Per usual, this is a bit late. 2023 was kind of an expensive and frustrating year as a TF collector! As such, I won't be including any entries that I couldn't find, whether online or on shelves. Also, while I received Legacy United Thundertron before 2024, it's intended to be a 2024 release and I'll consider it in my next end-of-year assessment. As I've done before, I'll break this down by line and size class:
Studio Series:
-Core class: The only one I couldn't find was SS86 Frenzy (Red), and while I do have Rumble, I still haven't opened it, so I won't speak to this particular version of this cassette mold.
I'd say the best is Freezer. I know he doesn't have a true alt mode, but he's pretty much a mega-targetmaster, and I enjoy the quad-pod turret mode most of all. I will say that Novakane has the edge with the crazy name and also locking in to Scourge's truck mode better than Freezer, but I think I like Freezer's look better with his somewhat darker deco.
Runner-up is probably Noah. Even more of an action figure than Freezer, there is something strangely appealing about him. He's just a lot of fun to fiddle with. More fun than Arcee, who is ok but not amazing.
-Deluxe: I totally passed on the Gamer BB and Barricade molds for now, along with Brawn. The latter is certainly easier to find, and I'll probably get it at some point, but it doesn't scream "buy me!" at $25 right now.
Best is SS-100 Bumblebee. Having most of the older movie-series molds (except stuff from AoE), the only SS BBs I had purchased was the TLK/BB movie 2-pack, so finally buying a new-mold movie BB was nice, especially since it's such a better mold than the VW from the BB movie. It does a great job of balancing the look of the character against a solid transformation, and aesthetically the blend of the 2018 robot design with the old Camaro alt mode works pretty well.
Runners-up: a tie between Airrazor and Mirage. I had low expectations for both, with Airrazor being a reiteration of the Kingdom toy and Mirage looking like a kibble-laden mess, but in hand both of these are just great. Airrazor IS like the Kingdom toy, but it just looks and feels better, and it's cool that we get a robot mode despite the movie not having one. I do hate that the falcon mode isn't accurate to the film, but the concept art design is cool so I'll take it. Mirage is a bit of a shell former and I will say that the leg movement is more restricted than I'd like, but while the bot mode isn't an exact match to the movie model, I kind of prefer it since it looks like it really transforms. The transformation has some tough points, but is enjoyable nonetheless, and of course the Porsche mode is one of the best SS car modes. He looks great with Noah as well.
-Voyager: I did not ever pick up Cheetor nor Battletrap. I did see them a few times, but they didn't hang around like the Rhinox/Megatron wave has.
Best is probably Gamer Edition Optimus. I even wrote him his own review post back in May. He's certainly the best of the GE toys for now, and mostly for really capturing the proportions of the game model while also having a lot of functionality - he's very playable for a "collector" line toy. The arm gimmick allows for a lot of flexibility and creativity with his two weapons, especially thanks to the multiple components of the axe..
Runners-up are Gamer Edition Megatron and RotB Optimus Prime. I have Rhinox, and while he's cool, he is a bit dull compared to these two, both visually and functionally. Megatron is much better/more fun than people led me to believe, though I absolutely had to perform the knee modification to make this true. I think I do like it better than the 2010 deluxe figure, though I understand why some still prefer it to the 2023 voyager. I feel fortunate to have snagged an Optimus at retail, and while he is a step back from SS-38 Optimus in complexity, he is a step up in stability, playability, and improved likeness/proportions. I also really like the weapons, though the blast port on the gun is really restricted by the tiny blade.
-Leader: I did not preorder Snarl and have yet to find him at retail, but I'll absolutely be picking him up as I plan to complete the SS86 dinobots and I have the previous three releases. I did manage to finally get SS DotM Optimus Prime through the Buzzworthy reissue this year, but I'm not really going to count reissues here.
The best has to be RotB Optimus Primal. People really ragged on this figure for being so small, and I definitely get that, but he looked great in the release images and completely wowed me in-hand. He is the best Optimus Primal figure ever released, with a wonderful transformation and fun weapon options. I'm very excited that the new SS-109 Megatron seems to follow a similar design pattern.
The only real runner-up option is Scourge, and I actually really like him. Like with Airrazor, I know he is not accurate to the final movie model, but I appreciate that the toy (as with Mirage) looks like it actually transforms, especially since the final model ended up having such a generic body design. The Freezer/Novakane compatibility is terrific, and the accessories work pretty well. He's overall an interesting meld of previous Scourges in terms of design influence while also echoing the Fallen.
-Commander - sorry, I am not buying a large, expensive Ultra Magnus that does not include the inner cab robot. I'm looking forward to what they do with SS Commander class in the future, but for now count me out.
Legacy: This was the year of Legacy: Evolution, which is the second iteration of the line, with the third part, United, already shipping out at the tail end of 2023. Honestly, Evolution was terribly hampered by shipping issues in large part, but otherwise is probably a stronger showing than year one of Legacy.
-Core class: dominated this year by the core Dinobots/Volcanicus combiner, the only other new releases have been kind of tough to find and I still need to get them (Soundblaster, Nemesis Prime and Thundercracker; all repaints from Kingdom).
The best absolutely is Swoop. I actually like core Swoop even better than his PotP deluxe toy, and really helps me look forward to his upcoming SS86 leader class toy.
The Runner-up is Scarr, the new Dinobot added to serve as a sixth combiner component. Technically an older character introduced years ago in IDW comics, Scarr now receives an actual dinosaur mode and becomes part of Volcanicus. Scarr works better than most of the others due to the designers having the freedom to more or less tailor his design to the core class, rather than trying to simplify designs from larger toys while also shoehorning in Monstructor/Dinoking-based combination modes. Scarr's arm mode really doesn't compromise him at all (something that Swoop also benefits from), and based on hints, I think we can look forward to a larger Scarr in the future!
-Deluxe: Ugh, this is where we start to run into issues. I have literally NEVER seen Brakedown, Needlenose or any of wave 3 once, ever. I kind of gave up on the Legacy Stunticons, so missing Brakedown wasn't too big of a deal, and Needlenose didn't really grab my attention anyway. Thankfully, I was able to find Hot Shot at Wal-mart ONCE and then Scraphook a few months later at Gamestop - again, ONCE. Finding wave 2 was no problem (can still be done currently if you are persistent), same with wave 4.
The best deluxe would be either Prowl or Shrapnel, and it really is hard to choose between them. Prowl is about as good of an Animated reintroduction as possible, and Shrapnel is simple but just so much fun to fiddle with and feels so solid, along with being better than his retool buddy Bombshell.
Runner-up: there's a lot. Definitely the G2 Cybertronian Trooper from the Troop Builder set, who took a surprisingly fun Skullgrin mold from 2022 and made it even better. I would also put Bombshell here. I was disappointed in him being a retool, but Shrapnel is such a good base mold that it make up for it. I'll also throw in the Toxitron line's G2 Laser Cycle; I love the Legacy Prime Arcee mold, and I did pick up Velocitron Road Rocket, but this deco is superior to either of those releases. I do wish the clear plastic could have been a louder/less-realistic color to fit the subline's theme and help it visually compete even more with its mold-mates, but that's ok. I wish I could say anything about wave 3, as I'm sure Devcon would have ended up here as well.
-Voyager: I think this might be the line's weakest price point, especially considering that voyagers are $35 anymore.
I'm going to say that Nemesis Leo Prime is the best. It's a mold unique to Evolution, and while the heroic version is great and I initially thought the dark redeco was dull, in-hand the graphite-like grey is beautiful, and the sparing use of teal is kind of a nice touch. The mold has some issues, but not many. It also greatly benefits from using one of the narrow blast effects from the SS-86 dead Autobots set as a beam saber blade, and come with an extra combinable pistol set that the original release lacks.
Runner-up: I'll call this a tie between heroic Leo Prime and Selects Antagony. While the Antagony/Inferno mold is originally from year one Legacy, I don't think I found it until 2023. It's a great mold, not as good as Tarantulas but very nearly so, and the Antagony version really pops in black and purple. The bonus transmetal Scavenger head is a nice bonus and is my preferred way to display the figure. And of course, Leo Prime is just about as good as Nemesis Leo, and visually makes a nice companion with Victory Saber. I didn't receive the Miner Megatron and Senator Ratbat set until the other day, but they are worth a shout-out as well, with both probably being the best versions of their molds.
-Leader: As with Studio Series, the leader class is really where the franchise is shining bright for the past year or more. I did not purchase Transmetal II Megatron until 2024 and he did get an Evolution repackage, so I'm going to include him in the running here.
...and indeed, TMII Megatron is my best Legacy leader for 2023. I've already written and entire post about him, so I won't belabor my enthusiasm, but I'll say he certainly exceeded expectations and I'm greatly looking forward to his counterpart in Legacy United Tigerhawk.
Runners-up: I'll say here that Armada Megatron and Toxitron have tied. I was really excited for Skyquake, and he is still really nice, but the less than supportive heels and wonky torso transformation dampened my appreciation and have allowed me to not jump to order Dreadwing (who can't be found anywhere anyway). Armada Megatron has some flaws (I've received, but have yet to install, a shoulder upgrade kit) but looks wonderful and has those beautiful, beautiful knees. Toxitron is probably my favorite version of the Legacy Laser Optimus mold, though I would totally buy it a fourth time in eHobby G2 Magnus colors.
-Commander/Titan/Haslab:
I only have 2 of the 4 offerings here, not having purchased Titan Nemesis (yet?) and not being interested in the Titan Guardian Robot. Between the two, Commander Armada Optimus is my favorite. He improves on the original in almost every way, and is easily the best of the new Armada updates so far (even compared to Tidal Wave, who looks great). I'll say more about him below, but yes he edges out Deathsaurus by a bit.
Runners-up: I guess it has to be Deathsaurus! And he really is good (and better be). I like him more than Victory Saber, despite my fondness for supermode combinations. He's pretty big, has great accessory options (though he is lacking the normal rifle of the original toy) and both chestmasters are much more fun/interesting than I anticipated. The throne puts that of Coronation Starscream to shame (TMII Megatron looks great next to it, by the way), and the dragon mode has great presence.
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