I tend to think of these lists in terms of “If every figure in I bought in 2023 disappeared overnight and an envelope full of cash was left in their place, what are the first ones I would go out and repurchase?”

With that in mind, these are heavily character biased, far more “favorite” than “best”, and in no particular order:

MAFEX Huntress

DC Multiverse Alan Scott

Marvel Legends Clea

MEZCO The Crow

Mego 50th Anniversary Green Arrow

Marvel Select Invisible Woman

Marvel Select Mr. Fantastic

Loose Collector Shi

Storm Collectibles Mai Shiranui 

Marvel Legends Sersi 

My figure of the year was Battle Damaged RoboCop with Murphy reveal face from MAFEX.  It's not even close.  This is a figure I've dreamed of since 1987 and it's pretty much perfection in an action figure.  Probably gonna end up as my favorite of the decade.  God, I love this thing.

In no particular order, toys 2-10 are:

MAFEX Terminator 2

GI Joe Classified Retro Storm Shadow

GI Joe Classified Retro Snake Eyes

GI Joe Classified Firefly

Hasbro Indiana Jones

Hasbro Toht

Star Wars Black Series ROTJ 40th Stormtrooper

Star Wars Black Series Boba Fett (Tython Ruins)

and Mezco 1989 Batman.  It's pretty disappointing as a toy, but it looks OK standing on a shelf as long as you replace the cape.

Top 10 figures of 2023 in no particular order. It's my list, so I'm including multipacks or sets/pairs that typically go together in accompanying media.

Mezco 89 Batman
Hot Toys & Mezco The Crow
Mafex Nightwing
NECA Mirage TMNT 4 pack
NECA Dinosaurs Earl and baby Sinclair
NECA Alf
NECA Warduke
4 Horsemen Cosmic Legions Kraggnar
FuRay Planet Blade Master & Veteran William
Mondo 1/6 MOTU He-Man & Battle Cat

Honorable mentions: Lone Coconut's Plunderlongs & Plunderstrongs, Mafex Magneto, Hot Toys Mandolorian & Grogu set, McFarlane  Batman movie 6 figure set, McFarlane Batman & Robin wave, 4H Figure Obscura Red Death, Jada Street Fighter wave 1,  Super7 Silverhawks (Quicksilver, Bluegrass, Steelheart and Steelwill).

As far as my Top 10 goes, it includes anything I acquired between January 1st and December 31st regardless of when it was "released"  For example, my December AmiAmi order didn't arrive until the first week of January due to a figure being released the last couple days of December.  That being said, here's my Top 10:

1. Super7 Thundercats Thundertank

2. Mafex Scarlet Spider-Man

3. Mafex Cyborg Superman

4. Beasts of the Mesozoic 1/35 Tyrannosaurus Kickstarter Exclusive Dino-Riders homage

5. Marvel Legends Spiral

6. Marvel Legends Blob

7. Figma Obscura Monkey King

8. G.I. JOE Classified Trubble Bubble w/Tele-Viper

9. NECA Lawson TMNT 4-pack

10. G.I. JOE Classified H.I.S.S. tank

Honorable Mentions in no particular order:

NECA Turtle Van

NECA Alf

NECA Steel Clan

NECA Archie Slash

NECA Archie Man Ray

NECA Baby Sinclair

Mafex Spider-Man (Classic Costume ver.)

Mafex Steel

Mafex Magneto

Mafex Nightwing

G.I. JOE Classified Shipwreck

G.I. JOE Classified Arctic B.A.T.

Storm Collectibles Ken the Eagle

Jada Toys Chun Li

Figma Metroid Dread Samus Aran

Robot Spirits Gundam GP00 Blossum

Sentinel Gwen Stacy

S.H. Figuarts Buzz Lightyear

S.H. Figuarts Dragonball Superhero Gohan

S.H. Figuarts Chainsaw Man

Marvel Legends VHS Peter Parker

Marvel Legends Destroyer

Marvel Legends X-Men '97 Wolverine

Marvel Legends Black Widow

Marvel Legends Gray Hulk

Cosmic Legions Kragnaar

Cosmic Legions Slygor

Hammond Collection Carnotaurus

Hammond Collection Brachiosaurus

Valaverse Action Force Steel Brigade Night Ops

Valaverse Action Force Warpath Eclipse

S.H. MonsterArts Godzilla Minus One

My top 20 of 2023 (or top 10 with 10 more honorable mentions):

1. Triceraton Zog  (Neca TMNT Mirage Comics)
2. Mithril Action Studio 1/12 Guardian of Horde Orc
3. Neca Gargoyles Lexington
4. Furay Planet Blade Master Weng
5. Neca The Last Ronin (Armored)
6. Furay Planet Veteran William
7. Star studio 1/12 Ancient War Green Orc (Gromash Hellscream)
8. Star Wars Black Series Krrsantan
9. Animal Warriors of the Kingdom Chunari Legionary
10. Neca Mirage TMNT 4-Pack (Lawson Turtles)

Honorable Mentions:

1. Neca Gargoyles Brooklyn
2. Neca Gargoyles Broadway 
3. Dopey and Dumbo Grunts (NECA TMNT)
4. Hasbro Indiana Jones (Raiders of the Lost Ark)
5. Marvel Legends Blob
6. Four Horsemen Cosmic Legions: Kraggnar
7. Star Wars Black Series Wicket
8. Mattel Ankylosaurus (Hammond Collection) 
9. Jazwares Select Pokemon Tyranitar
10. Star studio 1/12 Ancient War Tan Orc - (Garosh Hellscream)

A long writeup: 

I love the NECA Zog. When that figure was first revealed I couldn't wait for it. It, and all of the top ten have been on my bookshelf for easy access all year.  

This has been the year of third party toy makers! The Mithril Action Orcs, Star Studio Orcs, Furay Planet figures, and others that didn't quite make my list. Orcs and animal warriors galore. I'm not sure why all the World of Warcraft love this year by third parties, but I'm not complaining. 

I love the NECA Gargoyles figures. I could have placed all 3 in the 3rd spot. It's nice to complete that team. I just want a few more wing variations. 

NECA has also been killing it with TMNT. Each time I find my collection satisfied, they reveal even more that I can't wait to add.  The completion of the Rocksteady/Bebop gang, even though they were in the show for mere seconds, is amazing! And something my younger self really wanted. 

The Animal Warriors of the Kingdom line has been a lot of fun. The basic figures turned out better than I anticipated, and have great articulation. I may have messed around with those more than any other. I really wanted Thane (the big gorilla), but found I liked every other figure I bought better than him. They were too fun.

Star Wars figures have been a long time love of mine, and what really got me collecting, but there were few that really stood out to me this year (I'm getting pickier in what I buy). Ewoks are a must, and so I'm grateful for Wicket. Krrsantan is a very cool figure, and a character I have wanted since he was revealed in BOBF. I loved that old Snoova figure as a kid, and this essentially replaces him. He would have ranked much higher, but he can't really use his gun accessory. I am going to have to look for a replacement.  He also doesn't scale well with Chewbacca (which may be a fault of the Chewie figure). 

I have waited a long time for a new BLOB figure. I could never afford the BAF, so I am happy with this new one. 

A 6" Indiana Jones figure has been a long time want. 

And as a long time Pokemon fan, the Jazwares Tyranitar is a welcome addition to the collection. It was rumored years back, and when supposedly canceled, I was bummed. I had bought a statue of that character, but was never pleased with it. I'm glad they finally did release the figure. I hope that the Select line goes on for a long time. 

The Hammond collection had a few good releases this year. I'm only in it for the Dinosaurs. Ankylosaurus has always been a standout, and they did the figure justice.

1. NECA Dracula
2. NECA Creature Black Lagoon
3. NECA Bride
4. ML Blob
5. ML Destroyer
6. 1/12 Thing
7. MS Invisible Woman
8. Cosmic Legions Kraggnar
9. Ken the Eagle Gatchaman Storm Collectibles
10. Figura Obscura Jacob Marley

Hon Men: ML Black Widow, Cosmic Legion Slogg, Jada Boo Berry, NECA Alf, MS Reed Richards, ML FA Iron Man, 1/12 Reed Richards, Mego 50th Green Lantern.  Was the 1/12 Man of Steel this year? What about the first NECA Elvira? If the grey on Knightfall McF Batman was a shade and a half darker he'd be on the list obviously

In no particular order...

SH Figuarts No Way Home Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man: Adore the Raimi Trilogy to this day, have been wanting modern figures based on them for ages. Even if based on a more recent film, it's close enough for me. Love it, sculpt is great and articulation is excellent.

NECA Mirage TMNT four-pack: Best figures of the Turtles I own, I think. As someone who grew up on the 2003 cartoon and constantly rewatching the 1990 movie, these bulkier and more serious looks really work for me. While I normally prefer colored headbands, I can't deny the red ones look really cool and cohesive when displayed together as a team.

Marvel Legends Mania: Biggest ML want by far, honestly thought we might never have gotten her at this point since Andi hasn't been Mania in awhile. She looks great and articulation is better than I thought she'd get thanks to those elbows, even if still a bit limited out the box. I did have to mod the torso.

Mezco One:12 Doctor Doom: VERY last minute addition to the list. I mainly stick with horror releases from Mezco, but Doom fits their format pretty well compared to most comic characters. Looks very commanding on display and all the accessories are killer. Normally not a fan of diecast parts at all, but I can't deny that they work well here and the fact that they're just bare metal means I hopefully won't have any issues with them.

SH Figuarts Obi-Wan Kenobi Darth Vader: Loved the RotJ one, but like this one just a bit more. Cloth goods work for me right out the box and the battle damaged parts just send it over the top. While I'm sure they could sucker me into buying another one, this feels pretty definitive to me right now at least.

Marvel Legends NWH Deluxe Green Goblin: Same as the SHF Spidey. It's probably just nostalgia talking, but I love that 2002 Green Goblin design, especially that "dumb Power Rangers mask." Even still, the monotone green look is my biggest complaint with it, especially on a figure that can't replicate the cool iridescent paint sheen the actual costume had. So I'm perfectly fine with substituting that with this, especially since I might like the helmeted look of this figure more than any of his actual movie designs.

Marvel Legends Pulsecon Deadpool: While I've had many Deadpools over the years, that 90s one Hasbro released remained my favorite from a purely aesthetic standpoint. If only the articulation was better, then it'd be perfect. Well, this new one is exactly that with a bunch more accessories too!

SH Figuarts Venom: Yeah, I like the Venom movies, what of it? Well, I like the first one, kinda lukewarm on the second one. I'll admit I mainly got this to go with that NWH Spidey mentioned above since I doubt we'll ever see a SM3 one (and even if we did, I just like this version of the character more anyway). Was completely taken by it once I got it in-hand, it looks fantastic and poses wonderfully.

Mezco Halloween II Michael Myers: I don't have a lot to say about this one, it's just a really nice figure of the character. My favorite figure of the Shape so far, even.

GI Joe Classified Firefly: A great figure of my favorite GI Joe character. While there's maybe one or two things I prefer about the Cobra Island version (that headsculpt still clears this new one), I can't deny this is a much improved figure with far better accessories.

Neat idea for a thread. At the end of each year, I always reflect on my favorite figures from that year.

For me, it was:

1. NECA Mirage TMNT 4-pack

2. McFarlane KnightFall Batman (Although I wish the grey had been a little darker).

3. Amazing Yamaguchi Revoltech Black Panther

4. Marvel Select Mr. Fantastic

5. Super Mario Bros. Movie Bowser

6. NECA Mirage Casey Jones (red shirt)

7. Super 7 MMPR Blue

8. Super 7 MMPR Black

9. MAFEX Steel

10. MAFEX Huntress

If we're doing actually released in 2023, I'd probably go with:

10. Medicom Nightwing

9. Medicom Steel

8. Hasbro Black Series Krrsantan (BoBF version)

7. Hasbro GI Joe Classified Rock N' Roll

6. Medicom Cyborg Superman

5. Mezco Conan the Conqueror

4. Star Toys (not)Grom Hellscream

3. Medicom Magneto

2. Bandai Darth Vader (Obi-Wan Kenobi version)

1. Bandai Indiana Jones

Honourable mentions to D&D Strongheart. Star Toys Garrosh, and Medicom Harley Quinn