INDIANA – Hogwarts Legacy is the most hyped video game of 2023 in Indiana, a new study has found.
Research from game enhancement provider SecureCheats looked at search volume data for the biggest games of 2023. The report compiled the three highest search volume months over the past 12 months to gauge hype around the announcement or release of each gaming title. They were ranked by average search volume per 100,000 people to reveal the state’s most hyped games of the year.
1. Hogwarts Legacy
2023 Release Date: February 10th
Gamers in Indiana made Hogwarts Legacy the most talked-about game of 2023. The iconic location and popular franchise enticed players to explore the grounds of the ever-popular wizarding school. From thrilling magical battles to wondrous broom flights around the grounds of Hogwarts school, people in Indiana could not stop talking about developer Avalanche Software’s big hit. With an average of 673 related monthly searches per 100,000 people, Hogwarts Legacy cemented its place as the most hyped game of the year.
2. Diablo 4
2023 Release Date: June 5th
The latest title in the Diablo series, Diablo 4, was released to excellent reviews back in June. Metacritic scores for the Xbox Series X, PS5, and PC versions sit at 91, 88, and 86 respectively, maintaining the franchise’s excellent reputation among critics. Diablo 4 saw the action RPG series introduce a more detailed character customization system, allowing gamers greater control of how their avatar appears. In Indiana, Diablo 4 ranked as the second most hyped game of 2023, averaging 336 monthly searches related to the game per 100,000 people.
3. Starfield
2023 Release Date: September 6th
Bethesda’s new space epic, and the latest game to earn a spot on this study, Starfield has captured the imagination of gamers all over Indiana. Averaging 296 monthly searches in the state, Starfield promises players an adventure beyond the stars, with over 1,000 procedurally generated planets available to visit, ensuring each explorer has their own unique campaign. The game launched recently to mostly positive reviews by users on Steam, and Metacritic scores in the mid-to-high 80s, proving a hit on both Xbox and PC. Interest in Starfield places it as the third most hyped game of 2023 in Indiana.
4. Madden 24
2023 Release Date: August 18th
The popular football franchise from EA Sports remains a staple of the American gaming release calendar. Releasing just weeks before the start of the NFL season, Madden 24 gets fans excited to play as their favorite teams and control their footballing idols in Franchise mode, Madden Ultimate Team, and the return of Superstar mode. Fans in Alabama proved to be particularly excited about the new installment in the Madden series, with average monthly searches for the new title reaching 250 per 100,000 people.
5. Baldur’s Gate 3
2023 Release Date: August 3rd
Baldur’s Gate 3 received universal acclaim when it was released on both PC and PS5 in August and September, claiming joint-top spot as the best-reviewed game of 2023 on Metacritic with a score of 96. As Xbox gamers anticipate the game’s release later this year, those on PC and PS5 have already been able to enjoy the classic RPG set within the universe of Dungeons & Dragons. With 12 classes and 46 subclasses, Baldur’s Gate 3 brings an authentic D&D experience to video games, allowing players to create unique skillsets for a memorable adventure. Gamers in Indiana search for terms related to Baldur’s Gate 3 on average 213 times monthly per 100,000 people, making it the fifth most hyped game of the year in Indiana.
Karl Schmidt, Head of Content & Research at SecureCheats, commented on the new study: “2023 has proved to be an excellent year for video games, full of long-awaited sequels, returns to iconic fictional worlds and some truly awe-inspiring original adventures.”
“While Hogwarts Legacy has dominated the conversation around 2023 titles, it will be interesting to see the impact late 2023 releases have on gamers. With the hotly anticipated sequel to Insomniac’s blockbuster Spider-Man game on the horizon, as well as a new Assassin’s Creed entry and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, it will be fascinating to monitor how search volumes change and if any of these titles can compete with the hype surrounding Hogwarts Legacy.”
Methodology: Using a range of search term combinations, monthly google keywords search volumes over the past 12 months were found for each state in the US. For each state, the three highest search volume months over the past 12 months were found to gauge hype around announcement / release. These three months were averaged for each state, divided by state population and multiplied by 100,000. The states were then ranked by average search volume per 100k for the three highest months.
