10 Best Gaming Surprises Of 2023

Xbox was at its peak when it was home to awesome, multiplayer shooters. There's a reason it's fanbase is synonymous with the likes of Halo, Call of Duty and Borderlands. RoboQuest feels like the perfect hidden gem of GamePass that appeals to that classic Xbox sensibility that we're all a little nostalgic for these days.

The game has technically been in PC early access since 2022 but landed on Xbox's subscription service this year and flew largely under the radar. This being said, it's MetaCritic user score of 8.6 shows that most who have played it have found it to be one of the year's better-rated shooters.

RoboQuest offers some of the best from several identifiable franchises and genres, blended into something new. It's a rogue-lite FPS where, like Doom, movement is key in order to survive, which makes being on your toes very important.

It's also got elements of Borderlands, including but not limited to its charming, colourful art style; each run is about grabbing the best weapons and perks you can find to suit your needs, and every gun is viable as long as you can get it upgraded enough.

It's a ferocious little game that keeps on giving back the more you put into it, especially if you're able to squad up with a friend.