Games Fighting for Canadian Players’ Attention
The Canadian gaming market is in the middle of a remarkable transformation. In 2017, an estimated 4.18 million Canadians enjoyed playing video games. Fast-forward to 2023, and more than 23 million (or 61% of the country’s population) actively play both new and old games.
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Photo by Tuyen Vo on Unsplash
With this abundance of gamers, developers are constantly trying to attract players to their games. This has sparked intense competition within the gaming market, resulting in the launch of numerous outstanding titles. But even among these monumental accomplishments, certain games stand out from the rest.
Continue reading to discover the games that are currently attracting the interest of gamers in the Great White North.
Hogwarts Legacy (Portkey Games)
Part of the extensive Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Hogwarts Legacy, released in 2023, takes place in a world predating the era of Harry Potter. Instead, the game puts players into the role of a student within the historical confines of Hogwarts.
From the intricacies of character creation to the iconic grounds of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the game boasts stunning graphics that immerse players, creating an authentic sense of being inside the school’s hallowed halls. Through intuitive gameplay, players are tasked with discovering secrets, refining their magical abilities, mastering new spells, creating potions, and forging new alliances.
Despite some tough criticism upon its release, the game surpassed expectations, selling more than 22 million copies and generating more than $1 billion in revenue by the end of 2023. Hogwarts Legacy also earned a Guinness World Record for the number of viewers during its early-access stream on the popular Twitch platform.
Elden Ring (Bandai Namco)
The incredible world George R. R. Martin imagined has given rise to numerous TV shows and spin-offs. While it’s not part of the Game of Thrones universe, Elden Ring presents another captivating tale from the revered author that places players within a vast world ready for exploration.
Featuring gameplay reminiscent of titles such as Dark Souls, players begin their journey by selecting a character class. This determines your character’s unique abilities, known spells, and equipped gear. From this point, adventure is the name of the game as players unveil hidden dungeons and journey through diverse regions.
With spectacular graphics, Elden Ring offers character upgrades through the discovery of new items scattered across the expansive map. The innovative gameplay and open-world system earned it more than 324 Game of the Year awards. The game achieved remarkable success, surpassing 20 million copies in sales by 2023 and securing its position as the fastest-selling game ever distributed by Bandai Namco.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (Sony Interactive Entertainment)
As the third installment in Marvel’s Spider-Man franchise, Spider-Man 2 faced high expectations. Staying true to the original comic’s narrative, the game excels at immersing players in the lives of Peter Parker and Miles Morales as they navigate the challenges of their personal lives outside the realm of being superheroes.
The story unfolds as New York City faces an extraterrestrial threat and is transformed into a battleground for superheroes. Meanwhile, Peter experiences his own transformation, and the storyline rapidly escalates. The game’s innovative weaponry and gameplay elements have received widespread acclaim and glowing international reviews.
Spider-Man 2 became the fastest-selling game in PlayStation Studio’s history, selling more than 2.5 million copies in its first 24 hours. The game has also been nominated for over 20 awards, with many eagerly awaiting the outcomes.
NHL 24 (EA Sports)
Ice hockey has been a part of the lifeblood of Canadians since shortly after the country was founded. And when it comes to capturing the thrill, intensity, and excitement of the sport, none rivals EA Sports’s NHL series. NHL 24 is the franchise’s latest version, released in October 2023.
Although sports franchise games are notoriously wash, rinse, repeat, NHL 24 distinguishes itself with a revamped gameplay system that features new engines, passing systems, goalie fatigue, and enhanced control skill movements. These elements, together with the stunning graphics, have made the game a standout for the franchise.
While official reviews of the game remain mixed, player satisfaction propelled it to become the second best-selling game in Canada during the month of its release, beaten only by Marvel’s Spider-Man 2.
Sweet Bonanza (Pragmatic Play)
Alongside video gaming, online gambling has emerged as a rapidly expanding industry among Canadian players. A favourite among players is the Sweet Bonanza slot, widely offered across online casinos in the Canadian market.
Visually, the game is stunning, with vibrant colours and intricately detailed symbols and backgrounds. The upbeat music adds to the game’s overall experience as various forms of candy spin onto the screen, tantalizing players with epic wins.
Similar to many other video and slot games, Sweet Bonanza includes bonus levels—in the form of a free spin bonus that generously awards players ten free spins. Within these spins, multipliers of up to 100 times can be activated, leading to the possibility of modest wins growing into impressively large payouts.
Assassin’s Creed Mirage (Ubisoft)
Since its initial release in 2007, Assassin’s Creed has been a fan favourite, earning recognition as one of the best adventure games. The latest version of the game, Mirage, marks the 13th release in the franchise and is situated in Baghdad during the Islamic Golden Age in the 9th century.
Returning to the franchise’s roots, Mirage focuses heavily on stealth and jumping from buildings to executing incredible assassinations. Despite taking a step back to the original gameplay, the game incorporates elements of the newer titles in the franchise while maintaining the excellent graphics that define the series.
With favourable reviews upon its launch, Mirage not only emerged as one of the top-selling games in Canada in 2023 but also achieved the largest launch of any Ubisoft game released for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. Within six days of launch, Ubisoft revealed that players had spent the equivalent of 479 years honing their parkour skills across the rooftops of Baghdad within the virtual realm.
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