games in 2022.

Key Features:

• Tactical gameplay combining gun play and unique character abilities
• Emphasis on teamwork and communication
• Regular content updates, including new characters and maps
• Growing esports scene and professional leagues

10. Cyberpunk 2077

• Genre: Action role-playing
• Developer: CD Projekt Red
• Publisher: CD Projekt
• Metacritic score: 86

Despite a rocky launch, Cyberpunk 2077 remains a highly anticipated title with its expansive open-world environment, engaging narrative, and immersive gameplay. Developed by CD Projekt Red, the creators of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Cyberpunk 2077 offers players a vast, futuristic world to explore and countless choices to make, earning its spot among the most popular video games.

Key Features:

• Expansive open-world environment set in a futuristic city
• Engaging narrative with meaningful choices and consequences
• Deep character customization and progression system
• Ongoing content updates and improvements

11. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

• Genre: Action role-playing
• Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
• Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
• Metacritic score: 94

Skyrim, the fifth Elder Scrolls game, is an action role-playing game. It was released worldwide in 2011 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, and Xbox 360. The game’s main story involves finding and defeating Alduin the World-Eater, a powerful dragon. Your character must stop the dragon, who will destroy the world, as his name implies. It’s an action RPG from Bethesda Game Studios and Bethesda Softworks. Over 30 million copies sold worldwide!

Key Features:

• Improved Menu System: The overhauled menu includes a map, stats menu, inventory, and hotkey system for better user interaction.
• Single Disc Gameplay: Skyrim fits on one disc for Xbox 360s, making it more convenient for players.
• A Working World: The game introduces a system of professions, allowing non-playable characters to perform tasks like blacksmithing, and players to participate in the game’s economy.
• Enhanced Graphics: Skyrim boasts improved visuals over its predecessor, Oblivion, rendering the world and its inhabitants with incredible realism.
• Official Add-ons: The game features all official add-ons, including Dawnguard, Hearthfire, and Dragonborn, providing additional content and gameplay experiences.

12. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive

• Genre: Tactical first-person shooter
• Developer: Valve Hidden Path Entertainment
• Publisher: Valve
• Metacritic score: 83

This multiplayer first-person shooter, which was released in 2012, is ranked number 12.

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive was released on a variety of platforms and consoles, including Microsoft Windows, OS X, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360, following the success of the other three games in the series. In 2014, a Linux version was released two years later.

In the game, there are two teams: the terrorists and the counter-terrorists, each of which must complete its objectives while defending itself from the other.

When it first came out, critics gave it favorable reviews for its gameplay, and it has since attracted about 11 million players a month.

Key Features:

• Competitive Game Mode: The most important game mode in CS:GO, where players compete in intense matches to improve their rank and prove their skills.
• Team-Based Gameplay: CS:GO expands upon the team-based action from previous Counter-Strike games, requiring strategy and communication to succeed.
• Diverse Weapons: The game offers a wide range of weapons, each with unique attributes and gameplay styles, allowing players to find their perfect loadout.
• Built-in Maps: CS:GO features various built-in maps, each designed to provide a balanced experience, requiring different tactics and strategies.
• Customizable Controls: Players can personalize their controls, including the option to enable or disable fast weapon switching and the developer console.

13. Roblox

• Genre: Game creation system, massively multiplayer online
• Developer: Roblox Corporation
• Publisher: Roblox Corporation
• Metacritic score: N/A

Roblox is a platform for online multiplayer game creation that enables users to both create and play games made by others. After logging in, a plethora of user-generated games and virtual worlds in a range of genres are available. Roblox has your back whether you prefer role-playing games, simulations, or games that resemble an obstacle course.

Give Roblox a try if you’re looking for something a little different and want to play one of the most played video games right now. As of May 2020, Roblox had over 100 million active monthly users.

Key Features:

• User-Generated Content: Roblox emphasizes user-generated content, allowing players to create and play games made by other users.
• Customization: Users can customize their avatars, purchase virtual items, and interact with other players, fostering creativity and self-expression.
• Virtual Economy: Roblox has a virtual economy where users can buy Robux with real money to purchase in-game items and developers can monetize their games, sharing revenue with the platform.
• Simplicity in Game Creation: Roblox makes it relatively simple for users to create their own games, as the platform’s core is designed for ease of use.
• Safety and Moderation: The platform emphasizes safety, moderation, and offers parental controls to ensure a secure environment for players of all ages.

14. Call of Duty: Black Ops IV

• Genre: First-person shooter, battle royale
• Developer: Treyarch
• Publisher: Activision
• Metacritic score: 83

Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 is a first-person shooter game developed by Treyarch and published by Activision. It was released on October 12, 2018, for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Windows. Unlike its predecessor, Black Ops 4 does not feature a traditional single-player campaign. Instead, it focuses on multiplayer gameplay, offering three main modes: Multiplayer, Zombies, and Blackout.

In Multiplayer, the game introduces a more tactical and team-based approach, with a character system called “Specialists”. Zombies mode features a new storyline and multiple maps with new characters, retaining the wave-based survival gameplay. Blackout is a new battle royale mode, where players fight against each other on a large map until only one player or team remains. The game received positive reviews for its multiplayer focus and the addition of the Blackout mode, but was criticized for the absence of a traditional single-player campaign.

Key Features:

• Multiplayer Mode: Call of Duty: Black Ops IIII focuses on multiplayer gameplay, offering a variety of maps, weapons, and character customization options to create an engaging and competitive experience.
• Zombies Mode: The game features an extensive Zombies mode with three unique storylines, each with its set of characters, maps, and challenges, providing hours of cooperative gameplay.
• Blackout Mode: This battle royale mode combines elements from the entire Black Ops series, offering a large map where players compete to be the last one standing while utilizing weapons, equipment, and vehicles from the franchise.
• Specialist System: Black Ops IIII introduces a new “Specialist” system, where players can choose from a range of unique characters, each with their set of abilities and equipment, adding an extra layer of strategy to the gameplay.
• No Traditional Single-player Campaign: Instead of a conventional single-player story mode, the game emphasizes its multiplayer aspects, focusing on providing a more immersive online experience.

15. Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege

• Genre: Tactical shooter
• Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
• Publisher: Ubisoft
• Metacritic score: 79

Ubisoft Montreal created and released the tactical shooter video game online. It was released in 2015 and is playable on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Microsoft Windows. In various game modes, such as defusing a bomb or freeing a hostage, the player controls either an attacker or a defender. There are a few quick missions you can play on your own, but there are no real campaigns to complete. At the Australian Games Awards in 2018, Rainbow Six Siege took home the “Esports Title of the Year” award.

Key Features:

• Tactical Gameplay: Rainbow Six Siege emphasizes strategic planning and teamwork, requiring players to coordinate their movements and abilities to achieve objectives. This tactical gameplay sets it apart from other first-person shooters, as players need to think carefully about their actions and work together to succeed.
• Destructible Environments: A significant feature in Rainbow Six Siege is its destructible environments, which allow players to create new paths, breach walls, and shoot through surfaces. This adds a dynamic aspect to the gameplay, as players can use the environment to their advantage and develop unique strategies.
• Operator System: The game features a diverse roster of “Operators,” each with their own unique abilities and gadgets. Players can choose from various international counter-terrorism units, and the operator they select greatly influences their play style and role within the team.
• Close-quarters Combat: Rainbow Six Siege focuses on close-quarters combat scenarios, with most maps featuring tight corridors, confined spaces, and limited sight lines. This encourages players to utilize stealth, strategy, and communication to overcome their opponents.
• Regular Updates and Expansions: Since its release, Rainbow Six Siege has received consistent updates and expansions, adding new operators, maps, and gameplay improvements. This ongoing support has helped maintain a strong player base and keeps the game fresh and engaging for both new and experienced players.

Conclusion

These are just a few of the most popular video games in 2023, offering diverse experiences across various platforms and genres. From battle royale shooters and MOBAs to open-world adventures and creative sandbox games, there’s something for everyone on this list. So, whether you’re new to gaming or a seasoned veteran, dive into these games and experience the best of what the gaming world has to offer.