SIFTER's 2023 Games of the Year - ALAN WAKE 2, BALDUR'S GATE 3 & more

SIFTER's 2023 Games of the Year - ALAN WAKE 2, BALDUR'S GATE 3 & more

Author: SIFTER December 22, 2023 Duration: 1:27:15

It's been a massive year for video games, with some of the very best games ever made packed into 2023. In our annual special we've collected the entire SIFTER team like Pokémon into one massive end of year episode. We've got massive titles and smaller indies plus our honourable mentions. What ever you choose to play next from this list you'll have a great time.

  • Mitch - HI-FI RUSH
  • Fiona & Kyle: - THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: TEARS OF THE KINGDOM
  • Adam - BALDUR'S GATE 3
  • Courtney - FINAL FANTASY XVI
  • Gianni - DREDGE
  • Chris - ALAN WAKE 2

What is your favourite game released this year? Let us know by leaving us a review on your favourite podcast player and we'll give you a shout out when we return in 2024.

You can support SIFTER's independent gaming journalism by

☕ Tipping us on KoFi https://www.ko-fi.com/sifterHQ

👕 Wearing our merch https://sifter.store/

💬 Talking to us on the SIFTER Discord https://www.sifter.com.au/discord

SIFTER is produced by Kyle Pauletto, Fiona Bartholomaeus, Courtney Borrett, Daniel Ang, Adam Christou and Chris Button. Mitch Loh is Senior Producer and Gianni Di Giovanni is our Executive Producer. Thanks to Audio Technica Australia for their support of SIFTER.


Ever find yourself scrolling through endless video game reviews that all seem to say the same thing? Drop Rate takes a different path. Hosted by Chris Button, this podcast digs deeper than a simple score, offering thoughtful critique and honest analysis that challenges how you see your favourite hobby. It’s not just about whether a game is good or bad, but why it matters, how it fits into the broader landscape, and what it’s actually like to play. Each episode brings together sharp voices from games journalism, dissecting the latest releases across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC. The conversations here feel like the kind you’d have with a knowledgeable mate after a long session-nuanced, sometimes surprising, and always grounded in a genuine passion for the medium. For listeners tired of surface-level takes, this SIFTER production provides a space where games are treated with the serious, yet joyful, discussion they deserve. Tune in for a video game podcast that prioritises insight over hype, and leaves you with more to think about long after the credits roll.
Author: Language: en-au Episodes: 94

Drop Rate - Video game reviews that'll make you think
Podcast Episodes
PENTIMENT is packed with history and choices that feel weighty [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:03
PENTIMENT is the sort of game that I don't expect is going to appeal to everyone, the point and click narrative game from Obsidian Entertainment (THE OUTER WORLDS, PILLARS OF ETERNITY) is very dense and it takes its time…
FIRE EMBLEM WARRIORS: THREE HOPES is a welcome return to Fódlan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:38
FIRE EMBLEM WARRIORS: THREE HOPES takes the best part of the Warriors franchise and effortlessly mixes it with the core elements of the most recent Fire Emblem series – the dramatic Game Of Thrones style storyline, a cha…
TREK TO YOMI, a side scrolling samurai epic and a visual treat [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:15
TREK TO YOMI's crackling and popping of a dusty film reel samurai film aesthetic hits you quickly when you first load into the game.This is a serious cinematic experience. We're doing everything in black and white, there…