Polygon’s Best of the Year 2023

2023 was a remarkable year to be a fan of good media.

Tears of the Kingdom landed with a splash and it looked like the game of the year race was already locked in May. But later in the year, a litany of surprising contenders entered the fray, led by Baldur's Gate 3 And Alan Wake2rewriting what is possible in their own corners of the medium.

Barbenheimer indicated that The Movies are back with a vengeance, bringing audiences back in droves with record box office numbers, which could potentially mark the beginning of the end of Disney's recent box office dominance. And they were just two of many major releases in a year full of cinematic spectacle.

The year was also filled with video game adaptations of all stripes, as the mainstream entertainment industry continues to embrace the medium. The Mario Movie! HBOs The last of us! Twisted metal And Gran Turismo! There are certainly mixed results, with many more to come.

Some of the biggest anime series in the world had exciting new seasons, along with new shows that quickly grew their own dedicated fan bases. And the great books and tabletop games released this year will keep you busy well into 2024.

Here's our look at the best of the best that 2023 had to offer in gaming and entertainment.