Snowman’s Favourite Games of 2023
A year-end round-up of our team’s favourite titles of the year!
Every year another talented team of creatives launches an all-new title and just when you think you’ve seen it all, you’re surprised with an IP that features a whole new storyline, flawless visuals, innovative mechanics and more!
2023 was no different and each month was packed with so many titles that push the boundaries of what it means to create a video game. We’re incredibly grateful to share this space with so many of the industry’s talented creators and wanted to take a moment to show our appreciation for some of the games our team has enjoyed this past year.
In this year-end round-up, we’ll be highlighting a selection of the Snowman team’s Favourite Games of 2023 (in no particular order).
Par for the Dungeon
As a Toronto-based indie developer, we can’t help but get excited when another studio in the city gets to share their games with the world. This past October, Sleeping Giant released their latest title, Par for the Dungeon, and we’ve been thoroughly enjoying the gameplay so far!
The game follows main character, Cal, on a journey to rescue their companion dog from hordes of evil “Bogeys”; putting, exploding and fighting their way through over 100 levels that increase in difficulty as you progress.
Par for the Dungeon is the perfect blend of challenge and adventure and we’re proud of the team for launching such an awesome game!
Venba
If you’re someone who enjoys wholesome games with thought-provoking narratives Venba is for you!
Mirroring the the triumphs and challenges of immigrant families in Canada, Toronto-based developer, Visai Studios, has truly created a game that resonated with a number of folks on our team.
Through a series of puzzles centred around traditional Indian foods, Venba guides players through the story of an immigrant Tamil family and depicts the obstacles they face navigating a new country. Here’s what the team had to say about Venba:
“Representation matters and it was gratifying to see South Asian culture represented in Venba. It’s extremely heartwarming to play as the mother, a home maker, as she tries to bring her family together while keeping their traditions alive through food.”
With a beautiful art style and great soundtrack, Venba truly takes players on a journey and it’s no surprise that we found ourselves laughing, crying and, in some instances, craving many of the dishes depicted in the game.
Melatonin
Melatonin by Half Asleep is a cozy rhythm game with a vibrant soundtrack that we found ourselves listening to throughout the year. So much so that it even made its way into our Spotify Wrapped playlists!
By harmonizing with the game’s soundtrack, players are taken through a series of dreamy levels that each hold their own challenges. It’s a unique take on a rhythm game that we think encapsulates the ebbs and flows of everyday life in a fun and playful way.
Jusant
Jusant is a game where climbing takes center stage as the primary mechanic and its unique kinaesthetic control scheme makes it quick to pick up on gameplay. Each trigger controls one of the main character's arms making it simple to learn and easy to master.
The game begins with the protagonist approaching a towering structure emerging from a dry sea bed, equipped with climbing essentials like a retractable rope, pitons, carabiners and a peculiar companion in their backpack. The goal of the game becomes very clear from the start: ascend the tower using the provided equipment.
Here’s what the team had to say about Jusant:
“2023 was not shy about its games. There was no shortage of options and yet I found myself pulled towards the novel, indie and linear experiences. Out of all the games, Jusant by Don’t Nod took my personal 2023 Game of the Year. The game offers a captivating exploration experience within its vertical environment and it really stood out to me this year as a wholly unique experience.”
Wildfrost
This roguelite deck battler game draws players in with its vibrant world, punchy gameplay and delightful soundtrack. But Wildfrost’s charm isn’t what caught our attention.
This title has great depth to its gameplay with a variety of unlockable characters and items to add to your deck, offering limitless replayability and possible strategies. As you advance through the game, things start to get interesting as time becomes limited and your skills are truly tested making each hard-earned victory that much more satisfying.
Wildfrost is constantly being updated and we can’t wait to see what future additions the dev team has in store!
Viewfinder
We’re always on the lookout for games that use simple mechanics with a special twist and Viewfinder exceeded our expectations. The game’s unique and visually enchanting mechanics paired with elegantly simple puzzle design truly kept us coming back for more.
Though capturing photos to bring them into reality is quick to pick up on, the game holds a depth of interactions that slowly become revealed as you progress through the game. Not only do you literally play with perspective and photo placement but the puzzles often require you to shift your personal perceptions of how traditional puzzles work; moving, duplicating and destroying things that in any other game would be concrete.
Desta: The Memories Between
ustwo Games’ latest release, Desta: The Memories Between, is a cozy team-based tactic adventure that follows main character, Desta, as they explore feelings of loss and regret on their path to self-discovery. With a diverse set of characters all with their own unique personalities and life experiences, it was very easy for us to find ourselves reflected within the game.
“The growing representation of the LGBTQ community in gaming is so refreshing to see and seeing my experiences mirrored in so many of the characters in Desta: The Memories Between was truly touching. If there’s one thing that ustwo Games has perfected it’s their ability to share the stories of so many people while also making a game that’s equal parts cozy and challenging.”
ustwo Games also released the Dream Team Edition of the game that introduced Challenge Mode and Nightmare Mode adding another layer of difficulty and enjoyment.
A Little to the Left
A Little to the Left was one that definitely caught us by surprise. If there’s something that our team really enjoys it’s a good puzzle and this game is one that we had so much fun with.
It’s a cozy puzzle game where the player organizes a series of household items while occasionally being surprised by a mischievous little friend to keep things interesting.
Though the original game was released at the end of 2022, this year the team at Max Inferno introduced their Cupboards & Drawers DLC package adding a whole new selection of intuitive puzzles to sort through.
A Little to the Left does a great job at keeping its players curious and engaged and is perfect for folks who enjoy a challenge but prefer to move through titles at a slower pace.
As this year comes to a close, we want to take this opportunity to share our biggest thanks for all of your support. It’s been a big year for our team and we look forward to seeing what 2024 has planned for us.
From all of us at Snowman, we wish you a warm holiday season and all the best in the new year!
