The Biggest February 2023 Video Game Releases

If this game ends up being good, great, or even amazing, then we're looking at the highest-selling game of 2023 folks! The Harry Potter fandom is still massive and (ignoring all the controversy surrounding its author) they've been waiting for a full-fledged game that lets them live out their lives as a student of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Hogwarts Legacy lets you take on the role of a male or female magic-practicing student that can explore famed locales such as Diagon Alley, Hogsmeade, and the Forbidden Forest. You'll take classes in order to expand your mastery of wand usage, interact with your fellow students, tame magical beasts, and more. Sadly, there are no Quidditch matches to play. But you can still glide around atop your broom for some racing/traversal challenges.

Quick side note - the 72-hour early access period that comes with the Deluxe Edition can only be played through the PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC - Steam versions.

Here's everything else you need to know about Hogwarts Legacy.

Be sure to check out our review for this game right here.

Xbox Series X|S owners got the first major shadow drop of 2023 via Bethesda Softworks and Tango Gameworks Hi-Fi RUSH. Nintendo must have watched that and went "hold my beer...' cause it dropped the second biggest shadow drop of the year with a heavily rumored remaster come true. Metroid Prime Remastered is a new and improved rendition of Samus' first-person trek through Tallon IV. Along with the cleaner-looking visuals gamers have come to expect from these types of re-releases, this flashy GameCube port comes with a new dual-analog control scheme, extra difficulty options, and a gallery full of art, music, and 3D character displays. The digital version is out on this day in February, while the physical version launches on February 22.

The action game gurus that are responsible for the creation of Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive now make games as a part of a new development studio called Soleil. And judging by everything we've seen of Wanted: Dead, it looks like those developers are ready to produce something on par with Ryu Hayabusa's bloody crusades. Players will take on the role of a member who fights alongside the "Zombie Unit," which is an elite Hong Kong police squad. Within the span of a week, you'll hack & slash and blast the opposition with your katana and assault rifles, SMGs, LMGs, and grenade launchers. And in between those bloody and gory police raids, you'll play arcade minigames, enjoy big bowls of ramen, and engage in some other random activities within a retro-futuristic cityscape.

Be sure to check out our review for this game right here.

The 3DS and iOS release of Theatrhythm Final Fantasy ended up being an amazing love letter to the most revered JRPG series of all time and its astonishing lineup of memorable music. Now we're due for that quality rhythm game's massive follow-up, Theatrhythm Final Bar Line. On top of past tunes from the first game, this sequel will add a bunch of new songs to play along to. And with that, 385 songs in total from Final Fantasy mainline titles, spinoffs, and even other Square Enix RPGs will be featured here. The cutesy versions of your favorite Final Fantasy characters, those epic onscreen battles that play out during each stage, and the two- & four-player multiplayer modes should make this a must-play for series diehards. Once this drops, we're heading straight to playing "Zanarkand" from Final Fantasy X!

Be sure to check out our review for this game right here.

One of the most celebrated JRPGs that originated on the Nintendo GameCube is Tales of Symphonia, which stars one of the best heroes in the series by the name of Lloyd Irving. For years, Tales of fans have been asking for a modern way to hop back into Sylvarant and save Lloyd's strife-filled adventure once again. Bandai Namco finally adhered to that request, which is why we're getting Tales of Symphonia Remastered. With new & improved HD graphics, refined gameplay, and the same amazing real-time combat the series is known for, this upgraded rerelease looks to be a very worthy purchase for Tales of and JRPG fans.

Electronic Arts' EA Originals publishing label has put out some unique projects thus far and now it's set to bring developer Omega Force's latest monster slaying game to current-gen consoles. For fans of Monster Hunter, God Eater, and Toukiden, Wild Hearts should definitely be on your radar. The massive beasts you'll need to take down in this game are called "Kemono" and you'll need to do so with your vast array of melee weaponry such as a wagasa and katana. The use of "Karakuri" tools that produce crates, torches, and bulwarks plays a huge part in aiding you during combat & traversal. Wild Hearts looks and sounds like it'll be just as great as Monster Hunter: World and become your newest co-op multiplayer destination.

Be sure to check out our review for this game right here.

Atomic Heart has captured our interest the most within this plentiful collection of February 2023 video game releases. Every trailer we've seen of this game tells us this first-person shooter/action RPG hybrid will incorporate the best parts of System Shock, BioShock, and DOOM (2016). As Major Nechaev, players will step into the Soviet Union during an alternate version of 1955 where uncontrollable robotics and twisted biomechanical experiments rule. Blasting apart all those bloodthirsty enemies can be done with a cool combination of unique firearms and a powerful glove attachment that uses telekinesis, freezing, and electricity-based attacks.

Back in 2014, this Samurai-era spin on the Yakuza formula made its way onto PS3 and PS4...but only in Japan. Sega is finally doing us a solid by not only porting this unique take on the misadventures of Kazuma Kiryu to the US, but it's also giving it the full remake treatment to make it look its very best. Like a Dragon: Ishin! sees Kiryu and a whole suite of fan-favorite Yakuza characters step into the roles of real-world Japanese historical figures during the Late Edo Period. The graphics have gotten a worthy uptick, plus the gameplay has been altered in parts to make sure boss fights are even more exciting. The combat options at your disposal (which consist of Swordsman, Gunslinger, Brawler, and Wild Dancer) have us so ready to tear our enemies to complete shreds.

There aren't just a whole bunch of major games dropping among all of these February 2023 video game releases. We're also getting a new piece of gaming hardware from the GOATs at Sony PlayStation. PS5 owners who want to step into the new and improved realm of virtual reality on behalf of Sony will definitely want to pick up the new PlayStation VR2. This bad boy is able to output 4K HDR visuals, which will make all the up-close action pop even more and immerse you in every game you play. The packed-in VR 2 Sense controllers and stereo headphones will be here to round out this game's amazing package. With a new eye-tracking system and a wider field of view, the PS VR2 looks and sounds like it'll be the latest quality product meant to push VR technology forward.

Making your way through the vast post-apocalyptic world of the Horizon series from a third-person viewpoint is easy on the eyes all on its own. And now with Horizon Call of The Mountain dropping for PS VR2 on launch day, fans will get to be even closer to the mechanized wildlife and lush locales through Sony's updated virtual reality headset. Players will take on the role of a former Shadow Carja rebel named Ryas, who must embark on a dangerous expedition in order to atone for his crimes. That lofty task will entail using your hunter bow from a first-person perspective to take down vicious robot animals and rival tribe members, plus there will be plenty of climbing for those that want to get some thrills just from ascending scenic peaks.

For board game aficionados, Blood Bowl is one of the more famous and regularly updates experiences in the genre. Blood Bowl 3 is the latest video game adaptation that'll lift the turn-based fantastical American football action fans have enjoyed for years. Based on the newly updated Second Edition ruleset, this vicious take on one of the biggest sports in the world features all the over-the-top on-field theatrics that go down between humans and orcs. With a newly added solo campaign, 12 races to choose from, and a bunch of new customization options, Blood Bowl 3 looks to be the best series entry yet.

Sega and developer Relic Entertainment are ready to unleash their latest entry in its real-time strategy series with Company of Heroes 3. And for this next bout of tactical military warfare, fans will participate in the Italian and North African theaters of World War II. You'll push the battle forward while commanding the Allied Forces and mapping out your units' maneuvers via the "Tactical Pause" system, which pauses all the onscreen action. At the same time, you'll get to queue up your next set of actions. All the militaristic mayhem that transpires in Company of Heroes 3 sounds and looks extra authentic thanks to its upgraded destruction system.

Endnight Games' The Forest terrified folks when it came out in 2018. And now we've finally reached the point where the long-awaited sequel is now in our midst. The aptly-titled Sons of the Forest has players traveling to a new remote island that's dominated by an unrelenting collective of cannibals. And this time, you're embarking on this dangerous mission in a bid to locate a missing billionaire. The survival elements of the first game make their return here, which means you'll need to find the necessary tools to craft and build everything you need to prosper and survive the overwhelming threat that wants to consume you.

Back in 2011, Nintendo and HAL Laboratory dropped yet another merrymaking trot through Kirby's beloved Dream Land. Seeing as how a ton of amazing Wii U games are getting ported over to the Switch in enhanced form, it comes as no surprise that this game is getting the very same treatment. When it comes to new stuff, Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe features a more fitting cel-shaded art style, a wealth of new minigames, and an all-new ability that lets Kirby pull off sick melee & ranged attacks thanks to some powerful robotic enhancements.

On the JRPG front when it comes to February 2023 video game releases, fans of that sub-genre should keep their eyes peeled for Octopath Traveler II. This sequel focuses on eight brand-new party members that must navigate a new world called Solistia, which presents a more modern locale to explore in comparison to the medieval one that's featured in the first game. Daytime and nighttime portions of your adventure will be implemented here right alongside the first game's turn-based battle system that emphasizes the "break" and "boost" systems. And speaking of battles, now your party members will be able to pull off extra powerful attacks thanks to the introduction of "Latent Powers."

You can sink so many hours into the first Kerbal Space Program just by making repeated attempts at pushing your custom space center to greatness. Creating rockets, aircraft, spaceplanes, rovers, and other types of vehicles that can navigate beyond the stars is such an addictive activity. The same goes for trying over and over to successfully launch those vehicles without them exploding into tiny little pieces. Now Kerbal Space Program 2 is finally landing in our orbit with that same rewarding gameplay loop and so much more. And when we say more, we mean new modes of propulsion for your ships, colonies to discover, interstellar travel, and even a multiplayer mode. Kerbal Space Program 2 will start out on a strong note and expand with new features on the way to its full launch (pun fully intended).

The Rivals of Aether universe is most known for the indie platform fighter that birthed it. Now fans of that popular brawler will be introduced to four new anthropomorphic heroes who are entrusted with navigating some dangerous dungeons in Dungeons of Aether. The bow & arrow wielding Fleet, the double-hammer master known as Hamir, the scimitar user Slade, and the ax/spear wielder Artemis are all under your command as you engage in some hard-hitting turn-based battles. For fans of roguelite games and retro-stylized visuals, Dungeons of Aether is definitely worth a look.

For the final selection on our list of the biggest February 2023 video game releases, we gotta shine a light on this major expansion that's set to come to Destiny 2. Developer Bungie's free-to-play online-only multiplayer first-person shooter has been going strong since 2017 and is going to get even stronger with the addition of the latest DLC chapter, Lighfall. Players will take their "Guardians" to a Neptunian city that's currently in distress due to the arrival of the "Witness." You'll find yourself engaged in a new struggle against the "Shadow Legion" alongside the heroic "Cloud Striders" and use the new "Strand" sub-class abilities to stay in the fight. Expect to play a new campaign, hop into a new Raid, master new Cloud Strider weaponry, and so much more.