That its sequel arrived this year when many were hoping for Hollow Knight: Silksong only helped it to stand out more, and Blasphemous 2 is an excellent example of a sequel done right.
The original Blasphemous ended up being one of the best indie metroidvanias the year of its release and helped establish the Soulslike Metroidvania subgenre, along with Hollow Knight. That its sequel arrived this year when many were hoping for Hollow Knight: Silksong only helped it to stand out more, and Blasphemous 2 is an excellent example of a sequel done right. Continuing the story of the Penitent One (based on the developer's choice of canon ending), Blasphemous 2 introduces new weapons, each with its own slate of traversal abilities, and a more non-linear approach to how players tackle its massive world and intimidating enemies. And, lest it be forgotten, Blasphemous 2 has some of the best boss encounters of any game in 2023, pushing both player skill and the edges of sanity to their limit.