As we welcome the new year, gamers can look forward to a wide variety of exciting new video game releases in January. December saw the release of some great titles, including a remastered version of the PSP classic Crisis Core, the alien-blasting shooter game High on Life, and strategy games Marvel’s Midnight Suns and Tactics Ogre: Reborn.
RPG fans can expect to see several standout releases in January, including Persona games from Atlus, now available on all platforms, and Square Enix’s Forspoken, featuring parkour-style magical action. EA’s classic action-horror game Dead Space also gets a graphical update, giving players a fresh perspective on the gruesome space shooter. Overall, there are many highly recommended games coming out in January, but these nine stand out as must-plays for any gamer
Lone Ruin
Get ready to blast monsters with magic and use quick movements to dodge their attacks in this thrilling, roguelike twin-stick shooter. You’ll be tasked with venturing into a legendary city that was destroyed by its own magic in the past, and your goal is to purify the hostile ruins and claim the power within for yourself. You’ll have to battle through the city, taking on waves of aggressive magical monsters as you progress through a series of dynamic, isometric levels. This game will be available on Nintendo Switch and PC and is set to release on January 12, 2023. It has been rated E for everyone.
One Piece Odyssey
Join Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates as they are stranded on a tropical island and set out to find a way off, encountering new friends and foes along the way. This game, available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S, combines elements of Dragon Quest’s anime-inspired exploration and combat with the wacky antics of Yakuza: Like a Dragon. Each character has their own unique abilities to navigate the world, such as Luffy’s stretchy arms for grappling and Zoro’s sword skills for slicing through obstacles. In battles, players can use classic turn-based commands in larger arenas with multiple groups of enemies for added strategy. Odyssey is set to release on January 12, 2023, and has been rated T for Teen.
Persona 3 Portable
In Persona 3, you’ll need to balance your social and school life with turn-based demon-slaying in the mysterious Tartarus dungeon. Originally a high-school spin-off of the Shin Megami Tensei RPG series, it wasn’t until the release of Persona 3 on the PS2 that the series gained popularity for its social interaction and sim elements, as well as its anime-style visuals by Shigenori Soejima. This rerelease is based on the PSP remaster and includes all of its visual enhancements and bonus content. It will be available on Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S and is set to release on January 19, 2023. It has been rated M for Mature audiences.
Persona 4 Golden
Persona 4 Golden is an incredibly popular and highly regarded RPG that has inspired spinoff games like fighting games and rhythm games. This game combines traditional RPG gameplay with simulation elements to bring to life its supernatural story and high school setting. As mysterious TV-related murders occur in Japan, a group of teens set out to uncover the possible supernatural connections to the crimes. This part of the game is based on the successful PS Vita version, which includes a new character, new outfits, new scenes, and new gameplay interactions. It will be available on Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S and is set to release on January 19, 2023. It has been rated M for Mature audiences.
Fire Emblem Engage
In this game, four great kingdoms united to seal away an evil dragon, but after a thousand years, the dragon has awoken once again. You play as the protagonist, the successor to the Divine Dragon, who has the ability to summon legendary heroes from other worlds to fight by your side. As you lead your troops into turn-based battles, you can use your summoned heroes to gain an advantage and emerge victorious. This game will be available exclusively on Nintendo Switch and is set to release on January 20, 2023. It has been rated T for Teen.
Forspoken
In Forspoken, you play as Frey, a young woman who is suddenly transported from her mundane life in New York to the cursed realm of Asia, where she gains magical powers. This game, powered by the Luminous Engine, the same one used in Final Fantasy XV, promises to deliver fast-paced action, beautiful magical effects, and agile parkour movement. Frey has the ability to swap between different sets of magical powers on the fly, allowing you to create impressive combos to defeat enemies. The vast world is also full of treasures and resources, which you can access using your quick vaulting and movement skills. This game will be available on PC and PS5 and is set to release on January 24, 2023. It has been rated M for Mature audiences
Dead Space
Dead Space is getting a remake, bringing back the intense horror and violent shooting action that fans loved in the original game from 2008. In this game, you play Isaac Clark, a spaceship engineer, and repairman, who finds himself in a nightmarish situation when a mission on the USG Ishimura goes wrong. You’ll have to fight off mutant abominations on the ship and use gruesome dismemberment to defeat them as you search for survivors. Arm yourself with the best weapons you can find and blast your way through the Necromorphs as you explore the abandoned ship. This game will be available on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S and is set to release on January 27, 2023. It has been rated M for Mature audiences
SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake
In this all-new SpongeBob-themed platformer from Nickelodeon, SpongeBob and Patrick cause chaos in Bikini Bottom after obtaining wish-granting mermaid tears. The tears unravel the fabric of reality, creating portals to themed Wishworlds like the Wild West, Halloween, and prehistoric times. As you platform through these imaginative worlds, you’ll collect trinkets and rescue the residents of Bikini Bottom who have become lost in these realms. This game will be available on Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, and Xbox One and is set to release on January 31, 2023. It has been rated E10 for Everyone 10 and up.
We Were Here Forever
Originally released on PC in early 2022, We Were Here Forever received critical acclaim and is now coming to Sony and Microsoft consoles in January. This cooperative multiplayer adventure and puzzle game has you and a friend trapped in a place called Castle Rock, where you’ll need to work together to navigate the castle, solve puzzles, and plan your escape. It’s important to note that We Were Here Forever is exclusively a two-player game and cannot be played solo. If you enjoyed It Takes Two from Hazelight Studios, you’ll definitely want to give We Were Here Forever a try for more co-op fun. This game will be available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S and is set to release on January 31, 2023. It has been rated T for Teen.
