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
Assassin's Creed Valhalla & Hades [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:52
Time to go a-viking in Assassin's Creed: Valhalla and *try* escape from the underworld in Hades
Fall Guys & The Last Campfire [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:24
Helping lost souls in The Last Campfire and jumping rolling and striving for that crown in Fall Guys.
Ghost of Tsushima & Ooblets [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:00
Spring stealthily from rooftops in Ghost of Tsushima, and make pals with heaps of cute dancing critters in Ooblets
The Last of Us Part II & No Straight Roads [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:31
Dan experiences the emotional and dark story in The Last of Us Part II and Gianni uses the power of rock to take down "The Man" in No Straight Roads.
Minecraft Dungeons & Ring Fit Adventure [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:48
Gianni defeats the Arch-Illager in Minecraft Dungeons, and Viv works her way through the reps in Ring Fit Adventure
XCOM: Chimera Squad & Gears Tactics [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:56
Get a new top down perspective on the beloved Gears of War series in Gears Tactics & XCOM: Chimera Squad mixes up the tactical experience in a surprising new take.
Persona 5: Royal & Fallout 76: Wastelanders [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:51
Put on your mask and fight for your freedom in Persona 5 Royal, and sometimes war actually does change in Fallout 76 Wastelanders.