For previous Game of the Year articles, I spliced in standard, expected awards with fun categories of my own creation as a way to homage the magazines that I used to cherish buying in my formative years. For 2023, I’ve simplified things to just the sole Game of the Year and this year that title goes to:
DC’S JUSTICE LEAGUE: COSMIC CHAOS
For its high budget, stellar visuals, new traversal skills and the addition of the alien symbiote suit, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 just didn’t excite me personally in a way it did to many others. This being the third rodeo from Insomniac, swinging around Manhattan isn’t getting old per se, just a tad too familiar. Though not without its fair share of surprises, the third act of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 feels rushed, and the climax falls back on a trope that Insomniac really needs to move away from. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 isn’t bad, or even average, it just feels safe which makes it feel slightly forgettable if I’m being honest.
When I installed Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 onto my PlayStation 5, I knew what I was getting. I can’t say the same for DC’s Justice League: Cosmic Chaos. I followed its marketing and, loving games inspired by comic books and superheroes, I picked it up without a moments hesitation when it launched. Upon booting it up, I didn’t want to put it down as it reminded me of things like X-Men Legends and Marvel Ultimate Alliance, games that reminded me of a time when you bought a piece of software, everything that was on the disc or cart was what you got.
Above all else though, what Cosmic Chaos has that’s missing from many comic book games is heart. Between Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman spouting lines that are homages to beloved stories, or even Easter Eggs related to Watchmen of all things, it’s not hard to tell that the people who made Cosmic Chaos cherished getting to play in the sandbox that they did. It’s also not hard to cheer when one of the trophies/achievements involves making Superman ride a skateboard.
For those who live and die by punishing titles like Dark Souls and Elden Ring, Cosmic Chaos won’t test your mettle, but it offers enough mechanically that you’ll never get bored. Clearly taking inspiration from the likes of the above mentioned superhero dungeon crawlers, lovers of the DC universe will have a big smile on their face uncovering bonus dungeons linked to villains like Poison Ivy, equipable gear linked to characters like Hawkman, Flash and Plastic Man and bonus costumes taken from DC’s history. Bonus costumes I will add not linked to pre-order bonuses, premium editions or excessive grinding.
Given the layoffs and consolidation that plagued the video game industry in 2023, not to mention many titles chasing after the purple dragon that is the live-service model, there’s been a desire for software that reminds you of things from 2-3 generations ago. DC’s Justice League: Cosmic Chaos is exactly that, and after many years of evil Supermen, heroes fighting heroes, not to mention dark and gritty live-action films, it’s beyond refreshing for players of all ages to see the Justice League being friends and saving the day.
DC’s Justice League: Cosmic Chaos is a reminder that you don’t need state-of-the-art visuals or cutting edge technology to craft a memorable superhero adventure. Sometimes all it takes is a lot of heart. No other comic book game gave me as much pure joy when playing it as Cosmic Chaos, and I couldn’t imagine anything else besting it for Game of the Year.
If you want to hear me talk more about DC’s Justice League: Cosmic Chaos, you can listen to my segment on the Games My Mom Found podcast about it and catch my appearance in this year’s Rocket and Raygun Awards on the Electric Playground’s YouTube channel also.