What are the biggest games in February 2023? After last month’s drought, February is shaping up to be a solid month for video game releases, with plenty of great titles scattered far and wide. First up is the highly anticipated Hogwarts Legacy on February 10th, where you are taken on a whimsical journey into the wizarding world of the 1800s, to live a fantastic life inside the magic-laden castle, the dense Forbidden Forest and much more. In what feels like EA’s answer to the Monster Hunter franchise, Wild Hearts equips you with ancient technology to take down fearsome beasts, infused with the ferocious powers of nature. It is released for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series S/X.
Those looking for cooperative action can embark on a journey into the cannibal-infested hell of Sons of the Forest, to scavenge for resources and learn how to survive in the ever-hostile wilderness. Studio Endnight Games goes to great lengths to create some of the most disturbing horrors imaginable, and with the sandbox world now four times the size of the original, the stakes are set to rise. It will be released on February 23, exclusively for PC. Just before that, join legendary samurai Sakamoto Ryoma’s revolution in Like a Dragon: Ishin!, as you deflect bullets with your trusty katana, dump your savings, run a restaurant and feed your enemies hot pickles. Unlike series protagonist Kazama Kiryu, Ryoma kills people, so be prepared for some bloody attack combos in this remake, coming to all major platforms.
The 41 most anticipated games of 2023
With that, here are the eight biggest titles coming to PC, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series S/X in February 2023:
Hogwarts Legacy
When: February 10th
Where: PC, PS5, Xbox Series S/X
This highly anticipated action RPG has seen two delays, and versions of the game for older consoles and the Switch are slated to arrive in the coming months. However, if your PC’s specs are correct or you have a current generation console, you can enter the wizarding world and leave your Muggle status behind with Hogwarts Legacy, attending classes at the iconic school of witchcraft and wizardry.
It’s worth noting that the game is set in the 1800s, which means it’s a century before Harry Potter, or the Boy Who Lived, set foot in Hogwarts. You will also start in the fifth year. You will have the “key to an ancient secret that threatens to destroy the wizarding world”. Although the game does not allow you to participate in a Quidditch match, areas such as Diagon Alley in London, the Forbidden Forest and the village of Hogsmeade can be visited.
Like other popular games, you will be able to customize your character’s appearance and choose a school of your choice. Once you start “watching” classes, you’ll be able to perform spells, brew potions, tame magical creatures, and engage in combat (or duels) with your classmates. You can also level up your character using in-game challenges to earn experience points. Hogwarts Legacy was also nominated as the most anticipated game of 2023 at The Game Awards 2022.
return PC
When: February 15th
Where: PC
Returnal is the latest in the lineup of PlayStation exclusives being ported to PC, immersing you in the mysterious planet of Atropos. In it, you play Selene Vassos, a space pilot trapped in a bizarre and mind-numbing time loop, whose mysteries can only be unlocked by participating in roguelike missions where you take down hostile aliens in bullet-fueled confrontations. Forced to restart the quest each time she dies, you’ll find that the planet and loot change, prompting you to create ingenious builds that will help you last longer in the field.
The PC version comes with a number of improvements, including upscaling methods for AMD and Nvidia graphics cards, support for ultra-wide monitors, and ray-traced reflections – absent in the PS5 version. Also, expect unlocked frame rates and an FOV (field of view) slider, neatly packaged with a built-in FPS counter. Like other PS-PC ports, Returnal will also feature support for the DualSense controller’s haptic feedback.
Watch the feature trailer for Returnal, coming to PC
In Returnal, you’re trapped in a bizarre time loop that resets each time you die.
photo credit: PlayStation
wild hearts
When: February 17th
Where: PC, PS5, Xbox Series S/X
In the heart of Azuma, a fantasy landscape inspired by feudal Japan, thrives a group of massive beasts that have undergone a unique evolution by merging with nature and creating havoc with their elemental attacks. In Wild Hearts, players take on the role of a skilled hunter, adept in the lost art of Karakuri – a life-sustaining technology that helps create sophisticated life-size tools that are ideal for combat and traversal across the vast map. His job is to hunt down these massive monsters using ancient technology such as fireworks to stun and a gigantic bamboo helicopter to deal aggressive damage. The idea is to craft tools on the fly, similar to Rust, and offload them into Kemono (crossbows), which in turn produce loot and other raw materials.
The weapons included are far from the norm, with items like a staff, which can grow in size to become a greatsword, resulting in slower but massive damage. If the clashes in Wild Hearts get too imposing to tackle alone, feel free to team up with up to two other players in seamless co-op, who can help take the heat off of you. Similar to Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, there also appears to be a deathblow mechanic added to bosses, where simply taking them down doesn’t guarantee death. So make sure you land that final blow.
Watch the Wild Hearts gameplay trailer
Wild Hearts looks like EA’s version of the Monster Hunter franchise
Photo credit: Koei Tecmo Games
Like a Dragon: Were!
When: February 21st
Where: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X
Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio is widely known for developing Sega’s popular and beloved Yakuza franchise of action-adventure titles. The Yakuza series has had many spin-offs – most recently Judgment and Lost Judgment. Now, RGG Studio is remaking Like a Dragon: Ishin!, originally released in Japan only as a spin-off to the Yakuza series as a launch title for PS4 in 2014. The remake will finally bring the beloved spin-off to audiences outside of Japan.
Like a dragon: Ishin! is a historical adventure set in Japan in the 1860s, where players will take on the role of Sakamoto Ryoma, a real-life samurai from the Edo period in Japanese history. Players will pick up the venerable samurai’s sword and fight for his honor to clear his name from an assassination. In the process, they will also solve their father’s murder and change Japan’s future. Armed with a katana and a handgun, players can try out a variety of combat styles typical of Yakuza games and gain experience through side quests and exploration to unlock new abilities. In true Yakuza style, Like a Dragon: Ishin! It will feature a series of distractions and minigames such as gambling, karaoke and a combat arena.
atomic heart
When: February 21st
Where: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X
A utopian world where super-powered robots and hybrid mutants pose a threat to the harmony between metal and flesh. It’s up to you to take up arms and uncover the mystery behind the mysterious robot rebellion. Atomic Heart is an FPS RPG set in an alternate time in the Soviet Union of 1955.
Armed with a powerful gauntlet, blades, and cutting-edge weaponry, you’ll have to adapt your playstyle to suit your various enemies. There is also an in-depth crafting system to further bolster your arsenal.
children of the forest
When: February 23
Where: PC
Survival horror video games are having a bit of a renaissance. The upcoming Sons of the Forest, sequel to 2018’s The Forest, promises to boost both aspects of the genre – survival and horror. The first game was premised on Lost, Damon Lindelof’s seminal TV series, with an added element of cannibalism. The sequel follows the protagonist – you – who has been sent to find a missing billionaire on a remote island. Of course, the problem is that the island is infested with cannibals.
Players will have to scavenge, craft and kill to survive and escape in this open world survival horror simulator. The game will allow players ample freedom to approach it however they want while keeping missions and progression flexible. Mutant human-like creatures and other monstrosities will stand in your way. The focus will be on crafting and building survival gear and shelter, but players will also have an arsenal of weapons at their disposal – pistols, axes, stun batons and more. The game will feature summer and winter weather systems and food resources will become scarce as the temperature drops. So make sure you stock up! The game will also feature a co-op mode where friends can share resources, work together to build shelter and bring back as they explore the island’s hellish landscape.
company of heroes 3
When: February 23
Where: PC
Relic Entertainment’s upcoming strategy game will let you control the Allied Forces as they invade Italy during World War II. You can also control Axis armies in North Africa as part of this real-time battle game. You will be able to control air, land and naval forces, according to the developer. The game will feature highly improved destructible elements, allowing you to see bricks falling from buildings that have been destroyed.
With Company of Heroes 3, you can utilize a new Tactical Pause system that does exactly what it sounds like – it lets you pause the battle for a short period, queue up lethal instructions for your troops, and watch how precisely they are executed once you resume the game. There’s a new Dynamic Campaign Map that promises “sandbox-style” gameplay for better control of the battle while calling in for help from specialized units like the US-Canadian Special Service Forces or the Commonwealth Gurkhas
Once you’ve tried out the game’s campaign and skirmish modes, you can also jump into the fast-paced multiplayer mode. Relic also claims that no two playthroughs are the same in Company of Heroes 3, and you’ll have to utilize different strategies to deal with different geographies and local terrains in Italy and North Africa as you lead your forces to victory in this upcoming RTS title.
Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe
When: February 24
Where: Change
Play solo or invite up to three of your friends to join you on an adventure across Planet Popstar. Choose from Kirby, King Dedede, Meta Knight or Bandana Waddle to help Magolor rebuild his ship. Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe is a remake of the original platform game released in 2011.
The game features over 20 returning Copy Skills, along with a few new ones – Mecha and Sand. You can also join forces with other players for powerful team attacks. It also includes a collection of subgames that can be played co-op to earn in-game rewards.