Our Most Wanted Games of 2023 – #1 Resident Evil 4 Remake

Stefan L 07/01/23 Comments Closed

Most Wanted 2023 – Resident Evil 4 Remake Header

And so we come to the end of our Most Wanted Games of 2023 list, a selection of 50 games that are set for release in the coming 12 months (unless they’re delayed, of course), that have tickled our fancy with announcements, trailers and the reputations of their creators. Top of the pile, though? Well, it’s Resident Evil 4!

Where the early 2010s were dominated by HD remasters of games from the previous decade, then the 2020s are set to be the era of the big budget AAA remake. We’ve been through this phase with cinema over the past few decades as well, with often unwanted remakes, reboots and prequels to 20th century classics looking to cash in on nostalgia and retread old ground. There could be a similar cynicism to seeing the same trend in video games, but this is a medium that has come on leaps and bounds in countless ways where films can more easily retain their qualities.

While there were remake and projects that predated Resident Evil 2 in 2019, it was the success of Capcom’s game that really kickstarted this trend. More than just a graphical overhaul that maybe made a handful of quality of life improvements along the way, Resident Evil 2 completely redesigned the gameplay and storytelling to meet modern expectations. From awkward tank controls and pre-rendered backgrounds, this remake sported modern third person controls and sublime graphics from the RE Engine, remaining faithful but adding to the original story at the same time.

Since then we’ve seen the release of Final Fantasy VII Remake (whose work started in 2015), Resident Evil 3 (though in a less popular, curtailed form), Demon’s Souls and The Last of Us Part I, and 2023 will see more FF7, Dead Space and more coming our way. But the game that we’re most looking forward to in 2023 is Resident Evil 4 remake.

Even though Resident Evil 4 set out the stall for modern action horror gaming, its third person over-the-shoulder camera becoming standard for the genre over the following decade, but this remake can still do a lot to bring this classic title bang up to date. Tank controls have been thrown out the window, you can move (slowly) while aiming down sights, you can crouch and be more stealthy, block and parry melee attacks, and more.

Further reading: Resident Evil 4 Remake Preview – Hands on a modernised classic

However, all of this will be applied to some rather familiar old stomping grounds for people who have played the original time and again. We went hands on with the opening village section, and so much remains the same with side paths and escape routes between the various buildings. Yet there’s also some new and perhaps unexpected twists for players to uncover.

Add that approach to the sublime graphics that we now expect from the Resident Evil series and the RE Engine in general, and this game should be right up there for any horror game fan.

Oh, and let’s not forget the PSVR 2 support, either!

Resident Evil 4 is coming to PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4 and PC on 24th March 2023.

Want to catch up on our Most Wanted games list so far? We’ve got handy links for you to catch up right here: