The Best May 2023 Video Games Worth Your Immediate Attention

May has been an incredibly exciting month for gamers worldwide, with a stunning array of new video game releases across all platforms. Whether you’re a fan of immersive RPGs, high-octane racing or captivating indie adventures, the May 2023 video games released have undoubtedly delivered something special for everyone. Let’s check out the most remarkable must-play video games titles that have launched in the past few weeks and explore why they deserve a spot in your gaming collection.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Nintendo’s most anticipated release of the year has finally arrived, and it’s nothing short of magnificent. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom builds upon the foundation established by Breath of the Wild while introducing revolutionary new mechanics that transform how players interact with the world of Hyrule.

As one of our must-play video games for this month, the Ultrahand ability allows you to combine objects to create vehicles, weapons and solutions to the game’s numerous puzzles, whilst the Ascend ability lets you move vertically through solid surfaces, opening up unprecedented exploration possibilities.

The sprawling open world of Tears of the Kingdom encompasses not only the familiar terrain of Hyrule but also introduces the mysterious Sky Islands floating high above and the treacherous Depths lurking below the surface. These three distinct regions offer dramatically different gameplay experiences, ensuring that exploration remains fresh and rewarding throughout your journey.

With over 100 hours of content to discover, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom represents extraordinary value for money amidst May 2023 video games and is undoubtedly one of the most significant Nintendo Switch exclusives to date. Critics have already hailed it as a masterpiece that pushes the boundaries of what’s possible within the action-adventure genre.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

Respawn Entertainment has delivered another stellar entry in their critically acclaimed Star Wars series with Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. Set five years after the events of Fallen Order, this action-adventure title continues Cal Kestis’s journey as one of the last remaining Jedi Knights in a galaxy controlled by the Empire.

The combat system has been significantly expanded, offering players five distinct lightsaber stances that can be switched on the fly to adapt to different combat scenarios. From the balanced Single Blade to the defensive Double Blade, aggressive Dual Wield, powerful Cross Guard and the precision-focused Blaster stance, there’s unprecedented depth to how you approach each encounter.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor also features larger, more open environments than its predecessor, with multiple planets to explore and a wealth of side content that fleshes out the Star Wars universe. The narrative delves deeper into Cal’s struggle to rebuild the Jedi Order while evading the relentless Imperial Inquisitors, creating a compelling story that Star Wars enthusiasts will thoroughly enjoy.

The graphical fidelity on current-gen platforms is particularly impressive, with ray-traced reflections and detailed character models bringing the Star Wars universe to life in stunning detail. If you’re looking for an immersive single-player experience set in a galaxy far, far away, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor delivers on all fronts. As one of the top May 2023 video games, we highly recommend you give this a try sometime soon.

System Shock Remake

After years of development and anticipation, the System Shock Remake has finally arrived, reimagining the groundbreaking 1994 classic for modern audiences. This first-person action RPG places you aboard Citadel Station, where you’ll face off against SHODAN, one of gaming’s most iconic artificial intelligences.

The remake expertly balances faithfulness to the original’s design philosophy with contemporary gameplay enhancements. The atmospheric horror elements remain intact, with the abandoned space station serving as a haunting backdrop to your struggle against rogue robots, mutants and security systems. The updated visuals are particularly striking, with dynamic lighting and detailed environments that accentuate the oppressive atmosphere of Citadel Station.

System Shock Remake retains the immersive sim elements that made the original a pioneer in its genre, making it one of our top video game releases this month. There are multiple approaches to overcoming obstacles, whether through combat, hacking, stealth or a combination of tactics. The upgrade system provides meaningful choices in how you develop your capabilities, allowing for different playstyles that significantly impact your experience.

For those interested in the history of game design, this remake serves as an excellent introduction to one of the most influential games ever created – a title that inspired future classics like BioShock and Prey. Both newcomers and veterans of the original will find much to appreciate in this thoughtfully crafted remake amongst must-play video games.

The Lord of the Rings: Gollum

One of the most unique narrative adventures released this month, The Lord of the Rings: Gollum offers a fresh perspective on J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved Middle-earth. Playing as the tragic character Gollum, you’ll navigate through various iconic locations from the books, including Mordor, Mirkwood and the Mines of Moria.

The game’s core mechanic revolves around the internal conflict between Gollum and Sméagol, with players making choices that influence which personality dominates. These decisions impact both the narrative and gameplay, affecting how other characters react to you and which abilities are available during crucial moments.

As you’d expect from playing as Gollum, stealth plays a significant role in gameplay. The character’s agility allows for creative traversal options, with climbing, swimming and hiding mechanics that make evading enemies a tense but rewarding experience. Combat is limited but purposeful, requiring careful planning and execution rather than direct confrontation.

The Lord of the Rings: Gollum fills an interesting niche in Middle-earth games, focusing on a character study rather than epic battles. The narrative explores Gollum’s torment and occasional moments of clarity, providing insight into one of literature’s most complex characters. For fans of Tolkien’s work seeking a different kind of Middle-earth adventure, this stealth-action title offers a compelling journey. As one of the May 2023 video games on our list, we’re sure this one won’t disappoint.

Redfall

Arkane Studios, the talented team behind Dishonored and Prey, has ventured into the cooperative shooter genre with Redfall. Set in the fictional town of Redfall, Massachusetts, this open-world FPS pits you and up to three friends against a legion of vampires who have blocked out the sun and isolated the town from the outside world.

The game features four playable characters, each with unique abilities and progression paths. Layla Ellison wields telekinetic powers, Jacob Boyer is a sharpshooter with a supernatural eye, Remi de la Rosa commands a robot companion and Devinder Crousley utilises homemade vampire-hunting technology. This diversity of playstyles encourages cooperative strategies and creates interesting synergies when tackling the vampire threat together.

Redfall’s open world is divided into distinct districts, each with its own atmosphere and challenges. From suburban neighbourhoods to downtown areas and rural outskirts, there’s plenty of environmental variety as you reclaim the town from vampiric control. The day-night cycle significantly impacts gameplay, with nighttime bringing out more powerful vampires and increasing the overall difficulty.

While Redfall is one of May’s video game releases that can be played solo, it shines brightest as a cooperative experience, with friends coordinating abilities to overcome the supernatural forces that have overtaken the town. If you’re seeking a fresh take on cooperative shooters with Arkane’s trademark attention to worldbuilding, Redfall offers an intriguing blend of horror and action, making it one of this month’s must-play video games.

Humanity

From the creative minds at Enhance comes Humanity, one of May’s most distinctive and thought-provoking puzzle games. This unique title places you in control of a Shiba Inu dog tasked with guiding crowds of humans through increasingly complex environments and challenges.

The core gameplay involves directing the flow of human crowds by issuing simple commands like “turn left,” “jump” or “float.” What begins as straightforward crowd direction evolves into intricate puzzles requiring precise timing, spatial awareness and creative thinking. The later stages introduce mechanics like splitting streams of humans, creating bridges of bodies and manipulating environmental elements to reach your goals.

Humanity’s visual style is minimalist yet striking, with clean lines and bold colours that ensure clarity even when hundreds of tiny humans are moving across the screen. The abstract art direction complements the philosophical undertones of the game, which subtly explores themes of conformity, leadership and collective action.

For puzzle enthusiasts seeking something genuinely original amidst May 2023 video games, Humanity delivers a fresh concept executed with precision and creativity. The gradual introduction of new mechanics ensures the experience remains engaging from start to finish, with each new level building upon previous lessons in surprising ways.

Age of Wonders 4

Strategy fans have a new gem to explore with Age of Wonders 4, the latest entry in the beloved fantasy 4X series. Developer Triumph Studios has created their most ambitious title to date, combining empire management, tactical combat and RPG elements into a cohesive and endlessly replayable package.

The game’s standout feature is its faction creation system, which allows you to combine various body types, cultures and magical affinities to create truly unique civilisations. As your empire advances, you’ll unlock tomes of magic that further differentiate your faction through physical mutations, specialised units and powerful spells. This unprecedented level of customisation ensures that no two playthroughs feel alike, ensuring this is one of the top video game releases of the month.

The tactical combat system has been refined, offering deep strategic options without becoming overwhelming. Battles take place on hexagonal grids where terrain, unit positioning and special abilities all play crucial roles in determining the outcome. Whether commanding armies of dragons, undead hordes or insectoid swarms, the diverse unit roster provides countless tactical possibilities.

Age of Wonders 4 excels in creating memorable emergent narratives through its event system and empire development. Your choices have far-reaching consequences that shape not only your civilisation but the entire fantasy world. With robust multiplayer options and extensive modding support, this strategy title promises hundreds of hours of engaging content for genre enthusiasts.

Hogwarts Legacy (Nintendo Switch)

Following its successful launch on other platforms earlier this year, Hogwarts Legacy for Nintendo Switch brings the wizarding world to Nintendo’s portable console. This ambitious open-world action RPG lets players create their own witch or wizard and experience life as a student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry during the 1800s, long before the events of the Harry Potter series.

The Nintendo Switch version maintains the core experience of exploring Hogwarts Castle, attending classes, learning spells, brewing potions and uncovering ancient secrets. While visual fidelity has been adjusted to accommodate the Switch’s hardware limitations, the developers have prioritised preserving the game’s open-world structure and key gameplay systems.

Hogwarts Legacy features a comprehensive spell-casting system with dozens of magical abilities to master, from simple charms like Lumos to powerful combat spells such as Avada Kedavra. The talent system allows you to specialise in different magical disciplines, creating a personalised approach to overcoming the game’s varied challenges.

For Harry Potter fans who primarily game on Nintendo Switch, this May 2023 video games version provides a welcome opportunity to experience the most comprehensive wizarding world game to date. The ability to play Hogwarts Legacy on the go adds another layer of appeal to this already content-rich RPG adventure.

The Outlast Trials

Horror genre fans have been treated to a terrifying new experience with The Outlast Trials, which takes the established formula of the Outlast series and introduces cooperative gameplay. Set during the Cold War era, this psychological horror game casts players as test subjects in a disturbing mind control experiment conducted by the shadowy Murkoff Corporation.

Unlike previous Outlast video game releases, The Outlast Trials can be played with up to three friends, creating opportunities for coordinated stealth and resource management as you attempt to survive the nightmarish scenarios. The cooperative element adds new dynamics to the horror experience – helping an incapacitated teammate while exposing yourself to danger creates moments of genuine tension and difficult decision-making.

The game retains the series’ signature night vision camera mechanic, with limited battery life forcing players to strategically navigate dark environments. New gadgets like MK-thermal vision and portable telephones expand your toolkit but never transform the gameplay into action-oriented territory. At its heart, The Outlast Trials remains firmly rooted in vulnerability and evasion rather than combat.

The Outlast Trials’ 1950s aesthetic provides a distinctive visual identity, with sterile laboratory environments contrasting against decaying industrial areas. The sound design deserves special mention, with positional audio playing a crucial role in identifying threats and creating an atmosphere of constant dread. For those brave enough to face its horrors, this cooperative horror title delivers an adrenaline-pumping experience unlike anything else available, ensuring its place on our list of the best May 2023 video games.

G.I. Joe: Operation Blackout (Mobile)

The beloved G.I. Joe franchise makes its debut on mobile platforms with G.I. Joe: Operation Blackout for mobile devices. This third-person shooter adapts the console and PC title for touchscreen controls, allowing fans to experience the struggle between G.I. Joe and Cobra whilst on the move.

Operation Blackout features iconic characters from both factions, including Duke, Snake Eyes, Cobra Commander and Destro, each with unique abilities that reflect their personalities and specialties from the source material. The campaign allows you to play from both perspectives, offering insight into the motivations of heroes and villains alike through 17 story missions across recognisable locations from the G.I. Joe universe.

The mobile version includes optimised touch controls with customisable layouts and sensitivity options to accommodate different playstyles. Auto-fire and aim assist features have been implemented to make the shooter mechanics more accessible on touchscreens, whilst maintaining a satisfying level of challenge for experienced players.

With both single-player and multiplayer modes, G.I. Joe: Operation Blackout provides a complete package for fans of the franchise. The stylised visual approach works well on mobile devices, capturing the spirit of the animated series whilst ensuring smooth performance across a wide range of phones and tablets.

Chants of Sennaar

Independent developer Rundisc has created one of the most intellectually stimulating video game releases of the month with Chants of Sennaar. This narrative puzzle adventure draws inspiration from the biblical Tower of Babel, challenging players to decipher unknown languages to unravel the mysteries of an ancient civilisation.

The core gameplay revolves around linguistic puzzles, where you must observe patterns in unfamiliar scripts, deduce meanings from contextual clues and gradually build a translation dictionary. This innovative mechanic creates a genuine sense of discovery as you begin to understand the various languages spoken by different factions within the tower.

Chants of Sennaar’s distinctive visual style employs a limited but striking colour palette and geometric patterns that evoke ancient civilisations whilst maintaining a timeless quality. The minimalist soundtrack complements the contemplative nature of the puzzles, creating an atmospheric experience that encourages careful observation and logical thinking.

The narrative explores themes of communication, cultural barriers and the power of understanding, delivered through environmental storytelling and interactions with the tower’s inhabitants. For players seeking an intellectually engaging experience that respects their intelligence, Chants of Sennaar offers a refreshingly original take on puzzle adventure games.

F1 23

Codemasters continues to refine their Formula 1 simulation with F1 23, delivering the most authentic F1 racing experience available. This year’s entry introduces significant handling improvements that make cars feel more responsive and predictable, particularly when pushing to the limit on the exit of corners.

The career mode has been expanded with the addition of F1 World, a hub that unifies various game modes into a cohesive progression system. Daily, weekly and seasonal challenges provide regular content updates, whilst a revamped upgrade system allows for more meaningful progression of your team’s capabilities over multiple seasons.

All 23 official circuits from the 2023 Formula 1 season are present, including the challenging Las Vegas Street Circuit making its debut in the series. The tracks have been meticulously recreated with updated barriers, kerbs and surface details that affect handling and racing lines, requiring drivers to adapt their approaches to each venue.

F1 23 continues to excel in its presentation, with enhanced broadcast elements that mirror the official Formula 1 coverage. The commentary team provides contextual insights based on your racing history and current season performance, creating an immersive atmosphere that captures the drama of the world’s premier motorsport. For racing enthusiasts, F1 23 represents the definitive Formula 1 experience, making this one of May’s must-play video games for racing fans.

Company of Heroes 3: Console Edition

The acclaimed World War II real-time strategy series makes its console debut with Company of Heroes 3: Console Edition. Developer Relic Entertainment has thoughtfully adapted the traditionally PC-centric genre for controller input, opening this tactical masterpiece to a new audience.

Set in the Mediterranean theatre of World War II, Company of Heroes 3 features two distinct campaigns. The Italian campaign employs a turn-based strategic layer where you make decisions about which territories to contest and how to allocate resources, whilst the North African campaign offers a more traditional mission-based structure focused on the British forces facing Rommel’s Afrika Korps.

The console edition includes a redesigned interface optimised for controllers, with radial menus and intelligent unit grouping that streamlines command input without sacrificing tactical depth. Contextual automation options help manage routine tasks, allowing players to focus on the broader strategic picture rather than micromanagement.

The destructible environments that are a hallmark of the series remain impressive on consoles, with buildings crumbling under artillery fire and terrain deforming from explosive impacts. This dynamic battlefield destruction isn’t merely visual – it directly impacts tactics by creating new firing lanes, blocking movement paths and eliminating cover. For strategy fans on consoles, Company of Heroes 3 sets a new standard for how RTS games can work without mouse and keyboard controls.

Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun

For fans of both retro first-person shooters and Games Workshop’s dystopian sci-fi universe, Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun delivers a perfect blend of nostalgia and grim darkness. This ‘boomer shooter’ places you in the ceramite boots of a Space Marine armed with iconic weapons from the Warhammer 40K universe.

Boltgun embraces the aesthetic of mid-90s FPS games with deliberately low-resolution textures, sprite-based enemies and exaggerated weapon animations that hark back to the era of DOOM and Quake. This stylistic choice creates a distinctive visual identity whilst allowing for smooth performance and an emphasis on fast-paced, unrelenting action.

The arsenal includes faithful recreations of Warhammer 40K weaponry, from the standard-issue bolter to the devastating power sword and flame-spewing hand flamer. Each weapon feels appropriately powerful, with the bolter in particular delivering the meaty, explosive impacts that fans of the setting would expect.

Level design follows old-school principles with non-linear paths, secret areas and colour-coded key cards. The pace is relentlessly quick, with minimal downtime between combat encounters, creating an adrenaline-fuelled experience that captures the essence of both 90s shooters and the eternally war-torn future of the 41st millennium.

Eternights

Rounding out our list is Eternights, a unique action-dating sim hybrid from Studio Sai that blends relationship building with apocalyptic action. Set in a world where a mysterious infection has transformed humans into dangerous monsters, you’ll divide your time between fighting for survival and developing romantic relationships with your companions.

The combat system draws inspiration from character action games, with combo-based melee attacks, dodge mechanics and special abilities that can be unlocked through progression. Each of the five potential love interests also serves as a combat partner with distinct fighting styles that complement your own abilities.

Eternights operates on a calendar system, where each day presents choices about how to spend your limited time. Do you venture into dangerous areas to gather resources, spend time strengthening bonds with your companions or focus on advancing the main story? These decisions have meaningful consequences for both your combat effectiveness and relationship development.

The anime-inspired visual style features expressive character designs and stylised environments that effectively convey both the game’s post-apocalyptic setting and its more intimate, character-driven moments. For players seeking something genuinely different, Eternights offers a refreshing blend of genres that tells a story about finding connection and meaning even in the most dire circumstances.

The Best May 2023 Video Games: Must-Haves to Add to Your List

May 2023 has truly delivered an exceptional month for video game releases across all platforms. From blockbuster titles like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor to innovative indie experiences like Chants of Sennaar and Humanity, there’s been something to satisfy every gaming preference.

The diversity of experiences available demonstrates the incredible creative health of the industry, with developers continuing to push boundaries in both technical achievement and artistic expression. Whether you’re looking for heart-pounding action, brain-teasing puzzles, strategic depth or emotional storytelling, this month’s releases have set an impressively high bar.

As we move into summer, many of these titles will likely dominate gaming discussions for months to come, with The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom in particular poised to be a Game of the Year contender. With such a strong start to the mid-year release window, 2023 is shaping up to be a truly memorable year for gaming enthusiasts everywhere.