15 Best AAA Games You Must Play In 2023

The year 2021 has been very kind to gamers because we saw some exceptional AAA titles that blew us away. 2022 has seen numerous great releases, but with a significant number of delays, 2023 is looking brighter than ever.

Developers like Ubisoft, Naughty Dog, and Hanger 13 dropped some piping-hot games in 2021 that received praise from all over the world.

Looking back at the years 2021 & 2022, most of which were spent coming out of quarantine, were great years for AAA titles. 

We’ll take a trip down memory lane and hand-pick the best AAA games in 2023 that you can play now. Bear with us as we go through the best AAA titles that deserve all your attention.

Without any further ado, let’s get started.  

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What is a Triple-A Game? 

Before we jump into anything else, let’s discuss what exactly is a AAA game. All the games released by mid-sized and major developers around the world are called AAA games.

In short, any game released by big developers like Ubisoft, Rockstar, Naughty Dog, CD Projekt Red, and other major brands is called a AAA title. Every triple-A game has a massive budget and is published by major developers. 

On the contrary, games published by small-time developers are called indie games, and if you’re into RPG games then you’ve probably heard of them.

For instance, one of the most played games in 2021 was “Among Us” and it’s an indie title. Similarly, PUBG is also not considered a triple AAA game.

Furthermore, Minecraft was also an indie game but after Microsoft took over, it was recognized as an AAA game. 

Top AAA Games in 2023

15. Minecraft Dungeons

• Release Date – May 26, 2020
• Developer – Mojang Studios 
• Genre – Action role-playing game
• Supported Platforms – Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows

At first glance, Minecraft Dungeons looks awfully like Diablo because mechanics-wise, there are a lot of similarities between the two, and without the Minecraft skin, I’d say that the whole thing is inspired by the Diablo franchise.

However, the settings of the game are completely quite different. 

Minecraft Dungeons isn’t just a hack and slash game, it also offers the opportunity to craft objects and explore the well-lit dungeons.

Even though it’s a Minecraft game, the graphics seem very unrealistic and even the darkest sites are perfectly visible.

Aside from the flawless gameplay and its brutal combat, the subtle lighting effects in Minecraft Dungeons would steal your heart. 

The developers did a phenomenal job with this one and we could hardly spot any bugs or glitches that would interrupt the game.

Furthermore, Minecraft Dungeons is quite competitive and you will need a few tricks up your sleeves if you want to face off the minions and their bosses. 

Specification-wise, it’s hard to imagine but you’ll need a powerful PC to run Minecraft Dungeons. Furthermore, Minecraft Dungeons is also available on PlayStation and Xbox consoles.

We recommend you also check out these fantastic games like Minecraft that are bound to give you endless hours of fun. 

Buy Minecraft Dungeons 

14. Mafia: Definitive Edition 

• Release Date – September 25, 2020
• Developer – Hanger 13
• Genre – Action/Adventure (Open-World)
• Supported Platforms – PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X and Microsoft Windows

Mafia: Definitive Edition is one of our favorite games of the year 2020 because the developers did a damn good job at remastering this legendary tale of Tommy Angelo.

The gameplay and the mechanics blew us away but the redefined story left a mark in our hearts. Although the end was a bit disappointing, the overall experience was exceptional. 

The original Mafia came out in 2002, and it was the first installment in the Mafia franchise. It was ahead of its time and gave us some good memories that will last forever.

The epic rivalry between Don Morello and Don Salieri would make you want to complete the whole game in one sitting.

Moreover, In the Mafia: Definite Edition, developers did crop a small portion of the game for an unknown reason but we’ve enjoyed every second of it. 

Graphics-wise, the game looked exceptionally well and the mechanics held up quite well. However, driving a bike was a bit unpleasant but if you prefer the vintage rides then you won’t really have to practice much to master your driving skills.

Furthermore, Mafia: Definitive Edition is very well optimized and ran flawlessly on mid-range PC on high settings.

There weren’t any fps-drops or stuttering throughout the game and we’ve had a very pleasant time.

Buy Mafia: Definitive Edition on Steam 

13. Final Fantasy VII Remake

• Release Date – March 2, 2020
• Developer – Square Enix
• Genre – Action RPG
• Supported Platforms – PlayStation 4 

We had dozens of remakes this year, but Final Fantasy VII Remake was the best of the bunch. The original FF7 came out in 1997, and it was one of the best-selling AAA titles of that year.

Final Fantasy VII Remake follows the story of Cloud Strife who teams up with the AVALANCHE organization to continue his fight against Shinra Corporation with the help of his allies. 

The games start with us getting off a train with our allies and directly attacking the reactor facility owned by Shinra Corporation that is draining the life out of the planet.

The story is pretty much the same as the original game but you’ll find a lot of bonus content to enhance the experience.

As for the gameplay, the Final Fantasy VII Remake is very different from the original game and the mechanics of the game are also very diverse. 

FF7 Remake features a real-time combat system but in the original game, turn-based tactics were used.

Developers mentioned at a point that Final Fantasy VII Remake would feature turn-based tactics but only a few bosses fight featured them.

As for the gameplay, FF7 features stunning graphics with a finely crafted environment and smooth gameplay.

FF7 Remake deserved to be played at 4K with 60 fps but unfortunately, Final Fantasy 7 Remake is a PS4 exclusive AAA title and it could hardly maintain 60 fps on 1080p settings. 

Furthermore, the remake of the original game is still in demand and till now, more than 5 million copies of the game were sold in a short span of just 7 months.

If you’ve played the original game when it came out a couple of decades ago then this remake would definitely give you a trip down memory lane. 

Buy Final Fantasy 7 Remake 

12. DOOM Eternal

• Release Date – March 20, 2020
• Developer – id Software 
• Genre – Action/First-person Shooter
• Supported Platforms – Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S, Microsoft Windows, and Google Stadia

Very much inspired by its predecessors, Doom Eternal features a hack n slash gameplay that is heavily influenced by real-time tactics.

Sequel to the Doom (2016), Doom Eternal follows the eternal journey of Doom Slayers juggling from one weapon to the other to dismantle the enemies and take down the strange creatures of hell.

The gameplay of Doom Eternal is quite intensive and something that you’ve never experienced before. 

Chasing down deadly creatures of hell is something that we don’t do every day but when you’re hunted by vicious monsters, you will find yourself laden with deadly weapons to defend yourself. As one of the best first-person games, Doom Eternal is a bit too odd for our taste, but for fps lovers, Doom Eternal would be a dream come true. 

Mastering the tactics would take you forever to learn and the fights get more challenging as you make progress in the game.

Furthermore, the key to success is to find the right weapon combination and suit upgrades. Finding unique skins is purely for cosmetic purposes and won’t really impact the damage profile but along the way, you may find some brutal weapons that are all you need to go toe-to-toe with the devilish creatures. 

The boss fights are quite intense and you’ll have to be on your front foot the whole time to perfectly time your every move.

One wrong move and you’ll find yourself going stray to find armor and health to survive the round. 

Doom Eternal would require you to have exceptional battle tactics if you want to succeed but if you’re new to the genre then you’ll face many hurdles.

For old-timers, Doom Eternal’s competitive gameplay may pose a threat and you’ll enjoy every second of it. 

Buy Doom Eternal 

11. Marvel’s Avengers

• Release Date – August 14, 2020
• Developer – Crystal Dynamics
• Genre – Action/Adventure 
• Supported Platforms – PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X and Series S, Xbox One, Google Stadia, Microsoft Windows

Since the Endgame, all of us are in awe of the Marvel universe and with Marvel’s Avengers coming out, we couldn’t contain ourselves and had to get our hands on this masterpiece.

Marvel’s Avengers features all of our favorite superheroes and all of them ‘Assemble’ on Captain’s command to smash the villains and fighting for the people. 

This game is mostly focused on lethal combat where you’ll get to play with Captain America, Thor, Ironman, Hulk, and more characters.

All the superheroes will have their own unique special abilities that will come in handy when you’re targeting villains of the outer worlds.

Unfortunately, the campaign is only 10-hours long but with multiplayer content, you’ll find yourself spending many hours on this one. 

Marvel’s Avengers is heavily influenced by RPG stuff and you’ll find plenty of character customization opportunities that make things a bit more interesting.

Moving on, Marvel’s Avengers told a dark story where Taskmaster launches a brutal attack on the city of San Francisco that destroys the whole city and leaves innumerable bodies in his wake.

The Avengers assemble under the command of Captain America to launch a counter-attack against Taskmaster and his goons. 

The gameplay is quite interesting at the start and you’ll get to experiment with all your favorite superheroes.

However, as you make progress in the game, the story gets a bit boring but nevertheless, it’s definitely worth a shot.

And for Marvel fanatics, this game is a must-play and you should definitely get your hands on this AAA title in 2022 and beyond. 

Buy Marvel’s Avengers 

10. Valorant

• Release Date – June 2, 2020
• Developer –  Riot Games
• Genre – Action/First-person Shooter
• Supported Platforms – Microsoft Windows

If you’re looking for a ramped-up version of CS: GO then you won’t have to look any further because Valorant is as closest as it can get.

It is an online free first-person multiplayer game but with a twist, it comes loaded with magical abilities and spells that would make things very interesting. 

Mastering special abilities and spells are quite difficult but thanks to its practice mode, you could equip any agent and experiment with its abilities.

Gameplay-wise, Valorant is very competitive and it seems like all the legendary players from CSGO have migrated to this free-to-play first-person shooter. 

As for the graphics and mechanics of the game, the developers did a pretty good job of optimizing the game. Even on low-end PCs, gamers can enjoy Valorant with playable fps.

In 2022, you won’t find many free AAA titles that could run on low-end Gaming PC. Instead, you get graphically demanding games, but Valorant is an exception.

Unfortunately, Valorant is only available for Microsoft Windows which means that you won’t have access to this amazing AAA title on your consoles. 

Popularity-wise, Valorant is one of the most played multiplayer action games of the year. Valorant came out in June 2020 but you’ll still find thousands of players playing it every day.

Furthermore, Valorant is another AAA game of 2020 that you must get your hands on.

Pro Tip for Beginners: Start off with Sage and master its abilities if you want to get a few wins under your belt. 

Download Valorant 

9. Baldur’s Gate 3 

• Release Date – October 6, 2020
• Developer –  Larian Studios
• Genre – Action/RPG
• Supported Platforms – Google Stadia, macOS, Microsoft Windows

This one has dragons! 

If you love playing Dungeons and Dragons-inspired AAA titles then you’re really going to enjoy this epic RPG.

Baldur’s Gate 3 is the third installment in the franchisee and after playing the first two, we can safely say that this one is worthy of  your time and money, 

Baldur’s Gate 3 is set in the Forgotten Realms where the war-torn nation is yet again in the crosshair of Mind Flayers.

They are inter-dimensional ships that allow them to travel between worlds and they’re using this technology to invade the nations.

The story gets exciting as you make progress in the game. Baldur’s Gate 3 is heavily inspired by Divinity 2 and Skyrim. Similar settings and environments can be found in games like Skyrim. 

Moreover, Baldur’s Gate 3 is still in early access mode and you could enjoy the first 20-25 hours of the gameplay but developers are yet to comment on when the remaining part of the game would be released.

However, with next-gen consoles just around the corner, we think that we might get all the content from the developers by the end of this year. 

When it comes to graphics and performance, Baldur’s Gate 3 runs flawlessly on mid-range battle station and you won’t experience any shuttering or frame drops.

Moving on, character customization is one of the main aspects of the game and if you’re into RPGs then you will surely be in awe of it. 

If you’re looking for a modern RPG with some Skyrim vibes then Baldur’s Gate 3 would be an excellent choice. 

Buy Baldur’s Gate 3 

8. Call of Duty: Warzone

• Release Date – March 10, 2020
• Developer – Activision
• Genre – Action/First-person Shooter
• Supported Platforms – PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows

After witnessing the success of Fortnite and PUBG, Activision released their own version of battle royale and all of us are in awe of it.

Call of Duty: Warzone is the first battle-royale game in the franchise and it offers the most advanced and competitive combat that we’ve ever seen. 

Call of Duty Warzone is another AAA title that is completely free but if you want to get a hold of premium skins then buying a season pass will cost you some bucks.

Moreover, we’re already in the 4th season of Warzone and we’ve enjoyed every bit of it.

Furthermore, gameplay-wise, Warzone is played in the first-person perspective and it is extremely hard.

If you want to get a win under your name then you would need to be a professional who knows his way around modern assault rifles.

As for the graphics, they look stunning and you’ll need a high-end rig if you want to experience smooth gameplay. 

For those who are just leaning towards first-person shooters, Warzone might not be the desired option because of its competitive nature that will leave you rattled.

With millions of players trying their luck against each other, there can only be one winner and if you’re struggling to get your first win then you shouldn’t be disheartened, there’s a long way to go before you could bag a victory. 

Warzone features a large map where you will be deployed with your teammates and the key to victory is to find the best loot possible.

Starting off, Grau 5.54 would really come in handy when dismantling the enemy squads. In conclusion, Warzone truly offers a memorable experience and you would enjoy it. 

Download Call of Duty: Warzone 

7. Watch Dogs: Legion 

• Release Date – October 29, 2020
• Developer – Ubisoft 
• Genre – Action/Adventure 
• Supported Platforms – PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Google Stadia, Microsoft Windows

Watch Dogs: Legion is the third installment in the WD franchise and it is also one of the most anticipated games of the year.

Similar to its predecessors, Watch Dogs: Legion is an open-world game that is heavily influenced by hacking/slashing around the city of London. 

The plot follows the story of a hacking group, Dedsec, who is being framed for the London bombing to turn the people against this extremist group.

The story flows quite well and gets very interesting down the road and we don’t want to spoil anything for you so I’ll just leave it to the imagination.

Similar to the previous installment in the series, Watch Dogs: Legion is very badly optimized and even in high-end rigs, Watch Dogs: Legion could hardly manage to hit 60 fps on a 4K display.

Some believe that Ubisoft added three DRM protection layers to stop the hackers from cracking the game and this could be the reason behind the constant shuttering and frame drops. 

Moreover, there are many side missions and other activities around the city that will keep you invested and if you’re an RPG fanatic then you’ll surely enjoy this one.

Furthermore, the gameplay and mechanics hold up pretty well and it would be right to conclude the review without appreciating the perfectly written script of the game. 

Looking for a top-notch open-world AAA game? Go and grab Watch Dogs: Legion.

Buy Watch Dogs: Legion

6. Resident Evil 3 Remake 

• Release Date – April 3, 2020
• Developer –  Capcom
• Genre – Action/Adventure 
• Supported Platforms – PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows

Yet another remake but, this one is actually good! 

Capcom did it again and released the remake of Resident Evil 3 that blew us away with its exceptional gameplay and those dark scenes are surely not for the faint-hearted.

In 2018, Capcom released the remastered version of Resident Evil 2, and following the same script, we might get our hands on Resident Evil 4 Remake very soon. 

Moving on, Resident Evil 3 follows the fictional character of Jill who is fighting for her life during the zombie apocalypse.

Believe me, I really don’t want to spoil anything for you but it gets really intense down the line. 

Similar to its predecessors, RE3 Remake is played in the first-person mode and it is scary as hell. If you think you have the guts to play this one then we recommend VR settings in a dark and scary room to get your money’s worth. Once again, it’s not for the faint-hearted. 

Perfectly rendered environment, terrifying gameplay, and realistic graphics, Resident Evil 3 Remake packs a punch and if you don’t get scared easily then we suggest getting your hands on a VR headset to get the full treatment. 

In short, Resident Evil 3 Remake is another best AAA game of 2020 and you should definitely give it a shot.

Buy Resident Evil 3 Remake 

5. Crysis Remastered

• Release Date – 18th Sept 2020
• Developer – Crytek 
• Genre – Action/First-person Shooter
• Supported Platforms – Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4

Here we go again with ‘’But, Can your PC run Crysis?’’

After a very long pause, CryTech took things to a whole new level with their Crysis Remastered that offers impeccable gameplay with a perfectly rendered world.

One could argue that this is one of the best-looking AAA first-person shooters that we’ve seen in a while. 

However, there were some minor issues that ruined the whole experience. Firstly, the game was badly optimized and struggled to show decent frame rates on high refresh rate monitors.

Secondly, flawed mechanics and glitchy gameplay also let us down a bit because our expectations were much higher from this one. 

Nevertheless, Crysis Remastered did bring back some golden memories of the golden era and we enjoyed the whole 12 hours of the campaign.

On a lighter note, developers could’ve done a better job at remaking Crysis because the constantly interrupting bugs are a bit of a bummer. 

Aside from its mechanical flaws, Crysis Remastered is a stunning-looking game with a beautiful world and deep storyline and makes you fall in love with this one.

If you’re into first-person shooters then Crysis Remastered is one of the best of this year. 

Buy Crysis Remastered 

4. Ghost of Tsushima

• Release Date – July 17, 2020
• Developer – Sucker Punch Productions
• Genre – Action/Adventure
• Supported Platforms – PlayStation 4

It’s safe to say that Ghost of Tsushima is the only AAA game of 2020 that lived up to its hype. 

Flawless gameplay backed with a perfect storyline, Ghost of Tsushima is all you need if you’re looking to have the time of your life.

It offers impeccable gameplay with stunning graphics that are sight for sore eyes and its wide world features are filled with all kinds of terrain and the visual details will leave you stunned.

Ghost of Tsushima tells a dark tale of the Mongolian army and their brutality during the invasion in 1274 led by Khotun Khan.

Jin Sakai is the main protagonist in the game and he joins the resistance force to drive the Mongolian out of their city. 

Explore the tale of Jin Sakai, a samurai who took a stand against the Mongolian army and rescued his uncle. The storyline flows very well and each objective would be different from the previous one.

Furthermore, the most unique thing about the Ghost of Tsushima is that there’s no mini-map visible on the screen and you’ll have to follow the wind to reach your destination. 

Sucker Punch landed a big blow to the jaw of PC and Xbox gamers by only releasing Ghost of Tsushima on PlayStation 4.

If you’re eyeing to get your hands on a samurai-based AAA game then Ghost of Tsushima would be a terrific choice. 

Buy Ghost of Tsushima 

3. Animal Crossing: New Horizons

• Release Date – March 20, 2020
• Developer –  Nintendo
• Genre – Adventure/Simulation
• Supported Platforms – Nintendo Switch

Hands down, Animal Crossing: New Horizons is the most relaxing AAA title of the year 2020 and I’m sure that no one would argue on that.

After the huge success if its predecessors, the developers have given us yet another breath-taking Island which we could turn into our own paradise. 

Animal Crossing: New Horizons offers a wide area to customize it as you see fit. If you feel like throwing a Godzilla in your backyard or adding a swimming pool to your front porsche, this game would provide you with a lot of customization opportunities that are beyond our imagination. 

Unlike other farming games, Animal Crossing: New Horizons is very well optimized and features all kinds of terrains.

Furthermore, you’ll be digging into the ground to find bugs and other supplies that will be used to craft different structures around the Island.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons features endless customization and exploration opportunities and you will never get tired of playing this one. 

The holidays are just around the corner and if you want to have the time of your life then exploring different Islands with your friends would be a memorable moment of this year. 

Buy Animal Crossing: New Horizons 

2. Microsoft Flight Simulator

• Release Date – August 18, 2020
• Developer –  Asobo Studio
• Genre – Adventure/Simulation
• Supported Platforms – Microsoft Windows, Xbox One

The Microsoft Flight Simulator does not need any introduction because it is one of the most popular and the most played AAA titles of the year 2020.

Since its release back in the day, gamers are going crazy with this one and literally crashing the planes on their frenemies. 

In case you’ve been living under a rock, Microsoft Flight Simulator is an open-world flight simulator game where you can fly all over the world in your favorite planes and jets.

Moreover, Microsoft Flight Simulator has the most realistic graphic that you’ll ever see and with RTX on, oh boy, I cannot even begin to explain what a sight would that be.

As a matter of fact, this game is also one of the biggest PC games by file size.

Everything in this game is 100% accurate and it’s very close to reality. With real-time rendering, you can fly to any place in the world and land at any of the 37,000+ airports that would like.

Thinking about exploring the mysteries of the Bermuda Triangle? Instead of catching a flight to Florida, you can get in a plane and head right towards the mysterious water-based area 51 to see what the fuss is about. 

When it comes to the best AAA games, Microsoft Flight Simulator definitely makes it to the top of every list of AAA games that you’re going to find on the internet.

The pandemic has us all in the lockdown but if you want to witness the beaches of Hawaii then Microsoft Flight Simulator is the closest that you’re going to get.  

Buy Microsoft Flight Simulator

1. The Last of Us Part II

• Release Date – June 19, 2020
• Developer – Naughty Dog
• Genre – Action/Adventure 
• Supported Platforms – PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows

The Last of Us Part II could easily be the most controversial AAA title of the decade, but we won’t go there right now and stick to the script and bring you an overview of the game. 

The Last of Us Part II is a beautiful-looking game that offers realistic gameplay and every inch of the game is perfectly rendered.

Story-wise, this is something that we’ve never expected from the series. We won’t spoil it for you but we must warn you that you will feel the weight of the story for the rest of your life, a little something from GOT final. 

Naughty Dogs didn’t disappoint us with this sequel because everything in this game is smooth as butter.

The Last of Us Part II is one of the most graphically demanding game and we can’t wait to play this one on PlayStation 5 with ray-tracing turned on. 

Everything from the beginning to the end is quite satisfying and it would be fair to say that TLOU2 should be awarded the game of the year.

Furthermore, unfortunately, The Last Of Us Part II is PS4/PS5 exclusive, so you will need to get your hands on a PlayStation console to play this one. It has also been updated to take full advantage of the PS5 technology, and we also have a complete list if you want more games like The Last of Us.

Buy The Last Of Us Part II 

Bonus AAA games – Honarable Mention

Here are some bonus AAA Games

1. Cyberpunk 2077

The most anticipated AAA game of the decade will be dropping out soon unless CD Projekt Red decides to delay it again. Cyberpunk 2077 is an upcoming open-world game set in the year 2077 in the futuristic Night City.

The developers have been working on this AAA title for nearly a decade and we expect this one to blow us away with its gameplay. 

2. Call of Duty: Cold War 

Call of Duty: Cold War will be the 6th installment in the Black Ops series. This game would follow the Mason storyline and we might be heading to Russia this time. Furthermore, rumors are that Call of Duty: Cold War will be featuring a multiplayer mode as well and the battle royale mode will be merged with Warzone. 

3. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla 

The Viking-themed Assassin’s Creed game is also coming out in a few days and it seems like Ubisoft is heading in a very different direction with this one. In the initial trailers and gameplay, we couldn’t find any reference to the Assassins or Templar order. However, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is a stunning-looking game and we’re eagerly waiting for this one to come out. 

Conclusion

These exceptional AAA titles of this year are worthy of your time and money. The years 2021 & 2022 saw a lot of AAA titles, but only a handful of them was able to impress us with their gameplay and mechanics. If you’re feeling bored, then any of these AAA games is enough to cheer you up. 

FAQs 

Is PUBG a AAA game?

PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds is not an AAA game because it was developed by indie developers. However, after the success of PUBG PC and Mobile, PUBG Corporation is recognized as a reputable company in the gaming community and any new installment in the PUBG franchise would be recognized as an AAA title. 

Is Minecraft a AAA game?

Minecraft is the creation of a single game developer and it was an indie title when it came out. However, when Microsoft took over the game, Minecraft was recognized as an AAA title. On top of our list, you will find Minecraft Dungeons, which is the latest installment in the Minecraft franchise. 

That’s all folks!