Summary
Googlerevealed the 10 most searched-for games in 2023, and the results seem to have bothered some of The Game Awards' viewers. The list contains an interesting mixture of titles, withHogwarts Legacysitting on top.
The games industry continued to prosper in 2023. Highly anticipated games likeStarfield,Baldur’s Gate 3, andDiablo 4all enjoyed successful sales numbers and plenty of popularity. Mobile games and word-puzzle games also continued to see success, withBattlegrounds Mobile Indiasitting at number four on this list and New York Times’Connectionssitting at number three. However, someHarry Potterfans might be perplexed thatHogwarts Legacywas the most searched-for game in 2023, yet failed to secure asingle nomination at The Game Awards.
Geoff Keighley, the host of The Game Awards, tweetedGoogle’s list of the most searched-for games in 2023. Fans took to the comments to voice their displeasure ofHogwarts Legacynot receiving any nods at the awards show, while other commenters countered that the game was not exceptional enough to earn any nominations. It didn’t help that especially well-developed games likeBaldur’s Gate 3andAlan Wake 2released this year, soaking up plenty of nominations in various categories.
Google’s 10 most searched-for games in 2023:
It’s also possible that a sizable chunk ofHarry Potter’s massive fan basedoesn’t consist of hard-line gaming fans. These supporters, who helped contribute toHogwarts Legacy’s popularity on Google, may not be aware of The Game Awards' existence. This might help to explain whyHogwarts Legacyfailed to gather enough votes for a Players' Voice nomination, despite the game’s huge popularity.
Hogwarts Legacywas followed byThe Last of Us, which came in at number two on the list. Naughty Dog’s highly successful franchise continues to enjoy popularity in 2023, partly thanks to its popular TV adaptation on HBO and the announcement ofThe Last of Us 2’s No Return mode.
In addition to highlighting the wide range of gaming genres that saw success in 2023, this list also displays the healthy state of gaming around the globe.Battlegrounds Mobile Indiawas bannedby the Indian government in 2022 over apparent national security concerns, due to the game being partly owned by Tencent, which is a Chinese technology conglomerate with ties to the Chinese government.Battlegrounds Mobile Indiawas extremely popular, and Indian gamers rejoiced when its ban was finally lifted in May 2023, leading it to finish at number four on this list. And Japan’sSuika Game, a mobile puzzle game, saw so much popularity that it finished at number seven on this list, despite its user base being mostly limited to Japan. It’s been described as highly addictive and as one of the best puzzle games sinceTetris.
Hogwarts Legacy
WHERE TO PLAY
Hogwarts Legacy is an immersive, open-world action RPG set in the world first introduced in the Harry Potter books. For the first time, experience Hogwarts in the 1800s. Your character is a student who holds the key to an ancient secret that threatens to tear the wizarding world apart. Now you can take control of the action and be at the center of your own adventure in the wizarding world. Your legacy is what you make of it.Explore an Open WorldThe wizarding world awaits you. Freely roam Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, the Forbidden Forest, and the surrounding Overland area.Be the Witch or Wizard You Want to beLearn spells, brew potions, grow plants, and tend to magical beasts along your journey. Get sorted into your house, forge relationships, and master skills to become the witch or wizard you want to be Experience a New Wizarding World AdventureExperience the wizarding world in an unexplored era to uncover a hidden truth from its past. Battle against trolls, Dark Wizards, goblins, and more as you face a dangerous villain threatening the fate of the wizarding world.
