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Best New Games Coming in February 2023
By Michael Vane - Guide Published: , Last Updated:
With 2023 travelling quickly, it’s time to dive deep into this month’s big gaming releases, of which there are many. Arguably the most significant arrival is the PlayStation VR2, which costs more than the PS5 console (also required for its use). Still, we’re enthusiastic about getting our hands (and heads) into one quick-smart. Alongside the VR headset is its flagship title, Horizon: Call of the Mountain, which looks damn impressive. Beyond that, we’re taking a closer look at the hotly anticipated game set within the Harry Potter universe, a soviet-era alt-history shooter, a WWII strategy game, some over-the-top samurai action and Nintendo’s popular pink puffball Kirby’s comeback. Check it out below as we explore the best new games coming in February 2023.
Hogwarts Legacy
Hogwarts Legacy is an open-world action RPG set in the fantastical world first introduced in the Harry Potter books. Set during the 1800s, you will enrol as a student, craft potions, discover fantastic beasts, battle dark wizards and uncover an ancient secret that threatens to tear the wizarding world apart.
Embark on a journey through familiar and new locations as you customise your character and become the wizard you’ve always wanted to be. Discover the feeling of living at Hogwarts and ultimately decide the fate of the wizarding world.
Platforms: PlayStation, Xbox
Release date: February 10
Atomic Heart
Atomic Heart takes place in an alternate Soviet Union, circa 1955, where technology should be helping humanity reach for the stars. But the truth is much more sinister, and the price of such a dream is paid in blood.
It’s also the long-awaited first-person shooter where civilian robots rebel, giant machines eradicate and mutant monsters murder in the name of progress. Equip an arsenal of firearms, blades and an experimental power glove to overcome the threats and discover the secrets behind this supposed ‘ideal world.’
Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox
Release date: February 21
Company of Heroes 3
Back and bigger than ever, Company of Heroes 3 combines real-time combat with deeper strategic choices for an intense campaign across a Mediterranean theatre of war. Engage enemy forces through Italian mountain passes, coastal vistas and the sweeping deserts of North Africa, commanding ground, air and naval forces.
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The beloved tactical gameplay is taken to the next level with new combat mechanics, new units and next-generation destructible environments. The cinematic campaign tailors to your play style, and the skirmish modes and multiplayer will keep you playing regardless of whether you’re an ardent WWII enthusiast or someone experiencing the series for the first time. Company of Heroes 3 makes the jump to PlayStation and Xbox at a later date.
Platforms: PC
Release date: February 23
Horizon: Call of the Mountain
The Horizon series transitions to virtual reality and becomes the flagship title for Sony’s new PlayStation VR2 hardware. In Horizon Call of the Mountain, step into the Carja boots of Ryas, a disgraced former soldier looking for redemption by ascending towering peaks and unravelling a new mystery surrounding the machines.
Players climb, zipline and fight through the immersive adventure brimming with dangerous machines, tribal lore and interactions with new and returning characters. Using the new VR2 Sense controllers, you will interact with the world around you, while the advanced headset provides the sensations of height and wonder.
Platforms: PlayStation VR2
Release date: February 22
Like a Dragon: Ishin!
Like a Dragon: Ishin! is a remake of a spin-off previously available only in Japan. Set within the action-packed world of the Yakuza franchise, players forgo a modern-day setting in favour of 1800s Japan and an era defined by civil war.
Take the traditional samurai concept to the next level by combining blades and bullets. Slash, shoot, strike and dance your way through dynamic combat, cutting down the hordes of enemies. Your quest is justice or revenge. They’re both entwined in this scenario. Framed for murder, you must travel through the capital to find the true killer and potentially change the course of history.
Platforms: PlayStation
Release date: February 21
Wild Hearts
Monster Hunter fans may want to broaden their horizons and check out Wild Hearts, an upcoming co-op adventure where players work together to take down larger-than-life creatures.
No one remembers when the beasts began their rampage, but you could be the first hunter to stand against their formidable might. Armed with deadly weapons and ancient technology, hunt the giant beasts, learn their behaviours and cut them down to size. Craft a personalised hunting ground, gear up, and venture forth solo or with some mates across the landscape inspired by medieval Japan.
Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox
Release date: February 17
Octopath Traveller II
In Solistia, a land of continents divided by sea, eight new travellers venture forth on their unique journeys, with the unique skills of each aiding you on your adventure.
Octopath Traveller II is the sequel to 2018’s acclaimed RPG borrowing many of the same design and gameplay elements but telling an original story making it more accessible to newcomers. The fusion of retro pixel art and 3D graphics appears better than ever, lifting exploration, interactions and turn-based combat to new heights. Between battles, develop your traveller’s skills and jobs across different industries and take on the world as you see fit.
Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch
Release date: February 24
Kirby’s Return to Dreamland Deluxe
Nintendo’s pink puffball returns for a new take on a classic adventure. Kirby’s Return to Dreamland Deluxe is a four-player platforming adventure that launched for the Wii, now enhanced for the Switch.
Play as Kirby, King Dedede, Waddle Dee and Meta Knight as you inhale enemies, copying their abilities and using the new moves to explore Dreamland in search of spaceship parts. There are more than 20 abilities to copy, including the new mecha and sand moves. Between adventures, visit the amusement park for a series of subgames where you can collect stamps and earn prizes.
Platform: Switch
Release date: February 24
DLC – Gran Turismo 7 VR update
You can now play Gran Turismo 7 in virtual reality. So long as you pick up a PlayStation VR2 headset. That’s last year’s best racer and one of our favourite games of 2022 with increased immersion. The game was already like life, and now you can increase the realism from the virtual driver’s seat.
That means the game’s online Sports mode, licences and more are available in virtual reality as a free upgrade for current owners. The only mode not available in VR is two-player split screen.
Platform: PlayStation VR2
Release date: February 22
DLC – Destiny 2: Lightfall
Lightfall is the next major expansion for Destiny 2. Further expanding the popular looter shooter, Guardians are now off to Neomuna, a brand new location on Neptune that Shadow Legion occupies. Expect a new Raid and plenty more content to keep you busy until the saga ends with a final expansion at a later date.
Additional changes include a quick selection for armour sets, changes to mods and an overhaul to aesthetic options.
Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox
Release date: February 28
February 2023 Video Game Release Dates
- Deliver Us Mars (PC, PS5, PS4, XBX/S, XB1, PS4) – February 2
- Hogwarts Legacy (PC, PS5, XBX/S) – February 10
- Blanc (PC, Switch) – February 14
- Toaplan Arcade Shoot ‘Em Up Collection Vol.1 (PC) – February 14
- Wanted: Dead (PC, PS5, PS4, XBX/S, XB1) – February 14
- Theatrhythm Final Bar Line (PS4, Switch) – February 16
- Wild West Dynasty early access (PC) – February 16
- Gigantosaurus: Dino Kart (PC, PS5, PS4, XBX/S, XB1, Switch) – February 17
- Tales of Symphonia Remastered (PS4, XB1, Switch) – February 17
- Wild Hearts (PC, PS5, XBX/S) – February 17
- Atomic Heart (PC, PS5, PS4, XBX/S, XB1) – February 21
- Like a Dragon: Ishin (PS5, PS4) – February 21
- After the Fall (PSVR 2) – February 22
- Horizon Call of the Mountain (PSVR 2) – February 22
- Zenith: The Last City (PSVR 2) – February 22
- Blood Bowl 3 (PC, PS5, PS4, XBX/S, XB1) – February 23
- Chef Life: A Restaurant Simulator (PC, PS5, PS4, XBX/S, XB1, Switch) – February 23
- Company of Heroes 3 (PC) – February 23
- Sons of the Forest (PC) – February 23
- Kerbal Space Program 2 (PC, PS5, PS4, XBX/S, XB1) – February 24
- Kirby’s Return to Dreamland Deluxe (Switch) – February 24
- Octopath Traveler II (PC, PS5, PS4, Switch) – February 24
- Destiny 2: Lightfall (PC, PS5, PS4, XBX/S, XB1) – February 28
- Scars Above (PC, PS5, PS4, XBX/S, XB1) – February 28
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February 2023 Games FAQ
Some of February 2023's most anticipated games are Hogwarts Legacy, Atomic Heart, Company of Heroes 3 and Octopath Traveller II. Plus, Sony will launch the PSVR 2 headset and a selection of games, including Horizon: Call of the Mountain.
J.K. Rowling is not involved in the creation or development of Hogwarts Legacy. The author's incredible work inspired the new game, but there is no reason to be concerned that her polarising views impact the highly-anticipated title.
The upcoming spin-off Horizon: Call of the Mountain is exclusively compatible with the PSVR2 headset. You will need a PS5 and a new VR2 headset to play. There is currently no word on whether the game will make its way outside of VR, but it's an unlikely proposition.
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