Check out these video games coming in January 2023

Release date: January 12

Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Switch

Remember those 16-bit video games from about two decades ago? Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider is a throwback to the retro era of gaming.

The side-scrolling action game follows Moonrider, a powerful super warrior who seeks to end the tyranny of those in absolute control of a totalitarian state. Interestingly, Moonrider, who looks like a ninja, is a creation of the same forces that control the world.

Combat in the game is challenging but very responsive. There are eight levels in total and the eye-catching graphics have been impressively designed to give the most immersive feel of pixel art games from the 16-bit era.

Photo credit: Screenshot/thearcadecrew.com

Release date: January 12

Platforms: PC, switch

Lonely ruin is a twin stick shooter game where the player character is controlled with two joysticks.

Developed by Cuddle Monster Games and published by Super Rare Originals, the game follows an unnamed explorer – the player character – who must find an ancient power in a ruined magical city.

The character has to fight against strange creatures in the city, which is located on a magical spring from which magicians of the past got their powers.

The goal is to find the ancient power and help rid the ruined city of the corrupted magic that led to its downfall a millennium ago.

In addition to the usual adventure mode Lonely ruin also has a survival mode for those who like to take on waves of enemies.

Photo credit: Nintendo Life/@nintendolife/Twitter

Release date: 13th January

Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC

Released by Bandai Namco Entertainment, one of the best things about One Piece Odyssey is that it was created with the direct participation of Eiichiro Oda – the author of the acclaimed manga series on which the game is based. Perhaps that’s why its graphics and gameplay combine the artistic elements of both Japanese role-playing games (JRPG) with manga.

The game marks the 25th anniversary of One piece.

Fans of the franchise will find new characters as well as monsters in the game, which revolves around the main protagonist Captain Monkey D. Luffy and the Straw Hat crew as they explore the ocean route called the Grand Line.

Stranded on a mysterious island called Waford after a storm, the scattered crew must find a way to come together while confronting enemies, forces of nature, and island natives.

Besides the main story, players can also engage in side missions and battles to delve deeper into the game and its characters.

Credit: One Piece/@OnePieceAnime/Twitter

Release date: January 19

Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch

The game is set in rural Indonesia in the 1990s. It’s a slice-of-life adventure, a genre in which the story reflects the day-to-day lives of real people.

A space for the unbound is a coming-of-age story about a boy named Atma and a girl named Raya. They’re high school sweethearts and almost always together.

Atma and Raya face an existential crisis when a mysterious supernatural force threatens their world. They team up to uncover the mysteries of supernatural power and learn more about themselves in the process.

The plot of A space for the unbound explores themes of depression and anxiety, as well as playing with fantastical elements. The game features beautiful pixel art that adds depth to the game environment.

Developed by Indonesian indie game developer Mojiken Studio, A space for the unbound was released by Toge Productions and Chorus Worldwide.

Credit: Chorus Worldwide/@ChorusWorldwide/Twitter

Release date: January 19

Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch

Popularly known as Persona 3 wearable or P3Pthe game is part of the evergreen Shin Megami Franchises of games, manga, anime and other media.

P3P was originally released for PS2 in 2006 by its developer Atlus. The game was later released on the PSP console. The original game was positively received by critics and players alike.

The story of the video game will be essentially the same as in the PSP version for the new consoles on which it will be playable in January 2023.

The player character is a member of a secret school club and must save humanity from its demise at the hands of dangerous creatures by channeling an inner power called Persona. Players can choose a female protagonist – a choice that affects the dynamics of the game and introduces new abilities along with other gameplay effects.

Atlus had officially announced the release date of the P3P for PC and modern consoles on October 8, 2022. That’s what the company said Persona 4 Gold (P4G), another game from the same franchise, will also be released on modern platforms on the same day.

Credit: Screenshot/Official ATLUS West/YouTube

Release date: January 24th

Platforms: PC, PS5

Developed by Luminous Productions and published by Square Enix, leaving is about Frey Holland, who lives in New York City.

In the game, Frey suddenly finds herself in a mysterious world called Athia and discovers that she has magical abilities and enhanced parkour skills.

She learns that the land was once beautiful, but a phenomenon called the Fracture has corrupted it and all beings living on it. She faces monstrous beasts and evil sorceresses known as tantas, who were once benevolent matriarchs.

Frey must use her newfound powers to battle enemies and find a way through the treacherous land back to New York.

The open-world game features breathtaking landscapes with deep canyons, floating boulders and majestic walls – all perfect for showing off Frey’s extraordinary parkour skills.

Photo Credit: Screenshot/forspoken.square-enix-games.com

Release date: 31 January

Platforms: Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S

Universally acclaimed as one of the greatest games of all time, Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition was originally released for PC in 2019. The console version brings the outstanding gameplay to those who enjoy building empires with a joystick in hand.

The game is essentially a remastered high-resolution version of the critically acclaimed 1999 original, Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings. The new version contains all previous extensions, incl The Conquerors, The African Kingdomsand Rise of the Rajas – the last focuses on the ancient kingdoms of Southeast Asia. Later extensions such as Dawn of the Dukes and dynasties of India are also included Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition.

Not much changes to the core gameplay of this strategy game. Players can choose their civilization and use resources to build armies and defeat the enemy. There are unique campaigns featuring the exploits of numerous real historical characters.

Photo credit: Age of Empires

Release date: 31 January

Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5

A gameplay trailer by Season: A Letter to the Future from developer-publisher Scavengers Studio features a stunningly beautiful world that immediately exudes Studio Ghibli vibes.

The colors and atmospheric third-person adventure are guaranteed to draw players into the game environment. It also follows the adventures of the protagonist Estelle, who travels by bicycle and records her observations as a document for the future.

“Close your eyes, take a deep breath and let yourself be carried away in this atmospheric adventure. Capture memories, experience the story and witness the last gasp of the season,” the creators tweeted describing the game.

Though there seems to be an air of impending doom, it’s not clear why Estelle, as the player character, harbors deep feelings for her secluded community. In the game, she can get off her bike anywhere to record sounds, take photos, or draw sketches of ancient artifacts, landscapes, people, and just about anything that catches her eye. It’s like she’s documenting everything before it all ends.

Photo credit: SEASON: A Letter to the Future/@SeasonTheGame/Twitter